The Social Science Department of Brehm Preparatory School provides individualized instruction for students with learning disabilities in the core knowledge of social science content classes. The ultimate goal of the curriculum is to provide students with the necessary critical thinking skills to enhance citizenship.  The department is comprised of age appropriate classes designed to develop and foster social studies skills.  To accomplish this, the educational needs of each student must be assessed.  Based on the individual student’s strengths and weaknesses, the faculty uses a multi-sensory teaching approach.  Individual students are further assisted through a collaborative effort with other staff to effectively teach the curriculum.  Speech/language therapists provide additional one-on-one support to more language bound students.  They also provide classroom support as needed.  Content Strategies instructors also assist students with their overall comprehension of the material, with decoding, vocabulary, and/or memorization.  Speech Therapists and Content Strategies instructors may also administer tests one-on-one, and/or teach strategies to help the students better participate within the class.  The department’s general objectives include teaching concepts and skills so the student will:

• Examine historical events (World and United States)
• Evaluate and compare government systems
• Evaluate and compare economic systems
• Understand roles and responsibilities of being a consumer
• Examine geographic themes
• Apply geographic themes to current events
• Improve basic writing skills
• Speak/Debate clearly and concisely on a specified topic
• Use Assistive Technology and Software  for writing and research projects

Description of Courses:

Modified Classes:

World History:
This class is a modified class in which the students are introduced to past civilizations and cultures.  It covers historical eras chronologically, from the Stone Age to the Renaissance, with an emphasis on both political and social aspects.  The Visualization/Verbalization process is an integral part of the class in order to enhance student concept imagery.  Specific instruction includes the following:

• Learning the Visualization/Verbalization process (imaging using structure words)
• Imaging chunks of information using the V/V process
• Using imaging process to formulate oral summaries
• Using imaging process and Inspiration to create outlines
• Using outlines to create written essays and oral presentations
• Using imaging process to answer fact-based questions
• Using imaging process to create hands-on, art-based projects

United States History:
This is a modified class that examines the political and social evolution of the United States from pre-European exploration to the 1970s.  Information is presented through documentaries, historical movies, guided notes, guided readings, guided research, timelines, class debates, and class discussions.  Both the U.S. and State constitution requirements are met.  Major topics include:

• Native American cultures and societies
• European exploration and colonization
• French and Indian War
• American Revolution
• Articles of Confederation, the Federal System, and the U.S. Constitution
• Indian Removal Act/Trail of Tears
• Abolition and Slavery
• Civil War and Reconstruction
• Westward expansion and the Indian Wars
• Progressive Era
• World War I
• Industrialization and the growth of cities
• Roaring 20s and the Great Depression
• World War II
• The Cold War
• Civil Rights and Vietnam to the Nixon Era and Watergate

Standard Classes:

World History:
The purpose of the course is to build familiarity with past civilizations, cultures and their effects on the modern world.  It presents geography, history, political and economies of the world from the Stone Age to the present day.  Specific instructions include, but are not limited to

• Compare and contrast modern world current events with past societies
• Identify contributions of past societies to the modern world
• Study the theories of evolutions and ancient civilizations
• Interpret historical and geopolitical maps
• Time line and social studies related charts
• Identify major historical figures and why and where they became famous
• Compare/contrast the worlds major religion and their founders as well as the impact they have on modern day issues
• Creation of a civilization based on societal study of the Sumerians through the Romans
• The impact of the Renaissance through WWII on politics and history, studying concepts of balance of power, democracy, nationalism, communism, fascism and totalitarianism, including major political documents and notable leaders and events
• Ideas produced by the Renaissance, Reformation, exploration and science, regarding revolutions, arts, literature and values throughout history
• Read and discuss controversial issues through logic and reasoning skills relative to pre/ post WWI and post WWII
• Readings and summations or reflections on a book covering the Holocaust
• Research and the rewriting of history given, “What if….”

American History:
This class examines how key figures, discoveries, and conflicts affected the growth and development of the United States as an ever-changing nation from the colonial period through Viet Nam.  Specific topics and instruction include, but are not limited to:

• Early exploration and colonization/trade
• Revolutionary War and the development of the United States Constitution
• Roles and Powers of the Congress, Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch
• Democratic beliefs and personal responsibility
• Power of the press and news media in American Politics
• Economic and Political development in the United States
• Research and presentation of key events during Presidents term of office
• Research and presentation of civil war key figures
• Study the interrelationship between the Reconstruction Period and both the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights Movements in the U.S.
• Research and position papers/or debates over controversial topics of the period in study
• Understanding the industrial era through its leaders, both its industrial magnets and its labor leaders; and the development of Chicago as a major urban city.
• Examine the Great Depression and its impact on society
• Examine the position of the United States pre/post and during WWI and WWII.
• Examine the contributions of the United States During WWI and WWII
• Examine the sociological, economical, and political changes of the United States during WWI, WWII and Vietnam
• Causes and effects of U.S. involvement in foreign affairs; international conflicts and international cooperative efforts, analysis of foreign policies; and trade overseas.

American Government:
This course summarizes the foundation and structure of the American government and the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. citizen.  Specific concepts and instruction include, but are not limited to:

• Foundation of American government and basics concepts of democracy and federalism
• Compares and contrast varied types of political and economical systems in the world
• Basic concepts of the U.S. Constitution and its amending process
• Research and debates over controversial topics, particular emphasis is given to alignment with Constitutional Law
• Role of people in the American Government: voter, electoral process, public opinion and special interest, suffrage and civil rights movements
• Organization of the two-party system and minorities parties and their effects on the political process
• Due process of law, civil liberties
• Bureaucracy in the American political system
• Role of local, state, and national level government
• Foreign policy and its consequential Defense and Economic policy at an international level
• Study of Landmark cases and their implications on current events

           
Economics:
This course provides students with basic theoretical tools necessary to investigate        the causes of economic problems and economic successes.  Students than develop the skills necessary to function effectively as consumers, workers and producers.  Specific concepts and instruction include, but are not limited to:

• Understand and relate economic concepts to the real world
• Help students with basic mathematical economic skills
• Study current economic problems and relate to classroom instruction
• Develop a vocabulary and basis of knowledge to better understand the economic issues debated by politicians and discussed every day in the news media
• Understand the impact of government policies and decisions on production and consumption in the economy
• Interpretation of graphs (budget, supply, demand, and production possibility)
• Compare and contrast Economic Systems and the role of government in these
• Participation in the Stock Market Game
• Participation in the investment, development, workings, and evaluation of a business (supply/demand/scarcity/surplus)
• Study the role of labor unions, workers, and wages
• Compare and Contrast varied business organizations
• Discuss how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. (circular flow model, and GDP, and unemployment)
• Examine the interrelationship between trade, technological advances, and standard of living

Geography/Current Events:
This class is a study of current events, using geographical analysis, both physical and human, of same.  Specific instruction includes:

• Examination of the five geographic themes
• Comparison of physical and human aspects of geography
• Monitor events in the news, using Internet, Newsprint, and televised mediums.
• Apply geographic themes to current events
• Analyze current events using geographic themes
• Mapping, charting, graphing trends
• Outlining, time lining, and expressive language skills (both oral and written)

 Psychology:
This course is designed to explore several different viewpoints including the structure and function of sensory systems, theories of information processing, the relation of behavior and human performance to stimulus attributes and underlying neural mechanisms.    We will observe how knowledge about sensory processing can be applied in every day life.   Historic and modern attempts to cope, and many of the important people responsible for major developments in the field will be discussed.  This survey course will provide students with a basic understanding of how animals and humans obtain and process information about their environment. 

• Individuals will demonstrate familiarity with the issues, problems, vocabulary,

       procedures, and other relevant questions relating to Psychological issues
       through questionnaires, class discussion, and projects.

• Individuals will demonstrate the ability to be their own self- advocates fostering a sense of empowerment and self worth, thus nurturing their perception of individual value.

• Individuals will be expected to demonstrate appropriate communication through written and spoken expression, employing appropriate terms and concepts, and describing relevant literature, assessment tools, instructional methodology and class data collection.

Junior High Social Studies:
This class offers students an introduction to world cultures, including the various governmental, economic, and social systems.  An examination of current events, geographic themes, and the Federal System of Government are included. 

• Geographic themes
• Major civilizations (historical and modern day)
• Geographic influences and trends
• Economic and Governmental systems
• US and State Constitutions