Social Studies at La Europa Academy

Economics

This course is semester-long introduction to the concept and implications of the study of Economics. The Course focuses on micro/ macroeconomics, as well as how a sound understanding of economics can lead to better decisions in any aspect of one's life.

Units of Study:

  • What is Economics?
  • The Factors of Production
  • Economic systems across time and space
  • The Household
  • Firms and Corporations
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • The World of High Finance
  • National Economic Goals
  • The Global Economy
  • The Economic collapse of 2008

Art Projects:

  • Create-a-Business - Students create a general plan for a new business. Students must include examples of how they will utilize the factors of production and who their intended customer is. They must create a logo, jingle, and billboard. 
  • Mixed Media Economic Collage - After studying the 3 basic types of economic systems, students must create a mixed media collage which shows the strengths/weaknesses, lifestyles and historical or contemporary examples of one of them. 
  • The Corporation Film Strip - In combination with the Photography class, students create an "Encyclopedia Britannica style" filmstrip which outlines the contributions and complications of the modern corporation. 
  • Local Non-Profit Presentation - Students must create a presentation of two non-profit organizations active in their hometown. Presentations must include information about what kind of services they provide, how they are able to do it, and how anyone can become involved.
  • The Collapse of 2008 Radio Show - After researching the causes, impacts, and reactions to the economic collapse of 2008, students write and record a radio show.

United States Government

This course is a semester-long introduction to the structure and workings of the United States Government. The class begins with a brief examination of basic political science concepts and other governments around the globe. There is a strong emphasis on how the Constitution and Federal, State, and local governments impact daily life. Most classes include daily reading assignments from the New York Times which relate to the topics being covered.

Units of Study:

  • The Four purposes of Government
  • Governments around the Globe
  • The Origins of the Constitution
  • The Constitution
  • Political Parties and Ideology
  • Federalism
  • Home-State Congressional Representation
  • U.S. Foreign Policy

Art Projects:

  • Supreme Court Radio Show - After researching the origins, issues, and impacts of the major Supreme Court decisions, the class will choose one and write and record a radio dramatization including music and sound effects.
  • Create-a-Party - Students create their own hypothetical political party. Each party's platform must include economic, education, energy, environmental, national security, and health care "planks" as well as a simple, iconic bumper sticker. 
  • Foreign Policy Cartoons - Students create political cartoons about the major doctrines and developments in American foreign policy. 
  • The United States Government Children's Book - Students create a children's book about what they have learned from the class. 

United States History

This course is year-long introduction to the history of the United States of America. The course naturally examines the major events, movements, and key players who have shaped the country we live in today. There is also a strong emphasis that, for any society, the future is never certain. Each event has a number of causes as well as consequences.

Units of Study:

  • Maps!
  • Where history comes from: Sources, Tools, and Techniques.
  • The Colonial Era
  • Revolution! 
  • The Creation of a Nation
  • The Civil War
  • The Industrialization of America
  • The American Empire
  • The First World War
  • The Great Depression
  • The Second World War
  • The Cold War
  • The Space Age
  • Korea and Vietnam
  • The 1960's

Art Projects:

  • Art of The American Revolution - Students create an original work of art commemorating some aspect of the War for Independence. Projects can include paintings of battles, statues of significant figures, poems, etc. 
  • Antebellum Radio Show - Students research a topic from the antebellum period of American history, and write and record a radio show including sound effects, music, and contemporary slang. 
  • Civil War Museum -Students are commissioned to design an American Civil War museum. They must include at least 30 significant artifacts with descriptions and a colorful floor plan. World War One Photo Hunt - Students choose 5 images (photographs, portraits, paintings, etc) and write an analysis of what they are and why they are significant. 
  • 1920's S.P.R.I.T.E. Presentation - Students research and present on the social, political, religious, international, technological, and economic aspects of America during the 1920's. 
  • Interwar Encyclopedia Page - Students were to create a page for an Illustrated Children's Encyclopedia about the global political climate between World Wars One and Two. 
  • Battlefield Dispatch a'la Ernie Pyle - After reading some of Ernie Pyle's wartime columns, students are to research a battle from the Second World War
  • Cold War Museum -Students are commissioned to design a Cold War museum. They must include at least 30 significant artifacts with descriptions and a colorful floor plan. 
  • 1960's Radio Show - Students create a radio show about the turbulent 1960's. 
  • Vietnam Board Game - After studying America's involvement in Vietnam, students create an original board game about how to win (if possible)

World History

This course is year-long introduction to the major civilizations of the world, taking a chronological and geographical approach. The course naturally examines the major events, movements, and key players who have shaped the world we live in today. There is also a strong emphasis that, for any society, the future is never certain. Each event has a number of causes as well as consequences.

Units of Study:

  • Maps!
  • Where history comes from: Sources, Tools, and Techniques.
  • Civilization and it's roots
  • The Bronze Age 
  • The Classical World of Greece and Rome
  • The Religions of the World
  • The Early, High, and Late Middle Ages
  • The Pre-Columbian Americas
  • The Modern Era
  • Enlightenment
  • Revolution! 
  • The First World War
  • The Second World War

Art Projects:

  • The Neolithic Café - Students create a menu for a café including foods available to different Neolithic peoples in different locations. 
  • River Civilizations Children's Book - Working as a group, students research the ancient river civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China and write a children's book about their physical settings, ways of life, and beliefs. 
  • Bronze Age Civilizations Map - Students create a thematic map which shows the civilizations of the Mediterranean and Near East.
  • Classical World Radio Show - Students research, write, and record a "1930's era" radio show about Classical Civilization, including music, sound effects, and outrageous accents. 
  • The Assassination of Julius Caesar - Students write a contemporary newspaper editorial in support of, or in opposition to, the Assassination of Julius Caesar. 
  • World Religions Presentation - Students research and present information to the class on the origins, beliefs, and lifestyles of the significant belief systems of the world. 
  • Museum of World Religions - After the students present their information on religions, each student will create a Museum of World Religions. They must include at least 30 artifacts with descriptions and a colorful floor plan. 
  • Chinese S.P.R.I.T.E. Presentation - Students research and present on the social, political, religious, international, technological, and economic aspects of a Chinese dynasty. 
  • World War One Photo Hunt - Students choose 5 images (photographs, portraits, paintings, etc) and write an analysis of what they are and why they are significant. 
  • Letter to/from the Western Front - Students are to write a letter home from the perspective of a solder serving on the Western Front. Each letter must include information about the conditions, objectives and experiences of the men in the trenches.