SOCIAL STUDIES
List of Services
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Civics and Economics 8
Civics & Economics introduces 8th grade students to the structure of government, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and the basic principles of economic decision-making. Students examine how communities function, how public institutions shape civic life, and how economic choices affect individuals and society. Through discussion, projects, case studies, and current-event connections, students learn to think critically about leadership, justice, public policy, and financial literacy. The course is intended to help students see themselves as informed participants in civic life and to strengthen their understanding of the systems that shape the world around them.
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AP Human Geography
AP Human Geography is a college-level social studies course that explores the patterns, processes, and systems that shape human life across the globe. Students examine how people organize space, develop cultures, use land, build cities, migrate, and interact with political, economic, and environmental forces. The course introduces students to the key concepts and tools of geography while helping them understand how location, place, movement, and human-environment interaction influence societies and regions.
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Modern World HistoryList Item 1
This course examines the significant global developments from approximately 1200 CE to the present. Students will explore the evolution of societies, belief systems, political institutions, economic networks, and cultural exchanges across regions and civilizations. The course emphasizes critical thinking, historical analysis, and global comparison. Key areas of study include the expansion of empires, intellectual and political revolutions, the rise of industrial economies, colonialism and independence movements, international conflicts, and the forces of modern globalization. This course is similar to the AP Modern World History course, but without the additional out-of-class assignments.
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United States HistoryList Item 2
This course provides a comprehensive examination of the political, social, economic, and cultural development of the United States from its colonial beginnings through the 21st century. Students will explore the foundational moments that shaped the nation, including colonization, the American Revolution, the framing of the Constitution, westward expansion, slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. The course then continues through the modern era, focusing on key themes such as industrialization, U.S. foreign policy, civil rights movements, and the evolving role of government. Emphasis is placed on analyzing cause and effect, drawing connections between historical events and contemporary issues, and developing historical thinking and civic literacy through the use of both primary and secondary sources.
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AP United States History
AP United States History is a college-level course that provides students with a rigorous and comprehensive study of the political, social, economic, cultural, and intellectual development of the United States from pre-Columbian societies to the present. Students examine major events, individuals, movements, and historical turning points while developing a deeper understanding of continuity and change over time. The course emphasizes not only what happened in American history, but also why it happened and how historians interpret the past.
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US Government & Policy
U.S. Government and Policy invites students to examine the foundations, structures, and contemporary realities of American government through a lens of inquiry, civic engagement, and critical analysis. Students study the Constitution, the three branches of government, federalism, public policy, political participation, civil liberties, and the role of citizens in a constitutional democracy. The course also challenges students to explore how policy is shaped, debated, and implemented at the local, state, and national levels. Through discussion, case studies, research, current events, and experiential learning opportunities, students are encouraged to evaluate competing perspectives, articulate informed arguments, and better understand the relationship between government, power, and public life. In keeping with Lynnhaven’s academic philosophy, the course emphasizes real-world application, reflective thinking, and the development of students as thoughtful, informed, and engaged citizens.
