The Belmont High School Social Studies Department offers 14-18 courses in a given academic year that seek to encourage informed, responsible and active participants in democratic society. Through the study of World History, American History, and the social sciences, students become better prepared to live in an increasingly global and interconnected society.

Students are required to take a two-year sequence of World History in grades nine and ten, and a year of American History in grade eleven (which is bookended by their US History study in grade 8). Required Courses:

• US History
• World History
• Modern World History
• European History
• American Studies
• American History

Students who have completed required coursework may choose from a variety of elective offerings in the social sciences. Electives:

• You & The Law
• Economics
• Community Service
• Facing History & Ourselves
• Intro. To Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Political Science
• Behavioral Science
• Modern Problems
• Psychology

Coursework is offered at different challenges including College-Preparatory, Honors, and Advanced Placement.

For a complete list of Social Studies Department course offerings, click here

Belmont HIgh School Program of Studies, please click here.

Learning a simple chain of chronological events does not help prepare students for the increasingly fast, diverse, and challenging world they will be entering upon graduation. To enable them to do so, students need to master basic skills: critical thought, researching, interpreting documents and data, effective communication, and reading & expository writing. In any given Social Studies class at Belmont High School you can see students engaged in discussions, encountering different viewpoints or experiences, and developing their own ideas from curriculum that is explored, not simply covered. Throughout all of their Social Studies coursework, students are consistently reminded how history is relevant to their lives.

www.presidentialserviceawards.gov

National History Day program (Grade 9)
Every year the Chenery Middle School (Grade 8) and Belmont High School (Grade 9) participates in the National History Day competition. National History Day is a series of history presentations based on careful research and analysis of a topic. Students conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. The theme for each year changes based on those chosen by the NHD national board, while the categories remain consistent: Each year CMS and BHS students prepare entries in 10 different categories including historical papers (individual only), individual or group performances, individual or group documentaries, individual or group exhibits, or individual or group web sites. Each year both schools send 20 entries (two per category) on to the regional round held in March at Winchester High School, to the state round held at Clark University in April/May, and even on to the national round in Washington D.C. The Social Studies department is proud to be able to send at least two finalists on to Washington D.C. for the last 7 years. For more information on the NHD program, check out www.nhd.org

Economics Challenge (Extra-Curricular)
Every year the AP Economics class participates in the National Economics Challenge. Competing against other schools such as Boston Latin, Lexington High School, and Brookline High School students answer challenging questions on microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics, culminating in final round known as the “quiz-bowl.” First place teams from each division advance to compete in one of four regional contests. Winning divisional teams receive an all-expense paid trip to compete for the national championship title in New York City. The Social Studies department is proud to have sent a team to the National Final in 2007. For more information on the Economics Challenge program, check out economicschallenge.ncee.net

Economics Challenge 2008
Five Teams from Belmont High School participated in the State Finals of the 2008 Economics Challenge at the Federal Reserve of Boston on March 31st. Belmont finished in first and second place and earned a spot in the regional competition held on April 29th.

1st Place Team	2nd Place Team
Students taking the “First Round Exam” in Microeconomics.

Mock Trial Team (Extra-Curricular)
Every year the Social Studies department sponsors a Mock Trial Team. Generously supported by volunteer teacher-advisors and local lawyers from the Belmont community, students participate in a trial arbitrated by actual judges from the Massachusetts Bar Association in actual courtrooms from around the Commonwealth. The competition begins in January 2008 when the state board releases a new set of Mock Trial materials based on an important issue facing America's youth. The materials include a hypothetical criminal case or a civil case. With the assistance of their teacher-advisor and attorney coaches, students study the case and preparing strategies and arguments for trial, competing in local competitions against teams such as Newton-North and Lexington. For more information on the Mock Trial program, check out www2.massbar.org/pub_programs/mock_trial