Secondary School, Social Studies Curriculum

According to the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), social studies curriculum [Page 782]encompasses course offerings from an array of related disciplines. Although the primary focus at the secondary high school level is on history, civics, and geography courses, high schools also may offer courses in anthropology, archaeology, economics, philosophy, psychology, religion, and sociology. NCSS maintains that the purpose of social studies is to prepare students for active and effective citizenship in a democratic society and to preserve democratic traditions. Research and literature related to gifted education and secondary social studies curriculum focus also on the importance of meeting and challenging the intellectual, social, and emotional capacities of gifted students. The integrated nature of social studies courses and the practice of infusing social studies ...