KMS Syllabus

Individuals and Societies

Year 1

I.  Course Description:

In Year 1 of Individuals and Societies, students will work throughout the year (with multiple opportunities) to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through performance based/project learning, collaborative learning, direct instruction, formative assessments, and summative assessments.  Through a variety of Historical Sources students will demonstrate and apply the basic tools of historical research, including how to construct timelines, frame questions that can be answered by historical study and research and analyze and evaluate historical materials offering varied perspectives.  They will build vocabulary using a variety of tools such as flash cards, interactive games and partner study.  Students will also have many opportunities to hone their geographic skills by describing the characteristics of Ancient Civilizations and the effect of location on cultural development.  They will apply geographic knowledge skills and perspective to explain past, present, and future issues.  They will incorporate strategies from the International Baccalaureate program.  Students will aspire to reflect those characteristics of the IB Learner Profile.  As a result of the high standards, success in the class will depend on the motivation of the student.  Students must keep up with their assignments to practice the skills, be inquisitive by asking questions, follow expectations, and balancing all aspects of their lives between home, extra-curricular, and school to be successful.

IB AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

A: Knowing and Understanding

B: Investigating

C: Communicating

D: Thinking Critically

Key Concepts:

Change

Global Interactions

Time, Place and Space

Systems

Related Concepts:

Economics

Geography

History

As a part of the Middle Years Program (MYP), of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, the aim of the teaching of Individuals and Societies are to encourage and enable the student to:

• Use vocabulary in context.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of subject - specific content and concepts, using descriptions, explanations and examples.
• Explain a choice of a research question.
• Follow an action plan to explore a research question.
• Collect and record relevant information consistent with the research question.
• Reflect on the research process and results.

• Communicate information and ideas with clarity.
• Organize information and ideas effectively for the task.
• List sources of information in a way that follows the task instruction.
• Identify the main points of ideas, events, visual representation, or arguments.
• Use information to justify an opinion.
• Identify and analyze a range of sources/data in terms of origin and purpose.
• Identify different views and their implications

III.  Topics:

         Geography

        Origins of Cultures and Civilizations

        Middle East

        Europe

        Russia and Eurasian Republics

        East Asia

        South Asia

IV.  Service Learning:

At KMS, MYP students will engage in Service Learning activities.  A community in need will be chosen, students will research the needs and how to help, write an action plan, take action on the plan and complete the service, and then create a presentation of their work. They will demonstrate Learner Profile attributes and will reflect on the Approaches to Learning skills that they are strengthening. The service learning activities are semester-long. Students use a self-paced guide and process journal to complete these activities. In addition, teachers act as facilitators as students work through their projects rather than direct instructors. The work for these service learning activities take place during our IB Projects period.

V.  Internationalism

Throughout the year in MYP 1 Individuals and Societies, students will understand the cultural diversity and the impact of one culture on another throughout our global communities.  

VI.  Teaching Methods

• Interactive lectures
• Role play
• Simulations
• Center Work
• Task Cards
• Small Group Collaboration
• DBQ’s
• Research

VII.  Assessment

• Autobiography Island
• G.R.A.P.E.S. project
• Mixed-up Continents
• Multiple Choice Tests
• Short Answer Tests
• Fill in the Blanks Test
• Quizzes
• Vocabulary Quizzes
• Coat of Arms Project

 VIII.  Resource

        “Individuals and Societies Subject Guide.” Edited by IBO, International Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, 2014, IBO.org.

        Carnine, Douglas. World History: Ancient Civilizations. McDougal Littell, 2006

        Carnine, Douglas. World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times. McDougal Littell, 2006