Welcome to the home page for Rick Riordan's 6th form social studies and 8th form American history classes at Saint Mary's Hall in San Antonio, Texas. For more general information on the school, be sure to visit the main SMH web site.
Note: These pages will no longer be updated after June 1, 2004, as I will be leaving teaching after fifteen years to become a full-time writer. More information about my transition will be available on the main Rick Riordan web site. I'll leave these pages on the web for students and educators who are looking for social studies ideas. If you find any lesson plans or activities you would like to use, feel free to do so.
About Sixth Form Social Studies:The sixth form social studies program is designed to familiarize students with the geographic characteristics and richly varied cultures of the non-Western world. The course begins with a unit on geography basics and the rise of human civilization in the Fertile Crescent, then focuses in turn on Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the modern Middle East. Throughout the yearlong course, students gain an understanding of why these regions rose to world prominence and how they impact Western society. Students learn to analyze maps and primary documents, evaluate cause and effect in major historical events, appreciate cultural differences, and research and write effectively on a variety of critical thinking topics.
About Eighth Form
U.S. History:Eighth form American history is designed to give students an overview of the U.S. from the Age of Exploration through Reconstruction, setting the foundation for later American history courses in high school. Major units of focus include the causes of the Revolution, applications of the Constitution, the rise of two-party politics, and the causes of the Civil War. The course emphasizes writing and critical analysis of historical evidence. Students partake in a variety of hands-on activities, including dramatic simulations, group-created video newscasts, debates, and examination of primary sources.
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