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Social Studies

Social Studies

The Social Studies Program of the Fairfield Public Schools provides students with the knowledge,skills, and attitude necessary to make reasoned decisions as productive participants in a democratic nation and a culturally diverse interconnected world. The curriculum fosters an understanding of how the physical setting, economic and political systems, cultural influences, and increased interdependence have impacted human history, as well as how that history shapes our perceptions of current and emerging trends.

Students are asked to show their genuine understanding through the application of knowledge, interpretation of information, acknowledgement of multiple perspectives, display of empathy for others’ situation, and by making connections to one’s own life and experiences.

Finally, it is essential that the design and implementation of social studies education be a liberating force in the life of every citizen. It calls for all citizens to be public spirited and self-sacrificing with the work we do in social studies, highlighting the connection between social studies learning, productive citizenship, and democratic values.

The standards found in the Fairfield Public School’s social studies curriculum documents are the same as the state standards in the Connecticut Social Studies Framework.

To accomplish this vision of developing scholars and citizens the Fairfield Public Schools:

  • Provide for the development of an articulated and rigorous program of instruction for all students
  • Set graduation requirements including successfully completing Fairfield’s K-5 and 6-8 social studies program and a minimum of three and a half years of social studies coursework at the high school level
  • Provide a scope of offerings that allow students to demonstrate an understanding of the concept of culture and how different perspectives emerge from different cultures.
  • Provide a program which enables students to access information from a variety of sources by employing appropriate technologies
  • Provide instruction to help students think logically, write effectively, analyze and solve a variety of problems and make informed decisions.
  • Provide a variety of learning opportunities based upon the needs of students

Social Studies Curriculum Documents

Link to C3 Framework (2013) (PDF)
Link to Connecticut Social Studies Framework (2015) (PDF)
BOE Social Studies Curriculum Presentation – May 5, 2016 (PDF)

Draft Elementary School Pre-K-5

Pre-K Social Studies (PDF)
Grade K Social Studies (PDF)
Grade 1 Social Studies (PDF)
Grade 2 Social Studies (PDF)
Grade 3 Social Studies (PDF)
Grade 4 Social Studies (PDF)
Grade 5 Social Studies (PDF)

Middle School 6-8

Grade 6 World Regional Studies I (PDF)
Grade 7 World Regional Studies II (PDF)
Grade 8 America and the American Dream (PDF)

High School 9-12

Core Courses 9-11
Global Studies (PDF)
Modern Global Studies (PDF)
US History (PDF)

Civics Courses
Civics Contemporary Issues (PDF)
Civics International Relations (PDF)
Civics Youth and the Law (PDF)

AP/Dual Enrollment Courses

AP Comparative Government and Politics (PDF)
AP Comparative Government and Politics (Description)
AP Modern European History (PDF)
AP Psychology (PDF)
AP US Government and Politics (PDF)
AP US History (PDF)
African American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino Studies Dual Enrollment/ECE Course (PDF)

Electives

Contemporary US History (PDF)
Economics (PDF)
Humanities (PDF)
Psychology (PDF)
Sociology (PDF)