Social Studies

Philosophy of Teaching Social Studies from a Christian Worldview

At Highlands International School, we believe that a biblical understanding of social studies is not only critical to understanding God’s plan for man, but to understanding how the faith of individuals and societies impacts people from individual to international levels. Man was designed for relationship, and the social studies courses include the study of man and his relationships in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology, as well as the humanities, mathematics, and natural science where appropriate. The HIS Social Studies instructional program is based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in social studies.

Our goal is for HIS students to be influential world citizens that not only understand the nature of the world from a Christian worldview, but can apply biblical tenets to every aspect of their lives. Through the integrated courses of social studies, students will see how faith issues affect individual identity and development, culture and diversity, government and citizenship, historical perspectives, geographic relationships, economics and development, global issues, and technological advancement. Within the courses students will develop appropriate research skills and methods, an understanding of historical people, places, and events that have impacted the past and present, an understanding of causal relationships, as well as differentiate between fact and opinion, identify and differentiate between wants and needs, accurately compare and contrast, and identify and address critical world issues.

The pre-kindergarten through 12th grade program begins with a look at the individual and family and progressively broadens the scope to the city, state, national, continental, and global levels. Though social studies encompasses a broad field of topics, they will focus more predominantly on history, geography, economics, political science, anthropology, psychology, and sociology.

History
We believe that as finite beings, we travel through time on a linear path, and that even though the past is set, the future is not determined but open to input by God and man. Students will not only be able to identify events in the past and be able to create and use historical timelines, graphs and charts, they will also be able to identify how events in the past have shaped the world of today. Students will also note that though historical perspectives may differ, Truth is constant and consistent. Through their knowledge of history students will be able to make informed choices and decisions both now and in the future.

Geography
A spatial study of the world will enable the students to make connections regarding national and international issues which have affected and continue to affect economic development, environmental quality, government and military issues, migration, and cultural affairs.

Economics
Economics helps students see how various peoples respond to needs and wants in response to available resources. Though particular resources may have limitations, man was created as an intelligent being and can discover other resources or how to use resources wisely and efficiently. Economics also focuses on the distribution of resources and students should be able to make a connection between resources and political issues.

Political Science
As godly institutions, the family, church, and government are designed to care for people as an extension or tool of God’s provision. A knowledge of political systems allows students to see how different societies, operating from biblical or unbiblical frameworks, work to resolve conflict and establish order and security, ensure people’s rights and responsibilities, and fulfill the needs of social groups.

Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology
Through the study of individual and group dynamics students will be able to analyze motives and activities, and identify what influences thinking, presuppositions, identity, and how culture and cultural systems function, including such ideas as adaptation, assimilation, acculturation, diffusion, and dissonance.