In 2001 the new National Curriculum (draft) was introduced in the Social studies Department. It is designed for students in grades 7-9 and is taught at all levels.
The new curriculum is divided into three main subject areas
Each subject area adopts a modular approach which lends itself to an in-depth study of a particular topic and allows students to practise a variety of skills .Citizenship education is integrated in the various modules of social studies, history and geography.
Assessment of students is ongoing and various strategies are used to evaluate students progress. Student achievement grades are determined by an average of class work, and homework/ projects and tests for each reporting interval.
Below is an outline of the topics taught for each subject at each grade level.
Grade Seven
In Geography the following topics are investigated:
basic map reading skills and types of map
the structure of the earth
volcanoes, earthquakes
tropical rain forest and rivers
In History students investigate:
the tools and skills used by historians to learn about the past
the early Civilization of Ancient Egypt
In Social Studies students focus on:
the individual, family and groups
local environmental issues
heritage
investigating local history
Ancient Rome
the Aztecs
Geography is taught in the second term with a focus on :
map work skills (compass bearings, latitude and longitude, four figure grid reference measuring distances on a map)
coral reefs, coastal processes and features
weather
Social Studies is taught in the third term with an emphasis on:
the structure of Government and the election process
employment
Grade Nine
In the first term Geography
is taught with a focus on:
Map skills (six figure grid reference, longitude and time, map projections, contours)
Caribbean climate
type of industries and tourism
History is taught in the second term with an emphasis on:
exploration the 15th century and its impact
our ancestors in the Caribbean and their legacy
In Social Studies students investigate:
global environmental issues
areas of cooperation
population