Our History Department’s curriculum is designed to help the MacDuffie student to think not only about events of the past, but, more importantly, about the world today. Our classes systematically develop the student’s ability to evaluate various kinds of information in a sophisticated and critical way, draw relevant conclusions from it, and to put those conclusions on paper effectively and convincingly.

The History Department works in close cooperation with other departments, most notably English, in building these skills every informed and educated individual needs.

Grade 6
North American Cultures and Their Environments - The underlying theme of this course is the development of an appreciation for the nature and origin of contemporary North American Cultures. The course emphasizes the richness and diversity of our increasingly multi-cultural society, while at the same time analyzing the problems inherent in cultural interaction.

Grade 7
Civics - Students study the foundations and role of government in U.S. society and the meaning and responsibilities of citizenship. They begin the year with an examination of classical Greece and Rome with emphasis on these cultures’ influence on the Constitutional system. Following their studies of The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Amendments, students study the structures and roles of national, state and local government.

Grade 8
Global Studies I - Eighth-grade students begin to consider their connection with the larger world through a study of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. By studying the relationships between the geography, history, and culture of each region, students are encouraged to adopt a global view, and to see the unique contributions these regions have made to the history of mankind as a whole, as well as to the U.S. specifically.