Welcome to the MCHS Social Sciences Page
Department Mission Statement
_It is the mission of the Social Sciences Department of Morris Community
High School to encourage the growth of citizenship and connect
historical content to student's lives through the critical examination
and interpretation of political, economic, geographic, social, and moral
events, both past and present.
Social Studies Department Skills
The following is a list of the skills that students in Social Studies classes at Morris Community High School will be asked to demonstrate. Not every course will emphasize all skills, but as a department, these goals and actions are our focus.
Map Skills
Students will be able to:
Critical Analysis of Historical Writing
Students will be able to:
Note Taking Skills
Students will be able to:
Graph / Table Interpretation
Students will be able to:
Critical Thinking Skills
Students will be able to:
Following Instructions
Students will be able to:
Writing for Historical Content
Students will be able to:
Website Evaluation
Students will be able to:
Map Skills
Students will be able to:
- Identify locations and geographical landforms using a map.
- Interpret map items to draw inferences about a given area.
- Evaluate historical events using primary source documents and descriptions of geographical content.
Critical Analysis of Historical Writing
Students will be able to:
- Evaluate bias and/or point of view of primary and secondary sources
- Interpret historical documents for support of a theory or idea
Note Taking Skills
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a variety of note taking techniques, including but not limited to Cornell/Power Notes, outlining, charting, & concept mapping.
Graph / Table Interpretation
Students will be able to:
- Interpret graphs or tables to discern relevant information provided by the graph, table, or chart to appraise evidence and evaluate arguments
- Infer trends based on data presented
Critical Thinking Skills
Students will be able to:
- Recognize problems and explore legitimate avenues to solve those problems
- Identify and understand the importance of prioritization and order of precedence in problem solving
- Identify unstated assumptions and values
- Comprehend and use language language with accuracy, clarity, and discernment
- recognize the existence (or non-existence) of logical relationships between items or events
- Test generalizations or conclusions
Following Instructions
Students will be able to:
- Follow a given set of instructions to reach a successful conclusion to a problem or completion of an assignment
Writing for Historical Content
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate writing skills which reveal an understanding of the general principles of the “big picture” of a historical event.
- Critically analyze a historical event through the collection and sorting of information, development of a thesis based on evidence procured.
- Organize evidence to support a given thesis.
- Structure an essay with a proper introduction, body, and conclusion
Website Evaluation
Students will be able to:
- Identify creators of websites
- Identify validity of websites to use as sources of information
- Evaluate point of view of websites and other sources of electronic information
- Employ accurate search parameters to discern information for a given event
- Apply sources correctly to support the validity of a thesis
Supply Lists
Supply lists for each instructor are linked below. Click on the instructor's name to see the supplies needed for their classes.
Mr. Dave Auwerda Mr. Ray Burgess Mr. Dylan Hamel Mr. John Lanning Mr. Michael Muntz
Mr. Dave Auwerda Mr. Ray Burgess Mr. Dylan Hamel Mr. John Lanning Mr. Michael Muntz