• Our Teachers
  • Edgartown School
    • Ms. Gale Meister
    • Ms. Linda Brown
    • Ms. Bonnie Trapp
  • Oak Bluffs Schools
    • Ms. Eve Heyman
    • Ms. D.J.Baptiste
    • Ms. Holly Thomas
  • Tisbury School
    • Mr. Greg Coogan
    • Ms. Lori DeBettencourt
  • West Tisbury School
    • Ms. Kari Chioffi
    • Ms. Tricia Pedro
  • Martha's Vineyard Regional High School
    • Kris Chvatal
    • Mary Lee Caroloagno
    • Ken DeBettencourt
    • Doug DeBettencourt
    • Catherine DeGrandpre
    • Craig Dripps
    • Bill McGrath
    • Jamie Norton

he Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools believe that the study of the United States and world history and the social sciences is critical to the life of every student. We believe that students should study history and social sciences in order to :

• appreciate the historical and cultural influences that shape their individual identities, our national identity, and the cultures and countries that share our planet.
• understand and reason for successes, failures, triumphs and tragedies in human history, particularly as they are reflected in the ideas and actions of the people we study.
• prepare for adult lives of informed and active citizenship and civic engagement.
• learn to the assess and interpret evidence, to understand change over time , to think logically and express themselves clearly.
  

Program Overview

In the primary grades (K-2) the history program provides students with experiences that allow them to learn about themselves and their families, the contributions of important people, and people who live in other countries. Basic concepts of the program include the following: the similarities and differences between and among people; the ways in which people make a difference in the lives of others; and the richness of cultural traditions. Students gain an awareness of events in time and their importance. Geography skills are introduced as well as basic economics as students learn how goods and services are produced and purchased. Civic participation is stressed as students learn about rules and the process of making rules.

In Grades 3-5, students learn about the United States. They study United States history from the Native American experience through the American Revolution and the writing of the Constitution; the third grade emphasis is on early Massachusetts history with a focus on Island History, while the fifth grade study is a broad look at early history across the colonies. In grade 4, students begin their formalized study of North American geography, with a particular emphasis on the regional geography of the United States.

Contemporary world geography is the focus in Grade six. Students not only learn the location of countries and geographic features around the world, they also grapple with substantive issues that people face in a variety of places around the world today. In grade seven, students study ancient societies from anthropological, sociological and political perspectives. Students focus on the ancient societies of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Nubia, Israel, Greece and Rome as well as learn about archaeology and the ways we find out about the past. In grade eight, students the Foundations of American Government.. Emphasis is placed on the history and study of the United States government: its creation, its operation, and the continuing attempts to meet the ideals of the founding documents.

The High School Program

The high school curriculum is currently transitioning. As the chart below shows. Goal: In 2011- the class of 2013 will be prepared to successfully pass the US History MCAS at the end of their sophomore year.
In addition to the required courses below a variety of elective courses in history and the social sciences are offered including AP US History, AP Modern European History, AP World History, Irish Studies, Sports in America, Psychology. Course offerings may vary from year-to-year,