Social Studies :::

Social Studies Department

Mr. Paul Houston, Division Chair
TEL: SC (708) 579-6546, NC (708) 579-6420
FAX: (708) 579-6009
EMAIL: phouston@lths.net
Mr. George Lowen, Assistant Division Chair
TEL: (708) 579-6090
FAX: (708) 579-6091
EMAIL: glowen@lths.net


Social Studies Department Philosophy

The goal of social studies instruction at LTHS is for students to acquire knowledge of what it is to be human, to live in social groups, and to be part of a world made up of all types of cultures and nations.  Social Studies helps students examine the history and roots of customs, institutions, beliefs, and prejudices.  It teaches young people where they have come from so they may think clearly and make intelligent choices about where they are going.  Through social studies instruction, students will gain understanding of cultural and ethnic differences.  It  also serves as a vehicle to enable students to perform the duties of citizenship and to acquire the analytical skills they need to function in the 21st century.  Through the use of critical reading, writing, and cooperative group work, students will develop the ability to process information, analyze it, and synthesize it into a realistic world view.

The Social Studies Department has established standards for student learning that both guide its courses and programs and challenge students academically. There are six general standards as titled and stated below.  In addition, each general standard has specific student learning standards that are available upon request.  Finally, specific standards for each course and program have been developed, and these are distributed to students at the beginning of each semester or annual course.

Social Studies Standards

Standard I  Culture
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide for the study and understanding of culture; understanding of individual development; and interaction among individuals, groups, and institutions.

Standard II Global Connections – Time, Continuity, and Change 
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide the study and understanding of global connections and interdependence that analyze examples of conflict and cooperation among groups, societies, and/or nations.

Standard III People, Places, Environments, Science, and Technology
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide for the study and understanding of the relationships between people, places, environments, and technology.

Standard IV Power, Authority, and Governance
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide for the study and understanding of how people create, live within, and change their structures of power,  authority, and governance.

Standard V Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide for the study and understanding of how people have organized for and worked within the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services throughout history and in the present.

Standard VI Civic Ideals and Practices
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide for the study and understanding of ideals, principles, and practices of a citizen in a democratic republic.

Standard VII Interdisciplinary Connections
Social Studies programs will include experiences that provide for the study and understanding of interdisciplinary connections and interdependence.

Social Studies Graduation Requirements

  • All students must successfully complete 1 year of World History, 1 year of a U.S. History course offering,  .5 (1/2) credits of an elective Social Studies course, and the United States Constitution Exam.
  • World History is a requirement for graduation from Lyons Township High School.  Students who fail this course should immediately re-enroll in the course during the following semester(s) or during summer school, regardless of their campus assignment.

Social Studies Advanced Placement Examinations
AP examinations are available in seven areas.  Division chair approval for placement into a Social Studies AP course will be based upon an integrated analysis of the following indicators:
a.  teacher, counselor, and parental approval;
b.  past performance in Social Studies courses;
c.  concurrent enrollment in an English (Accel) or (Hon) course; and
d.  PLAN/ACT test scores in English, Reading, and Study Skills.

  1. American Government 
    In order to be prepared   for the American Government AP examination, students should enroll in American Government AP. It is expected that students enrolling in the course possess some topical familiarity by reading newspapers and periodicals.  To enroll in this course, students must have teacher recommendation or Division Chair approval.  Students may enroll in this course and other social studies courses concurrently during the fall semester of their junior and/or senior years. 
  2. Comparative Government 
    In order to be prepared for the Comparative Government AP examination, students should enroll in Comparative Government AP.  To enroll in this course, students must have teacher recommendation or Division Chair approval.  Students may enroll in this course and other social studies courses concurrently during the spring semester of their junior and/or senior years. 
  3. Macro Economics 
    It is expected that students enrolling in this course already possess some topical familiarity by reading newspapers and periodicals.  To enroll in this course, students must obtain teacher recommendation.  This semester course is offered every year.
  4. Micro Economics 
    In order to be prepared for this  course and its AP examination, students should have previously taken the Macro Economics AP course.  Furthermore, students in this course must obtain teacher recommendation and have a solid mathematics background. This semester course is offered every year.
  5. European History 
    In order to be prepared for the AP European History examination, students should enroll in this course.  In order to do well in the course and on the examination, students should have a rich and varied background of academic courses. To enroll in the course, students obtain teacher recommendation.  The most important qualification for entry into the course is an interest in history, and students should read and write reasonably well since the work is at college level.  This course is offered in grades 10, 11, and 12, and is an annual course.
  6. Psychology 
    In order to be prepared for the Psychology AP examination, students should enroll  in this course.  This is an annual course.  This course satisfies a social studies elective requirement for graduation.  To enroll in this course, students must obtain teacher recommendation or division chair approval.
  7. U.S. History 
    In order to be prepared for the AP American History examination, students should enroll in U.S. History AP. This course satisfies  the U.S. History requirement for graduation.  Students must enroll in both semesters of the course.  To qualify for enrollment in the course, students must obtain teacher recommendation or approval of the division chair. The course is open  to both juniors and seniors.  It is particularly desirable that prospective students have an interest in history and have performed well in previous Social Studies and English courses.

Social Studies Course Sequence and Career Information