Social Studies

Our Social Studies department offers a wide variety of classes ranging from Genealogy to Economics and everything in between.  We have taken steps to bring a variety of classes to satisfy the need for traditional approaches to a more classical “Jeffersonian” approach.  Take time to review these fantastic classes.

NOTE:   For high school students only
COST:   $50.00 per month per student (one parent can attend for free).  In this class students will learn how to find their family roots. We will use the latest search engines and websites such as Ancestry.com, Family Search.org and Archives. Students will participate in online live searches of their ancestors, learn how to use search engines like Ancestry, and create a family tree of their very own. We will cover subjects, like family history, culture and immigration to America. Student will need laptop or other computer with ability to connect with the
internet. (optional Ancestry.com or Archives account encouraged) Free 7 day Trial available on first day. (Must have credit card for free trial and parent permission)

Students can create an ancestry book using Shuttterfly and historical documents. (separate account required) Homeschool credit for: Social Studies, World History, American History, Geography, and much more. First class Free!  Parents welcome!

So join us for a fun hour of investigation and revelation as we dive in to Finding Your Roots!
Please call Cynthia Rodriguez
@ 626-242-7410
Or email to: mychildsart@yahoo.com

Duration:  2016 Fall Semester
Cost: $100
Textbooks:  None required as we will be looking more to original
sources but book reading suggestions will always be available.

This course is designed to excite students about the people, places, beliefs (spiritual, philosophical,political) and conditions that led American colonists to rise up and found a new nation.  We will be learning to think like historic researchers to understand the cultural and political world of the 18th century and recognize the ideas and arguments that were woven into the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights.  Why did George Washington wear his uniform to Congress? Why did the Marquis deLafayette ask an enslaved man named
James to join the British army? What can we learn about 1700’s soldiers from a Quaker girl named Sally and what would make a Private named Johnathan hungry enough to eat a raw ox tail?
The course is recommended for 7th -12th grade but younger students will be considered on a case by case basis if you contact the teacher in advance.

Assignments will encompass a variety of methods to be chosen by the students individually: Papers, PowerPoint presentations, Art, Models, Analyses, Oral presentations, etc.
CONTACT:     EMAIL: dan@breedshill.org      PHONE:  714 421 8448

Revolutionary History 2
Duration:  2017 Spring Semester
First class: February 1, 2017
Last class: May 31, 2017
Off/No Class: April 12, 2017 (Easter break)
The March 29^th class will be substituted with, “The Living Revolution” field trip, that will take place in Monrovia. (See EiE Field Trips for more info).

Cost: $100

Textbooks:  None required, as we will be looking more to original sources, but book reading suggestions will always be available.

Continuing the history of the conflict that made the United States, this class will pick up where the first semester left off. (The first semester is not required to join this class). Students will get an understanding of the exciting people, ideas and events that shaped our nation.  We will examine this exciting period looking at period letters, newspapers, documents and art. It is my goal to make history and historic research accessible and interesting even for students who don’t normally like history.

The course is recommended for 7th -12th grade but younger students will be considered on a case by case basis if you contact the teacher in advance.

Assignments will encompass a variety of methods to be chosen by the students individually: Papers, PowerPoint presentations, Art, Models, Analyses, Oral presentations, etc.  Students will need to have a folder or a three ring binder to collect the pages from each class meeting.

CONTACT:     EMAIL: dan@breedshill.org      PHONE:  714 421 8448

In this day and age the cries for government intervention are deafening. We hear about a growing inequality between the rich and poor. We hear about the supposed unfairness of the markets and the need for minimum wage. We hear medical debt is to blame for countless families going bankrupt or dying. We hear about students who are saddled with insurmountable debt before they ever land the job they invested years and dollars towards earning. And we hear about jobs going overseas and other economic concerns. All of these might well be described as unfortunate, but are they really the bi-product of greedy capitalists and markets left unchecked (as we’re told)? These, along with others, are some of the great questions of our time, and deserve to be addressed carefully and respectfully. But in order to do so we first need some critical skills to help us along the way.

This class will navigate a course that first seeks to discover what government is and what its function should or should not be. Amidst the chaos of executive actions, biased news, pop-culture influence, finger-pointing, cliche and half-truth, this understanding will prove invaluable in assessing the actions of our political leaders and the agendas that propel society forward or backward. Because if government is supposed to be our savior (as some suggest) from a world torn apart by greed, hunger, and violence, then we really need to grasp what this ‘savior’ truly is.  From the more philosophical questions of proper government and its role in society, we’ll move into the field of economics. In economics we will learn about some of the science’s key contributors, learn the fundamental laws, and learn how to apply these laws to our every day life (especially how they apply to politics and “the great questions”).  With these newly acquired hard-earned skills at our disposal, we’ll begin to examine the principles that our own country was founded on. In doing so, we’ll encounter The Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers, and, of course, The Constitution. What we discover might be uplifting at times and shocking at others.  We’ll be using several sources during the course, including: books, articles, video, and projects.

Our core curriculum may include:

*Bastiat’s, The Law (free online)
*Whatever Happened to Penny Candy
*The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey
*Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution Not the Problem
*The Mainspring of Human Progress (free online)

Students can expect: lively discussion, opportunities to express themselves, to encounter many ideas, and to come away with a healthy understanding of what: government, society, liberty, and economics are, and how to engage them.

FEE: $150.00 per Semester  emaildanielmoss@gmail.com
CONTACT:  Daniel Moss   (818) 381-5209
EMAIL:  emaildanielmoss@gmail.com

Duration: Fall 2016 Semester
Cost: $240
Textbooks:        Holt-McDougal United States Government (2012)
ISBN 978-0-547-45138-1
(Several used copies of both are available from Amazon.)
(Pictures of the textbook cover can be found on my website.)

Suggested:        APA: The Easy Way! (2nd ed.) (2009)
Peggy & Timothy Houghton, authors
ISBN: 0-923568-962

This course is geared mainly for 11th and 12th grade high school students.  We will be learning about the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, citizenship, elections, legislature, Supreme Court, etc. There will be readings and assignments each week.  Assignments will encompass a variety of methods: papers, PowerPoint presentations, brochure creation, analyses, oral presentations, etc.  Students will better understand how the U.S. government was created, how it evolved, and how it affects our daily lives now. This course can be applied to CS/UC admission requirements for social science.

Start: Monday, August 29, 2016
Off/ No Class: Monday, September 5th (Labor Day) & Monday, November 23rd (Thanksgiving)
Duration: Fall 2016 Semester
Cost: $240
Textbook:        Holt-McDougal Psychology (2010) – Author, Spencer A. Rathus
ISBN 13:978-0-55-400401-3 or 10: 0-55-400401-1
(Several used copies are available from Amazon.)
(Pictures of the textbook cover can be found on my website.)

Suggested:        APA: The Easy Way! (2nd ed.) (2009)
Peggy & Timothy Houghton, authors
ISBN: 0-923568-962

This course is geared mainly for 11th and 12th grade high school students.  We will be learning about basic psychology theory, psychological methods, how we learn, memory, intelligence, life span development, personality, etc. There will be readings and assignments each week.  Assignments will encompass a variety of methods: papers, PowerPoint presentations, brochure creation, analyses, oral presentations, etc.  The study of psychology is constantly evolving.  It is exciting to learn about the human mind works!  This course can often be used towards high school elective requirements.

Start: Monday, January 9, 2017
Off/ No Class: January 16th (MLK Jr. Day), January 20th (President’s Day), March 20th (tentative), April 3rd & April 10th
(Spring Break), May 29th (Memorial Day)
Duration: Spring 2016 Semester
Cost: $240
Textbook:        HOLT Economics: Concepts and Choices (2009)
ISBN-10: 0547082940
ISBN-13: 978-0547082943
(Several used copies are available from Amazon.)
(Pictures of the textbook cover can be found on my website.)

Suggested:        APA: The Easy Way! (2nd ed.) (2009)
Peggy & Timothy Houghton, authors
ISBN: 0-923568-962

This course is geared mainly for 11th and 12th grade high school students.  We will be learning about economic theory, economic systems, market structures, free enterprise, micro/macro economics, international trade, etc. There will be readings and assignments each week.  Assignments will encompass a variety of methods: papers, PowerPoint presentations, brochure creation, analyses, oral presentations, etc.  This course can be applied to CS/UC admission requirements for social science.

Start: Monday, January 9, 2017
Off/ No Class: January 16th (MLK Jr. Day), January 20th (President’s Day), March 20th (tentative), April 3rd & April 10th
(Spring Break), May 29th (Memorial Day)
Duration: Spring 2016 Semester
Cost: $240
Textbook:        HOLT Sociology (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0-03-093561-9
(Several used copies are available from Amazon.)
(Pictures of the textbook cover can be found on my website.)

Suggested:        APA: The Easy Way! (2nd ed.) (2009)
Peggy & Timothy Houghton, authors
ISBN: 0-923568-962

How does society work?  How does it affect our daily lives? How do we impact others?  These, and other questions, are explored.  This course is geared mainly for 11th and 12th grade high school students.  We will be learning about cultural diversity, social structures, life span development in society, relationships, changing social world, etc. There will be readings and assignments each week.  Assignments will encompass a variety of methods: papers, PowerPoint presentations, brochure creation, analyses and oral presentations.  This course can often be used towards high school elective requirements.

TARGET:  Grades 2-6
COST: $200 per 15-week semester. Charter Schools please add $25 administration/billing fee per semesterper student (Approved vendor for iLead, Inspire, Sage Oak, Sky Mountain – Excel Academy pending) All materials provided.
COURSE DURATION: One year (Semester 1 begins 9/14/16, Semester 2 begins 2/8/17)

Join the Acme Detective Agency on the hunt for super spy criminal mastermind, Nina Pasadena. She and her gang of nasty henchmen are stealing treasures, and monuments from around the world.  You and the other Acme Agents will follow the clues leading you through countries of the world, exploring exotic cultures and locations — all to deduce and track down the identity of the criminals and return the stolen goods.

As Nina and her henchman escape to different parts of the globe, you will give chase by solving clues using travel guides,  brochures, maps, encyclopedias, books on nature, cultures, art, architecture, landmarks, and more. Each case will take you to three continents, three countries, and three cities on your hunt for suspects. You will be given one Agent Special Assignment during the year (aka- a short research paper, and drawing task to work on at home) about a specific country that is a henchman hide-out. You will present your Special Assignment in front of the Acme team (oral presentation). Students will also take turns to role play as witness and lead detective. Will we catch Nina Pasadena in the end? Join us to find out! This crime-solving class is sure to be full of mystery and adventure!

Students will learn: Geography, research skills, deduction/logic, oral/written presentation skills.

TO REGISTER:
Download form at WeSparkLearning.com. Please send it in with payment to reserve your spot.  Charter School students must arrange for payment by requesting a P.O./Enrichment Certificate from their Education Specialist before classes begin. I am an approved vendor for iLead, Inspire, Sage Oak, Sky Mountain Charters — Excel Academy pending. Questions? Call (626)482-8963 or email WeSparkLearning@yahoo.com

This series (12 weeks) is intended to equip teens and adults to be able to confront the major issues we encounter in our daily lives.  There is no childcare available, but EIE will provide a Feature Films for Families video for younger children in the playroom at EIE for families that need to bring younger children.

COST:   $5 per family per class

CLASS SCHEDULE:

1. Intro to Thinking Like a Christian

Defining our terms: what is a worldview and why is ours important? What percentage of Christians hold a worldview that is biblically based? What if Christ never lived, and Christianity never was? In this introductory course we will cover the amazing, transforming, and liberating effects Christianity has had upon the entire world, and then examine the root cause for why Christians are having so little effect in our world today.    Thursday, January 5, 2017        7:00-8:30 pm

2. The Christian Worldview of HISTORY

Whatever worldview we adopt and ultimately base our lives upon must have a reliable foundation. How reliable, then, is the Bible compared to other religions or ideas? Is there any proof that God is still working in the world in the same way He did in ancient Israel?Thursday, January 12, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

3. The Christian Worldview of THEOLOGY

How can we know God? How can we know that God exists? What is God like? What are His characteristics? How does Christianity’s God compare to those of the other major religions?  Thursday, January 19, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

4. The Christian Worldview of PHILOSOPHY

The study of ideas. What is real? What is true? Is truth absolute or relative? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? How do I get there?  Thursday, January 26, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

5. The Christian Worldview of ECONOMICS

Compare and contrast Biblically-based Free Market Enterprise (Capitalism) with the Socialist/Marxist/Communist economic systems. What does Christ teach? Does a biblical worldview support the idea of a national healthcare system? What does the Bible have to say about entitlement programs and government welfare programs?  Thursday, February 2, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

6. The Christian Worldview of SCIENCE

What influence has either Christianity or Darwinian Evolution had on science and society? How does the Intelligent Design argument stand up in comparison to Darwinian Evolution? What is the difference between micro and macro evolution? Does religion and faith have any place in the sciences? Does science support or dispel the idea of a Creator? Is science at odds with Christianity? Can a Christian be a scientist, or a scientist a Christian?  Thursday, February 9, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

7. The Christian Worldview of PSYCHOLOGY

Everyone has problems. Some have problems with relationships, others with anger, and others still with depression or guilt. What is the Christian remedy and how does it compare to the “answers” offered by other religions and philosophies.  Thursday, February 16, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

8. The Christian Worldview of ETHICS

Is morality gray? One of the greatest objections we hear today that keeps us from pointing out right or wrong is “who made you the judge?” After all, doesn’t the Bible say, “Judge not lest you be judged?” Unfortunately, most Christians would probably hear that and agree. But what does the Bible really teach and what are the results of a culture not governed by biblical truth?  Thursday, February 23, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

9. The Christian Worldview of SOCIOLOGY

What makes some societies thrive and others suffer? What can a single Christian man or woman do to make a difference? What is the “backbone” of society and how important is the home and church? What is more important to God, the individual or the Nation?  Thursday, March 2, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm         

10. The Christian Worldview of LAW

Does biblical law have any place in a secular society? What is the history of American Law? Is it true that it was based on the Bible? Is it true that you cannot legislate morality? Does the phrase, “Separation of church and state” appear in the Constitution? Why does it seem that American Law has become so unjust in the last 50 years?  Thursday, March 9, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

11. The Christian Worldview of POLITICS

Are Christians to be involved in politics? Should pastors be preaching about politics from the pulpit? Should Christians make a distinction between what is secular versus what is spiritual? Do Christians have a responsibility to vote? What is the result of Christians not participating in the political process?  Thursday, March 16, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

12. The Christian Worldview of EDUCATION

What does the Bible say about the Christian’s role in educating his or her children? Looking at our own history, what was the philosophy of the Founding Fathers toward education? What is the philosophy (or religion) of our public education system now?  What should we do to ensure that our children are prepared for life?  Thursday, March 30, 2017     7:00-8:30 pm

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