Humanities

Welcome to the Humanities program page.

Our mission is to instill a capacity for communication, empathy, and citizenship through critical thinking, reflection, and appreciation of diverse viewpoints. We aim to foster life-long learners, thinkers, collaborators and communicators.

The Humanities Program consists of English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Social Studies. Through the Humanities program, all GPS students will successfully master both ELAR and Social Studies learning standards and will be able to effectively study and critically think about how people process and document the human experience.

In the Humanities, GPS students study contemporary and historical writers and thinkers in order to develop their own abilities to critically read, write, speak, and think, ultimately preparing them to excel in today’s global society. Together, these areas of study prepare students for success in college and career, while also ensuring students are informed, engaged participants in civic life.

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English/Language Arts

The Language Arts program is the vehicle that ensures students develop the strategies and skills they need to comprehend and communicate effectively. Reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and presenting are addressed within our curriculum, which is aligned with the Common Core State Standards provided by the State of Connecticut.

Literacy development is greatest when written, spoken and visual communication are taught in context. Students are expected to be active learners who are flexible and prepared to grow as they organize, analyze, revise, evaluate and synthesize information. Students are also encouraged to develop an appreciation and respect for all forms of literacy.

Curriculum Overviews

Elementary School

The K-5 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) curriculum is aligned to the Connecticut Core Standards (CCS) for Reading Literature, Reading Informational Texts, Writing and Language, and Speaking and Listening. In GPS, ELAR instruction is grounded in the workshop model, and at K-3 we are committed to providing systematic and explicit early literacy instruction proven most effective for our youngest learners. Combined, ELA instruction includes inquiry, interactive read alouds, guided reading, shared reading, interactive writing, shared writing, reading workshop, writing workshop, and word study.

Middle School

High School

Social Studies

Our Social Studies program is grounded in guiding principles from the National Council for the Social Studies:

Social Studies prepares the nation’s young people for success in college and career, as well as informed, engaged participation in civic life.
Inquiry is at the heart of social studies instruction.
Social Studies involves interdisciplinary instruction and benefits from interaction with and integration of the arts and humanities.
Social Studies is composed of deep and enduring understandings, concepts, and skills from the disciplines.
Social Studies instructors should emphasize skills and practices that prepare students for informed and engaged participation in civic life.
Social Studies education has direct and explicit connections to the Common Core State Standards for English/language arts and literacy in history/social studies.

Social studies instruction should consist of teachers and students asking (and answering) compelling questions, so in GPS, we use the inquiry process to ensure each students' deep of understanding of history, geography, civics, and economics. Student investigation of subject matter is the most critical component of social studies. Therefore, the social studies program emphasizes these skills in the service of helping students discover rich social studies content.