Social Studies
Read about AIM's art-infused IH program in this MetroKids article written by AIM teacher Stacy Stackhouse (aka Queen Cleopatra).
Much of the social studies and geography content in the Lower School is experienced through AIM’s Interactive Humanities (IH) classes, the cornerstone of the AIM experience. Our unique methodology incorporates the subjects of civics, geography, history and literature in an arts-based learning environment. Interactive Humanities classes rely heavily on role-playing to reenact historical events in order to develop a better understanding of the complex relationships of the time. These classes meet daily throughout the school year.
Each year the Lower School hosts an Interactive Humanities Night for parents introducing them to our classroom spaces and letting them enjoy a sampling of the many hands-on activities their students enjoy in the Interactive Humanities classrooms. Enjoy a slideshow from the event here:
Additional units of study are woven into the Lower School classroom curriculum and reinforced through numerous interdisciplinary connections allowing students to generalize knowledge across their classes. These additional topics of study include:
Grade 1: Citizenship
Grade 2: Native American History
Grade 3: U.S. History: The 13 Original Colonies
Grade 4: Pennsylvania State History
Grade 5: U.S. History: Colonization to Civil War