Archbishop Hoban High School
At Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron, OH, 9th and 10th graders study World Cultures in their social studies class. This class deals with the world history, focusing more specifically on the great civilizations, from the Prehistoric peoples to the world from 1945.
The textbook for this class is World History, The Human Journey, Holt, Rinehart and Wilson, 2005. This textbook isn't recognized as the most famous textbook in the U.S. However, it's rather complete, objective and provides primary resources, many illustrations, maps and methods as well. The textbook is divided into 8 units, each having a "cross-cultural connection". For instance, the 1st unit "The Beginnings of Civilization" focuses on "geography", whereas the 5th unit "From Absolutism to Revolution" emphasizes on the "constitutional heritage" of that time.
Every unit is divided into many chapters, which start with a timeline, and the main idea. Many pictures illustrate the texts, and can be used as primary sources, yet they are not used that much. Indeed, the lack of time and the fact that students are usually unfamiliar with their books are two reasons why the textbooks are underused.
By Fabrice R.
Teachers In Training
Akron - Ohio
2007