One of the great advantages of being an international school in Shanghai is the amount of history that surrounds our students every day. Our Social Science department has been working to take advantage of that by integrating local history into our courses in a few different ways, both in the classroom and beyond it.

The first way local history shows up in our curriculum is in the 10th grade World History course, which covers the period from roughly 1750 to the present. Each unit in the course makes connections to what was happening in Shanghai during that time, which allows students to make continual local connections and to think about global events from a local perspective.

One of the major projects in the course asks students to create their own walking tour of Shanghai. Students plan the route, design a brochure for the tour, and defend the historical significance of the stops they include. Many students walk their own tours during the planning process, and some of the finished tours have been shared with faculty members who are interested in exploring the city's historic areas. The project works well as a capstone because it combines content knowledge with historical thinking skills, and it gives students a real sense of ownership and a practical application for what they have learned.

Students also have opportunities to explore local history outside of class. As part of the school's weekend wellness program, Social Science teacher Nick Perez runs history walks around Shanghai, and students take an active role in leading them. It is a great way for students to get outside, spend time with friends, and share what they know about the city with others.

Local history also plays an important role in our National History Day (NHD) projects. Concordia is the host institution for the NHD China affiliate, and all of our 9th and 10th graders complete NHD projects as part of their Social Science courses. Since we are the China affiliate, many students choose topics related to Chinese history, and when possible we encourage them to select topics connected specifically to Shanghai so they can make use of local museums, resources, and experts. NHD China also offers special awards each year for excellence in Chinese History and Shanghai History, and many of the students who receive them do so by drawing on these local connections.

Last year, a group of freshmen working on a project about the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 were encouraged to visit the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, a small museum in the former French Concession, to learn more about his role in those events. In past years, students researching the Cultural Revolution have visited the Shanghai Propaganda Art Museum, which has an incredible collection of Chinese poster art that is rarely available online or in reference books. Connections like these lead to stronger projects, but they also spark real interest and curiosity in students, which can have a lasting impact on how they approach history.

Integrating local history into the curriculum helps students build excitement for the subject, supports them through the inquiry process, and helps them make meaningful connections to the place they live. For students at an international school, we think that is especially important. Our department is continuing to look for new ways to take advantage of the history around us, and we would encourage families to explore some of it as well.