San Diego High – Essential Power and Identity Around the World 1,2 (3854, 3855)

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

Essential Power and Identity Around the World is a one-period history social science course intended for students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades 9-12 or adult transition who are eligible to take the California Alternative Assessment (CAA). Through examination of historical events, students will demonstrate skills in the areas of chronological and spatial thinking; historical research, evidence, and point of view; and historical interpretation. Students will also address core content connectors aligned with alternate achievement standards–called the Core Content Connectors (CCCs)–and linked to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts. In this course, students will study world history from the late 1700s to the present while examining the following strands: history, geography, economics, culture, hegemony, and ethics. The course thematically explores how power and identity shape national identity, international relations, constitutional heritage, and citizenship. By analyzing primary and secondary sources from diverse perspectives throughout the world, students develop arguments and apply historical reasoning, such as contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time in order to evaluate instances of oppression and movements towards equity. Students will understand the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to current world issues. The curriculum is designed to empower all students to engage socially and politically and to think analytically and critically about the world around them. Students will also assess how individuals can make a difference and become advocates by challenging prejudice, exclusion, injustice in society, and become protectors of the environment, by becoming civilly engaged agents of change. Adaptations, modifications and access to assistive technologies will be available based on the assessed needs of individual students and may incorporate the functional application of history-social science skills that include community based components to promote generalization of skills and independence.