American History

 

Cornerstone Preparatory Academy is dedicated to patriotic themes, exploration of the rise of Western Civilization, and the study of World History/Cultures. 

 

The study of American history is a priority for our students. Studies reflect on the ideals of liberty, justice, and civic responsibility. Lessons are grounded in America’s founding principles, instilling a deep appreciation for the endowment of unalienable rights and the responsibilities of citizenship in a free republic.

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Our social studies curriculum incorporates reading of America’s founding texts, as well as core writings of America’s historical figures. 

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Some texts included in our curriculum program: 

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• Declaration of Independence

• United States Constitution

• Bill of Rights

• Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

• Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

• Selections from the Federalist Papers 

• Emancipation Proclamation

• Brown v. Board of Education

• FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech

• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

• Maps of the United States

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Civics and American Government

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Civics instruction at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy is deeply rooted in the principles of classical education and the ideals of the American republic.

 

Students learn that civic virtue, personal responsibility, and respect for the rule of law are essential to maintaining a free and just society. Instruction is aligned with Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Civics and Government, ensuring students acquire both content knowledge and practical understanding of their rights and duties as citizens.

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Beginning in the elementary grades, students explore foundational ideas of citizenship, community, and governance through stories, biographies, and early American history.

 

As they progress through middle and upper grades, students study the founding documents — including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights — and examine the philosophical influences of classical thinkers such as Aristotle, Cicero, and Locke, as well as the writings of the Founding Fathers.

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Cornerstone’s unique Classical Representative Republic Program provides experiential learning opportunities where students actively engage in age-appropriate simulations of democratic governance. Through classroom elections, legislative debates, and mock decision-making sessions, students learn the functions of government, the balance of powers, and the importance of civic participation. These activities encourage leadership, collaboration, and an understanding of how virtue and reason sustain freedom in a constitutional republic.

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Our approach to teaching World History​

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Historical Studies at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy follow a chronological approach, allowing students to see how civilizations, ideas, and cultures develop and influence one another over time.

 

Students begin by exploring the ancient world — including Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome — to understand the roots of human civilization. From there, studies progress through Medieval Europe and the Crusades, then move into the Renaissance and Reformation, examining how faith, art, and science reshaped society.

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Students continue into the Age of Exploration and Early American History, followed by the Industrial Revolution and major movements of the modern era. By the upper grades, learners study key events of the post-modern and contemporary world, connecting past lessons to current national and global issues.

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