Social Studies Guide

Elementary

Starting September 1, 2026  ·  Jelsa, Croatia  ·  Ongoing

About The Field School of Hvar

The Field School of Hvar is an independent enrichment program located in Jelsa, on the island of Hvar, Croatia. We bring together children ages 3 through 15 from around the world for a year-round academic program grounded in experiential learning, close reading, and deep engagement with literature, history, and the natural world. Small groups, meaningful work, and genuine community are at the heart of everything we do.

Our curriculum is organized based on a chronological story of Western human development. In the 2026-27 academic year, we will be centered in pre-history, Ancient Greece, and Rome. All of these civilizations had significant presences on island Hvar and left vibrant traces of their culture. In year two, we will inhabit the Middle Ages and early Renaissance; in year three, the Modern era; and in year four, the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Elementary learners encounter this history through read-alouds, hands-on projects, and meaningful encounters with Hvar's historic landscape.

About the Role

The Social Studies Guide will lead history and humanities practica for our Lower Primary (8 children ages 7 and 8) and Upper Primary (10 children ages 9 and 10) groups. You will meet with each group twice per week for afternoon sessions of approximately three hours each.

Each session begins with a read-aloud from a narrative history, followed by student narration. The second part of the lesson is hands-on, student-led group work: exploring the discipline of historical anthropology through a study of ancient dress. Ultimately, learners will use what they glean from ancient civilizations to reimagine their own apparel through our Zero-Kilometer Schoolwear project. You will have help with the craft element of this project from a specialist Fellow. Your role is to anchor the session in historical context, teach children how to conduct research, and guide the conversation between study and practice.

Social Studies Program

Central Question

The guiding inquiry — shared with the older groups across the school — is: what is beauty? How have human beings throughout history used personal appearance to navigate social belonging? Elementary learners approach this question concretely, through observation and making, while allowing space for more personal and philosophical reflections. The practicum work is the primary vehicle for this inquiry.

Fall Semester (September 7 – November 28)

The fall will center on the island’s earliest inhabitants: mesolithic hunter-gatherers, neolithic early farmers, Illyrian tribesman, and finally Greek colonists, who established the town of Pharos, now called Stari Grad. The island is rich with material evidence of this period - in the UNESCO-protected ager landscape, museum holdings, and ruins.

Spring Semester (March 13 – June 5)

In the spring, our focus will progress to the Roman world. The province of Dalmatia was a large and vibrant frontier of the Roman Empire and left abundant remains and many dramatic stories. Teuta, pirate queen of Illyria, offers a dramatic story of rebellion under occupation. The last Western Roman Emperor ruled from Salona, now called Split, the mainland city nearest to Hvar.

Session Structure

Each three-hour afternoon session follows a consistent rhythm, with companion activities calibrated by age level:

• 30 minutes: Read-aloud from Story of the World, accompanied by a coloring sheet connected to the civilization or event discussed

• 30 minutes: Student narration and discussion

• 60 minutes: Critical Thinking — research and design thinking related to schoolwear project

• 60 minutes: Craft/Experiential — developing prototypes using techniques (sewing, natural dyes, simple construction) based on historical practices

Schedule and Responsibilities

Teaching Days

The school day runs 9:00am–4:00pm. Social Studies and Biology practica take place from 1:00pm–4:00pm, followed by a faculty hour from 4:00–5:00pm. During the faculty hour, teachers manage documentation, communicate with the administrative team, and prepare materials for the following day.

On Fridays, you will help students prepare and present a brief summary of the week’s work for parents. This is a valued part of how we keep families connected to their children’s learning.

Non-Teaching Day

One day each week (equivalent to one day in five) is reserved for non-teaching work, divided among three activities:

• Planning and administration — curriculum preparation, collaboration with other guides and specialist fellows, and coordination with the administrative team

• Workshop for local children — a free or low-cost offering for children from the Jelsa community who are enrolled in Croatian public school and cannot participate in the full program

• Workshop for community adults — open to Field School parents and local adults, connecting the school’s activities to a wider audience

Assessment and Documentation

There is very little formal grading. Instead, you will be expected to:

• Maintain ongoing observational notes on each student’s development

• Issue a brief weekly summary of work covered with each group

• Contribute to ongoing program assessment — what’s working, what needs adjustment

The administrative team manages parent communication, disciplinary matters, and family concerns. Teachers are not expected to interface with parents beyond the Friday presentations, community workshops, and everyday pleasantries. Our communication policies are described in detail in the staff handbook.

Annual Calendar

• Fall program: September 7 – November 28

• Winter: December through mid-March — equivalent to summer break at most schools. Teachers take their 20 days of mandated leave during this period; the remainder is used for planning, curriculum development, and preparation for spring.

• Spring program: March 13 – June 5

• Summer: Teachers work through the summer in support of the school’s summer programming and ongoing operations.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings several of the following:

• A love of history and the ability to bring the ancient world to life for young children through story and direct encounter

• Confidence reading aloud to a group and facilitating the narration and discussion that follow

• Interest in interdisciplinary, hands-on work. Experience with Destination Imagination, Odyssey of the Mind, or similar project-based learning programs for kids is very welcome.

• Comfort maintaining a long arc of inquiry across a full academic year, connecting individual sessions to larger questions

• Warmth and adaptability within a small, close-knit school community

Fluency in English is required. Croatian is not required but warmly welcomed.

Position Details

• Start date: September 1, 2026

• Duration: permanent (neodređeno) or from September 7 - November 28, if candidate prefers short-term contract

• Location: Jelsa, Hvar, Croatia (in-person)

• Groups: 8 children ages 6–7 (Lower Primary); 10 children ages 8–9 (Upper Primary)

• Schedule: Part-time — 2 afternoon sessions per week per group, approximately 180 minutes each, plus one non-teaching day per week. Can be combined with math or language roles at the school.

• Hours: 1:00pm–5:00pm on teaching days

• Salary: €1,500 per month gross (bruto) plus 20% tuition discount

• Leave: 20 days, taken during the winter period (December – mid-March)

• Employment: Through FSHvar, Ltd. (Croatian entity)

Please apply through the form on our Careers page. We look forward to meeting you!