Social Studies
In an interconnected world where our students as future leaders will work closely with others representing different cultures, countries, histories, religions, and political views, it is critical that our students develop an engaged awareness of the larger world and its current challenges, asking important and urgent questions about that world, and wrestling with its important questions. Our middle school Social Studies program, incorporating history, geography, civics, economics, current affairs, and world religions, seeks to enable our students to leave 8th Grade with not only an understanding of the modern world, but a strong sense of citizenship at the local, national, and global level. A sophisticated notion of leadership and service is developed through this program in conjunction with the service learning program.
5th and 6th Grades
The 5th and 6th Grade program carefully builds upon the 4th Grade US History Part I program which plunges students into the world of exploration and the subsequent setting up of the 13 Colonies. Social Studies is closely connected to the Language Arts courses as part of our Humanities approach. Our 5th Graders take a break from US history, studying ancient civilizations. 6th Graders resume their study of US history, starting with the Revolutionary War and the foundation of the US.
5th Grade: Ancient Civilizations
In 5th Grade we plunge into the ancient world. Along the way we zoom in upon certain cultures. With the thread of the Silk Road as a metaphor for journey, change, and cultural transmission from one area to another and one era to another, we visit Mesopotamia in the spirit of examining innovation and invention. We peer at the incredible flowering of ideas as we study those in South Asia, and we mark the incredible sophistication of the ancient Chinese. We end the year examining the shape of the Mediterranean world crafted by Greco-Roman culture with its legacy for the world today. We explore the notion of Roman citizenship and understand her civic institutions, which have had such a profound impact on society and government right up to today. At the end of 5th Grade, the students are well positioned to understand the Revolutionary War and the foundation of the United States, as many of the ideas come from an understanding of key ideas and institutions from the Classical era.
6th Grade: US History Part II
In 6th Grade the vital link between the ancient civilizations and US history is made as the founders of this country knew their Classical history as they crafted this unique and radical experiment: the republic that became the US. It is the second year of the US history course. The first trimester of 6th Grade year Social Studies focuses on the second year of US starting at the American Revolution. In the second trimester, the African Diaspora, slavery, and the Civil War become the emphasis of our studies. Finally, in the third trimester, we discuss aspects of the 20th century including immigration, the industrialization of the country, and the beginnings of the Great Migration from the South to the North. This course has as part of its culminating experience a class trip to trip to Washington D.C.
7th and 8th Grades
The 7th and 8th Grade program focuses upon developing an understanding of the modern world, current global issues, and debate. 7th Graders take a credit course (valid for Washington public schools only) in Washington state history/geography. They examine East Asian countries and cultures, and have a specialized study of World War II and the Shaping of the Modern World, with a focus on understanding political ideologies. 8th Graders pick up where our 7th Graders left of with study of the Cold War, enabling them to understand the current challenges of the world today. Our 8th Graders explore current global issues that they will face as they enter adult life, examining large scale challenges facing our world such as population growth, access to clean water, the effects of poverty, environmental challenges, etc.). Current challenges such as Arab Spring are explored. In the process, students experience these topics in an atmosphere of discussion and debate, developing their own world views as they explore those of others. The Social Studies program at STS also has the unique characteristic of exploring World Religions.
Special electives (Master Classes) offered in 7th and 8th Grades connect to the world of Social Studies for those who wish to pursue topics in greater depth.