MIDDLE SCHOOL RELIGION & SOCIAL STUDIES

Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

World History (Prehistory to 1450 AD)

  • Early Humans and Societies

  • Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

  • Ancient Egypt and Kush

  • Ancient India

  • Ancient China

  • Ancient Greece

  • Roman Republic

  • Rome and Christianity

  • Early African Civilizations

  • China

  • Japan

  • Early  Americas

  • Middle Ages

Mr. Nick Adams

-B.A. History 1994/ Washington State University, Pullman, WA

-Teacher Certification 2000/ Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA

Prior to teaching at St. Nicholas, Mr. Adams taught seventh and eighth grade Social Studies and eighth grade religion at St. Patrick School in Tacoma for eleven years. He also subbed for many years here at St. Nicholas. He has a diverse teaching experience that includes English, Science, and Special Education. However, History and Religion are where his true passion, experience, and expertise are.

Mr. Adams has a BA in History from Washington State University and later attended Central Washington University for some graduate work in History, and earned his teaching certificate.

Mr. Adams enjoys spending time with his family and friends in his spare time, especially his son who is graduating from Bellarmine this year. He is interested in classic cars and classic films.

nadams@sncsgh.org

CURRICULUM

Social Studies

Middle school Social Studies is on a three year curriculum cycle that ensures all students who attend St. Nicholas for all three middle school years will be exposed to all middle school Social Studies standards. These standards are taught through a combination of reading, writing, note-taking, discussions, peer collaboration, music, art work, poetry, literature, political cartoons, documentaries, and other miscellaneous break-out activities and projects. Below are the major topics covered in each year of our curriculum rotation:

Washington State History

  • Ancient history, early settlements and geography

  • Treaties to statehood

  • Railroads, immigration, and growth

  • Reform era and labor challenges

  • World War I

  • 1920's

  • Great Depression

  • World War II

  • Cold War

  • Civil Rights Movement

  • State and local government

  • Washington's economy

World History (1450 AD to Present)

  • Renaissance, Reformation, Counter Reformation

  • Age of Discovery

  • Enlightenment and revolution

  • Global challenges

U.S.History

  • Earliest Americans 

  • European discovery, settlement, and empires (1400-1700)

  • Beginnings of slavery

  • English colonies (1605-1774)

  • American Revolution (1774-1783)

  • Forming a new government (1777-1791)

  • Read, discuss, and analyze the Constitution

  • Launching the Nation (1789-1800)

  • The Republic (1800-1855)

  • The nation expands (1790-1860)

  • The South and a divided nation (1848-1860)

  • Civil War (1861-1865)

  • Reconstruction (1865-1877)

  • Industrial Age (1876-1890)

  • Immigrants and urban life (1872-1914)

  • Progressive Era (1868-1920)

  • Emerging World Power (1867-1920)

  • World War I (1914-1920)

  • Roaring 20's

  • Great Depression (1929-1939)

  • World War II (1938-1945)

  • Early Cold War (1945-1959)

  • Civil Rights movement (1945-1979)

  •  Vietnam War (1960-1975)

  • 1980's to Present