Middle School Social studies at St. Peter's

The Program

Throughout the three years of middle school social studies, students are exposed to a substantial number of people, places, things, and ideas that have shaped the history of the world. Every unit is explored within the many different social sciences: geography, civics, sociology, history, etc. With a number of hands-on history lessons and projects, the past is mimicked as much as it can be inside a 21st-century classroom.

Students are encouraged to learn the facts and build their knowledge of a subject so that they can form educated, individual, and accountable opinions on the matter at hand. The goal is to then transfer those skills over to their personal lives so that they are able to be informed, honest, responsible, and contributing members of society.

ms. LeeAnn Crisman

 LeeAnn Crisman is a 3rd generation native San Franciscan. She began her journey to becoming an educator in high school at Abraham Lincoln High School through their Teacher Academy. After finishing her degree in Child Development at San Francisco State University, she taught pre-kindergarten for several years. LeeAnn is a recent graduate of University of San Francisco Urban Education and Social Justice teaching program. Throughout her education there were so many experiences that led her to this moment as a teacher. When she is not in the classroom you can find her hiking with her dog Lucky, baking or reading a book (Harry Potter happens to be her favorite series!) with an iced coffee. LeeAnn hopes that each student that comes into her classroom is inspired. She often thinks of this quote by Robert Heinlein, " When one teaches, two learn." She truly believes that the students have taught her far more than she ever will teach them.

SIXth grade

We focus on Ancient Civilizations in sixth grade, and students explore the technology, art, belief systems, and lifestyle of the first known civilizations. Students learn the significance of major water sources to ancient civilizations. As they map their way through the textbook using major rivers as their guide through Asia, Africa, and Europe, they strengthen their note taking, discussion, and organizational skills, skills that will allow them to be successful throughout their years in middle school—and beyond.

SEVENth grade

In seventh grade, social studies covers the time of the fall of the Roman Empire to the exploration of the New World. Students weave their way through every continent and explore the culture, lifestyle, government, technology, and religious beliefs of the powerful empires from the Medieval Times. In every unit, students see cultures clashing and influencing each other in both negative and positive ways and get the knowledge needed to move on to eighth grade.

EIGHth grade 

Eighth grade social studies begins with colonization in the New World and lends us many opportunities to explore people, places, and things that have been key contributors to the making of and the history of the United States. Through the study of conflicts and resolutions, tradition and change, rights and responsibilities, students are able to find where they belong in the story, and they begin to decide how they will leave their own mark on history.