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. Janet Rodriguez

Janet Rodriguez was born in Martinez and raised in Brentwood, California, where she is the oldest of three siblings. Janet enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling to Mexico, and being with family. After graduating from Liberty High School, she attended Chico State, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. Janet discovered her passion for teaching while working as a teaching assistant and tutor in K-12 schools. Currently, she is attending UCSF to obtain her Single Subject Credentials, Master's in Teaching, and Bilingual Authorization. As a teacher, Janet is committed to creating a warm and supportive environment for her students to learn and grow.

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.