Washington State History

Suggested WA State History Checklist, Grades 7+

Please cover the topics listed below. They are based on the Edmonds School District Secondary STI Lessons and on the Washington State Social Studies Learning Standards.

You have lots of options for how these topics may be covered: field trips, reading, writing, discussion, field trips, videos, etc., but try to do at least a little reading and writing for each area. Please contact your student's advisor about specific expectations for your student.

1. Native American Boarding Schools

2. Boldt Decisions

3. Hanford Nuclear Reservation's Effects on Indian Country

4. The Point No Point Treaty

5. Washington State Geography

6. Washington State Civics

7. Washington State Economics

8. Washington State History

Include the following two activities:

1. One or more research projects - Be sure to address different viewpoints as you investigate resources.The student's final product could be a report/essay, webpage, documentary video, guide, etc. Our Edmonds Heights librarian would love to help you if you have any questions about research materials or the research process.

2. Two or more field trips

Recommended Resource

The State We're in: Washington - This is a great all-around resource for WA State history, and it is available in both print and online, and in editions for both grades 6-8 and grades 3-5. 

Optional: Since Time Immemorial Resources

These optional resources can help you if you want to go deeper into any of the topics.

Some descriptions here have been adapted from original materials provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Original materials may be accessed on the OSPI website.  Lessons are part of OSPI's Since Time Immemorial curriculum.

Boarding Schools

• How the U.S. Stole Thousands of Native American Children PDF

• Boarding Schools - Primary Source Analysis PDF

• Tribes Confront Painful Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools PDF

• National Native American Board Schools Healing Coalition Announcement PDF

The Boldt Decision: 40 Years Later Level 1 

• Boldt Decision Main Page

• Bold Decision Level 1 Lesson PDF w/links

Hanford Nuclear Reservation's Effects on Indian Country - Level 1

• Hanford Nuclear Reservation's Effects on Indian Country Main Page

• Hanford Nuclear Reservation's Effects on Indian Country Lesson PDF w/links

Territory and Treaty Making: The Point No Point Treaty 

• Territory and Treaty Making: The Point No Point Treaty Main Page

• Point No Point Treaty Lessons: Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5

Optional: Social Studies Topics & Questions

This information was adapted from original materials provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Original materials may be accessed on the OSPI website.

Social Studies Skills

Social studies skills include the ability to consider multiple viewpoints and weigh the validity of those viewpoints by applying an analysis of evidence. Possible questions to explore:

• Why is it important to keep asking questions when conducting research?

• How do the answers to questions help lead to additional questions?

• What kinds of sources are needed to adequately answer questions, state claims, and provide evidence?

• How can you decide whether or not a source has credibility?

• How do you know that you have accumulated information that represents a range of multiple viewpoints?

• How can we interpret the impact of an historical event? From whose perspective is the event presented?

Civics

Possible questions to explore:

• How are the ideals of representative government supported in the Washington state constitution?

• How does the structure of the Washington state constitution support the function of government and meet the needs of a diverse population? Whose needs are not being met? Whose voice is not represented?

• Is the initiative process a fair way to make policy? Fair to whom? Is it just?

• What are some of the elements of the agreements contained in one or more treaty agreements between Washington tribes and the United States, and how have treaties been honored or disregarded over time?

• How can young people make political change in their local community?

Economics

Possible questions to explore:

• What are the impacts of differing solutions to a current economic issue in Washington state? Who benefits and who loses with various solutions? Who had a voice in the decisions?

• How does Washington’s location and geographic regions affect the production of goods and the state’s role in the global economy?

• Analyze the role of government in the economy of Washington state through taxation, spending, and policy setting in the past or present. How have choices in taxation policy
  affected different groups in Washington: small and large businesses; upper, middle, and lower income people? Are there some groups who benefit while others are harmed?

• How do natural resources and climate impact economic and population development differently in distinct regions of Washington state

Geography

Possible questions to explore:

• What are the push/pull factors that led people to Washington state, and how were various groups of people treated when they came to Washington state?

• Explain and analyze how the environment has affected people and how human actions modify the physical environment, and in turn, how the physical environment limits or promotes human activities in Washington state in the past or present.

• What geographic features make Washington state an attractive trading partner?

History

Possible questions to explore:

• Consider a major historical event. How is it represented on timelines from different cultural perspectives, including those of indigenous people?

• How have themes and developments defined eras in Washington state history from 1854 to the present:

• Territory and treaty-making (1854-1889)

• Railroads, reform, immigration, and labor (1889-1930)

• Turmoil and triumph (1930-1974)

• New technologies and industries in contemporary Washington (1975-present)

Some key players in WA State history students could learn about: Chief Seattle, George Washington Bush, Narcissa and Marcus Whitman, Mary Ann Boren Denny, Asa Mercer. 

Resource idea: Remarkable Washington Women by L.E. Bragg.