Student Learning

History is the study of change over time. The history program at BASIS Independent Bellevue exemplifies the usefulness of historical study as it trains our students in ways that benefit them throughout their academic journeys and beyond. As they progress through our spiraling curriculum, students develop the skills to interpret the past and engage critically with the present.

Our Spiraling Curriculum and Scaffolding Skills for Long-term Success

Our Mountaineers are exposed to history lessons in their humanities course work but take their first dedicated history class starting in grade 4. Aided by the Learning Expert Teacher, students have their first foray into working with a History Subject Expert Teacher who helps guide them into the study of the past through a hands-on, inquiry-based class. The course taken by our grade 4 students introduces our Mountaineers to historical study in a class with 12 units. Topics in this course range from the beginning of human civilization and world geography to Washington State history and family history. As part of our spiraling curriculum, each of the topics covered will later be touched upon throughout their time at BASIS Independent Bellevue. The scaffolding of historical thinking skills for long-term academic success begins in the Primary Program years as they start working on critical analysis, writing, and argumentation by working on class components like close readings of documents and constructing a five-paragraph, thesis-driven essays.

As students enter our Middle School Program, they deepen their exploration of the ancient world in grade 5 with Classics, studying civilizations like Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India. Our Mountaineers examine key figures, myths, belief systems, political structures, and innovations that shaped human history giving them a strong sense of the larger narratives and major problems of human history. Simultaneously, students begin Latin, creating a rich interdisciplinary experience that ties language to culture and history. Studying Latin alongside ancient history also helps them engage more deeply with concepts like Roman architecture, mythology, and philosophy. It also builds connections to subjects like mathematics, economics, and visual arts. This multilayered exposure not only strengthens their historical understanding but also sharpens analytical thinking and fosters an appreciation for the interconnectedness of human development. 

Grade 6 students then move on to World History I, the first part of a two-year sequence that follows the trajectory of human civilization from the earliest migration of humans out of Africa. The course is structured around a mix of discussion, guided instruction, activity-based learning, primary and secondary source analysis, and creative critical thinking projects. Students actively engage with big content—such as early agriculture, belief systems, and the rise of political institutions—while developing strong skills in asking insightful historical questions and thinking deeply about the sources of our knowledge. At every level, our students are not just learning to memorize facts about the past but gaining perspective on how knowledge is created, stored, and interpreted that benefit them no matter what subject area they are engaged with.

In grade 7, Mountaineers continue the global journey stretching up to the modern era with themes such as empire-building, revolution, industrialization, and decolonization. Students engage with more complex texts, begin to learn how to perform Document-Based Questions (DBQs), and are expected to write multi-paragraph essays of the types of prompts they will encounter in AP-level courses. Students learn how to trace change and continuity though time, evaluate evidence from a variety of sources, and imagine the perspectives of people who lived in different times and places. By the end of grade 7, students are not only extremely well-versed in the course of world history—they are also equipped with the analytical, research, and writing skills that will carry them through high school and beyond.

In grade 8, our students take on U.S. History with a special focus on building the skills they will need for success in grade 9 AP Government and Politics and grade 10 AP US History. Students dive into key moments, movements, and foundational documents that have shaped the United States, developing a strong understanding of the nation’s key principles, government structures, and historical transformations. Through close reading of primary and secondary sources, robust class discussions, and argumentative writing assignments, students learn to think critically about American stories—recognizing achievements and complexities. Special attention is given to analyzing foundational documents, understanding historical context, and strengthening research and writing skills. With an eye toward their future AP Government course, Grade 8 students leave U.S. History ready to navigate more advanced coursework with confidence.

Studying history as the BASIS Curriculum is designed to develop 21st century learning skills. The combination of World and US History not only helps students take on a global approach to the discipline as they begin to digest the broad strokes of historical study but our focus on close reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in these sessions begin to help them be ready for AP-level classes in high school while also strengthening their analytical and intellectual fundamentals which carries over into other classes.    

Our High School Program and the Advanced Placement Track

“As much as possible we want our students to be good citizens of the world. History is a great place to develop soft skills that are necessary in the real world and help them thrive in social settings. Developing compelling arguments, digging deep into sources, and thinking critically about questions beyond what seems like the most apparent answer.” – Mr. Tyler, History SET & AP Instructor on the goal of our history program

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In high school, our Mountaineers take on the study of history through the Advanced Placement (AP) program. Students flourish in our AP program because of our curriculum’s spiraling structure and our emphasis on scaffolding instrumental skills. The framework of BASIS Independent Bellevue’s history program means students are well-prepared for the demands of AP coursework. By the time they enroll in AP classes, students are comfortable analyzing complex texts, synthesizing information, and producing thoughtful, analytical essays. “The benefit of our AP History track is that it moves students beyond surface-level learning to develop critical analysis skills,” said Mr. Tyler, “They learn to see trends, extrapolate data, and think deeply about how historical narratives are constructed.”

Beyond content mastery, Mountaineers going through the AP-track build essential academic skills that prepare them for college and beyond. They learn to ask thoughtful questions and investigate how historians construct knowledge from evidence. Our focus on AP coursework equips them with the habits of mind needed to excel in higher education: close reading, persuasive writing, and critical interpretation. At every step, they are supported by passionate educators who believe in pushing students to think independently and with purpose. Led by our top-tier Subject Expert Teachers, the AP curriculum helps our students gain the critical thinking and writing skills that are necessary for success in college and in the workplace. The typical trajectory is taking AP US Government, AP US History, AP World History, and a Senior Seminar. By the time they graduate, Mountaineers will be ready for what seminar-style social studies and humanities classes will look like as they venture into higher education.

Grade 9 students head through a tunnel of faculty and staff cheering them on before the AP Government and Politics exam that took place early-May 2025. The AP Tunnel is a tradition at many BASIS schools that was accompanied by a pep-talk from our Head of School. Amidst AP exams, our HOS wanted to remind our Mountaineers that, “Rather than place all of the focus and emphasis on the grades received, I wanted to take a moment to recognize the brilliant young men and women that walk into that testing room, take a seat, and represent themselves and our school in such an exceptional way. I am proud of these students from the moment they begin to the moment that they finish each one of their tests. I don’t need to see their scores to understand the hard work and dedication that they put into preparing for them. It is no small feat.” Check out the full video on our Instagram page.

Studying history at BASIS Independent Bellevue equips students with the tools to understand complex issues, think critically, and become engaged global citizens who can navigate the challenges of the future. The social and emotional part of history is important for developing maturity and empathy in our students as they explore the lives and experiences of people from diverse backgrounds and time periods. Part of this also means studying heavier topics, Mr. Tyler stated, “It is important to take on the heavy topics in history and we have had tremendous support from the parents in our community—it is a way to build trust by addressing serious topics and decipher the ways we can best look at them through inquiry-based learning.” Knowing that you can trust your teachers to deliver this content with expert-level knowledge is part of the BASIS Independent Bellevue difference.

BASIS Independent Bellevue equips students with essential academic and analytical skills that serve them far beyond the classroom. Through a carefully sequenced, content-rich curriculum, students learn to examine evidence, build arguments, and write with clarity and purpose. As they progress into our Advanced Placement courses, they do so with confidence—already practiced in the habits of historical thinking. Ultimately, a huge difference maker is the amazing faculty we have recruited to lead the delivery of this program. Mr. Tyler, who is also a subject-advisor for the network, stated, “Collaboration is key. We work as a department to outline the specific skills we want each grade and class to work on. Our department keeps our channels open to develop our students and give the extra attention they deserve in a small school. At an academically advanced private school, history education needs to be something that makes our students stronger, and it requires the teamwork of department faculty to deliver a top-tier program at each level.” Thus, our Mountaineers leave each year more well-rounded and a fruitful foundation in research, reasoning, and communication that prepares them for success in academics, in their social lives, in work, and in their understanding of themselves and others in the world.

Grade 4 students working on a project on the 13 colonies declaring independence from Great Britain. Students wrote their own declarations as well to try and get into the mindsets of people living in Colonial America. Our Grade 4 History SET, Ms. Rieger, notes, “Students get more excited when they can apply history to their own life. The students were able to write their own Declarations of Independence and advocate for things that were important to them. Taking thought patterns and seeing how they work in the present. Projects and hands on learning with history lead to them actually taking the material and processing it in a useful way.”