This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

12/16-12/20

This week is marked by some important events:

1. Start of Unit 4: Imperial China on Monday!

2. Trimester 1 Awards Ceremony on Thursday from 3-4 PM, parents welcome!

As the last week of school for this year (meaning 2013) winds down, I want to celebrate all the hard work that students put in during the first few months of school.  We have complete three full units, a mini-unit on religion, taken two IAs, and two maps from memory!  This week we will just begin to explore Imperial China and all the mysteries surrounding it.  The Map from Memory: ASIA will be a few weeks after our return from Winter Break.  The materials to study for the Asia test are already up on the website.  Visit the Map from Memory: ASIA tab, or click here, to play the challenge.  Flashcards for this unit are also already up on the website under the vocabulary tab, or you can click here to get there.  Let's wrap up the final week of the year as strong as we have been throughout the entire year:)

The homework for this week will include leveled reading 12.17.

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

12/9-12/13

This week is marked by some important events:

1. Core Value Field Trip on Wednesday 12.11!

2. Unit 3: The Spread of Islam Summative Assessment on Thursday 12.12!

3. Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences on Friday 12.13!

We are finishing up Unit 3 on Africa this week.  Please look over your notes from the last 4 weeks!  You can also study the vocabulary and geography for this unit here on the website. Students, you have worked so hard in class during this unit and I cannot wait to see that effort on the test:)

The homework for this week will include the Unit 3 study guide.

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

12/2-12/6

The week back from break came and went so quickly!

I did not get a chance to update the website during this week, but it was an important one.  The week back from Thanksgiving Break marked the first week in our new trimester.  For some students, trimester 2 is off to a great start!  If you check IC you will see that 4 grades were entered in the first week.  If your homework or class work was incomplete during the week, you can see the dramatic impact that has on your grade.  Please make sure work is getting done on time.

The homework/classwork due this week were class notes from 12.3 and the IA #2 Reflection and parent signature.

Happy Thanksgiving Break!

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

11/25-11/29

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Students,  I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing break, you deserve it!  Stay safe and come back to me next Monday:)

If you want to watch the documentary that we started on Friday in class and complete the extra credit questions, the link is found under the "Coming to you straight from room 328" tab found in the top menu.

Enjoy your time with family and friends!

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

11/18-11/22

IA #2 WEEK IS HERE!

Between the remarkable African Country Projects that I graded and the overwhelmingly large number of students that mastered the Map from Memory: Africa test, I am blown away by the amount of effort shown by every single student in my class.  You should be very proud of yourselves, students, I am SO proud of you:)

The work never stops, however, and now it is your time to shine on the second IA.  Because the IA is a skills test, it is imperative that the practice you get in class you put to good use while testing.  Please take your time and use process of elimination, annotating, and all other test taking strategies that you have learned and practiced.

The Social Studies IA 2 is only a multiple choice test and there is no short answer.  Students will still be given 60 minutes to complete the test, so taking the time to not make silly mistakes is imperative.  Use the time!  You have it!  This also means that there will be an extension activity for any time remaining.  The extension activity is a Africa Map Analysis.  This is due on Friday and will be the only homework you receive in my class this week.

Big news to keep in mind:

This is the LAST week of the first trimester.  Make sure all missing assignments have been completed and turned in.  The Summative Assessment for Unit 3 will be after Thanksgiving Break. 

The only homework/classwork due this week is the IA 2 Extension: African Map Analysis due on Friday.

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

11/11-11/15

Only one week until IA #2:) We are ready!

While I was out of town on family business over the past few school days, the students demonstrated a remarkable amount of responsibility.  I am so proud of the hard work students have shown on their African Country Projects despite there being a little bit of confusion on the assignment.  This is a large grade for Trimester 1 and I love that so many students rocked it:)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th is the Map from Memory: Africa test!  Students have been completing most of the studying on their own time.  Please make sure you come prepared to demonstrate your mastery of African geography.  Use the tab above to help you study.

Big news to keep in mind:

I moved the date for the Unit 3 Summative Assessment till after Thanksgiving Break.  Students have the IA #2 next week and some other large projects in different classes.  I want to make sure we spend enough time on Unit 3, so pushing the test back seemed like the best option.

Homework this week includes the African Country Research Project--this is a big one!

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

11/4-11/8

Only two weeks until IA #2:) Time flies! 

So far Unit 3: The Spread of Islam and West African Kingdoms has been going well.  We have explored the idea of cultural diffusion and saw how innovations from the 11th century still influence our daily lives!  The summative for this unit will be on November 15th.

Keep practicing your Map from Memory on Africa!  Use the resources from class and the resources on our website to help you study. The Map from Memory: Africa test will be on Wednesday, November 13th.

Big news to keep in mind:

I will be out of town, and therefore not at school, on Friday, November 8th and Monday, November 11th.  During this time I know the students will continue to work hard for their guest teachers, Justin Summons and Colin Fry.  The students will be completing research projects on a country in Africa and will be ready to present the day I return! 

Homework this week includes the Innovations Chart from 11.4 and the Leveled Timeline Practice on 11.5.

This week in Social Studies

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

10/29-11/1

Can you believe it is already November?!  

The last couple weeks we started our Mini Unit on Religion.  During this week long unit, we compared and contrasted the beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.  This was a quick preview into the beliefs and practices of each religion, that will be explored further through the various units during the year.  We also have officially started Unit 3: The Spread of Islam and West African Kingdoms.  The summative for this unit will be on November 15th.

Along with the start of a new unit, is the start of a new Map from Memory.  This time--Africa!  Use the resources from class and the resources on our website to help you study.  Shout out to Ally Quinn who has already memorized the map of Africa!  The Map from Memory: Africa test will be on Wednesday, November 13th.

Big news to keep in mind:

This Friday, November 1st, is the Fall Social! The Student Council has worked incredibly hard to make it fun for everyone, so come enjoy!


All homework that is turned in needs to be in complete sentences and should demonstrate a high amount of effort!  Shout out to Oluchi Ohaya, Grant Pullen, and Lauren Johnson who constantly do their best on every homework and classwork assignment.

Homework this week includes the Close Reading 10.29 Worksheet  and Geography Stations 1 and 2 from 10.30.

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

10/16 to 10/18

Welcome back from Fall Break!  

This short week was still packed with information.  We started our Mini Unit on Religion.  This will be about a week and a half long unit on the five major world religions and the influence that their interactions have had throughout history and today.

Big news to keep in mind:

There is no school next Friday, the 25th.  This day will be a work day for teachers, so students you can relax! 

Students, if you did not pass the Map from Memory: Europe yet, the next test will be on Wednesday, the 23rd.  Please make sure you are studying at home--that is the only way to be successful with the geography:) 

Continue to turn work in on time to maintain high grades!

Homework this week includes Religion WebQuest and the Hinduism and Buddhism 10.17 worksheet.

The week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

10/7 to 10/11

Hello!  

Students are finishing up their first large unit this week!  We are wrapping up in Medieval Europe and are ready to move on and explore other areas of the world during the Medieval Age.  Students completed a Map from Memory this week where they had to label all of the European countries!  I am so proud of all the students that really demonstrated that they studied hard!  The students even challenged the teachers to see who knew more about the geography of Europe, and our studious students won!  I am a very proud teacher:)

Big news to keep in mind:

There is no school next Monday, the 14th, and Tuesday, the 15th!  Enjoy your Fall Break, you deserve a few days off!

Our Unit 1/2 Ancient Rome and Medieval Europe Summative Assessment will be on October 11th.  We pushed it back a few days so that there was time to review in class.  Use the digital ISN to study and review your notes.  Remember, if you study BEFORE the test--you will be prepared!

All missing work needs to be turned in by Friday for 70% credit.  All other work will be 30% credit after the current unit ends.  Keep in mind that turning homework in on time is the best way to maintain high grades!

Homework this week includes Magna Carta 10.7 and the Unit 1/2 Study Guide packet.

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

9/30-10/4

Greetings!  

This is a big week for all students at school!  It is IA Week #1.  The Social Studies IA is on Thursday, 10/3.  All week we have adjusted schedules with testing in the morning and classes in the afternoon.  We will be working on a group project in class to get the creativity juices flowing!

Big news to keep in mind:

There is no school on Friday!  I need the day to grade all your fabulous short answers from the IA.

Our Unit 1/2 Ancient Rome and Medieval Europe Summative Assessment will be on October 9th.  Use the digital ISN to study and review your notes.

There is no homework this week because your job is to get some rest and be ready for tests!

This week in Social Studies...

THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL STUDIES

9/ 23-9/27 

Hi all!  

It has been a big week for us in Social Studies.  We have learned about the decline of Rome, how that lead to feudalism, what feudalism is, the social classes in feudalism, how the church influences Medieval Europe, and how the plague affected all of this! Phew...

Big news to keep in mind:

Our Unit 1/2 Ancient Rome and Medieval Europe Summative Assessment has been moved from September 26th to October 9th.  We wanted to have more time to explore the daily life in Medieval Europe and time to review everything we have learned!

Our IA is next week, on Thursday, October 3rd!  We are ready to work hard:)  Make sure you computer is working well for next week!

Homework from this week includes The Black Plague 9.24 and Frayer Models from 9.26!

DSSDSSWhat?

Hi Super Social Studies Students!

We often ask you the important question, by yelling loudly,"DSS DSS WHAT?!" And you respond by yelling back, "DSS DSS T!"  I love it.  Keep yelling proudly.

But what I hear when I hear today you learn a new response to that age ol' question.  What they are really yelling is "D(iscover) S(ocial) S(tudies), D(iscover) S(ocial) S(tudies) WHAT?!" And the correct response can be, "THEN!" or "TODAY!" or "TOMORROW!"

In Social Studies this year you will be exploring how people interacted back then, in Medieval times, by comparing it to what you experience today.  We are constantly learning from the past to help us influence tomorrow.  Please use this website as a way to enhance your learning.

We have seven months to make you geography masters, medieval history interpreters, economic analysts, religion researchers, and fluent non fiction readers and writers.  We start now.

*Please do not actually yell what I tell you to do when we are in a school group--do not want to ruin the fun:)