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.