Weekly Schedule November 26th – November 30th

This is our schedule for the week ending November 30th, 2007. It is important to remember that these schedules are not etched in stone. Our firm belief in adjusting our curriculum to meet the needs of students sometimes causes slight changes. It is important to note that ample time is given in class to complete most assignments. There are occasional projects, spanning a week or more, that will require students to work outside of class. There will be no more than one of these per month. If you have any questions, please contact me at extension 38.

1st Year Social Studies (Period 1 & 3) – This week we will begin our study of the colonization of the United States after a brief pause to learn to work with Microsoft’s PowerPoint.

Monday, November 26th: We will create a PowerPoint called the Animal Alphabet. Students will create the slide show by finding an animal to represent each letter in the alphabet.

Tuesday, November 27th: Students will work on their Explorer Poster.

Wednesday, November 28th: Students will study the early English colonies. They will have a worksheet that is due Thursday and a short quiz.

Thursday, November 29th: Students will study the French settlements in the Louisiana Territory. They will have a worksheet that is due Monday and a short quiz.

2nd Year Social Studies (Period 2 & 4) – We have completed our survey of how civilizations come to be and we will now begin our study of three specific civilizations. First on our list is Ancient China.

Monday, November 26th: We will be studying the geography, traditional religions, and beliefs of the Ancient Chinese. They will have a worksheet that is due Tuesday and a short quiz.

Tuesday, November 27th: We will be studying life in the capital cities of Ancient China. They will have a worksheet that is due Wednesday and a short quiz.

Wednesday, November 28th: We will be studying the changes in Chinese government from dynasty to communism. They will have a worksheet that is due Thursday and a short quiz.

Thursday, November 29th: We will be studying Mesopotamia, specifically how a nomadic people became a civilization. They will have a worksheet that is due Monday and a short quiz.

Health –

Friday, November 30th: We will be examining cultural differences.

Extra Credit Assignments!!!

First Years:

60 Points:

Imagine that you are a European explorer. You have arrived in the New World and your King has requested a report. You are to write a letter that outlines what it is you have found in the New World. What are the native people like? Did you find new animals, food, weapons, and riches? What was the land like? What was your journey like? Write a three page letter to your king that begins with: “Your Royal Majesty,”

60 Points:

Imagine that you are a Native American and Europeans have just landed on your coast line. The Chief of your tribe has sent you to gain information about the visitors. Write a three page letter back to your Chief describing what you have seen and heard.

Second Years:

60 Points:

Imagine that you are an archeologist and you are looking for the lost city of King Rupsuptub. His castle is located in the deepest, darkest jungles of South America. Write a three page story that describes your journey. You can bring your friends, your family; you can even drag Mr. Lawslo along.

100 Points:

Recreate an Egyptian artifact as a three dimensional model. Make a sarcophagus, a head-dress, a royal staff, the sphinx, a chariot, virtually anything Egyptian that you can think of!

All extra credit assignments are due Monday, November 26th.

Explorer Project Due November 29th

First year students, you will answer this Essential Question:

Which Voyage of Discovery (1200-1800) would your class, as a whole, most like to have been part of? Why?

Scenario:
“So many voyages, just one trip!” said Professor Acme…
Your class has the opportunity to go on a fantastic field trip. Using a time machine, just invented by the ACME Time Travel Company for this special journey, all of you will be going back in time to be guests on a voyage with a famous explorer from 1200 to the 1800. Working with a partner, you will help your class decide which voyage you all would most like to be part of.

Task
In order for your class to make an informed decision as to which of the many voyages you all could be part of you will present your findings to the class. Important: your task is not to try to persuade your class that your voyage was the best, but rather provide great information that will help your whole class decide which voyage you all would most have liked to be part of.
Answer the following questions about your voyage:
1. Who was the leader of the voyage?
2. What country did he sail for?
3. When did he sail?
4. What were some the leader’s characteristics? (example: kind, cruel)
5. What was the purpose of the voyage?
6. What were some significant events that occurred during the voyage?
7. What was the outcome of the voyage?
8. What route did he take?

Poster Requirements

Size: 22” x 28”

Will include:
1. All the above information
2. 2 Pictures
3. A Map

Project Due November 29th

Weekly Schedule November 12th – November 16th

This is our schedule for the week ending November 16th, 2007. It is important to remember that these schedules are not etched in stone. Our firm belief in adjusting our curriculum to meet the needs of students sometimes causes slight changes. It is important to note that ample time is given in class to complete most assignments. There are occasional projects, spanning a week or more, that will require students to work outside of class. There will be no more than one of these per month. If you have any questions, please contact me at extension 38.

1st Year Social Studies (Period 1 & 3) – We will continue in our study of the Age of Exploration.

Monday, November 12th: We will be studying Samuel de Champlain and his journey to the New World. We will have a worksheet, due Tuesday, and a short quiz.

Tuesday, November 13th: We will be studying French Exploration of the Mississippi. We will have a worksheet, due Wednesday, and a short quiz.

Wednesday, November 14th: We will be taking our final test on the exploration of North America. Students will also be receiving instructions for their project on explorers.

Thursday, November 15th: Students will have time to work on their project.

2nd Year Social Studies (Period 2 & 4) – Presently we are covering how civilizations begin, peak, and fade. This brief survey is preparing students for more in-depth study of several prominent civilizations and will also provide assistance for their research paper (see blog entry) that is due November 15th.

Monday, November 12th: We will be working on our research paper.

Tuesday, November 13th: We will be working on our research paper.

Wednesday, November 14th: We will be working on our research paper.

Thursday, November 15th: Research paper due.

Health –

Friday, November 16th: We will be examining personal safety and basic first aid.

Research Paper Update

Second year students will be given every day this week in order to complete their Ancient Civilization assignment. Assignment is due Thursday November 15th.

Weekly Schedule November 5th – November 9th

This is our schedule for the week ending November 9th, 2007. It is important to remember that these schedules are not etched in stone. Our firm belief in adjusting our curriculum to meet the needs of students sometimes causes slight changes. It is important to note that ample time is given in class to complete most assignments. There are occasional projects, spanning a week or more, that will require students to work outside of class. There will be no more than one of these per month. If you have any questions, please contact me at extension 38.

1st Year Social Studies (Period 1 & 3) – We will continue our study of the Age of Exploration. The Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century, during which European ships traveled around the world in search of new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. They also were in search of trading goods such as gold, silver and spices. In the process, Europeans encountered peoples and mapped lands previously unknown to them. Among the most famous explorers of the period were Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan.
The Age of Exploration was rooted in new technologies and ideas growing out of the Renaissance. These included advances in cartography, navigation, firepower and shipbuilding. Many people wanted to find a route to Asia through the west of Europe. The most important development was the invention of first the carrack and then caravel in Portugal. These vessels evolved from medieval European designs with a fruitful combination of Mediterranean and North Sea designs and the addition of some Arabic elements. They were the first ships that could leave the relatively placid and calm Mediterranean and sail safely on the open Atlantic.

Monday, November 5th: We will be studying Christopher Columbus and his journey to the New World. We will have a worksheet, due Tuesday, and a short quiz.

Tuesday, November 6th: We will be studying Spanish Exploration of North America. We will have a worksheet, due Wednesday, and a short quiz.

Wednesday, November 7th: We will be studying English Exploration of North America. We will have a worksheet, due Thursday, and a short quiz.

Thursday, November 8th: We will be studying French Exploration of North America. We will have a worksheet, due Monday, and a short quiz.

2nd Year Social Studies (Period 2 & 4) – Presently we are covering how civilizations begin, peak, and fade. This brief survey is preparing students for more in-depth study of several prominent civilizations and will also provide assistance for their research paper (see blog entry) that is due November 15th.

Monday and Tuesday, November 5th and 6th: We will be creating a Civilization Pie. Students will determine the “ingredients” required to “bake” a civilization. Students will also be given an opportunity to continue working on their research paper.

Wednesday, November 7th: We will be studying the expansion that is needed for a civilization to become an empire: Rome’s Conquests—Traces the path and battles of Roman legions in their quest to conquer the world. Peter the Great—Looks at how this Russian leader brought Western influence and power to his struggling nation. Rise of Nationalism—Examines how ideas replaced wars in Russia’s battle against its oppressive czars. Communism & the Soviet Union—Shows the fall of czarist Russia and the birth of the first communist state.

Thursday, November 8th: We will be studying leadership: Prosperity and Decline traces the beginning of the Roman Empire and explores why the empire succeeded and why it ultimately fell. In Rome’s Wake discusses the chaos in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of feudalism during the Middle Ages, and the impact of the Crusades on Europe and the Middle East. The Politics of The Prince describes the political climate during the Renaissance in Italy and the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, who identified the qualities of a leader in a famous book called The Prince. Emperor Napoleon is the story of Napoleon, who created the French Empire but was defeated by other leaders of Europe.

Health –

Friday, November 9th: In preparation for conferences next week; students will complete their self-evaluation.

Research Paper Update

To differentiate instruction is to recognize students varying background knowledge, readiness, language, preferences in learning, interests, and to react responsively. Differentiated instruction is a process to approach teaching and learning for students of differing abilities in the same class. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is, and assisting in the learning process. As a result, it has become necessary to adjust the due date of the 2nd year research paper to November 15th.

This is a critical assignment for your student. Students have varying degrees of resources available to them; so a trip to the library (maybe more than one) might be required to provide your student with every opportunity to succeed.

Thank you for your support!