Current Events in Social Studies

     This year, the middle school students will be leading a class discussion on current events with articles of their choice. Each student has an assigned day that he/she must bring in an article that has been analyzed and present it to the class every week. Students have received this worksheet to help with the process. Each grade has an assigned area of focus that the article must be on: 8th Grade - US, 7th - Eastern World, 6th - Western World. Students are able to come in at 7AM for assistance or access to the internet to help in their research! 

*Note: 6th grade has not been assigned this task yet but will begin in two weeks. 

Eastern World Study Guide

Here is the study guide for Chapter 20! 

Western World Chapter 6/7 Study Guide

The study guide is due the day of the test for 5 Bonus Points. As of today, the test is still Tuesday. 

Click here for the study guide. 

Missing Work/Assessments

The end of Trimester 2 is here! Report cards will be sent home next week. All missing work and assessments for Social Studies and 7th grade Literature are due THIS FRIDAY (2/22/13) by 3pm. No Trimester 2 work will be accepted for a grade next week. Please look at your missing assignments and be personally responsible.

Those absent Friday may email over the weekend their assignments if they wish to have credit. No Trimester 2 work will be accepted next week.

7th Grade Flashcards

The following are the topics that need to be covered on your flashcards:

Religions:

• Founder
• Sacred Text
• Important Beliefs
• Place of Worship
• Holy Days
• Holy Cities 
• Holidays
• Where It Started
• Name of the Followers

Civilizations: 

• River
• Ancient Location
• Present Day Countries
• Inventions 
• Name of Written Language
• Leaders
• Important Beliefs/Occurrences
• Type of Government 
• Describe the Economy 
• Cultural Aspects 
• Religious Beliefs  

Corresponding Color Sheets

1. White - Nile River Valley
2. Pink - Christianity 
3. Peach - Buddhism
4. Yellow - Judaism
5. Tan - Hinduism 
6. Mint Green - Islam
7. Blue - Niger River Valley
8. Mac and Cheese Yellow - Mesopotamia 
9. Tropical Punch - Indus River Valleys
10. Orange Chicken - Chinese Dynasties 

Students need to be reviewing all of these EVERY night. Students will bring these sets everyday to class. 

Middle School Missing Assignments

This is the last reminder that missing assignments may be turned in no later than Wednesday, January 9th for partial credit. Please take this opportunity to check your Powerschool for any missing assignments that you may have.

7th Grade Literature Assignments

Those students who are missing vocabulary assignments for the second trimester may complete the following assignment to earn partial credit. 

For EACH unit that is missing: 

1. Write out the definitions for the Unit. 
2. Write out two similes and two antonymies for each word. 
3. Write out an original sentence for each word that demonstrates proper usage and understanding.   


Best handwriting is expected. All work is due on Wednesday, January 9th. 

8th Grade Paragraphs

Each student was assigned a role. 
Group 1: Western merchant who sends items back East
Group 2: Eastern farmer who exports goods to British markets 
Group 3: North Carolina tobacco planter 
Group 4: Rhode Island creditor
Group 5: Massachusetts farmer

Students are to: 
A. Complete 3 journal entries that are 5-8 sentences each. As a whole, these journal entries should contain reflections on the economic (money) problems that is unique to the student's occupation. Information can be found in Ch 5.2. The student must also propose solutions to the economic problems they face. 
B. Students should then think about solutions to ALL economic problems caused by the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Students will write a petition to the Confederation Congress asking for specific changes to the Articles and explaining how the changes would improve the economy. 

8th Grade Colony Project

The 8th graders are beginning their colony project! Groups have been formed, explorers have been marking unclaimed territory, and the competition for the single charter has begun!  Students will create their proposals, design their colonies, and present them to Madam Bigbucks and their classmates. For extra copies of the project click here. Good luck to all!

Working with the Blog

Cougar Social Studies is officially in full swing! Homework is being completed, discussions are highly animated, and students are learning! This post is to give a quick over-view of the blog for any new users. While the blog is updated weekly, additions to the calendar is where these changes occur most frequently. Simply click on the assignment and the information will pop-up. 6th grade assignments are in red, 7th grade in gold, 8th grade in brown, and Corpus Christi events in orange. Occasionally, I will add study guides and enrichment assignments to the blog via "posts", like the one you are reading now. There will be a link to these items within the post. My blog will be updated weekly to keep the students on track and prepared for up-coming assignments. I encourage the students to work ahead anytime they know they have a busy night or weekend. This is going to be a great year!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back students!! I hope you all enjoyed the summer break! I know that I did! I have another exciting and fast paced year planned for us! Please remember to start bringing the following to class:

* Text book

* Binder with 5-Tab dividers

* Writing Utensil

* Notebook/paper

* Planner

Era of the World Wars

The 6th graders have been covering World War I, World War II, and the Cold War for the past two weeks. We have been discussing the significance of alliances, the severity of trench warfare,the evolution of military strategy in war, the influence and role of propaganda, and effects these wars have had on our society today. Below are a few links to videos, Power Points, and the Ch. 15 Study Guide. The 6th graders have brought in many great artifacts from home from mini replicas of tanks, bombers, and destroyers to a Great-Grandfather's daily naval log from 1944-1945. It has been a fascinating and educational past two weeks for both my 6th graders and myself!

Click here for the Chapter 15 Study Guide.

8th Grade Civil War Projects

The War between the States. The War of Rebellion. The War of Northern Aggression. Freedom War.

These are the different names that have been coined to the American Civil War. Our 8th grade will be beginning their 4th Quarter project this week over this fascinating and monumental time in US History! This final project over the Civil War will consist of each 8th grader writing a paper and creating an oral presentation with a powerpoint over his/her Civil War battle. Students have been assigned their battles and should be thinking about their projects. Students need to spend time this weekend researching for books, periodicals, and interviews in order to build their knowledge. Creative pieces (re-enactments via movie, song, video games, little army figurines, paintings, poems, collages, etc) are highly encouraged! This is a great opportunity for the 8th grade to show off their talents, wit, and intelligence as they get ready to enter high school!

Click here for the Civil War Project Rubric.

How to Do Points Back

For 7th and 6th Graders:

Outline

1. In a sentence, write out the question that you missed.
2. In a sentence, write out the correct answer.
3. In a sentence, write out why you missed the question.
4. In a sentence, write out where in the book you can find the correct answer.

Example

1. Number one states, "Geographers look at the world ______".
2. The correct answer is B. "at the local, regional, and global levels".
3. I missed this question because I went through the test too quickly and did not read all of the options carefully enough.
4. The correct answer can be found on pages 13 and 14 in the book.

8th Grade Chapter 17 Study Guide

Here it is....the last one!

8th Grade Chapter 15 Study Guide

The test over Chapter 15 will be on Thursday. This study guide is for 5 bonus points if you answer all questions and definition in complete sentences. This is due on Thursday when you take your test. Happy studying!

Chapter 15 Study Guide

7th Grade Chapter 24 Study Guide

Here is your study guide due Tuesday for 5 Bonus Points. Answer in complete sentences!

Chapter 24 Study Guide

7th Grade Weekend Homework

Here is a reminder of items that you are responsible for learning over the next couple of days. Be proactive in your learning and do NOT procrastinate. I will post the Chapter 24 Study Guide over the weekend.

Due Monday: Read Chapter 24.4, reading checks, definitions
ISTEP Prep for Chapters 7,8,9,10,11

Due Tuesday: Chapter 24 Test
ISTEP Prep for Chapters 12,13,14

Due Wednesday: Read (READ IT) Chapter 25
ISTEP Prep for Chapters 15,16,17,18

Semana Santa Journal Reflection

Below are the questions for your journal topic. Answer in complete sentences.

1. What is your reaction to Semana Santa?

2. Do you think that we could do something like this at Corpus Christi?

3. How can we re-evaluate and refocus our attention on Easter?

4. What will you do to prepare yourself for Easter?

6th Grade Journal Question

Here is the journal topic from Thursday's class:

How has ideas and movements from the 17th and 18th century inspired what is going today in the 21st century?