PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS/DEBATES: Students are assigned one five paragraph essay per quarter. They are based on our medieval social studies units and contemporary issues of controversy. Essay organizers and drafts will be formatted in class. Students complete word-processed finals outside of class. During semester-II some of these issues evolve into formatted debating.
QUARTER-I "The Fall of Rome"- Final due>> 10/25
QUARTER-II ""-Final due>>TBA
QUARTER-III ""-Final due>>TBA
​QUARTER-IV ""-Final due>>TBA
NEWSROOM-216

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​This is a weekly activity for the entire school year. During quarter-I students will be working on news teams in the school's computer lab and classroom to evaluate news stories using Newsella, CNN Kids, Teen Tribune and other news sources designed for students. There will be homework on occasion. They will eventually graduate to using more sophisticated sources. During subsequent quarters students rotate repeatedly through the following current events categories: International news, National news, Local news, Entertainment news, Sports news, Commentary news, Beaumont Buzz news, and Tid-bits from 216 news. Using our formatted graphic organizers, students write three news stories per week. They confer in their category-specific news team prior to each member reporting aloud on one of their current events news stories. Separate grades will be given for the written news stories and the individual presentations. These stories cannot be turned in late as they are current events. If a student is absent on the day of presentation, a fourth written news story (in their specific category) is required. All news is due on the day the student returns to class. Students may use multiple news sources of choice. Below are a few suggested sources:
abcnews.go.com
katu.com      
nbcnews.com
kgw.com
cbsnews.com
koin.com
cnn.com/cnn10
cnn.com/world
newseum.org
pbslearningmedia.org
studentnewsdaily.com
dogonews.com
newstodaynet.com
newsbreak.co/news/
djcoregon.com
socialstudiesforkids.com
latestnewstab.com
timeforkids.com

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QUARTER~I: (08/30-11/02)

We begin the study of Medieval World with the Fall of Rome. In our History Alive  text this corresponds to chapter one. We then continue with studying Medieval Europe and the Byzantine Empire--chapters 2-6.  There will be a quiz/project at the end of this quarter. Please view additional online information for cultures.
-Fall of Rome:
http://www.history.com/videos/the-fall-of-rome#the-fall-of-rome
http://rome.mrdonn.org/fall.html
-Medieval Europe:
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0195-mideval-europe.php
-Byzantine Empire:
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0142-byzantine-empire.php

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QUARTER~II: (11/06-01/26)

For this quarter, we continue studying this continent focussing now on The European Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Exploration & Enlightenment with chapters 28-35 in our text. 

We then meander back into the Medieval World to examine the continent of Asia. We study Imperial China and the Heart of Japan's Golden Age in chapters 16-22 of our text.  Please view additional online information for cultures.
-The Renaissance Period:
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0288-the-renaissance.php
-Imperial China:
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=44
-Heart of Japan's Golden Age
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/edo-era-in-Japan

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QUARTER~III: (01/30-4/12)

For quarter three, we continue unfinished studies on Asia. We then begin our discovery of the Arabian Peninsula with a look at Ancient Persia and The Rise of Islam. We also evaluate Early Societies of West Africa--chapters 7-15. Although the most recent 'History Alive' adoption has discontinued portions concerning 'East African Cultures' from  textbooks, our class will briefly evaluate their historic contributions.
In February we also use Kids Discover Magazines to examine the fight for Civil Rights in the U.S. as it coincides with many African nations gaining political autonomy/independence. Please view additional online information for cultures.
-The Rise of Islam
http://regentsprep.org/Regents/global/themes/goldenages/islam.htm
http://www.uri.org/kids/world_isla_basi.htm
-Early Societies of West Africa:
http://africa.mrdonn.org/islam.html
-East African Cultures:
http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Ethiopia.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/africa/history/eastafrica.htm (by Carr, Karen (PhD)
http://www.enotes.com/east-africa-reference/east-africa

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QUARTER~IV: (4/16-6/08)

For our last quartet we wrap up any remnants of previous studies prior to turning our focus toward the Americas. We will examine specific achievements of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations in chapters 23-27. Ending our studies with the Americas should prepare students to begin their studies in U.S. History as eighth graders.
-Maya Civilizations:
http://mayas.mrdonn.org/index.html
-Aztec Civilizations:
http://aztecs.mrdonn.org/index.html
-Inca Civilizations:
http://incas.mrdonn.org/index.html

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