AWESOME A TEAM
Welcome to Ms. Williams's Social Studies Homepage
Current Info section updated 10/30/09 (see below)
This year in Social Studies we will cover a fairly wide range of topics including historical people and events, current happenings in our world and skills that will assist the students in geographical literacy.
The following will provide you with a brief overview of our goals for this year:
Primary Textbooks:
World History: Ancient Civilizations (McDougall Littell)
World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times (McDougall Littell)
Supplementary Textbooks:
Stories in History Series:
-Ancient Greece -The Ancient World
-The Ancient World -Ancient Rome
-The Ancient Americas -The Renaissance
General Skills:
Geography skills (Introduced and reinforced each quarter)
---Five Themes of Geography
---Map Skills: Reading and Identification of Different Types of Maps
Some of the more specific areas of study that will be covered during this first semester are:
Tools of Geography Early American Inhabitants Mesopotamian Cultures
Ancient Egypt Ancient China Ancient India Medieval African Kingdoms
The curriculum will also include Current Events. This is one means of encouraging students to keep abreast of local, national and international events. At various times students will be required to identify and locate various types of news articles that will be shared in class. Students will also engage in News Team Reporting where they will present the news much like a television news team.
News Quiz is another means by which students are encouraged to keep up with daily news events. This is a quiz game we play class where students are responsible for answering questions from the previous week’s news. The questions are based on information from the three major news magazines.
Throughout the year we will highlight cultural groups as well as individuals who have greatly contributed to society. In addition, I strongly encourage students to share their cultural celebrations with the class. As parents, you are also welcome to come in and share information that will enhance our Social Studies curriculum. Your contributions are appreciated!
SOCIAL STUDIES LINKS:
CNN Student News National Geographic for Kids
Bitesize Revision Fun Social Studies
CURRENT INFO: (updated 10/30/09)
Second Quarter Update:
History Topics:
Ancient Egypt (Chapter 5) Ancient India (Chapter 7) Ancient China (Chapter 8) Medieval Kingdom of Mali (Supplemental Materials)
Additonal Areas of Study:
NewsTeamReporting: -Presentation Skills
Terms for mastery: Articulation Animation Eye Contact Projection Posture
Students are continuing to engage in current events via CNN Student News.
Geography Skills (cont.)
Important Items to Remember
Test Preparation: Students are encouraged to use www.classzone.com in order to help prepare for chapter tests. Students will have classroom notes to use as well. One day prior to each major test the students particpate in GAME DAY. This allows the students to have one final class review in the form of a game.
Student Notebooks: Student notebooks are checked periodically for a grade. Notebooks/folders are required for class EVERYDAY. Students who are not prepared with these items will receive an INCOMPLETE (red I stamped in the planner).
Students are strongly encouraged to voluntarily interact and participate in discussions. Classroom discussions encourage the students to engage in higher level thinking and reasoning. It also provides an additional opportunity for me to check for understanding of concepts being taught.
I strongly encourage students to take responsibility for their learning by asking questions that provide any clarification needed.
Feel free to contact me at ywilli@kyrene.org with any questions or comments you may have.
Signing off for now...Ms. Williams