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Attendance:

480-541-1002

Learn at Home - Middle School Social Studies

Students are currently learning about various regions of the world and its economic systems. Please see the tables below (organized by grade level) in order to identify activities to support student learning.

All readings and questions are located in the Student Version of the online texts.  

6th and 7th Grade: Directions For Accessing Online Platform for National Geographic At Home

8th Grade: Directions For Accessing the Online Platform for McGraw Hill At Home

If viewing this page on a mobile device, click HERE to view the table.

Grade 6

Accompanying Texts: National Geographic World Cultures and Geography (WCG)

National Geographic World History: Great Civilizations

Week 1

3/23-3/27

Topic: Modern Europe

Learning Targets:

  • Explain the measures that were put in place post WWII to help unite Europe’s economy and politics (creation of the European Union, implementation of the Euro).
  • Explain how democratic governments replaced repressive ones in Eastern Europe after WWII and the Cold War.

Readings to Reference:

  • World Cultures & Geography (WCG) textbook. Chapter 10: pgs 292-297
  • Great Civilizations textbook. Chapter 27, Lesson 3.1 pg 810

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Complete the Map Lab questions on page 293 of the World Cultures & Geography textbook.
  2. Make inferences: Why do you think the European Union requires its members to have democratic governments that respect human rights (use the World Cultures and Geography text to assist, but the answer is not explicitly stated)?
  3. Complete the “Summarize” activity and “Viewing Lab” questions on page 295 of the World Cultures and Geography textbook.
  4. Form and support an opinion: Do you think the countries of North America would benefit from having a single currency? Why or why not?
  5. Complete the “Summarize” activity and “Reading Lab” questions on page 297 of the World Cultures and Geography textbook.
  6. Complete the “Review” questions #21-26 on page 301 of the World Cultures and Geography textbook.

Other Related Activities:

Consult the Student Tools on the National Geographic online student platform (digital library, maps, and graphs). Review and complete any additional activities to enhance understanding of the learning targets and the assigned readings.  

Week 2

3/30-4/3

Topic: Russia and the Eurasian Republics - Geography

Learning Targets:

  • Understand the role of climate on Russia and Eurasia (6.G2.1).
  • Understand the natural resources available and the link between available natural resources and economic growth in the region (6.G3.2, 6.E5.1, 6.E5.2)

Readings to Reference:

  • World Cultures & Geography (WCG) textbook: Chapter 11; pgs 308-318

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Respond: How have size and extreme climates shaped Russia and the Eurasia republics?
  2. Complete the “Chapter 11 Review” (pgs 330-331)- #6-8, and 16-20, from World Cultures and Geography.
  3. Written response: What is Russia’s geography problem? How does its geographic makeup influence its history, economy, and policies? (Use the text as well as the 1st video below to help you).
  4. Use any other additional questions embedded in the World Cultures and Geography text to help monitor your understanding as necessary.

Other Related Activities:

Consult the Student Tools on the National Geographic online student platform (digital library, maps, and graphs). Review and complete any additional activities to enhance understanding of the learning targets and the assigned readings. 

Video: Russia’s Geography Problem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3C_5bsdQWg

Where did Russia Come From

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/where-did-russia-come-from-alex-gendler

Week 3

4/6-4/9

 

Topic: Russia and the Eurasian Republics - History

Learning Targets:

  • Analyze how Russia is both European and Asian in nature (6.H1.2).
  • Trace Russia’s transition from serfdom to industrialization and contrast it with Europe’s transition (6.H1.2).
  • Explain the how war contributed to Russia’s communist state, and then the fall of communism at the end of the Cold War.

Readings to Reference:

  • World Cultures & Geography (WCG) textbook: Chapter 11; pgs 320-328
  • Great Civilizations textbook: Chapter 26, pg 766-767; Chapter 27 pg 808-809 (The Fall of Communism)

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Complete the “Review & Assess” questions and the “Critical Viewing” question on page 767 of Great Civilizations.
  2. Data lab questions: pg 327, of World Cultures and Geography
  3. Complete the “Chapter 11 Review” – pg 331, Critical Thinking (#s 21-25), of World Cultures and Geography.
  4. Complete the “Review and Assess” questions on page 809 of Great Civilizations.
  5. Respond: Who held the power in Russia before the revolution? Who was in power after the revolution?
  6. Respond: Summarize Karl Marx’s beliefs.
  7. Use any other additional questions embedded in the World Cultures and Geography text to help monitor your understanding as necessary.

Other Related Activities:

Consult the Student Tools on the National Geographic online student platform (digital library, maps, and graphs). Review and complete any additional activities to enhance understanding of the learning targets and the assigned readings.  

 

Grade 7

Accompanying Texts: National Geographic World Cultures and Geography (WCG)

National Geographic World History: Great Civilizations

Week 1

3/23-3/27

Topic: South America

Learning Targets:

  • Analyze and explain the factors that are contributing to South America’s economic growth.
  • Analyze and explain how Brazil has become an economic power.

Readings to Reference:

  • World Culture and Geography: Chapter 8, Section 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1 (pages 222-231)

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Respond: How is modern South America building its economies? How has Brazil become an economic power?
  2. Respond: Why have governments in Argentine, Peru, and Chile struggled since independence (use section 2.1/pg 222-223 to support you)?
  3. Complete: “Reading Lab” questions on page 225 (section 2.2).
  4. Respond: How have the natural resources of the Pampas contributed to Argentina’s economy (use section 2.2 to support you)?
  5. Complete: “Map Lab” questions on page 227. Look at the map on page 227 titled “World Mediterranean Climates.” Respond: Why is the climate in Florida not considered a Mediterranean climate?
  6. Respond: How did the change in government policies affect the mining industry (use section 2.4)?
  7. Make predictions (respond): What might happen to Brazil’s economy once its nonrenewable resources have been used up? Explain.
  8. Respond: “Chapter 8 Review” questions under “Government and Economics” on page 236. Questions 19-22.
  9. Use any other additional questions embedded in the World Cultures and Geography text to help monitor your understanding as necessary.

Other Related Activities:

Consult the Student Tools on the National Geographic online student platform (digital library, maps, and graphs). Review and complete any additional activities to enhance understanding of the learning targets and the assigned readings.  

Week 2

3/30-4/3

Topic: Southeast Asia - Geography

Learning Targets:

  • Analyze and explain the importance of Southeast Asia’s major geographic features and how they’ve contributed to life in the region. (6.G.1, 6.G.3)

Readings to Reference:

  • World Cultures and Geography: Chapter 21, Sections 1.1-1.4 (pages 598-605)

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Respond: What are the geographic conditions that divide Southeast Asia into many different parts?
  2. Complete “Map Lab” questions on page 599 of World Cultures and Geography.
  3. Complete the “Summarize” question on page 601 of World Cultures and Geography.
  4. Complete the “Summarize” question on page 603 of World Cultures and Geography.
  5. Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the nations of Indonesia and the Philippines.
  6. Complete the Review questions under “Geography” on page 616 of World Cultures and Geography (questions 16-20).
  7. Use any other additional questions embedded in the World Cultures and Geography text to help monitor your understanding as necessary

Other Related Activities:

Consult the Student Tools on the National Geographic online student platform (digital library, maps, and graphs). Review and complete any additional activities to enhance understanding of the learning targets and the assigned readings. 

Week 3

4/6-4/9

 

Topic: Southeast Asia – History

Learning Targets:

  • Explain the contributing factors that led to independence for many Southeastern countries from European powers after WWII.
  • Explain the impact of geography and physical barriers on independence movements in Southeast Asia.

Readings to Reference:

  • Great Civilizations textbook. Chapter 27, 1.2 pgs 794-795
  • World Cultures and Geography: Chapter 21, Section 2.3, pgs 612-613.

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Complete the “Review & Assess” questions on page 795 of Great Civilizations.
  2. Respond: How did physical barriers in Southeast Asia influence its history?
  3. Make Inferences (respond): Why could colonies fight for independence more successfully after WWII?
  4. Respond: Why did Indonesian resistance efforts against the Dutch become more organized during the 1900s?
  5. Complete the “Chapter 21 Review” questions on page 617 under “History.” Questions 21-23.

Other Related Activities:

Consult the Student Tools on the National Geographic online student platform (digital library, maps, and graphs). Review and complete any additional activities to enhance understanding of the learning targets and the assigned readings.  

 

Grade 8

Accompanying Text: McGraw Hill- Building Citizenship: Civics & Economics

Week 1

3/23-3/27

Topic: Intro to Econ: World Economic Systems

Learning Targets:

  • Compare command and free market economies. (8.E5.2)
  • Compare and analyze the relationship between various economic systems such as command, mixed, and free market. (8.E5.2)

Readings to Reference:

  • Building Citizenship: Civics & Economics; Chapter 16, Lesson 1- "Economic Systems:" pp. 444-445

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Read pages 444-445 of the text. Read any additional text as necessary to complete the following items-
  2. Read and complete “Reading Essentials: Introduction to Economics.” Answer the essential questions at the top of the assignment once you are done with it.
  3. Complete the accompanying Inquiry journal (this is a relatively large document. It is not expected that all activities are completed in a week).

Other Related Activities:

LearnSmart (Click “Study Content” & “International Trade and Economic Systems” & Lesson 2 Economic Systems and Development). NOTE: Week 2 may need to be completed prior this using this activity fully.

Week 2

3/30-4/3

Topic: World Economic Systems: Trade

Learning Targets:

  • Explain the trading relationship between countries, what trade barriers are, and how trade barriers influence trade.  (8.E5.1)
  • Explain the benefits and the costs of trade policies for countries. (8.E5.3)

Readings to Reference:

  • Building Citizenship: Civics & Economics; Chapter 23: Lesson 1- pp. 610-612, 614-616 (stop at Balance of Trade).

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Read pages 610-616 of the text. Read any additional text as necessary to complete the following items-
  2. Read and complete “Reading Essentials: International Trade and Economic Systems.” Answer the essential questions at the top of the assignment once you are done with it.
  3. Complete the accompanying Inquiry journal (this is a relatively large document. It is not expected that all activities are completed in a week).

Other Related Activities:

LearnSmart (Click “Study Content” & “International Trade and Economic Systems” & Lesson 1 “Why and How Nations Trade”)

Week 3

4/6-4/9

 

Topic: World Economic Systems: The US Economy

Learning Targets:

  • Evaluate current economic issues in the United States. (8.E2.2)
  • Explain what GDP is and how it can help us measure the health of our economy. (8.E3.1)

Readings to Reference:

  • Building Citizenship: Civics & Economics; Chapter 16, Lesson 2: pp. 446-451
  • Building Citizenship: Civics & Economics; Chapter 17, Lesson 1: pp. 466-470

Recommended Learning Activities:

  1. Read pages 446-451, and 466-470 of the text. Read any additional text as necessary to complete the following items-
  2. Read and complete “Reading Essentials: The American Economy.” Answer the essential questions at the top of the assignment once you are done with it.
  3. Complete the accompanying Inquiry journal (this is a relatively large document. It is not expected that all activities are completed in a week).

Other Related Activities:

LearnSmart (Click “Study Content” & “The American Economy” & Lesson 1 “Gross Domestic Product” OR Lesson 2 “Economic Flow and Economic Growth”)