Welcome 2014 - 2015 school year!

Welcome Parents and students to the 2014-2015 school year.  Social Studies is a subject that challenges students to explore the world from many different angles.  In order for students to meet the expectations of the course they need to be present and attentive in class.  This class requires students to take notes, read, participate in class discussion, complete homework and in class work, and demonstrate their mastery of concepts on both formative and informative assessments. my blog is used to update parents and students on events, post homework assignments, and to post quiz and test preparation questions. In addition this year, I will use, "Remind," which is a program that allows parents and students to receive important information through text.


8th Grade:  Eighth grade students will begin this year with a review of primary and secondary sources and the importance of each as they relate to education.  Furthermore, students will receive documents to read over, analyze, state any bias by author, and demonstrate the reliability of the source given. This will be followed by an in depth review of World War I.  As we move forward this year, parents will be updated on new material covered, and are encouraged to check Family Link on a regular basis to see your individual student's progress.

7th Grade:  Seventh grade students being this year with a study of Geography.  This Unit focuses on the 5 Themes of Geography: Location, Place, Region, Movement, and Human / Enviornment interaction.  These themes will be used to study the earth from where things are located to why they are there.  Moreover, students will be able to describe the earth as it relates to climate, people, plants, animals, etc.  This Unit will also include map tests to go along with their study of the earth as well as both formative and informative assessments to check for mastery of content.  More to come as the year progresses. Parents are encourage to check Family Link on a regular basis to check your student's progress.

Looking forward to a Great Year,

Ms. Van

7th and 8th grade update!

7th and 8th Grade Update!

7th Grade: As a class we are finishing up our Unit on Imperialism. This Unit has been a little more challenging in terms of material and the grasping of concepts. As always I am pleased with the majority of the students and their determination to master the information. The goal is to finish up any last notes by Monday or Tuesday March 6th at the latest. Following the completion of the Unit, the students will take a test on Thursday March 8th to demonstrate their mastery of the material covered. Our journey will continue with an in depth study of WWI. This Unit will include many different aspects one of which will be a multi-modal project. I will post the necessary information for the project including due dates for each piece in plenty of time for students and parents to prepare.

8th Grade: The 8th grade students are in the midst of our World War II Unit. So far, we have revisited material from last year so students understand what led to WWII. This review included a brief discussion of the ending of WWI, the resulting Treaty of Versailles, and a look at the role of the Great Depression. All of these previous mentioned events were causes of the next major World War. In addition, we have studied the rise of dictators in Europe such as Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler and how these men and their type of leadership played a major role in the outbreak of the War. This Unit has many more exciting turns to take including a multi-modal project which will show the creativity and individuality of each student. I will post details of the project as we get closer to the forth quarter.

7th and 8th grade update!

7th Grade:  The students completed the Unit on Reconstruction, which ended with a test on Tuesday January 21st.  Currently, we have finished a chapter on the Western Frontier and the students and I are discussing the changes in the United States from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.  The focus of this upcoming Unit is the Industrial Revolution.  Throughout this Unit the students will explore the impact of Industrialization on the United States as well as the rest of the world.  This will lead us to Imperialism and an in depth look at the competition between 1st World Countries to create the largest and most powerful Empires.  Imperialism was one of the main causes of World War I, and our studies will lead us into the trenches on the Western Front of The Great War!

8th Grade:  The students are in the midst of their Government Unit.  This Unit is intense!  We cover Early Government to the present.  There will be two test for this material so the students are not overwhelmed with all the information.  Although, they are suppose to be studying their notes on a nightly basis so they don't get confused on the different topics we discuss.  A big portion of our studies covers the set up of the United States Government.  Students gain an understanding of the Constitution, and the 7 principles that are the foundation of this document.  In addition, the students will develop an understanding of the 3 branches of government and their roles in running our great country.  *The importance of reviewing their notes on a nightly basis is imperative for success! 

7th & 8th Grade Update!

7th Grade:   The seventh grade students are in the midst of their Reconstruction Unit.  This includes the study of the United States post Civil War and the many changes the country faced politically, economically, socially, and otherwise.  The students will be able to describe the impact of various events and movements that influenced Reconstruction such as Lincoln's assassination, the development of the Ku Klux Klan and the Jim Crow Laws, the Freedmen's Bureau, and the important Constitutional Amendments that ended slavery and gave rights to African Americans.  We will finish this Unit when we return from break and then continue on to the Industrial Revolution followed by Imperialism. 

8th Grade:  The eighth grade students did an incredible job on their Declaration of Independence projects!  We are now deep in our Government Unit, which includes early law as well as the structure of the United States Government.  The students will gain an understanding of the 7 key principles of the Constitution, the amendment process, how a Bill becomes a law, and the roles of each branch of government.  We will have 3 more weeks of government when we return from break and then on to World War II.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and restful break,

See you in 2014,

Ms. Van

School Master!

Hello Parents and students,
As you know the students turned in their notebooks and had a test on Friday. I am grading the material over the weekend and will continue through Tuesday. Once all grades are updated in my grade book I will be posting on school master. I was hoping to have all grades up by Monday, but I think Wednesday is more realistic. I appreciate your patience and understanding and am happy to answer any questions if needed.
Thanks again,
Ms. Van

7th and 8th grade update!

Hello parents and students,

7th Grade:  The students are in the middle of their Civil War Unit.  We have been working diligently to cover the material missed due to Drug Awareness Week and Galileo testing.  All good things just a busy time for all.  Today the students will be taking a test on the standards addressed from the years 1860 - 1863.  This test covers the Election of Abraham Lincoln, secession of the southern states, the advantages and disadvantages of the Union and Confederacy, as well as the strategies for both sides.  In addition, they will demonstrate their understanding of life for the soldiers, the battles of Antietam Creek and Shiloh, and the famous Emancipation Proclamation.  This was a very difficult time in America's history, where the country lost over 600,000 lives in a desperate fight to save our country, and most importantly end the institution of slavery.  We will continue this Unit over the next two weeks.

8th Grade:  As a class we have been unraveling the events that led to the birth of the United States.  Our studies this far have included a discussion of the Enlightenment Period, John Locke, Montesquieu, and the roles these all played in influencing the creation of the Declaration of Independence.  Furthermore, the students have read about and discussed the importance of Thomas Paine, and Richard Henry Lee in encouraging the Patriots to move forward with Independence.  In addition, we have been doing an in depth study of The Declaration of Independence and the impact of this brilliant piece of writing both in 1776 and still today. The students will be tested on this material today, and we will continue with the Revolutionary War over the next two weeks.  Finally, the students will be creating a current version of the Declaration of Independence, in groups, in words that demonstrate their understanding of the material covered.

Ms Van

Home work 7th and 8th grade!

8th Grade:  The students are required to have Section 2 chapter 6 complete in their notebooks.  The Section includes reading pages 179 - 184 and then answering questions 1 -7 in complete sentences.  In addition they need to have the following key terms from section 2 defined in their notebooks:

1. Nathan Hale
2. Mercenary
3. Alliance
4. Marquis de Lafayette
5. Calvary
6. Friedrich Von Steuben

Furthermore, the students need to have section 1 chapter 6 complete in their notebooks, this was required at the beginning of second quarter.

7th Grade: The students were given a copy of Section 3 Chapter 15 to complete for Wednesday.  However, due to testing today, they will have an extra day, and need to have the work complete by Thursday (Halloween :) ).  The students are required to read pages 524 - 527 and answer questions 1 - 4 in complete sentences in their note books.  In addition, they need to have the following terms from section 3 defined in their note books:

1. Restore
2. Sustain
3. Emancipate
4. Horace Greely

Furthermore, the students need section 1 and 2 completed in their notebooks, which we have worked on together as a class, terms and questions answered.  Finally, on Tuesday October 29th they had a handout on the Emancipation Proclamation.

*Students keep up on your work, follow requirements, and ask for help if you need before the assignments are due!

Thanks,

Ms. Van