week of May 5

The Plan:

Social Studies: Students will begin our study of Ancient Rome with an additional focus on geography skills.

Homeroom:  Remember OWP is this Friday!

What Is Happening:

Monday:Students went to the library today and learned about the Springfield Public Library Reading Programs for teens. We read the first main heading of The Roman Republic in class together and then student completed outline form cloze notes.  Flextime will be used to complete the activity.  It is homework if not completed here at school.

Tuesday: Students who had their work complete were able to check and correct their answers.  This activity serves as an excellent review of the material.  Less than ten students needed to use the FOCUS room to finish their late work - we are about ready for seventh grade! :) Students also worked in groups to complete the second column of their Changes in Ancient Rome on SSn page 67.

Wednesday: .

Thursday:

Friday: 

week of April 28th

The Plan:

Social Studies: Students will begin our study of Ancient Rome with an additional focus on geography skills.
 

Homeroom: Get a good nights sleep, a healthy breakfast, and relax. You get to show-off all your great academic growth  tomorrow is our last MAP day for sixth-graders.
 

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students went to the library today. They were able to use Google Earth to explore several locations associated with Ancient Rome, such as the Colosseum, an aqueduct, and Mt. Vesuvius. We have a beautiful 82% average on last week's chapter test and, I am happy to announce, an amazing 86% average on our Alexander the Great DBQ paper!  Watch for The Ancient Greeks chapter test to come home for your signature this week.  I am very proud of all our hard work and growth.

Tuesday: Students worked for the entire class on their preview page.

Wednesday: Students used class to update our table of contents, set-up our PQR2ST+ notes for Rome's Beginnings. Students should have the first main heading completed when they come to class tomorrow.  Most finished here at school however, some will have the last page of notes to complete tonight. 

Thursday: Students who had the first part of their notes completed on time were able to check and correct their work; while late students were provided a quiet place and time to catch up. We then completed our PQR2ST+ notes for the second main heading "The Birth of a Republic" together in class.  Your student should be able to give you a clear, quick definition of the term republic.

Friday:  Students analyzed their recent test and DBQ papers.

Week of April 21

The Plan:

Social Studies: Students will work together to review all of our knowledge about Ancient Greece.

Homeroom:  Get a good nights sleep, a healthy breakfast, and relax.  You get to show-off all your great academic growth this week on the MAP test. 

What Is Happening:

Monday:  Students checked and corrected SSn page 61, Section 4.4 Review Questions, finished their final touches on their SSn page 62, and began working on vocabulary review puzzles.  We will finish this work tomorrow in class before beginning our review project.  Students will spend this week reviewing to prepare for an assessment on Friday.  They will have no new material presented and I am not expecting study outside of class. 

Tuesday: Students did a great job today! They checked and corrected The Peloponnesian Map activity and set up their notebooks for our Summary Review Wheel.  The students began creating a brief presentation for one heading from our current study of chapter four. They will present their work during class on Thursday.

Wednesday: Students completed their presentation notes and a visual aid in class. Any extra time was used to review vocabulary words on SSn. page 63.  We will summarize Chapter 4: The Ancient Greeks tomorrow and complete our wheel notes. The vocabulary work could come home tonight if students were not yet finished. Notebooks will come home tomorrow evening.  Students will play a mind jogger review game prior to the test on Friday.

Thursday: Students presented their Summary Review Wheel notes.

Friday: Students completed their Summary Review Wheel presentation/notes and played Mind Jogger during their normal class time.  Once everyone was able to finish their review, we took the chapter test. Students were allowed to use their notebooks for the last five minutes of the exam to double check their answers.

Week of April 14

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students will finish their viewing of The Battle of Thermopylae and get to know the great Greek leader Pericles.

Homeroom: Students will work to develop a plan to help them get their work done here at school.

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students who had their entrance ticket completed were able to finish watching the analysis of the Battle of Thermopylae. 

Tuesday:  Students reviewed our "Paragraph Attack" reading strategy and began using it to learn about "The Age of Pericles" from our textbooks.  We will continue our study tomorrow during class.  

Wednesday: Students completed their careful reading of the text and began to answer the Section Review questions to assess the quality of their comprehension.  They will finish the work tomorrow in class. Only those students who have make-up work or notebook clean-up were allowed to check out Social Studies notebooks tonight. :)

Thursday: Students used the class period to answer six of the Section Review questions. Class time and flex time can be used tomorrow to finish their work, however Social Studies notebooks are not allowed to be checked-out until after the holiday.

Friday: Students will work on finishing The Age of Pericles and practice their geography skills with their team as they analyze the map of the Peloponnesian War. 

 

Week of April 7

The Plan:

Social Studies:

 

Students will have an exciting week learning about the roles Spartans and Athenians played in the famous Persian Wars of the 5th Century B.C.  It is a great example of cooperation and the triumph of the underdog students usually really love.  This year they are able to make lots of connections to current movies too. If you are lucky enough to have a real conversation with your learner this week try to encourage, coax, or trick them into using their new sixth-grade vocabulary.  It is fun to see and hear them grow.

 

Homeroom: Bring your Social Studies textbook to class tomorrow.

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students analyzed text to determine the requirements, rights, and responsibilities of an Athenian citizen. Notebook check tomorrow.

Tuesday: 

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday: No school for students who have all their work completed.

week of March 31

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students will learn how democracy developed in Ancient Greece.  We will also make connections between our growing knowledge of democracy and current events.

Homeroom: Bring your Social Studies textbook to class tomorrow.

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students visited the library today and learned about two forms of government, monarchies and oligarchies.

Tuesday:  Most students finished The Rise of Democracy notes today in class.  Both the text with our Paragraph Attack strategy and our Reading Notes Poster are due tomorrow.

Wednesday: Students turned in their homework and used the Athens video on Brainpop to learn about this important Ancient Greek city-state.

Thursday: Students cleaned up their notebooks and began a preview of chapter four on Social Studies Notebook page 55.  We will finish this tomorrow here at school.

Friday: Students worked together to complete cloze notes in class about the early Greeks. They had at least 15 minutes and flextime to complete their Preview Page for The Ancient Greeks.  Several students have a few more pictures to complete over the weekend. Please do not spend more than 20 minutes on this at home.  Have a great weekend!

Week of March 17

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students are writing their paper on Alexander the Great this week. All the work will be completed here at school. The goal is for everyone to have their best work turned in on Friday by 3:30. 

Homeroom: We had 100% of our field trip paper work turned in on time! I am looking forward to  watching your students show off all their hard work Tuesday. Hope you can drop by between
 3:45 - 5:00 for Student-Led Portfolio Celebration.
 

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students reviewed their outlines and visited the library.

Tuesday: Students worked on creating their rough drafts. Students brought home an invitation for parents to come and see their work next Tuesday. 

Wednesday: Students completed their rough drafts and worked on revisions.  Each student color-coded their rough draft to make sure they had not forgotten an important idea.

Thursday:  Students peer edited their work and began writing the final copy of their papers.

Friday: Most students completed their Alexander the Great papers. They proudly turned them in with a smile and a sigh of relief. If a student is not yet done, and has worked well in the time provided, they will finish their paper on Monday during our normal class time.

Week of March 3

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students are writing the outline for their paper on Alexander the Great this week.  All the work will be completed here at school. Students have done an excellent job analyzing the documents together.

Homeroom:  Attendance Pizza at lunch tomorrow!

What Is Happening:

Monday:  Students added their DBQ packets to their binders and continued working on choosing the best evidence for each of their category cards supporting their position on Alexander the Great.

Tuesday: Students worked on completing their evidence cards and began their outlines for their argumentative paper. They have grown so much this year! We are looking forward to showing off all of our hard work.

Wednesday: Students worked on completing their evidence cards and began their outlines for their argumentative paper.

Thursday:  Most stuudents completed their outlines for their argumentative paper and added transition words and conclusion sentences to thier category cards today.  We should be all ready to begin actually writing the rough drafts after Spring Break.  Have a great week!

Week of Feb. 24

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Homeroom:

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students analyzed Document F: Alexander and Modern-Day Asia and went to the library.

Tuesday: Students worked together in groups to create a team poster connecting evidence from their DBQ packets to character traits of Alexander.

Wednesday: Students continued to work together in groups on their team poster connecting evidence from their DBQ packets to character traits of Alexander. Students are using their DBQ packets to complete this poster.  Supplies are available before or after school as well as during flextime for any student who is behind on their analysis.  The DBQ  packets are due Friday.

Thursday: Students completed their team poster connecting evidence from their DBQ packets to character traits of Alexander. The DBQ packets are due tomorrow.

Friday: Students  developed their thesis statement. Time for feedback from myself and peers was provided in class.  Then they began creating a" Category Card" for the first body paragraph of their Alexander paper.  All DBQ work must be completed here at school.  Yeah, no homework in Social Studies!
 

Week of Feb 18

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Homeroom: Don't forget the Pennies for Pasta contest and Valentine's Day Party!

What Is Happening:

Monday: President's Day

Tuesday: Students worked together in groups to analyze a map of Alexander's Empire. Each student then recorded four facts, two inferences, and an argument to complete their coordinating Data Analysis Sheet.  We will continue this pattern, using a variety of groupings and visual aids to research Alexander the Great.

Wednesday: Students from MSU helped us analyze two documents to help us determine how great Alexander the Great really was.
 
Thursday: Students watched "Conqerors: Alexander the Great" (26min.) to help them better understand the written texts they are currently analyzing. This information can be used in their upcoming paper as and additional resource in their upcoming paper.We also continued to discuss the details around the battel against Porus and the destruction of Tyre. Students could add information, ask questions, and correct misinformation during class and flextime. Our DBQ packets should now be completed through Document C.

 

Week of Feb. 10

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Homeroom: Don't forget the Pennies for Pasta contest and Valentine's Day Party! 

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students went to the library and worked on their "Assessment & Activities" assignment today. Flex time plus twenty minutes of class time will also be provided tomorrow so everyone will be able to finish here at school.

Tuesday: Students were provided 25 minutes in class to finish their assignment then we all played Mind Jogger to wrap-up our study of Early China.  Students who need more time to finish the Assessment & Activities assignment may use flextime tomorrow to complete their work.

Wednesday: Students received their new DBQ Packet today.  We will spend the next two weeks analyzing the character of Alexander the Great.  Today we discussed eight character traits and clarified our analytical question:  How great was Alexander the Great.

Week of Feb. 3

The Plan:

Social Studies: Students are working on their Ancient Chinese Invention advertisements in class this week.  We will also enjoy a lesson with our counselor Mrs. Tasset. 

Homeroom:  Intramural game of Knock-Out tomorrow against Mrs. Smith's class. 

What Is Happening:

Monday: Students worked on their advertisement project today in class.  Several have finished.  Class time will also be provided tomorrow so everyone will be able to finish here at school.

Week of January 27

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students will enjoy library check-out on Monday.  We will then begin our inventions project and study China’s first empire.

Homeroom: 

What Is Happening:

Monday: Today was library check-out.  Students who had their guided reading questions completed on Legalism discussed and corrected their responses. The whole class read and discussed "Life in Ancient China"  textbook pages 233-235.  Students then processed their reading with their table using with two graphic organizers. Guided Reading questions 1-10 were also began today. While many students finished their work during flex time, the assignment is not due until Wednesday.

Tuesday: Students met Qin Shihuangdi, the first Chinese emperor and the beginning of The Great Wall of China.  Groups of students used their textbooks to create a graphic organizer showing  the effects of seven inventions from the Han dynasty. 

Wednesday: Students who had their  "Life in Ancient China"  work completed on time, were allowed check and correct their work in class. Students began their Chinese Inventions Advertisement project today.  We will spend tomorrow in the computer lab to allow everyone time for research at school.  Library books and textbooks will also be made available for students.  Friday and Monday will be provided for creating an advertisement for an invention in class. The project is due Tuesday, Feb. 4th.

Thursday: Researched Chinese inventions in the computer lab.

Friday: Happy Chinese New Year!  This is the year of the horse. :)  We worked on creating advertisements for ancient Chinese inventions in class and will continue our work on Monday.  Students can enjoy the New Year and Superbowl.

Week of Jan. 21

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students are learning about the rise and fall Shang and Zhou dynasties of Ancient China.  We will also  explore their beliefs  and accomplishments.  Watch for information about our Chinese Inventions project towards the end of the week.

Homeroom:  Tomorrow is the last day to turn in permission slips for our upcoming field trip to see the Kickapoo presentation of Wizard of Oz.

What Is Happening:

Tuesday: Students processed the information from Section 7.1: "China's First Civilizations" by using a chart to summarize and organize information.  Additionally, they were allowed to chose the even or odd Section Review Questions at the end of the section to practice using their close reading skills.  This work is due tomorrow, Wed. 22.  Students were allowed to check out their notebooks if they needed to complete this work at home tonight.  Flex time was cut short for our Team Spelling Bee.

Wednesday: Students checked and corrected their homework/notes and Begin a study of Ancient Chinese Teachings

Thursday:Students learned about Confucianism and Daoism today by experiencing the principals of the teachings in class.  They finished their guided reading questions during class or flex time. We will experience Legalism tomorrow.

Week of Jan. 13

The Plan:

Social Studies:

Students are wrapping up our brief look at The Ancient Israelites and beginning a survey through Ancient China. 

Homeroom: Information regarding the upcoming spinal screenings was sent home with girls Monday.  If you do not want your child participating in this screening please sign and return the purple form she  brought home today. 

What Is Happening:

Monday:   Students went to the library, graphed our recent 3.1 The First Israelites quiz results, and took a few minutes to evaluate the effectiveness of their learning practices and strategies.  I was very please with our 88% team average!  We also began our Preview Page of chapter 7, Early China in our notebooks.  Most students finished this activity during our flextime at the end of the school day.

Tuesday:  Students watched "Early Chinese Inventions" as an introduction to Chapter 7 and completed PQR2ST+ notes for the first main heading of section one "China's Geography". 

Wednesday:  Students who had their homework completed worked with their team to create a model of China's important landforms. No homework tonight.

Thursday: Students completed our reading notes for "The Shang Dynasty" and practiced drawing conclusions with Workbook Activity 13 in class.  If they are not yet completed they may have a few minutes of homework.


Week of December 9th

Social Studies:

Students will use a few review activities before showing what they know on the Ancient Egypt test.  Thursday we will make sure our notebooks get credit for all the hard work put in them with a notebook check originally scheduled for last Friday. 

Homeroom: Please wrap and label gifts sent to school for our Christmas Family.

What Is Happening:

Monday: Snow

 

Tuesday: Snow

 

Wednesday:

• Mind Jogger Review
• Pharaohs Card Sort
• Ancient Egypt test 

Thursday:

• Students worked on "polishing" their notebooks for half the class
• Notebook Check pages 32-35

Week of Dec. 2

Social Studies:

We will discuss the nine pharaohs of Egypt we have in our foldables focusing on what they did in history to make them stand out in our textbooks. Students will use a short quiz on Tuesday to show off their new vocabulary and knowledge of the Middle and New Kingdoms of Egypt.  Friday will be a Social Studies Notebook check and review for Monday's test.

Homeroom: Please wrap and label gifts sent to school for our Christmas Family.

What Is Happening:

Monday:

• corrected 2.3 "The Egyptian Empire" PQR2ST+ notes on Social Studies notebook page 32
• discussed & corrected Pharaohs of Egypt foldable on Social Studies notebook page 33

Tuesday:

• Discuss Ramses II and the fall of the New Kingdom
• Partner Card Sort
• 2.3  "The Egyptian Empire" Quiz
• Ancient Egypt Study Guide (optional - not graded) Students may bring the completed guide to class to check their answers.
• Video Clip introducing the relationship between Egypt with its neighbor Kush

Wednesday:

• read aloud Section 2.4 "The Civilization of Kush"
• completed summary notes with our team and textbook
• created a team timeline organizing the rise of Kush
• began Social Studies Notebook page 35
• short timeline of at least four events including 540 B.C.
• an advertisement for Meroe including a map of Kush c. 250 B.C.

Thursday:

• completed Science test during 1st hour
• played Ancient Egypt Jeopardy review game with Mr. Dlouhy during regular Science class time
• Thinking Thursday
• worked on SSn page 35
• Graphed 2.3 quiz results and set personal goal for Ancient Egypt test
• Study Guide key made available for students who wanted to check their work (optional)
• enrichment library books available for students who finished their notebook work

Friday:

• snow day

Week of Nov 25

Social Studies:

Students will go to the library Monday then use the PQR2ST+  study system to learn about the Egyptian Middle and New Kingdoms from section 2.3 "The Egyptian Empire". We will focus our attention during class this week on getting to know the pharaohs of Egypt.

Homeroom: Only four students signed up for a school lunch for tomorrow. Please don't forget to bring a your lunch in a throw away sack.  We have some classic brown bags here if you need one.
 

What Is Happening:

Monday:

• Library Check-Out 15minutes
• Checked progress on 2.3 "The Egyptian Empire" PQR2ST+ notes on Social Studies notebook page 32
• Set-up Pharaohs of Egypt foldable on Social Studies notebook page 33

Tuesday: After the MSU Sports Management field trip students used both thier Social Studies and English class periods to finish the work they began on Friday.  Social Studies notebook pages 32 and 33 are due Monday, December 2. 

Wednesday:  Enjoy Thanksgiving Break!

Week of Nov. 18

The Plan:

Social Studies:

We will finish up our analysis of Ancient Egyptian documents, create a strong thesis statement, and choose the best evidence to support our position. Students will create a note card for each of their body paragraphs. I will take the completed paragraph cards to Mrs. Smith’s class for the students to use as she teaches them to write their paper. Once we accomplish this amazing feat, we’ll learn about some Ancient Egyptian pharaohs during the Middle and New Kingdoms. 

Homeroom: Interim-Progress Reports are due back Tuesday, November 19th.

What Is Happening:

Monday:

•  Students worked together to write a great thesis statement for their paper. The Nile River shaped ancient Egypt by providing a stable food supply, a strong economy, and as an important part of its religion.
• Students created a team poster to practice identifying facts from the documents that will be helpful when they need to support their arguments for each analytical category.
• DBQ Packets were submitted.

Tuesday: Students completed and discussed our Team Posters and began our DBQ Note Card for the Stable Food Supply category.  Students will create a note card for area of Egypt the Nile helped to shape.  All materials must be kept here at school and completed in class.  Note Cards will be due by the end-of-class on Thursday; most students will finish tomorrow. :)

 

 Wednesday:  Students worked on their DBQ Note Cards for the three areas of ancient Egyptian life effected by the Nile River.

Thinking Thursday: Most students completed DBQ Note Cards for all three categories. If they finished they could choose to work on missing or incomplete work in their Social Studies Notebook, read from a selection of non-fiction books on Ancient Egypt, read their own book, or work on homework from another class. 

Friday:

•  Students who were not yet done with their DBQ Note Cards finished them today.
• 2.3 "The Egyptian Empire" PQR2ST+ notes  secured on SSn page 32
• Enjoy the weekend

 

 

Week of November 11

The Plan:

Social Studies:

How did the Nile shape ancient Egypt? Students will spend this week analyzing several documents to help them answer this question.
 

Homeroom:  Interim Progress Reports need a parent signature and returned by Tuesday, November 19th.  Permission Slips and money are not due until Nov. 21st but feel free to bring them back earlier.

 

What Is Happening:

Monday:

• Library Check-Out; Mrs. Price provided a lesson on using EbscoHost and World Book.  See the "Online Resources"  in our electronic school library.
• Students analyzed a map of Ancient Egypt c. 1500 B.C. to try to discover how the Nile River shaped it's civilization.

Tuesday:

• Graph & Goal 2.1/2.2 Quiz results
• Completed our analysis of the Ancient Egypt map and began to look at The Nile River Flood Cycle chart.
• Discussed the differences between evidence and argument. 

Wednesday:

• Completed the Analysis Data Sheet for Document B: The Nile River Flood Cycle chart.
• Began to analyze the painting Transport on the Nile.  The completion of the Analysis Data Sheet for this document is homework and due tomorrow, Thursday, November 14th.

Thursday:

• Analyzed the Field of Reeds a tomb painting.

Friday:

• Analyzed the "Hymn to the Nile"
• DBQ Packet has one last page to complete on Monday.  We will create our thesis statement on the last packet page and turn them. Yeah!
• "Hints" are still available for check-out over the weekend for anyone who needed to complete an analysis. 
•  I will continue to be available for students daily from 3:30-4:00 if they want to make use of our classroom resources or my help.