COLONIAL AMERICA

The 8th grade has begun Chapters 3 and 4 this week...studying the formation of the colonies in what will eventually become the United States of America. We spent the entire class period discussing how we will get through this comprehensive unit.

Students today received information about their assigned work from now through December 16, when UAS goes on its 2 week holiday break. Included is a chart that shows when Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 tests will be given and when the assigned English Colonies Project is due. I've divided this project into portions that are to be done both at school and at home. If your student works for about 20-30 minutes each night on a bit of this, they'll easily get finished by the due date. I've gone over the information comprehensively with each class, but if a student still has a question, have also encouraged them to ask me for help. I've told them that waiting until the last moment to begin will make it impossible to complete their work. For you parents: they will therefore be able to do something for Social Studies every night until December 15!!!

Explorer Unit Update

Explorer essays and speech grades were returned to students today. I asked them to put the essay and the grading sheet into their Social Studies binder so families could enjoy reading the essays as well as be up to date regarding grades.

There will be 3 more grades entered into the book prior to report cards: a quiz on Section 3 of the reading as well as the map test and unit tests already mentioned in earlier notes.

Explorer Project and TEST Update

Students turned in 110 fabulous posters this week. Please drop by and take a look at them! Finishing this week with taking notes, they have now begun writing the essay. It will be done completely in class, so you don't have to worry about it at home. Two things can be worked on at home for right now: 1) students need to turn in a cover page for the report by Thursday, October 14. They are totally aware that it has to be done 100% by hand! 2) I've handed out the Explorer test study guide to many students...some didn't come to pick it up. I'll have it at conferences with me, but will also catch the remainder of the students on Sunday, October 10.
TEST: I've put a copy of the study guide as a link at the right of this page. The map section will be given on Sunday, October 31. STUDENTS CAN USE THE BOOK, CHAPTER 2, TO FIND THE INFORMATION FOR COLORING AND ROUTES OF THE EXPLORERS. The test over Sections 1,2,3 will be given on Wednesday, November 3. It will be mostly short essays.

Update for families

Sunday, September 26.....the first of the 3 expected Explorer packets were returned to students today along with all the corrected answers to the questions. There will be 2 more packets and then a test covering all three sections on November 3. A specific study guide will be handed out 2 weeks before the test date, but students can benefit from re-reading the sections and/or reviewing the answers to the questions as time allows.

Native American Tests

Parents: Just a quick note to let you know I sent your son/daughter home tonight with their Chapter 1 test. Please go through it with him/her and sign it before it is returned to me. We spent about half an hour today discussing how to study better next time, how to read questions carefully and answer fully, how to seek help as needed. I've put some articles at the side of this blog about how to study as well as about test anxiety which you may find useful!

Explorer Unit

SEPTEMBER 19-OCTOBER 11

Our Social Studies class embarks on a study of exploration...Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, the European exploration around the world throughout the 1300-1500s, outer space and under sea. Students will have 3 packets of work to do during this time and therefore three quizzes, which will be announced as each packet is handed out. Also, the quarter project will focus on exploration. Each student will be assigned an explorer and will be doing a 3 part project...designing a poster, writing a report, and giving a speech as their character. The project paper will be attached to this blog as soon as it is handed out to students.

NOTE: Students will be asked during their speech to become the explorer, telling of their adventures in the first person narrative. It would be terrific if they could dress the part as well, but I do NOT want students going out to rent costumes or to have costumes made. Please go through the closets and the garage to find things for them to wear!

August 24-September 15

During these 3 weeks all three sections of Chapter 1 in our textbook will be covered; the topic is the settlement of North and South America and the cultures of the Native American tribes on these two continents. During class students will read and take notes on each section. There will also be homework posted on the board in class. I will give students a study guide for this chapter on August 30 while will help them prepare for the Chapter 1 test on September 15.