Ms. McCoy's Social Studies Blog

WE'RE READING!!

All classes have been reading their assigned novels. Hopefully everyone will have finished their books by Friday. Some students have been coming in early to spend some quiet time in my room catching up or reading ahead. If students finish reading the book, they may begin work on their projects during class time.

Many students have already selected the projects that they want to do. Only one will be presented orally. We will begin those on Monday so that they can all get graded. Remember, this counts as their final exam.

This is the rubric that I will use to grade Red Scarf Girl projects (3rd-5th-6th periods):

Download rubric_for_red_scarf_girl.doc

This is the rubric that I will use to grade The Breadwinner projects (4th period):

Download rubric_for_the_breadwinner.doc

The end is near, but it's not here yet!

Students have been working on a novel study. Today they were given an activity sheet.

Two projects must be chosen and completed from the list. This will count as their FINAL EXAM GRADES.

3rd-5th-6th periods are reading Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang. This is a true story set in Shanghai during the Communist reign and Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. Their project list is attached.

Download the_red_scarf_girl_activities.doc

4th period is reading The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. This novel is set in Kabul, Afghanistan and is under the rule of the Taliban. The story is historical fiction and it is based on the author's many visits to Afghan refugee camps. Royalties from this book are donated to Women for Women, an organization which dedicates itself to the education of Afghan girls in refugee camps.

Their final exam grades will be based on successfully completing and presenting any two activites from this list:

Download the_breadwinnermi_project.doc

FOR ALL CLASSES: PROJECTS ARE DUE MONDAY, MAY 19.

APRIL 21-25

All classes will continue to review and prepare for the CRCT. Testing begins this Wednesday.
Tuesday April 22 is Earth Day and we will spend the entire day NOT reviewing or preparing. We will be focused on the environment and how we can be better caretakers of Earth. The day includes a guest speaker. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and we'll have fun!!

BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE!!

Target students,
As you know, book reports are due this Thursday, April 24. You have had ample time to find a book, read it, and start the scrapbook. Examples were available in class and we have discussed the directions and requirements many times (All this information can be reviewed on previous blogs.). I'm very excited to see what your final products will look like. You'll be sharing these in class, so you will have the opportunity to see what other students have done.
Remember to relate one topic to a Social Studies standard. If you need help finding one, see me soon!

CURRENT NEWS

Students have been learning about the kinds of governments that are most common in South and East Asia. Also they have been reading about Buddhism and Hinduism. There will be a quiz on these topics in the next few days.

There will be class time to organize the portfolios containing work relating to China and Japan. The completed portfolio will be graded. The folder should contain:

1. China Timeline & rough draft

2. Essay on a Chinese invention

3. Chinese inventions handout

4. Chinese religions

5. Compare/contrast China & Japan

6. 3 Webs on the 3 Wars

7. China Times

8. 4 Governments: Frayer Models

9. Hinduism & Buddhism illustrations & information

WEEK OF MARCH 31-APRIL 4

Students began sketching a map of south and east Asia in class on Friday. They will research the government system for each of the countries and create a key to color each country accordingly. This project is a test grade and is due Wednesday, April 2.
In class we have been discussing three wars that impacted Asia: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Georgia standards being addressed are as follows:

SS7H9.a

Describe the condition of Japan, China, and Korea after World War II.

SS7H9.d

Describe the Korean War; include the reasons for the existence of a North and South Korea.

SS7H9.e

Describe the Vietnam War; include the causes, results, and the reunification of Vietnam

To conclude the unit, there will be a test later in the week.

BOOK REPORT INFORMATION FOR ADVANCED CONTENT CLASSES

Already included earlier was a book list you may use for the next book report.

Here are the directions for the scrapbook.
Download directions_for_asia_book_report.doc

Here is a list of Social Studies standards for you to choose from.
Download for_asia_book_report7th_grade_ss_standards.doc

Here is an example of what one of your pages might look like. This is an example of the cultural or historical significance from the novel Red Scarf Girl.
Download red_scarf_girl_example.doc

Naturally, we will talk more about this in class, but choose your book as soon as you can.

Due date to be announced!

TARGET STUDENTS: BOOK REPORT

For those of you who have been asking-here is the list of books for you to choose from for your next supplemental reading activity.
Download book_list_for_asia_book_report.doc

If you have an book idea of your own, come talk to me about it.

UPDATE-March 24-28

Welcome to the last 9 weeks of this school year! It's gone so fast.
Students completed and turned in a multi-paragraph "newspaper" report on important events in Chinese history. This will count as a test grade.
This week students will be learning about the events after World War II and how they affected China, Japan, and the Koreas.
They will learn about the causes and effects of the Vietnam and Korean Wars.
They will be comparing the many different government systems in South and East Asia. To help them learn this information, students will be creating a map of the area.
Here are the directions for the map.
Download map_directionstypes_of_government_in_se_asia.doc

The map will be graded as a test grade. Due date to be announced.

MARCH 10-14

Things due this week:

1. Unit Dictionary (due Friday)

Download modern_chinaunit_dictionary.doc

2. The China News (paragraphs due Monday)

Download china_times_headlines.doc

3. Vocabulary quiz on Friday

4. 4th period - timeline due Friday