Friday, December 21, 2012

Friday - Last Day of School for 2012

Hey! Friday is here and gone and Christmas Break is here. Today we viewed a video clip on an introduction to the Renaissance period. We took notes and categorized them into Culture, Economy, and Government themes. Your grades are up to date on HAC and should be looked over by you. There are a few students who have not completed missed quizzes and you will have to contact your teacher as to when you are ready to take those. Mr. Hogue's classes have reached the deadline for all level C retakes except for the quiz we just took yesterday. Two weeks is a long time so be sure to prepare for them shortly after we return from break.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Tursday, Quiz Day

Another day under our belt. Today students took the chapter 5 quiz on Edmodo. You should already know your score but we did not use exact mathematical percentages to figure your grade. So, you will have to check HAC in order to see how your score translated. One more day to go!

I must remind you that if you have a quiz to make up or retake, the best time to do that is tomorrow. The deadline for retakes in Mr. Hogue's class is tomorrow. If, for some reason, you cannot take a make up quiz because of an absence you can still take it after break but that is a long time to be away from social studies and it may make it more difficult for you.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Yes! We Have Medievalists

Today students were treated with a visit from Notre Dame Graduate students and Medievalists Mae Kilker and Cait Stevenson. They talked all day about the Medieval Period with a focus on Knights, Black Death, and the Hundred Years War. That may not sound very uplifting but as a lover of history it was fascinating. We hope to begin a continuing connection with the Medieval Institute at Notre Dame and wish to express our greatest gratitude to them for a day of eye opening discussions.

Thanks again, Mae and Cait.
Discovery Sixth Grade Social Studies Students



Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Bubonic Plague and Hundred Years War

Tuesday has come and gone. Today we participated in two experiences. The first on the topic of the Black Death and the second on the Hundred Years War. Both of these topics are not very pleasant but important to our study of the Middle Ages and in particular the end of feudalism. I will a little later two videos that we attempted to view on both subjects. Due to technical difficulties some classes were not able to view them fully. Warning! as both videos are of an unpleasant nature they have sad messages.

Tomorrow we will have a guest speaker from ND. Quiz Tip:

Study the vocabulary terms that are on the Middle Ages Focus Sheet. Study the Reading Notes that you completed yesterday in class. Study the material on pages 54 and 55 of the text book. The C level is basic knowledge, as always, and the B-A+ level contains the higher order thinking questions and is more conceptual. This quiz may be one of the toughest ones we have had so far. Be warned. They are all multiple choice and true/false but don't let that make you think they are easier.

Focus Sheet copy is on November 13 post; Text book copy is on December 14 post; Blank Reading Notes is on December 12 post. Study Stack link is on this post. These posts are on Edmodo.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Monday

Happy Monday. Today students worked on their Reading Notes and should have completed them in class. For some reason, if you don't have the packet, you can download them from the December 12th post on Edmodo. Students should have shared their responses with their partners. The text material is also available on the December 14th post on Edmodo, as well.

Friday, December 14, 2012

TGIF

Hey everybody, it's Friday. Today we introduced chapter 5 in our text book. The next few days before break will be spent looking at three events that brought an end or contributed to the end of feudalism. We viewed, except period 6 due to technical difficulties, a short video clip that was hilarious and had good information, as well, on King John and the Magna Carta. We will look at the Bubonic Plague, and the Hundred Years War, as well. We also participated in a short experiential activity that made an attempt at simulating the gripes that nobles and bishops had against King John in the events that led up to the signing of the Magna Carta. I have included the video we watched today as well as snapshots of our reading material in chapter 5 and a brief article on the Magna Carta. You do not have to view the video if you already did in class and the text book photos are for your pleasure as we work through the chapter. The article is a must read and please respond to the following question on a piece of paper for Monday. Please do not reply your answer as it will spoil the fun for others. You may respond but just not the answer. The attachments to this post are only available on Edmodo.

Question: There are two principles expressed in Magna Carta that resonate to this day. What are they? Read the Featured Document article to respond to this question.

Quiz Alert: We will have a quiz over the material on these three topics on Thursday. We will be in computer labs that day and will take it on Edmodo.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Wednesday

This is a two day post. Students completed the Reading Notes and the graphic organizer covering Social, Political, and Trade themes of social studies. The three translate into Culture, Government, and Economics on the five themes of social studies. Today, we talked about the graphic organizer, some of the Reading Notes, and participated in a silent conversation about the three themes. I have included copies of the Reading Notes and the graphic organizer below. You should have already completed these but they are here if you need them. The attachments are only available on Edmodo.

Also, Chelsea, from Mrs. Cobb's class, has shared a study stack with us. You are free to use them to study. Thanks Chelsea.

Quiz Tip: Study the vocabulary terms, the three themes, and see the three themes displayed throughout the Reading Notes.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Reading Notes Discussion and Application

Hello! Today students came to class with 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 reading notes complete, or at least most did. Students worked in small group to discuss them. In the end, we decided where the facts of the chapter would fit into the BIG IDEAS (government, economy, and culture) . Students then worked on the last two sections 4.5 and 4.7 with their partner and shared out in small groups adding details they didn't have. Students had a little time to complete a web that brought together the facts of the text with the BIG IDEAS! Students will need to be sure the web (and of course the rest of the reading notes) are complete for tomorrow.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Silent Conversations and Reading Notes

Hello! Today students were to come to class with the 8 vocabulary words completed on the Frayer Target (see previous post). More students than we would like didn't have this ready and unfortunately they couldn't participate in the silent conversation students had about it. Students had a silent conversation about the Frayer Target and then we discussed as a class some connections between the words. Likely, students noticed that this was not an easy task as the goal was to find connections between the words requiring them to know more than just the definitions of the words. Then students worked with their partner (or on their own) to complete the reading notes. Mrs. Cobb's class must have 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 complete. Many students completed this before the end of class. We have decided to have the quiz on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Have a great day.

Friday, December 7, 2012

TGIF

Today students worked on their Frayer Target vocabulary terms sheet gathering definitions, writing sentences, and making simple illustrations. Any work on these should be completed at home and be ready for use on Monday. We also began work on the reading notes for chapter 4. We just completed the Preview page and are ready to dig in on Monday. Quiz Tip: The quiz is set for Wednesday and will cover the terms, the three concepts out of the five social studies themes (basic information), and there will be a free response question for the B-A+ level about the three concepts Culture, Government, and Economy.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Themes of Social Studies

Thursday students reviewed categorizing images into the 3/5 themes of social studies. We looked again at the themes Culture, Government, and Economics. They viewed the video The Middle Ages - Towns and recorded notes by placing the notes into the same three thematic categories. Finally, students began work on the Frayer Target to begin work on the vocabulary for chapter 4. A copy is included on the Edmodo post. Quiz Tip: The quiz for chapter 4 will take place on Wednesday of next week.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Big Concept Day

Today students completed a "Think, Pair Share" activity over the three concepts of Economy, Government, and Culture. I have included the handouts on the daily blog in Edmodo. We also began a video where they were required to observe and record images and or dialogue that could be connected to each of the three concepts. We just began the video and will conclude it tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Assessment Day

Tuesday is complete. Today we took the assessment for chapter 3 The Role of the Church in the Middle Ages. Students read articles and historical fiction when they were finished. Tomorrow we will begin work in chapter 4 and look at Economic, Political, and Social aspects of the Middle Ages.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Frayer Model of Feudalism Vocabulary Completed!

Oops. This post belongs on Wednesday the 28th. Hello! Today students worked in their pairs again to complete the 4 boxes on the Frayer model for vocabulary as well as the picture of the word. Some classes were able to work on their gallery walk of the words to get the definitions copied and others were not. We complete this step tomorrow and work on the reading notes on the Role of Church in the Middle Ages. Students can and should begin working on learning the vocabulary words. The assessment will come early next week.

Review Stations

Hello! Today we spent the time reviewing in stations around the room. Students were reviewing vocabulary and reading notes with different activities in 10 min.rotations. Students completed an exit card discussing what they felt they needed to do tonight to prepare for the quiz and how long it would take them. This completed will be their ticket to take the quiz tomorrow. The basic level of the quiz will be the vocabulary. The rest of the quiz will be in the form of more complex multiple choice as well as short answer which should include the use of the content vocabulary. Study!