7th Grade World History 2016-17
Room 312
Section I: COURSE DESCRIPTION AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
**This section is STATIC and students should refer to their Google Classroom page for assignments and the most up-to-date information**
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Seventh graders study World History where the focus is on the 20th century, primarily World War I through the September 11th attacks. The class will use the "Reading Like A Historian" curriculum and website. The year will begin practicing online researching skills and considering what it means to read, think, write and research like a historian.
The course goal is widen the student's appreciation of important world events using primary sources. Other activities may include: projects, debates, films, current events, map work, class discussions and lectures. Emphasis is placed on historical reading, research and writing.
Ideally, 7th grade World History will also contain the following: appreciation of the diverse histories and cultures of the world, focus on active and collaborative learning, attention on learning strong study skills, capitalization on serendipitous opportunities such as local happenings and guest speakers and integration with other middle school courses whenever possible
The following standards will be used to direct learning and offer feedback on how students are doing in the class:
1. Constructs questions that frame and advance inquiry
2. Analyzes and critiques historical documents.
3. Uses maps to demonstrate locations of historical events.
4. Makes connections between current events and historical contexts.
5. Evaluates the relative influence of various causes and effects of events and developments in the past.
6. Evaluates the relevance, utility, and credibility of a source.
7. Develops critical claims and counterclaims.
8. Creates written and spoken arguments using claims and evidence.
9. Creates written and spoken historical explanations.
10. Creates narrative accounts of historical events.
11. Demonstrates accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling in written work.
Students will be instructed in class expectations, especially the importance of the Trinity Honor Code and the Trinity Way. Communication is critical and students should aspire to communicate regularly with their teacher, especially through email.
Seventh graders study World History where the focus is on the 20th century, primarily World War I through the September 11th attacks. The class will use the "Reading Like A Historian" curriculum and website. The year will begin practicing online researching skills and considering what it means to read, think, write and research like a historian.
The course goal is widen the student's appreciation of important world events using primary sources. Other activities may include: projects, debates, films, current events, map work, class discussions and lectures. Emphasis is placed on historical reading, research and writing.
Ideally, 7th grade World History will also contain the following: appreciation of the diverse histories and cultures of the world, focus on active and collaborative learning, attention on learning strong study skills, capitalization on serendipitous opportunities such as local happenings and guest speakers and integration with other middle school courses whenever possible
The following standards will be used to direct learning and offer feedback on how students are doing in the class:
1. Constructs questions that frame and advance inquiry
2. Analyzes and critiques historical documents.
3. Uses maps to demonstrate locations of historical events.
4. Makes connections between current events and historical contexts.
5. Evaluates the relative influence of various causes and effects of events and developments in the past.
6. Evaluates the relevance, utility, and credibility of a source.
7. Develops critical claims and counterclaims.
8. Creates written and spoken arguments using claims and evidence.
9. Creates written and spoken historical explanations.
10. Creates narrative accounts of historical events.
11. Demonstrates accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling in written work.
Students will be instructed in class expectations, especially the importance of the Trinity Honor Code and the Trinity Way. Communication is critical and students should aspire to communicate regularly with their teacher, especially through email.
TEXTBOOK
7th graders will use the online history text provided by the Student's Friend website. Although not perfect, these online resources provide concise, accurate information and can be supplemented by additional online sites., such as Khan Academy.
7th graders will use the online history text provided by the Student's Friend website. Although not perfect, these online resources provide concise, accurate information and can be supplemented by additional online sites., such as Khan Academy.
Click the image!
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEE
The National Geographic Bee is still an important and fun part of the social studies curriculum at Trinity. Seventh graders who are interested in the geography bee should click on the image at the left to take the daily geography quiz and access other great geography bee resources.
NATIONAL HISTORY BEE
Seventh and eight grade students will be able to compete in the National History Bee. Students will take a written test to qualify for one of ten spots available in the school History Bee. Those ten students will then take an online test to see if they move on to the regional competition.
The National History Bee is focused on American history and World history and resources and sample questions are available at the official website. Just click on logo to the left.
The school bee is usually in early January. Some practice will occur in social studies class, but interested students are encouraged to review and study on their own with the help of the website and other recommended resources.
Seventh and eight grade students will be able to compete in the National History Bee. Students will take a written test to qualify for one of ten spots available in the school History Bee. Those ten students will then take an online test to see if they move on to the regional competition.
The National History Bee is focused on American history and World history and resources and sample questions are available at the official website. Just click on logo to the left.
The school bee is usually in early January. Some practice will occur in social studies class, but interested students are encouraged to review and study on their own with the help of the website and other recommended resources.
JOURNALS
Why do we journal almost every day in 7th grade World History? We want to create a diary of what occurs during the 7th grade year and practice creating our own primary source.
All students should have a composition book, spiral notebook or journal to write in daily. This journal will stay in the classroom.
Why do we journal almost every day in 7th grade World History? We want to create a diary of what occurs during the 7th grade year and practice creating our own primary source.
All students should have a composition book, spiral notebook or journal to write in daily. This journal will stay in the classroom.
Click to go to CNN.
CURRENT EVENTS
Weekly current events are an excellent way to increase understanding of today's world and explore the history of the 20th century. Every week (usually on the same day), each student will need to find a current event on a major news site such as CNN, The Charlotte Observer, NPR, Fox News, the BBC or Al Jazeera, read that current event, write a description that includes a link on your current event doc in your social studies folder and then copy and paste that description on the class Google doc current event page. The class Google doc can be accessed from Google Classroom.
Students need to find a current event that occurs OUTSIDE the United States and one that does not involve celebrities, graphic individual crimes, silly or weird happenings or anything that seems inappropriate. Current events must occur within the seven days prior to the due date. Once a current event is posted by a student on the Google Doc, another student may not do that same current event. Have no fear, there are lots of current events out there and, again, you have seven days in which to look.
Students will present their current events to the class and they must do or have the following: have a posted current event and description on the Google document, have a working link that connects backs to the article or to a video, present or read a synopsis of their article and answer basic questions about their article. Other student will take short notes listing who presented, the location and a basic description of what was presented. If time allows, students will have a five question quiz about the most important events and their locations. Usually, there will be a current event test once a month.
Here are step by step directions for current events:
1. Go to the CNN website or other news website using the links above or by simply doing a Google search for the sites. Clicking on the newspaper stack picture above will take you to CNN.
2. Find a specific article focusing on an event in a country OUTSIDE the United States. You can easily search the "World" section of CNN.
3. READ the articles and watch any attached videos. You may also want to discuss it with your parents or Mr. Smith.
4. Highlight the URL address of the specific article (all those letters and numbers in the top box on your screen that denote the web address of the article) by clicking and dragging the cursor across the full address so it is highlighted in blue (or another color).
5. Copy that address by clicking on "Edit" at the top and then clicking on "Copy" or by pressing Command C
6. Now open the Google doc through Google Classroom and create a title for your current event with your name attached.
7. Highlight the title you just wrote by clicking and dragging across the title and then click the "Insert Link" button at the top of the Google docs page. It is the button with the icon that looks like the link in a chain.
10. A box will appear with you title in it.
11. Your cursor should be blinking in a box below the title that says URL address.
12. Go to "Edit" and then "Paste" (or Command V) and the copied URL address of your CNN article should appear in the box.
13. Click "OK".
14. Your title itself should now be a link to the article you have chosen.
15. Please write a short paragraph describing where your event happens and what has occurred.
Current Event Checklist
Weekly current events are an excellent way to increase understanding of today's world and explore the history of the 20th century. Every week (usually on the same day), each student will need to find a current event on a major news site such as CNN, The Charlotte Observer, NPR, Fox News, the BBC or Al Jazeera, read that current event, write a description that includes a link on your current event doc in your social studies folder and then copy and paste that description on the class Google doc current event page. The class Google doc can be accessed from Google Classroom.
Students need to find a current event that occurs OUTSIDE the United States and one that does not involve celebrities, graphic individual crimes, silly or weird happenings or anything that seems inappropriate. Current events must occur within the seven days prior to the due date. Once a current event is posted by a student on the Google Doc, another student may not do that same current event. Have no fear, there are lots of current events out there and, again, you have seven days in which to look.
Students will present their current events to the class and they must do or have the following: have a posted current event and description on the Google document, have a working link that connects backs to the article or to a video, present or read a synopsis of their article and answer basic questions about their article. Other student will take short notes listing who presented, the location and a basic description of what was presented. If time allows, students will have a five question quiz about the most important events and their locations. Usually, there will be a current event test once a month.
Here are step by step directions for current events:
1. Go to the CNN website or other news website using the links above or by simply doing a Google search for the sites. Clicking on the newspaper stack picture above will take you to CNN.
2. Find a specific article focusing on an event in a country OUTSIDE the United States. You can easily search the "World" section of CNN.
3. READ the articles and watch any attached videos. You may also want to discuss it with your parents or Mr. Smith.
4. Highlight the URL address of the specific article (all those letters and numbers in the top box on your screen that denote the web address of the article) by clicking and dragging the cursor across the full address so it is highlighted in blue (or another color).
5. Copy that address by clicking on "Edit" at the top and then clicking on "Copy" or by pressing Command C
6. Now open the Google doc through Google Classroom and create a title for your current event with your name attached.
7. Highlight the title you just wrote by clicking and dragging across the title and then click the "Insert Link" button at the top of the Google docs page. It is the button with the icon that looks like the link in a chain.
10. A box will appear with you title in it.
11. Your cursor should be blinking in a box below the title that says URL address.
12. Go to "Edit" and then "Paste" (or Command V) and the copied URL address of your CNN article should appear in the box.
13. Click "OK".
14. Your title itself should now be a link to the article you have chosen.
15. Please write a short paragraph describing where your event happens and what has occurred.
Current Event Checklist
- Acceptable Current Event
- Title with Embedded Link
- Student Name
- Location
- Description
- Capitalization
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Answering Questions
- Locating Country on Google Map