Weekly Updates
Week of September 2, 2014 to September 5, 2014
-Monday, September 1 Labor Day (No School)
-Tuesday, September 2 Measuring Time: Why Do We Do It?
-Wednesday, September 3 Personal Timeline Projects
-Thursday, September 4 Spurlock Museum: An Artifact Speaks Presentation
-Friday, September 5 The 5 Themes of Geography
-Monday, September 1 Labor Day (No School)
-Tuesday, September 2 Measuring Time: Why Do We Do It?
-Wednesday, September 3 Personal Timeline Projects
-Thursday, September 4 Spurlock Museum: An Artifact Speaks Presentation
-Friday, September 5 The 5 Themes of Geography
What to Expect this Year.
Sixth grade social studies is a study of world history and geography with a focus on cultures and civilizations. This course will cover the geography and ancient history of selected areas of the world and then move to the modern times to discover the impact of the history and geography on contemporary societies. This course will begin with an in-depth examination of social science, focusing on the five key themes of: geography, government, economics, prehistory/history, and culture/society/civilization. These five key themes will be the guiding focus for the topics and ideas studied throughout the remainder of the year. During the 1st Quarter, students will also be introduced to archaeology and early humans, and the slow progression towards the establishment of settled communities. In the 2nd Quarter, students will examine the world’s earliest culture, Mesopotamia as well as the rich history of ancient Egypt. During 3rd Quarter, students will focus on the cultures of ancient East Asia, with a primary emphasis on India and China. Finally, 4th quarter will be devoted to the study of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and how these cultures developed ideas, concepts, and inventions that still impact us today.
Course Timeline (Click on any unit to access classroom resources)
1st Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Introduction to Social Sciences: Approximately 4 Weeks
-Archaeology/Early Humans: Approximately 4 Weeks
2nd Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Mesopotamia: Approximately 4 Weeks
-Ancient Egypt: Approximately 4 Weeks
3rd Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Ancient East Asia (India): Approximately 4 Weeks
-Ancient East Asia (China): Approximately 4 Weeks
4th Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Ancient Greece: Approximately 4 Weeks
-Ancient Rome: Approximately 4 Weeks
Course Timeline (Click on any unit to access classroom resources)
1st Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Introduction to Social Sciences: Approximately 4 Weeks
-Archaeology/Early Humans: Approximately 4 Weeks
2nd Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Mesopotamia: Approximately 4 Weeks
-Ancient Egypt: Approximately 4 Weeks
3rd Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Ancient East Asia (India): Approximately 4 Weeks
-Ancient East Asia (China): Approximately 4 Weeks
4th Quarter (Dates are approximate to give a cushion for district assessments)
-Ancient Greece: Approximately 4 Weeks
-Ancient Rome: Approximately 4 Weeks
Classroom News
August/September 2013
Hello, and welcome to the start of another wonderful school year. I hope that you and your students will have an enjoyable and productive year. We have many exciting projects and units of study planned for this year, and I am very excited to get to know each of your students. One of the first sets of projects revolves around the students developing an essay and timeline that recounts their own personal histories. Along with this project, I am also asking parents/guardians to also complete a short homework assignment in which they will also describe their students in detail, as well as fill out a brief student information sheet. Below are links to both of these assignments if you would prefer to get a head start on them. Again, I would like to welcome you to the start of the 2013-2014 school year, and if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected].
Parent Homework
Student Information Sheet
Hello, and welcome to the start of another wonderful school year. I hope that you and your students will have an enjoyable and productive year. We have many exciting projects and units of study planned for this year, and I am very excited to get to know each of your students. One of the first sets of projects revolves around the students developing an essay and timeline that recounts their own personal histories. Along with this project, I am also asking parents/guardians to also complete a short homework assignment in which they will also describe their students in detail, as well as fill out a brief student information sheet. Below are links to both of these assignments if you would prefer to get a head start on them. Again, I would like to welcome you to the start of the 2013-2014 school year, and if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected].
Parent Homework
Student Information Sheet
My Educational Background
I graduated from the University of Illinois in 1999 with a B.A. in History, and received my teaching certificate from Illinois State University in 2001. I have taught in Unit #4 schools for 13 years, and currently teach 6th grade social studies at Edison Middle School, serve as the Social Studies Building Leader, the co-coach of Edison's Scholastic Bowl Team, the sponsor of Edison's History Club, and the sponsor of Edison's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. I am currently pursuing a masters degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield.