Today in World History student continued their study of China. Students took Cornell style notes on a PowerPoint presentation on the dynasties of China and the emergence of different belief systems in the empire. Tomorrow students will conclude the study of dynastic succession in China. This week's assignment, an essay on the spread of Buddhism in China, is due tomorrow. This assignment is worth 20 points - don't miss out on these important class points!! Also the illustrated time-line on the dynasties of China with accompanying world events (worth 15 points) is due on Tuesday of next week.
Remember that next week is the end of the semester. Be sure to turn in all remaining assignments in order to get the best grade you can get. The new semester will begin on Monday February 9th.

Jan. 26th - Jan. 30th

This week in World History students will continue their study of Imperial China. Monday students began the process of writing an essay on the spread of Buddhism in China during the Tang Dynasty. The class worked together to develop ideas on a bubble map and will finish fleshing out the ideas and form of our essay on Tuesday. Students will complete their essay by Friday. This essay is the weekly homework assignment and will be worth 20 points. Tuesday students will create an illustrated time-line of the dynastic periods of ancient China with accompanying events from other parts of the world during the same time frame. This is a nightly assignment and is due on Wednesday. A representative from the UCLA production of "The Man of La Mancha"will be in class on Wednesday to prepare the students for our February field trip to see this musical play. On Thursday students will get back to China where they will learn about the reunification of China under the Tang and Song Dynasties.


Quick reminder: the 20 week/semester report card grades will be submitted in the next week - keep an eye out for them in the weeks ahead.

Today in World History students continued their study of Imperial China - in particular the importance of Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty. Students worked on focus reading selections that explained how Buddhism spread in four different arenas - Religious, Political, Economic, and Social. Students will use the information from these sheets to write a short essay response starting on Monday. If students did not finish these sheets in class, they must finish them this weekend - they are due Monday. Next week students will begin learning about the Dynasties of China and the cultural and scientific contributions of the Chinese people. On Wednesday of next week we will be taking a short break from China to learn a bit about the play "The Man of La Mancha" - all 7th graders will be taking a field trip in February to see this play at UCLA (parent permission slips will be sent out prior to the trip). Have a good weekend, and I will see you on Monday the 26th - which just happens to be the Chinese New Year.

One quick reminder that this semester is quickly coming to a close - grades will start being submitted at the end of next week. Be sure to keep your focus and turn in all necessary work to keep or improve your grade.

Jan. 20th - Jan. 23rd

I hope everyone had a nice three day weekend. This week in World History we will be continuing our study of Imperial China. Tuesday students worked on the cover to their China binder - drawing 4 colored pictures related to China and writing 3 facts that they know about China. Wednesday students worked on a Journal grid and spread of Buddhism summary handout in class. For homework students were asked to answer 5 questions related to the homework readings from Tuesday. The questions will be due on Thursday, they are:

1. How were floods, droughts, and hunger in China connected?
2. How did Confucianism promote social order?
3. Why did Confucianism lose influence?
4. How did Buddhism help people endure suffering?
5. What is the Mandate of Heaven, and when was a new dynasty considered to have gained it?

Thursday, students will continue to learn about the spread of Buddhism through China and on Friday they will write a short essay on this information.

Well our first week back is over and was fairly painless! Thursday, students were asked to finish the map challenge that they began with their partners on Wednesday and were then introduced to China before it became a unified empire. Students learned about the different provinces that were united by Ying Zheng in 221 B.C. Friday, students took Cornell notes on a PowerPoint presentation on the beginnings of the Chinese Empire and began creating their cover sheets for their China binder.

One quick reminder - there is no school on Monday in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Have a good 3 day weekend!

Jan. 12th - Jan. 16th

Welcome back everyone! I hope you all had a good winter break. This week in World History we will begin our study of ancient China. On Monday, students were asked to write down as many things as they knew about China. Students then did a quick write on the Great Wall of China from the perspective of a Chinese soldier. Tuesday students worked on vocabulary for the unit - defining, using each word in a sentence, and illustrating with at least 4 colors - as usual. Students who did not finish the vocabulary in class must finish it for homework due on Wednesday the 14th.
The vocabulary words for this unit are:
- Buddhism
- Bureaucracy
- Confucianism
- Daoism
- Imperial
- Reunify
- Scholar-official

On Wednesday, students will work in groups to complete a map challenge of Asia.

One quick reminder for those who wish to complete the extra credit magazine assignment on the cultures of the Americas - it is due tomorrow, Wednesday the 14th.