Sheridan History Videos

Two big assignments due next class...INB check for China and the China mini book project are due on 12/14(A) or 12/15(B). Finish strong!

2011-12-13T15:21:00.001-08:00

Additionally, your benchmark exam will take place on 12/20(A-day) and 12/21(B-day). Be sure to check Infinite Campus and make certain you have received credit for all your completed work.

Don't forget to organize and self-grade your Americas INB and study for your Americas quiz for our next class!

2011-11-20T17:50:00.001-08:00

Both the INB check and the quiz will take place on Monday(A) and Tuesday(B). We will watch the brainpop video on the Aztec before we grade the INB.

"Lost Kingdom of the Maya" - Watch the first 35 mins.

2011-11-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Lost Kingdom of the Maya | Watch the Documentary Film Free Online | SnagFilms

Be sure to study for your Benchmark Exam! Use your review sheet, vocabulary, maps, and listen to the Quarter 1 Podcast.

2011-10-18T13:24:00.001-07:00

Rome in the 1st Century...watch the first 16 minutes

2011-09-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

PBS: Empires: 1: Caesar Augustus
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Remember to complete your Rome Cover Page and Vocabulary for next class!

2011-09-04T09:42:00.001-07:00

The Cover Page should have a title, "The Rise and Fall of Rome", 5 pictures related to Rome, and 5 facts and/or questions about Rome. Use pgs. 2-55 for ideas.

Vocabulary Sheet should be alphabetized, defined, used in a sentence, and illustrated with a minimum of 4 colors each.

Remember to write your journal: "Eruption!" and bring it with you to the next class!

2011-08-31T15:26:00.001-07:00

No homework tonight. - congrats on your 1st full week...enjoy the weekend!!!

2011-08-26T15:30:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to bring in an artifact that represents you to our next class!

2011-08-25T14:18:00.001-07:00

Be sure to bring your autobiography sheet and signed syllabus to next class

2011-08-18T16:41:00.001-07:00

...and be sure to track down the suggested materials for class too!

Untitled

2011-07-30T22:18:00.001-07:00

Mr. Sheridan is very excited to start the school year in just a few short weeks!

New Blog for Mr. Sheridan's History classes!

2010-01-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

Please click on the following link to access the NEW class blog site.

http://sheridanhistory.pbworks.com/

2010-01-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

This week Students watched a short video entitled "History of the Middle Ages" and answered related questions, also students worked on a map of Europe. The questions for the video were:

1. When was the period known as the Middle Ages, and why was it given this name?
2. Who was Charlemagne? Why was he an important figure during this time?
3. What were the Crusades?
4. What were some of the things the Crusaders learned from their expeditions?
5. What was the Black Death? Describe its symptoms.
6. Describe the effects of the Black Death on Europe during the late Middle Ages.

Map locations and color scheme are found on pgs. 385 and 394 in the text. The following sites must be labeled on your map:

Danube River
North Sea
Rhine River
Atlantic Ocean
Mediterranean Sea
British Isles
Alps Mountains
Pyrenees Mountains
Black Sea
Use the map on pg. 394 to color your map following the spread of Christianity and areas under Muslim rule - be sure to include a legend describing what color describes which time period.

Jan. 19th - Jan. 22nd

2010-01-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students will be learning about the geography of Europe, and the development of the rural lifestyle in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will check Vocabulary for the unit and the following questions:

1. What were the reasons that the heart of Europe became farmland and an important migration route?
2. What kind of impact might the Alps have had on settlement and migration patterns?
3. What was the effect of the fall of Rome on Europe?
4. Why were rivers so important in European history?
5. Who was Charlemagne and what was his main goal?
6. What leadership would religion provide in the absence of governmental leadership?
7. Who are St. Patrick and St. Bonafice? How did these missionaries spread Christianity?
8. How did the fir tree become a Christian symbol? What was the cause?
9. How did the system of rewards and punishments in Christian teachings help create a setting for law and order?
10. What did missionaries do?

Vocab:

Serf
Chivalry
Manor
Charlemagne
Secular
Crusade
Guild
Epidemic
Joan of Arc
Heresy

Welcome Back!

2010-01-12T23:26:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great winter break. This semester in World History we will be studying the continent of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire until the Enlightenment. This week (1/11-1/15) we will be finishing up our study of Japan with an emphasis on its culture. The INB for this unit will be checked in class on Thursday(A) and Friday(B). By the end of the week we will begin studying the Medieval period of Europe.
A quick reminder that both Thursday and Friday are minimum days, and that this coming Monday, the 18th, there is no school in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.

Podcast Review for Quarter 2 is now up!

2009-12-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

Feel free to listen to the podcast lecture in order to help you with your studying for the Benchmark Exam. The following link will take you to the review.

http://staff.hartdistrict.org/msherida/q2.mp3

How to Add Mr. Sheridan's Podcast to iTunes

Step
1
Download the file from Mr. Sheridan's blog. It may be a good idea to save the file to your Desktop.

Step
2
Once you are in iTunes, Click on "File," and then "Add to Library."

Step
3
Select the file and click "Open" to add it to your library. It is now part of your Music Library and can be added to your iPod!

Dec. 7th - Dec. 11th

2009-12-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

This week in World History we will be learning about the island nation of Japan. We will focus our study on the influence of China and Korea, the religious, political, and social structures of Japan, and on the "Golden Age" of art, literature and drama during the 9th and 10th centuries.

Reminder:
The quarter is quickly coming to an end - just two weeks remain until winter break! Remember to keep up with your assignments, and start preparing for your quarter 2 benchmark final. Benchmark exams will take place on Wednesday the 16th (A) and Thursday the 17th (B). This exam counts for 50 points in your overall grade. If all goes well, I hope to have the benchmark review podcast up by the weekend and students will also be reviewing information in class on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Nov. 30th - Dec. 4th

2009-12-01T06:56:00.001-08:00

This week in World History we will conclude our study of China. Students will be learning about the important inventions and achievements of the Chinese culture that still effect us today. Wednesday and Thursday students will be taking a short quiz on the 3 ways of thought in China - Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Friday(A) and Monday(B) will be the INB check for this unit, students will receive their binder grade sheets on Wednesday(A) and Thursday(B).

Nov. 23rd - Nov. 25th

2009-11-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

We continue our study of China this week. We will be learning about the 3 main ways of thought in China (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism) and their effect on government and society.

Agenda

- Journal Grid

- Spread of Buddhism handout

- "3 Ways of Thought" PPT. with handouts

HW - Confucius quote mini picture poster

REMINDER: MAGAZINE PROJECTS ARE DUE THIS WEEK!!

2009-11-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

Agenda for 11/19 - 11/20

- Journal: "It's not what you know..."

- Read "The Tang and Song Dynasties pgs. 268-273 in pairs - graphic organizer and answer 1-2

-Imperial China PPT. - Cornell notes w/summary

HW: Read "Religion and Thought..." pgs.275-279 answer 1-3
Finish Magazine Projects

Nov. 16th - Nov. 20th

2009-11-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

This week in World History, we will begin our study of China. Students will become familiar with the geography, government, religions, and inventions related to the imperial period of China.

Agenda 11/17-11/18

- 4 corners/anticipation guide

- Vocabulary

- Map Challenge

HW - Cover Page for "China" (5 colored pictures, 5 facts or questions, and title), finish vocabulary sheet, continue working on projects.

Reminder: The Americas Magazine Project is due next week on Monday 11/23(A) and Tuesday 11/24(B) This assignment is worth 80 points - NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED!! If you want to turn your project in early you may.

2009-11-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

Agenda for Friday and Monday:

- Finish Aztec sketches

- Organize and check INB for the Americas

- Quiz on the Americas

HW - Continue (or start...) working on Magazine/newspaper project.

Nov. 9th - Nov. 13th

2009-11-11T17:25:00.000-08:00

This week in World History we will be finishing our study of the civilizations of the Americas. Tuesday and Thursday students will be learning about the Aztecs. Friday(A) and Monday(B) students will have a unit INB check and a quiz on all of the civilizations we have covered - the Maya, the Inca, and the Aztec. For the quiz, students should focus on the map challenge, know the environments that each society lived in and adapted to, and what those adaptations were. Additionally, students should also focus on the religions of each civilization, and how they were similar and/or different.

Agenda for Tues. and Thurs.

- Brain Pop Video - "The Aztecs"
- "The Aztec" PowerPoint lecture - Cornell Notes
- Daily life of the Aztec sketch sheet

HW - Organize INB and study for quiz

Nov. 2nd - Nov. 6th

2009-11-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

This week in World History we will continue our study of the civilizations of the Americas.

Agenda for 11/2-11/3

- Video, "Lost Kingdom of the Maya" - Cornell Notes
- Information Stations: The Maya (Civilization, math, chocolate)
- PowerPoint Presentation - The Maya

HW - Read Pgs. 212-217 answer 1-2 on pg. 217

Just a reminder that the magazine/newspaper project is due on 11/23(A) and 11/24(B). If you have questions on the project be sure to ask for clarification. We will be doing some internet research during class later in the week.

2009-10-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Agenda for 10/23

INB check Africa (this is a mini INB, grading will be done entirely in class).

Map Challenge - "The Americas"

Vocabulary Sheet - alphabetize, define, use in a sentence, and illustrate w/ at least 4 colors

Vocab:
Slash-and-burn agriculture
codex
stela
terrace
Pachacuti
hierarchy
chinampa
agrarian
Moctezuma
pampas

HW - Cover Page for "The Americas" unit. 5 facts and/or questions, 5 pictures, title

Oct. 19th -Oct. 23rd

2009-10-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to students and parents for making it through the first quarter of 7th grade! This week students will begin quarter two of the school year. On Monday Team Thunder will be taking a field trip to Castaic Lake Water Agency. Be sure to bring a sack lunch for the day! Tuesday students will be participating in team building activities in the MPR - please remember to bring your permission slip for watching the movie of the day. Wednesday and Thursday are minimum days.

Oct. 12th - Oct. 16th

2009-10-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we will be winding down to the end of quarter one. Students will take the Benchmark Exam on Thursday(A) and Friday(B). Please remember to study the benchmark review we worked on in class, along with vocabulary sheets and any maps. Additionally, students can refer to the following link and listen to the Benchmark Review Podcast

http://staff.hartdistrict.org/msherida/q1.mp3

If you want to download the podcast for listening on your Ipod/mp3 player follow these instructions:

How to Add Mr. Sheridan's Podcast to iTunes
Step
1
Download the file from Mr. Sheridan's website. It may be a good idea to save the file to your Desktop.

Step
2
Once you are in iTunes, Click on "File," and then "Add to Library."

Step
3
Select the file and click "Open" to add it to your library. It is now part of your Music Library and can be added to your iPod!

Good luck on the test...the only homework for this week is to study and review.

2009-10-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

Agenda for 10/9 - 10/12

- INB check: Islam
- Gold for Salt activity
- PPT. Ghana, Mali, Songhai
- Read Storytelling and the Arts pgs. 166-171, answer 1-2 on pg. 171

HW - start reviewing for Benchmark exam, finish classroom text work if necessary

2009-10-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

Agenda for 10/7 - 10/8

- Copy Vocabulary
- Read "Ghana" pgs. 133-137, answer 1-3, and 7
- PPT. Geography of Africa

HW - Vocabulary sheet
Read "Rise of Mali" pgs. 138 - 143, answer 1-3
Start organizing INB for Islam

Oct. 5th - Oct. 9th

2009-10-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we conclude our study of Islam and begin our study of Africa. INB check for Islam will be on Friday the 9th(A) and Monday the 12th(B). The Middle East Postcard Project will be in Snapgrades on Tuesday the 6th after school.

Agenda for 10/5 and 10/6:

- Add on story: "When I discovered gold"

- Map Challenge "Africa"

- Textbook work: Read pgs. 128-132, answer 1-2 on page 132

HW: Cover Page for "Africa" unit - 5 facts/questions, 5 pictures w/color, title.

Quick reminder that Benchmark Exams for this class will take place on Thursday October 15th(A) and Friday October 16th(B)

Sept. 30th - Oct. 2nd

2009-10-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we continued our study of the Rise of Islam. Students worked on an Expansion of Islam fill-in-the-blank sheet during the shortened periods on Wednesday and completed the assignment for homework.

Thursday and Friday students will have a gallery walk on the contributions of Muslims on world civilization and will start their rough draft of the postcard project.

We are coming to the end of our unit on Islam and students will be creating a postcard project for a culmination. The postcard will include 10 facts learned during the unit - in narrative form, and a neat and colorful picture depicting a landscape from the region. Specific instructions for the assignment have been sent home with students. The due dates for this project are Monday the 5th(A) and Tuesday the 6th(B).

An INB check for the unit on Islam will occur towards the end of next week - start organizing now.

A reminder that benchmark exams will be approaching quickly - the date for exams in class will be October 15th (A block) and October 16th (B block).

Sept. 21st - Sept. 25th

2009-09-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we will continue our study of the rise of Islam. Students will be learning about the way of life on the Arabian peninsula before Islam, the story of Muhammad, and the beliefs of Islam including the 5 pillars.

Agenda for Tuesday and Wednesday:

- Journal "Beliefs"

- Life before Muhammad PPT. and handout

- Read pgs. 71-76 and answer questions 1-2 in "check your progress" on pg. 76

HW - finish questions 1-2 on pg. 76 and study for Islam vocabulary quiz

Weekend homework - Read pgs. 77-82, answer 1-2; Read pgs. 108-113, answer 1-2

2009-09-18T06:49:00.000-07:00

Agenda for Friday and Monday:

- Complete Map Challenge
- PPT. on Geography of Arabia and life of Muhammad
- Text work on the beliefs of Islam

HW - None

2009-09-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

Vocabulary Terms for The Rise of Islam:

Caliph
Muhammad
Pilgrimage
Mosque
Jihad
Sunni
Shiite
Qur'an
Oasis
Nomadic

These words must be alphabetized, defined, used in a sentence, and have an illustration with at least 4 colors.

2009-09-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

Agenda for Wednesday and Thursday

- Warm up - "The Desert", copy vocabulary words
- Read in pairs from the text pgs. 66-70 "The Origins of Islam", answer 1-3 in "Check your progress"
- Map Challenge - answer, label, and color

HW

Vocabulary Sheet - Alphabetize, define, use in a sentence, and illustrate w/ at least 4 colors

Sept. 14th - Sept. 18th

2009-09-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we will begin our study of the Rise of Islam. Monday students will watch a final short video on Byzantium, and will then have their INB graded.

Agenda

- Warm Up
- Video "Byzantium"
- INB grading
- Text work - "The Origins of Islam"

HW

Create unit cover page (5 colored pictures, 5 facts/questions, Title) use pgs.62-117

2009-09-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

This week the students took their quiz for the rise and fall of Rome. Grades for this quiz will be posted by Monday. Next week we will be checking the INB for this unit. Students were given INB grade sheets to help them organize their INB's this weekend for grading on Monday(A) and Tuesday(B). This sheet tells you the order of the assignments and what is required for them. As parents/guardians check over the notebooks, please be aware that the Byzantine Video assignment will be completed when we return next week. Also, be sure to sign your child's sheet for 5 points towards their grade. One quick explanation of the INB grade sheet - there are 3 columns - one for points your child believes they earned on the assignment, one for actual points that will be graded next week in class, and one that shows the points possible for each assignment. The column for "points I believe I've earned" should be scored by students this weekend when they organize the INB.

Sept. 8th - Sept. 11th

2009-09-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we will conclude our study of the Roman Empire.

Agenda:

- Legacy of Rome Gallery walk and mini poster
- Review PPT and High-points of the Byzantine Empire
- Video "Byzantium"

HW - Chapter Reviews pgs. 28-29, and 54-55

Answer questions 1-4 in the Comprehension and Critical thinking section on pg. 28
Answer questions 3-4 in the Comprehension and Critical thinking section on pg. 54
Answer questions 1-5 in the Test Yourself sections on pgs. 29, and 55

Review all notes and assignments

A quick reminder that this Thursday the 10th is Back to School Night!!

2009-09-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

Agenda - 9/01

- Review info on origins of Rome, fall of Republic

- Video - "Rome in the 1st century"

- Textbook work pgs. 11-15, read and answer questions in class

- Group work - Causes for the fall of Rome graphic organizer

Homework:
Color expansion of Rome map - 5 colors, one for each date of expansion

Agenda - 9/03

- Finish graphic organizer on causes for the fall of Rome

- Compare U.S. and Roman issues - cartoon sheet

- Pair gallery walk - lasting contributions of the Roman Empire

- Legacy of Rome mini poster

August 31st - Sept. 4th

2009-08-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

This week in World History students will continue their study of the Roman Empire. Students will be learning about the rise of the empire, the reasons for its fall, and the lasting legacy of Rome on western civilization. Monday is a B5 day - the agenda for the lessons this week will be posted starting on Tuesday (A3).

A quick reminder that next Monday, the 7th, is Labor Day. There will be no school on this day. Additionally, Thursday September 10th is Back to School night. The 10th and the 11th are minimum days. Students will be dismissed at 11:35am on these two days. I will post more information as these dates get closer.

2009-08-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Agenda
- Finish map and origins of the Roman republic lecture
- Group discussion
- Rome in the 1st century video snippet

HW
- Have a good weekend

2009-08-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Agenda:

Think-pair-share: What do you know about Rome?

PowerPoint - Pompeii and material culture

Expansion of Rome map/The Origins of Rome class discussion

HW
Journal entry - "The Eruption"

2009-08-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

A quick adjustment to Tuesday's agenda - due to the short period, students only worked on vocabulary. The PowerPoint on Pompeii will take place on Wednesday, as will the journal entry homework. Thank you to all Team Thunder parents who came to the MPR to meet the teachers. It was a pleasure to meet you all.

Vocabulary for our unit on Rome:

Republic
Julius Caesar
Augustus
Pax Romana
Citizenship
Public Works
Corruption
Interpret
Constantine

Please alphabetize, define, use in a sentence, and illustrate with at least 4 colors per picture. The illustration should be related to the meaning of the word.

August 24th - August 28th

2009-08-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

This week in World History students will continue their study of the Rise and Fall of Rome. Tuesday is a C day. Students will attend all of their classes on this day and will learn how to participate in our school fundraiser during advisory. Wednesday, August 25th is an A-1 block day.

A quick reminder: If you have not returned your tear-off sheet from the class syllabus, please do so this week. Please remember that Tuesday is also our parent night for team Thunder. Be sure to join us for cookies in the MPR at 6:30pm!

Tuesday's
Agenda:
-Vocabulary game
-Work on vocabulary sheet
-PPT on Pompeii and material culture - Cornell notes

HW - Personal Journal - "The Eruption"

8/17 - 8/21

2009-08-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

This week in World History students will be going over class procedures, reviewing history and geography skills, and will begin their study of the Roman Empire. The first unit is called "The Rise and Fall of Rome".

Monday and Tuesday students took a quick review quiz on class rules and procedures, learned how historians gather information through primary and secondary sources, and went over some basic map and geography terms.

Wednesday and Thursday students will present their own primary artifact that explains something about them, and will get to "think like an archaeologist" during a classroom gallery walk. They will also begin pre-reading chapter one of their class texts and will learn how to create their INB cover pages.

On Friday and Monday, all students will be working on vocabulary from the unit and will learn about the story of Pompeii and what it can tell us about the Roman lifestyle.

Homework for Monday and Tuesday - bring in a primary artifact that explains something about you as a person ( be sure that it is appropriate for school and that you have your parents permission if it has sentimental/monetary value).

Homework for Wednesday and Thursday - complete student autobiography, return welcome letter tear off, and finish INB Cover page.

Welcome to Rio Norte!

2009-08-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

It's the first day of school!! Welcome to all you 7th graders who are now a part of Team Thunder!! This blog was created to give parents/guardians and students the opportunity to see what is happening on a daily and/or weekly basis in Mr. Sheridan's World History class. I look forward to a very fun and productive year, and I hope you do too. Stay tuned for more information related to our class and team materials and events.

May 26th - May 29th

2009-05-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

This week students will continue their study of the Scientific Revolution. Tuesday students copied questions and watched the beginning of "The Universe" video describing the progression of scientific thought on the origins of the universe. Students will watch the end of this video on Wednesday and will then break into groups for follow up work in our classroom texts. Thursday students will take Cornell notes on a PowerPoint presentation on important figures, ideas, and inventions of the Scientific Revolution. Friday we will go over important information covered in the week and summarize what we have learned in a graphic organizer. Next week we will be covering the Age of Exploration.

May 18th - May 22nd

2009-05-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Well, the CST's are done and we are back to normal in World History. This week students will grade their Renaissance binders on Monday. Be sure to get your parent/guardian's signature and return binder grade sheets on Tuesday! Tuesday students will do some follow up on information presented on the Reformation of the Catholic Church, Wednesday students will begin working on the cover and vocabulary for the next unit on the Scientific Revolution and the Age of Exploration. Thursday students will be reading from the text and answering questions in pairs. The school year will soon be coming to a close, we have only 5 weeks left! Be sure to keep focused, grades for the class can still go up or down depending on your effort! A quick reminder that 15 week progress reports will be available in the next couple of weeks - also, student led conferences will take place on Tuesday, May 26th. Have your parents come in and see all the hard work you have put in this year. Additionally, remember that this Friday, the 22nd is a minimum day, students will be dismissed at 12:12.

May 11th - May 15th

2009-05-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

This week students will be taking the CST. There will be no homework assigned this week. Due to a change in schedule, students will be testing on Friday this week. During normal class time, students will be finishing their group poster presentations and will also be learning about the Reformation. The binder check for this unit will take place on either Thursday of this week or Monday of next week, depending on how quickly group presentations finish. A reminder that the 15 week grading period ends this week, get ready for the home stretch and keep your eyes open for your progress reports! Also, student led parent conferences will take place during the last week of May. Further scheduling information will be sent home as soon as it is available. Good luck on the tests!

2009-05-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Today students finished their Renaissance posters and will present the information on Monday to the class. Also, students will begin to organize binders on Monday and will have a check later next week. Please remember that next week Sutter will be taking the CST. Tuesday through Thursday students will be testing. There will be no homework in class due to testing. For those students who did not complete their "I Am" poem, be sure to have it ready for Monday - re-copied and decorated. Have a safe weekend.

2009-05-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today in World History students worked in groups to make posters on important achievements of the Renaissance. Students will continue working on these posters tomorrow and will present their information to the class. On Wednesday students took Cornell notes on literary achievements of the Renaissance with an emphasis on the contributions of English playwright William Shakespeare. Homework, due on Friday is an "I Am" poem in the style of either sonnet 30 (idealistic and complimentary) or in the style of sonnet 130 (realistic and slightly insulting). Poems should be neatly written and decorated. A binder check on the Renaissance will take place sometime next week - hopefully Monday. Please remember that next week we begin taking the CST and that the schedule starting on Tuesday will be altered. Also, Friday the 15th is a minimum day. If time permits, students will be given the time to begin organizing their binders tomorrow, Friday the 8th. Be sure to improve or make-up any missing assignments from the binder to receive full points on the check day.

May 4th - May 8th

2009-05-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, students read from the text, summarized and answered questions on the spread of Renaissance ideas throughout Europe. Students who did not finish this assignment in class must finish it for homework due on Wednesday the 6th. Wednesday students will learn about literary achievements from the Renaissance with a focus on William Shakespeare.

2009-05-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

This week in World History students continued their study of the Renaissance. Students learned about the essential characteristics of art from the classical, medieval, and Renaissance period and conducting a comparison of works of art from each era. Students also created exhibits on famous people from the Renaissance and began their "gallery walk" to learn about all 10 figures. Monday students will finish the gallery walk. Later next week students will learn about the spread of Renaissance ideals throughout Europe into places like England, and will focus on the works of Shakespeare. Have a good weekend.

2009-04-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Today students worked from the text - reading pages 435-441 on the Italian Renaissance. Students were to summarize the reading (at least 6 sentences) and answer questions 3-7 in the lesson review. Friday (tomorrow) students will take a vocabulary/geography quiz on the Renaissance and finish their gallery walk exhibits.

2009-04-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

Today in World History students continued their study of the Renaissance. Students copied questions and answered them while watching a video on everyday life in the Renaissance. Tomorrow students will take a vocabulary/geography quiz for this unit - be sure to study! Focus on bodies of water and important cities. On Friday students will conduct a gallery walk on famous people from the Renaissance.

2009-04-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today students were asked to read a section from the textbook, pgs. 429-433. They are to summarize the information contained in the reading on the origins of the Renaissance and answer the following questions:

1. How might the longbow have changed the way wars were fought?
2. How did political stability contribute to the growth of trade?
3. What impression of China did Marco Polo’s description create?
4. What contributed to the revival of classical learning?
5. In what way did humanism lay the groundwork for the Renaissance?

Bonus Question: How did humanists justify enjoying life?

This assignment is due tomorrow, Friday the 17th. The Map Challenge is also due tomorrow, please have both of them ready for grading.

2009-04-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Today in World History students worked on a Map Challenge for our unit on The Renaissance. This map and challenge questions are due on Friday. Thursday students will answer some questions from the text on the circumstances that caused the Renaissance to occur and on Friday students will take Cornell notes on a PowerPoint presentation of the origins of the Renaissance. Monday students will begin to learn about important figures from this period and the works that made them famous.

Vocabulary words for this unit:

Elizabethan Age
Humanism
Patron
Printing Press
Renaissance
Republic
Secular
Silk Road
Vernacular

April 13th - April 17th

2009-04-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome back everyone! I hope you all had a nice Spring Break. This week in World History we will begin our study of The Renaissance. Monday students began working on their cover page for this unit - it should include a title, 4 pictures w/color, and 4 facts or questions about this subject. You may preview this section of the text for ideas by looking through pages 424 - 455. This assignment is due tomorrow, Tuesday the 14th. Tuesday students will work on vocabulary for this unit and Wednesday students will work on a map challenge that focuses on the important areas and cities of Europe during The Renaissance. A quick note - 10 week progress report grades are being turned in this week - keep an eye out for them.

2009-04-03T12:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Blue team on their 3-1 victory in the Sutter Cup. Have a safe and pleasant Spring Break. There are no projects or homework over the vacation. When we return on April 13th we will begin our study of The Renaissance. See you then.

March 30th - April 3rd

2009-03-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we will conclude our study of Medieval Europe. Monday students took Cornell style notes on the Black Death - the plague that killed nearly 50% of the population of Europe during the 1340's and 50's. On Tuesday students will learn about the changes in government during this period, including the Magna Carta and the establishment of a Parliament in England. Wednesday students will organize their binders and check them. Thursday students will use their completed binders on a quiz from the material covered in this unit. Please remember that Friday is a minimum day - students will be released at 12:12 on this day.

Homework for Monday - due on Tuesday:
Read pgs. 333-337 and answer questions 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of the lesson review.

The binder check will be on Wednesday, here is the table of contents:

1. Cover Page
2. TOC
3. Vocabulary Sheet
4. Video Qu.'s - "History of Middle Ages"
5. Journal - "No more markets"
6. Medieval Europe PPT Notes
7. Daily life in Europe Qu.'s
8. Journal "Why fight"
9. The Crusades - Video Qu's
10. "The Plague" Letter to a friend
11. The Crusades PPT Notes
12. The Plague and 100 yrs. War Qu's
13. The Black Death PPT Notes
14. Changes in Government Qu's

Tomorrow - Tuesday the 31st is screen t-shirt day, be sure to wear a t-shirt with pictures!

2009-03-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

In World History this week, we continued our study of Medieval Europe. Students watched a short video and answered questions on Wednesday. Thursday students took Cornell notes on a short PowerPoint presentation on the Crusades and watched a summary of the information. Friday students discussed the legacy of the Crusades and the lasting effects they have had on the region and on our own history, including events like 9/11. On Monday students will learn about the Black Death, the plague that wiped out approximately 50% of the population of Europe. Next week is Spirit Week, Monday is Jersey Day - be sure to wear your favorite team's jersey on this day. We have one more week until Spring Break, students will conclude their study of Medieval Europe next week, and we will conduct a binder check sometime before Friday. Have a good weekend!

March 24th - March 27th

2009-03-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

This week in World History student will continue their study of Medieval Europe. On Monday students participated in a Monarchs vs. Church trivia game in which student developed and asked questions of each other during class for bonus points. On Tuesday students will write a journal entry based on the analysis of paintings from the Crusades. The students will then watch the History channel video "The Crusades" and answer questions from this documentary on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday we will discuss the plague known as the Black Death which occurred during the mid 1300's in Europe. The weekly homework assignment is to read "The Plague" on pgs. 318-319 in the textbook and then write a letter to a friend that answers question #2 on this story. The letter is due Friday the 27th. A quick reminder that next week is Spirit Week. Students will participate in various daily activities during that week leading up to the Blue vs. Gold soccer match on Friday April 3rd (a minimum day). The following week is Spring Vacation.

2009-03-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today in World History students continued their study of Medieval Europe as they read about daily life during Medieval Europe. Students read from the textbook in pairs, summarized the information in the reading and answered questions 3-7 in the lesson review on page 302. This assignment is due tomorrow, Friday the 20th. Today is parent-teacher conferences, I hope to see as many parents as possible. It is worth 5 bonus points for every student who has a parent attending.

March 16th - March 20th

2009-03-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

This week in World History students will be taking the 2nd periodic assessment of the year. Monday students reviewed information from the units on China, Japan, and Europe. Tuesdays students played a review game and on Wednesday students will take the assessment. Please take the time to review the information on your review sheets, get a good night's sleep, eat a good breakfast and come to school relaxed and ready to do your best on the test. Thursday is a minimum day due to parent teacher meetings - students will be released at 12:12. Any student who has a parent show up to either the 1:00 - 3:00 or 5:30 - 7:30 sessions will be awarded 5 extra credit points. Friday we will return to our study of Medieval Europe.

2009-03-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

Today in World History students watched the video "A History of the Middle Ages". they were asked to answer the following questions:

1. When was the period known as the Middle Ages, and why was it given
this name?
2 Who was Charlemagne? Why was he an important figure during this time?
3. What were the Crusades?
4. What were some of the things the Crusaders learned from expeditions?
5. What was the Black Death? Describe its symptoms.
6. Describe the effects of the Black Death on Europe during the
Middle Ages.

Additionally, if any students were absent for the vocabulary words for this unit they are:

Middle Ages
Monastery
Feudalism
Lord
Serf
Manor
Knight
Chivalry
Guild
Be sure to alphabetize, define, use the word in a sentence, and draw a picture with at least 4 colors that is associated with the word.

Next week students will be taking the periodic state assessment for history. We will take the test on Wednesday the 18th of March. On Monday and Tuesday we will review the information we have learned since our last assessment.

One final note - parent teacher conferences will take place next Thursday, I hope to see as many parents/guardians as possible this day, please keep it on your calendar.

March 9th - March 13th

2009-03-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we begin our study of Medieval Europe. Monday students will create the cover page for their binder on this unit. Four colored pictures associated with this period in Europe and three facts or questions about this period along with the title will be due tomorrow, Tuesday the 10th. Students will also receive the vocabulary for this unit, which will be due on Wednesday the 11th. Also, the 5 week progress report grading period has come to an end and grades will be entered this week. Wednesday students will watch a short video and answer related questions on life in the middle ages.

March 2nd - March 6th

2009-03-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

This past week in World History we concluded our study of Feudal Japan. Students took notes on a PowerPoint presentation of the culture of Japan on Monday, played a review game with chopsticks on Tuesday and Wednesday, created some origami and Noh theater masks on Thursday, and conducted a binder check for the Japan unit on Friday. Students were asked to get their binder sheets signed by their parent or guardian and return them on Monday for final grading.

2009-02-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

Today in History students worked on summarizing and answering questions about the culture of Japan. Students were asked to read pages 256-261 and answer the following questions:

1. What is the emphasis of Zen Buddhism?
2. How are noh and kabuki different from each other?
3. Why do historians value Lady Murasaki’s “The Tale of Genji”?
4. What new forms of literature and drama did the Japanese develop?
5. How did Japanese culture reflect an interest in natural beauty?

Tomorrow students will watch a short video tomorrow.

Feb 24th - Feb 27th

2009-02-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students continue their study of Japan. Monday students participated in a role playing game based on the feudal system in Japan. Students were asked to complete a Japanese feudal pyramid for homework (w/ pictures and color). Tuesday students worked on a map challenge of Japan - this map with 8 questions should be colored, and labeled with all questions answered by Friday the 27th. Wednesday students will begin to learn about the culture of Japan - including religious practices, literature and the arts. Thursday students will watch a short video on the practices of the samurai.

Feb 16th - Feb 20th

2009-02-20T14:52:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students continued their study of Feudal Japan and also worked on the "Man of La Mancha" assignment. Tuesday students worked on the essay for the play, Wednesday students participated in a workshop put on by the play's production company to discuss their reactions to the play. Thursday students got back to their study of Japan by working on a journal about rules and power and then taking Cornell notes on a PowerPoint presentation. Friday students turned in their play essays and finished the PowerPoint and reviewed questions on the Land of the Rising Sun. Monday students will be participating in a role playing game based on the feudal structure of Japan. Tuesday they will watch a short video on the samurai class and Wednesday they will learn about the religious and literary traditions of Japan. Have a good weekend, there is no homework for Monday.

Feb. 9th - 13th

2009-02-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students began their study of Medieval Japan. On Tuesday students graded their China Binders and were asked to get their grade sheet signed by their parent or guardian for an additional 5 points. On Wednesday, the students worked on vocabulary for Japan and finished the cover page for this unit. On Thursday students worked in pairs to summarize a reading from the textbook. Students were then asked to answer the following questions for homework:

1. Why might trade have been important in early Japan?
2. How did Buddhism influence Japanese religious practices?
3. why was land possession a common source of conflict among clans?
4. What role did Prince Shotoku play in Japanese society?
5. How was Japan the same and different after Prince Shotoku's reign?

Friday students will be taking a field trip to UCLA's Freud Theater to watch "The Man of La Mancha". If you have not turned in a signed permission slip, please be sure to do so before we leave!!

Remember that in observance of President's Day, Monday, February 16th there is no school. Tuesday students will continue their study of Feudal Japan. Have a great weekend.

2009-02-05T14:58:00.001-08:00

Today in World History students completed note taking on the dynasties of China and began work on the Mongol era in China. Students will read pgs. 233-239 in the text and answer the following questions for homework, due tomorrow, Friday the 6th. The questions are:
1. Why would the Mongols divide the empire into different khanates ruled by different family members?
2. What traditions of Chinese government did Kublai Khan preserve (keep)?
3. Why did Kublai keep certain traditions of Chinese government when he took control of China?
4. Why would Kublai Khan trust foreigners to help rule China but not the Chinese themselves?
5. Was Mongol rule good or bad for China? Explain.

The Binder check for this unit will take place on Monday instead of tomorrow so that students can use the weekend to organize and complete any missing assignments. The assignments for this unit are:

1. China cover page
2. Table of Contents
3. Vocabulary Sheet
4. Map challenge - China
5. Imperial China PPT notes
6. Journal Grid
7. Spread of Buddhism summary
8. Reunification of China Questions
9. G.R.A.P.E.S. - Buddhism sheet
10. Bubble Map - Buddhism
11. Illustrated Time-line
12 Dynasties of China PPT notes
13. The Mongol Empire Questions

One quick reminder that we will be taking our field trip to the Freud Theatre on Friday February 13th - please be sure to return your parent permission slips as soon as possible.

Feb. 2nd - Feb. 6th

2009-02-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students will conclude their study of China. Monday students worked on their illustrated time-lines which are due tomorrow. The time-line should be colored and should consist of two time-lines - one for the dynasties of China starting from 206 B.C. to 1644 C.E. and one for important events that occurred around the world during the same time period as the dynasties. The dynasties of China from 206 B.C. are:

The Han Dynasty 206 B.C. to 220 C.E
Six Dynasties 220 - 581 C.E.
Sui Dynasty 589 - 618 C.E.
Tang Dynasty 618 - 907 C.E.
Five Dynasties/Ten Kingdoms 907 - 960 C.E.
Song Dynasty 960 - 1279 C.E.
Yuan Dynasty (Mongols) 1279 - 1368 C.E.
Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644 C.E.

Tuesday students will finish a PowerPoint presentation on the dynasties of China. Wednesday students will be learning about the inventions and achievements of China and Thursday we will learn about the influence China had over nearby Asian cultures like Korea and Japan. Friday will be the binder check for this unit. Be sure to complete and organize your binder for grading.

The grades for this semester will be submitted on Tuesday - the new semester starts Monday the 9th. Be sure to keep your eyes open for the semester report cards.

2009-01-29T16:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-13T14:59:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-12-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

Today in World History students were given instructions on how to complete the optional extra credit report that can be completed over the holiday break. Wednesday students watched a video of the ancient Inca and were asked to answer questions. These questions were:

1. What is remarkable about the way the Inca stone masons built the cities of Machu Picchu and Cuzco?

2. Explain why the Inca road system was the key to controlling the empire.

3. Describe the “coming of age” ceremony for Inca boys and girls.

4. Why was the Inca leadership in a vulnerable position when the Spanish arrived? What disease further weakened the Incas?

5. What advantages did the Spanish have over the indigenous people of the Americas?

6. What traditions have survived among the Inca today?

These questions should be included in the Americas binder. The binder on the Americas will be due the week we get back from break. Students should have the binder organized and ready for grading on Tuesday the 13th.

Dec. 15th - Dec. 19th

2008-12-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

This week in World History we will finish our study of the Americas. Monday students were asked to read in pairs from the text and answer questions on the geography of Mesoamerica - which was important in determining the lifestyle of the people who lived there. Any students who did not finish the questions in class must complete them for homework due on Tuesday. The questions were:

1. What effect have volcanoes had on the landscape of Mesoamerica?
2. How does the temperature in the mountains of Mesoamerica differ from the temperature at sea level?
3. Why do you think Mesoamerican farmers abandoned their fields after a few years?
4. How did Mesoamericans prepare the rain forest for farming?

On Tuesday students will watch a short video on the ancient Inca.

2008-12-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

Today in World History students worked on vocabulary for the geography of Mesoamerica. If the vocabulary was not finished in class - it is due on Monday and should be done for homework over the weekend. Yesterday, students worked on the cover to their new unit on the Americas. Students were asked to draw and color at least 4 pictures that are related to the area and/or era of this subject. They were then asked to write at least 5 lines about what they know, think they know, or want to know about the Americas.

The class made it through its first state test this week and most seemed to feel good about their performance. Next week we will be studying the cultures of the Americas and I will be offering the students an extra credit assignment that they may complete during the holiday break. This extra credit assignment is optional and will be due the week we return from the break.

One quick reminder - 15 week progress reports will be sent out in the next few days, so keep an eye out for them.

2008-12-09T08:39:00.001-08:00

Today in World History we reviewed information that we covered this semester in preparation for our state test tomorrow. Students should use their study guides to review for tomorrow's test. On Thursday we will be studying the geography of the Americas. For the assessment tomorrow, please try to get a good night sleep and eat a good breakfast in the morning - good luck and I will see you tomorrow.

Dec. 8th - Dec. 12th

2008-12-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students will be introduced to the Americas. On Monday students took notes on a short overview of the major empires of mesoamerica. On Tuesday, students will review all the units we have studied so far this semester (Rome, Islam, and Africa). Homework for Tuesday will be to review for the assessment on Wednesday. On Wednesday, students will take their first state test for History. It will cover the subjects that we have learned about so far this year. When we return on Thursday, students will continue their study of mesoamerica - including the geography and agriculture that allowed empires to prosper and grow. Students should also have their history binders organized, finished, and ready for grading by Thursday. The assignments and table of contents for the binder are as follows:

1. Vocabulary/Summary - Words included were clan, griot, kinship, labor specialization and summary of the text book reading (pgs. 151- 154)
2. Map of Africa - colored and labeled
3. Video Questions "Ancient Africa"
4. Ghana PowerPoint notes
5. Ghana notes question and summary
6. Vocabulary sheet - all boxes filled and pictures colored
7. Compare/Contrast sheet - the 3 empires of Western Africa
8. Mali/Songhai PowerPoint notes

2008-12-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

Today in World History we continued our study of Mali and Songhai - two important empires of Western Africa. Due to short periods the last two days, we will conclude our study of Africa tomorrow by finishing a PowerPoint presentation and conducting a "Gallery Walk" through the classroom that highlights important information on the empires, lifestyle, and leaders of Africa. Friday our weekly assignment of a compare and contrast sheet is due. Students will compare and contrast the three main empires of Western Africa- Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They may use their Cornell notes and the text book pages 164 to 169 to complete the assignment. On Friday students will play a short review quiz game on Africa. Starting Monday students will learn about Mesoamerica and the Olmec civilization.

One important notice - the 1st periodic state assessment for this class will take place on Wednesday of next week. It will cover all subjects that we have covered so far in class. We will use Tuesday as a review day for these subjects. On Thursday of next week we will continue with our study of Mesoamerica - including units on the Aztec, Maya, and Inca.

Dec. 1st - Dec. 5th

2008-12-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful Thanksgiving weekend. This week in World History we are concluding our study of Africa. On Monday, students finished notes on the empire of Ghana and answered summarizing questions. These questions were completed during class - or must be finished as homework. The questions were:

1. What difficulties did people encounter when moving goods across the desert?

2. How did the region of Ghana come to be known as Ghana?

3. How did Ghana’s king help the empire become wealthy and powerful?

4. How did trade affect West Africa’s religion and culture?

5. What advantage did Muslims have that helped them gain influence in Ghana?

6. How did Ghana’s wealth and power lead to its downfall?

In addition to these questions, students were given a vocabulary homework sheet for their binders that is due tomorrow.

Tomorrow - Tuesday the 2nd, students will be learning about the empires of Mali and Songhai - the empires that followed Ghana. On Wednesday we will conclude our study of these empires and conduct a "gallery walk" of the important leaders and subjects. On Thursday students will participate in a team review game in preparation for a short quiz to end our unit on Africa.

Our weekly assignment, due Friday, is a compare and contrast sheet on the empires of West Africa.

On Friday students will be introduced to Mesoamerica and the Olmec culture.

And finally, a few quick notes

- the Turkey Bowl will be played on Wednesday the 3rd.
- 15 week progress reports will be sent out in the next week or so
- State assessments in History will take place sometime next week, I will give more information when it becomes available to me.

Nov. 24th - Nov. 28th

2008-11-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

This week in World History students are continuing their study of Africa. On Monday, students took Cornell style notes on a PowerPoint presentation of the empire of Ghana - an area of trans-Saharan trade. Tuesday students were broken up in to "caravan" groups and were asked to trade with other caravans in order to get neccessary goods - and of course they had to pay a tribute tax to the king of Ghana (Mr. Sheridan) as well! Students were able to see the importance of the salt and gold trade and learned about the trading of slaves for goods as well. Wednesday is a minimum day and we will take a small break from Africa - students will learn a short history of the true story of Thanksgiving and then be excused to the field to watch this years Turkey Bowl - GO GOLD!!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend - there is no school on Thursday the 27th or Friday the 28th. When students return on Monday, we will continue our study of Africa, focusing on the emergence of the empire of Mali.

2008-11-20T14:51:00.000-08:00

Today in World History students became more familiar with the specific areas of Africa. Students then watched a video on the kingdoms of east Africa. While watching the video students were asked to answer the following questions:

- Explain two reasons why Africa's history is hard to figure out.
- What are some regions in Africa where early civilizations developed?
- What does "Swahili" mean and how does the meaning relate to the location of the Swahili civilization?
- Why did Archaeologists originally believe that the Swahili were not African?
- Give two theories (guesses) for the mysterious decline of Great Zimbabwe.

Tomorrow our weekly assignment is due. It is a map of the continent of Africa - refer to yesterdays post for specific information on how to complete the assignment. Also tomorrow is "casual Friday' students may be out of uniform, but must conform to the dress code found in their agenda binders.

Nov. 17th - Nov. 21st

2008-11-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone - sorry for the lack of posts. I could not get online on campus last week, but we are back in business. This week in World History we are studying the continent and kingdoms of Africa. On Monday, students discussed the importance of cultural myths and their transmission from person to person orally. Oral tradition and history are very important in the study of Africa. On Tuesday students did vocabulary and summarized text passages in pairs. Wednesday students were given history binders and were asked to label and color specific areas of a map of the continent of Africa. This map is the weekly assignment and must be completed by Friday. The areas of the map that must be colored and labeled are:

- Ocean bordering Africa to the west
- Ocean bordering Africa to the east
- Sea bordering Africa to the north
- The vegetation zones of Africa
- Egypt, Ghana, Songhai, the Nile River, the Senegal River, and the Sahara Desert

Use the maps on pages A28 and 158 to help you find this information.

One quick reminder: This week is Spirit Week - Wednesday is twin day, Thursday is crazy hair day, Friday is casual Friday (dress code will be enforced).

2008-11-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a restful Veterans Day holiday. Today in World History students filled out a part of their study guide for Fridays quiz. Tomorrow we will finish our study guides - focusing on the 5 pillars of Islam and the lasting contributions of the Muslim world. We will then play a short review game. Students are to study for the quiz - which will be on Friday.

Next week is Spirit Week - starting on Wednesday students will participate in "theme days" including twin day, crazy hair day, casual Friday, mix-match shoe day, and jersey day. I will post more information on these days as they get closer.

Once again, the 10 week progress report will be arriving soon - keep an eye out for it. Any students or parents who are concerned about grades earned in the class, can feel free to contact me to discuss what is required to improve.

Nov. 10th - Nov. 14th

2008-11-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

On Friday we continued our study of the rise of Islam. Students listened to a reading of the life of the prophet Muhammad while taking notes on a PowerPoint presentation. On Monday, we will finish up the story of Muhammad and learn about the spread of Islam after his death. Tuesday is Veterans Day, there is no school. On Wednesday, we will conclude our study of Islam by looking at the lasting contributions of Islam in the areas of medicine, language, math, and the sciences. Thursday we will finish the unit with a small assessment and on Friday we will begin to look at the cultures and civilizations of Africa.

One quick reminder that the 10 week progress report will be sent out in the next few days - keep an eye out for it.

Once again, Tuesday the 11th is Veterans Day - there is no school. If you enjoy your rights and freedoms, thank the people who fought to keep them safe, thank a Veteran!

Nov. 3rd - Nov. 7th

2008-11-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

This week in World History we will continue our study on the rise of Islam. On Monday students were asked to write a journal on morality and its effects on behavior. Students then read together in whole group and answered questions based on the reading. Here were the questions:

- What are some ways that Muslim's beliefs effect their daily lives?
- Why did Muhammad spread Islam?
- How did Muhammad show leadership?
- Why would acceptance of non-Muslims be important to the expansion of the Muslim Empire?
- What do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common?
- What is the importance of the Sunnah to the Muslims?

2008-10-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today in World History we studied the geography, economy, people and religious beliefs of the Arabian peninsula. Student groups worked together to find information for a graphic organizer using notes and the text. There is no homework for tonight. On Monday we will continue our study of Islam, discussing how Muslims live and act, and the history of Muhammad and his followers.

Tomorrow is Halloween - it is also a minimum day; students will be released from school at 12:12pm. Please remember that tomorrow is not a free dress day - if you are not in a costume, you must still be in uniform! Also, no costumes with full masks will be permitted. Students must be recognizable in their costumes. In class tomorrow, we will go over a brief history of Halloween, and then we will play a quiz game with prizes for correct answers. Have a safe and happy All Hallows Eve!!

2008-10-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

Today in World History the class watched an introductory video on the history and practices of Islam. Students answered questions while watching. The questions were:

- Where was Muhammad born?
- What are the five pillars of Islam?
- What is the Hadith?
- What is the Ka'bah?
- What does an Imam do?
- What are the two sects of Muslims?
- What do Muslims do during Ramadan?

Tomorrow students will work in groups to learn about the terrain and culture of the Arabian peninsula - the place where Muhammad was born and Islam began.
There is no homework for tonight.

2008-10-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

Today in World History we discussed what we knew about Islam. We then went over general information of the prophet Muhammad and the origins of Islam. The class then defined vocabulary for the unit - as usual students were to alphabetize, define, and include an illustration with at least 4 colors for each word. The words for this section are:

- Islam
- Muslim
- Qur'an
- Sunnah
- Mosque
- Allah
- Arabia
- Mecca
- Hijrah

Arabia and Mecca are not in the textbook - you will get the definitions in class tomorrow during a short video presentation.

Oct. 27th - Oct. 31st

2008-10-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

This week in World History we will begin to study the rise of Islam. Tomorrow is Tuesday and we will be following the shorter schedule. Parent conferences will take place tomorrow as well, during two different time periods - 1:30pm - 3:30pm and 5:00 to 7:00. I look forward to meeting with as many of you as possible. Today in World History we came to the end of our unit on Rome. Student groups presented posters depicting one of four legacies of Rome, discussing the lasting effects of the Romans on our modern world. Tomorrow we will begin our unit on the rise of Islam. There is no homework for tonight.

2008-10-23T14:19:00.000-07:00

Today in World History students finished up notes on the introduction to the Byzantine Empire. Students then worked in groups to complete a Venn diagram on the similarities and differences between the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox religions. Tomorrow we will finish our study of Rome by focusing on the lasting legacy of the Roman culture. Monday we will have a short quiz and then we will begin our lesson on the rise of Islam.

For the classes that did not finish the Venn diagram, it must be completed for homework tonight and is due when you enter class tomorrow. Use your notes and pages 60-63 to help you answer.

One final reminder - our weekly homework is due tomorrow - a current event report on a newsworthy event that is at least 300 words in length and includes the country in which the story takes place, countries that border the country where the story takes place, and the date of the story. The report should summarize the story in the student's own words and include why they found the story newsworthy and why the world should care.

2008-10-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today in World History we finished our "History Frames" organizers on the fall of Rome. We then took notes on a PowerPoint presentation on the early Byzantine empire and began work on a Venn diagram comparing the religion of the western and eastern empires. Remember that this week's homework is a current event report of approximately 300 words that is due Friday the 24th. If you have any questions on what must be included in the report - please see Mr. Sheridan or refer to the weekly post on this site. Tomorrow and Friday we will continue with the Byzantine empire and the lasting legacy of Rome. Next week we will begin our study of Islam.

Oct. 20th - Oct. 24th

2008-10-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

This week in History we will conclude our study of the Roman empire. Today students finished up taking notes on a PowerPoint presentation on the decline of the empire and answered two questions.
1. How did moving the capital from Rome to Constantinople weaken the western part of the empire?
2 Which of Rome's internal problems do you think hurt it the most? Why?

Tomorrow students will work on a history story frame on the fall of Rome and will be introduced to the Byzantine empire.

This week's homework, due on Friday the 24th, is a current event report. Students will choose a newsworthy event from any printed news source (newspaper, magazine, printed page from a website). Students will include the following information in their report:

-Name of the country in which the story takes place
-Names of two countries that border the country in which the story takes place
-Date of the story

In the report students will summarize the story in their own words and explain why it is important to their lives and to the world. The report should be at least one paragraph of approximately 300 words.

2008-10-17T17:38:00.001-07:00

Today in World History we continued our work on a graphic organizer dealing with the internal problems that existed during the decline of the Roman empire. Groups were asked to determine problems in the areas of Economics, the Military, and Politics. We then practiced our note taking on a PowerPoint presentation that summarized the information covered. On Monday, we will finish our discussion on the decline of the empire and begin discussing the Byzantine empire. By the end of the week we will conclude our unit on Rome and begin our unit on the Rise of Islam. Have a safe weekend - see you on Monday.