Thursday - 12/20/2018

What We Did Today
We continued exploring how language developed among human beings.

Homework
Have a good break!

Discussion Starters
Primates who were able to digest unripe fruits.

Wednesday - 12/19/2018

What We Did Today
Students learned more about the origins of language.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Origins of language.

Monday - 12/17/2018

What We Did Today
We read an article about the development of language, then worked in groups to create a message using an assigned form of communication to the rest of the class (then we performed our message and tried to get the rest of the class to guess the message).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What was your group's form of communication?  What was your message?  Was the class able to decipher your message?

Friday - 12/14/2018

What We Did Today
We continued talking about migration and adaptation.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Biome; adaptation.

Thursday - 12/13/2018

What We Did Today
We planned, in groups, how to survive in different biomes of the world.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Biomes; which biome did you examine? What was your group's plan for survival?

Wednesday - 12/12/2018

What We Did Today
We discussed early human migration around the planet.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Early human remains; migration; obstacles and challenges; adaptation.

Tuesday - 12/11/2018

What We Did Today

We discussed early human migration.

Homework

None.

Discussion Starters

Migration.

Monday - 12/10/2018

What We Did Today
We finished exploring Ardipithecus.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Why do anthropologists think Ardipithecus was a biped on the ground but a quadruped in the trees?

Friday - 12/07/2018

What We Did Today
We continued exploring early human ancestors (Ardipithecus).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What process does an anthropologist use when studying a skeleton?

Thursday - 12/06/2018

What We Did Today
We analyzed skull fossils from early hominids.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Skulls; archaeology; anthropology.

Wednesday - 12/05/2018

What We Did Today
We started talking about the work of anthropologists and their investigation of early humans.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Archaeology; anthropology.

Tuesday - 12/04/2018

What We Did Today
We further explored cave paintings and "flutings" of ancient peoples.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Cave paintings; flutings; children in ancient times.

Monday - 12/03/2018

What We Did Today
We watched CNN10 and changed seats (a pretty complicated process - ask your student).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Seat-selection process; who is at your table?

Friday - 11/30/2018

What We Did Today
We began exploring the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc cave paintings.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Cave paintings; artifacts from 10,000/30,000/200,000 years ago.

Thursday - 11/29/2018

What We Did Today
We learned the truth about the archaeological discovery.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Archaeological discovery.

Wednesday - 11/28/2018

What We Did Today
We talked about the work of archaeologists and began studying the findings of a 4000 yr. old archaeological discovery (fictional).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Archaeological dig: tell me about the discovery.

Tuesday - 11/27/2018

What We Did Today
We continued talking about the beginnings of human society (200,000 to 6,000 BP).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Stone Age.

Monday - 11/26/2018

What We Did Today
We watched a video on early human civilizations.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Early human civilizations; one common ancestor.

Tuesday - 11/20/2018

What We Did Today
We finished the Geography Bee.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
GeoBee.

Monday - 11/19/2018

What We Did Today
We participated in the GeoBee.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
GeoBee: What is it?

Friday - 11/16/2018

What We Did Today
We continued talking about the beginnings of human society.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
History of the world in seven minutes.

Wednesday - 11/14/2018

What We Did Today

We practiced some reading strategies, then began discussing BIG history (from the Big Bang onward).

Homework

None.

Discussion Starters

How long has the universe been around?

Tuesday - 11/13/2018

What We Did Today
We discussed and practiced non-fiction reading strategies on a text.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Strategies good readers use when reading.

Monday - 11/12/2018

What We Did Today
We discussed Veterans Day.

Homework
Thank a veteran!

Discussion Starters
Armistice Day/Veterans Day; Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

Friday - 11/09/2018

What We Did Today
We finished exploring our textbooks, then watched CNN10 and some world history videos.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Textbook exploration.

Thursday - 11/08/2018

What We Did Today
We continued exploring "history" as a discipline.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
History as a discipline; textbook.

Wednesday - 11/07/2018

What We Did Today
We continued exploring the textbook as a resource.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Textbook; outlining to take notes; scavenger hunt.

Monday - 11/05/2018

What We Did Today
We examined our textbook as a resource for our course.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Getting to know the textbook.

Thursday - 11/01/2018

What We Did Today
We discussed spatial scales as a way to organize and analyze historical accounts.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Continents; continental shelf; how many continents are there?

Tuesday - 10/30/2018

What We Did Today
We finished talking about temporal frames as a way to organize and analyze historical information.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Eras; Beginnings of Human Society; Foraging Era; Agrarian Era; Early Civilizations and Pastoral Peoples; Classical Civilizations, World Religions, and Major Empires; Industrial Era.

Monday - 10/29/2018

What We Did Today
We continued discussing calendar systems of the world.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Eras; calendar systems.

Friday - 10/26/2018

What We Did Today
We continued examining calendar systems of the world (Muslim/Islamic, Jewish/Hebrew, Chinese, and Mayan).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How were the calendars similar?  What problems might having different calendar systems present for an historian?

Thursday - 10/25/2018

What We Did Today
We began discussing calendar systems of the world.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Gregorian calendar; BCE/CE; BC/AD.

Wednesday - 10/24/2018

What We Did Today
We started discussing temporal frames (how historians organize and analyze events by time).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
If you were writing a history of the United States, what point in history would start your story?

Tuesday - 10/23/2018

What We Did Today
We watched a few crash course: world history and CNN10.

Homework
None, though the grades for the test are in the gradebook; if you are unhappy with your score, come see me at lunch.  If you received a score less than 41, you need to come see me at lunch, too, so we can fix your grade!

Discussion Starters
How'd you do on your test?

Monday - 10/22/2018

What We Did Today
We took our test in the media center/lab.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How'd the test go?

Friday - 10/19/2018

What We Did Today
We received the last of our study guides and practiced studying for the test on Monday, Oct. 22.

Homework
Study for the test, using the study guides provided.

• Use the adjacent map to study for the continents and oceans map portion of the test.
• Use the vocabulary study guide to study for the vocab portion of the test.
• Use this study guide to study for the remaining questions of the test.

Discussion Starters
Let's study!

Thursday - 10/18/2018

What We Did Today
We practiced recognizing/identifying social institutions in a text about the Iroquois Confederacy, then received a vocab study guide for our test on Monday and studied with partners.

Homework
Use your vocab study guide to get ready for Monday's test.

Discussion Starters
Let me quiz you on your vocabulary words for your social studies test.

Wednesday - 10/17/2018

What We Did Today
We finished talking about social institutions, watch CNN10, and began previewing Monday's test.

Homework
You can begin studying for the test using the image in this post.

Discussion Starters
Examples of social institutions; Monday's test.

Tuesday - 10/16/2018

What We Did Today
We engaged in a "conversation line" (we took turns answering questions for two minutes with a partner, then switched partners) about social institutions.  Mr. L also let us know there is going to be a test next Monday; we will be creating a study guide this week to help us get ready for it.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters

• Are social institutions necessary elements in human culture or society? Why or why not?
• What did you notice about your thinking as you participated in the "conversation line"?

Monday - 10/15/2018

What We Did Today
We began discussing social institutions.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
The things a group of people needs to survive 100 years.

Friday - 10/12/2018

What We Did Today
We finished making our list/poster/bookmarks of what makes an event significant.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What makes an event significant?

Thursday - 10/11/2018

What We Did Today
We continued talking about importance/significance; we shared our personal theories, then worked to develop a consensus on what makes something significant or important (we are developing a class list).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What makes something important or significant?

Wednesday - 10/10/2018

What We Did Today
We focused on significance/importance as an organizational scheme.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What is your theory of significance and importance?  What, for you, makes something significant or important?

Tuesday - 10/09/2018

What We Did Today
We continued examining organizational schemes that historians use, focusing on significance/importance.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Time capsule; significance.

Monday - 10/08/2018

What We Did Today
We started discussing tools that historians use to create accounts.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How can historians organize their historical accounts?

Friday - 10/05/2018

What We Did Today
We continued learning the steps that historians take to create historical accounts, then watched CNN10.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Why must historians be selective with sources and evidence?  Why must historians organize their sources and evidence when creating accounts?

Thursday - 10/04/2018

What We Did Today
We began exploring processes historians use to investigate the past.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters

Frame the problem; Select and analyze evidence; Organize the information; Construct an account.

Wednesday - 10/03/2018

What We Did Today
We analyzed a "letter from Paris" for accuracy.  We identified facts and opinions, looked for internal contradictions, identified facts that could be corroborated by external facts, then determined if the letter could be trusted (spoiler: it couldn't).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starter
Letter from Paris; why was the letter untrustworthy? what was the internal contradiction?

Tuesday - 10/02/2018

What We Did Today
We discussed how historians can check the accuracy of sources (checking for facts/opinions, checking for internal/external consistencies and contradictions).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Facts and opinions; internal/external consistencies and contradictions.

Monday - 10/01/2018

What We Did Today
We explored two sources (one primary, one secondary) on the same topic and analyzed their usefulness.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Working in a factory in England in the 1830s.

Friday - 09/28/2018

What We Did Today
We continued talking about how historians create historical accounts.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Primary sources; secondary sources.

Thursday - 09/27/2018

What We Did Today
We continued discussing how historians create historical accounts.  We focused some on sources (primary and secondary).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Primary sources; secondary sources.

Wednesday - 09/26/2018

What We Did Today
We watched some episodes of Crash Course World History.

Homework
None, though some still need to bring in their event homework.

Discussion Starters
Crash Course.

Tuesday - 09/25/2018

What We Did Today
We began discussing how historians create accounts of the past.

Homework
Investigate an event of your choice.  You can download the sheet by clicking on this link to the Investigating an Event homework sheet, or by downloading it from the 7 files link in the margin.  The homework is due tomorrow, Wednesday, September 26th.

Discussion Starters
How do people know an event happened after it's over?

Monday - 09/24/2018

What We Did Today
We finished our investigation into the question, "What is history?"

Homework
Investigate another event of your choice.  You can download the sheet by clicking on this link to the Investigating an Event homework sheet, or by downloading it from the 7 files link in the margin.  The homework is due on Wednesday, September 26th.

Discussion Starters
What is the difference between an event and an account?

Friday - 09/21/2018

What We Did Today
We worked with a partner to analyze our histories of the first day of school; we noticed many differences based upon perspective, experience, detail, and more.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How was your historical account similar to your partners? How was it different?

Thursday - 09/20/2018

What We Did Today
We continued our exploration into history and historical thinking.  We discussed the various ways people use the word "history," and wrote a short history of our first day of school this year.  We started comparing our short history with our classmates' work.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Why were everyone's histories of the first day of school different, even though they were writing about the exact same day and the exact same place?