Welcome

The purpose of this blog is to create an easy and fast form of communitcation for my classroom. On the blog you will find weekly updates in class assignments, events and changes. The blog will also provide links for extra work, assignments and/or information, I feel may be helpful.



Friday, December 14, 2012

Practice Lock-Down on Monday

Dear Parents,

We are so sorry to hear about the shooting in Connecticut...our hearts break for these families, friends, and loved ones involved in this tragic event.
We as a school recognize the importance of putting SAFETY first and foremost before all else. So, on Monday we will be doing a practice lock-down as well as spending time educating your students on the importance of safety in schools, silence during a lock-down, and a time of silence to recognize those that have gone through this horrific event.
Again, our hearts break and go out to each and every single person involved in this awful tragedy. Life is precious and we know, value, and recognize how important safety is, especially when it involves your student.

Sincerely,

The Middle School Team

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

8th Grade Homework DUE THURSDAY (12/13/12)

Colonies Take Root: Primary Sources

Student must read and answer questions located on the worksheet for the following primary sources:
1. "To My Dear and Loving Husband"
2. Proceedings of the Virginia Assembly, 1619

Grading Period Ends Next MONDAY (12/17/12)

The last day of the grading period will be Monday, December 17th. This will be the last day for students to turn in any missing or late work (not later than 5 days). This will also be the last day for students to turn in extra credit.

Report Cards will be sent out on Wednesday, December 19th. This will be a half-day and there will be NO AFTERCARE.

Famous Quote of the Week

"Now the only way...is... to walk humbly with our God... We must consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill. The eyes of all people are upon us."   ---------- Who said this?

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Famous Quote of the Day 12/4/12 (Extra Credit)

"He that will not work, shall not eat."

                                 ------- Who said this?

Junior High Newsletter

Junior High has created a weekly newsletter to keep parents and students updated on current and upcoming events for the school and Junior High. Look out for them every Monday. Students will be given a hard-paper copy to take home each week.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Vocabulary Quiz on MONDAY 12/3/12

Both 7th and 8th Grade will be have a Vocabulary Quiz on Monday . This quiz in NOT open book and student may NOT use a 3x5 index card on this short quiz. Words can be found on the blog's older post in order for students to study.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Monday, November 26, 2012

Weekly Announcements

- Test Retake will be given on Friday 11/30/12 @ Lunch. (Student must bring original test signed by parent in order to retake the test)

-Progress Reports (signed): In an effort to make sure all students and parents are aware of the standing in the class; students MUST turn in their Progress Report signed. Students who fail to do so will have a lunch detention until the progress report in turned in and signed.

-Book Report student were given the guidelines and requirements of Historical Novel Book Report. This report is a completely independent at home assignment. All reports are due on FRIDAY JANUARY 4th. NO LATE REPORT WILL BE ACCEPTED.

New Unit Vocabulary DUE TUESDAY 11/27/12


Chapter 2 Vocabulary: Age of Exploration in Asia and India (7th Grade)
****Modified list #1-15******
 

1.   Cartographers

2.   astrolabe

3.   caravel

4.   scurvy

5.   circumnavigate

6.   Northwest passage

7.   matrilineal

8.   stupas

9.   Khmer Empire

10.                     padis

11.                     outposts

12.                     sepoys

13.                     British-French Rivalry

14.                     Robert Clive

15.                     The Manchu Conquest

16.                     Matteo Ricci

17.                     Manchus

18.                     Henry the Navigator

19.                     Vasco de Gama

20.                     Christopher Columbus

21.                     Vasco Nunez de Balboa

22.                     Ferdinand Magellan

 ***Modify list are for students who IEPs start that they need a simplified list or chunking of information.
 
Unit 3: Early American Colonies (8th Grade)
****Modified list #1-15******

All 8th Grade Students must write definition and use the word in a sentence for FULL credit.
 
1.  charter
2.  John Smith
3.  representative government
4.  pilgrim
5.  Squanto
6.  John Winthrop
7.  toleration
8.  Roger Williams
9.  Anne Hutchinson
10.                   Thomas Hooker
11.                   John Wheelright
12.                   town meeting
13.                   Metacom
14.                   proprietary colony
15.                   royal colony
16.                   William Penn
17.                   Backcountry
18.                   Nathaniel Bacon
19.                   Lord Baltimore
20.                   James Olgethrope
21.                   debtor
22.                   plantation
23.                   borderland
24.                   Junipero Serra
25.                   presidio
26.                   pueblo
27.                   The “Starving Time”
28.                   Mayflower Compact
29.                   King Phillip’s War
30.                   Penn’s “Holy Experiment”
31.                   Bacon’s Rebellion
***Modify list are for students who IEPs start that they need a simplified list or chunking of information.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Test on Monday 11/19/12

Both 7th and 8th grade will be having a Unit Test on Monday.

Students may bring a 3X5 index chart as a "cheat" sheet to use on the test.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Famous Quote of the Week 11/15/12

"I think, therefore I am." ----- Who said this?

Conquest and Colonies

Conquest and Colonies
 
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Conquest and Colonies (Extra Credit-8th Grade) 

COMMANDER_CONQUEST_OF_THE_AMERICAS.jpg

Main Idea: The countries of Europe established colonies in the lands they discovered but, in some cases, only after violently conquering the native people who lived there.

Today's Lesson Essential Question: Which cultures did Europeans encounter, and how were they received?

Instructions: As you go through this webquest, be sure to read everything. Action items are in red. Important names and terms that will pop up on the unit test are bolded. You may choose to type and print your responses or write them on loose-leaf. You may work individually or with a partner, but each person must submit their own set of responses.

1. Action Item: After reading the passage below, create a chart (or timeline) showing the sequence of events leading to Spain's conquest of the Aztec Empire.

The Conquest of Mexico

Aztec_Empire_Pic_1.png

From the Caribbean some Spaniards moved to the mainland to set up colonies. One such person was Hernan Cortes, who led an expedition to Mexico that ended with the conquest of the Aztec Empire. Cortes was a conquistador, or conqueror, a term applied to Spanish military leaders who fought against the native peoples of the Americas.


At the time of the Spanish arrival in Mexico, the Aztec emporer was Moctezuma II. Though the Aztecs were very powerful and ruled much of Mexico, they were unpopular with those they had conquered. Cortes was able to use this lack of popularity to his advantage. By the time he reached the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, Cortes's small band of Spanish soldiers had been joined by thousands of Native Americans who wanted to defeat the Aztecs.
Among the Native Americans who joined Cortes was a woman named Malintzin, also called Malinche. Because she was able to speak the Aztec language, Malintzin became invaluable to Cortes as a translator.


In addition to his Native American allies, Cortes had several other advantages that helped him defeat the Aztecs. He head metal weapons and heavy armor, neither of which was known to the Aztecs, as well as guns. Also, Cortes and a few of his soldiers rode horses, animals never before seen in the Americas. Some Aztecs were so scared at their first sight of the horses that they fled in terror. As it had in the Caribbean, disease also swept through the Aztec Empire, killing thousands of people.

On November 8, 1519, Cortes and his army entered Tenochtitlan. Though Cortes and Moctezuma greeted each other respectfully, the Spanish soon took the emperor prisoner. Battle erupted, during which Moctezuma was killed. After months of heavy fighting, Cortes took the city and the entire Aztec Empire. King Charles V of Spain appointed Antonio de Mendoza the first viceroy of Spain (officials selected to rule a large area in the king's name).



2. Action Item: After reading the passage below, create a chart (or timeline) showing the sequence of events leading to Spain's conquest of the Inca Empire.

The Conquest of Peru

About 10 years after the conquest of the Aztecs, a conquistador named Francisco Pizarro led an expedition to Peru. Pizarro had heard of the fabulous wealth of Peru's Inca Empire, and he hoped to win some of that wealth for himself.

The Inca Empire that Pizarro found was already weakened significantly. Smallpox had recently swept through, killing many people, including the emperor. In the wake of the emperor's death, civil war had broken out. A new ruler, Atahualpa, had only just taken control of the empire when the Spanish arrived.

Atahualpa heard of the Spaniard's arrival and agreed to meet with them in 1532. At that meeting, Pizarro demanded that Atahualpa accept Christianity and hand over his empire to Spain. Atahualpa refused, and the Spanish took him prisoner. Though Atahualpa gave Pizarro a huge fortune in gold and silver, the Spanish killed him and headed South to Cuzco, the Inca capital. There they destoryed the Inca army and took over the empire.




3. Action Item: Infer - What event is taking place in the picture below? What evidence supports your answer?

Inca_Empire_Pic_1.png


4. Action Item: Read the passage below then answer the following questions.
  • Analyze - According to Las Casas, how have the Spanish mistreated the Native Americans?
  • Infer - For what audience do you think Las Casas was writing? What makes you think so?

Some Spaniards were apalled at the treatment of Native Americans and called on others to protect those who remained. The most vocal of these reformers was a priest named Bartolome de Las Casas. In seeking to protect the Native Americans, however, Las Casas recommended replacing them as laborers with imported African slaves (later in life, Las Casas recants this idea). Slave labor soon became a common practice in the Americas.

In his History of the Indies, Las Casas described the terrible ordeals that the Natvie Americans faced as forced laborers, despite orders from the king of Spain that they be protected and taught Christianity.

"The Indians were totally deprived of their freedom and were put in the harshest, fiercest, most horrible servitude and captivity which no one who has not seen it can understand. Even beasts enjoy more freedom when they are allowed to graze in the fields. When the Indians were allowed to go home, they often found it deserted and had no other recourse than to go out into the woods to find food and die. When they fell ill, which was very frequently because they are a delicate people unaccustomed to such work, the Spaniards did not believe them and pitilessly called them lazy dogs, and kicked and beat them; and when illness was apparent they sent them home as useless. I sometimes came upon dead bodies on my way, and upon others who were gasping and moaning in their death agony, repeating "Hungry, hungry." And this was freedom, the good treatment, and the Christianity that Indians received.

Is there a single nation which would not think that the world is full of just such evildoers as the Spaniards if their first experience with that outside world was with a people who entered territories by force, killed the people, and deprived them of their rights? Just because the Spaniards told them to obey the King of Castile [Spain], supposing they understood, what obligation did they have to obey since they already had their own kings?

5. Visit CIA Factbook to view current statistics on the people of Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Once the website is loaded, you will be able to select each country from the dropdown menu. Expand the section on "People" and view the languages spoken, religions, etc.
  • Based on this data, explain how exploration and colonization have impacted the culture in Mexico and South America.
  • How might the history of Mexico and South America be different if the Spanish had not discovered gold and silver there?

Scientific Revolution Web Quest

Scientific Revolution Web Quest (7th Grade- Extra Credit)


Mad Scientist Picture.jpg



Activity Introduction:

During and after the Renaissance, generations of men and women began to look at the
world around them with a renewed inquisitiveness. No longer willing to accept the
conclusions of classical scholars or the teachings of the church, individual scientists
pursued problems in mathematics, astronomy, physics, biology, medicine, and chemistry.
Through careful observation and experimentation, these researchers amassed a body of
sound, empirically proven knowledge that forms the basis of modern science. In this web quest,
you will study a collection of primary sources related to Nicolaus Copernicus.

Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Poland in 1473, then educated in Poland and Germany.
He read widely in Latin, studying contemporary and classical mathematics, astronomy,
and also medicine. Unlike many of the sciences, astronomy is a science that is conducted
primarily through observation, not experimentation. Copernicus was a careful observer
who spent many hours studying the night sky from his observatory in Frauenburg,
Germany. Copernicus became convinced that the earth was not fixed and stationary at the
center of the universe, but instead revolved around the sun. In this web quest, you will study
Copernicus's writings and examine the way he drew his scientific conclusions.



Directions:


Visit the link below and answer the corresponding questions.

Nicolaus Copernicus: From The Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies, 1543
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1543copernicus2.html

1. Read the first paragraph. On what basis did Copernicus conclude that the form of the sphere "belongs to the heavenly bodies"?


2. Summarize three reasons why Copernicus concluded that the earth was spherical.


3. According to Copernicus, what did "the great majority of authors" think about the place of the earth in the universe?

Visit the link below and answer the corresponding questions.
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/copernicus.html


4. What did Copernicus mean when he wrote, "I ascribe certain motions to the terrestrial globe"?


5. Why did Copernicus debate with himself for many years over whether or not to publish his book?


6. What did the "scorn" which Copernicus "had reason to fear" almost lead him to do?


7. What did the "confusion in the astronomical traditions" lead Copernicus to do?


8. What did Copernicus find "by long and intense study"?


9. Copernicus anticipated that some people might badly distort some "pages of Scripture" in their efforts to refute his theory (prove it wrong). What did Copernicus mean by this?


Visit the link below and answer the corresponding questions.

Thomas Digges: A Perfit Description of the Coelestiall Orbes
http://eee.uci.edu/clients/bjbecker/ExploringtheCosmos/week4a.html

Scroll down to the hand-drawn image near the bottom of the page. This is the work of Thomas Digges, a follower of Copernicus.

10. Describe what you see.


11. The view of the solar system, as described by Copernicus and sketched by Digges, was a radical challenge to people who firmly believed that the earth was the center of the universe and that it was fixed and stationary in the sky. Hypothesize how such individuals might have reacted to Copernicus's and Digges's new astronomical theory.

Visit the link below and answer the corresponding questions.
http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Kepler.html

12. Who was Johannes Kepler?

13. What contributions did he make to mathematics and astronomy? How did he build on the work
of Copernicus?

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Discussion Question #7 DUE THURSDAY 11/15/12

Why is ending hunger in the world/ U.S. a big issue? Can young people make a difference in ending big issues like hunger and poverty? How?

7th Grade Requirements:
1 1/2 pages
double-spaced
(5 Quotes for extra credit)

8th Grade Requirements:
2 pages
double-spaced
5 Quotes (required)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Extra Credit Opportunity


Mankind The Story of All of Us is an epic 12-hour television event about the greatest adventure of all time—the history of the human race.
 
Mankind The Story of All of Us - Series Premiere
Tue., Nov. 13 at 9/8c
 
It takes 10 billion years for the ideal planet to form and 3 billion more for the right conditions to emerge before it finally happens: mankind begins. From there unfolds a fast-paced story told here through key turning points—stepping stones in our journey from hunter-gatherer to global citizen. It’s a tale of connections—why some ideas take hold and spread around the globe, and how the lives of people in one part of the world are shaped by events in another.
 
Episodes covered throughout the series include the ice age, the advent of farming, the sacking of Rome, the discovery of the New World, the fall of the Aztec empire, the Industrial Revolution and so much more. This is our story—a story of triumph and overcoming, of survival on a harsh and brutal planet. It is the story of all of—and how, against the odds, we survived.
Mankind is the first television series in a generation to tackle the history of the human race through the ages. Embracing groundbreaking storytelling methods, it features jaw-dropping imagery and dramatic reconstructions of the most critical events in human history.
 
 
*****Students can recieve 10pts for just watching each episode and writing down 5 things they have learned from each episode.******
 
Extra Credit for 1st Episode Due MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19th.
 
 

Friday, November 9, 2012

8th Grade Homework

Spanish Word Search and Essay.
- Worksheet was given to students on Thursday. Assignment is due on TUESDAY 11/13/12

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Homework Reminder!!!!

Field Trip Report DUE FRIDAY 11/9/12


The Hohokam and The White Tank Mountains Project
Part I: Short Answer Questions (50pts)- questions included in packet
Part II: Newspaper Project (50 pts)
Directions: use the information learned from field trip and through the article to create a historical newspaper. Each newspaper must include the following:


  • Newspaper Title
  • 3 News articles w/ titles (each article must 6-8 sentences)
  • 4 Pictures
****Students were given their packets for this week's project that is due on Friday.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Homework 11/7/12

7th Grade- Prostestant Reformation Worksheet (Read Skit and Answer Questions)

8th Grade- Discussion Question #6: Do you agree with the National and State Election Results? Why or Why not? (Extra Credit Option for 7th Grade)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Famous Quote 11/6/12

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."  ----- Who said this?

Monday, November 5, 2012

Field Trip Report DUE FRIDAY 11/9/12


The Hohokam and The White Tank Mountains Project
Part I: Short Answer Questions (50pts)- questions included in packet
Part II: Newspaper Project (50 pts)
Directions: use the information learned from field trip and through the article to create a historical newspaper. Each newspaper must include the following:

 

  • Newspaper Title
  • 3 News articles w/ titles (each article must 6-8 sentences)
  • 4 Pictures
 
****Students were given their packets for this week's project that is due on Friday.

Reminder Awards Ceremony

1st Quarter Awards Ceremony: The first quarter awards assembly will be this Wednesday, November 7th. The times are as follows:

1st/2nd grade: 8:30am - 9:15am
3rd/4th grade: 9:30am - 10:00am
5th/6th grade: 10:15am - 10:45am

7th/8th grade: 11:00am - 11:30am

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Test Retake on Thursday 11/1/12

    Students will be given the opportunity to retake their vocabulary assessment this THURSDAY 11/1/12. Students can use a 3x5 (only 1)  index card to put any helpful information. The assessment will be given at lunch this day and students are responsible for showing up with a signed copy of their original assessment. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETAKE THE ASSESSMENT WITHOUT A SIGNED COPY OF THEIR ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT.

Famous Quote 10/30/12

"These people are very unskilled in arms ... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished."
                                 -------- Who said this..?

Monday, October 29, 2012

School Wide Events

  • Cookie Dough/ Candle Sale: Each student was given packets for our last fundraiser before winter break. All orders and money are due by FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th. More information can be found in each packet.

  • 1st Quarter Awards Ceremony: The first quarter awards assembly will be on Wednesday, November 7th.  The times are as follows:

    1st/2nd grade: 8:30am - 9:15am
    3rd/4th grade: 9:30am - 10:00am
    5th/6th grade: 10:15am - 10:45am
    7th/8th grade: 11:00am - 11:30am

  • Spirit Week:   October 29th- November 2nd
Monday– Crazy Hair Day
Tuesday– Twin Day
Wednesday– Costume Day
(FREE Dress Down; no scary or gory costumes allowed)
Thursday– Sports Day
Friday– Super Hero Day

7th Grade Homework 10/29/12 DUE TUESDAY 10/30/12

Geography Skills- Students were given a map of Italy and instructed to do the following:
1. Color each state of Italy as seen on pg 35 in textbook.
2. Answer questions on worksheet:
       -Place:
              1. In which state was Pisa an important city?
              2. Who controlled Corsica and Sicily?
       -Location: On the map locate, create a symbol and label each
              a. Florence
              b. Venice
              c. Rome
              d. Papal States
              e. Duchy of Milan
 3. Short Answer: Based on the map, why was Venice in a good position to trade with the Muslim world?
             

8th Grade Homework 10/29/12 DUE TUESDAY 10/30/12

Voyage 1
Voyage 2
Voyage 3
Voyage 4





Part 1: Directions: Complete the table to help summarized the main details about each one of the voyages Christopher Columbus lead.

Part 2: Direction- Read Christopher Columbus' Journal Entry on pg 34 in your textbook. Then, answer the following questions:
1. What impresses Columbus most about the ppl he meets?
2. Why do you think Columbus wanted to make the people he meets Christian?
3. What are some ways this entry shows the intentions of Columbus?

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Famous Quote of the Week (Extra Credit)

"Life well spent is long."

                 ----Who said this? (15pts Extra Credit)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Friday, October 19, 2012

Weekend Homework

There will be two things that students should be working on this weekend they are as follows:

1. 3x5 Vocabulary Cheat Sheet/Study Vocab- There will be a vocabulary quiz on MONDAY 10-22-12. Students will be able to use a 3x5 index card to place any information they will like to help them on the quiz.

2. Discussion Question #5-  DUE TUESDAY 10-23/12  Student must answer the following discussion question. Responses must be at least 1-page doubled spaced. Students must have the question written on their response (this does not count as part of their 1-page response)

Question # 5- What is the importance of Bully/Drug Awareness Week? How can the dominant "norm" of your society be a cause of bullying/drug use? How can it be a solution?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Famous Quote of the Day

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." --- Who said this???? (Extra credit for the 1st three students to respond.)

Monday, October 15, 2012

Report Cards/ Parent-Teacher Conference Reminder

1st Quarter Grades are in and ready to go!!! ALL parents must attend a conference in order to receive your student's Report Card. Junior High Parent-Teacher Conferences are set up in a open-house format on the following dates:

Tuesday 10/16/12 4pm- 7pm
Wednesday 10/17/12 1pm-4pm
Thursday 10/18/12 4pm-7pm

Report Cards will be with your student's homeroom teacher but a conference can be held with all available teachers on the above days. If you can not make the schedule times, other arrangements must be made with your student's homeroom teacher in order to receive their report card.

Extra Credit Opportunity

In an effort to help students become more invovled and aware of the current Presidential Elections, students may earn extra credit for watching the Presidential Debate this TUESDAY 9/16/12

Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location:
Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (Tickets)
Sponsor:
Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)


The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

In order to recieve extra credit students must provide a 3 paragraph summary of the debate.
1st paragraph- Summarize President Obama's argument
2nd paragraph- Summarize Governor Mitt Romney's agrument
3rd paragraph- Who do you feel won the debate? Why?

New Unit Vocabulary DUE TUESDAY 10/16/12

Unit 2: Chapter 1 The Renaissance Vocabulary (7th Grade)

  1. Renaissance
  2. Florence
  3. Medicis
  4. Lorenzo de’ Medici
  5. Patron
  6. Christopher Columbus
  7. Nicolaus Copernicus
  8. Humanism
  9. Humanities
  10. Francesco Petrarch
  11. Isabella d’Este of Mantua
  12. Donatello
  13. Perspective
  14. Women artists
  15. Gothic style
  16. Leonardo da Vinci
  17. Michelangelo
  18. Raphael
  19. Baladassare Castiglione
  20. Niccolo Machiavelli
  21. Engravings
  22. Vernacular
  23. Thomas More
  24. Utopian
  25. William Shakespeare
  26. Printing revolution
  27. Indulgence
  28. Recant
  29. Martin Luther
  30. Predestination
  31. Theocracy
  32. Annul
  33. Canonized
  34. Compromise
  35. Scapegoats
  36. Ghetto
  37. Heliocentric
  38. Hypothesis
  39. Galileo Galilei
  40. Gravity




Unit 2: Chapter 1 Age of Exploration Vocabulary (8th Grade)

*** Must provide a definition and sentence for each word.

  1. Christopher Columbus
  2. Casco Nunex de Balboa
  3. Ferdinand Magellan
  4. strait
  5. circumnavigate
  6. conquistador
  7. Hernando Cortez
  8. Montezuma
  9. plantation
  10. encomienda
  11. Bartolome de Las Casas
  12. mission
  13. penisular
  14. mercantilism
  15. John Cabot
  16. northwest passage
  17. Henry Hudson
  18. Samuel de Champlain
  19. coureur de bois
  20. Jaques Maguette
  21. alliance