Welcome to Social Studies
by Monica Blatchley
Social Studies
630.493.8251
mblatchley@lisle202.org
Seventh and Eighth Grade Social Studies
Room 204
Attention Students and Parents: I strongly encourage you to check grades online using Parent Connect. See me immediately if you have questions :) peace, ms.b.
Eighth Grade Social Studies
Fourth Quarter:
April 9, 2009: Students signed up for a TurnItin.com account today! If they didn't have an e-mail, they signed up for one on a free provider like Yahoo.com. I am excited about the opportunities this website access will bring. Students will turn in their research projects using this website next week.
Third Quarter:
Reading assignments for the week of March 9, 2009:
When you read, make questions out of headings and see how well you can answer them. Expect a quiz the following day.
Monday: pp. 778-782
Tuesday: p. 783
Wednesday: pp. 784-789
Thursday: pp. 790-794
Friday: :)
Second Quarter
October 27, 2008:
Dear Parents,
I will be having the students check their grades online in class today. I just handed out grade reports last week or so. I would rather not waste too much paper. I have some concerns in general with some grades declining due to not turning in current events assignments. If the students do not watch the program, they may read it online on www.PBS.org under The News Hour. If they do not have the sheets, they are online below. They may fill in a map in class.
Any insights regarding the current events assignment... either way... would be appreciated. Feel free to e-mail me at mblatchley@lisle202.org .
Peace,
Monica Blatchley
Okay, so scratch the above message because a bunch of students don't have their passwords and ID numbers and the main office can't give them to them. So, Parents, could you find the ones sent home to you and share them with your child? That would be great. We used more paper and printed their final grades.
1.12.2009: Read the following links and be ready to write about the relevance of the war and how it started.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=524
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=525
12.15.2008 Open the "Gilded Age Test" below. Save it to your jump drive and complete all "action" points.
December 8, 2008: Wounded Knee Paragraph Due
Research Paper Checklist - Hope this helps
Research Assignment due November 6, 2008
I am pushing the research start date back a few days so that we can work on the essential question: why the winner wins. So we are watching clips from Gods and Generals and Gettysburg to help us see the necessary components to winning in battle.
The students are also working on their battles sheet which is similar to the following:
Seventh Grade Social Studies
Third Quarter
1. India/Hindu Video WS - video is in K drive
2. South Asia History Clip WS - K Drive
3. Video Clip: Religion: Islam, Sikhs, Jains, Jews, and Christians - the video is in the K drive
South Asia: Click on the following assignment for India:
When you click on this document "India Profile Questions", save it on your flash.
Second Quarter
December 10, 2008: Oh my goodness! I haven't written anything for second quarter! I'm so sorry!
I had a lot of fun talking to parents during conferences and love hearing from you so keep it coming :)
We have had a great time in social studies lately. The students are filling out an Africa worksheet while we watch these documentaries on Africa (National Geographic). The worksheet is on the Five Themes of Geography. They are learning!!!!! I think they are also enjoying it. Have them show you and discuss it with you. They are seeing the diversity of land and people of Africa. Now, we are moving into the research portion of the unit. They chose countries in Africa yesterday and have started researching. I am seeing a much higher level of understanding of the Five Themes now that we have done the worksheet. We will research this week, and next week, we will watch the movie, with your permission, Cry Freedom. This movie will help the students see the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
I hope everyone has a restful winter break!
peace,
Monica Blatchley
First Quarter
We have had a great start to the year! We have been working on culture building and making a contract that identifies how we will treat each other while we are in room 204. The students came up with impressive ways to treat each other in class so that we can feel comfortable enough with each other to take a risk which increases our capacity to learn.
Lately, as you know, the students have been digging through pictures (I hope they put them back in the albums at home :). They have been creating lifelines using Windows Movie Maker and have started presenting their work in class. They are very special ways of introducing themselves to each other. The time spent doing this gives us the opportunity to break down barriers and learn something about each other which in turn creates a better learning environment for our class. Thank you, Parents, for your support in this project.
Below are some documents we have been using in class:
Calendars
Expectations Assignment
Expectation sheet signed and turned into Ms. Blatchley by September 5th.
Expectations Sheet to be signed and turned in to Ms. Blatchley
Lifeline Assignment
We will start presenting on Friday, September 5th.
Current Events Assignment
This is the first year the I am piloting this assignment; the results have been so exciting that I don't think it is going anywhere :)
Essentially, the students need to watch The News Hour on PBS, channel 11 at 6:00. The students are expected to watch "The News Summary" which is the first ten minutes or so of the program. They will fill out the assignment sheet which is below. They will also need to fill out the map below. They need to watch the news before Friday each week and bring the completed assignment to me and be prepared to answer questions in class about what they saw to receive full credit.
The level of understanding and awareness the students have brought to class regarding current events is exponentially higher than previous classes in previous years.
Current Events Assignment - to be completed each week
Eighth Grade Social Studies Archives
These are activities used last year. They may change for 2008/2009.
First Quarter
Justification Sheet from Class
How did the supporters of the slave trade and American slavery justify their actions?
9.26.08 Students are working on the latest assignment which helps them understand how slave owners or anyone else supporting slavery or the trade justified their actions. This is due Monday.
We have been working on our slavery unit. The students have the following assignment due Thursday, September 25 (6th and 7th periods) and Friday, September 26 (3rd and 4th periods).
The current events assignment continues to be highly effective in creating students who are pretty well informed. I have improved the assignment sheet so it is easier to grade.
Early September...
We have had a great start to the year! We have been working on culture building and making a contract that identifies how we will treat each other while we are in room 204. The students came up with impressive ways to treat each other in class so that we can feel comfortable enough with each other to take a risk which increases our capacity to learn.
Lately, as you know, the students have been digging through pictures (I hope they put them back in the albums at home :). They have been creating lifelines using Windows Movie Maker and have started presenting their work in class. They are very special ways of introducing themselves to each other. The time spent doing this gives us the opportunity to break down barriers and learn something about each other which in turn creates a better learning environment for our class. Thank you, Parents, for your support in this project.
September 26, 2008:
8:12 pm:
Hi Guys! I'm watching the presidential debates, and I just got a little sentimental thinking that some of you might be, like I recommended munching popcorn, M&Ms and soda pop with your pals in your PJ's, watching the debates too. Remember that if you would like a couple extra credit points, then jot down some of the issues discussed and some of the points that each candidate made.
You guys have been doing great work. I hope you are enjoying being so informed and empowered.
peace,
mmb
Calendars
Expectations Assignment
Expectation sheet signed and turned into Ms. Blatchley by September 5th.
Expectations Sheet to be signed and turned in to Ms. Blatchley
Lifeline Assignment
We will start presenting on Friday, September 5th.
Current Events Assignment
This is the first year the I am piloting this assignment; the results have been so exciting that I don't think it is going anywhere :)
Essentially, the students need to watch The News Hour on PBS, channel 11 at 6:00. The students are expected to watch "The News Summary" which is the first ten minutes or so of the program. They will fill out the assignment sheet which is below. They will also need to fill out the map below. They need to watch the news before Friday each week and bring the completed assignment to me and be prepared to answer questions in class about what they saw to receive full credit.
The level of understanding and awareness the students have brought to class regarding current events is exponentially higher than previous classes in previous years.
Current Events Sheet: to be completed each week
Quarter Two: (scroll down to see quarter one's archive)
Assignment:
Civil War Battles Assignment: Why does the winner win?
Battle Worksheet and Assignment
Assignment:
Reconstruction Assignment - use the notes from class.
Due Wednesday 11/7/07
Answer the following questions:
1. Union: What is the plan to bring the South back into the political process, the Union?
2. Race: What will be the status of African Americans?
3. Labor: What will the South use for labor
Week of 11.26.07
We have been and are continuing to work on our Native American unit. The students are working in groups of their choosing to create a map/timeline of events from the beginning of European settlement through the 1800's. The source the students have used is a handout, the first chapter from Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown.
They are focusing on the essential questions:
1. Why do changes in technology cause changes in the way we live and work?
2. Why do people move?
3. When is it wrong to use power?
4. Why was there conflict between European Americans (Wasichu) and Native Americans?
The students are being assessed through a series of questions as they collaborate with their groups at the front of the room. So far, most groups have done well.
Week 12.3.07
Oh my goodness, December is already here!
We will be looking at the Battle of Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee. Ms. Blatchley will read the story, "The Flight of the Nez Perce" to the students...It's one of my favorites (Ms. B.)
First Quarter:
Assignment
Ms. Blatchley's Example(2007)
Lifeline Assignment - Look at this to see what is expected and to get the format
Assignment
Slavery assignment worked on in class Monday, 10th and due Wednesday, 12th. See below for the link to the slavery assignment:
Assignment - be ready for a reading quiz the next day
9/25: Tuesday: Read p10-p13
9/26: Wednesday: Read p14-p15
Assignment
9/28: Friday: Be ready to write about these questions: Why did the South want to spread slavery and why did the North want to keep slavery from coming north?
Pre-Civil War Assessment (highlighting John Brown)
10/1: pp. 510-515
10/2: pp. 528-531
10/4: Watch Glory as a class - complete your journaling over the weekend.
Assignment
10/10: 3rd and 4th periods will receive their Glory assignments - see below
6th and 7th already have theirs.
Extra handouts to help with the assignments are below
10/9 and 10/10 - progress reports are being handed out today
Quarter Four:
Quarter Three:
March Calendar for Eighth Grade Social Studies
Great Depression Station Questions 2.26/2.27.2008
Great Depression Assignment - assigned 2.27.2008
Rubric for the Great Depression Assignme
Seventh Grade Social Studies Archives:
Quarter Two:
Week of 10/22: Latino Baseball
Students will continue their work on the Latin American Baseball Unit which is part of an interdisciplinary unit on baseball. We have created a Latino baseball team and now the students are working on the stadium, team name, player cards, etc. Eighth period will compete against Mr. Ghinazzi's classes to see which class has created the best team, stadium, etc.
Mexico Unit
Name: _______________________________________
Date: ________________________
Period: _______________________
Part ONE
Mexico Profile Questions:
Enter these web codes (just cut and paste) lfe-1411
Mexico Assignment
Fill in the answers
MexicoHomepage or Intro:
Official
name: ____________________________________________________________________
Capital:
________________________________________________________________________
Population:
_____________________________________________________________________
Currency:
______________________________________________________________________
Official language:
________________________________________________________________
Date of independence, or formation date:
_____________________________________________
Date when current borders were established:
__________________________________________
Pass the map and read the paragraph:
Upon what is Mexico City built? _______________________________________________________
In 1994, Mexico signed the __________________________________________________ (NAFTA).
Country Map:
Name two bodies of water that border Mexico: ___________________________________________
Chronology:
When did Mexico establish its republic? __________________________
When did the US go to war with Mexico? __________________________
What did Mexico lose? __________________________
What happened between 1910-1920? __________________________
When was the PRI or National Revolutionary Party created? __________________________
What happened in 1985? __________________________
What happened in 1934? __________________________
What happened in 1990? __________________________
How was the rebellion in 1994-95 handled? __________________________
NAFTA? What’s that? __________________________
When does PRI finally start to lose? Who becomes president? __________________________
People:
Describe the people of Mexico:
What religion are the majority of Mexicans? _____________________________________________
Describe the ethnic makeup of Mexico? ________________________________________________
What is the largest age group in Mexico? _______________________________________________
World Affairs:
NAFTA has _____________________ the economies and the US. What do you think this means?
Compare Mexico’s defense with ours.
Long-running disputes with the US on tuna and ______________________ are all but resolved, but progress on economic __________________ remains stalled, with the US proposing in 2006 to ____________________________ and partially fence the border to stop the influx of __________________________________________. What do you think this means? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Defense:
Does Mexico have compulsory military service? _________________________________
What is their budget for defense? (How much do they spend?) ______________________
Compare this to the US:
Does the US have compulsory military service? _________________________________
What is our budget for defense? (How much do they spend?) ______________________
Check out the military info
What do you notice: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Economics:
Compare Mexico with US: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spending:
Mexico has enormous wealth _________________________.
The UN estimates that a quarter of all Mexicans live in _________________, surviving on less than $______________ a day. There is little social _____________________; the old _______________________ families retain their hold on institutions. In the past, the wealthy did not generally pay _______________________ and often benefited from the large state machine. Tax evasion remains a serious problem.
What does this mean?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Media:
Is there political censorship in the media? _______________________________________
What does that mean? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Now check the US ________________________________________
Now check China _________________________________________
What does this tell you about their level of freedom? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There has been greater media freedom since ___________________________. The Televisa broadcasting empire faces growing ______________________________. Do you think this is good or bad? Why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tourism:
Who mostly travels to Mexico to vacation? ______________________________________________________________________________
World Ranking:
Compare world ranking with US. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11.30.07: Webquest on Hugo Chavez
Click on the following link and complete the webquest on the document provided. Hint: when you click on it, click "save" and save it to your file or flash drive. Change the document with your answers.
First Quarter:
Assignment
Assignment Factors Below: Click on the links below (they're in blue)
Don't forget to get your Acceptable Usage Form (light blue form) so we can use computers on Monday!!!
Ms. Blatchley's Factors Example
Factors Assignment: Click on this for the format and the expectations
Assignment
Expectation sheet signed and turned into Ms. Blatchley by September 7th.
Assignment
Geography worksheets pp. 1-4 to be completed using textbook due Tuesday.
Assignment
9/24 homework worksheet on five themes
Assignment
Five Themes Assignment - click here for the assignment
Lisle Data - good information for you!
http://www.vil.lisle.il.us/home/index.asp - copy and paste - good info on Lisle
We are beginning our study of Latin America.
Assignment
10/4 Extremes of Latin America worksheet
Assignment
10/9 Maps of Latin America and progress reports are being handed out today.
March Calendar for Seventh Grade Social Studies
