Miss Binns' Seventh Grade
Social Studies Class
Course Overview
Introduction
Textbooks
Instruction
Skill Objectives
Evaluation
Expected Student Behavior
Homework
Class Work
Test & Quiz
Agenda
Teacher's Goals
Tips for Parents
History Standard
History Homework Links
Homework Tools
Tips for Students
Homework
Class Work
Calendar
Kid's Corner
Kids News
Encouragement
E-mail Me
Coatesville Weather
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This course prepares students to appreciate and understand the role of all races,
gender, religions, and cultures in all societies. It is designed to provide for
students’ understanding and cognition of the major components and concepts in
World History by highlighting world culture; and, by using discovery, exploration, and classroom discussion strategies. This course also, utilizes the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome, Arabia, Africa, China and the Medieval Period, to draw a foundation for understanding cultures and society.
In addition, there is a strong emphasis on comparing, analyzing, contrasting
and evaluating the ides of commonality and diversity, conflict and cooperation, continuity and change, and individualism and interdependence.
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Textbooks: McDougal Littell
World History: Ancient Civilization and
World History: Medieval & Early Modern Times
Additional reading from handout pertaining to all units will be provided when
needed. It is important to note that all textbooks are aligned with the
Pennsylvania State Standards.
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From an individual teacher’s perspective, this instructor’s teaching methodologies
require a strong integration of technology into daily lessons and planning activities
in this seventh grade course, as well as, classroom management techniques in a
number of ways. Many multi-media lessons will be presented using PowerPoint
tools, as well as, live Internet connections providing for "virtual travel." These
and materials will give students of History the feeling of "being there," in
Medieval Times, Ancient Rome and Ancient China. Internet search and research
skills will be integrated into major research assignments. Also, student’s higher-
order thinking skills, reasoning and analyzing will be enforced through web research and project creation.
This academic school year students in this course will be required to create several
web pages on the Middle Age and take several online tests and quizzes. Students
will work from home, as well as, on school mobile lab.
The PSSA reading assessment includes tasks that focus on recalling details,
understanding the sequence of events and recognizing main ideas. Social Studies also provides an opportunity to identify the author’s purposes, recognize barriers
and emotionally charged words and distinguish fact from opinion, as well as, cause
and effect in history.
Students in this course will be required to do sequencing, summarizing, determine
cause and effect, fact/opinion, as well as, comprehending textbook and materials
being read.
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Skill Objectives:
Students should be able to:
- Identify and explain the importance of historical evidence
- Explain continuity and change in World History
- Recognize the importance of individuals and groups who have made a
difference in the history of the world - Describe the historical origins of major world religions
- Explain how conflict and cooperation impacted World History
- Analyze the fundamentals of historical interpretation
- Analyze and interpret historical research
- Analyze and interpret historical comprehension
- Understand the operations and function of technology systems and be proficient in the use of technology.
- Use technology tools to enhance learning, to increase productivity and
creativity and to construct technology-enhance models, such as,
PowerPoints and Web Pages. - Utilize technology-based research tools to locate and collect information pertinent to the task, as well as, evaluate and analyze information from a variety of sources.
- Use technology to make and support decisions in the process of solving real-world problems.
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Evaluation
Student in this course will be evaluated through tests, quizzes, written and oral
reports, homework, and class work assignments, projects, WebQuest and
participation in class. Having the social studies textbook covered will be worth 10%
of student grade. Once a week I will check to see if textbooks are covered. However, not having the textbook cover will not result in students failing this course.
Values in the grading system: (subject to change each marking period)
Test 20%
Class Work 15%
Homework 15%
Quiz 20%
Class participation 10%
Book cover 5%
Miscellaneous 15% (projects, WebQuest or
writing assignments)
Total 100%
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- Students are to follow teacher directions.
- Students are to be prepared for class with textbook, binder, pencil
or pen, paper and any work due each day. - Students are to be on time for class. Students who are 4 minutes late
to class will receive a detention and phone call home. - Students are to respect teacher and school property. Writing on desk
or teacher’s bulletin boards will result in a detention. - Students are to be courteous and respectful to the teacher and
classmates. - Students are to ask permission to leave their seat.
- Students are to behave in a way that does not disrupt teaching or
learning. - Students are to raise hands if they have something to say or need help.
- Students who choose to ignore the expected behavior above will receive
the following consequences.
1st offense – Verbal warning
2nd offense – Verbal warning with a conference with student
3rd offense – Parent phone call with student present
4th offense - Detention - if behavior continues
5th offense - Office referral
Homework
Homework help students review materials covered in class, and explore topics
and concepts more fully than classroom time permits, therefore, homework will
be assigned on a regular basis but never on a Friday. All homework assignments
are due on the date assigned. Students who do not complete their homework
assignments on time will receive a grade of zero for those assignments. Late
homework will not be accepted unless there is a parent note. If students are
absent, they are responsible for missed homework and arranging to make-up
missed homework assignments. Homework not made up according to the school
policy will result in a grade of zero for those assignments.
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Class Work
Class work will be given every day and students are responsible to turn in class
assignments the day they are due. If students are absent, they are responsible for
missed class work and arranging to make-up missed class work assignments.
Class work not made up according to the school policy will result in a grade of zero
for those assignments. Also, If students are unable to turn in class assignments
because of time limit they have four days to turn in class assignments.
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Test & Quiz
Test and quiz will be given on the day they are scheduled. All students will take
test and quiz on the day they are schedule unless I receive a parent note or a
request by students. Online test and/or quiz will be given twice each marking
period and students will have the opportunity to take online test and/or quiz on
mobile lab during class time.
If students are absent, they are responsible for arranging to make-up missed
test or quiz. Test or quiz not made up according to the school policy will result in
a grade of zero for those assignments.
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Agenda
The agenda is a very important communication tool among students, parents and teachers. Students are to record all assignments, upcoming test, quiz and projects in their agenda. Parents will be notify daily in the agenda when homework and class work are not turn in, as well as, upcoming test, quiz, project and student behavior. In addition, any parent (with or without email) who wishes to communicate with me may note it in the agenda as well. It is the student responsibility to show me the note so that a response can be made.
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The Teacher’s Goals
- This teacher will continue to perform her pedagogical duty to teach
each and every child, inclusive of all sub-groups. - This teacher will continually align her lessons with the Pennsylvania
History Standards.