World History and Geography--Medieval and Early Modern Times (Period 1) Assignments

Instructors
Term
2010-2011 School Year
Department
History/Social Studies
Location
Room 134
Description
GRADE SEVEN WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY--MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN TIMES
 
Students in grade seven study the social, cultural, and technological changes that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia in the years A. D. 500 to 1789. After reviewing the ancient world and the ways in which archaeologists and historians uncover the past, students study the history and geography of great civilizations that were developing concurrently throughout the world during medieval and early modern times. They examine the growing economic interaction among civilizations as well as the exchange of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and commodities. They learn about the resulting growth of Enlightenment philosophy and the new examination of the concepts of reason and authority, the natural rights of human beings and the divine right of kings, experimentalism in science, and the dogma of belief. Finally, students assess the political forces let loose by the Enlightenment, particularly the rise of democratic ideas, and they learn about the continuing influence of these ideas in the world today.
 
I. Outline of Curriculum
a. Connecting with Past Learnings: Uncovering the Remote Past
b. Connecting with Past Learnings: The Fall of Rome
c. Growth of Islam
d. African States in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Times
e. Civilizations of the Americas
f. China
g. Japan
h. Medieval Societies: Europe and Japan
i. Europe during the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution
j. Early Modern Europe: The Age of Exploration to the Enlightenment
k. Linking Past to Present--through current events and study of political and physical
geography
 
II. Skills Emphasized
a. Geography (physical and political)
b. Interpretation of maps and graphs
c. Current events--the newspaper as a tool of the social sciences
d. Analyzing and evaluating reading materials
e. Note taking, outlining, essay writing
f. Comparing and evaluating cultures
g. Research skills (using library references)
h. Use of primary sources
i. Working in both groups and individually
j. Debating and speaking skills
k. Interpreting history through student developed poems, plays and performances
I. Comparing and evaluating artistic styles
 
The year is broken into 3 "Sections":
 
Section 1
Standard 7.1 The Roman Empire
Standard 7.2 Islam
Standard 7.4 African Trading Kingdoms
Standard 7.7 Mesoamerican/Andean Civilizations
December 17 Periodic Assessment #1
 
Section 2
Standard  7.3 Medieval China
Standard 7.5 Feudal Japan
Standard 7.6 Medieval Europe
March 25 Periodic Assessment #2
 
Section 3
Standard 7.8 Renaissance
Standard 7.9 Protestant Reformation
Standard 7.10 Scientific Revolution
Standard 7.11 Age of Exploration, Enlightenment

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Assignment Calendar

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Past Assignments

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Most weeks (unless otherwise stated above) students complete a "Weekly Study Guide" (ATTACHED BELOW) to ensure that they are engaging with the week's chapter reading and curriculum in a variety of ways. 
 
This weekly assignment includes:
1) Vocabulary--Students are to define ALL of the key terms for the chapter.
2) Essential Questions--Students should answer each question thoughtfully, including complete answers in complete sentence format.
3) Timeline--Students draw the key events on a timeline, making sure to include the most important information, dates to scale, and pictures to illustrate the events.
 
Students recieve a new study guide at the end of each week to help them prepare for the next week's chapter (typically either Thursday or Friday), and the guides are due the second time we meet during the following week (usually by Tuesday or Wednesday).

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Last Study Guide due today!  You may choose whether to do Study Guide 23 (The Maya) or 24 (The Aztecs), or do both for up to 10 extra credit points.  :)

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Instead of a Study Guide this week, your task is to complete your essay on the Scientific Revolution that you worked on in class.  Please be prepared to turn in both packets, including your rough draft.  Then, staple your final draft to the top of these packets.

*Please don't forget to include and underline at least 8 of the keywords listed in the vocabulary section.  


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Study Guide 35, "The Enlightement" is due today.

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There is no new homework, as it is CST week!  Good luck students!  I know you will do great!!! :)

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Study Guide 32, "The Spread and Impact of the Reformation" is due today. :)

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Study Guide 31: The Reformation is due today.

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Study Guide 30, Leading Figures of the Renaissance, is due today.  You are getting one extra day this week because of Spring Break.  :)

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Study Guide 29, Florence: the Cradle of the Renaissance is due today.

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There is no Study Guide assignment this week.  Instead, your homework is to learn more about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in honor of Cesar Chavez day and the civil rights movement that Chavez and Huerta helped lead.  Start with the packet you were given, and feel free to do additional research and bring your knowledge back to class to share with your fellow learners.  :)

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Study Guide 6, The Byzantine Empire is due today.  :)

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Study Guide 5, "Decline of Feudalism", is due today!  Thanks for all your hard work.

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Study Guide 4, Life in Medieval Towns, is due today.  :)

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Study Guide 22, "The Rise of the Warrior Class in Japan" is due today!  :)

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This week's homework assignment is a Writing Task (in lieu of your normal "Study Guide" assignment).  The ROUGH DRAFT is due today.

Writing Task:
Buddhism spread in China during the Tang for many reasons.  In a well organized response, answer the following question:

What caused Buddhism to spread in China during the Tang Dynasty?  Write a response focusing on two of the following reasons: religious reasons, political reasons, economic reasons, and/or social reasons.

Directions:
Choose two of the categories of reasons from Document 3 (handed out in class) to write about.  Identify the key details you will use.  Make sure you are putting the information in your own words.

Use Student Handout 3 to plan your paragraph.  When you are writing, use the criteria checklist given to you to ensure you have completed all aspects of the writing task.

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Study Guide 21, "Heian-Kyo: The Heart of Japan's Golden Age", is due today.  Thanks for all your hard work!  :)

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Artifact Project due

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Study Guide 20, The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan, is due today. 
 
Beginning the second week of second semester, late work will still be accepted.  However, instead of 70% credit, students will earn 50% credit.  So please, get your assignments in on time!  :)

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Study Guide 19, "China's Contacts with the Outside World" is due today!  :)

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Study Guide for Chapter 18, "Chinese Discoveries and Inventions" is due today.  :)

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Study Guide 17, "China Develops a New Economy", is due today! :)

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Study Guide 16, ""The Political Development of Imperial China", is due today!  :)

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Extra Credit Opportunity

You may choose to do a mini project on West Africa for up to 15 extra credit points. :)  Extra credit is due the first day we meet.  :)

Option 1: Create your own folktale, infusing what you know of ancient West African culture.  Utilize your knowledge of GRAPES to incorporate Geographic, Religious, Achievement, Political, Economic, and Social aspects into your story.  You may also wish to include a proverb.

Option 2: Create an artifact.  You may choose to create a piece of art, tool, diorama, et cetera.  Then, explain what you have created and the significance of your artifact.

Option 3: Create a poster on a topic that we've studied, focusing on one area of GRAPES.  For example, you could create a poster of the different geographic zones in West Africa, or a poster about transportation (including water travel and camels).  It is up to you.  Please also include any sources that you've referenced/utilized.

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Proverb assignment due today!  Please try to find/discover the origins of as many of your proverbs as you can.  :)

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Study Guide 15, "The Legacy of West Africa", is due today.  :)

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Your Assessment Paragraph on the Kingdom of Ghana is due today.  Please don't forget to include a primary source quote, utilizing your primary source document, and GRAPES graphic organizer.  (Note that there is no Study Guide this week, as we will reviewing for the SPA Assessment).

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Study Guide 14, "The Influence of Islam on West Africa" is due today. :)

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Study Guide 13 due today! :)

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Islam Poster Projects are past due, but they can still be turned in for partial credit! Please speak with Ms. Vizas if you have not yet turned in your project.
 
(See attached assigment below.)

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No Study Guide due this week! :) Please make sure that you've completed chapters 7-9 in your workbook. We'll be doing workbook check this week.

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Islam Test
 
Remember that your test for Islam will cover chapters: 7, 8, and 9!  Look to your Chapter 7 Handout and Study Guides 8 and 9 for especially important terms!  :)
 

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Study Guide 10 is due today! :)

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"The Prophet Muhammad" Chapter 8 Study Guide is due today!  Make sure to:
 
1) Define all terms:
-Islam
-prophet
-Muslims
-polytheist (poly=many)
-mono (mono=one)
-Madinah
-caliph
-Umayyad dynasty
 
2) Answer the essential questions, including complete sentences and ideas.
 
3) Make sure your timeline includes events fully explained. Make sure you've also added dates, and pictures.
 
Thanks for all your hard work!  :)

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Chapter 7 Handout is due today. :)
 
 

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Don't forget to study for the Chapter 3 Test!  Review your workbook and Chapter Study Guide, and use the strategies that work for you, including:
 
-GRAPES (categorize the information into Geography, Religious Aspects, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure).
-Read things more than once!
-Outline the chapter
-Make flashcards of key terms, people, and ideas
-"Tell a Story"--tell others about the "stories" of the past that you are learning.  If you can teach others, than you really understand! :)

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Extra Credit!
 
Students may choose to create a "mosaic" style work of art, in honor of our study of "The Legacy of Rome".  They must also explain in writing how their artwork represents this legacy.  (Students may also wish to try their hand at other GrecoRoman art forms, like cameos, sculptures, lifelike busts, et cetera.)  *Remember ancient Romans revered and built upon Greek technologies and arts!  :)

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Don't forget to study for the Chapter 2 Test: "The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe". Review your chapter notes, and make sure you can explain and define chapter 2 vocabulary. :)

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"Five Things" is due for your final class of the week. Please make sure to make it colorful! Your work will be on display for us to learn more about you! :)

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Study for your first test of the year! Please reread Chapter 36: "The Origins and Spread of Christianity". Focus on understanding the development of Christianity, as well as the life and teachings of Jesus. What did Jesus empasize in his teachings?
 
Also ask yourself:  So far, how do you think Christianity is similar and/or dissimilar to the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism, and ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Mythology that you studied last year?

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Please turn in your completed "History of Me" project at the beginning of class. Don't forget to attach your rubric! :)

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"Random Autobiography"
 
Please remember to turn in your completed "Random Autobiography" on our next class meeting!