Wednesday 10.28

Students were introduced to the 5 pillars of Islam via video and discussion. They have homework to complete tonight about monotheistic belief systems (assignment 11). Their camel advertisement is due tomorrow. The Islam in the Middle Ages Notebook now has 12 assignments in it. I've graded assignments 1-9.

1. Continent 1 Map: Europe
2. Continent 2 Map: Asia
3. Continent 3 Map: Africa
4. Middle East and Africa Political Map
5. Chapter 3, Lesson 1 Reading Guide, Life on the Arabian Peninsula pp. 85-88
6. Islam: Empire of Faith I
7. Empire of Faith: II
8. Geography of the Arabian Peninsula fill-ins
9. Empire of Faith: III

New assignments in the notebook are:

10A. and 10B.: Spread of Islam map w/questions
11. Monotheistic Belief Systems
12. Islam as a way of Life: 5 Pillars

Tuesday, 10.27

Today we learned about camels, the cadillacs of the desert. We watched a short video clip and then students were given a sheet of info. about camels. Their assignment, due Thursday, is to create an advertisement (similar to a magazine ad for cars) for a camel that includes an illustration of a camel and explains the features that make the camel the ideal transportation for bringing goods across the desert.

Monday Oct. 26

Today students were given a map titled "The Spread of Islam A.D. 661." There was plenty of class time to do it, and it is due tomorrow. I've graded and returned the notebooks I collected on Friday.

Wed. 10/21 and Th. 10/22

Wednesday: We reviewed for the "anchor" quiz of geographic features that will be on Thursday. We also watched a 20 min. video segment on Islam.

Thursday: We took the "anchor" quiz and I gave a brief lecture on geographic features of the Arabian Peninsula. We also watched more of the Islam film (except for 6th period). Notebooks are due tomorrow. There are 9 assignments due tomorrow. Parents: assignment #4 is one that might need to be completed. It is a map of the Middle East, Asia and North Africa.

Monday 10/19 and Tuesday 10/20

Monday: I had a substitute (my daughter was home ill, and I stayed home with her). Students Watched Islam: Empire of Faith and answered questions, they also had time to finish the reading guide covering pp. 85-88 with any leftover time.

Tuesday: We practiced power sentence topic sentence writing and practiced for Thursday's geography quiz. Students then had 15-20 minutes to get their notebook in order. NOTEBOOKS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY, THERE IS A QUIZ ON THURSDAY.

Thursday's quiz will be on the 17 "anchors" that are listed on assignments 1,2 and 3 of the current Islam packet (the one that is due on Friday).

The list of assignments so far in this notebook check are:

1. Continent 1 Map: Europe
2. Continent 2 Map: Asia
3. Continent 3 Map: Africa
4. Middle East and Africa Political Map
5. Chapter 3, Lesson 1 Reading Guide, Life on the Arabian Peninsula pp. 85-88
6. Islam: Empire of Faith I

Oct. 14 and 15

I returned the tests that I had graded (periods 1,4 and 6). We discussed the tests and began the second unit of the year - Islam in the Middle Ages. I'm beginning a new geography approach that focuses on specific points on each continent. I'm calling the points "anchors." It's my hope that this approach will help students on map assignments and tests.

They did maps of 3 continents using this approach; Europe, Asia and Africa. I gave them a new table of contents for their notebooks and so far the new notebook should have the title page/table of contents and assignments:
1. Continent 1 Map: Europe
2. Continent 2 Map: Asia
3. Continent 3 Map: Africa

Oct. 8, 9, 12 and 13

Oct. 8: The focus was on the schism that occurred within the Catholic Church resulting in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Students did a reading guide and an illustration about the Schism. I collected the notebooks.

Oct. 9: I only saw period 1, due to ILP conference minimum days. We reviewed by playing Jeopardy. I returned the notebooks to period 1. Other classes had been, and were reminded again, to come get their notebooks before the weekend.

Oct. 12: Periods 4,5 and 6 took the Rome Unit Test and then worked on a map of N. Africa and the Middle East.

Oct. 13: Period 1 will take the test and work on the map. We begin our unit on Islam tomorrow.

Oct. 6 and 7

Oct. 6: Half the class worked on creating a digital postcard from Constantinople that included a picture of themselves in it. The other half worked on assignment #21 (a written postcard from Constantinople).

Oct. 7: The half of the class that did the written work yesterday worked on the computers today and vice-versa.

NOTEBOOKS ARE DUE TOMORROW! I want to grade them and return them before next week's test. For periods 4,5, and 6 the test is Monday. For period 1 the test is Tuesday.

Here's the list of assignments due tomorrow:
13. Fall of Roman Empire: Fill-ins
14. Engineering an Empire: III
15. Chapter 2, Lesson 2 Re-teaching activity
16. Obituary for the Roman Empire
17. Byzantine Empire 565 A.D. Map
18. 3 emperors fill-ins
19. Chapter 2, Lesson 3 Re-teaching activity (not period 4)
20. Test Study Guide
21. Postcard from Constantinople (not period 4)
22. Multiple Choice questions 1-9
23. Reading Guide, Chapter 2, Lesson 3 Reading Guide pp. 61-63
24. Schism drawing (will pass out tomorrow)

Here is a copy of the study guide for the test:


• If you make index cards as a study aid, I will give you extra credit on the test. There is also a possibility that you will be able to use them on the test. You will NOT be able to use your notebook on the test.

Terms/People to Know

Julius Caesar Augustus Caesar Diocletion Constantine
Justinian Jesus Judaism The Huns
Barbarians Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Pope Constantinople Republic Clovis
Byzantium Citizenship Hagia Sofia
Justinian Code


On a Map you will need to be able to identify:
Italy Mediterranean Sea Africa Europe
Constantinople Greece Black Sea Atlantic Ocean
The Western Roman Empire The Eastern Roman Empire

Short answer questions to prepare for:
I. What are the 6 important legacies of Ancient Rome that we discussed in class?
II. Why did the Western half of the Roman Empire “fall?”
III. Why was Jesus a threat to the Roman Empire?
IV. Explain the differences between the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches

Monday, Oct. 5

Today I stamped the written element of the student's spoke diagram. It should be complete, and Mrs. Sobilo will be helping the students in Team Raptor to create a final draft. In periods 1,5 and 6 students were given homework: (but also had class time to complete) Chapter 2, Lesson 3 Re-teaching activity.

In period 4 students worked on creating a digital postcard from Constantinople.

Sept. 29 and 30 and Oct. 1 and 2

Tuesday Sept. 29: I had a substitute on Tuesday. Students watched Engineering an Empire (part III) and did a fill in the blanks (reteaching activity) worksheet on Chapter 2, Lesson 2. (assignments 14 and 15)

Sept. 30: We discussed the definition of an obituary and students created an obituary for the Roman Empire with an illustration. Students also had time to work on their spoke diagrams. (The obituary was assignment # 16)

Oct. 1: Students did a map of the Byzantine Empire under Justinian and worked on their spoke diagram.

Oct. 2: I lectured about emperors Diocletian, Constantine and Justinian while students filled in a note page (#18). Students then completed and turned in their spoke diagrams digitally. THEY ARE NOW DUE. The written element for this project is due on Monday. I DID NOT COLLECT NOTEBOOKS. New assignments that should be in their notebooks (glued in, and in order) are:

13. The Fall of the Roman Empire Fill-ins
14. Engineering an Empire III
15. Chapter 2, Lesson 2 Re-teaching Activity (11 fill-ins)
16. Obituary for the Roman Empire
17. Byzantine Empire Map
18. 3 Emperors to Know lecture fill-ins

There will be a test in about a week (Oct. 14 or 15). I'll provide a study guide ASAP.