March 17, 18 and 19, 22 and 23

17th: We watched a portion of the History Channel film "The Dark Ages." Students also worked on a reading guide. We also reviewed the geographic features on the map from the previous day.

18th: We watched another segment of "The Dark Ages." Students practiced using iMovie for an impending project.

19th: I introduced an iMovie project (see directions below) that will take the better part of a week.

22nd: Students worked on the iMovie project.

23rd: iMovie project.

The Early Middle Ages: Europe After the Fall of Rome
Short Film Project

The Romans ruled over what would become Europe and the Mediterranean for over a thousand years. For the most part the Romans provided stability and a vision of what a great civilization could be. After the Visigoths sacked Rome, and the barbarian tribes flooded into the fallen empire, many changes occurred.

Changes to Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire:
o Decline in the size and power of governments
o Reduction in long distance trade
o Decline in learning, the fading of Greek and Roman culture
o Cities disappeared, people lived in rural villages and farms
o Germanic kingdoms grew
o Feudalism became the dominant political system
o The Catholic Church became very powerful

Your job is to illustrate that change (from the Roman Empire to Feudal Europe) by creating a short “film” using iMovie. Your finished “film” will be approximately one minute.

What images and content will you use?
• images gathered from the internet,
• images you might capture using your own digital cameras,
• voice-over narration,
• titles,
• music,
• and images you alter in photoshop to create the finished film.



After watching your film the viewer should be able to understand how Europe was changed by the fall of Rome and the emergence of feudalism.

March 14 and 15

Monday: Japan Unit Test.

Tuesday: We've begun our unit on Medieval Europe. Today students did a map of Europe in class, and had a reading guide as homework. (Chapter 9, Lesson 1) due tomorrow.

March 10, 11 and 12

March 10: students worked on their trip to Japan. Students were given a sheet of vocabulary matching as homework.
March 11: We created a simile that illustrated the spread of Chinese culture and ideas to Japan and other parts of Asia. Korea map as homework.
March 12: We played review Jeopardy. Test Monday.

Assignments Due Monday:

1. Matching Page
2. Korea Map
3. Simile (if not turned in on Friday)

Mar. 1 - 9

Sorry, I've fallen behind. Time to ketchup...

Mar. 1: We began talking about feudal Japan, specifically the Samurai. Students watched a segment of a PBS series about Japan. The segment they watched was called "He Cuts his Belly."
Mar. 2: 7th grade writing test = short periods. Students worked on a reading guide (Chapter 8, lesson 2)
Mar. 3: We read a story about the 47 Ronin and then discussed honor. We watched a segment of "The Last Samurai" to view samurai society.
Mar. 4: We finished "The Last Samurai" segment. Students then read a supplement about the relationship between samurai/daimyo/shogun.
Mar. 5: Students began working on a fictional 10 day trip to Japan.
Mar. 8: We played Japanese Q and A mixup and then students continued to work on their trips.
Mar. 9: Students continued working on their trips. There is a test Friday (see study guide below)

Japan Unit Test: Study Guide

Know the following terms. Remember, note cards count as extra credit.
Shogun Regent Shinto Embassy
Prince Shotoku Buddhism Confucianism Zen
Noh Kabuki Haiku
The Tale of Genji
Daimyo Samurai Bushido
Tokugawa Shogunate 17 Article Constitution

On a map of Asia be able to label:
Japan China N. Korea S. Korea
Hokkaido Honshu Shikoku Kyushi
Tokyo Mt. Fuji Sea of Japan
38th Parallel Yellow Sea

Short answer paragraph questions to expect:
1. How did Prince Shotoku change Japanese culture and government? Be specific.
2. Be able to correctly label and explain the Japanese Caste Positions (Social Pyramid).
3. Be able to explain the lifestyle and responsibilities of the samurai. Be sure to understand the concept of “bushido.”
4. Understand the relationship between Shogun and Daimyo. Specifically the importance of Tokugawa Ieyasu.