Sept. 30

Today we talked about "3 emperors to remember." Students also did an art assignment about the schism within the church in 1054. Packets are due tomorrow, here is a list of what will be collected:

1. Fall of Rome fill-ins
2. Obituary
3. Chapter 2, Lesson 1 pp. 50-51
4. Vocab Word Study: Legacy
5. Legacy of Rome fill-ins
6. Photoshop tool bar/tips
7. Reading Guide pp. 61-63
8. Chapter 2, Lesson 3 Early Byzantine Empire worksheet
9. 3 Emperors to Remember fill-ins
10. The Schism
11. Byzantine Empire Map (they'll get this tomorrow)

Sept. 29

Today students who need to finish their spoke diagrams worked on that. All students in periods 1, 3, and 4 had two homework assignments; reading guide pp. 61-63 and chapter 2, and lesson 3 Early Byzantine Empire worksheet to be stamped tomorrow. Period 5 has only one of those assignments due (students can choose which one they want to finish). Packets due Friday.

Sept. 28

Students finished their spoke diagrams and handed them in digitally. The written portion of the spoke diagram assignment will be due tomorrow. Basically, each team explains in writing which pictures they chose to use to illustrate each legacy, and why that legacy is important today. Pages 67-71 in their text will help them if they are having troubles. Each member of the partnership is responsible for 3 paragraphs.

packets will be collected on Friday, here's a list so far:

1. Fall of Rome fill-ins
2. Obituary (check for completion)
3. Chapter 2, Lesson 1 pp. 50-51 (check for completion)
4. Vocabulary Word Study: Legacy
5. Legacy of Rome fill-ins
6. Photoshop Toolbar/Tips

By the way, Powerschool is up and running. You can keep track of your student's progress in all classes by checking frequently. If you don't have, or don't know, your login and password call the Zane front office at 441-2470 and get it!

Sept. 27

Today students continued to work on their spoke diagrams (which are due tomorrow). I explained and passed out the written element portion of the assignment to each team. It will be due no later than Wednesday at the beginning of class.

Sept. 24

Today students continued to work on the Roman Legacy Spoke Diagrams (which are due on Tuesday). Song of the week: The Mess Around by Ray Charles.

Sept. 23

Today I showed students some examples of the Legacies of Rome assignment they are working on. We also discussed the legacy of Roman citizenship. I reviewed some specific tools within Photoshop, and student worked on their project. It will be due at the end of class on Tuesday.

September 22

Today I discussed what I call the "6 Legacies of Ancient Rome." Students took notes on a fill-in-the-blanks handout. I then teamed most students up and explained the project we'll be working on for the rest of the week (see directions below). No homework, although the emperor baseball cards should have been turned in on Monday - if your student has a zero for that assignment they did not turn it in.



Guidelines for Creating a Photoshop Spoke Diagram

You and your partner will create an illustrated spoke diagram that illustrates the Legacy of Ancient Rome. An illustrated spoke diagram is a way of organizing information or ideas around a central idea. At the hub of a spoke diagram is the main idea or central topic, around which are spokes that connect carefully arranged key ideas, symbols, and illustrations on a subtopic to a central topic. The central idea or central topic in this case is the Legacy of Ancient Rome.



1. Gather the information you'll include: your text, and the Legacy of Rome ppt.

2. Brainstorm ideas to include on the diagram. By examining your illustrated spoke diagram the other students should be able to view/read it and understand the Legacy of Ancient Rome.


3. Your diagram must include:

Six spokes that represent the 6 important legacies of Ancient Rome
At least two visual elements (symbols or pictures) that represent the 6 legacies of Ancient Rome.
Organize your images correctly around theappropriate legacy.

A written element. This will be separate from your spoke diagram.
Each legacy will be explained in a short paragraph of 5 sentences.

4. Create a rough draft of the illustrated spoke diagram. This needs to be approved by Mr. Brooks before the group proceeds on the final version.

5. Create your diagram. Use Photoshop to create the final version of your spoke diagram. Use color and other creative touches to make the spoke diagram visually appealing.

6. Make your Photoshop document 10” X 8” (inches, not pixels)

Tuesday, Sept. 21

Today we analyzed the word "legacy" at great length. Students then worked on completing an obituary for the Roman Empire (due tomorrow). We'll begin a photoshop, partner assignment tomorrow.

Sept. 17 and September 20

Friday (9/17): Students continued to work on their baseball card style documents for both Constantine and Diocletian. I collected the packet of work that was due. Song of the week: Crossroads by Robert Johnson

Monday: I returned the packets. I gave a brief lecture about the fall of Rome. Students then had time to turn in their baseball card assignment and/or begin tonight's homework (Chapter 2, Lesson 1 pp. 50-51 The Rise of Christianity).

Thursday, Sept. 16

Today we finished Engineering an Empire by viewing a segment about Trajan's Forum. We also discussed the importance of Diocletian and Constantine. Students began an assignment in which they will create a baseball card illustrating the importance of each emperor. Packets are due tomorrow. See Sept. 15 for a list.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Today we reviewed last night's homework as a class. Students then watched about 10 minutes of Engineering an Empire about the Roman Colosseum. Packets due Friday... Here is a list:

1. Get to Know Your Social Studies Text
2. Rome: Republic to Empire
3. Chapter 2 Reading Guide/Book Introduction
4. Roman Empire Map 117 A.D.
5. Engineering an Empire I
6. Engineering an Empire II
7. Chapter 2, Lesson 2 pp. 52-54
8. Engineering an Empire III

Period 1 students have one additional assignment and their packet is as follows:
7. Roman Numerals
8. Chapter 2, Lesson 2 pp. 52-54
9. Engineering an Empire III

Tuesday, Sept. 14

Today we watched a seven minute segment about the Roman aqueducts. Some students continued to finish their Photoshop montage, while others worked on tonight's homework in class. Chapter 2, Lesson 2 (pp. 52-54) will be checked for completion tomorrow. The ENTIRE packet of work from the last few weeks is DUE Friday.

Sept. 9, 10 and 13

Thursday: Students checked out textbooks to take home. There was a homework assignment (Chapter 2 reading guide and book intro).

Friday: We watched a short dvd segment about Rome from the History Channel's "Engineering an Empire" series. A map was assigned to be completed over the weekend. Students continued to work on their Photoshop montages.

Monday: We discussed the legend surrounding the founding of Rome (Romulus and Remus). We watched a 10 minute segment of Engineering an Empire. Students had time to finish their Photoshop assignment and/or create a key for the map that was assigned on Friday. The current packet of work will be due on Friday. Here is a list so far:

1. Get to Know your Social Studies Text
2. Rome: Republic to Empire map/timeline
3. Chapter 2 reading guide/book intro (homework)
4. Rome 117 A.D. Map (Homework)
5. Engineering an Empire I

Wednesday, Sept. 8

Today we began to look at the Roman Empire. We briefly analyzed the growth of the Empire during our appetizer, and then shaded in a map of the Empire at it's greatest size. Some students then worked to complete the physical feature montage they're creating using Photoshop. Other students began a new book assignment about the Roman Empire. Textbooks will be issued to take home tomorrow.

Tuesday, Sept. 7

Today I returned the first packet of graded work. Students worked on creating their Photoshop montages illustrating a physical feature of Earth. Students also did an introductory assignment to familiarize themselves with out textbooks. Students will get a textbook to take home on Thursday.

September 2 and 3

Thursday: We reviewed physical features. Students then had about 20 minutes to work on their physical features maps, and 20 minutes to find and save images of an important physical feature using the web.

Friday: I introduced the students to Photoshop. Their goal was to take the pictures they gathered yesterday and put them into one Photoshop image. I also collected the work from this week (see list below). Some students were able to begin assignment #4, but many did not.

Legacy of Rome Packet 1
1. Getting to Know You
2. Vocabulary Word Study
3. Physical Features Map
4. Global Adventures (period 1), second border check (periods 3, 4 and 5)

Wednesday, Sept. 1

Today we reviewed the difference between physical and poltical maps. I then instructed the class about the 7th grade social studies standards. Students then worked on a "physical features of the world" map. No homework.