10. 28

Today students worked on their photoshop montage illustrating one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Packets are due tomorrow. New to the list;

8. Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
9. Monotheistic Belief Systems (on the back of assignment 8- they'll have class time to finish it tomorrow)

Oct. 26 and 27

10.26: I reviewed the 5 pillars of Islam. Student homework was Critical Thinking Geography Questions C and D. There was also time to finish the map which will be due Friday (with the packet).

10.27: I reviewed the Geography of the Arabian Peninsula. Discussed geography critical thinking questions A, B, C and D. I then introduced a photoshop assignment about one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

New to the packet that will be due Friday:
4. Islam : Empire of Faith II
5. Geography Questions A and B
6. Islam as a way of life (5 pillars)
7. Geography Questions C and D
8. Geography of the Arabian Peninsula

Oct. 22, and Oct. 25

Friday: We continued watching segments of "Empire of Faith." Students also had time to work on a map of the Middle East region.

Monday: We watched a portion of "Empire of Faith." Students had time a little time to work on their maps. Students who miss video assignments can always do an alternative assignment that I place in the assignment folder.

PACKETS WILL BE DUE THIS FRIDAY (LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER). Here's the list so far:

1. Chapter 3, Lesson 1 pp. 85-88
2. Middle East & Africa Politcal Map
3. Islam: Empire of Faith I (video)
4. Islam: Empire of Faith II (video)
5. Geography Questions A and B

Oct. 21

We reviewed material from yesterday. We watched a short segment from the film "Islam: Empire of Faith." Students answered questions as they watched.

No Homework.

Go Giants.... one more, just one more (for now).

Oct. 19 and 20

Oct. 19: Students finished their projects about "The Island." I collected them. I will take late work, but will accept NO projects after Friday. The overall grade for a student's island project drops one grade for each day that it is late.

Oct. 20: We began the "Rise of Islam" unit. Students did a reading guide in class (Chapter 3, Lesson 1 - Life on the Arabian Peninsula pp. 85-88). It should have been completed in class. Some periods began a map of the region, but it is NOT homework. If their reading guide was not completed in class it should be done at home.

Oct. 13, 14, 15 and 18

Students have been working on their island projects. I've provided at least 30 minutes of class time each day.

10.13: We looked at art as an element of culture and students worked on that portion of their book.
10.14: Customs as a part of culture. Students worked on that portion of their book.
10.15: Beliefs as a part of culture. Students worked on that portion of their book.
10.18: I reviewed C.L.A.B. (my acronym for remembering the elements of culture) and I went over the summary portion with the class.

The Island, final project, due tomorrow. It will be the last weighty assignment in the test/project category.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY PROJECTS AFTER THIS FRIDAY. POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR WORK TURNED IN AFTER 3:05 TOMORROW.

Oct. 11 and 12

Before starting our unit on the rise of Islam I wanted to introduce the concept of culture. Consequently students are beginning a week-long project that is called "The Island." (see directions below)We'll work on it in class all week and the final product will be due next Tuesday (Oct. 19).

The Island: A Study of Culture

This week each of you will complete a diary project that is based on the elements of culture that we will study in class. Remember, for our purposes, culture is defined as the customs, the way of life, the art and the beliefs of a large group or society. A way to remember each aspect (or part) of culture is to remember the acronym C.L.A.B.

The Scenario. You’ve been stranded on an island. On this island (the one you’ve created) there is EVIDENCE that a large group or society lived there long ago. They have long since vanished, but have left artifacts or evidence, of their culture on the island. The project you complete will explain the things you find on the island that provide clues about the culture of those people.
Your project will consist of 12 things.

1. A title page that includes an illustration and a name for the past people.
2. A page that describes the customs of the past people
3. A page that includes illustrations about the customs of the past people
4. A page that describes the way of life of the past people
5. A page that includes illustrations about the way of life of the past people
6. A page that describes the art of the past people
7. A page that includes illustrations of the art of the past people
8. A page that describes the beliefs of the past people
9. A page that includes illustrations about the beliefs of the past people
10. A map of the physical features of the island (at least ten)
11. A map that shows the evidence of the past group of people
12. A summary page that describes your conclusion about the culture of the lost people


You will complete each section on handouts that I provide for you and then glue them into your diary with the exception of the maps, which may be drawn in the book itself. However, you may also draw the maps on loose paper and then glue them into your diary if you prefer.

You will need to imagine, and then explain, TWO examples for each category. Consider the weather, vegetation zones, physical features and other elements of the island that would dictate how a group of people would have lived there. For example, if the island is warm it would be logical that the people there would dress for warm weather and not wear warm furs all the time. You may want to consider the cultures of Africa, or island peoples as you begin to create the culture that existed on the island long ago.

BE CREATIVE! Remember, however, that you will have to draw and explain in writing the examples you find (the evidence) on the island. Don’t create elements that will be impossible to draw, or difficult to explain in writing. You will have class time to complete this assignment, but some work might need to be done

Oct. 7 and 8

Oct. 7: Rome Unit Test

Oct. 8: I collected the time-lines that students worked on this week. I had every student copy the grades for all their classes on a form to take home and have signed. I will collect it Monday. I wanted to ensure that all students had access to Powerschool, and knew their passwords. Periods 1, 3, and 4 also had a map of the Middle East to complete. I will collect it Monday. Period 5 did not have that assignment.

Oct. 6

Today we played rousing games of Jeopardy to prepare for TOMORROW'S test. I also collected the appetizer books from periods 4 and 5. I've graded the books from periods 1 and 3 already. Grades will likely be rising/falling over the next week... check Powerschool.

Oct. 5

Tuesday: Today students practiced for Thursday's test with a preview of some of the potential multiple choice questions and a map preview. Students then had in-class time to work on their Roman Republic and Empire timeline. The timeline will be an in-class assignment only. Test Thursday.

Oct. 1 and Oct. 4

Friday: Students were given a map of the Byzantine Empire that was due on Friday. I also collected the Legacy of Rome Packet #2. Over the weekend students were to write a postcard from the ancient city of Constantinople.

Monday: I collected the postcard assignment, and passed back their Legacy of Rome #2 packets. We began a timeline of Roman history as a class. It will be due tomorrow and class time will be provided. I also passed out a study guide for THURSDAY's test (see below).

Rome Unit Test: Study Guide

• The test to end our study of the Roman Empire will be on Thursday, Oct. 7

• Your timelines will be due on Tuesday, Oct. 5

• 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.

Terms/People to Know

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


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


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. How did the Romans preserve Christianity?
IV. Explain the differences between the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches.