Terra Cotta Warriors Rap

Archaeologist uncovered the Terracotta by accident in 1974.  But what was the terracotta army? What do we know about the terracotta soldiers?  List to the Terracotta Soldier Rap to learn more.

The Great Wall of China

The Great wall of China was a major engineering challenge and success for Ancient China.  Click here to learn more about the wall.

Do you know your dynasties?

We are currently working on learning target 5.6 of our Ancient China Unit, characteristics of the Chinese Dynasties. 

Click here for the graphic organizer to see what you know about the Chinese dynasties. 

To play a game to review your understanding of the Chinese dynasties click here.

Confucianism, Daoism, or Legalism

Practice what you know about the 3 Chinese philosophies.  Click here to study and quiz yourself.

 

 

Did you make a 100?  If you didn't study your notes and try again.

CHINESE PHILOSOPHERS

To completely understand the Chinese Dynasties that we will study after Thanksgiving Break.  You have to first understand the 3 religions philosophies that developed in Ancient China.  Confucianism, Taoism (also spelled Daoism), or Legalism were the building blocks and primary influence of the Chinese Dynasties.  To help you better understand these 3 Philosophies watch the videos below. 

 

Remember it wouldn't hurt you to take notes!  :0) 

 

 

Confucianism

 

Daoism

 

Legalism

 

 

CHINESE SOCIAL STRUCTURE

If you missed the graphic organizer, or if you need to refresh your memory on the Chinese Social structure click here. 

 

 

7th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES VISITS a "SHANG TOMB"

To better understand the earliest settlement in Ancient China, students "visited" a Shang tomb.  Students excavated artifacts found in the tomb to better understand the culture of the Shang Dynasty. 

THE SHANG DYNASTY

The earliest settlement in Ancient China was the Shang Dynasty.  THey cetnered along the Yellow and Chang Jian rivers in eastern CHina.  This dyansty created the beginning of a civilization that would last for thousands of years. 

 

To better understand the Shang Dyansty complete the graphic organizer located here. You may use the notes from class and from our archologial dig in the Shang Tomb.

China Geography Challenge

The Ancient China unit is well underway.  We have currently completed two learning targets in this unit: The geography of China and the Effects of the Geography of China. 

 

Click here and take the China Geography Challenge to check your knowledge of this learning target.

 

 

INDUS RIVER VALLEY RETAKES

Students have been given their re-take work.  The re-take work is due on Thursday November 14,  and students only need to complete the learning targets that they did not master.  Students may come to the library at break each day, or to Ms. Nathalie during the 12-12:30 RTI time each day.  Students will not be allowed to retake the test unless they complete the work!!!  If students fail to complete the work the original test grade will stand. 

 

For a copy of the re-take work click here.

STUDY STUDY STUDY

The summative test for this unit, The Indus River Valley, will be on Friday November 2nd and Monday November 4th.  Students need to begin to prepare now.  The test will address the following learning targets:

 

1.  Geography of the Indus River Valley

2.  Effects of the Geography on the Indus River Valley

3.  The Caste System

4.  The Culture of the Indus River Valley

5.  The Basic Beliefs of Religions that began in this area

6.  Theories about the disappearance of the Indus River Valley Civilization

Students have several handouts, notes, and bell work entries that would be useful study tools.

 

Click here to take an online quiz to help you study.

THE CASTE SYSTEM AGAIN....

Our latest learning target, The Caste System, seemed to present a few problems for students.  To help you study and perfect your understanding of the Caste system in the Indus River Valley use the links below.

1.  The Caste System Game

2. The Caste System Explained, (This is a PPT, so you will either need to save and open in PPT or view from the Internet)

3. The Caste System

Indus River Valley Civlization

We have just begun our unit on the Indus River Valley Civilization.  You will find that while this ancient civilization is also a river valley civilization, like Mesopotamia and Egypt, the Indus River valley people and civilization are distinctly different.  Use the site below as a study tool to help you learn more about the Indus River Valley.

 

INDUS RIVER VALLEY STUDY TOOL

 

 

A WAY TO STAY INFORMED....

Mrs. Nathalie has started using Remind 101 to help keep you informed of upcoming test and assignments.  If you would like to join Remind 101 all you have to do is test @69ac5 to 270-406-6141.  Don't worry your number will not show up and my number will not show up on your phone.  You will not be able to reply to test reminders either.  This is just a good way to be reminded of things that are due in class!!!  And don't' forget....all social studies reading assignments and AR test must be finished by the start of class on Thursday.  Happy Reading.

Egypt Test Practice

Want to practice for tomorrows test?  Click here to play some different games and review the concepts we have discussed in class.

Ancient Egypt Test

Just a reminder that the 7th grade Social Studies test over Egypt will by tomorrow, Tuesday October 1st.  All study guides are due on Tuesday and must be signed by your parents.  Good luck, and study hard.  Click here to access the study guide.

ANCIENT EGYPT FROM A -Z

I found this fun interactive site to help you review and learn more about Ancient Egypt.  It has everything there is to know about Ancient Egypt from A-Z  Click here to check it out.

What was the geography of Ancient Egypt like?

We have just completed our first learning target for the Ancient Egypt unit; The Geography of Ancient Egypt.  To learn more about this learning target or to review click here.  To play Ancient Egypt Jeopardy click here.  Some of these questions you are sure to see again.  Hint Hint!!!

CLASS "FIELD TRIP"

Today we put on our life jackets and stepped aboard an Ancient Egyptian boat to journey up and down the Nile River, complete with ancient Egyptian music for the trip.  Well... No not really, there was music  but not a real boat! :) However, we are working on a project entitled Journey Down the Nile River. Click here to see what the project entails.

 

PYRAMIDS, PHARAOHS, and MUMMIES OH MY

We have just begun Unit 2 in 7th grade Social Studies.  We will remain on this unit until Fall Break.  Yes there is lots to learn about Ancient Egypt!!!

The learning targets that we will be covering in this unit are:
1.) I can explain the geography of Ancient Egypt.

2) I can justify how the geography of Ancient Egypt improved life for the Egyptians.

3.) I can create a social pyramid and describes the rights and responsibilities of each class in Ancient Egypt.

4.) I can compare and contrast the 3 times periods of Ancient Egypt and the characteristics of each.

5.) I can explain cultural features that define Ancient Egypt.

6. ) I can evaluate the contributions of the Egyptians and how those inventions improved society

7. ) I can explain reasons for the decline and fall of Ancient Egypt

We  have just completed the Ancient Egypt vocabulary today.  To practice the vocabulary click here.

MESOPOTAMIA TEST

We are ready for a test in 7th grade social studies.  Our Unit 2 Mesopotamia test will be tomorrow, Tuesday September 10.  Click here to view the study guide.  Remember this is only a study guide.  These are not the test questions.  Don't forget to study your notes, handouts, and all class information.  Remember, if everyone in the class masters all 6 learning targets the first try, Friday we will have a special celebration treat.  Study hard and good luck!!!!

Mesopotamia Inventions Research

This week in 7th grade Social Studies students will be working on research and a power point presentation to better understand the lasting impact that Mesopotamia had on the world.  Use the links below to guide you through your research.  For the complete assignment click here.

http://voices.yahoo.com/inventions-ancient-mesopotamia-revolutionized-11240248.html

http://www.ancientmesopotamians.com/ancient-mesopotamian-inventions.html

http://www.ducksters.com/history/mesopotamia/science_and_technology.php

http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/vammesopotamia6.html

http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/inventions.html

http://fairfieldschools.org/B_Level/B_RogerLudlowe/C_RogerLudlowe/03/webquests/mesopotamia_webpage/mesopotamia_main_page.htm

MESOPOTAMIA CULTURE

This is the graphic organizer that we completed in class today to learn more about the culture of Ancient Mesopotamia.  Review this graphic organizer with your student and make sure they understand what it was like to live in Mesopotamia.

MESOPOTAMIA VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Check out this cool game to practice your Mesopotamia Vocabulary!

 

Click HERE to play.

MORE REVIEW TOOLS

Here is a neat online quiz to help you review Mesopotamia and the fertile crescent.  Go ahead, give it a try and see what you remember from class.

 

Click HERE to begin.

SO WHAT IS A CIVILIZATION ANY WAY?

So its been a while since I last updated the class blog, we have been busy, busy, busy in class.   

 

We have currently finished our first unit test, Mesopotamia.  As of today most students have completed the re-test, and the first Open Response.  Be sure to ask your students about their grades.  If you have questions about your child's grades, feel free to contact Mrs. Brittany or Mrs. Nathalie.

 

We have begun unit 2 Mesopotamia.  Review your child's notes with them over the weekend so that they do not forget the weekly content.  This week we have discussed the characteristics of a civilization.   

 

Click here  or here review the characteristics of a civilization.

 

We have also discussed the arrangement of a Mesopotamian city state. 

 

To learn more or review the layout of the Mesopotamia city states  click here .

OTZI THE CAVEMAN

This is the video that we viewed in class today.  Students had to determine the cause of Otzi's death.  Check out the video and you decide what happened to Otzi the caveman. Click here to see the video.

 

Also don't forget that the first test is this Friday August 16, 2013.  Students will receive a study guide Thursday.  Click here to see the study guide.

Paleolithic vs. Neolithic

We are getting close to time for our first test.  My goal is to test on either Thursday or Friday of this week.  We are currently talking about the early time periods of history, the Paleolithic and Neolithic time periods.  In class we are completing graphic organizers to help us better understand the difference between these two time periods.  Please review these graphic organizers with your child to help them prepare for the test.

 

Remember that prehistory doesn't always mean this... Click HERE

 

:0)

HISTORIANS, ARCHAEOLOGIST, and GEOGRAPHERS OH MY

In 7th grade social studies we are learning about all of the different professions that help us investigate the past and make sense of past civilizations.  Take a mintue to ask your child if they can tell you the difference between a historian, archaeologist, and geographer.

Click here to check out a  video about the job of an Archaeologist to learn more about these investigators of the past.

 

 

WELCOME

Welcome to 7th Grade Social Studies.  I"m so excited about what the year has in store. Parents please use this blog to stay informed of what is going on in class each day, upcoming activities, upcoming test, and interesting information that you may find useful for your student.  Students,  if you are absent or forget what the days activities entailed, or what the homework assignment is, please use this blog to refresh your memory. 

The class syllabus is attached, students will receive a printed copy of this the first day of school and parents should read, sign, and return the parent form by Friday August 9th. 

Click here for the 7th Grade Social Studies Syllabus