7th Grade Social Studies ALPs

Synopsis & Syllabus

 

Description

 

This social studies class consists of several units, almost mini-seminars in nature, which are topical rather than area-focused.   The State of Indiana has determined there are four core standards areas (see attached) that 7th Grade Social Studies must address. They are: History; Civics and Government; Geography; and Economics. Within each of these areas lie specific core standards. There are five such standards for history and two each for the other three areas.  Thus you can see that almost 50% of what the Department of Education deems essential is history. That is fine with me, as history was my major in college and remains my favorite subject. I hope you will come to feel the same as the year progresses.

 

 

Materials

 

You do not have one specific text for this class. Rather, you will be provided with various handouts, pamphlets, booklets, and outside reading assignments. You will also be required to read three novels during the year. These should tie in with your English class and will be explained in more detail at a later date.

 

You will need the following supplies for this course:

  • a three-ring binder with paper.
  • pencils or pens - always come to class prepared to write!
  • colored pencils or markers - there will be numerous projects that utilize these. While I will have some to use in class, they are of dubious quality and limited quantity.

 

CLASS RULES

 

Societies depend upon laws to help people live together harmoniously. Our classroom is a microcosm of society and, as such, has a few rules designed to ensure a sound educational environment. The basic concept is respect for others. Do not engage in actions that might be detrimental to the learning opportunities of others. For those of you who need things spelled out, the following is a list of basic classroom rules:

1.            Respect your classmates, teacher, and yourself.

2.          Come to class prepared. Have materials with you and homework done.

3.          Come to class on time and be in your seat when the bell rings.

4.          Follow the rules of the school.

5.          Follow directions the first time.

 

As in society, those who choose to violate the rules by default are also choosing to accept the consequences. They are:

Verbal warning

            Name on board

            Lunch detention

            Call to parents

            Referral to counselor

            Referral to assistant principal

 

These consequences are for normal rules violations. Obviously, more serious violations, such as bodily harm to others, abusive language, etc. will result in more immediate and forceful consequences. However, I am confident that this entire section is merely a formality, but I do feel you should know upfront what is expected of you.

 

Brief Description of Topics

Topics to be covered this year (In addition to a focus on the election):

 

Critical Thinking and Propaganda  a brief unit on propaganda techniques, critical reading skills, and manipulation. Particular emphasis will be placed on advertising and the media.

 

 

GEOGRAPHY  This unit will incorporate the concepts of geographic diversity, cultural characteristics, cultural diversity, and dependence/independence/interdependence in the non-western world. In addition, map skills will be stressed. Students are expected to master some basic skills in identification and location of countries, capitals, and geographic features.

 

BELIEFS  a favorite with past classes. This unit traditionally focuses on major ethical systems that have motivated human behavior. This includes a study of the world's major religions, commonly held values, and major theories in the field of ethics. Sub-topics include human rights, justice, and political ethics. Particular attention will be placed on the latter this year.

 

WORLD HISTORY  This unit will focus on the progression of humanity through the ages. Facts will be used to help students understand trends, see cause and effect, and interpret historical accounts. Particular emphasis will be placed on non-western history. This is by far the longest unit and will most likely cover more than two grading periods. In order to facilitate the coverage of such an immense topic, this unit will be broken down into four sub-units:

1)       Ancient Civilizations – focusing on the river valley civilizations of

the Nile, Mesopotamia, the Huang Hi, and the Indus.

2)       Pre-European Period (650 c.e. to the 18th century) – the focus will

on the kingdoms of west Africa, the dynasties of China, the influence of the Mongols, and feudalism in Japan.

3)       Colonization and Imperialism – the impact of the Europeans on

Asia and Africa, including trade routes, voyages of discovery, and colonization will be examined.

4)       The 19th Century to the Present – Routes to independence,

     Japanese Imperialism, the impact of industrialization,

      urbanization, and globalization, as well as recent conflicts and

      political issues are the focus.

 

ECONOMICS  In this unit, students will analyze, compare, and contrast the various forms of economic systems, and examine both macro and microeconomics. A stock market simulation and business project are usually the highpoints of this unit. The impact of geography is also examined.

 

 

THE FUTURE  The final unit of the course makes references to the previous units as students examine  current theories about where humanity is headed. Included here are the essential elements of geography physical systems, human systems, and Environment & Society.

 

Homework: While there will be several short assignments, the major homework in this class will be longer term projects (one or more per unit), on-going research about current events, and outside reading. The policy for late assignments is in keeping with the overall Blue Team policy.

 

Grading The grading scale for this class is a twelve point scale, with different weights assigned to different tasks. For example, a test will carry three times the weight of a homework assignment. You are guaranteed to make at least in the C range as long as you do the work. In middle school,  not doing your work  is the surest way to low grades. One missing assignment can greatly harm your average. You can keep track of your grade by signing up for web grades. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for a progress report at anytime during the grading period. It only takes a minute for me to print one for you. The best way to keep track of your grade is through WEB GRADES. As soon as Ms. Martin gets this going I encourage you to keep weekly track of your grade. Please bring to my attention any discrepancies you might notice.

 

Welcome to the Blue Team! It’s going to be a great year!