I'm Going a Viking.....

Welcome back. Today's class introduced the Vikings. We discussed several different topics:

• Areas the Vikings explored--from Russia to North America.
• Scandinavian Geography--advantages and disadvantages to living there.
• Viking Ships--how they were built.
• Growth of Trade Towns
• Viking houses and communities
• Viking government--Jarls!!!!

Homework is the Chapter 20 Section 1 Assessment on page 301. Do all the questions, even number 5!!

Reminders:

We are no longer using the journal. Use Gaggle.Net to access the Message Boards. Your journals will be posted on the Message Boards.

A New Marking Period!!!!

What a hectic week to come back from. Being out one day and the students being off on Thursday for our clerical day really put me back.

I can't believe that we're in the thrid marking period. Only 88 more student days. If your grades are not where you want them to be, buckle down for the next two marking periods. No one ever said that school was supposed to be easy. Don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help. That's why we are here.

Journals:

We will no longer be doing journals in the classroom. Instead, the journal topics will be posted on the classroom Message Boards on Gaggle.Net. For those of you who do not have your parent permission slips to use Gaggle.Net, GET THEM IN NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

I will post a journal topic every Monday and Wednesday. It will be your responsibility to get them done before the due dates. I passed out in class today a list of the upcoming due dates--February 13th is the first one.

The Vikings:

We started our unit on the Vikings today. It goes with Chapter 20 in your textbook. The students worked on the Chapter 20 Section 1 (Viking Lands) outline today in class. If they did not finish, they were to do so for homework.

Homework/Announcements:

There is no homework today, unless you did not finish the outline in class. A friendly reminder that your PowerPoint Timeline is due on Friday. You can come in during BASE to work on it.

GO BEARS!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it? The Bears are going to the Super Bowl. It's been over 20 years since the Bears won Super Bowl XX. I'm so excited that I even found a copy of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" recorded by the 1985 Bears team. This picture of Thomas Jones and Jason McKie from the US Presswire says it all!!!

Journal:

In the journal today, I asked the students to write about their favorite sports team. What is it about the team that makes you like them so much--the location, team history, parents like/dislike the team, the uniforms, etc? If you don't like sports, please write about what activities you do like to do after school. You can comment below if you like.

Test Review:

Tomorrow is the Irish and Anglo Saxon test. Today we reviewed the Study Guide, and played a game of Review Basketball. Remember that everything on the test will come right from the Study Guide. TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY!!!!!

Happy Friday!!!!

Ahhh....the weekend is upon us. I hope everyone has a good weekend and takes some time to relax. I can't believe that the end of the 1st semster is next Wednesday.

Journal:

Today we looked at an article from Time For Kids dealing with President Bush's new plan to end the the war in Iraq. Take a look at the article and think of these questions as you read: Why did we invade Iraq?; What have been the costs of the war?; What is President Bush's plan to end the war?; What issues prevent the ousting of Saddam Hussein from power from being a major turning point Iraqi history? You can comment below if you like.

Class Agenda:

Today, in class, students worked on a couple of different things.

1. Students needed to finish their PowerPoint Projects, log onto Gaggle.Net, and upload their project to their digital locker. After uploading the file, they were to send me an email.
2. Students were also allowed to respond to different questions posted on the Message Boards at Gaggle. Each class is responsible for two questions from the study guide.

Reminders:

Friendly reminder that The Irish and Anglo Saxon England Study Guide is due on Monday, and the test will be Tuesday.

Work Day

Wow! What happened on our quizzes yesterday? Students will be able to correct their quizzes and turn them in tomorrow. The answers must be on a separate piece of paper and include the page number from where you find the answer.

The Study Guide, handed out yesterday, is due on Monday. The test scheduled for Friday has been moved to Tuesday, January 23rd.

To review a little more for the test, students worked on the Chapter 19 Assessment on page 297 of their textbook. Define the vocaublary words at the top of the page and do the Understanding the Main Ideas, #s 1-8.

A friendly reminder to you that your PowerPoint project is due tomorrow. You will have some time to finish it up and upload it to your Digital Locker on Gaggle.Net. Also on Gaggle, I've placed two questions in each classes message board. Take a look at them and post your thoughts.

Open Book Quiz Today

Open Book/Note Quiz:

Today the students took their Chapter 19 Open Book/Note quiz. If you were absent today, make sure to see me ASAP to make up the quiz.

After taking the quiz, everyone was able to work on either their Celtic Ireland and Anglo Saxon England Study Guide or their PowerPoint projects. The Study Guide is due tomorrow. You can get the study guide here. Use the Early Middle Ages Notes: Celtic Ireland and Anglo Saxon England to complete it.

The PowerPoint projects are due on Friday. You must submit your PowerPoint by going to Gaggle.Net and storing it in your Digital Locker. Send me an email saying that you finished it, and it's in your locker.

UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE!!!!!!!!

There is no homework for tomorrow. The study guide is due on Monday, January 22nd. Your test on Celtic Ireland and the Anglo Saxons of England will be next Tuesday, January 23rd.

What is Gaggle.Net

Today's Journal:

Read the Time for Kids article about Wesley Autrey. Some are calling him a "real-life Superman." When you finish reading the article, post some comments below answering some of these questions: What did he do?; Do you think he acted heroically?; How would you have acted in the same situation?; How was he rewarded?

Gaggle.Net:

Today the students, who had their "Online Safety Pledge" signed, were able to get onto Gaggle.Net and explore. Gaggle.Net will allow us to extend our classroom activities out of the classroom. Students will be able to email each other, post messages on a message board, and chat. All of which is closely monitored by Gaggle.Net. Students will be able to access a "Digital Locker" which will allow them to save projects, papers, etc. and open them at home.

It should really open up our classroom. Take a few minutes and take a tour at Gaggle.Net to see what it is all about.

Students finished the class by continuing to work on the PowerPoint Projects (Vocabulary and King Alfred Interview).


Things to Remember/Homework:

On Tuesday, we will take an Open Book/Note Quiz on Chapter 19. Although it is open book, I think it is extremely important for them to review and prepare for it.

Friday will be a test on Chapter 19 (Irish and the Anglo Saxons).

Interview with King Alfred

Today the students worked on finishing their Vocabulary PowerPoints and started their King Alfred Interview.

• Over the weekend use your notes to develop 5 questions and responses for your King Alfred interview.
• On Tuesday, you can from your interview in PowerPoint.

Reminder:

Students need to make sure to turn in their online safety pledge. We will start using Gaggle next week.

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome everyone to the What's Happening in 7th Grade Social Studies blog. This page will allow you to see the day's activities. This will allow you to stay current with the class, even when you are absent.

January 11, 2007

Today we reviewed the conversion of Anglo-Saxons to Christianity in England. Click here to get the notesheet.

• Legend of Pope Gregory I decision to convert all Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
• Pope Gregory's decision to send 40+ monks, led by Augustine, to begin the process.
• Why Augustine decided to start in the Kingdom of Kent.

Students had some time to finish the Vocabulary PowerPoint and/or begin the Interview with King Alfred project.

Note: Third period did not meet today due to 4 Site Testing.