Social Studies Weekly
Year 7 Volume 4 ~ September 16, 2019
This week's shout out goes to Juan Fernandez at East. Juan has embraced his new Promethean board and is using it to help students with purposeful reading and annotation. Although there is a learning curve with using the Promethean board has a learning curve, Juan has jumped in and is doing great.
Constitution Day: September 17th
AP Human Geograpnhy Textbook
EVERFI- Teacher Center Registration
EVERFI has released a new Teacher Center, which will make the process of getting students access to their free courses is easier than ever. While navigation is fairly straight-forward, change can bring some confusion. So, EVERFI is offering office hours to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools teachers and administrators during the week of 9/23/19.
If you would like a brief training on our new courses and the revamped Teacher Center, just need fill out this form.
Teaching Hard History: The 1619 Project- This Wednesday
During this professional development session, teachers will participate in the lesson designed for the magazine's first article written by Nikole Hannah-Jones. A class set of the magazine will be provided to each Social Studies Department represented at this PD.
Who: American History 1 and 2 teachers
When: September 18, 2019
Location: Mount Tabor
Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Registration for the session in the Staff PD. Session flyer.
Answer Garden
So, how is Answer Garden different? It creates a word cloud with the answers that are submitted. If you ask students what word best describes the impact the Declaration of Independence had on the world, all of their answers will show. Words that are replicated are bigger than other words. For WH folks, as you look at lasting impacts of Empires, you could have students select the Empire that had the biggest impact and see the answers. Then, get students to justify their selection orally.
World History
When studying World Religions, be sure to have students examine the role religion had on the expansion, unification and declining empires, This activity could be used for project-based activity related to World Religions.
Remember, there are M/C questions designed for both the Empire and the Religions Units.
Civics and Economics
They are developing an "Amazing Race" review game for each unit. The review game is differentiated for students with similar standards-based questions on three different levels. Teams are given their questions and have to "race" to be the first group to correctly answer all of the questions. Here is an example.
Heather and Carter also created a Concurrent/Reserved Power sort activity. On popsicle sticks, they wrote down powers reserved for the state, powers reserved for the federal government, concurrent powers, and powers granted to neither state/federal. Students had to sort the different powers into appropriate cups. Once students were done, they had to select one stick from each cup and determine why that "power" should be placed there and what might happen if it was in a different cup. This is a great hands-on formative assessment. And, it can be brought out for NC Final review.
American History 1
As we move towards the Revolutionary War, think about ways to incorporate the African American and American Indian perspective. There were many people of African descent that fought for America's independence. The Bucks of America was an all-black militia in Massachusettes. It was led by Colonel George Middleton. For more information on both people of African descent and American Indians in the Revolution, this book has listings, by state, of their contributions.
American History 2
As we prepare to finish the unit, remember there are M/C questions designed for assessment in PSL/Haiku.
Message from Melissa
Happy Monday!
I hope everyone is doing well.
Starting next school year, there will no longer be NC Finals. What does this mean for us? At this time, I have no idea. As information comes to pass, I will be sure to keep you informed.
So, what is up with the new Economics/PFL course? Will AM1 and AM2 become one course again? Again, I am not sure. Next week on the 26th and 27th, I will be attending the first of several revision sessions. I should have more information at that time. So look for the September 30th newsletter for some update information.
How about the sequence of the new courses? Until we know what will happen with the courses, the sequence is up in the air. Once we know the actual courses that will be in place, a discussion can happen about sequencing. The sequencing is not something that the department can just do. It will require discussion and approval from others.
As you continue to develop phenomenal activities, please share them. Caring is sharing. We are all in this together. So, the more we share the less work there is for everyone.
Please let me know if you would like to work on something for your PDP or if you want to try something new in your class. I am always willing to juggle my schedule to help you try something new!
Have a great week,
Melissa
Email: mmmcgready@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
Website: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Domain/54
Phone: 813-388-3999