Mrs. Light's Grade 7 Classes

Social Studies

You will be researching the achievements of ancient China and taking notes. You will write a proposal for an educational software game, as well as design a cover for the proposed video game using images found during your research. You will document your sources in a Works Cited page and a webliography.

If you need a new packet, click to download: GRE China project 2012

Link to library’s China GRE resources

Below is a sample video game cover (based on the achievements of ancient Mesopotamia) and a sample webliography.

Webliography:

A. http://community.ismanila.com/staff/sturgeond/Quizzes%20and%20Games/irrigation%20in%20sumer/irrigation.jpg (Irrigation)

[This link is no longer active.]

B. http://www.historians.org/tl/lessonplans/nc/kinard/Hammura1.jpg (Code of Hammurabi)

C. http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/geography/index.html (Mesopotamia map)

D. http://ant3145-mesopotamia.wikispaces.com/file/view/cuneiform.jpg/33508385 (Cuneiform)

Language Arts

• Continue to read the biography you selected. (A reading log is not required during this week.) Complete the reading by Feb. 13 and complete the biography project by March 5.
• Add to, type, and print your “Evidence of Character Traits” chart. Due Thurs., 2/2.
• We are reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream during class. Be sure to find out what you missed if you were absent and make it up.
• Complete the Act 2 questions in the study guide: pages 17, 18, and #4 and 5 on page 19. Honors: also complete “Cause and Effect” (page 19) on a separate piece of paper. Due Mon., 2/6.

Social Studies

• Review for quiz. Quiz–Thurs., 2/2. Review Ch. 19 (geography), Ch. 20 (Shang dynasty), “Reading Chinese Characters,” and “Silk and Solutions.”
• Silk worksheet (class work). Due Wed., 2/1.
• Bring in a folder with pockets and, if possible, a flashdrive. We will be using them in the library next week when we begin the GRE (guaranteed research experience).
• Read your GRE packet with a parent, and get it signed. Due Mon., 2/6.

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)

Language Arts

• Continue to read the biography you selected. (A reading log is not required during this week.) Complete the reading by Feb. 13 and complete the biography project by March 5.
• Shakespeare KWL, class work Tues. 1/24.
• Write at least five entries on your “Evidence of Character Traits” chart (see the biography project assignment sheet.) Due Wed., 1/25.
• Permission slips to watch selected scenes of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are due by Mon., 1/30 (or earlier please). Students without permission slips will be given an alternative assignment.
• (All students) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1. Complete study guide, pages 13 and 14; complete numbers 4 and 5 on page 15. Due Mon., 1/30.
• (Honors) Complete the “Moon Images” writing assignment (page 15) on a separate piece of paper. Due Mon., 1/30.

Social Studies

• Complete an ASC response to the Shang dynasty question using your notes from the video. Due Tues., 1/24.
• Complete the online challenge activity for Ch. 19 (History Alive). Due Thurs., 1/26. (Students can redo it for a higher grade by having me reset their score by 1/27 and redoing it by 1/30.)
• Ch. 20, Shang dynasty note-taking (class work). Complete the processing activity for homework. Due Mon., 1/30.
• “Reading Chinese Characters.” (Class work Friday.)

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)

Language Arts

• Continue to read the biography you selected. (A reading log is not required during this week.) Complete the reading by Feb. 13 and complete the biography project by March 5.
• Complete your “Five Secrets” PowerPoint by Fri., 1/20. (Class work Tues. – Thurs. and homework if needed.)
• (Optional) An extra credit assignment: write a short story about a dystopian future to enter in the Scholastic Writing Contest. See details here. Due Thurs., 1/19

Social Studies

• Current Event (focus: China)–Due Wed., 1/18.
• Class work Monday-Thursday: China geography poster and note-taking packet. Complete for homework on Thursday night if you need additional time. Due Fri., 1/20.
• Complete the online challenge activity for Ch. 19 (History Alive) within one week. Due Thurs., 1/26.

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)

Language Arts

• Each week, complete your independent reading and your reading log. Hand it in by the first day of the next week. (You can count your biography as your independent reading.)
• The Code: Read to page 121, and complete pages 7-8 in your packet (class work Monday); finish reading the book, and complete page 9 in your packet (homework Monday). Due Tues., 1/10.
• Vocabulary quiz–The Code (words 1-20)–Wed., 01/11.
• (Class work Thurs.) Select a biography, and complete the pre-reading assignment. (Plan on completing the reading of your biography by Feb. 13 and completing the biography project by March 5.)
• Complete the planning of your “secrets.” Secrets 1 and 2 due Thurs., 3 and 4 due Fri., and #5 due  Tues., 1/17.
• (Optional) An extra credit assignment: write a short story about a dystopian future to enter in the Scholastic Writing Contest. See details here.

Social Studies

• China: Complete the Geography Challenge on pages 1-3 in your packet (class work Monday); finish for homework if needed. Due Tues., 1/10.
• Class work: Complete the China poster and note-taking.
• Current Event (focus: China)–Due Wed., 1/18.

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)

An optional extra credit* assignment is to write a short story about a dystopian future to enter in the Scholastic Writing Contest. The grand prize is a trip to the premiere of The Hunger Games.

If you want it to count as extra credit in Language Arts, I need a typed story that is not longer than four double-spaced pages by Thurs., Jan. 19. (The deadline for sending the story to the contest is February 10, 2012.)

“May the odds be ever in your favor.”

More info here on page 7:

http://clubs.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/core/2012/january/tab0112_memo.pdf

*It will be worth up to 10 bonus points. Getting in all of your regular work will count for more than the extra credit, so make sure you get in all of your regular work before you consider doing this.

Language Arts

• Each week, complete your independent reading and your reading log. Hand it in by the first day of the next week.
• The Code: Read about the author online and complete pages 1 and 2 in your packet (class work Tuesday); read pages 28-45, and follow the directions to create “My Code of Beliefs” on page 4 in your packet (homework Tues.). Due Wed., 01/04.
• The Code: Read to page 58, and complete the “Your Turn” questions on page 5 in your packet (class work Wed.); read to page 68, and complete the “Your Turn” questions on the top of page 6 in your packet (homework Wed.). Due Thurs., 01/05.
• The Code: Read to page 77 and complete the rest of page 6 in your packet (class work Thurs.); read to page 85, and complete the top of page 7 in your packet (homework Thurs.). Due Fri., 01/06.
• The Code: Read to page 101 and complete the rest of page 7 in your packet (class work Fri.).
• Upcoming: Vocabulary quiz–The Code (words 1-20)–Wed., 01/11.
• (Optional) An extra credit assignment is to write a short story about a dystopian future to enter in the Scholastic Writing Contest. The grand prize is a trip to the premiere of The Hunger Games movie. See details here.

Social Studies

• Review for quiz.
• Quiz on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–Persuasive essay: Thurs., 01/05/12; Quiz on terms, notes, and stories: Fri., 01/06.

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)

Social Studies

You may review vocabulary related to our study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism terms

Christianity terms

Islam terms

Combined list

You may also watch this BrainPOP video on religion.

“March of Abraham”

Image source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1544/Abraham

Follow these links to learn about Mawi Asgedom, the author of The Code.

Visit the author’s web site. Click on his blog, and read some of his popular posts and recent posts: Author’s web site

Read “A Conversation with Mawi Asgedom”

Read “A moment with Mawi Asgedom”

Language Arts

You may practice vocabulary words from The Code (Words 1-20).

Language Arts

• Each week, complete your independent reading and your reading log. Hand it in by the first day of the next week.
• Your typed and printed persuasive essay will be due on Thurs., 12/22, at the end of class. We will have time in the lab this week on Monday and Thursday for typing and revising, but you should use extra time outside of class if needed to meet the deadline.
• The Code: Review vocabulary (words 1-20).
• The Code: (class work Tuesday). Read to page 18, and complete the “Your Turn” questions in your packet. (Skip pages 1-2 in your packet for now.)
• The Code: (class work Wednesday). Read to page 26, and complete the “Your Turn” questions in your packet.

Social Studies

• Current event (focus: religion)–Due Tues., 12/20.
• Review note-taking and vocabulary related to religion.
• Upcoming: Quiz on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–Thurs., 01/05/12.

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)

Language Arts

• Each week, complete your independent reading and your reading log. Hand it in by the first day of the next week.
• Complete the DAW packet and rewrite a body paragraph using a variety of support. Hand it in with your persuasive essay from the September district assessment. Due Tues., 12/13.
• The Giver: Persuasive essay. Complete note-taking and planning on pages 2-5. Due Wed., 12/14.
• Complete page 6. Due Thurs., 12/15.
• Complete pages 7-9. Due Fri., 12/16.
• Upcoming: Your typed and printed persuasive essay will be due on Thurs., 12/22. We will have time in the lab next week on Monday and Thursday for typing and revising, but you should use extra time outside of class if needed to meet the deadline.

Social Studies

• Present and hand in your religion research project (class work Monday).
• Complete and review notes from pages 144-146 (class work Tues.).
• Read the religion article, and complete the highlighting and note-taking. Due Fri., 12/16.
• Upcoming: Current event (focus: religion)–Due Tues., 12/20.

These plans may change! Always check in class for the latest updates. As always, if you missed any classes during the week, be sure to check what class work and homework you missed and make it up within one or two days. (If you received a “missing task” list, make sure you hand in any missing assignments right away!)