Week of Work & Homework

Notes About the week!

April 19, 2024

I have been updating the SMORE that goes out to parents each Friday, so you will notice I have not been updating this weekly notes section.  We concluded our unit on India with a DBQ (Document Based Question) - Asoka:  Was he a ruthless conqueror or an enlightened ruler?  Kids responded using the CER (Claim, evidence, reasoning, format in an organizer.  They also completed the unit summative on India.  Leading up to the test, students took a "quizzizz" online quiz four times and we recorded the class average each time to note the class improvement each time we finished additional sections of the book.  Next week, we will start the unit on China.

March 22, 2024

We have had a good introduction to ancient India which includes the geography of the land, the first cities, and the Aryan people that will come in from Turkmenistan where evidence of their former city is in the process of being excavated.  The Aryan people brought in horses, the sanskrit writing system, and weapons!  When we return from break, the students will be taking the IAR on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  We will be running an altered schedule all week.  ALL students from both A days and B days will be taking a summative map matching test on South Asia.  All students have a hard copy of a map to study, and there is a link on the TEAMS chat which offers 12 countries to choose from.  Students need to be able to identify and label ten.  Have a great week off!

March 15, 2024

The Egyptian unit concluded last week.  This week we kicked off our unit on India by analyzing maps of South Asia.  We reviewed the 5 step process of discipline and what constitutes major and minor infractions here at HCMS.  We reviewed all the information back in September, but as the weather improves, we sometimes have students forgetting the expectations of behavior.  We concluded the week with an episode of Carl Azuz A to Z for some current events.  Ask about the sleepy dog named Donut!  This seemed to be the part of the news the kids really liked talking about the most - it was super cute! 

March 1, 2024

This week we took a look at the civilization of Kush located right below Egypt in modern day Sudan. Kush and Egypt were strong trade partners back in the day.  On the TEAMS chat area, I posted a snapshot of the white board with the homework documents listed from this unit that can be used to study to prepare for the upcoming summative on Egypt next week.  Link to the door decorating contest is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P65MB3yQdDE

February 23, 2024

We wrapped up the week with the Egyptian Inquiry Research.  The students that presented today and yesterday really created awesome videos!   I am so impressed with the editing skills the students have. They narrated their research reports and then added photos (just like you’d see in a documentary!) Some kids even added background music behind their narration AND transition slides (it was not required!)  The students as audience members needed to take notes (3 bullet points) that they learned from each presentation.  All students were engaged and LEARNING!  I hope the kids enjoyed seeing each others' work as much as I did.

February 16, 2024

 I am so grateful for my students.  We spent this week choosing topics for ancient Egyptian research.  Then, students worked independently (which is VERY difficult for kids this age) to gather information and take notes about the importance of the topic in ancient Egypt. No two students have the same topic!  A guest teacher came in to teach the students that were unfamiliar with WeVideo and how to use it as all the research projects will be shared with the class via WeVideo.  I had quite a few students in each class that already knew how to use the program and were more than willing to jump in and help others get set up.  Over the weekend, all students need to record their narration of the research they compiled.  Next week, students will "pretty up" the project with transitions, pictures, captions, etc.  I am totally looking forward to these presentations.  They kids were really working hard and focused!

February 9, 2024

Students finished reading Chapter 4 Egypt in class.  They also completed a few graphic organizers for each section and a bellringer of Gods/Goddesses.  We are going to segue into research projects next week on Egypt.  Similar to the Ancient Place Inquiry in October, students will be reviewing reliable sources before they take notes on their topics.  Topics will be chosen randomly using the class spinner - each child will then choose their topic. We will use both blocks next week to work on this project.  The final presentation will be done using WeVideo online editor.  All students will present to the class the week of February 20.  After all the presentations, there will be a final unit test on Egypt.

January 26, 2024

This was the last week of the quarter.  Students completed a summative on the geography of Egypt's Nile river area.  The question was from the Illinois state standards:  How does the geography of a region impact the development of a civilization?  Next week we will continue in the Ch. 4 Egypt unit with a focus on the Old Kingdom and the levels of society.

January 19, 2024

What a crazy way to kick off the week!  The kids were absolutely excellent using online learning for the second time on Tuesday.  We followed the lessons I had planned for the day, and most students arrived to class on Thursday with their homework completed.  We have wrapped up our Otzi and reliable sources repetitive learning strategy and will take a short quiz on Monday/Tuesday based on the Quizziz activity.  We also started the next unit on Egypt by focusing on the geography of the land and the importance of the Nile River.

January 12, 2024

Happy New Year!  We are concluding the week with an e-learning day.  We are wrapping up the investigation into Otzi the Iceman, and introducing our next unit, Ancient Egypt.  Because Monday, January 15 is a federal holiday, we spent some time learning about the contributions and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Next week is another 4-day week, so I will be seeing each group of students twice for a full block (80 minutes).  January 26th is the end of the quarter, so please review PowerSchool and discuss with your child a plan to turn in any incomplete or missing work (which may be completed in the backpack).  There are still quite a few students showing up to class without writing supplies - pens (including a red) , pencils, and highlighters!  Please check to make sure your child has these things for class.  It may also benefit a few students if you help to organize the backpack.  Don't throw any papers away, but put "Like Things Together" into each classes' folders or binder.

December 22, 2023

I hope everyone has a great holiday break! I appreciate the many gifts and thoughtful messages from both parents and students. My heart is full as I leave today.   It was a great week, students were so creative in their Otzi story writing.  We will read them and self evaluate after break.  We did not have enough time on Friday to wrap up this unit.  Over break, it is a great opportunity for your child to read their story to you.  Listen for the answers to these questions.  Why was Otzi traveling, Where was he headed?  Who was he traveling with?  Who shot him?  Why was Otzi shot?  What happened in the short time after Otzi was shot?  This is all the fictional part of the story and it needs to be made up.

December 15, 2023

Monday and Tuesday students took the Mesopotamia Formative Quiz. We  then  started using a modified scientific method to review conflicting information about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. A Professor out of Oxford University uses the steps of the scientific method, but applied them to archaeological research. She made a documentary about the process. On Friday, students took the Middle East labeling summative by labeling 10 of the 15 countries. 

Side Note:  Please ask your child if they have (3) different color highlighters/ ONE RED pen, a pencil, and a blue or black pen to write with.  Many students are coming to class with nothing to write with.  Also, we cleaned out the Social Studies folders on November 6/7th when we started quarter 2.  At that time, students were supposed to either leave all the quarter 1 papers at home or recyclcle them.  We just wrapped up Mesopotamia so the papers that should currently be in the social studies folder are:  The Mesopotamia pages stapled together, a Veterans Day scavenger hunt, a CNN 10/Carl Azuz A to Z page, and the notes from "The Lost Gardens of Babylon".  Also, the composition book should be in the folder.  Some students have math, health, ELA, Spanish, all in one folder.  This is not a very good organization system because often times, they can not find what they are looking for when it is needed in class. (Some kids use accordion folders for keeping all pages together and that works perfectly!)  Please take a few minutes to look through your child's computer bag, back pack, and various folders to "Put like papers together!"   Thank you!  ALL your 6B teachers will be very appreciative.

December 8, 2023

Below is the link to the TEAM's SMORE Newsletter:  Scroll Down to find Social Studies.  IF your child is absent, please have them check this page for missing assignments that were completed in class along with homework.  Then take a look at the TEAMS chat.  There are many things posted that can help students have a better understanding of what they missed in class. I have reviewed this information, and showed the students how/where to access this information about 5x since September.   I am unable to help students 1:1 at the beginning of a class period.  Please have your child touch base with me before school - 7:20 AM or After school.  I look forward to working 1:1 with any students that need additional help or guidance.    I also keep track of materials that were passed out when students were absent.  These items are located on the back board with student names so I can be sure to give students any paperwork they may have missed.

HCMS Team 6B | Smore Newsletters

December 1, 2023

This week students worked on a new skill:  analyzing primary source documents from Hammurabi's Code.  The classwork/homework was collected today.  Any students with incomplete work will need to work on them over the weekend.  Next week, we will use the information collected to lay out in a graphic organizer the response to the essential question:  Hammurabi's Code:  Was it Just    Coming Up:  December 12, a Formative quiz on Mesopostamia   December 15 - a summative 10 country map match of the Middle Eastern Countries.

November 24, 2023

THANKS GIVING WEEK - NO SCHOOL

November 17, 2023

Mr. Stewart used a Nearpod and the students took notes in their composition book to use in studying the content of Mesopotamia.  He also ran a "Mock Trial" on Wednesday and Thursday reviewing some of Hammurabi's laws.  Next week, sthe students will complete their first DBQ about Hammurabi and whether his laws were fair or unfair.  

November 10, 2023

This is the first week of the second quarter.  Students have transitioned from "Early Man" into the neolithic time period with the development of agriculture and domestication of animals. Students should continue to use their assignment notebooks to copy the homework off the back board.  We also post links as needed on the TEAMS post/chat section when using the Blue book as we only have one class set.  If there is a possibility of homework, I put the chapter link on the page.  Mr. Stewart has also posted things from class on the page also.

November 3, 2023

Today is the last day of the first quarter.  It feels like it just flew by.  At this point, (4pm today) all grades will be up to date and reflect the quarter grade.  A few students are absent today and can turn in missing work first thing Monday morning so they do not receive an incomplete for the first quarter. This week, the students all presented their power point slide to the class.  The slide reflected a summary of what they learned about their inquiry topic and the grade was recorded as a formative.  Students all turned in three weeks' worth of current events summaries and completed an "Outcome Assessment" on questioning types that lead to research.  The score for the outcome assessment will be the first grade of the 2nd quarter and will be recorded as another formative score.  The exact same process of creating questions, evaluating resources, gathering information and presenting to the class will be used for research when we study Egypt in December/January.  At that time the project and accompanying documents will be taken as a summative grade.  Next week, we will begin the transition from a paleolithic time period to neolithic with the development of domestication of plants and animals.

October 27, 2023

This was a busy with working on the inqyiry standards of creating essential questions to guide inquiry about a topic.  Then, focusing on open and closed question types and finaly determining sources as reliable for inquiry research.  All of this is put to use on a mini research project about an ancient place.  Over the weekend, you can ask to see your child's power point slide, the notes page, and the C.A.R.S. checklist for evaluating sources.  We will be sharing the slides next week in class.  Great way to end the week, the average score for all 6 glasses was a 94%.  Most of the kids scored 10/10 and I had a few students in each class that attempted ALL 55!!  I am so proud of the hard work this week.  Next Friday, November 3 is the last day of the quarter.  Please review power school for missing summative assignments.

October 20, 2023

This week the students used the Discovery Education Techbook, and took their first comprehension check based on the section 1.1 reading.  These quizzes are challenging as the answers are not necessarily right there in the text answers.  Students were allowed to use their notes which were reviewed in class and a copy of the answers were projected.  They were also able to have a second tab open so they could look at the text while they worked through the seven questions.  Students also took notes in their composition book, as Mr. Stewart explained the progression of early man and the movement out of Africa to the Middle East, Asia, and eventually Europe after the Ice Age.  Many kids made connections to the movie "The Croods" and others to the movie "IceAge".  Both movies can give the kids some background on the time period.

October 13, 2023

Mr. Stewart has been lesson planning with me and the other 6th grade social studies teachers.  He has been taking over more of the instruction while I work as a co-teacher in the class.  Beginning next week, I will continue to plan with him, and work with small groups of students as needed, but will be leaving the room a bit more each day so he can take on the full responsibility of teaching.  Mr. Stewart will be with us until December 8th when his student teaching experience is complete, and he graduates from St. Xavier with his Grade 6-12 teaching certification.  Please encourage your children to continue to be hard-working, kind and cooperative.  We have been having amazing classes and discussions so far this year. 

October 6, 2023 - Enjoy the long weekend!

This week, students continued to learn about map types.  We also used the Techbook - Discovery Education to analyze map legends (keys) and then interpret the information on various map types.. Students were also introduced to vocabulary used when talking about climate.  We played a kahoot to check on everyone's baseline knowledge, and we do have a little work to do in that area.  Next week, we will be moving into the study of early man in Africa.  If you are reading this, you have discovered my "Teacher Page" and I thank you.  I feel the information provided in my daily entries along with "Notes About the Week" provide a very good summary of your child's week in social studies.  In Teams, I will post additional materials as needed for kids to use at home, but after an absence students should touch base with me so I can give them their missing work.

September 29, 2023

We continued working on Geography this week with the addition of a review and pull out groups for students who needed extra help based on last week's formative quiz.  Students learned about three different map types:  Physical, Political, and Economic, and students worked in groups to use the information given in the "key" to better understand what they should learn from a particular map type.  We concluded the unit which started the first week of school with the summative test today.  Students had a variety of materials to use to prepare for the test, but 22 of the 25 questions were from the formative last week.

September 22, 2023

Students worked on their geography skills through the use of interactive Nearpods, guided reading (2) Junior Scholastic practice sheets and group work.  When it came to coordinates, students enjoyed playing "Battleship" to review the concepts of latitude and longitude to locate specific places.  The materials provided for the formative today included the rubric from "Autobiography Island", Junior Scholastic Practice pages "Latitude and Longitude" and "Globes & Hemispheres", colorful maps of the continents and oceans, and a short music video  located in the "TEAMS post/chat" area.  In class, the quiz was announced and placed on the back board September 11 so the students could look over their work daily.  Next Friday, September 29 there will be a summative test on the same material.  Students will be able to use the graded formative from today to continue studying.  Next week in class, we will pull small groups of students that need additional instruction/practice with the concepts.

September 15, 2023

It was another great week.  Students have pretty much mastered locker usage before school, lunch, and at the end of the day to get the supplies they need for class.  In Social Studies, the students shared their "Biography Islands" and self-reflected on their final product.  We will pass them back next week to display on the lockers.  We have worked on Latitude, Longitude and the global grid.  The students need additional practice with these concepts so we will be playing a few games of "Battleship" on paper to practice using coordinates next week.  Please check the pencil case occasionally to make sure students have 4 highlighters, 1 red pen, and then a blue/black pen, and a pencil for class.

September 8, 2023

The first week was a great week for students getting familiar with the schedule, lockers, using the assignment notebook, and bringing supplies to class. For social studies, students need a two-pocket folder and composition book.  A few students need to get the pencil case in order which should include a pen (blue or black) and pencil, a RED pen for self- correction, and four different color highlighters.  We will use the supplies consistently for guided reading and note-taking.   We will begin blocking (Social Studies and Science a double period every other day) on Monday.