Finals Week

Students worked hard as both cartographers and creative artists this week. Here you can see their cooperative efforts on the collage posters. I was proud of how hard many students worked to finish in time. You might ask your son/daughter which poster in the top picture is the one they worked on.

Warmest holiday wishes to you and your families.



With Warmth,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies

Week of December 10th

Utilizing the laptops in the classroom to research

Students very successfully researched all the countries of South America. I am proud of how well they did and their being so serious and on-task helped them learn a lot. At this point, groups are in the midst of sharing information and deciding upon ways to show how each other how each country really is.

On Monday, all classes will work on their posters. Then, for nearly two hours on the day of the Final, their efforts will be dedicated to finishing these creative displays. Both a group rubric and a poster rubric were shown, discussed, and distributed this week. Doing this helps make expectations be very clear. Please ask your son/daughter about this project, what they are learning, and if you might be able to see their rubrics. In the coming week, I look forward to sharing photos of their amazing work.

Reminder: after such a large test on North America a few weeks back, the Social Studies Final is to draw an accurate map of South America, including country borders and labeling each country (of course spelling the names correctly too!). Students all have known this and many have been practicing each night. The only way to really get this, is to practice! I would love to see a majority of students earn 100% and I know it is possible.

Thank you so much for your continued support and happy holidays!


Kindly,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies

Week of December 3rd

An African Collage Example

Dear Parents,

We have officially begun our South America study and are off to a wonderful start! The first day we brainstormed all that we, as a class, already know. Several students commented, "Wow it seems like there is so much more to know and learn." Yes! And I must say, I am pleased with the overall fervor for learning and delving right in. We've begun mapping and students have a broad grasp of some of the noteworthy physical features in each country (rivers, mountains, lakes, etc.).

After such a large test on North America a few weeks back, the Social Studies final will be more relaxed. It will consist of two components. The first, is to draw a map of South America, including country borders and labeling each country (of course spelling the names correctly too!). This week we practiced with this and students all have maps, which they can use to begin preparing for the final with. I anticipate this to be a rather quick and successful task. Following this, on the day of the final, classes will finish up South America Collage Posters. Next week we will speak more about this in depth (organizing ourselves and our time). The project is important but how groups interact and share the responsibility is also very important. Both the final poster and group work will be assessed.

Most of next week we will research and students will be encouraged to continue their research at home. The poster can wait, as we first need to learn more about each country in South America. Basic information to be investigated will include but not be limited to answering the following questions:

--Who lives there?

--How do they live?
--How is the land? How does the land “shape” the people and their culture?
--How is the climate? How does the climate “shape” the culture?
--How do the people look?
--How much diversity is there? (Why? What’s the history?)
--How many people live there? (Where?)

--What languages do people speak?
--What work do the people do there?
--What resources are there?
--Is the country wealthy? Why? Why not?
--What is the history of the country?
--What do they do for fun?
--What are the people’s traditions, religion, etc.?
--What big cities are there?
--What symbols represent the country? (monuments, animals, sports, etc.)

--When was it formally a country? What’s the story?

After thoroughly researching, students will decide upon icons/images that best represent each country. These will be cut out, printed out, and also illustrated on their collage poster maps of South America. The country names should also be easy to read. Maps will be “full” but hopefully also pleasing to the eye. This will require communication, planning, and cooperation on the part of each group. I will expect that whatever goes on the poster, students are able to talk about. To be able to talk about it is to be able to “defend” why it should be on the poster. This is more than, “we put a toucan because there are toucans in the jungle there.” I'll be asking students to PLEASE THINK A LOT ABOUT THE IMAGES INCLUDED AND ALSO BE CREATIVE!!! “What images best represent each country?”

In class next week we will take time to discuss rubrics on both group work and the project. You might ask your son/daughter to see these.

Additionally, journals continue to be an on-going project and several students are beginning to come to class sharing what more they are learning in relation to our class. One student came in today excited to show me the map his mother drew of South America. And another student was eager to show me beautiful pictures she had glued in her journal of indigenous people of Bolivia, alongside information she had written about the significance of the name of South America's largest and highest lake. Keep it up!

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope it is helpful in keeping you connected to your child's education. Of course, I welcome any questions or clarifications you may have and I am continually grateful for your support!


With Warmth,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies

Week of November 19th

Dear Parents,
The North America final test is behind us and I must say, though not surprised, I was extremely pleased by the results. I appreciated students seriousness, effort, and how well they were able to demonstrate their understanding. Overall, it was definitely a successful experience. 31 out of 42 students earned either an "A" or "B." Congratulations! In the coming week, please ask you son/daughter to see their test.

Our next unit of study is South America and this will begin right after Thanksgiving break. No homework is assigned this weekend nor will there be any homework over Thanksgiving break. I however do encourage students to continue to pick up their journals and share what they are thinking and wondering. Each student should by now have a list of possible ideas of how to use their journal. We discussed this in class three weeks ago, and during class a list was copied in the journal. Some students are very responsibly assuming this and again, the emphasis is simply on extending what has or is being learned in Social Studies. Examples have included artwork depicting the topic of "imbalance," further research and opinions/questions shared on Cuba and Fidel Castro, and political cartoons about Native American affairs and life on reservations. Your support with encouraging your child to utilize this tool is greatly appreciated. You may even wish to ask if you can take a look at the work they have completed so far. Many have detailed notes from me included.

As always, thank you for all your support at home!


Kindly,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies

Week of November 12th

Dear Parents,

Wow! What amazing work students did in creating brochures for the countries they studied. I am impressed and I appreciate all their hard work! A few random examples are displayed below. In the coming week, we will tie up all the loose ends and discuss how they can specifically prepare for the North America final test. A great deal of review is expected and I encourage students to work together, ask questions, and do their best to make sense of all we have learned. I am confident students will do everything they can to be successful and I am here for any questions or re-teaching as need be. For over a week now, classes have known that the geography and mapping is one component of the test. I encouraged and recommend everyone to study their maps and spellings prior to our next class. As well, re-reading parts or the entire small North American text would serve students well. Again though, in the coming week we are going to work together in class on understanding specifically how to study and what to expect for the test. No surprises on test day:-)

Thanks so much. Have an enjoyable weekend!


Kindly,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies


Test Day:
7A=Friday, November 16th
7B=Thursday, November 15th
7C=Friday, November 16th

Week of October 29

One Week of Food for Different Cultures

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide

Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyp tian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Dear Parents,
The pictures above were shared with me by a parent this past week. I shared them with the classes, highlighting several topics that we have been discussing. "Imbalance" was probably the most common theme that surfaced in our class discussions. It can be pretty eye-opening and I appreciated students' interest and maturity in analyzing and seeking to understand what was seen. I especially enjoyed how some students were quick to identify that some of the people in the countries that materially have much less, were exceptionally vibrant. I also was glad to listen to students question currencies, economies, and even the differences noted between processes/packaged food and fresh foods. All in all, this was an extremely valuable activity.
In the coming week, students will be studying countries of the Caribbean and Central America. After completely researching the country, the assignment is to construct a brochure about their country. I am asking students to include specific information but also expect they will go above and beyond in including other information they find important. A rubric outlining this project will be in all students hands by the end of Monday.

Besides this project, we will spend the next bit of time wrapping up North America. This includes watching an IMAX film on the Maya. Students who want to get a head start on the final North America test may begin studying (beginning with their maps of Central America and the Caribbean countries). In the coming week, I will remind students of all the activities and topics we have shared. They can expect the final test to be the following week (November 12th-16th), however more specifics will be included in next week's update.

As always, thank you very much for your support at home! Have an excellent weekend!


Kindly,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies

Week of 10/22 Social Studies Update

Dear Parents,

What a full week! The attached pictures are from our incredible afternoon going up LaeLae. There is "Climbing All the Way to Top," "Celebration," "Lunch with a View," "Exhausted," and "Rolling Down."

The results of the Canada Mapping Quiz were excellent. We are beginning to tie up “loose” ends and today we spoke about a variety of topics. Classes 7A and 7C have the assignment to write in their journals this weekend. Today a few discussions centered on the following:
The Navajo and Reservations
Cuba and Fidel Castro
The Caribbean and the Nobel Peace Prize (tying in the current event of Al Gore)
The Far North Video (Native Peoples of Northern Canada)

As students are well aware, each topic is vast and is able to be explored a lot more in depth. The overarching question, “What is Freedom” can certainly be woven in to each of the topics. Additionally, this week we spoke about how to begin improving journals and everyone’s journal has notes that outline a few ideas.

In the coming week, we will finish up our North America textbook by reading about the Dominican Republic. We will also begin a Central America/Caribbean country study. A component of this will once again be mapping as well as research. The final project will be to make a brochure. Students will all receive a rubric clearly outlining the expectations. You might ask your son/daughter later in the week to speak to you about how they are planning on designing their brochure. As well, you might ask them to see their rubric :-)

Have an excellent weekend!

Thank you,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies

10/8 Social Studies Update

Dear Parents,

Welcome to this “new” format of parent communication regarding Social Studies. Last week we enjoyed Mexican food fare while we watched a rather informative video. Your help with this was appreciated by more than just our stomachs.

Last week we also began talking about “Traditions.” Students enjoyed, and surely will remember, watching and listening to the first few minutes of the Broadway portrayal of Fiddler On the Roof (attach web address). This is where Tevye, a father of five daughters, begins with a most theatrical presentation of “Tradition,” a song highlighting his attempt to maintain his family and religious traditions.
(If interested, please see: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8304062612871026050). As a class, we discussed the significance of this. We also read more about traditions in the chapter “Digging Up the Past” in our text. Vocabulary words were assigned to be completed in the journal, per the usual format.

This week, students will have a few family specific questions pertaining to “traditions.” As well, students have known about this week’s quiz since the beginning of last week. Everyone received a 1/2 sheet that read as follows:

Social Studies Quiz
7A October 8th (Monday--changed to Tuesday :-) )
7B October 9th (Tuesday)
7C October 8th (Monday)

What to study:
--The chapter on population and Mexico City
--Your worksheet on Mexico City
--Your notes (Mexico City, immigration)
--Your journal (vocabulary)
--Your notes/worksheet on the movie

Remember, I am interested in the BIG ideas and concepts. As you study, ask yourself questions that begin with: Who...? What...? Why...? Also, think back on our lively class discussions :-)



Besides the quiz this week, we will read a little about French Quebec and also Indigenous Peoples of Northern Canada. This will include mapping and more journal work.

As always, thank you very much for your involvement at home. I look forward to meeting with you in the coming weeks!


Most Kindly,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies