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