Wednesday, December 12, 2007

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




Tuesday, December 4, 2007

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