Week of January 21st

This past week, students did a fine job researching and completing their cultural myth projects. Many new cultures and stories were learned about. Being able to identify similarities between stories also was highlighted. Similarities though the stories were often told thousands of years ago and thousands of miles apart from each other. The purpose of such stories was best summarized as:

Because the creation of the universe has made people curious for thousands of years, stories of “how it all began” were told to try and give answers to the BIG questions--how did the world come to be? And, why are humans here? People want to explain phenomenon (things that can be seen) and the unknown. Their stories of
“how it all began” help give a reason to the mysteries, no matter how bizarre and unrealistic the stories may be to us now. Every religion and every culture in the world seems to have its own story of “how it all began”. Often times, there are many similarities.

This week, the high point is sure to be when the story of "How the Inca Fell" is told. A power point will be shown and much discussion is sure to ensue. Students will be listening intently as well as taking notes. Their assignment will be to retell with as many details as possible, the complete story to a parent or other adult. Your assistance with this will be most appreciated.

Additionally this week, students will have a reading assignment as well as research topics that will be investigated more later on in the week. Topics include but are not limited to the following: Who is Hugo Chavez?
Who is Evo Morales?
Oil in Venezuela and its importance?
Brazilian Carnival--how does it compare to other culture's carnival celebrations?
Sustainable and Unsustainable resources in South America
Tourism in the Galapagos Islands

Last, you may have seen the following as it commonly has been passed around in chain e-mails. I shared it with students to emphasize not only the magnificence of the brain but also the last line--"the human mind does not read every letter by itself, but the word as a whole." From the beginning of the year and throughout, I will continue to stress the importance of the whole and connectedness. I thought this was a fun connection to this.

"Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."

May everyone have a wonderful week and if there are any questions, as always I encourage your asking. Thank you so much.


Kindly,
Matt Piercy
7th Grade Social Studies