Welcome to Mr. McWilliam's Humanities Homepage In Humanities this year we will be studying Canadian History toward confederation and following confederation. To begin the year we will discuss what Canada looks like today. We will discuss demographics, population, current events, multiculturalism, geography, and the First Nations. Once we better understand Canada today, we can investigate the historical events that have led us here.  http://www.education.alberta.ca/media/446163/7bro.pdf FIRST TERM- AUGUST- OCTOBER -Students will brainstorm as many of the 195 countries as possible. -Students will then complete the list and present it as a poster for our bulletin boards. -From the list of 195 the kids will choose 2 that they are unfamiliar with to present to the class. The students will decide which elements are mandatory and which are optional for the presentation. Once preliminary research is complete, August 31, we will build the rubric together. Students will then create the presentation based on the rubric they generate. - Following this assignment we will be discussing Immigration and Canada as a multicultural country with citizens from all 195 countries. - We will then begin the next assignment to discover how we came to be in Canada. Students will create a family tree looking back at least generations. The family tree will likely be in a digital format using Freemind or CMAP. - Toward the end of September we will begin our "Elaborated Show and Tell" unit, where students will create a digital story about an heirloom or artifact of value that has been kept in your family. - We will begin "The Cigar Box Project" where students will create an artifact depicting different eras of Canadian HIstory. Follow the link to see more about this inquiry project developed by Neil Stephenson at the Calgary Science School. Language Arts - Through the term, and year, students will be creating monthly vocabulary lists that will be tested in class. The goal of the program to to improve spelling, vocabulary, and the quality of student writing. - We will be reading "Sister to the Wolf" by Maxine Trottier in August and September. - We will be reading and creating poetry. - Students will be writing scripts and other written work to accompany their Canadian History work. - Students will be learning and using the 5-paragraph essay format to present their opinions in class debates and current events. |