Optional Summer History Assignments

Post date: Jun 11, 2021 7:27:27 PM

Dear Rising 6th graders,

The following are opportunities for summer exploration. The items below ARE NOT required. In addition to not being required, the Social studies ideas ARE NOT extra credit assignments.

Social Studies (These are NOT required of for extra credit)

Out and About

Try and visit some of the wonderful historical sites that are part of Washington, DC and Alexandria. Some different sites include: the National Geographic Society; Sackler Gallery of Asian Art; Smithsonian Museum of African Art; Smithsonian Folk Life Festival; Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Mount Vernon, Gadsby’s Tavern, Carlyle House, and the Apothecary in Old Town, Alexandria. If you travel over the summer, try finding a historical site while on vacation and tell us about it! If you would like to, write me a postcard or letter telling when where you went and what you saw! Feel free to mail this to the school at:

Mrs. MacKnight

1417 W Braddock Road

Alexandria, Va 22302

Reading

You can’t do too much. Our Social Studies next year will be about ancient civilizations. Any nonfiction reading you do in this area will make your school study more interesting and meaningful. Historical fiction is also a great window.

Ask Questions

Curiosity is one of your most formidable learning tools. Cultivate it this summer by noticing what you know and what you don’t know and asking questions—ask someone or do some quick research on the internet.

Have a wonderful summer. See you August 23rd!

Dear Rising 7th graders,

The following are opportunities for summer exploration. The items below ARE NOT required. In addition to not being required, the Social studies ideas ARE NOT extra credit assignments.

History (These are NOT required or for extra credit)

• 1. Consider taking advantage of some of the museum opportunities that exist in Washington and Alexandria. The following are suggestions of things that I think you would enjoy and that will give you some context for topics you will be studying during the next two years.

• • Smithsonian Museum of American History

  • Smithsonian: National Portrait Gallery and Museum of American Art, located together across from Verizon Center; beautiful atrium for lunch; personal favorite!

  • Mount Vernon

  • Carlyle House

  • Gadsby’s Tavern

  • National Museum of the American Indian: This is a reading museum. The exhibits are very thoughtful and thought provoking, but there is not a lot of “stuff” to see. Another fine dining experience; you will appreciate how connected our foods are to the Native American heritage.

  • National Building Museum. Exhibit, Washington: Symbol and City

  • National Museum of African American History and Culture. This is a phenomenal resource. I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Like the National Museum of the American Indian, it provides much to think about. (And the restaurant is also awesome!)

• 1. Look for the history-ish opportunity wherever you are! Examples: Various War memorials in Alexandria and DC, World War II watch towers along Delaware Coast like at Cape Henlopen.

  2. Read! Any historical fiction or nonfiction will broaden your base for understanding our study of US history in 7th and 8th grades. You can also follow a current events topic.

  3. Movies: Many great movies can expose you to historical context or significant people in history. Do some searching and find a few that interest you.

Have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to studying the history of the United States with you!

Dear Rising 8th graders,

The following are opportunities for summer exploration. The items below ARE NOT required. In addition to not being required, the Social studies ideas ARE NOT extra credit assignments.

History (This is NOT required or for extra credit)

Reading

There is not required reading for History. I recommend that you do some nonfiction reading this summer that broadens your knowledge about something! Also, you should start following the news or increase the sophistication with which you do follow it.

• • If your family gets a newspaper delivered or has an online account with a newspaper, I recommend you look at it every day. If you parents watch the news I would also suggest sitting with them and learning more about world events. Find a general topic and start following it on a regular basis. You can “study” the economy, China, the Arts, discoveries in Science, Sports (not just scores, but commentary on sports and society), etc. With time, you will start to understand what you are reading and watching and you will become something of an expert in the area!

  • When watching or reading the news, be sure not to limit yourself to partisan cable news (FOX, MSNBC). Try a variety of news networks!

One of the great challenges you will face in being an educated citizen for democracy is choosing your information sources. You will need to start understanding what people mean when they use terms like “liberal, “conservative,” “partisan,” “left-leaning,” “far right,” etc. in dismissing and/or choosing their news sources. Your goal is to become a well-rounded and well-educated citizen, so look to lots of news sources for analysis!

Movies

Many great movies can expose you to historical context or significant people in history. Do some searching and find a few that interest you.

Have a great summer! I can’t wait to see you next year!