This class covers ancient cultures and civilizations beginning with early cultures in Africa and Mesopotamia (Middle East). From Mesopotamia, the course continues and covers ancient world history in the Eastern Hemisphere through many different civilizations, including:
Mesopotamia -- Egypt -- Western Africa -- India -- China
Greece -- Rome -- Middle Ages
Social Studies encourages students to think, to wonder and to be creative as we apply the following history skills to the topics we will be studying this year:
Sequencing -- Cause/Effect -- Analysis -- Application
Evaluation -- Synthesis -- Inference -- Compare/Contrast
Summarization -- Explanation -- Identification -- Examination
Prediction -- Interpretation -- Reflection -- Description -- Support
Draw Conclusion
We not only utilize the above skills while we study Ancient World History, but we also incorporate and draw inspiration from historical stories that provide examples of important character traits. Many of the traits that we can learn from involve:
Courage -- Honor -- Bravery -- Dedication
Sacrifice -- Responsibility -- Generosity
Perseverance
Along with those incredibly valuable life skills, the overall importance of Social Studies cannot be overstated since each grade level class of history helps move a student further along the path of becoming a well-informed, participating and helpful citizen of our country and our world.
Differences between Advanced Studies and Regular Eastern Hemisphere
The advanced and regular classes both study the same key topics listed above, however students in the advanced class can expect a deeper study of those topics as well as assignments that require more critical thinking. Students in the advanced class should have strong reading and writing skills and a willingness to participate in class discussions by offering opinions, observations and comments on the topics we study. Students in the advanced class do not necessarily have more homework than the regular classes, however this homework will definitely require higher levels of critical thinking, creativity and the history skills listed above.
Grading Policy
With the district's 1-1 chromebook program, students and parents are encouraged to check the online grade report weekly.
Grades in class will follow the following breakdown:
Retake Policy
Students who score below an 85% on an assignment, quiz or test can retake that assignment/quiz/test, however, the maximum score they can achieve on a retake is 85%. Retakes can only be completed within the same quarter that the original assignment, quiz or test was given.