6th Grade Social Studies ended their Fertile Crescent Unit learning about Mesopotamia and the beginnings of civilization. In class, students explored various  Empires like the Akkadians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Classes debated and analyzed King Hammurabi's "Eye for Eye laws". Students were also introduced to GRAPES factors of Social Studies. Currently, 6th Grade Students are exploring World Religions Moving into 3rd Quarter, students will be learning about Ancient Egypt and the neighboring empires. They will learn more about irrigation, taxes, and dynasties.  

In our upcoming unit, we will determine how the Continental Army could win the war for independence against Great Britain. First, students will be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of both the Americans and the British during the Revolution. Then they will identify key details, points of view, and opposing bias on primary documents and visual sources, such as the famous painting called Washington Crossing the Delaware. The 2004 feature film National Treasure lends itself greatly to this unit. By viewing this film, students will deepen their understanding of the importance of and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence. 

In 8th Grade Social Studies, students just finished their Roaring 20's and Great Depression Unit. Students learned about the prosperous times of the 1920's and how it all came crashing down when the stock market crashed. We then learned about the hard times during the Great Depression and how FDR's New Deal programs helped the country recover. When we return from winter break, we will be starting our World War II Unit!