Newberry Middle School Social Studies Syllabus
Geography of World Regions
Teacher: Mrs. Myra Taylor
School Phone Number: 1-803-321-2640 Ext. 16715
Email Address: mtaylor@sdnc.org
Best Time to Contact: 11:30am-12:45pm
Website Address: www.newberrymiddleschool.org
I. DESCRIPTION OF COURSE
Seventh grade students will study Earth from a regional perspective, focusing on the continents. Students will study contemporary places and regions to identify how the experiences of people are rooted in places and organized into geographic regions. Students will learn about Earth’s physical conditions (e.g., climate, soils, vegetation) and how these features interact with Earth’s other living features. This course also focuses on human systems and the sum of human activities and characteristics (e.g., culture, ethnicity, gender, language, population, religion) that vary across the Earth’s surface. These systems also include the spatial distribution of population and the movement, settlement patterns, economic systems, and political systems. Students will explore the interactions between environment and society to learn how human activities modify Earth, how resources are used, and how physical systems, such as climate, present risks to humans. These regional conditions, both physical and cultural, create unique landscapes, an understanding of which lays the foundation for learning about connections to other peoples and places on Earth.
II. TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
-National Geographic textbook
III. 7TH GRADE UNITS OF STUDY
Introduction to Themes of Geography
Africa
Asia
Europe
Australia, Oceania and Antarctica
North America
South America
IV. SCHOOLOGY Schoology will be the learning management system for all School District of Newberry County students. This will allow parents and students to see the resources available for learning, keeping materials organized and easily accessible. This will also house documents, announcements, videos and allow teachers to assign and collect assignments. Power School is still the final source of grades for all students.
V. ASSESSMENTS
Throughout the year we will have tests (major grade) and projects (major grade). During the units we will also have quizzes (minor grade) and classwork assignments (minor grade).
VI. GRADING
The grading scale is as follows: Grades will be classified into three categories:
A (100-90) Major (50%)
B (89-80) Minor (40%)
C (79-70) Daily/Homework Effort (10%)
D (69-60)
F (Below 59)
VII. Missing Work / Late Work
If a student is absent on the day an assignment is due or a test is taken, a 0 will be entered until work is made up.
When absent, students will have 5 days upon return to turn in missing work to receive full credit.
Students are expected to make up work missed while they were absent. They will be given full credit for work done that satisfies the conditions of the district policy for make-up work. Immediately upon returning to school, the student must contact teachers concerning arrangements for making up work. A zero will be given for work that has been required by the teacher and has not met guidelines for make-up work.
After the student has been absent for three days, the parent/guardian may request make-up work by calling/emailing the Curriculum Coordinator, Kristina Cannon, to collect work from all teachers for the student.
When an absence occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to inquire about, complete, and return assignments. Students should expect to do more paperwork than those who were in attendance because it is necessary to make up for classroom experiences missed. The following is offered as a timeline for make-up work.
1 day absence 1 day after return to school
2 day absence 2 days after return to school
3 day absence 3 days after return to school
4 day absence 4 days after return to school
5 day absence 5 days after return to school
Students absent more than five (5) days must make arrangements with their teachers for making up the work missed within one week (5 school days) after their return to school. Late work guidelines also apply to make-up work when not completed in a timely manner.
When in-school suspension or discipline program assignments have been given a predetermined date, no extra days are given for make-up work. If students are absent on a predetermined due date, the material is due the day the student returns to school.
Late Work Policy
Major and Minor Assignments—all major and minor assessments will not be accepted after 5 consecutive school days after their due date. This includes but is not limited to: quizzes, presentations, projects, tests, daily assignments and essays. 10 points per day late will be deducted from the assignment for up to 5 days. If you are absent on the day of a project, test, quiz, or presentation, you will be expected to complete it/turn it in on the day of your return.
VIII. HOMEWORK
Students will need to use Schoology to access their daily assignments, these can also be downloaded prior to leaving school. A variety of assignment types will be used and may range from but are not limited to, extra practice on topics, tutorial videos, journaling, vocabulary work, and supplemental reading. Assignments in the homework category are graded for effort/completion and cannot be made up. If the student was absent when the assignment was made, it will be excused.
IX. RULES AND PROCEDURES
Students are to enter the classroom in a timely and orderly fashion going straight to their seat, get their agenda out and start on the bell work.
A hall/office pass will be issued when deemed necessary, but students must have to pass to leave the class.
The students will be required to be seated quietly and all trash off the floor before they are dismissed by the teacher.
Students should come to class with all their materials (books, pencils, binder, agenda, ID, and paper).
The dress code will be followed according to the handbook.
The students are expected to not interrupt the educational process for other students in the classroom.
The tardy policy will be followed according to the handbook.
X: Cheating/Plagiarism
-1st offense: Redo assignment, Parent Contact; 75 Maximum grade
-2nd offense: Redo assignment, Parent Contact; 50 Maximum Grade
-3rd offense: Parent Contact & Zero for assignment
