Mr. Lefort
Room 2140
6th Grade Social Studies at Broad Rock focuses on World Studies while focusing on the 5 Social Studies Standards of: History, Geography, Culture, Economics, and Civics. The first quarter of the year is dedicated to exploring each standard...then we'll apply them to three different parts of the world.
The purpose of this class is for all students to develop a deep, rich network of understandings related to the world around them.
The objectives included in this class deal with history, geography, economics, culture, and civics from a diverse, global perspective.
Students engage in projects and activities that require them to apply social studies skills in real-world contexts.
Students also need to have a 3-ring binder (which will stay in the classroom) and a 2-pocket folder, which will travel home for homework. I do have some extra binders available if need be.
Students will use a mixture of online sources and text books for our studies throughout the year. While online research and resources provide a much wider variety and more in depth information at times, I am cognizant of the need to vary student approaches and to ensure that learning while "unplugged" is catered to, developed, and strengthened.
Students will share text books with students from other classes so text books will not be taken home. Additionally, handouts and worksheets will stay in students' binders, which will stay in the classroom as well. The exception is if handouts or worksheets are needed for homework...in that case they should be transferred to the 2-pocket folder that exists for that purpose.
Quarterly grades will be a ratio of points earned out of total points possible. Each assessment, whether it is a quick check in at the end of class, or an essay we spend weeks on, will all be worth a set amount of points that will all be totaled together. In general, point values will increase with the demand/rigor of each task.
You can expect about 250 points per quarter, although this will vary throughout the year.
Major Assessments: (50-150 points)
--Tests, Essays, Large Projects, ...
Minor Assessments: (5-50 points)
--Quizzes, Ticket Out the Door, Formative Check Ins, …
It is also important that students are aware that "how" they learn will be assessed via Learner Qualities, which will appear on Quarterly Report Cards. Students will be assessed on the skills that we want to see them develop in their journey to be lifelong learners:
There are a couple big picture ideas or principles that we will focus on throughout the year under the umbrella of "LEARNING HOW WE LEARN AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE THINK". It is important to me that students focus on their process rather than the results/grades. Throughout the year we'll continually analyze and make connections to the following big ideas: