6th Social Studies

6th Grade Social Studies

Andy Nelson

Middle School Social Studies

Woods Charter School

2011 - 2012

 

Welcome to 6th grade social studies!  This handout will inform you of the content we will cover this year, general guidelines on homework and grading, necessary materials, and important contact information.

 

Curriculum

 

This year, we will be covering the following topics (in accordance with the Core Knowledge structure and the NC Standard Course of Study):

            1st Trimester:  5 Themes of Geography & Deserts

                                Ancient Civilizations (Greece)

            2nd Trimester: Ancient Civilization cont. (Rome)

The Enlightenment

            3rd Trimester: The French Revolution & Romanticism

                                European Industrialism 

 

Homework

 

In 6th grade, homework will not be assigned every night.  Usually, I will assign homework 2 nights per week, and the assignments may consist of reading from the textbook or handout and/or writing a brief reflection on a topic covered in class.  Students will typically spend about 20 minutes on the assignments when they are given.  If any problem or concern about homework arises over the course of the year, please contact me, and we will discuss the issue(s).

 

Grading Policy

 

Grades will be determined in the following manner (on a trimester basis):

            25% - Tests

            25% - Projects

            20% - Quizzes

            15% - Homework/Class Work

            15% - Journals & Class Participation

 

Additionally, the grading scale as listed in the Woods Charter School handbook is:

 

97-100 = A+       87-89 = B+        77-79 = C+        67-69 = D+         59 or below = F

93-96   = A         83-86 = B           73-76 = C          63-66 = D

90-92   = A-        80-82 = B-         70-72 = C-         60-62 = D-

 

Materials

 

Each day, I would like for students to come to class with the following materials:

            -3-ring binder (1 ½ or 2 inches)

            -Loose leaf paper for notes

            -5 dividers (we will label these in class together)

            -Pens and/or pencils

            -Composition notebook

Please let me know if you have any difficulty in obtaining these materials.  I will work with the students on organizing their notebooks and keeping them organized throughout the year.

 

Contact Info

 

If you would like to contact me for any reason, please do not hesitate to do so!  I can be reached:

 

-by email at anelson@woodscharter.org, (preferred) or

-by phone at (919) 960-8353 ext. 219 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 

 

We can also schedule face-to-face conferences if necessary.  Again, do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any concerns at all about your child; I will return all phone calls and emails as soon as possible

 

Thank you!

 

I am very excited about this coming school year at Woods Charter School and am looking forward to working with you and your child!  I hope to make this a fun, exciting, and interesting year for them in social studies as we explore more about the dynamic and complex world we live in, and the ideas and events that have shaped societies for millennia!

 

Geography Links on Deserts:

http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/chihuahuandesert/
http://wwfmaps.org/?zone=chihuahua
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0629_050629_dunes.html
http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian-desert-animals.html
http://www.saharaconservation.org/
http://www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org/
http://www.livescience.com/environment/desert-plants-global-warming-bts-100402.html
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1303_full.html