Social+Studies+-+Mrs.+O'Neil

Course information can be found on my Canvas page: https://kutztown.instructure.com

__** Unit 2 TEST ** - __ Date:

Study Guide: __On this test, students will be permitted to prepare the Study Guide as a "cheat sheet", just as they did for the first test. They will also be able to use their Climate Zone Summary from their notebook, as well as a textbook.__

__** The Middle East Unit: **__ __**UNIT QUESTION** - //What makes the Middle East a "region"?//__

__Students are working in teams to research a country in the Middle East. All the work is being done during class time, but there are some eager students who may want to bring in art supplies from home, or a food item, for their "visual aid". I expect presentations to start the week of December__ (unless it looks like we are wrapping up sooner) and the unit test will be on December ___ (unless, again, it looks like we are moving faster than planned). Students are already aware of (and should be preparing for) the "big ticket item" on the test - an essay which answers the Unit Question.__

__Test Study Guide and Essay Grading__

EXTRA CREDIT __- Any student wishing to memorize the Middle East map (countries and capitals) can take an extra credit map quiz. This opportunity will be available until the end of the unit.__


 * Quiz** __- a basic map skills quiz was given on November__ ___,__ using the Middle East map (rather than the World Map as previously). Students wishing to re-take this quiz will have until Friday, December ___, to make an appointment with me to retake it. THE RE-TAKE GRADE WILL BE THE FINAL GRADE THAT COUNTS.__

__**UNIT QUESTION** - (Geography Theme of Movement) - //How did Europeans during the Renaissance make contact with people in other places of the world and exchange ideas, information and products?//__
 * Europe Unit:**

__**EXTRA CREDIT** - Any student wishing to memorize the Europe map (countries and capitals) can take an extra credit map quiz. This opportunity will be available until the end of the unit.__

__**EUROPE Test** -. Students will be given a review packet on__. This packet will be the only thing they will be able to have with them when they take the test, so they should be sure to complete it and make corrections when we go over it in class. Students who come to class on __without the review packet completed will be excluded from the review session.__

__We have begun discussing the Olympic Project in class. This is an individual project and project folders containing all relevant information was handed out on **January**__. Our first days in the computer lab will be **January** __. Generally we will spend 2-3 days per week in the lab. Students who use their lab time wisely will have no problem completing this project entirely in school. This project will take us at least until through the end of February (weather is always a factor with this unit!).__
 * Europe - Olympic Project**__ : __

__//As of 1/26, we have spent 6 class sessions in the lab. Students should be almost done with their research questions. Those will be due on **February 6, 2017**. Most students have started drafting their essays. Essays must be done in a Google Doc which has been shared with me. We set those up in classes this week.//__

__//As of 2/15, we have spent 11 class sessions in the lab. Students should have made substantial progress on their essays, and started work on their brochures.//__

__//This project will be DUE ON **MARCH 15, 2017**, with an "early turn in" option (for extra credit) up until MARCH 6. At this point, the only way those dates will change is if we are actually not in school on the date. On 2/8/17, students were given a draft of the scoring guide for this project. A checklist for editing their essays was given out 2/15-2/16.//__

__// **UPDATE** - DUE TO THE WINTER WEATHER COMING - If school is closed on 3/14, the project AND the test study guide will still be due on 3/15, as scheduled. Even if we have a 2-hour delay on 3/15. That will keep our test on Thursday, 3/16. If school is closed on 3/14 and 3/15, the project and study guide will be due on 3/16, and the test will be Friday, 3/17 (and there will be no current events). //__

__3/20/17- We have begun our unit on Australia and Oceania. Most of the material in Ch 26 and Ch 27 in the textbook will be covered, as well as some additional material that I will provide. Our project for this unit centers around planning a trip to the region, with a fixed budget. Ask your child to tell you about this project! Again, I am giving ample class time to work on this so there should be minimal work that needs to be done at home. These projects should be complete somewhere around the end of April.__
 * Australia/Oceania ** **Unit**:

__Our test on Australia and Oceania will be on **Friday, April**__. The test will be open notebook! Projects will be due by **Thursday, April __**. Test study guide is here:

__ Latin America Unit __
Our test for the Latin America unit will be **Thursday, May** __. Students may use their Inca-Maya-Aztec chart, plus the study guide with any notes they may have written it.__

GEOGRAPHY BEE FINALISTS: __Congratulations to the following students for 2017:__ __Rylan Ebner - 2nd place__ __Grayson Ebner - SCHOOL WINNER!__ __Justin Ashman__ __Boone Webb__ __Grace Austin__ __Jacob Keller__ __Blake Nolte__ __Andrew Fleming__ __Griffin Maley__ __Abbie Wood__

__The Geography Bee will be held in the Commons on MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017 at 8:00 am. Parents are welcome!!__

WEBSITE RESOURCES:__

[|itouchmap.com] dir.yahoo.com/science/geography/cartography nationalgeographic.com wave.net/upg/immigration/flags theodora.com photius.com cultureconnect.com/facts lib.utexas.edu/libs/pcl/map geocities.com allclipartsite.com ciaworldfactbook.com historychannel.com info.er.usgs.gov/education/teacher atlapedia.com encarta.com worldflags101.com www.maptown.com worldatlas.com <span style="background-color: initial; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">flagspot.com

Fun YouTube link: []