Friday 11.30

Good Morning,

Let's share our Sub-Saharan Africa stories with a neighbor.
After please grab a book, open to p. 143 read and complete Writing #7. Once you have that complete turn to p. 148 and complete Writing #1.

Finish for homework.

Wednesday 11.28

Hey 7th grade,

I'm really excited to watch The National Geographic Africa Desert Odyssey with you today. Literally it is one of my favorite videos for the entire year. The story is about a young Tuareg who is on his first journey with the men of the tribe.
While watching we'll pause, discuss and take some notes. So please  have your IN out and ready.
More info on the Tuareg people: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg_people

Follow up writing assignment: 1)Summarize the film in 5 complete sentences (not too long, not too short). 2) Write: If you were on the tuareg trip, what would it be like for you?

Links the videos:
Part 1:https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0KFq1x1cZRWY0lfSG5kaUk3bHM
Part 2:https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0KFq1x1cZRWNTBSZmtRcU5Kb0k
Part 3: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0KFq1x1cZRWeFZxdGMxZ1EtMWc
Part4: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0KFq1x1cZRWWHRCZDdHYkVrdXc

Love the video like me you can buy it here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/about/episode2.html

11.20 Tuesday

Happy last school day before Thanksgiving!

We will take the Islam test today. You are welcome to use your Cornell Notes during the test.

Monday 11.19

Good Morning,

We will review and share our Islam notes. Be sure to add and change your notes to include what you are missing.
You will have a test on Islam tomorrow. It'll be a lot like the practice test.
If we have time we can watch more Empires: Islam part 1
Empires: Islam part 2

Friday 11.16

We need to review and correct our Islam pretests.
If we have time we can watch Empires: Islam.

Happy end of the week!

Wednesday 11.14 -Islam and the Inspiration Wall

Good Morning,

We are continuing our efforts to learn Islam. By now you have studied 2 learning goals for Islam with your groups. Each group will use sticky notes to populate the Islam inspiration wall -see pic

Today's Requirements:
Make Cornell Notes using the information posted on the Inspiration wall.
Use the left page to draw several representations of the information.
Prepare for your Islam test, Tuesday 11-20-12 last day before Thanksgiving break.

So how do we start?
Turn your existing notes on Islam into sticky notes.
Post your sticky notes in the appropriate area on the Inspiration wall.
Make notes on the rest of the topics you did not explore in your group.
Use the left page in your IN to design several representations of the information.
Prepare for your test.

HOMEWORK: If you did not already finish the Cornell Notes and the left side drawings. Also use the book to answer the questions on the Islam practice test.

Our learning goals while studying Islam:
Explain the beginning of Islam
Explain the life and teaching of Muhammad
Explain the connection between Islam and Christianity
Understand why are the Quran and Sunnah significant, and how they affect Muslims' daily life.
Describe the geographic location of the spread of Islam. (hint: it starts on the Arabian Peninsula)
Explain the Muslim military conquests.
Understand the impact of trade and trade routes.
Understand Muslim scholar accomplishments.

Tuesday 11.3

Good Morning,

First you'll present your Islam project you finished from last week.
Next we'll watch and discuss Islam.

Islam -end of first Sprint

Hey campers,

The end of your first sprint is today!
We'll have a quick stand up meeting with each group.
You need to have both learning goals complete today.


As a reminder I've pasted Wednesday's blog below:
Our learning goals while studying Islam:
Explain the beginning of Islam
Explain the life and teaching of Muhammad
Explain the connection between Islam and Christianity
Understand why are the Quran and Sunnah significant, and how they affect Muslims' daily life.
Describe the geographic location of the spread of Islam. (hint: it starts on the Arabian Peninsula)
Explain the Muslim military conquests.
Understand the impact of trade and trade routes.
Understand Muslim scholar accomplishments.

In your groups of 3 discuss how you are going to address each of the educational goals listed above. 
Requirements:
Evidence of exploring the information in the form of Cornell Notes or other methods (schoodling, etc.)
Make something -may be small to represent the learning goal. This could be a drawing, poster, animation, movie, journal, essay, clay model, presentation, play, puppet show and much more.
Everyone in the group agrees to work towards accomplishing the learning goals listed above.

So how do we start?
In your groups of 3 decide which Learning Goals you will start with.
Using the scrum board in the back select 1 learning goal above and break it down to small tasks. Tasks are the small items that you will work on to meet the learning goal.
For example: Learning Goal- "Explain the Life and Teaching of Muhammad"
Tasks- 1)research by reading through the textbook section, 2)research using wikipedia, 3)make cornell notes on research in IN, 4)decide what you are going to make (poster, animation, drawing, etc.), 5)Get materials you need to make your #4

By the end of today you will need to have 2 Learning Goals complete.

Wednesday 11.7 Islam meet Scrum, Scrum meet Islam

Good Morning,

We are going to investigate the beginnings of Islam. What is Islam you say. Well that's exactly what we are going to discover.

Our learning goals while studying Islam:
Explain the beginning of Islam
Explain the life and teaching of Muhammad
Explain the connection between Islam and Christianity
Understand why are the Quran and Sunnah significant, and how they affect Muslims' daily life.
Describe the geographic location of the spread of Islam. (hint: it starts on the Arabian Peninsula)
Explain the Muslim military conquests.
Understand the impact of trade and trade routes.
Understand Muslim scholar accomplishments.

In your groups of 3 discuss how you are going to address each of the educational goals listed above. 
Requirements:
Evidence of exploring the information in the form of Cornell Notes or other methods (schoodling, etc.)
Make something -may be small to represent the learning goal. This could be a drawing, poster, animation, movie, journal, essay, clay model, presentation, play, puppet show and much more.
Everyone in the group agrees to work towards accomplishing the learning goals listed above.

So how do we start?
In your groups of 3 decide which Learning Goals you will start with.
Using the scrum board in the back select 1 learning goal above and break it down to small tasks. Tasks are the small items that you will work on to meet the learning goal.
For example: Learning Goal- "Explain the Life and Teaching of Muhammad"
Tasks- 1)research by reading through the textbook section, 2)research using wikipedia, 3)make cornell notes on research in IN, 4)decide what you are going to make (poster, animation, drawing, etc.), 5)Get materials you need to make your #4

By the end of today you will need to have 2 Learning Goals complete.

Tuesday 11.6 Geography and Civilizations

Good Morning,

Let's work on some geography. 
Use different colors to identify the borders of the following civilizations:

1.  Rome
2. Byzantine Empire
3. Islam
4. Sub-Saharan Africa
5. Maya
6. Inca
7. Aztec
8. Medieval China
9. Medieval Japan

You'll find a good starting place in the 7th grade textbook.
We'll use this map: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&ved=0CEgQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eduplace.com%2Fss%2Fmaps%2Fpdf%2Fworld_country.pdf&ei=XDeZUIy6Ns7xigL90oG4DQ&usg=AFQjCNGAVz2HAKRxld6RvMJJ-oHyN13BYA

On the back of the map:
For each civilization describe 2 significant things they are known for.
Draw a few examples on the back as well.

Monday 11.5

A Happy Monday To You!

1. Let's take a look at http://www.myhistro.com/story/the-byzantine-empire/14538
2. After we look at the map finish your study island from last week. You need to complete: 1)The Pretest, 2)The Fall of Rome and 3)The Byzantine Empire
3. Continue taking the tests until you get the grade you want.

Friday 11.2

Good Friday to you,

First let's go to StudyIsland.com and take the pretest, Rome and Byzantine. I suggest having the lessons open during the Rome and Byzantine tests.
Next, we'll watch a little more of the Engineering an Empire: Byzantium