Mrs. Sanford

Reading Projects!

We began work on our research projects this week, and they look AMAZING!  We still have 2 days to work on the computer, and the projects should be finished by WEDNESDAY.  There are three options to choose from, and two ways to present these projects.  You can do a powerpoint or a tri-fold display.  There is no set number of slides for the powerpoint.  Points will be deducted for cutting and pasting text.  

Here are the three options we discussed in class, and if you have interest in another idea-please remember to have it approved.

Download Tsunami project 

Social Studies Projects

Here is the powerpoint we used in class today to plan our projects.  Feel free to work on this project at home, and DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR FLASH DRIVES!

Download Asia geography standards

Week at a glance... February 23-27

Students in reading are working on their responses for The Killing Sea.  This response is due Tuesday, and is bases on a social studies standard.  We're looking at the lives of the characters of our book to see how the lives of the people are affected by the government.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we will begin our PROJECTS!  We will be working in the computer lab to do the research that will be the foundation for these projects.  We will be comparing governments, religions, and standards of living.  Students will have a choice of power points or display boards to share their projects with the class.  Because computer time is limited, everyone needs to be working and on-task for the three days we have scheduled in order to make these projects their BEST!

Social studies students have a review day on Monday, and a test on Tuesday.  Students will be able to use all their notes for this test.  Please bring all your notes Monday so we can get them in order. This test will focus on Africa's economics, religions, and ethnic groups.  Be ready to READ GRAPHS!!!!!!

On Wednesday we will begin our study of the geography of China.  We will unpack the standards, and begin project Wednesday.  Thursday and Friday we will begin power-point projects that focus on China's geographic features.

It's a VERY BUSY week! 

:)

Responses due Tuesday!

Students in reading should be finished with chapter in in our book today!  Most will have completed their responses before leaving school, but JUST IN CASE...

Download The Killing Sea 7 to 10

Enjoy the long weekend!

Unpacking the Standards!

Students in both

Reading

and Social Studies worked to ‘unpack’ the State Standards last week.  Social Studies students have a map and a list of  all the locations they should be able to place on a map of Africa, as well as key questions they should be able to answer about the economy of

Arica

.  They will quiz over this map in sections.  Please check agendas for dates!

 

Reading students ‘unpacked’ State Department of Education Standards that pertained to research.  Several of our activities with The Killing Sea will involve research of the tsunami of 2004.  Many of the students were already VERY familiar with the research terms that involved the computer from Mrs. Christy’s class!

 

We will also be reinforcing reading skills through our writing while we work with The Killing Sea.  I’m providing time in class to do this work, but I’m also loading the writing prompts on the blog for those who are unable to finish in class or absent.  The responses for chapters 1-3 were GREAT! 

 

Download The Killing Sea Chapter 3-6 responses

Update on Reading!

Reading students began The Killing Sea on Monday.  This is a Richard Lewis novel, based on the tsunami of 2004.  I'm thrilled that this book supports so many of the standards for 7th grade social studies as well as the reading curriculum.  I think students will enjoy this book a great deal.

Tuesday we read chapters 1-2 and had a choice of a response.

Download Killing Sea Chapter 1 and 2 Written Response Options

We also went over the terms of our reading contract.  This is not a new assignment, but the contract does reinforce the policies we've discussed in the past. This contract is due back signed for a grade.  I wanted to assure that all parents were aware of the assignment.

Download Reading Contract

30 minutes of silent reading a night for 5 nights each week seems to be a reasonable amount of homework.  For this reason, I will not make additional assignments for students to work on at home.  Students who are unable to finish classwork in class may still finish it at home without penalty.