Grade+6



** THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE

February 25, 2010- Big Ideas Work in pairs together to list the big ideas that we teach in each of our units. Use the core curriculum, materials, or each other to brainstorm.

Group 1- Unit 1 Geography & Neolithic Amy & Kim ** Group 2- Unit 2- Mesopotamia/Unit 3 Egypt Pat Marlene **** Group 3- Ancient Greece Shaunee Scott Group 4- Ancient Rome Bonnie Cindy Group 5- Middle Ages Michelle Mike B.
 * ** How did humans evolve from hunter/gatherers to being farmers? **
 * ** How did improvements in technology affect the lives of early humans? **
 * ** Complex cultures were able to develop because people were able to use the natural resources available to adapt to their environments. **

UNITS- Neolithic/Geography **
 * ** How does geography affect civilizations? **
 * ** Major turning points **
 * ** How civilizations evolved (advanced) **
 * ** Trade **
 * ** Political Systems **
 * ** Religion **

River Valley Civilizations ** Mediterranean Empires **
 * ** Why did early humans migrate? **
 * ** How did humans evolve from hunter/gatherers to being farmers? **
 * ** How did improvements in technology affect the lives of early humans? **
 * ** Complex cultures were able to develop because people were able to use the natural resources available to adapt to their environments. **
 * ** How does geography affect civilizations? **
 * ** Major turning points... **
 * ** How civilizations evolved (advanced) **
 * ** Trade **
 * ** Political Systems **
 * ** Religion **
 * ** How do civilizations survive? **
 * ** How do civilizations evolve? **

Middle Ages ** Social Studies Text
 * ** How does technology effect and help the development of civilizations? **
 * ** How do the people of a civilization use geography to their advantage? **
 * ** What goods and services help civilizations survive? **
 * ** How does the culture of civilizations change over time? Why? **
 * ** How do cultures contribute to the development of civilizations? **
 * ** What contributes to the growth and decline of empires? **
 * ** What were the major achievements of the Renaissance (literature, music, art, and architecture)? **
 * ** How did life change for Europeans during the Middle Ages? **
 * ** What was the Magna Carta and what were the reasons for creating it? **
 * ** Why did trade routes emerge linking Africa, Asia, and Europe? **
 * ** How did towns develop during the Middle Ages? **

Leveled Readers Two Day- Workshop Training Three Days in the Summer (3) History Walk Reading A-Z **

[]
 * __Grade 6 Resource Review- January 27, 2010__**
 * As we share information about the resources and experiences with them in your classroom, it is important to keep in mind that the decision to purchase a "resource" series will be based on our findings of the survey and your input. Please be sure to review the links below and add some essential questions in regards at the bottom of this page. I will send out a few more ideas and ask for your input over the next couple of weeks. By participating in the discussion on this wiki, you will fulfill your three hours for ARO.

__Potential Resources__ Please be sure to look at all the parts and pieces that come with each series. I am particularly interested in the Macmillan/McGraw- [] Harcort.htmurt- []**

media type="file" key="3.swf" width="106" height="77"


 * Please take the following survey- indicate in a comment box for question 1 which series you are referring to when answering the survey.**
 * __Click here to take survey__**

__**Essential Questions:**__
 * How have the key geographic and environmental characteristics of nations and regions in the Western Hemisphere affected the history, economies, and cultures of Eastern Hemisphere nations?
 * What are the common characteristics of the great civilizations of the Eastern Hemisphere? What have they contributed to the world?
 * How have Eastern Hemisphere nations organized their economies across time and from place to place to meet their needs and wants?
 * What changes have taken place across time and from place to place in the governments of the Eastern Hemisphere?
 * What is meant by human rights? How do the values of a nation affect the guarantee of human rights and how human needs are met?
 * What comparisons can be made between Eastern and Western Hemisphere nations in terms of their economies, history, geography,and govenments, as well as the challenges they face in the 21st century?
 * How are nations in the Eastern Hemisphere interdependent today?

P Miceli I looked at this website - ||
 * = **Harcourt** ||= **Macmillan/MacGraw-Hill** ||
 * = P Miceli I looked at this website ||= I had the chance to look at this website

__ **Comments/Questions**: __ If you have any comments or questions on the series that you have some experience with please post them here so we can have conversation about what will best fit our needs.

I had a chance to play around on the website - MacGraw-Hill I really like the leveled readers - there are quizes after each lesson - the vocabulary games would benefit my low readers -

I've used the BIG ideas CD before teaching - the one with Otzi - I think it peaked my student appetite to learn more about it -

I like the Harcourt text for it is substantive with respect to teacher and student materials. The comprehensive nature of this text permits picking and choosing for more effective teaching. Moreover, the Big Idea is a fine teaching tool. It is an excellent reminder of the focus of the lesson and could be used as a bulletin board idea or a basis for student bullet points in notes. The time lines, maps, and graphic organizers are also useful. The questions at the end of the lesson are clear, concise and to the point. The material covers the required NYS 6th Grade curriculum areas and it clearly focuses on the major turning points of the ancient cultures of the Eastern Hemisphere. P Miceli 2-9-10

**__Grade 6 Dialogue Day- September 28, 2009 Goal/Purpose__**

Notes: Both series were a bit watered down. Less vocabulary, do they need the long list? Unit I- Geography & Neolithic- farming
 * ** 8:30 am- 9:30 am- Where have we been in our process/mapping/assessments? **
 * ** 9:30 am- 10:15 am- What is our criteria for selecting a textbook series? **
 * ** 10:15 am- 10:30 am- Break **
 * ** 10:30 am- 11:30 am- Revise Units using resources available through companies **
 * ** 11:30 am- 12:30 pm- Lunch **
 * ** 12:30 pm- 1:45 pm- Continue unit revisions **
 * ** 1:45 pm- 3:00 pm- Share units of study that incorporate ela standards **
 * ** 3:00 pm- 3:30 pm- Plan next steps **

Unit 1
 * __July 13, 2009

Grade 6 Dialogue Day- April 29, 2009__** Goal/Purpose of the Meeting 7:45 am– 8:00 am Morning refreshments 8:00 am – 9:30 am Grade 6, 7 & 8 dialogue- share curriculum 9:30 am – 9:45 am Break 9:45 am – 10:30 am Review and revise essential social studies maps 10:30 am –11:30 am Vendor presentation of social studies literature 11:30 am- 12:30 pm **Lunch (on your own)** 12:30 pm –1:45 pm 6th grade unit test review/revise 1:45 pm-2:15 pm Share Best Practices 2:15 pm-3:00 pm Skype session with Egypt
 * Review/Update Social Studies Essential Maps; share best practices
 * Vendor presentation/Discuss potential text for pilot in ‘09-‘10
 * Review and revise unit tests
 * Have a dialogue with Egypt- teacher shares
 * __Meeting Agenda__**

Resources: [] [] [] [|t4.jordank12] [] [] []

Middle School Teachers share first Brainstorm plus/minus- what are you seeing with incoming 7th graders? What would you like to see more of?
 * 1) Share 5th grade/Global/US History data
 * 2) Discuss district changes
 * 3) Group discussions
 * 6th Grade List of commonalities that transcend all cultures
 * How to use information without giving an opinion
 * Geography
 * What do 7th grade teachers expect within maps
 * Organizational options (binders?) Are there differences on the teams (Raeann Zimmerman
 * Grade levels use binders
 * Paper
 * How can our content support their content


 * Geography is lacking (reason)
 * Old immigrants and new immigrants (directional)
 * Graphs/charts assumed
 * Appreciate the strong back ground in their background
 * Knowledge is overwhelming for age groups
 * Appreciative of the background knowledge
 * Less pocket knowledge and more general knowledge is appreciated
 * Better prepared for research and reading
 * Behavior is much better

Elementary Teachers What are you doing to prepare students for the middle school? What Questions do you have for your middle school colleagues?
 * 1 1/2 binders are used- sectioned off
 * Chronological order binder
 * JOB Just One Binder (4")
 * Geo. of early civ. Why people came here to this to this continent- who settled
 * Religion being a reason people came over