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Mr. Rowan, Social Studies - B

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Social Studies Update Week of 4/29/2024

Greetings 7th Grade Families,
 
This week students will finish their financial literacy unit by participating in the stock market challenge. Students will complete a Nearpod lesson about stocks and the stock market. They will then research different stocks, stock trends, etc. and use $10,000 to purchase stocks. Students will then track their stocks, buy and sell if they choose, and see if they have made or lost money at the end of the challenge. 
 
For their final project of the year, students will research a historical question explaining how some person, event, etc. from an ancient society influenced our world today. They will turn this into a mini presentation that students will share with each other in a "speed-dating" setting. This way students can present and learn about each other's research and findings. 
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
 
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 4/22/2024

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
 
This is the final week that students will be taking their CMAS tests. This week 7th graders will take their Math CMAS tests Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. We ask that students do their best to get a good amount of sleep each night, they have a good breakfast and are present at school during testing. We will rotate A/B and C/D classes in the afternoon to make sure that all sections meet an equal amount of time.
 

When students do meet for Social Studies, they will be working on their "Get a Life" project. Students should be done with their research and have their packets completed. The next stage of the project if for them to turn that information into a PowerPoint presentation. This PowerPoint should be completed by Friday. Once this project is completed, students will begin the Stock Market Challenge. 

Please email me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 4/14/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
 
The first three weeks back from April students will be taking their CMAS and Spring MAPS tests. This week 7th graders will take their ELA CMAS tests Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. We ask that students do their best to get a good amount of sleep each night, they have a good breakfast and are present at school during testing. We will rotate A/B and C/D classes in the afternoon to make sure that all sections meet an equal amount of time.
 

When students do meet for Social Studies, they will be working on their "Get a Life" project. Students chose one of the jobs from their career search and using the salary, average student loan amount for that career and some credit card debt, are calculating taxes, monthly income, and using their debt to income ration to figure out a budget. They will also look at the process and costs of buying a car and renting an apartment. 

Please email me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 4/8/2024

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
 
The first three weeks back from April students will be taking their CMAS and Spring MAPS tests. This week 7th graders will take their Reading and Math MAPS tests on Thursday and Friday morning.

We ask that students do their best to get a good amount of sleep each night, they have a good breakfast and are present at school during testing. 

When students do meet for Social Studies, they will be working on their "Get a Life" project. Students chose one of the jobs from their career search and using the salary, average student loan amount for that career and some credit card debt, are calculating taxes, monthly income, and using their debt to income ration to figure out a budget. They will also look at the process and costs of buying a car and renting an apartment. 

Please email me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 3/18/2024

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week students will continue their Financial Literacy Unit. This week students will learn about different careers. Students will then complete a survey which will direct them to different career clusters based on their answers. Students will then get to explore those career clusters to learn about different jobs in those clusters, education needed, pay, demand, fit, etc. Students will then pick a job and start learning about taxes.
Please email me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 3/11/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families,
This week students will begin their Financial Literacy unit. We will begin by introducing the concept of financial literacy and important vocabulary that students will need during this unit. We will do this by completing a Nearpod lesson. Students will then look at their interests, abilities and values as a way to narrow down what type of career they might enjoy. We will then explore different career clusters based off off their interests, abilities and values as well as a career inventory which they will complete online. 
I wanted to remind you that all 7th grade students will be going on a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Wednesday. Please pack them a sack lunch that does not need to be microwaved.
Don't hesitate to email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 3/4/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
 
No School Thursday and Friday
Students will have school Monday - Wednesday this week and will be off on Thursday and Friday for parent-teacher conferences.
 
This week students will take all they have learned about the conflict between Israel and Palestine and participate in a Socratic Seminar inner-outer circle fishbowl activity. One day they will be on the inside discussing the issues with half of their classmates. On the the other day, they will be on the outside circle where they will be taking notes on how their partner does during their partner's discussion time. On the third day, students will have a chance to reflect on their participation in the discussion. This will conclude our unit on the Middle East and the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely, 
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 2/26/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
I would like to remind everyone that we are coming to the end of the grading period for quarter three. Wednesday is the deadline to turn in any late or missing work and Friday grades will be entered. Students should be checking their Infinite Campus at least once a week on Fridays during Advocacy and communicating any late or missing work to you and a their strategy for getting this done. 
This week in Social Studies students will prepare and participate in a Socratic Seminar where they will discuss root causes and solutions for the five unresolved issues/barriers to peace between Israel and Palestine. Students will be given a biography of either a Israeli or Palestinian living and working in either Israel, Gaza or the West Bank. Students will read these biographies and complete a series of questions from the perspective of that person. This will prepare them for the Socratic Seminar where they will discuss these issues with their classmates from the point of view of the people they were given.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 2/19/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week students will be using all they have learned as they work in groups to understand and find solutions for 5 unresolved issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict. They will be looking at these issues in the context of finding a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The issues they will be analyzing are Final Borders, Jerusalem, Palestinian Refugees, Security, and Israeli Settlements.
Students will use this knowledge to prepare them for the United Nations summit simulation we will be having in class.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 2/12/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week we will continue our studies of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by analyzing video news stories about the history, people and current conditions in Gaza. Students will get to analyze sources from different perspectives, identify the main idea and judge the trustworthiness of the news story.
The next activity will involve students working in groups using historical, precipitation, soil fertility, population centers (including settlements), and water resources to divide Israel and Palestine into two separate countries.
Please email with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan 

Social Studies Update Week of 2/5/24

Greeting 7th Grade Families,
This week students will review for a quiz on the history of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. We will review on Monday and students will take the quiz on Tuesday. We will then start looking at various issues in the West Bank and Gaza from multiple perspectives. Students will read news articles and watch YouTube videos about settlements in the West Bank and life in the Gaza strip. They will evaluate the different sources/perspectives and draw conclusions about life in these areas. 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 1/29/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week in Social Studies we will begin looking at the history of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Students will be watching a video and taking notes and using that information to complete a timeline activity. Students will then begin learning about the unresolved issues of this conflict from both perspectives and then work to create a solution for these issues.
Please email with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 1/22/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week, students will finish presenting and taking notes on the different Middle Eastern countries they have researched. They will then complete an assignment on conflict and cooperation where they learn the conditions, motivations and actions of different examples from history of times when countries cooperated or were at conflict. We will then begin discussing and taking notes on the history of conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 1/16/24

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week, students will be creating their Bibliography in MLA format using Easybib as a tool to create these citations. We will also be going over the Dos and Don'ts of a good presentation with students getting some time to practice their presentations. I recommend that you ask your student to show you their Middle East Country presentation and have them present it to you at home. The rest of the week will be spent presenting and taking notes on these different Middle Eastern countries.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 1/8/2024

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
Students will begin with a focus on the geography of the Middle East. They will each be responsible for researching and creating PowerPoint presentations about one country from the Middle East. They will present these to the class when finished so we can all take notes and learn about each country. Giving students some historical perspective on the region can equip them with the knowledge to understand the current events of today.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. rowan