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Mr. Rowan, Social Studies - B

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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

Social Studies Update Week of 12/11/2023

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
For the last week of school before break, students will have the chance to play each other's Types of Governments games. As students play each others games, they will be completing a checklist and feedback form. As students are playing their games, I will have the opportunity to observe and ask questions as I prepare the final grade for this project.
Please email with any questions and concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 12/4/2023

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
 
This week in Social Studies students will be completing their Types of Governments games. They will focus on the questions and answers they are incorporating into their game at the beginning of the week and then finishing their games by the end of the week.
 
We will have MAPS testing this week.
  • If your student has B Class they will be MAPS testing on Monday
  • If your student has D Class they will be MAPS testing on Friday
If you haven't done so already, make sure you sign up for Winter Conferences. You should have received a link from Mrs. Haworth on Friday.
 
Feel free to email with any questions or concerns.
 
Sincerely, 
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 11/13

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week we will begin our unit on Types of Governments. Students will complete a pre-assessment on the following topis:
  • What is Government?
  • What is the Purpose of Government?
  • Different Types of Governments including Democracy, Monarchy, Anarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy and  Autocracy
Students will then dive into the question of what is government and what the purpose of government is. We will then begin looking at the various types of governments, how they rule and how much say in these governments the citizens have.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely, 
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 11/6/23

Greeting 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
This week students will be completing their World Religion Museum Project. Students will meet in groups based on the religion they have chosen. They will work together to make sure the following are completed:
  • All artifacts are completed
  • Artifact proposal forms are completed
  • Posters for their religion are created
  • Layout of their museum display is created
You are invited to come visit our World Religion Museum this Thursday.
  • When: Thursday, November 9th
  • 7C: 9:30 - 10:00
  • 7D: 2:30 - 3:00
  • Where: Westgate in Mr. Rowan's room
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 10/29/23

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
Students began working on their World Religion Museum Project. Students have chosen a religion and did research on two different artifacts from that religion. From those two, they chose one to create for their museum and filled out a form about what supplies they would need to do this. I have gathered some supplies. Students are NOT expected to buy any supplies for this project, but if they have some at home they are free to bring those in. This week we will be working on creating our artifacts and the descriptions of their artifact that will be displayed together. Once this is done, students will form groups based on the religion they have chose and work together to crate their display. I will communicate with you the day we will have our museum in case you want to come to school and check it out.
Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 10/23/23

Greetings 7th Grade Families!
This week students will continue their work on World Religions. Students will use their notes to create posters where all students will get to add to each poster. Students will then begin work on the World Religions Museum project. In this project, students will chose a religion they want to know more about. After studying that religion, they will then choose an artifact that would represent that religion in museum. Students will work to design their artifact and write a description that explains how the artifact relates to their religion. We will then create a museum in the classroom where you and other students at Westgate can come and visit.
Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 10/16/23

Greetings 7th grade families!
As we begin the second quarter, students will begin by learning about the 5 major world religions: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Students will begin with a pre-assessment. Students will read and complete a TedEd Nearpod to get an introduction into these religions. We will complete a vocabulary sorting activity and then students will become experts in one of the five religions and then use that knowledge to teach and learn from others about the religion they focused on. Finally, students will practice their reading comprehension by completing short readings on each religion and answering questions.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/25/23

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
With this being the final week of the quarter, grades for this week's assignments will be entered in quarter four.
7th grade will finish their quarter by learning about papyrus plant and its many uses in Ancient Egyptian daily life, including making papyrus paper. We will then simulate making papyrus paper. Finally students will do some research on hieroglyphics and their meanings and add some hieroglyphics to their papyrus paper. 
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/18/23

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This is a big week at school as we get close to the end of Quarter 1. All late and missing work that was assigned within the last two weeks is due on Wednesday and grades for Quarter 2 will be finalized on Friday. It's important that together, you and your student monitor Infinite Campus weekly to check on assignment completion and their current grades. 
 
In Social Studies, students will be completing an Ancient Civilizations research project. Students can choose between Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, India or China. This project will be due on Thursday.
 
Students will do the following:
  1. Read about the different activities for each of the five civilizations. 
  2. Choose a civilization that interests you. 
  3. Make a choice and read what you are being asked to do. 
  4. Click on the link for the box you have chosen. 
  5. Complete the research and record your answers in this Word document. 
  • 0-1 boxes completed = 1 
  • 2-3 boxes completed = 2 
  • 4-6 boxes completed = 3 
  • 7-9 boxes completed = 4
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/18/23

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This is a big week at school as we get close to the end of Quarter 1. All late and missing work that was assigned within the last two weeks is due on Wednesday and grades for Quarter 2 will be finalized on Friday. It's important that together, you and your student monitor Infinite Campus weekly to check on assignment completion and their current grades. 
 
In Social Studies, students will be completing an Ancient Civilizations research project. Students can choose between Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, India or China. This project will be due on Thursday.
 
Students will do the following:
  1. Read about the different activities for each of the five civilizations. 
  2. Choose a civilization that interests you. 
  3. Make a choice and read what you are being asked to do. 
  4. Click on the link for the box you have chosen. 
  5. Complete the research and record your answers in this Word document. 
  • 0-1 boxes completed = 1 
  • 2-3 boxes completed = 2 
  • 4-6 boxes completed = 3 
  • 7-9 boxes completed = 4
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/11/2023

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This week, students will investigate the differences between primary and secondary sources. They will use this knowledge to analyze different sources that relate to Ancient Egypt to answer the following question: How did the Nile shape Ancient Egypt? Students will then learn about and simulate making papyrus paper.
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/4/2023

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This week students will finish their investigation of ancient Mesopotamia as students practice reading informational text, answering questions and taking a quiz. We will then learn about the ancient writing of Cuneiform and students will get to make their own Cuneiform tablet. Students will then participate in a mini-lesson on primary and secondary sources. Students will use this knowledge to examine ancient Egypt as they use these two types of sources.
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 8/28/23

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
Last week students finished up their civilization project where they used what they learned about  G.R.A.P.E.S. to create their own unique civilization with these characteristics. This week, students will take a quiz on G.R.A.P.E.S. We will then take a deep dive into Mesopotamia and learn about the Fertile Crescent and use G.R.A.P.E.S. to better understand the many developments that arose from this region. Students will also get a chance to create their own Cuneiform tablets out of clay.
 
Reminders:
Spirit Week 
Monday: Pajama Day
Tuesday: Throwback to an era
Wednesday: Crazy Hat Day
Thursday: Dress like favorite character from book, movie, TV, etc.
Friday: No school for teacher work day
 
No school the following Monday for Labor Day.
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 8/20/23

Greetings 7th Grade Social Studies Families!
Starting Wednesday, the students and I read, watched video clips and slides and discussed the Neolithic Revolution. This being the key development from hunting and gathering that directly led to the creation of civilizations we will be studying. Students will finish this on Monday and then we will learn about the acronym for the characteristics of civilizations called G.R.A.P.E.S. Students will have the opportunity to learn about geography, religion, achievements, politics, economy and society. Students will use these characteristics to better understand the ancient civilizations we study as well as the society and nation we live in today.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan