Friday, March 10, 2017 This week, we completed our study of Ancient India. As we wrapped up this unit, we began discussing the question, "What role did religion play in ancient civilizations?"
This will prepare us to begin our study of world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Friday, February 24, 2017 This week, students completed two source analyses that focused on the Great Wall of China and answered the question: Did the benefits outweigh the costs? This will complete our study of Ancient China.
Next week, we will spend some time learning about the origins of Ancient India and the civilization in the Indus river valley. From there, we will begin our study of world religions.
Friday, February 10, 2017 We wrapped up our unit on Ancient Egypt with a venn diagram comparing Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. You will have a chance to see some of these beautiful venn diagrams in the hallway if you come for Parent Teacher Conferences!
This week, we began our study of Ancient China. We will continue next week with an in-depth look at the many dynasties of Ancient China and the building of the Great Wall.
Friday, January 27, 2017 This past week, students have begun learning about Ancient Egypt. We have watched videos, analyzed articles, and taken notes about everything that makes the Egyptian civilization unique.
As a final project, students will construct a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.
Friday, January 13, 2017 This week in Social Studies, students have spent the majority of the time in Writing Workshop. This means that students have been organizing, drafting, writing, and revising their essays for our Hammurabi's Code unit. Most of this writing work should be done in class and final essays are due next week.
Our next unit will focus on the civilizations in Ancient Egypt. Throughout this unit, we will compare and contrast the civilizations of Ancient Egypt with the civilizations of Ancient Mesopotamia.
Friday, December 16, 2016
We have spent the past several weeks analyzing historical documents of Hammurabi's Code in depth. The students have been very passionate in their conversations about how just or unjust Hammurabi's laws might be!
In the coming weeks, students will be using all of their documents, analysis, and discussions to organize and write their first full-length Social Studies essay. This will be a five paragraph argument essay answering the question: Hammurabi's Code: Was it Just?
Friday, December 2, 2016 We have officially started Term 2 of 6th grade!
Students began a DBQ this week. This is a Document Based Question in which students use primary and secondary sources to answer an essential question. For this DBQ, students will use evidence to answer the question Hammurabi's Code: Was it Just?
We began by analyzing the idea of justice and how it applies to the lawbreaker, the victim, and society.
Thursday, November 10, 2016 We spent this week wrapping up our work with Pre-history. Beginning next week, we will discuss the six key aspects of a civilization and begin our study of civilizations with Mesopotamia.
We also took time in class this week to process the results of the election. We focused our discussion on what we can learn from this election and what we can take away from this election cycle as a whole. We also discussed how this election will inform our words and actions in the future.
Friday, October 28, 2016
This week, students wrapped up their research of early hominids. We compiled our research into a chart in order to see the progression of each species and how it is believed we evolved into what we are today!
Next week, we will continue to study the early building blocks of civilizations. Also, we will discuss how to build an argument and write our first argumentative piece answering the question: "Who would win in a fight: A modern human or a neanderthal?"
Friday, October 14, 2016
For the past two weeks, we have been discussing Pre-History and different theories of how human life began. Students finished watching a documentary on "Ardi" (short for Ardipithecus Ramidus), the oldest known hominid (human ancestor).
Beginning next week, students will be working with a group to research a different human species and gather information about that species to share with the class.
Friday, September 30, 2016
This week, we finished our read aloud of Towers Falling. We spent time reflecting on what we had read together and then wrote personal responses answering the question: How does the past impact the present and the future?
Beginning next week, students will begin learning about Pre-History. We will discuss theories of how humans came in to existence and the importance of discoveries of early hominids such as Lucy and Ardi.
Friday, September 16, 2016 We are continuing our read aloud of Towers Falling By: Jewell Parker Rhodes this week. We hope to finish the book next week and spend time using our reading to answer the question: How does the past impact the present and the future?
Students finished their World Map Quiz this week! Students will continue to work on building foundational skills such as the basics of timelines, primary vs. secondary sources, and historian vocabulary.
Friday, September 2, 2016 We survived our first full week of 6th grade! We started this week off by drawing a map of the world from memory! Students will continue to work with maps as we prepare to study ancient civilizations. We have also been reading aloud Towers Falling By: Jewell Parker Rhodes. This story focuses on a 5th grade class in New York and their struggle to grasp the importance of the events on September 11th and how it affects them.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Welcome to 6th grade! Check back on this page throughout the year for biweekly updates about what is going on in our classroom. Click on the homework tab to stay up-to-date on assignments and feel free to contact Ms. Gillaspie with questions or concerns.