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August 27, 2006
As you study for your first test in Social Studies, use your "Essential Questions" prompts to review.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY:
How do the five themes of geography help us understand the regions we study (Define the five themes as you answer your question.)
Imagine the world without longitude and latitude! How does the use of this grid system assist us in everyday life?
How do maps assist us in interpreting information about a country? In your answer, identify five different types of maps:
How do different projections of maps assist us?
What factors influence climate?
What are the components of culture?
What framework is used by cultural geographers to reach conclusions about life in all areas of the world?
What questions can be asked to determine information about a country’s government?
What are the three basic economic questions?
Posted by Glenn at 05:57 PM
TUESDAY:
Social Studies test Friday on Chapter 24. Study your Chapter Review for assistance. This is an easier, standardized test with matching vocabulary. Pay special attention to the section in your text on Great Circle Routes.
Today students will participate in a play on the Indus Valley civilization,and complete a population analysis of China.
WEDNESDAY: DEAR.
Homework: Monsoon article and visual organizer. We'll review all the work that was begun when I was out-Physical Features, the Indian Subcontinent, Population Analysis and other geographic aspects of Asia.
THURSDAY: Today we're exploring Asian Geography through Google Earth. It's downloadable to most updated computers (2-4) years old if you want to try it at home! We were able to fly to Beijing,Hong Kong,Tokyo, Mount Everest, the Philippine, India and more today as we took a birds eye view of the Asia landscape.
We'll review for Friday's test. Physical and political maps of Asia are assigned and due next Monday. We'll have a test on the physical map next Wednesday,the political map next Friday.
FRIDAY: Students will take the Chapter 24 Test. In groups,they'll examine climagraphs of the different areas of Southeast Asia and reach some conclusions about the varying climates in Asia.
Posted by Glenn at 05:04 PM
MONDAY: Review for Wednesday's TEST on basic geography. Please note:
Pages 4-5 Five Themes of Geography. Use your notes to name the five themes and their two-three components. You will also be required to provide an example of one of the components.
Pages 5-8 Globes. Know vocabulary in blue.
Pages 9-11 Maps. Know vocabulary in blue
Pages 12-15 Name five types of maps and explain their use.
Pages 22-27 Physical Geography. Understand environment, identify three climate zones and describe, know vocabulary.
Pages 28-29 Cultural Geography. Be ready to explain how you can understand government of a country by asking four questions. List the three basic economic questions. What comprises a culture? What is an ethnic group? List the eight cultural regions of the world and explain how geographers compare and contrast these different regions in order to understand them.
Students should use their Chapter Review, notes on PowerPoints, and page 32 in the text as study guides. The Review on page 33 will also be helpful.
TUESDAY: We'll play games and have study time for Wednesday's test.
Don't forget, OPEN HOUSE tonight at 6:30. Parents only.
WEDNESDAY: GEOGRAPHY TEST and DEAR.
THURSDAY: We'll begin Chapter 24, The Physical Geography of Southeast Asia, pages 481-503. Students will take notes using a Chapter Review as we do for each chapter we study. This will be finished for homework.
FRIDAY: I am out for medical reasons until Wednesday. The substitute will go over the Chapter Review answers with the students.
In partners,students will examine graphs and charts and complete a visual organizer about the various features of the Indian subcontinent. They will next examine a physical map of Asia and identify landforms, rivers, bodies of water and other physical features. There should be time in class to finish this, if not,it is due on next Wednesday.
Posted by Glenn at 04:40 PM
August 24, 2006
Posted by Glenn at 05:17 PM
August 21, 2006
MONDAY: Today students worked on completing the Geography Review. This week we have some awesome online lessons about longitude/latitude, the Five Themes of Geography, mapping and other geography adventures. The idea is to delve deeply and explore richly!
Parents, PLEASE email me if you have not done so at glenda.glenn@cobbk12.org I want to add you to my GIA Parent Group List!
TUESDAY: We discussed the Geography Review and reviewed the MAP AND ATLAS information on our blog. Students were introduced to the number of geography games on the blog for review.
WEDNESDAY: Today was DEAR, Drop Everything and READ! Students read for half an hour, then we explored Longitude and Latitude via our blog and new Promethean board.
THURSDAY: We'll also review FIVE THEME OF GEOGRAPHY via a PowerPoint and links on our blog. Students will work in groups to identify over sixty landform terms as an additional review. Students will finish for homework, using the glossary in their textbook.
FRIDAY: We'll discuss INTELLIGENT behaviors as practiced in the GIA and study the concept of CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY. Today students will be introduced to their ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS which accompany every unit of study as a homework piece and anchor activity.
We're planning to take a Geography review Test next Wednesday and then begin our study of the Geography of Southeast Asia!
Don't forget our 7th Grade Open House on Tuesday,August 29!
Posted by Glenn at 10:10 PM
August 15, 2006
http://www.maps.com/FunFacts.aspx?nav=FF#
http://www.eduplace.com/geonet/
Posted by Glenn at 10:07 PM
August 14, 2006
MONDAY August 14: Students received a GIA orientation packet which contains two copies of the syllabus(one to sign, one to keep), a GIA brochure, Reading in the Content Area brochure, and a Welcome Letter to parents.
They also received a homework assignment due WEDNESDAY. This is a vocabulary assignment which is part of their training to become GIA agents of investigative learning this week. Tomorrow, Tuesday, agents should bring a signed syllabus and their completed agent profile.
TUESDAY, August 15: Students are learning some classified information today! We returned to the roots of social studies...deep in early childhood where students learned about themselves, their families, their communities. We want to build a learning community in the GIA. How do we best accomplish this? The question? What do we know about group dynamics? What do we know about how how we best learn? How do we work in groups with students who learn differently than we do? How does a teacher meet the diverse needs of many learners in her classroom? Can creativity be taught? Can we shift from a preferred intelligence pathway to explore a new one? Students completed surveys in learning styles and multiple intelligences. By the end of Wednesday we'll have explored creativity and learning modalities and will have a complete "learning profile" on each student. These profiles will be the basis for our differentiated classroom and will be used to form a variety groups for projects at later dates. And, here's the real SOCIAL STUDIES lesson! Given knowledge of these concepts, we'll work more effectively in problem solving groups throughout the year!
Students, your SNEAKY WORD assignment is due tomorrow. Here's your chance to express your preferred learning style and make your first big impression! Remember the homework policy! If you do not remember your assignment tomorrow, it receives only half credit on day two and a 0 on day three. Stay on top of your game and remember your assignment the first time!
Don't forget your signed syllabus and remind your parents to email me at glenda.glenn@cobbk12.org so I can finish my group email list. We're off to a great start!
WEDNESDAY was our first DEAR-Drop Everything and READ in Social Studies. Each Wednesday we'll take 30 minutes to read. Students should be prepared with a book in hand. This is not a time for homework! Students will use reading logs to record the number of pages read toward their goal of a million words across subject areas in Grade 7 this year.
Today we finished our Learning Style Profile with a look at learning modalities (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and creativity and combined those results with the Multiple Intelligence and Learning Style surveys from Tuesday. We'll use this information all year.
THURSDAY: Today students will take the pre-test for AC Social Studies. Books will be issued and students will begin a review of geography. Students began this work in class and should have it finished by tomorrow.
World Regions Globes, pages 4-8 Answer questions 1-5
Maps, pages 9-11 Answer questions 1-6
This is a basic review. Questions should be answered in complete sentences.
Tomorrow students need their notebook and five dividers! Don't forget to cover your books. These are VERY old and outdated books, so we use many rich supplementary materials. This is the last year we'll use these books.
Posted by Glenn at 06:32 PM
August 13, 2006
Posted by Glenn at 01:44 PM
August 11, 2006
Last year The Glenn Intelligence Agency launched The REALIA Museum. Thanks to Mrs. Glenn's travel as well grants from the Mabry PTSA and the Cobb County Association for Gifted, authentic cultural items from the countries we study are on display in our classroom. We have photographed and are cataloging these items to create a Virtual Museum. Why realia? It has long been used as effective pedagogy in teaching language and culture. Defined as tangible and original objects or artifacts that can be used as instructional aids, realia heightens student engagement and brings the authenticity to the classroom. Realia can also effectively be used for drama and story telling. Research as well as standards suggests that teachers should use primary sources in the classroom. Realia is certainly categorized as primary/secondary resources and brings the real world into the classroom. Below is a glimpse of items in the current GIA REALIA collection.
Posted by Glenn at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
