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*********EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES***************
1.  Don't forget about the opportunities for extra credit through reading. Students may choose from India, China, or Greece reading lists. These lists are found under PUBLIC LISTS in the Destiny catalog of our GMS library. This catalog may also be accessed from your home using a link from the Gable home page. Students may take AR tests if they are available for the books or they may write brief reviews using the "One-Pager" forms found below or from Mrs. Sinclair.

 2. Enjoy a meal at Chinese restaurant or prepare one for your family at your home. Recipes can be found on the Internet at sites like allrecipes.com and the Food Network site. If you eat at a restaurant, describe the food you eat and the decor of the restaurant. If you prepare a meal, please include the recipe.  Describe your family's reaction to the food.

ANCIENT CHINA Table of Contents

1. Beginning Work
2. Video: Ancient China (2nd and 5th periods will OMIT this one)
3. Map: China
4. Notes: Shang Dynasty
5. Chinese Character Chart (100 points)
6. Character Practice Page
7. Notes: Zhou Dynasty
8. Chinese Feudal Society
9. Shang / Zhou Review (100 points)
10. Notes: Confucius
11. Confucius Said...
12. A Day in Ancient China

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #5 How would our school be different if Confucius were our principal?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What are some of the teachings of Confucius? Refer to text, page 170. Students discussed the spread of Confucianism. They examined sayings of Confucius on #11 papers and on our board. Students selected several of these sayings and copied them on the back of their #10 pages. They selected ONE as their favorite to be used for a sign or "plaque."  ***The saying should be copied neatly onto the white typing paper. This should be fairly large. The quote should be attributed to Confucius. The paper should then be colorfully illustrated or decorated. Construction paper is available at school for backing.***

     ASSIGNMENT: Complete the BACK of #12 by Tuesday. Complete your Confucius saying plaque by Wednesday. This is a 100 point grade.

Monday, November 23, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Use page 23 of the Nystrom History Atlas to complete the back of your #3 map page. Prepare your rebus story to turn in.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: * Who was Confucius? *What are the basic ideas of Confucianism? Refer to pages 169-170 in the text. Students discussed the disorder and chaos  of the Warring States Period which led philosophers like Confucius to seek a return to peace and order. #10 notes were begun in class.

     ASSIGNMENT: Complete both sides of #9, Shang / Zhou review. This is a 100 point grade. Bring art supplies tomorrow for our Confucius "plaque."

Friday, November 20, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #4 The longest lasting dynasty in China's history was ___.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did FEUDALISM work in ancient China? Students continued reading on page 167 of the text. They completed a Promethean chart of feudal relationships (#8).

     ASSIGNMENT: Rebus story is due Monday. Be sure to follow directions.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #3 How do historians know about the Shang Dynasty?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What was the Mandate of Heaven? Students read pages 166-167 in the text. We used our Promethean board to discuss this concept. Students began #7 notes. Have your student explain the Mandate of Heaven.

     ASSIGNMENT: MOST students are bringing home India tests and portfolios for your signatures. Please sign the front (answer page) AND Table of Contents page. Return tomorrow for five extra points. Rebus story is due Monday.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Complete #4 notes.  Read.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What was the greatest achievement of the Shang Dynasty? Students discussed the transition of Chinese writing from pictographs to ideographs. We noted the chart on page 165. Students used classroom resource pages to select at least ten Chinese characters for their #6 pages. They may select five or more characters from this page to use in writing their rebus stories.

     ASSIGNMENT: #5 Chinese Character Chart due tomorrow. Write each character (front and back) three times each on this paper. Rebus story is due Monday. Instructions were stapled in each planner (repeated below).

ASSIGNMENT: **DIRECTIONS FOR REBUS STORY**

*** Due Monday, Nov. 23  (100 point grade--not part of portfolio)***

Read ALL of these directions BEFORE you begin your final copy of your rebus story. Make a check mark before each number AFTER you look over your final copy to make sure that you have followed directions.

_______1. Use at LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT characters.

_______2.  Write in complete sentences.

_______3.  Your story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

_______4. Skip lines.

_______5. Translate your characters.

_______6. Your story should be at least seven to ten sentences long.

_______7. Write your name as the Chinese would at the lower right corner of your paper.

_______8. Be sure you have written your title neatly at the top of the page.

I have looked over my paper and have followed all directions.

                                                            Name _________________________________________

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK:  #2 In which river valley did Chinese civilization begin?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What was life like for people in China's earliest dynasty? Students read "The Shang Dynasty" from pages 163-165 of the text. They took notes on the social structure, government, and religion of the Shang.

     ASSIGNMENT: Have your four portfolio pages numbered. Be sure to place the pages in order.

Monday, November 16, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Entry #1--Describe one invention or achievement of Ancient China that you use today. (Check your video notes.)

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did the geography of China affect the development of civilization there? Students used a map to note the location of the first civilization in China. They marked geographical barriers that protected China from foreign invasion during ancient times. Ask your student to name the river valley where this civilization begins. (Text background, pages 160-161)

     ASSIGNMENT: Update your Table of Contents for Chinal.

Up to three extra credits are allowed during each six weeks.)

***ANCIENT INDIA Portfolio Table of Contents ***

All work is important on this unit. Please look over the pages.

1.  Beginning Work
2. Map: India
3. Notes: Harappan Civilization
4. Notes: Aryan Invasion 
5. Notes: Caste System
6. Quiz: Geography and India
7. Basic Hindu Beliefs
8. Vocabulary: Origins of Hinduism
9. The Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
10. Beginnings of Buddhism
11. Notes: Basic Beliefs of Buddhism
12. Indian Empires
13. Gupta Achievements
14. India Crossword
     

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #10 Which of the achievements of the Golden Age do you consider to be most important? Why?   ****BE SURE YOU HAVE ALL TEN ENTIRES FOR INDIA. ARE YOUR ANSWERS CORRECT?****

     REVIEW FOR INDIA TEST: Students spent the class period reviewing for our test. We used a PowerPoint review and some of the Promethean activities from earlier lessons.

     ASSIGNMENT: #14 Crossword is due on Thursday in your portfolio (a 100 point grade). India test is Thursday. H1N1 letters are due Friday.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #9 Of the things Siddhartha said caused suffering (greed, sickness, age, death), which do YOU think brings the most suffering in the world today? Why?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What were the great achievements of the Golden Age of the Gupta dynasty? Students continued our lesson we began on Friday. We used pages 147-151 of the text and information cards in the class to complete a graphic organizer of Gupta achievements (#13).

     ASSIGNMENT: #14 Crossword is due on Thursday in your portfolio (a 100 point grade). India test is Thursday. H1N1 letters are due Friday.

Monday, November 9, 2009

     We enjoyed our field trip to the Peace Center today to see the play "Jackie Robinson."

     *****H1N1 LETTERS WERE SENT HOME TODAY. PLEASE READ AND CONSIDER.*****

Friday, November 6, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Complete the BACK of #11. Change the term Upanishads on number 6 to Vedas. You do not need to answer number 11 on that paper.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did empires develop in India? *What are the achievements of the Gupta dynasty? We completed our #12 notes, learning about the Gupta Dynasty today. Students watched a video clip of the Maurya elephant army and began looking at the advances that occurred in India during the Golden Age of the Gupta period.

     ASSIGNMENT: ***Be sure to bring your lunch for our field trip Monday if you are not eating a school bag lunch!!!*** We will probably have our India test next Thursday.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK:

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did empires develop in India? Students used the material on pages 142-145 in the text to work on our #12 notes on the Maurya and Gupta empires.

     ASSIGNMENT: Complete all of your #12 paper. Please correct any errors on #8 before our test next week.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Read.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What are the basic beliefs of Buddhism? *How does Buddhism compare to Hinduism? Students completed our look at Buddhism. They completed the graphic organizer on the back of page #10. We completed notes on the FRONT of #11. We will do the back tomorrow. Most classes took part in a review activity on our Promethean board comparing Hinduism and Buddhism.

     ASSIGNMENT: Please share the community library survey with your parents. ***Please let me know of any extra credit reading you have done during this six weeks. You can take an AR test (if available) or complete a one-pager.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #7 Describe a movie, book, or television program where you have seen ideas similar to REINCARNATION illustrated. Paragraph, please.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did the religion of Buddhism begin? *What are the basic beliefs of Buddhism? Students completed our organizer for Buddha's path to enlightenment, read material from pages 136-137, and completed a review (front of #10). We began looking at the teachings of Buddha, reading the Four Noble Truths from page 138. We began a graphic organizer for Buddha's teachings (back of #10).

     ASSIGNMENT: Be sure to have all materials here tomorrow--your text, binder, unit papers, planner, and a book to read for SSR time.

Monday, November 2, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #6 Describe the KARMA found in the story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Paragraph, please.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *Who was the founder of Buddhism? *How did this religion begin? Students listened to the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the prince who becomes the Buddha. We will complete this lesson tomorrow.

     ASSIGNMENT: Make any corrections needed to your #6 paper. Most were returned today. Please complete BOTH sides of #8. Be sure to follow directions on the front. A word bank is located at the bottom of the page. On the back, correctly name the gods--Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. #8 is due tomorrow and is a 100 point grade.

Friday, October 30, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #5 Describe the DHARMA you feel at this stage of your life.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: * What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism? We continued our study of Hindu beliefs. We also talked about the Hindu trinity--Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

     ASSIGNMENT: HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!  Don't forget to turn in permission forms and money for our field trip if you haven't already done so.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Update your Table of Contents. Finish caste notes (copy on the back of #5).

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: * What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism? After working on our Section 1 handout, students looked over pages 132-134 in the text. We began our notes on the beliefs of the Hindu religion.

     ASSIGNMENT: Be sure to have all materials in class tomorrow--book, binder, unit papers, pencil, and planner. 

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Read pages 130-131 from your text. Free reading to follow.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *What is the caste system? *How did the rules of the caste system affect the lives of the people? Students discussed the information on text pages 130-131. They heard the story of Purusha, the early man from which the gods created the different castes. Students created a graphic organizer to illustrate the four different caste groups. Ask your student to describe the life of the Untouchables. Were they part of the caste system???

     ASSIGNMENT: Don't forget to turn in your field trip permission slip and money by November 3rd. Our trip is November 9th.  Be sure to have all five pages of your portfolio and an updated Table of Contents with you in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #4 Who were the Aryans?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION:*What was the impact of the Aryan invasion on the Indus Valley civilization?  Students watched a video clip about the end of the Indus Valley civilization. We finished the text material on page 129 describing the Aryan language. We also traced the paths of invasion on a map on our Promethean board. Students copied #4 notes and completed a couple of review activities on our board. Signed Egypt tests and portfolios were returned for bonus points.

     ASSIGNMENT: Be sure to bring permission form and money for our November 9th field trip if you have not already done so. Both are due by November 3rd.

Monday, October 26, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #3 WHY was the Harappan culture considered a CIVLIZATION? Give details that justify your answer. (paragraph)

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *Who were the Aryans? *How did their lifestyle compare with that of the Harappan civilization? Students completed #3 notes for the Harappan civilization today and then began to discuss how this region mysteriously collapsed. Perhaps natural disasters like floods and earthquakes played a role. Thena came the Aryans.........  Ask your student to tell you the answers to the essential questions.

     ASSIGNMENT: Be sure to have all of your portfolio with you tomorrow (three pages plus your Table of Contents). Most students are bringing home Egypt tests and portfolios today. Please sign the answer sheet and the Table of Contents page. Return tomorrow for bonus points.  ***If you have not returned your field trip permission form and money, please do so as soon as possible. We need those by November 3rd.***

Thursday, October 22, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #2 Why is India called a SUBCONTINENT ?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did cities develop in the Indus River valley? What did these cities share? We completed our map work today, read in our text pages 126-128, and saw a brief video clip about the Indus Valley civilization.

     ASSIGNMENT: Have a great, lo-o-o-ong weekend!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: Read.

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did cities develop in the Indus River valley? What did these cities share? Students listened to information about the beginning of farming and village life in the Indus Valley. They learned about an early city, Harappa. This lesson will be completed tomorrow.

     ASSIGNMENT: Bring colored pencils again tomorrow as we continue our map on the back of page #2. Share your Wall of Honor letter with your parents.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

     BEGINNING WORK: #1 On what continent is India located?

     ESSENTIAL QUESTION: *How did the geography of India lead to the development of a river valley civilization? Students read "The Geography of India" on pages 124-126 of the text. We studied the map on page 125 and labeled our own outline map with the following: Himalayas, Hindu Kush mountains, Indus River, Ganges River, Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. Please outline the Indus River and the Ganges River in blue. Use ^^^ in brown to indicate the two mountain ranges. Using the map on page 125 as a guide, add red and blue arrows to show wet and dry monsoon winds.

     ASSIGNMENT: Complete the front of #2 map if necessary. Bring your colored pencils for more map work tomorrow.