Early Humans Assessment

Early Humans Assessment  Today we will continue working on our Early Humans assessment paragraphs.  Remember, your series of paragraphs will address two guiding questions: (1.) How do we study early humans and the distant past?  (2.) What do we know about the lives of early humans and how they changed over time? You will have time to work on your assessment both in class and at home. Your paragraphs must be completed before class begins on Tuesday, September 2. The assignment 'Early Humans Assessment' has been placed in each of your Social Studies folders; you may also find a link to the assignment here.  

Homework  If you were not able to complete your 'Early Humans Assessment' paragraphs in class, please make time to finish them over the 3-day weekend. The assignment is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, September 2.  

The Neanderthals and Early Humans Assessment

Video: The Neanderthals  Today we are going to continue to learn about the lives of the Neanderthals by watching watching excerpts of the Discovery Channel documentary Neanderthal. While you view the film, please use the note-taking document in your Social Studies folders to keep track of what you observe and learn. (If need be, you can find a link to the document here.)     

Early Humans Assessment  As we approach the end of the unit on early humans, it's time for you to start reflecting on what you have learned. Sometimes teachers may assess your learning in the form of a traditional multiple-choice test. This time, however, I want you to demonstrate what you've learned through writing. You will write a series of paragraphs in which you address two guiding questions, which I think get at the heart of what we've studied the past two weeks: (1.) How do we study and make sense of the distant past? (2.) What do we know about the lives of early humans and how they changed over time? You will have time to work on your assessment both in class and at home. Your paragraphs must be completed before class begins on Tuesday, September 2. The assignment 'Early Humans Assessment' has been placed in each of your Social Studies folders; you may also find a link to the assignment here.  

Homework  (1.) Since tomorrow is Friday and the end of the school week, I expect certain assignments that we've worked on during the week to be completed. The two assignments I will be looking to grade are the 'Hunter-Gatherer - Cognitive Content Dictionary' and the 'Late Stone Age - Questions.' They are both due tomorrow, Friday, August 29. (2.) As far as the 'Early Humans Assessment,' you will have time to work on it in class today and tomorrow and outside of class. Once again, it is due on Tuesday, September 2.  

Late Stone Age Peoples

Late Stone Age Peoples: Guided Reading  Towards the end of the Stone Age, two groups of larger-brained humans appeared: Neanderthals and modern humans. As we read together today, think about both the similarities and differences between these two groups and why you think only modern humans survived. (You can also find the text below on pages 14-15 of your Social Studies textbook).  

Comprehension and Critical Thinking  After reading, with the members of your team discuss and then answer the following questions: (1.) What were three ways that modern humans were different from Neanderthals? (2.) Which of these differences was most important to the future of humankind? Explain. You may record your answers using the document 'Late Stone Age Peoples - Questions' that has been placed in your Social Studies folders. If need be, you may also find a link to the document here.  

Homework  Complete the 'Late Stone Age Peoples- Questions' assignment. Please also note that the 'Early Human Writing Assessment' has been postponed until Thursday or Friday. 

Hunter-Gatherer Societies (Day 2)

Hunter-Gatherer Societies: Vocabulary Study and Guided Reading (Continued)  Today we are going to continue learning about early human hunter-gather societies. We will also continue using the Cognitive Content Dictionary we started yesterday. An excerpt of the passage will be reading is posted below.  

Video: "The New History of Humanity"  The video we are going to watch today is going to both reinforce and challenge what we think we know about the evolution of our human ancestors. While watching the video, use the document here, to take notes on what in the video confirms what you already know about the lives of our early humans, what information is new regarding the lives of early humans, and what questions you still have.  

Homework  (1.) Finish your 'Hunter-Gatherer' CCD.  (2.) Finish your video notes. (3.) Study for 'Early Human' quiz.  

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

Writing Warm Up  What do you expect to happen as early human groups as they continue to evolve, develop bigger brains, and become more intelligent? How might their way of life change? Share your response here.  

Hunter-Gatherer Societies: Vocabulary Study and Guided Reading  Today we are going to be learning about early human hunter-gather societies. We will be mastering key vocabulary using the Cognitive Content Dictionary in your Social Studies folders, as well as doing some guided reading using the text below. A link to the vocabulary CCD can also be here and the text can also be accessed on pages 12 and 13 of your Social Studies textbooks. 

Overview of Class Syllabus  A syllabus is an overview of a class's policies. You can find a copy of your Social Studies syllabus in your Social Studies folder. Today we will briefly spend some time going over the syllabus. Please review the syllabus with your parents. You can also find a link to the syllabus here.    

Homework  (1.) Complete the 'Hunter-Gatherer Societies - Cognitive Content Dictionary.' (2.) Review your Social Studies syllabus with your parents.     

Becoming Human

Video: What is Archaeology?  Let's continue to try to understand what archaeology is and how it helps us understand what happened long ago.

Becoming Human - Interactive Documentary Experience  Today we are going to continue to learn about the origins of humankind by exploring the amazing website 'Becoming Human.' Click the link here and join fossil hunter and the discoverer of 'Lucy,' Donald Johanson, as he guides you through four millions years of human evolution.

Video: 'Walking with Caveman'  We will now be transported back in time and find out what life was like for our earliest human ancestors by watching excerpts from the amazing documentary Walking with Caveman. If after watching, your interested in watching and learning more, the video is currently on Netflix.    

Studying the Distant Past (Day 2)

Video: What is Archaeology?  Let's learn more about the job of an archaeologist by watching the short video below.  

Guided Reading: Studying the Distant Past  Today we are going to read excerpts from your text book related to how archaeologists study the origins of humankind. As we read together and in small groups, I would like you to recognize the text features that the textbook utilizes to organize information and help you find what you need. Notice, for example, how the textbook uses boldface blue type to point out new words, as well as larger type to show titles. Additionally, special information appears alongside the main text.  

Timeline Activity  A timeline is a diagram that shows how dates and events relate to each other. Timelines show the order in which events took place. A timeline activity related to early human events has been placed in your Social Studies folders. Study the timeline and then answer the questions that follow. If your Social Studies folder and/or assignment is not showing up in your Drive, you can find a copy of the assignment here. Make a copy and than share the assignment back with me. This assignment is due tomorrow, Friday, August 22. 

Homework  Please complete your Social Studies assignments from the week, which includes the 'Studying the Distant Past- CCD', the 'Timeline' assignment, and your slide for the Google Presentation. I will begin grading these assignments and entering scores into the Gradebook tomorrow, Friday, August 22.   

Studying the Distant Past

Warm Up: Group Discussion  The time before written records is called prehistory. If no one wrote things down long ago, how do we know what happened in the distant past? What sort of things might historians and scientists examine in order to understand what happened in ancient history?  Discuss your ideas with the members of your group and be prepared to share with the class.  

Studying the Distant Past: Vocabulary Study  Today we are going to learn some of the key vocabulary and concepts related to the study of the distant past by using a vocabulary study guide called a Cognitive Content Dictionary (CCD). You can find your CCD and a reading selection related to our topic of study in your Social Studies folder within your Google Drive. On your CCD you will think about what you already know about the word, include a definition and image, and finally use the word in a sentence.  

Homework  Complete your 'Studying the Distant Past - Cognitive Content Dictionary' by this Friday, August 22 in order to receive full credit.  

Learning with Technology

Exploring Google Drive and Google Docs  Today we are going to familiarize ourselves with Google Drive and Google Docs. We are going to learn how to access our drive, how our documents are organized, and how to create and edit documents. Here are a couple of short videos to get you started.  

Summer Google Slideshow  Let's continue to work on the Google Presentation about our summer vacations that we started yesterday. Today I'm going to show you how to personalize your slide by adding and editing text, inputting images, and personalizing the appearance of your slide. I have placed our collaborative Summer Google Slide Presentation in your Social Studies folder within your Google Drive. Let's try to finish our slides by Friday so we can present our slideshow to the class.  

Community Building

Back-To-School Scavenger Hunt  Let's continue to get to know each other. For each question on the Scavenger Hunt worksheet find someone in class who shares that attribute and have them sign the answer blank for that question. Don't have the same person sign for each question. Avoid talking to people you already know. Be brave and meet new people! We are all in this together!

Summer Google Slideshow  Let's take your new Chromebooks for a spin, start to get familiar with Google Docs, and learn about each other all at the same time. Today we are going to make a collaborative Google Presentation slideshow about our summer vacations. Click the appropriate link and follow the directions. 4th period click here. 6th period click here. 

Homework  You may work on your vacation Google Slide page at home, however I also will give you some class time to work on it tomorrow. Make sure you only work on your own slide.