The Week in Rap and a Current Event Summary

What momentous event took place took place in the country of Colombia this week?
Find out in today's episode of "The Week in Rap." 

Flocabulary: The Week in Rap  Many important news events took place around the world this week. Let's review some of them with our friends at Flocabulary.

Writing a Current Event Summary  This week Flocabulary rapped about the discovery of a new star, Proxima Centauri, the spike in the price of the Epipen, the peace negotiated in Colombia between the rebels and the government, how the University of Chicago is dealing with issues of free speech on campus, the death of legendary actor Gene Wilder, and Beyonce's record setting night at MTV's Video Music Awards. 

Your objective is to select the story the most interests you, click the link for additional information, take notes, and then write a current event summary. Locate the document Current Event Notes and Summary in your Social Studies Google Classroom. This assignment will be due next Friday, September 9. 

Exploring Human Evolution

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 New History of Humanity - Video Notes (in your Social Studies Google Classroom) to take notes on 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  Complete the assignment Hunter-Gatherer Societies - Cognitive Content Dictionary, which should be completed and 'turned in' by tomorrow, Friday, September 2.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies (Day 2)

 Today's Learning Objective  * Describe the hunter-gatherer societies, including the development of tools and the use of fire. 

Hunter-Gatherer Societies: Vocabulary Study and Guided Reading  Today we are going to continue to learn 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. The document Hunter-Gatherer Societies - Cognitive Content Dictionary can still be found in your Social Studies Google Classroom.

Homework  Complete the assignment Hunter-Gatherer Societies - Cognitive Content Dictionary, which should be completed and 'turned in' by Friday, September 2.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

 Today's Learning Objective  * Describe the hunter-gatherer societies, including the development of tools and the use of fire. 

Writing Warm-Up  What do you expect to happen as early human groups continue to evolve, develop bigger brains, and become more intelligent? How might their way of life change? Share your response to the question within your Social Studies Google Classroom. Write your own response to the question and write at least one reply to one of your classmates.

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. The document Hunter-Gatherer Societies - Cognitive Content Dictionary can be found in your Social Studies Google Classroom (and the text can also be accessed on pages 12 and 13 of your Ancient Civilizations textbooks).

Homework  Continue working on the Hunter-Gatherer Societies - Cognitive Content Dictionary, which should be completed and 'turned in' by Friday, September 2.

Summary Paragraph Writing

Writing a Summary Paragraph After you have gathered basic facts and information about 'Lucy' and her discovery, you are going to demonstrate what you’ve learned about the topic by writing a short summary (using the same Writing an Event Summary - 'Lucy' document you used last week). Your summary should include only the most relevant information, be composed of your own words and original sentences, and not include opinions or judgements.

If you need some help connecting the ideas within your paragraph, a handy transition word list can be found here. For more guidelines on how your summary paragraph will be assessed, refer to the rubric below.

Homework Complete the Writing an Event Summary - 'Lucy', which is due Friday, September 2.

Summarizing 'Lucy'

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Learn about the physical and social development of early humans through archaeological discoveries. * Provide a summary of the text distinct from person opinions or judgements.

Notetaking Guide: The Five W's and One H  Today you are going to begin to synthesize (combine) the information you have learned about ‘Lucy’ from the various sources we have studied, including our Social Studies textbook, the article “The ‘Lucy’ fossil rewrote the story of humanity,” 'The Becoming Human' website and the videos we’ve watched, especially the interview with Donald Johanson and the excerpt from “Walking with Cavemen.” Use the reporter’s 5 W’s and one H to organize your facts: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Ultimately, you will use these notes to write a summary. You can find the document Writing an Event Summary - 'Lucy' in your Social Studies Google Classroom.

More information about 'Lucy' and her discovery from our Social Studies textbook can be found below.

Writing a Summary Paragraph After you have gathered basic facts and information about 'Lucy' and her discovery, you are going to demonstrate what you’ve learned about the topic by writing a short summary (using the same Writing an Event Summary - 'Lucy' document). Your summary should include only the most relevant information, be composed of your own words and original sentences, and not include opinions or judgements. For a reminder on summary writing check we will watch a video about the topic from our friends at Flocabulary.

https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/summarizing/video/

FYI: The 'Five W's and One H' component of this project will count towards your grade as a classwork assignment. Meanwhile, the 'Summary' will count towards the assessment portion of your Social Studies grade. The Writing an Event Summary - 'Lucy' document will be due next Friday, September 2.

Don't forget that your Studying the Distant Past - Cognitive Content Dictionary is due and must be 'turned-in' tomorrow, August 26, in order to receive full credit.

Walking with 'Lucy'

 Today's Learning Objective  * Learn about the physical and social development of early humans through archaeological discoveries.

Archaeology in Action: Discovering 'Lucy' Read about archaeologist Donald Johanson's remarkable discovery of 'Lucy,' one of our earliest human ancestors, below, and then watch the video as Johanson himself explains the significance of this discovery.

Video: Walking with Cavemen  Today we are going to learn more about 'Lucy,' whose scientific name is australopithecus afarensis. As we watch the beginning of the series Walking with Cavemen, you will take notes about what you learn about this early hominid (human-like) species using the document Walking with Cavemen (Part 1) - Study Guide which you can find in your Social Studies Google Classroom. 

Becoming Human - An Interactive Documentary Experience  If time permits you may spend more time learning 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.