Monday, 8/31/09

For Tue, 9/1: Period 7 needs to have the 3-paragraph essay on Becker's Definition of "History" ready to turn in on Tuesday.

Today's Classroom Activities:

1. Warmup: What comes to mind when you hear each of the following words?
ECONOMICS - POLITICS - MILITARY (Per. 8: SOCIAL) - ARCHITECTURE

2. We began reading "What is History?" packet. You can find a copy of the packet here.

3. We memorized the "Aspects of Human Development" (SMERFCAPS: Sociology, Military, Economics, Religion, Foreign Relations or Diplomary, Culture, Architecture, Politics, Science).

4. We focused on the fact that you can study the history of any of these SMERFCAPS, plus subcategories; e.g., for SOCIOLOGY (social history), you can study the history of such groups as races, family, gender, tribes, age groups, cities, etc.

Becker's Definition of History

For Fri, 8/28: Period 8 only (Period 7 did not get to this today.): Finish the essay you began in class today. Here are the instructions, copied and pasted from the board. Extra Credit: Take a guess as to who is pictured to the right. Explain your guess.

Becker’s Definition of “History”

history: the study of the development of human societies in time and in space – Carl Becker, American historian

Directions: Write 3 paragraphs explaining what Becker MIGHT have meant when he defined history in this way. Each paragraph should have four or more sentences discussing the following.

1. Write one paragraph about what Becker might have meant by “the development of human societies.”

2. Write one paragraph about what he might have meant by “in time.”

3. Write one paragraph about what he might have meant by “in space.”

Remember, there are no specific "right" and "wrong" answers to this. I want to see evidence that you are thinking and trying to figure out what Becker MIGHT have meant.

Image Source: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/73/6373-003-91ACED5E.gif

Student Definitions of "History"

You gave very good definitions of "history" students and did a nice job of analyzing classmates' definitions. Period 7's definitions are here, and Period 8's are here.

Bravo, Students!

You did excellent analysis of the Six Pics. Here is a Slideboom presentation of the Six Pics. I am also providing links to the observations you made as we analyzed the pictures. Period 7's is here, and Period 8's is here.

Six Pics

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Welcome to Pre-AP Social Studies 7

Welcome, students, to Pre-AP Social Studies 7. We are delighted you have chosen this class and look forward to learning together this year. We hope that through this course you will grow intellectually and discover how developments in Texas and beyond have helped shape you into the person you are and will become.

PREAPTEX blog is set up to assist your learning activities in the course. Hopefully you will be able to access PREAPTEX from home and with other computers connected to the Internet. We will also be using computer labs here at LMS on a regular basis. If you don't have home access to computers, please come see me, and I'll make arrangements to help you be able to check the blog on a regular basis.

Now I want you to copy something into the front of your notebook:

1. Bring all supplies and learning materials to Pre-AP Social Studies 7 every class day.

2. Throw away nothing from this course unless told to do so. We will organize your papers into a folder at the end of each six weeks. The folder will count as multiple grades.

And now, here's your first assignment. Happily it's a fairly easy one and it will help you get set up for the learning activities for this class.

For Tuesday, 8/25: Bring the following supplies to class. You will receive a grade for bringing the supplies. Remember to bring them with you each day of class.

***Loseleaf binder and notebook paper

***Subject dividers

***Bic (or some other brand) 4-color pen

***Highlighter pens (4 or 5)--light colors: yellow, orange, light blue, light green, pink

***Colored markers (package of 8-10 thick-nibbed ones)

***Small stapler

***Hole punch

***Post-its--2 or 3 different small pads

***Small bag to hold pens, stapler, etc.--Not necessary if you can bring them in a backpack or some such carrier

Note: If you have any difficulty in getting the supplies or if you need more time, just bring a note from home signed by a parent or guardian, and you will be given more time.

I also plan to post links to some of the learning activities we do in class. Feel free to download them to your own computers for future use. I strongly encourage you to fool around with them and improve them. I will give you Extra Credit for doing so. Get creative, people!