7th Grade World Studies with Mr.

White
Rosa Parks Middle School (2013-2014)
Room B-221 Matthew_R_White@mcpsmd.org 301-924-3180

Outline of 7th Grade World Studies Curriculum:

The 7th grade World Studies curriculum covers a wide variety of topics in world history spanning the Middle Ages to the beginnings of the modern era. Students will explore the development of past and present cultures in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Listed below are the unit titles and some of the essential questions students will consider throughout each unit.

Quarter 1: The Foundation of Modern Political Systems in Europe What is a political system? How do different political systems manage power in society? Why did feudalism develop in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire? How did feudalism work during the Middle Ages? Did feudalism support the common good? How was power divided in the feudal political system between kings, nobles, knights, the

clergy, and serfs? How did changes inside and outside Europe including the Crusades, Mongol invasions, and the Black Death, cause feudalism to decline and unified nation-states to emerge?

Quarter 2: The Influence of Culture in Africa What is culture? What are examples of seen and unseen culture? What causes cultural diffusion? How did cultural diffusion impact the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Kilwa, Kongo, and
Great Zimbabwe?

Why have modern African nations struggled to form common national identities? Quarter 3: Geography and Identity in Latin America Why do people modify the environment? What trade-offs occur when people modify geography? How does geography impact culture? How were the Aztec and Inca cultures shaped by their geography? Quarter 4: The Impact of Economics: One World What are the characteristics of a market economy? How did the transition from traditional to market economies in Europe spark the cultural

changes of the Renaissance? How did European political systems change as a result of the shift from traditional to market economies? How did the development of humanism change European society? What were the causes of the Protestant Reformation? How did European exploration and colonization create a global market economy? What impact did European exploration and colonization have on other cultures?

Textbook:
Students will be assigned a textbook titled Across the Centuries at the beginning of the year. This book should always be kept at home to be used for homework assignments and as a reference source. It should NOT be kept in the students locker. A class set of textbooks is available for students to use in class, so there is never a need for a student to have his or her assigned book at school. It is expected that this textbook will be returned at the end of the year in the same condition that it was received.

Materials:
Students are expected to come prepared with the following materials each class period: A Social Studies section in their binder with college or wide ruled paper Two pencils One blue or black ink pen One red ink pen One highlighter Colored pencils (Not needed everydaymay be stored in locker) The teacher will not regularly provide students with any of these materials due to a lack of preparation. If a student and his/her family are experiencing financial hardship, he/she needs to discuss this with his/her grade level counselor.

ParentsStay Connected with Edline, Remind101, and the Class Website

Edline: This is an invaluable resource for students and parents. There will be occasions when documents are posted on the site that will supplement the topics being discussed in class. Study guides will also be uploaded to the site when appropriate. On days when students are assigned homework, these assignments will be posted on the Edline calendar. When possible, downloadable copies of worksheets needed for homework and other assignments will be posted to Edline. It is IMPERATIVE that students be able to access Edline and that they check it regularly. If a student cannot, for any reason, access the site, it is his/her responsibility to contact the teacher immediately. Remind101: Parents and students have the opportunity to sign up to receive text message updates about the class. Directions to sign up were sent home earlier this week. Please contact me with any questions. Class Website: (www.mrwhitesworldstudies.com) Students and parents will be able to access a website dedicated to Mr. Whites 7th Grade World Studies classes. This website will contain a number of useful resources students will use throughout the year. On occasion, students may be asked to access the website from home to complete assignments. Parents and students are encouraged to check the website frequently for updates. Please be sure to contact me directly if a student will have trouble accessing the Internet from home.

Grading:
The Grading and Reporting Policy outlined by Montgomery County Public Schools will be followed. Refer to the Social Studies Grading and Reporting Policy section of this packet more details. Any questions about grades are to be directed to the teacher after class or at lunch. Depending on the circumstance, a student may be asked to make an appointment at the teachers earliest convenience so that the issue can be resolved.

Course Assignments:
All assignments given are important to the class and are designed to help students meet the learning objectives outlined for each unit. Students should have all homework prepared prior to the beginning of class or it will not be accepted. If a student comes to class without homework completed, it is his or her responsibility to fill in the answers during the homework review. Unless otherwise noted, assignments are due the day after the assignment was distributed. The deadline for most class assignments will be three days from the due date. The deadline for most assignments in the Homework for Practice/Preparation category, however, will be the same day as the due date. Therefore most homework assignments will not be accepted for credit after the day the homework is due. Extra time given for absences will be given at time absent plus one day. If there are extenuating circumstances, students must meet with the teacher and any exceptional decisions will be made at that time. While assignments will be posted on Edline, it is primarily the students responsibility to copy the assignment into their agenda books at the beginning of class. Edline is not a substitute for the students assignment notebook.

General Class Procedures:

Students reviewed a worksheet entitled What do I do When I which outlines specific procedures for the class.
General procedures are described below:

Prior to class:

Students are expected to be in their seats and ready to begin class when the bell rings, and those who are not in their seats are considered tardy. Students have four minutes between classes. This is the time to use the restroom and get a drink of water. Students will begin to receive lunch or after school detentions after arriving to class tardy twice. A Tardy Log will be kept in the classroom to record tardies. Students should use the time before the bell rings to sharpen pencils if possible.

Beginning of class:
Students are to immediately copy down homework and begin the Activator assignment that is posted on the Promethean board. Activator assignments are to be completed individually, in pairs, or with their table groups as indicated. Individual activator assignments should be completed silently while pair and group assignments require on-topic discussions. Students who were absent the previous day should quickly retrieve their missed word from the Absent Folders. Any questions about missed assignments must be asked at the end of class or at lunch by appointment.

During class:

Students are expected to be attentive during class. Any actions that are disruptive to the class or prohibit other classmates from learning are not acceptable. Students who choose to disrupt the class will face disciplinary action in accordance with school policies. If a student is late to class for any reason, it is his/her responsibility to get any work that he/she missed after class or when there is a lull in the classroom discussion or activity. Students are not to disrupt the class because they were late. Students should wait until there is a lull in the classroom discussion to ask to use the restroom. No student will be permitted to use the restroom during the first ten minutes or last ten minutes of class.

End of class:
The bell does not dismiss class. Students should wait until given permission by the teacher to leave the room. Students who begin to put their belongings away before the end of class or who leave their seat when the bell rings are holding up the entire class. Students will not be dismissed from the room until everyone is seated, all desks are in the proper positions, and the room is neat.

Other Comments:
Email is the best way to contact me and is my preferred way of contacting you. Please make sure you have completed the online Parent Contact Form on the class website. I will be sponsoring an after-school History Club for all RPMS students. The primary focus of the club will be to complete projects for the National History Day competition that takes place in March. More information will be sent to you regarding National History Day, and I encourage all students with an interest in history to participate! Back-to-School night will be held on Thursday, September 19th at 6:45 p.m. I look forward to seeing you all there!