Monday, March 21, 2011

Chp. 10, Sec. 4 - Great Zimbabwe and the Coastal Cities

Cause and Effect chart:

1. Availability of granite (cause)

Architecture developed creating around 100 stone towns throughout SE Africa (effect)

2. Successful farming techniques (cause)

Granaries were built, storing surplus food (effect)

3. Gold Mines (cause)

Trading in the region was strong; so strong the Chinese came from far away (effect)

4. Lack of rain/animals overgrazing (overeating land)occurred (cause)

Cities were abandoned (effect)

5. Arab traders came from the east (cause)

Cities were abandoned (effect)

6. European expansion (cause)

Decline of Swahili; civilization (effect)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

March 20 - 24 Schedule

Universal American School, Middle School
Weekly Assignment Schedule

from March 20, 2011 to March 24, 2011

Holmes Social Studies 6th

Sunday,

03/20
• Receive and review new weekly schedule (REMEMBER: It is just an outline that can be changed at any time)
• Work on Sec. 4 Q’s in class, and review main points of Sec. 3 – G.O.
• People who didn’t present their current events on Thursday, will need to do so today

Homework:
- Complete Sec. 4 Q’s, reading, and vocab
- Review all other section Q’s, G.O.’s, and vocab in preparation for Thursday’s test
- Continue working on Power Point

Monday,

03/21
• Review Sec. 4 Q’s, Vocab, and G.O.
• Tour History Day Gallery

Homework:
- Study for Thursday’s test and work on Power Point

Tuesday,

03/22
• Review for Chp. 10 Test – Power Point

Homework:
- Study for Chp. 10 Test

Wednesday,

03/23
• Review for Chp. 10 Test – White Board Review or Game
• Complete Power Point if necessary
• Review Presentation Tips for Upcoming Power Point Presentations

Homework:
- Study for Chp. 10 Test

Thursday,

03/24
• Chp. 10 Test
• Turn in Chp. 10 Materials for Grade
• Sign up for presentation day and receive Rubric

Homework:
- Get ready for next week’s presentations

The Key to Success and Doing Well on Tests:
1. Come to Class and Participate
2. Spend Time Each Night Going over the homework. This is called studying. You shouldn’t need to spend that much time doing so. The point is to do it and do it consistently.
3. Get Your Parents Involved – Have Them Quiz You.
4. Come to class confident and come prepared to demonstrate that you understand the content on test day.

NOTE TO PARENTS/STUDENTS:

IF AT ANYTIME YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CANNOT GET THE HOMEWORK DONE BECAUSE OF OTHER COURSE RESPONSIBILITIES, PUT THE SOCIAL STUDIES ASSIGNMENTS ON HOLD, AND CONCENTRATE ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT OR TAKE A BREAK. HOMEWORK IS DESIGNED FOR YOU TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE MATERIAL BEFORE WE REVIEW IT IN CLASS. IT ALSO GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN SOME POINTS.

Email: uas6holmes@hotmail.com
Website: http://uassocialstudies.blogspot.com/

Standards:
[6]SSG-3.5 Describe ways human settlements and activities are influenced by environmental factors and processes in different places and regions including:
- Bodies of water
- Landforms
- Climates
- Vegetation
- Weathering
- Seismic Activity
[6]SSPS-2.1 Compare the cultural practices and products of the societies studied including:
- Class Structure
- Gender Roles
- Beliefs
- Customs and Traditions

Chapter 10 - African Civilizations:
In ancient Africa, civilizations south of the Sahara Desert grew wealthy from trade with European and Arab merchants. In East Africa, Aksum became a trading center for about 800 years, and Great Zimbabwe thrived. In West Africa, the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires gained control of the salt and gold trade.

Section 1 - African Geography
• Identify Africa’s major geographical features
• Describe how people have adapted the African environment to their own uses
Section 2 – The Kingdome of Aksum
• Describe the role trade played in the success of the kingdom of Aksum
• Identify Aksum’s cultural and economic accomplishments
Section 3 – West African Empires
• Identify characteristics of each of the 3 West African kingdoms – Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
• Analyze the economy of each kingdom
Section 4 – Great Zimbabwe and the Coastal Cities
• Locate and describe Great Zimbabwe
• Explain how Great Zimbabwe’s economy worked

Assessment (Tests/Quizzes): The following will be assessed:

March 24, 2011 Chapter 10 Test (Thursday)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Chp. 10, Sec. 3 - West African Empires

1. (Cause) North African Muslims wanted gold and sub-Saharan Africans wanted salt (supply and demand)

(Effect) Trading between regions and cultures developed

2. (Cause) Like gold, salt was sold by its weight

(Effect) Development and use of scale system

3. (Cause) Muslim advisors helped West African kings run empire

(Effect) Islam spread to the region

4. (Cause) Mansa Musa (King of Mali) went to Mecca for hajj

(Effect) Muslim scholars, artists, builders, etc. returned to Timbuktu and made city better

5. (Cause) Songhai history has traditionally been passed on orally (word of mouth) in the form of songs. Arabic scribes soon recorded what the griots sang about and told

(Effect) History of civilization was preserved in writing, which is how we know about empire today

6. (Cause) Songhai armies did not have modern weapons

(Effect) Defeated by North African countries (Morocco) who had access to European weapons (gunpowder and cannons)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Power Point Do's and Don'ts

- Bullets DO NOT need periods at the end of them

- 3 bullets per slide minimum; 4-5 maximum

- 3 pics per slide minimum; 4-5 maximum

- "Background" picture still must have at least 2 more smaller pics

- Background pics should not be distracting; for example blurry

- Think about using different "slide styles" to make your power point more interesting

- Need at least one quality map somewhere in your power point

- One slide can be just pictures with labels

- Each slide should try to have its own unique heading

- Introduction slide needs your name, chapter name, section name, page numbers, and some kind of picture

- Last slide should be a response slide (3-5 sentences or 3-5 bullets)

Monday, March 14, 2011

Chp. 10, Sec. 2 Notes - Gold Trade Between Roman and Aksum Empires

1. The existence of a Red Sea port in the city of Adula and availability of ship technology

2. Since Rome was a Christian Empire by 300 A.D. and Aksum was a Christian empire, the two empires were peaceful allies

3. Availability of gold mines and the Romans need for coins made Aksum an ideal location to do business

Chp. 10, Sec. 1 Notes - African Geography

Continental Features

- Equator runs through Central Africa = tropical climate
- Largest desert in world = Sahara in North Africa
- Dry lands (Sahel)
- Rain Forests are plentiful

Landforms

- Mainly one large plateau
- Savannas are typically in the south
- Atlas Mountains (NW) and Mount Kilimanjaro (East)
- Large basins are found in central/western regions

Great Rift Valley

- Eastern Africa (3,000 miles long)
- Divides continent into east and west
- Rich soil washes into valley = agriculture (farming)

Rivers and Lakes

- Lake Tanganyika (2nd deepest in world)
- Lake Victoria (2nd largest freshwater lake in world)
- 4 rivers (Nile is the longest and most famous)
- Waterfalls in the south (Victoria Falls)
- Rivers create power (electric) for continent

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

March 6-10 Schedule

Universal American School, Middle School
Weekly Assignment Schedule

from March 6, 2011 to March 10, 2011

Holmes Social Studies 6th grade

Sunday,

03/06
• Receive and review new weekly schedule (REMEMBER: It is just an outline that can be changed at any time)
• Receive Chp. 8, Sec. 1 and 2 Quiz/HW/GO (parents must sign quiz)
• Chp. 8 Power Point Review

Homework:
- Study for Chp. 8 Test

Monday,

03/07
• Chapter 8 Test
• Turn in Chp. 8 vocab, power point notes, and Sec. 3 HW/GO when you have finished taking your test
• Receive Chp. 7 Ancient Rome graded work
• Assign News Stories to volunteers for Current Event Workshop

Homework:
- No Homework

Tuesday,

03/08
• Receive Chp. 10 – Ancient Africa packet and complete Sec. 1 Q’s in Class

Homework:
- Read Sec. 1, complete Q’s, and work on vocabulary

Wednesday,

03/09
• Review Sec. 1 HW/G.O.
• Watch Film

Homework:
- No Homework

Thursday,

03/10
• Current Event Workshop
• Turn in copy of your power point project – at least 8 slides

Homework:
- No Homework

The Key to Success and Doing Well on Tests:

1. Come to Class and Participate
2. Spend Time Each Night Going over the homework. This is called studying. You shouldn’t need to spend that much time doing so. The point is to do it and do it consistently.
3. Get Your Parents Involved – Have Them Quiz You.
4. Come to class confident and come prepared to demonstrate that you understand the content on test day.

NOTE TO PARENTS/STUDENTS:

IF AT ANYTIME YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CANNOT GET THE HOMEWORK DONE BECAUSE OF OTHER COURSE RESPONSIBILITIES, PUT THE SOCIAL STUDIES ASSIGNMENTS ON HOLD, AND CONCENTRATE ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT OR TAKE A BREAK. HOMEWORK IS DESIGNED FOR YOU TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE MATERIAL BEFORE WE REVIEW IT IN CLASS. IT ALSO GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN SOME POINTS.

Email: uas6holmes@hotmail.com
Website: http://uassocialstudies.blogspot.com/

Standards:

[6]SSG-3.5 Describe ways human settlements and activities are influenced by environmental factors and processes in different places and regions including:
- Bodies of water
- Landforms
- Climates
- Vegetation
- Weathering
- Seismic Activity
[6]SSPS-2.1 Compare the cultural practices and products of the societies studied including:
- Structure
- Gender Roles
- Beliefs
- Customs and Traditions

Chapter 10 - African Civilizations:
In ancient Africa, civilizations south of the Sahara Desert grew wealthy from trade with European and Arab merchants. In East Africa, Aksum became a trading center for about 800 years, and Great Zimbabwe thrived. In West Africa, the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires gained control of the salt and gold trade

Sec. 1 African Geography
• Identify Africa’s major geographical features
• Describe how people have adapted the African environment to their own uses

Assessment (Tests/Quizzes): The following will be assessed:

Monday, March 7, 2011 Chapter 8 Test

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Chp. 8, Sec. 3 Notes - Ancient North American Cultures

Anasazi/Hokokam

- SW part of the U.S.
- Growing crops and managing water resources was a challenge
- Mud brick homes (adobe)
- Ball courts
- Pottery, weaving baskets, bead work (necklaces)
- Lived by a caldendar that connected to the stars
- Traded wtih tribes in Mexico and in West Coast (California)

Shared

- Traded
- Shelter (homes) technology
- Agriculture (farming)
- End of civilization is still kind of a mystery

Mound Builder Cultures

- Midwest between Appalacian Mtns. and Mississippi River
- Plenty of water from rivers, lakes, and rainfall
- Sticks, grass, leather, rocks helped with the construction of homes
- Created elaborate (extensive) mounds used to bury the dead/religious ceremonies