Citizen Handbook

We have been discussing the rights and responsibilities people have as a citizen of this country.  You are going to create your own citizen handbook.  Imagine you are leaving directions to people in the future about what it means to be a good citizen of the U.S.  What would you tell them? 

Write in PARAGRAPH form your directions for the national, state, city, school, and home levels.  Each section should have at least 5 GOOD and complex sentences.  Remember you are giving advice! 

1.    Write in complete sentences.

2.    Make sure to use rights and responsibilities from your pyramid.

3.   On the cover you can draw or insert a picture that represents citizenship (ex: eagle, flag, White House, or even yourself)

4.  On each blank page in your book you must insert at least three pictures for each section (nation, state, city, etc.).  The pictures must reflect what you have written about citizenship.

This will count as a project grade.  Due Monday, December 9, 2013.

 

 

Ancient China: Life of a Terra Cotta Warrior

8th Grade Extra Credit: 

 Terra Cotta Soldier Diary

  

Ancient China: The life of a Terra Cotta Soldier

We have begun learning about Ancient China and its amazing history.  Part of that history is the discovery of the Terra Cotta soldiers.  For this assignment you are to assume the identity of a soldier and tell the about life in Ancient China.

You must give your terra cotta warrior a voice.  Use the diary entry to tell about your soldier's life.  Use the information you have learned to create a story about life in Ancient China from the viewpoint of the terra cotta warrior.  Remember to use factual information and the rest is up to your imagination.

 

1.  Give your warrior a name.

 

2.  Use at least three factual events, people, or places.

 

3.  The story must be relevant and have a historical viewpoint.

 

This due Monday, March 9, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geography: The Epic of Gilgamesh

You have received a copy of the several stories from the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic story from Mesopotamia.  Read the stories and complete the following:

Answer each critical thinking question in COMPLETE SENTENCES and in full detail. The answers to these questions are due Wednesday, November 13-, 2013. They MUST be typed. You must use size 12, Times New Roman Font, and double-space. Type each question out and answer the questions using information from the text as well as your notes. This will count as a Test/Project grade.   WRITE THIS IN ESSAY FORM.  You should have total of at least five paragraphs.

Questions:

1. What do these stories tell you about the role the gods played in the lives of humans?

2. Gilgamesh was a cruel ruler in the beginning. What do his stories say about the ability of humans to change?

3. What are noble qualities in Gilgamesh that the Mesopotamians found admirable? Give at least two and give at least one detail from the story to support each quality. Tell why the detail you chose supports the quality you chose.

4. Do these stories paint the gods in a favorable light? Explain your answer and use at least three details from the stories to support your answer.

5.What aspects of culture can you find in these stories? Do these stories reflect the beliefs, values, religion, etc., of the ancient Mesopotamians? Give at least three reasons to support your answer and be specific.

Civics: Should Teens Be Tried As Adults?

In the article we read in class, the author has a definite opinion about teens being tried as adults.  You are to write an argumentative essay stating what you believe.  You can use arguments the author uses and state your own.  Make sure to include the following:

• Clearly state your opinion on the topic question.  DO NOT start your essay with "Yes, I do" or "No, I don't".  Be specific.
• State at least four reasons to support your opinion.  You can only use two reasons from the article.
• Give at least two REBUTTAL reasons and state why you believe these are wrong.
• Make sure to end your essay with a conclusion sentence.

This is due Wednesday, November 13, 2013.  It MUST be typed, size 12, Times New Roman, double-spaced.  This is worth a TEST grade.

Social Studies Fair Outline - Due Friday, November 8th!!!

You are required to submit an outline for your Social Studies Fair research paper.  The outline should reflect topic you submitted to me last week.  You should have an example of the outline in your notebook.  Below you will find the sample out line we did in class. Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding this outline. 
 

Why did the South Want to Keep Slavery in the U.S.?

I.                  Introduction  

a.      State your topic

b.    Why is this topic important to history?

c.     Why would it be interesting to you?

d.    List your 3 main ideas

 

II.               Body of the Paper

a.     First main idea-Southern economy       

                                                             i.      1^st detail/supporting evidence-south needed slavery to survive

                                                          ii.      2^nd detail/supporting evidence-could not afford to hire immigrants to do work

                                                       iii.      3^rd detail/supporting evidence-built on slave labor

b.    Second main idea-Cotton as a cash crop

                                                             i.      1^st detail/supporting evidence-invention of the cotton gin

                                                          ii.      2^nd detail/supporting evidence-picking cotton was labor intensive

                                                       iii.      3^rd detail/supporting evidence-was a year round crop

c.     Third main idea-Southern honor/states’rights

                                                             i.      1^st detail/supporting evidence-government can’t tell the states what to do

                                                          ii.      2^nd detail/supporting evidence-Southern honor demanded succession

                                                       iii.      3^rd detail/supporting evidence-North did not have the South’s interests at heart

I.                  Conclusion

a.     Summarize your paper

b.    Restate your three main ideas- Economy, cotton and states rights

c.     State what you have learned (for this outline state what you have learned so far; at least two sentences)

II.               Citations (if needed)

III.           Bibliography

a.     State your sources

b.    At least five

c.     Only two from the internet

SOCIAL STUDIES FAIR PROJECT TIME!!!

Social Studies Fair Projects are due December 11, 2013.  All students need to begin working on their project ASAP.!!! 

REMEMBER:  Topics for your projects need to be submitted by Thursday, October 21st.  Here are several sites that you can review to help you choose your subject matter:

Social Studies Fair Project Ideas

http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/northwst/news/0506/ssfair/index.asp

 http://mysite.cherokee.k12.ga.us

http://www.life123.com/parenting/education/social-studies/social-studies-fair-ideas.shtml

http://grantcountyschools.com/grant5/social_studies_fair_topics_and_r.htm

http://www.questgarden.com/83/76/2/090620213015/process.htm

Social Studies Fair Timeline

All students from 7A and 7D are required to complete a Social Studies Fair Project.  For the next month and a half students should be working diligently on completing this assignment.  They will be taking notes for the next several days on what they will need and what is expected.  All students will also have a timeline in their notebooks which list when assignments related to the project should be handed in.  These will be counted as homework and/or classwork grades.  Please see the following timeline below:

 

Assignment	Due Date
Hand in a TOPIC for approval	10/31/2013
Outline ·        Consists of main ideas you want to include in your paper	11/08/2013
Abstract ·        250 word summary of research paper ·        This project is about…. ·        This project will describe…. ·        This project will show…. ·        Further, the project will show…. ·        In addition, it will explain…. ·        Information for this project was secured…. ·        This project intends to demonstrate….	11/15/2013
Hand in a list of your sources ·        At least five sources	11/20/2013
Turn in revised Abstract with all corrections made	11/25/2013
Develop Display Board (complete this on your own; DO NOT hand in)	11/27/2013
Plan layout for display board (complete this on your own; DO NOT hand in)	11/27/2013
Plan a creative student made model  (complete this on your own; DO NOT hand in)	12/02/2013
Display board, research paper, model brought into school	12/11/2013

Geography: Immigration and the American Culture

Immigration and the American Culture

You took notes on the documentary “Island of Hope, Island of Tears”. This told of many push and pull factors that led many immigrants to come to leave their own countries and come to America. 

You are to write an essay that explains these push and pull factors.  Using your notes, explain what drove many immigrants to make the crossing across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. This essay should include the following:

• Describe in detail the push and pull factors

• Use the images you saw to further explain the push factors.  Use examples.

• What do you think the video meant by this being the “largest human migration” in history?

• Why do you think they made the trip under the horrible conditions to come to America?

• Why do you think Ellis Island was called the Island of Hope and Island of Tears?

• Use a true story of an immigrant and relate it to the experiences told about in the documentary.

• Research an immigrant’s story and describe why the person left, what it was like traveling here, and what their experiences were like once they got here (diary entries would be a good place to start).

This MUST be typed, size 12, Times New Roman Font, and double-spaced and will be DUE Tuesday, October 15, 2013.  This will count as a TEST grade.