7 th Grade Social Studies Miss Liz Zeglin Room 267 Period 1 Only

About Me *Certified in social studies in PA since 2005 *First year teaching social studies at GSMS *Have taught language arts for seven years here at GSMS *Lived and traveled internationally for several years. (Dhaka, Bangladesh & Cairo, Egypt) *Taught all grade levels and multiple subjects (art, drama, English)

Social Studies Program *GSMS uses an innovative program called TCI: TCI “takes social studies online” Increases student engagement Differentiates instruction to all learners Aligned to state standards Is a collaborative curriculum Website: FROM: studies-textbooks.html

Textbooks *In class, we use hard copies of the textbook. *At home, students can log onto the online textbook using the instructions. *Please take a copy of the handout or check my website for the online directions.

Using Class Website/Accessing “Geography Alive” Text Online Every Sunday, I will update our social studies website. *To access: 1. Go to the GS Middle School website: 2. Click on “Faculty” 3. Find “Zeglin, Mary” 4. Click on Social Studies 7 on the left section for weekly plans 5. TO Re-read text at home: Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Click on 6. Then, find a social studies teacher and use their log-on name. I do not have one. Then, click on: Click Here to access Social Studies resources using the information below 7. Follow the directions. Click on the chapter to read the text.

Social Studies Procedures 1.Pledge of Allegiance/moment of silence 2.Attendance is taken and excuses need to be taken to the office 3.Pass out folders and textbooks. Students may take their folders home. However, they must bring them back to complete the Interactive Student Notebook. 4.Geoterms must be completed fully. Each box is one point. Students are encouraged to take their time and think. This assignment will be graded for each chapter. 5.Extra credit will be offered from time to time. 6.For big activities, we conduct them with the other 7 th grade social studies class on the stage. For each unit, there is a simulation activity that relates to the essential question of the lesson. 7.TCI lesson procedures: Preview, reading text, geoterms, reading notes, processing activity, exam 8.In addition to the chapters, students work on mapping labs.

Social Studies Curriculum Social Studies Big Ideas: 1. How do continuity and changes in human history influence society today? 2. How do the actions of citizens and governments affect each other? 3. How do economic considerations impact other aspects of society? 4.How does the geography of a place affect the human experience? Every chapter has an Essential Question that focuses the lesson. Students are challenged to use higher level thinking. The content is not to be memorized as facts but to facilitate understanding of the Big Ideas. For example, in Chapter 14, we learned about the European Union. However, the point was for students to learn about the concept of cooperation in international organizations. (Like the United Nations, etc.) So students are learning how to think and apply concepts to the world around them.

Topics of Study *Supranational Cooperation in the European Union *Population Dilemmas in Europe *Invisible Borders: Transboundary Pollution in Europe *Russia’s Varied Landscape: Physical Processes at Work *New Nation-States from the Old Soviet Empire Will They Succeed? *The Nile River: A Journey from Source to Mouth *Life in the Sahara and the Sahel: Adapting to a Dessert Region *Micro-entrepreneurs: Women’s Role in the Development of Africa *Nigeria: A Country of Many Cultures *Resources and Power in Post-apartheid South Africa *Oil in Southwest Asia: How “Black Gold” Has Shaped a Region *Istanbul: A Primate City Throughout History *The Aral Sea: Central Asia’s Shrinking Water Source *Waiting for the Rains: The Effects of Monsoons in South Asia *Tech Workers and Time Zones: India’s Comparative Advantage *Mount Everest: Climbing the World’s Tallest Physical Feature

Best Ways to Contact Me The best way to contact me is through or written note sent with your student. However, if you would prefer to speak to me, call the main office. I will call you back during my next planning period at 8:30-9:30 am. * Main Office: