Back to School 2013 – 2014 Social Science – Pat Reed Welcome

Social Science 6 th grade Social Science This year we study the people of our world from Ancient Cultures to the Roman Empire, covering approximately 10,000 years.

Common Core …schools must prepare students for "jobs that do not yet exist, creating ideas and solutions for products and problems that have not yet been identified, using technologies that have not yet been invented." The CCSS emphasizes the skills that students will need both today and in the future to be successful. Linda Darling Hammond, Stanford University

Common Core This year marks the transition for our school district, as well as California and the nation, to a set of standards called Common Core. This year marks the transition for our school district, as well as California and the nation, to a set of standards called Common Core. Common Core is not a new idea. It simply means teaching critical thinking and analysis, using facts to lead to algorithms, so that our students will graduate from our schools with the ability to evaluate and make use of new information. Common Core is not a new idea. It simply means teaching critical thinking and analysis, using facts to lead to algorithms, so that our students will graduate from our schools with the ability to evaluate and make use of new information.

Common Core Of course, it’s not that simple. Of course, it’s not that simple. Students will be writing every day. Students will be writing every day. We will be evaluating primary sources – documents and artifacts – and coming to conclusions about what they are telling us. We will be evaluating primary sources – documents and artifacts – and coming to conclusions about what they are telling us. There is no one “right answer” in Common Core. Students will be justifying their conclusions, and writing persuasively, using evidence, to convince the reader. There is no one “right answer” in Common Core. Students will be justifying their conclusions, and writing persuasively, using evidence, to convince the reader.

Working Together We will be working mostly with partners, sometimes in groups of three or four. Group grades will be reflected as participation grades, but when there is an individual component, that will be a classwork or project grade. We will be working mostly with partners, sometimes in groups of three or four. Group grades will be reflected as participation grades, but when there is an individual component, that will be a classwork or project grade. Individual exams and quizzes will be given periodically. Individual exams and quizzes will be given periodically.

Resources The textbook, Discovering Our Past –Ancient Civilizations, will be one of the many references and resources we use in our study. The textbook, Discovering Our Past –Ancient Civilizations, will be one of the many references and resources we use in our study. We will also use sources on the internet, and printed text that I provide. We will also use sources on the internet, and printed text that I provide. We will study maps, charts, and artifacts – objects from the past. We will study maps, charts, and artifacts – objects from the past. We will be viewing videos – documentaries that give a visual experience of the past. We will be viewing videos – documentaries that give a visual experience of the past.

Resources Your best resource for keeping track of what we are doing, handouts from class and assignments is my Altimira Middle School website. Your best resource for keeping track of what we are doing, handouts from class and assignments is my Altimira Middle School website.

Student Work We will be keeping all student work, including their scoring rubrics, in their composition notebooks. We will be keeping all student work, including their scoring rubrics, in their composition notebooks. I will collect the notebooks every other week for recording grades. I will collect the notebooks every other week for recording grades. You can check their notebooks to make sure they are getting the assignments turned in to me on time. You can check their notebooks to make sure they are getting the assignments turned in to me on time.