1. Your Job Tonight Make sure to sign in and write down your phone number and email address before you leave social studies tonight Help yourself to some candy!!

2. Welcome to Middle School Social Studies Meghan Gottshalk

3. Social Studies Curriculum 5 th Grade Social Studies6 th Grade Social Studies American History Geography Skills Native Americans Explorers 13 Colonies New Nation World History Mesopotamia Egypt Greece Rome Middle Ages

4. About Mrs. Gottshalk BA in Education and History from Monmouth University MA in Education from Monmouth University 11 th year teaching at Bedminster School – Social Studies 5 th -8 th – Reading and Language Arts 6 th – 2 nd Grade

5. In the Classroom Rigorous lessons and activities – Aligned to common core, state, and district curriculum Emphasis on real-world application – How does what we are studying in history affect our lives today? Focus on higher order thinking skills – Questions that go beyond basic fact recall

6. Making History Come Alive 5 th Grade Example – Colonial children had many chores to help make their households run efficiently. Many of you have chores today. Do you think that the chores that you do in your house are as important as the chores colonial children had to do for their household? Why? 6 th Grade Example – King Tut became a pharaoh at the age of 9, which is only a few years younger than you. Imagine that you were given the same responsibility and became President of the United States. How would you handle this responsibility? Would you face the same hardships as King Tut?

7. Grading Tests, Essays, and Major Projects: 50% – Tests questions include: fill in the blank, short answer, and essays – Essays are usually written in class, but may need to be completed for homework – Projects are completed both in school and at home Homework and Class Work: 30% – Assignments must be completed on time – Tasks and assignments given in class are complete Quizzes and Binder Checks: 20% – Quizzes are given throughout the course of a unit/chapter – Binders are checked at the end of the unit/chapter

8. Contact Information Phone – (908) 234-0768 x278 Email – mgottshalk@bedminsterschool.org mgottshalk@bedminsterschool.org Teacher Website – Homework assignments – Test and quiz dates – Project and essay rubrics – Educational website links Home Logic – Check child’s progress in social studies

9. Educational Quotes “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” ~John Dewey “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” ~Pearl Buck “History teaches us the mistakes we are going to make.” ~Author Unknown