This Week in Social Studies

Hello, Paideia students and families!

I could really tell that it was nice outside this week, because everyone had so much more energy! It really felt great.

In 7th grade Social Studies this week we read to the end of Ch. 14 in The Truth About Sparrows, by Marian Hale. The best way I can think to describe this book to adults who haven't read it is to say that it is kind of like The Grapes of Wrath for younger readers; it portrays some of the main issues American families faced during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, but is from a child's perspective (12-year-old Sadie Wynn). Depending on the day, students read independently, in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class; we also have an audiobook version, which makes for a nice change of pace some days. We have been incredibly lucky to have Mrs. Kohler and Mrs. Munson (who happen to both be teachers!) volunteering to help lead small reading groups a few days a week. It's really wonderful because it gives students the opportunity to work with an adult reader, as well as in a small group where each student has more of a chance to share their thoughts with the group.

Students were quizzed over countries in Northern Africa, and pretested over countries in Northwest Africa; the next map quiz is next Friday, February 25th.

We also listened to some music from the 1920s, and watched a bit of some Charlie Chaplin silent films; more of that to come next week....

By the end of the quarter I aim for us to have discussed Women's Suffrage (check!), the Labor Movement (which we touched upon this week), Prohibition, the Harlem Renaissance, the Dust Bowl and Great Depression (which we are already learning about through The Truth About Sparrows, but will formally cover once we get to it chronologically); because of all the shortened weeks and the Chicago trip, I have a feeling the New Deal will have to get pushed off into Q4, but that's ok.


In 8th grade Social Studies this week, we almost finished reading Animal Farm. We will definitely finish it next week, and then we'll be ready to move on to One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, which is a Nobel Prize winning novel about a man's life in a gulag. As we have been reading Animal Farm we have been keeping a record of the allegorical connections between the characters and main events in the book and their symbolic counterparts in the Cold War era. We have also been watching a wonderful documentary (which you can rent from Netflix, if you're interested) entitled, The Singing Revolution, which chronicles the history of Estonian resistance to Soviet occupation. It is a really moving example of creative, peaceful protest.

Although we could go on and on and on learning about the Soviet Union, we will have to wrap it up at the end of next week, so that we can move on to learning about the Communist Revolution in China (Chairman Mao, etc.), and McCarthyism in the U.S.

Next quarter we will learn about different manifestations of the Cold War, such as the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race, Vietnam, and modern day North Korea.

8th graders were tested over states and capitals in the Northeastern region of the U.S., as well as Central American countries and capitals; they were pretested over states and capitals in the U.S. South, as well as major mountain ranges around the world. As we were pretesting we listened to music from the 1950s.

All 7th and 8th graders can be working on their "30 Things I Believe" assignment over the long weekend; basically the only requirements for this assignment are that the beliefs belong to the student, are positive, and are thirty in number. I already have a few turned in to me, and man! Are they inspiring. I really encourage you to read your child's when it is finished, and to share your own version with her/him.

Please remember that you can always view homework and due dates on my class Twitter account: MsHoodsHoodlums@twitter.com

Thanks so much for all your support! It was really fun to see so many of you at conferences!

Take care,
Leah Hood

30 Things I Believe & Legislative Draft Check-in

Hello, Paideia families!

2 quick updates:

1) This week (in both 7th & 8th grades) we are beginning an assignment called, “Thirty Things I Believe.” It’s pretty much what it sounds like—students will create a list of 30 personal beliefs that they hold at this time in their lives. Over the past few years I have noticed a pattern at this point in the school year, when we’re halfway through the year and we all have a bit of a case of the winter doldrums: Everyone gets low on energy, and is unusually down or negative! I have also found that this little project seems to help restore our sense of purpose and positivity. This assignment was inspired by the following story, from NPR a few years back: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99478226 . I really encourage you to listen to it, because the little boy’s voice is so darn cute :) I also encourage you to develop your own list of beliefs, to share and compare with your child’s.

2) Legislative Draft Project:
Here is roughly where your child should be at in this process:

*Should know the 3 states on her/his Legislative Team
*Should have found and printed off at least 6 articles and/or bills relating to environmental issues in her/his 3 states (students have had 2 class periods this quarter in which to complete this)

Next steps (have not been assigned yet):

*Find final 3 articles or bills (or some combination of the two)
*Begin written analyses of the issues reported in their news articles, and/or addressed in the action plans of the bills they have found

Hope that helps! Please get in touch with me with questions, concerns, or suggestions/comments.

Thanks!
Leah Hood