Today, we had the good fortune to have Kim Sheahan from the Spurlock Museum presenting in our social studies classes. Today's presentations looked at origin stories from around the world. Ms. Sheahan is not only the educational outreach coordinator for the Spurlock Museum, but she is also a professional storyteller. Students learned about origin stories from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, and the Philippines. From these stories, students were able to see common elements of origin stories that stretch across different cultures, and how these stories provide an insight into how these cultures tried to explain the natural world that surrounded them. On September 16, we will continue our partnership with the Spurlock Museum when we travel there to experience their Cultural Connections Program.
Today, we began a fun and engaging lesson called History as Mystery: The Headless Romans. In this lesson, we are given the facts that an archaeological tea has discovered 30 skeletons in York England that were buried 1,800 years ago during the Roman occupation of Britain. The mystery is that each of the skeleton had been beheaded and the skull was placed near the feet. Students learn that it takes a team of scientists (archaeologists, historians, bone specialists, dental experts, etc.) from a variety of different disciplines to help solve this mystery. Students have provided various claims for who they believe the headless Romans were:
-Prisoners of War -Slaves -Roman Soldiers -Native Peoples of Scotland We will continue our mystery on Thursday, Sept. 1. All social studies classes will be meeting in the library tomorrow for the first of many visits from the educators from the Spurlock Museum. Tomorrow's presentation will focus on origin stories, and how cultures from around the world have tried to explain how the Earth was created, and how people came to be on Earth. If your students came home today and told you that they did not do anything fun or exciting, well they must not have been in our class. Today was a very busy Monday. Students set up their Google Classroom accounts, logged into Mastery Connect (our new Standards Based Grading System) to take the Big History Unit #1 Pre-Assessment, and then watched the first half of David Christian's TED Talk: A History of Everything. In fact, I am amazed that we were able to get all of this accomplished in just 47 minutes. For any parents out there who have not seen David Christian's TED Talk, here is a link (it is definitely worth watching):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt6MZ3dJaoU We wrapped up our mini-unit on Reading Like a Historian, and the students have done a wonderful job of applying the skills and techniques that historians use to gather and analyze reliable evidence, and construct meaningful claims based on the best possible evidence. Students were able to explain and apply the core concepts of Sourcing, Close Reading, Contextualization, and Corroboration to our Lunchroom Fight Simulation to develop a claim about which student(s) should be suspended for the fight. Many students were able to complete their suspension reports during class today, so they are free and clear of homework this weekend. I will give students their Home Access Center (HAC) log-ins and passwords next week so they can begin checking their grades. The district should have sent a copy of the parent log-ins and passwords to you, so be looking for that in the mail. I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend.
Mr. Cain Today was a continuation of our mini-unit on Reading Like a Historian. We started off the class with Kahoot quiz on the main aspects of Reading Like a Historian. The students did a very good job of remembering how historians analyze sources of information, develop claims, and support their claims with direct evidence from the sources. We then moved our attention towards practicing the skills of Reading Like a Historian by conducting a simulation based on a lunchroom fight. Students were asked to be the principal of a school who is investigating a fight that took place in the lunchroom. They must wade through all of the sources of information about the fight, determine which sources are most reliable, and decide which student(s) if any, should be suspended for the fight. Moreover, students must also back up their claim (who is being suspend) with the evidence that best supports that claim. So far, students in all classes have only completed 3 out of the 10 sources, so we will be pick up with sources 4-10 tomorrow in class. While we don't have any additional homework for tonight, students do need to make sure they have their completed Who Am I? Worksheet and Autobiography Essay ready to turn in tomorrow. Students also need to return the signed Big History Course Syllabus, the Standards Based Grading Informational Letter, and the Spurlock Field Trip Permission Slip. Also, please don't forget that your parent essays (In a Million Words or Less) are also do tomorrow as well. Finally, please remember that students do not have school on Friday, August 26 (School Improvement Day for teachers). Have a great evening.
Mr. Cain So today we introduced the idea of Reading Like a Historian to our students, and all I can say is WOW. Each of the classes had some really engaging discussions about how we know about the past and how social scientist gather evidence to support or refute claims. Students provided many great examples of making claims and supporting claims in their day to day activities, and even gave some great examples of claims from actual historical events. Students also did a great job of following along and taking notes during the Reading Like a Historian note taking activity. Be advised though, there may be a POP QUIZ tomorrow at the start of class. Finally, students should be bringing home copies of informational materials that you will need to read over, sign, and return to class:
-Big History Course Syllabus -Standards Based Grading Informational Letter -Spurlock Field Trip Form AM -Spurlock Field Trip Form PM Have a good evening and remember that your In a Million Words or Less Essay is due on Thursday. Today, students went through an activity where THEY developed the student expectations for each of our social studies classes, as well as the expectations for their teacher, Mr. Cain. It was really awesome to see how high they set the bar for both the student expectations and for what they expect from me this year. Students also received their first homework assignments of the year, The Who Am I? Worksheet and the Autobiography Essay. These two assignments will be due on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at the start of class. Along with the student homework, I have also sent home an assignment for parents as well. Tonight, parents should be receiving the In A Million Words or Less Assignment which will also be due on Thursday, August 25, 2016. Parent, please feel free to e-mail your completed assignment to me directly (Mr.Cain), or you can send it in with your students if you prefer. I am looking forward to reading about your scholars and what insights you can provide for me to help make this year as productive as possible for them. Have a great evening.
Mr. Cain It is 3 days into the 2016-2017 school year and our 6th grade students have done a fantastic job making the transition to middle school. While lockers threw many of them for a loop on Wednesday, most have become masters of their combinations. They have also been real troopers with our beginning of the year math placement tests (four 80 minute tests in two days is never easy), with only an occasional moan or groan. Next week students will begin following their regular schedules, and can expect to begin seeing homework on a regular basis. Teachers will begin posting the weekly homework assignments on the 6th Grade Homework Website so be sure to check there if you are unsure of the evening's homework assignments. Be sure to check the following websites for helpful resources in:
Social Studies Writing Also, feel free to contact any of the team teachers with specific questions you might have about their classes or assignments: Mr. Cain (Social Studies) Mrs. Wolz (Writing) Ms. Cross (Reading) Ms. Richardson (Math) Mr. Drake (Science) Mr. Foster (Cross-Cat) |
AuthorMr. Cain teaches 6th Grade Big History at Edison Middle School in Champaign, Illinois. ArchivesCategories |