Week of 8/26
6th Grade: This week, the 6th-grade students will begin discussing the importance of studying history by identifying key concepts and reflecting on their significance. The key concepts we will be discussing are the following:
- Understanding the World
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Informed Decision Making
- Human Experience
- Hope for a Better Future
- Context for Current Events
- Research Skills
- Communication Skills
- Sense of Identity
- Leadership and Resilience
- Civic Life and Citizenship
Discussing these concepts will take up most of the week as it is of the utmost importance for 6th-grade students to gain a significant understanding of these topics before moving on to larger curriculum topics. To close the week, students will participate in a historical drawing activity called "Hydro History," where they will be asked to identify one era or one figure of Ancient World History and design water bottle stickers.
7th Grade: This week, the 7th-grade students will begin diving into American history by defining the characteristics of major eras in U.S. history from 1877 to the present and analyzing the characteristics of American national identity. Using these characteristics, they will discuss major turning points in American history and how we can interpret these turning points by using the "4 Questions of Continuity and Change." To close the week, students will review the seven key themes of American history and select one to write a short paragraph on.
8th Grade: This week, the 8th-grade students will start their Flag Unit. They will begin by researching and interpreting the meanings behind the colors and symbols on various flags. They will also analyze and compare the symbolic meanings of colors on different flags and interpret the symbolism behind popular color combinations. Students will participate in an online scavenger hunt to find similarities in specific design elements and symbols. To close the week, they will use their newfound knowledge of symbolism, cultural significance, and design principles to create a flag for the newly independent country of Freshland.
History Day: I am happy to announce St. Joseph's 2025 History Day Theme: Rights and Responsibilities. Last school year's History Day was such an amazing event, and I am excited to see how middle school students bring this theme to life. If you look at the bio of my homepage, you will find a Google document with possible themes for students to choose from—while students are not limited to choosing from the topics I picked out, this is a good starting point to get a preliminary idea of what they might want to do. Students will start discussing History Day in November, and more information will be provided in class and through email! If you have any questions about History Day before then, please let me know!