Mr

5/5-5/6

1)Primary Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about the primaries in North Carolina and Indiana.

2)Using the Political Map of the U.S. on pages A18-A19, determine the region and capital of North Carolina and
Indiana.

**This assignment is due Wednesday.

4/30-5/4

Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi Research Assignment

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1)Where was Gandhi born?

2)What was Gandhi's childhood like?

3)What was Gandhi's religion?

4)Describe how Gandhi used non-violent protests and civil disobedience to lead India to independence from Great Britain.

5)Why did Gandhi never win the Nobel Peace Prize?

6)What are the similarities between Martin Luther King and Gandhi?

7)How do you think Gandhi influenced future world leaders?

8)How did Gandhi get the nickname "Mahatma" and what does it mean?

**This assignment is due Monday (5/5).

Spring Break Assignment-Nobel Peace Prize Research Project

Answer the following questions about the Nobel Peace Prize.

1)Who is the award named after?

2)How long has the award been given?

3)Where is the award given?

4)Which Americans have won the award?

5)What is the importance of the award?

6)Who would you like to see win the award? Why?

7)What impact do you think Martin Luther King, Jr. winning the award had on the civil rights movement?

**This assignment is due on 4/28. Have a great spring break with your family and friends!

4/16

Watch tonight's Democratic candidate debate on ABC (channel 7) at 8 p.m. The highlights of the debate will be discussed tomorrow in class.

4/14

Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about a politician or political event.

4/11

1)Re-read pages 524-529.

2)Answer questions 4-7 on page 529.

3)Put the following words in a sentence.

-monsoon
-subcontinent

4/8-4/10

Using the map of South Asia on page 525 as a guide, draw your own map of South Asia. Your map must include a legend (map key).

Have fun! Be colorful! Be creative!

**This assignment is due Friday.

4/7

Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about the Olympic Torch Relay protests in Europe.

4/4

Today is the 40th anniversary of the death of the great American hero, Martin Luther King, Jr. Pretend that you work for a New York City newspaper and write a 1-2 paragraph editorial on the importance of King and his legacy.

**Due Monday.

3/31

Sports Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about the start of the Major League Baseball season.

3/26-3/30

Creative Writing Assignment

Write a 2-3 page account of you and 3 of your classmates' journey to the top of Mount Everest.
The following vocabulary words must be used in your story.

-summit
-frostbite
-avalanche
-crevasse
-expedition
-altitude
-yak
-sherpa

Have fun! Be creative! Feel free to include illustrations.

**This assignment is due Monday (3/31).

3/24-3/25

1)Re-read pages 518-521. Answer questions 1-3 on page 521.

2)Define the following words:

-peak
-trek
-adventure

3/19-3/23

March is Women's History Month!

Assignment: Research a famous woman and answer these questions...

1)What was her childhood like?

2)What time period was she most influential in?

3)Why is she famous?

4)What did she contribute to the world?

5)How did she make the world a better place?

*This assignment is due Monday (3/24).

3/17-3/18

1)Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about David Paterson (the new Governor of New York.)

2)Find out five important facts about David Paterson.

**This assignment is due Wednesday.

3/12-3/13

1)Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about yesterday's Mississippi primary.

2)Determine the following facts about Mississippi...

-the capital of Mississippi
-two major cities in Mississippi
-all the states that border Mississippi
-the major body of water that borders Mississippi

**This assignment is due Friday.

3/6

Civil Rights Movement Geography-Using the Political Map of the United States (on pages A18-A19), determine all the states of the South and their capitals.

1)Make a prediction (before you turn on the television) on which candidate will win each of the states holding primaries/caucuses tonight. The states are Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Republican candidates- Mike Huckabee, John McCain
Democratic candidates- Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

2)Determine which pundit (commentator/expert) on CNN or MSNBC is the most knowledgeable and explain why in 1-2 sentences.

3/3

"Showdown" Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about Tuesday's primaries/caucuses in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

2/29

The Little Rock 9-Answer the following questions with one paragraph for each.

1)Who are the Little Rock 9 and what did they try to do in 1957?

2)Why do you think the Little Rock 9 are still talked about today?

3)What is Central High School like 50 years later (2007)?

2/28

Define AND put each of the following words into a meaningful sentence.

-integrate
-federal
-enroll
-resistance
-confrontation
-comply

Watch the Hillary Clinton/Barack Obama debate at 9 p.m. on MSNBC.

1)For each candidate, write 3 quotes that you think are noteworthy.

2)Give each candidate a rating of 1-10 for their debate performance and explain why you gave them their score.

2/25

Campaign Trail Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about the 2008 presidential race.

Winter Break Project

Make a Black History Month flip book.

Have fun! Be Creative!

2/13-2/14

Make a Venn Diagram comparing Sheyann Webb and Rachel West.

**This assignment is due Friday.

2/12

Political Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about the Potomac Primaries (Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.) or any other political article.

If someone had not seen the movie, "Selma, Lord, Selma" what would you be able to tell them
about...

-Sheyann Webb
-Rachel West
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
-Jonathan Daniels
-Selma, Alabama, in 1965

Write one paragraph for each using details from the movie.

2/6-2/7

Super Tuesday Vocabulary!

Define AND put the following vocabulary words into a meaningful sentence.

-delegate
-projection
-headquarters
-precinct
-supporter
-endorse
-contender
-momentum

**This assignment is due Friday.

2/5

Super Tuesday Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about Super Tuesday.

2/1

The great American hero, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the inspirational leader of the Modern Civil Rights Movement.

If you were going to write Martin Luther King, Jr. a letter, what would you like to tell him about life in the United States in the year 2008 (forty years after his death in 1968). Do you think his goals, hopes, and dreams have been fulfilled? The letter must be 1-2 pages.

This assignment is due Tuesday.

1/30-1/31

1)What does Black History Month mean to you? Write a one-paragraph response.

2)Make a list of five topics you would like to discuss during Black History Month.

**This assignment is due Friday.

1/25

Read pages 120-121.

Answer questions 1-3 (Practice The Skill) on page 121.

1/22-1/24

Study for your school midterms.

Wednesday-Science
Thursday-Math
Friday-English Language Arts

1/18

Study your notes and the text book for Tuesday's Social Studies Midterm.

Here are some areas of the text book you should give particular focus to:

-Pages A2-A3 (Map Terms)
-Pages A18-A19 (U.S. Political Map)
-Pages A26-A27 (Geography Terms)
-Pages 371-373 (Ancient Mesopotamia/Sumer)
-Pages 408-411 (Ancient Egypt)

Enjoy your day off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

1/11

Pretend you are a campaign manager for one of the 2008 presidential candidates. Create a flier or brochure telling voters why they should choose your candidate.

Have fun! Be Creative! This assignment is due Monday.

1/9-1/10

Define AND put the following words into a meaningful sentence.

-incumbent
-campaign
-poll
-pundit
-prediction
-primary
-caucus
-nomination
-election
-volunteer

**This assignment is due on Friday.

1/7

Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about tomorrow's New Hampshire primary.
At the bottom of the homework page, predict which Democratic and Republican presidential candidate will win the primary.

**Reminder-If you are interested, remember that coverage of the New Hampshire primary will be available tomorrow on CNN, MSNBC, and other news stations.

Pick one Republican AND one Democratic candidate for president. For each candidate, answer the following questions:

1)How old are they?

2)What state are they from?

3)What current or former political positions have they held?

4)Where do they stand on some of the major (gun control, Iraq, global warming) issues?

5)Would you vote for them? Explain with details.

Here are SOME of the candidates:

Republican-Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Fred Thompson

Democratic-Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Joseph Biden

**This assignment is due on Monday.

Holiday Project

Create a diorama that depicts life in ancient Egypt OR Sumer.

Definition of diorama: a scene, often in miniature, reproduced in three dimensions by placing objects, figures, etc. in front of a painted or photographed background.

For ideas you might want to refer back to the text book.
-ancient Egypt (pages 408-411)
-ancient Sumer (pages 371-373)

A shoe box is suggested for your diorama.

Have fun! Be creative! This assignment is due on January 2, 2008.

12/14-12/17

Study pages 371-373 in the text book for Tuesday's quiz on ancient Mesopotamia/Sumer.

The Sumerians are credited with inventing the wheel about 5,000 years ago. The creation of the wheel is one of history's most important innovations as it changed transportation forever.

Assignment: List the top five inventions of all-time in order of importance. The following questions must be addressed for each of the inventions you have chosen.

1)Who made the invention?

2)What year (or time period) was the invention created?

3)What ways has this invention benefitted (helped) society?

4)Why did you choose that particular invention?

**This assignment is due on Thursday (12/20).

12/11-12/12

The following words have to do with ancient Mesopotamia (pages 371-373).

Put each of the words into a meaningful sentence.

-domesticate
-dike
-ziggurat
-cuneiform
-code
-irrigation
-innovation
-mud-brick

**This assignment is due on Thursday.

12/10

Oprah/Obama Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about Oprah Winfrey's support for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

12/7

Read page 373 in the text book. Answer questions 1 and 2 (Analyze the Value) on page 373.

12/4-12/6

Re-read pages 364-370. Answer questions 1-8 on page 370. Be sure to write the questions and put your answers in complete sentences.

*Remember to continue to check out the website, timeforkids.com

12/3

Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of an international (outside the United States) news story.

11/29-11/30

Study pages 358-370 in the text book for Monday's quiz on the Middle East (Southwest Asia).

11/27-11/28

Re-read the story, "A Walk Through Jerusalem on pages 358-361. Answer questions 1 and 2 on page 361.

**This assignment is due on Thursday.

11/26

Political Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about a politician or political event.

Thanksgiving Break Asssignment:

Keep up to date on current events over the holiday weekend.
Determine the 5 W's of a...

1)Local (New York City) news story.
2)National (United States) news story.
3)International (outside the United States) news story.

You must complete all three to get credit for the assignment.

Have a great holiday weekend with your family!

11/15

Extra Credit Opportunity!! The following assignment is OPTIONAL.

Watch tonight's Democratic presidential candidate debate on CNN at 8 p.m. Pick the candidate that you feel won the debate. Explain your reasons for picking that candidate using details from the debate.

11/14

Take a tour of the website, timeforkids.com and vote in the Poll of the Day.

11/9

Pretend that you work for The New York Times. Write a one-page review of the Egyptian legend, Gift of the Nile.

11/7-11/8

Define AND put the following words from Gift of the Nile into a meaningful sentence.

-custom
-mason
-tranquil
-prosper
-counsel
-dismay
-royal

**This assignment is due on Friday.

11/5

King Tut Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about the unveiling of King Tut's mummy in Egypt.

11/1-11/2

1)Write a one-paragraph response for each of the following questions that have to do with the National Geographic Egypt video.

-Would you like to be an Egyptologist?

-What are some things you learned about ancient Egypt from the video?

2)Start studying for Monday's quiz on ancient Egypt. The pages in the text book are 408-411.

10/30-10/31

Define AND put the following words into a meaningful sentence:

-quarry
-architect
-necropolis
-overseer
-excavate
-plateau
-limestone

**This assignment is due on Thursday.

10/29

Determine the 5 W's of a story that you find in the sports section of the newspaper. Be sure to include the article on your homework page.

10/26

Answer questions 1,3,5, and 7 on page 413. Be sure to write the questions and put your answers in complete sentences.

10/23-10/25

1)Study for Friday's quiz on North Africa (pages 400-405) and time lines (66-67).

2)Create a time line of the major events of your life. Have fun! Be creative! This assignment is due on Friday.

10/22

Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about a politician or political event.

10/19

Re-read pages 400-405 in the text book. Answer questions 1-6 on page 405. Be sure to write the questions and put your answers in complete sentences.

10/17-10/18

Refer to the homework posting from last night. Put each of the vocabulary words into a meaningful sentence. This assignment is due on Friday.

10/16

Find the definition for the following vocabulary words:

-citrus
-landscape
-vast
-traditional
-climate
-pipeline
-nomad

10/15

Determine the 5 W's of a news story of your choice. Be sure to include the article on your homework page.

10/10-10/11

Read pages 26-31 and answer questions 1-5 on page 31.

**This assignment is due Friday.

10/9

Western Hemisphere Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story that takes place anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

10/5

Use the almanac in the text book and list all the countries of Asia and their capitals.

10/4

Use the almanac in the text book and list all the countries of Europe and their capitals.

10/3

Put each of the following geography terms into a meaningful sentence.

-basin
-bay
-canyon
-cape
-cataract
-cliff
-desert
-dune

10/2

International Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story that took place outside the
United States.

10/1

Using the Almanac section in the back of the text book, list all the countries of Europe and their capitals.

9/27-9/28

How well do you know the 50 state capitals of the U.S.?

You will get your chance to prove how much you know on Monday's quiz on the state capitals.

Start studying tonight! Use the Political Map of the U.S. on pages A18-A19 in the text book.

Good luck on Monday!

9/25-9/26

Analyze the Political Map of Africa on page A8. List all the countries of Africa and their capitals.

**This assignment is due on Thursday.

9/20-9/21

Prepare for Monday's quiz on map terms and U.S. geography.

-Study all class notes.
-Study the map terms on pages A2-A3.
-Study the Political Map of the U.S. on pages A18-A19.

9/19

Determine what states you would drive through if you were going from...

1)Washington to Florida
2)California to Maine
3)Nevada to South Carolina
4)Indiana to Georgia
5)North Dakota to North Carolina
6)Minnesota to Louisiana
7)New York to Utah

Use the U.S. Political Map on pages A18-A19 to get your answers.

9/18

Political Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story about a politician or political event.

9/17

Today is Constitution Day!

Answer the following questions that have to do with the importance of the U.S. Constitution.

1)What would life be like if there were no laws in the United States?

2)What personal freedoms are guaranteed in the United States?

3)What would it be like to live in a country where the government did not protect the rights of its citizens?

9/12

Create a map of your neighborhood. Your map should include a title, legend (key), and compass rose.
Your map may also include any other map features that were discussed in class.

**This assignment is due on Monday.

9/10-9/11

1)Answer the following questions with complete sentences.

-How important is it to follow current events?

-Is it important to read the newspaper?

-Which of the following is the best news source? The choices are television, newspapers, magazines, or the internet.

2)Current Events-Determine the 5 W's of a news story that takes place in New York City. Be sure to include the article on your homework page.

The 5 W's stand for who, what, where, when, and why.

**This assignment is due on Wednesday.

9/6-9/7

Create your very own compass rose.

Have fun! Be creative!

This assignment is due on Monday.

9/5

Answer the following questions with one paragraph for each.

1)What is Social Studies?

2)Is the study of historical events important?