9/30/19

Today students presented and took notes on their comparative governments jigsaw. If absent, touch base with your group or Mrs. Santos to get access to your group's posters when you return.

Flex time tomorrow will be quiet homework time. Students can work on their reading notes that are due Thursday.

Homework due Thursday: Read and take notes on chapter 3 sections 3-6 and chapter 4 section 4 of your textbook (3.3-3.6, 4.4).

Upcoming Dates:
10/3: Chapter 3 and 4 reading notes (see above)

9/27/19

Today students finished their comparative governments jigsaw posters.

Upcoming Dates:
9/30: Comparative Governments Jigsaw due

9/26/19

Today students worked in the library on their comparative governments research.

Upcoming Dates:
9/30: Comparative Governments Jigsaw due

9/25/19

Today students worked in the library to research their government types for their comparative governments jigsaw.

Comparative Governments jigsaw

Upcoming Dates:
9/30: Comparative Governments Jigsaw due

9/24/19

Today we played a power grab game. We then analyzed our game by looking at Power, Political Power Games, and Economic systems. Students then got into groups for our Comparative Governments jigsaw. Instructions are below. Due on Monday Sept 30.

Power and Economics notes

Comparative Governments jigsaw

Upcoming Dates:
9/30: Comparative Governments Jigsaw due

9/23/19

Today we took some time to get signed into the online version of our Civics textbook. We then introduce our Civics unit.

Civics intro

9/20/19

Today students took the Culture Unit Test. Grades will go in as 2 scores, one for multiple choice, one for the short answer section. If absent, please schedule a time to make up the test with Mrs. Santos (preferably during flex time!). :)

9/19/19

Today we discussed Maslow's Hierarchy. Students also received initial instruction on how to write a thesis statement and then practiced what they learned. Due today was the 5 themes of Geography mind map.

Maslow class notes can be found in the 5 themes powerpoint from Tuesday.

Thesis Statements notes

Tonight was also curriculum night! Parents, you can find our presentation below.

Curriculum night presentation

Upcoming Dates:
9/20: Culture and Religions Unit Exam

9/18/19

Since today was an extended learning day, students spent most of the class period working with Mr. Smith on LA (yesterday was the opposite).

Homework due Thursday: 5 Themes mind map

Upcoming Dates:
9/19: 5 Themes mind map due
9/20: Culture and Religions Unit Exam

9/17/19

Today we discussed the 5 Themes of Geography. Students then worked to create a visual mind map of the 5 themes. Instructions and example are in the ppt.

5 Themes of Geography class notes (we will discuss Maslow on Thursday)

Homework due Thursday: 5 Themes mind map

Upcoming Dates:
9/19: 5 Themes mind map due
9/20: Culture and Religions Unit Exam

9/16/19

Today students worked in groups to create a triple venn diagram for the Abrahamic religions. If absent, use the instructions on the Islam ppt to create a triple venn on a piece of printer paper. See Mrs. Santos if you have any questions.

Upcoming Dates:
9/20: Culture and Religions Unit Exam

9/13/19

Today we discussed the origins of Islam. Students also turned in their cultural perspective paragraph and their scavenger hunt.

Islam class notes (Remember the Venn diagram we will do in class on Monday)

Upcoming Dates:
9/20: Culture and Religions Unit Exam

9/12/19

Today we discussed the origins of Christianity. We also had a reading quiz. If absent, see Mrs. Santos for makeup.

Christianity class notes

Don't forget to bring your cultural perspective paragraph tomorrow!

Upcoming Dates:

9/13: Islam Reading (ignore the reading questions. Just take your usual notes)
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due
9/13: Cultural Perspective Paragraph (see Abraham ppt from Monday)

9/11/19

Today was an extended learning today. Students worked with Mr. Smith on LA today. (6th period)

Upcoming Dates:
9/12: Rise of Christianity Reading

9/13: Islam Reading (ignore the reading questions. Just take your usual notes)
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due
9/13: Cultural Perspective Paragraph (see Abraham ppt from Monday)

9/10/19

Today we discussed the origins of Judaism. It was also our first extended learning day so well done surviving the 80 minute periods!

Judaism class notes

Remember that both the Christianity (due Thur) and Islam (due Friday) readings are fair game for a reading quiz! So take good notes!

Homework due Thursday: Rise of Christianity reading

Upcoming Dates:
9/12: Rise of Christianity Reading

9/11: Syllabus due
9/13: Islam Reading (ignore the reading questions. Just take your usual notes)
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due
9/13: Cultural Perspective Paragraph (see Abraham ppt from Monday)

9/9/19

Today we continued our study of culture. We shared our charts and students were assigned a cultural perspective paragraph that will be due on Friday. (see class notes below for details).

We also began our study of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as part of our culture study. Students discussed how religion can affect our actions/choices and thus events in history. We then read the story of Abraham in groups to get the foundation for these three religions. Students also turned in their Seattle Culture charts.

Abrahamic religions intro class notes

Story of Abraham (if absent, read and answer the questions at the top of each section in your notes)

Homework due tomorrow: Read and take notes on the Origins of Judaism reading

Upcoming Dates:
9/10: Judaism reading
9/11: Syllabus due
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due
9/13: Cultural Perspective Paragraph

9/6/19

Turnitin.com codes:
5th Period Class ID: 22950937       Enrollment Key: Asia

6/7 Period Class ID: 22207057      Enrollment Key: Africa

Today we discussed the importance of perspective and bias when looking at culture. We discussed the rituals of the Nacirema peoples which surprise! turned out to be American spelled backwards. :)

We then looked at the 8 Cultural Universals or Elements of Culture (click link for definitions). We looked at examples of each one and discussed the questions the elements try to answer.

Cultural Universals Class Notes (Don't worry about the Cultural perspective paragraph listed on the first slide. I will introduce it on Monday, I just gave a heads up about it today).

Cultural Universals definitions

Homework Tonight: Fill in examples for each of the Cultural Universals to describe Seattle area culture (Ex: Starbucks under Economy). On the bottom of the chart, link below, write examples of elements of your personal control that differ from the mainstream. (Ex: the dominant language of the area is English. If you speak Spanish or Chinese at home you would write this in personal culture/language box). Some boxes for Seattle will have many, others may only have 1 or 2. Some of your personal culture boxes may remain empty.

To those that have already filled out the Who am I survey (link below) Thank you!.

Upcoming Dates:
9/9: Seattle Culture Chart
9/11: Syllabus due
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due

9/5/19

Today students had pictures taken. We also worked on the Village of 100 activity and discussed cultural perspective to introduce our first unit. (No makeup required)

Homework tonight is to read the Nacirema article  (link below) about the ritual of a tribal people. Highlight/underline things that represent their culture. What do they appear to value? What drives their actions? Write your thoughts and questions in the margins.


Upcoming Dates:
9/6: Nacirema reading (directions above)
9/11: Syllabus due
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due

9/4/2019

Welcome to 9th grade! Today we went over classroom expectations and got to know each other a little. When you visit by website (which I encourage you to make a daily habit), you will find:
      -A brief description of what was discussed in class (including a link to the day's powerpoint if applicable in case of absence or you need to add to your notes)
      -A description of the homework which will include links to any needed documents
      -A list of upcoming important dates, including links to important documents


Today students were given a syllabus (click link below for a digital copy). Please read this with your parent/guardian, sign the last page and return this (the last page) to Mrs. Santos or Mr. Smith no later than September 11th.

We also handed out the 9th grade scavenger hunt (link below). Feel free to work on this with a friend (must turn in separate sheets). This will help you get a good grasp on where to find important things (like your teachers!) so that you have the tools necessary to succeed in high school. This will be due no later than September 13th, though you can turn it in whenever you finish.

Finally, please fill out the Who Am I survey linked below. This helps me see a little of who you are and how I can best help you as a learner. Be honest and thorough! I do look at these and try to apply them to my teaching to make our classroom environment successful.

Upcoming Dates:
9/11: Syllabus due
9/13: Scavenger Hunt due
9/13: Santos Who Am I Survey due