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Resources

On this page you will find Adobe Acrobat links to Humanities Assignments.  Please use the blue guide table to find the subject area, then scroll through the appropriate table to find the assignment for which you are looking.  Click on the blue links to go to the document.

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Table of Contents

Activity

Click on the link below to get to the appropriate table

Description

 

Writing- Powerful Words

For help with your writing conventions and powerful words.

Writing- Conventions

Our review of the Parts of Speech begins with nouns and pronouns and is followed by adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Also includes a handy-dandy checklist.

Medieval European History Resources

An in-depth investigation of the culture, society, politics, economics, and arts of the medieval period in Europe.

 

Islam Resources and Video Project

 

Our study of Islam covers the life of Muhammad, spread of the religion, Muslim contributions to society, the crusades, and modern cultural, social, political concepts. 
Africa Literature Circles There Literature Circles provide opportunities for boys to read books about modern experiences of young adults in various African countries.  Boys will choose their book and discuss using Literature Circle strategies.
 

Africa History Unit

 

A study of the people, culture, art, economy, health, and challenges of African countries. We will be monitoring current events, communicating with people, and exploring what it means to live in Africa today.

 

Japan History Unit

 

A study of Japan from ancient to contemporary period with a focus on the Medieval Samurai Period. 
Coming of Age Literature Circles Resources

Literature Circles enable students choose one of four books to read and discuss with a small group. Each of the  four coming-of-age options focus on the experience of young men learning important life lessons.  The books address meaningful and provocative issues around character development, including bullying, popularity, political activism, and environmental consciousness. 

Free-Choice Reading

The goal of the free-choice reading is to encourage you to enjoy good books on a regular basis.  You may read books of your own choosing, as long as they are at your reading level.  We also want you to try genres that you normally do not read as well.  We are happy to make book suggestions for you. 

 

A short, Short Story Unit

 

An one-month unit on the short story in which students will investigate 8 elements of story telling, including character, plot, setting/atmosphere, point of view, irony, symbol, and theme.

Medieval European Fair

For all things Medieval: Castles, European Fairs, and more!

Touching Spirit Bear Webquest

A Restorative Justice Webquest for Ben Mikaelsen's novel Touching Spirit Bear.

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Conventions

Writing Checklist for Conventions

The Checklist

A helpful list to make sure all your lower case j's are dotted.

Nouns and Pronouns

Not All People Value Anteaters, Particularly In Cars.

A visual and kinesthetic memory strategy for the parts of speech.
Mad Lib Nouns A twist on the old Mad Lib game that requires proper use of nouns.
Noun Review A worksheet that reviews the types of nouns: proper, common, singular, plural and possessive.
Pronoun Practice A worksheet that reviews pronoun/antecedent relationship as well as the PERSON  of a pronoun
Pre-Quiz Noun and Pronoun Review A comprehensive review that models the quiz format.  An answer key was also provided in class.

Adjectives

Definitions and Practice Class notes to be used for defining types of adjectives: proper, indefinite, and demonstrative.
Adjective Review A review to prepare you for the quiz on Thursday, October 26.

Verbs

Intro to Predicates and Diagramming  
 

Simple Subject + Main Verb

 

 
Verb Phrase Student Notes  
Verb Phrase Practice  

Adverbs

Introduction to Adverb Notes  
 

Sidewalk Chalk Diagramming

 

 
Tricky Adverb Practice Handout  

Prepositions

Cheat Sheet/Introduction Use this to guide you as you learn and practice Prepositions
Introduction: Class Practice A half sheet to help identify prepositions
Homework  
Practice Diagramming Prep Phrases  
Prepositional Phrase Diagramming Practice Quiz  

Games!

Grammar Gorillas Nouns and Verbs
Clean up the Beach Nouns and Verbs
Noun Dunk Nouns
Rooting Out Words Prefixes and Suffixes
Short Circuit Prefixes and Suffixes
Building Blocks Vocabulary Builder
Trigger Finger Vocabulary Builder
Build the Clubhouse Sentence Correction
Grammar Bites A Hodgepodge of Potpourri
Grammar Blast A Mixed Bag of Mélange
Paint By Idiom Idioms!
Edit Dan's Copy Punctuation
Fish 'em Up Spelling
Free Rice General Grammar
Free Rice Vocabulary

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Vocabulary and Spelling

Vocabulary

Spelling

List of Homophones A comprehensive list of homophones. 
   

 

 

 

 

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Coming of Age Literature Circles

Literature Library: Reference Documents and Tools

Table of Contents A reference for Literature Folders to help keep you organized

Calendar

A general and tentative outline of assignments, readings, and dates.

Parent Letter A letter explaining Literature Circles and parents' role in guiding students.
Role Chart and Description of Roles

The "GO TO" guide for students during Literature Circles.  Includes the schedule of readings, the assignment of roles, and the description and questions corresponding to the roles.

Book Assignments and Groups Groups for 6A and 6B
Bookmark A student resource for keeping track of place and reading assignments.
Discussion Rubric The rubric that teachers use to evaluate student discussions.  Teachers will evaluate approximately 6 students/session.  Each student will be evaluated twice during the course of literature circles.
Switch-A-Roo Activity A class activity in which boys pair with someone reading a different book and discuss.
Asking Good Questions A guide to the differences between plot-based questions, analytical questions, and just plain "bad" questions.
Discussion Etiquette Chart A guide to discussing what a good discussion looks and sounds like.

Discussion Logs

Regular (Tuesday) Discussion Log
  • The note-taking guide for each TUESDAY Literature Circle meeting.   These are to help students during discussion, and are the teachers' way to check in with students' reading comprehension. 
  • Teachers will collect and grade each regular discussion log. At the end of literature circles students will have 5 of these (9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, and 10/24). 
  • Graded discussion logs should be filed in the literature circle folder.
Friday Discussion Log
  • A more "laid-back" version of the regular discussion log.  This discussion log WILL NOT BE COLLECTED for a grade and is provided solely to guide students' roles in their discussion.
  • At the end of literature circles students will have 4 of these.
  • Friday discussion logs will be observed as part of the "prepared" section of discussion observation rubric.
  • Friday discussion logs should be filed in the literature circle folder.
Questions for discussion Preparation for "Asking Good Questions" Lesson.  Due on Tuesday, October 17

Self-Reflections

Pre-Lit Circle Self Reflection

A pre-reflection to assess excitement, apprehension, and goals.
Post-Discussion Self Reflection A reflection that assesses the nature of students' discussion.

Journals

First Journal Response: "So far . . . " "So far . . . " my opinion of this book is___.  Students should type a 1/2-1 page response, considering characters, plot, theme, and style of the literature circle book.
Second Journal Response: Character Portrait Create an individual view of a character from your novel.
Reader Retention An in-class writing activity.
Journal 3: Asking Analytical Questions  

Final Project

Preparation: Outline Notes Instruction and rubric for outline notes
Choices and Rubric for Final Project A description of the project choices and rubric for expectations.

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Free-Choice Reading

Literature Library

Introduction and Instructions General instructions and guidelines for Free-Choice Reading
Choosing a Book Some tips on how to choose a book based on your reading level, interests, genre, etc.

Assignments

Events Chart Due each Friday for a 20 point writing grade, Events Charts will include 3 important, interesting, or otherwise notable events from your reading that week.
Reading Log Due each Tuesday for a 15 point homework grade, Reading Logs will chronicle your reading including date, time spent reading, title, author, and pages.

 

 

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Short Story Unit

Introduction Includes a brief explanation of the unit and the contents of the literature folder
Working Terms List Lists the 8 literary terms that we will be identifying in the unit
Wonder Word List A handout that allows students to list words that they do not know from the stories.
Questions for "The Sniper" by Liam O'Flaherty Plot-based questions for "The Sniper" to guide student's understanding of character, conflict, climax, and resolution.
Story Map A chart to help students understand character, conflict, climax, and resolution.
TV for Homework: Plot Line Students should watch 30 minutes of TV and complete the handout to map the plot.
Death by Scrabble By Charlie Fish, edited by Casie Hall
Question about "Death by Scrabble" Careful reading and critical thinking questions
Point of View Chart Organize the first and various third person point of view.

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Literature Circles: Africa

 

 

Literature Circles are an approach to reading that allows students to own their learning by choosing one of four books to read and discuss with a small group.  This year, each of our four action-adventure book options focus on the life experience of young adults in various African countries.  Many of the books touch on powerful and provocative issues, including political turmoil, oppression, social disorder, and various coming of age experiences.  We invite you to engage in frequent conversations with your son about these topics.

THE BOOKS

  • A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer
    • An adventure novel about a young girl from Zimbabwe who tries to escape an arranged marriage.
  • Chain of Fire by Beverly Naidoo
    • An adventure novel that address political and social issues in South Africa by chronicling the experience of young students who speak out against apartheid.
  • The Other Side of Truth by Beverly Naidoo
    • An adventure story that addresses “the critical themes of political oppression, exile, Africa, and childhood,” through the lives to two Nigerian teens who are smuggled from their country to London.
  • No Turning Back by Beverly Naidoo
    • An adventure novel about a 12-year-old South African boy who flees domestic abuse to live the tough life of the malunde, or homeless boys, on the streets of Johannesburg.

 THE PROCESS

The boys design their own reading schedule with the members of their group.  Our expectation is that they are finished with the novel by March 23 having reached an assigned mid-way point by March 2.  In class, we will host mini-lessons that address common themes and techniques used in all of the novels, and the boys will then discuss the book with their group and write journal responses.  Please refer to the attached calendar for a general and tentative  overview of our schedule.

 

THE RESOURCES

Scheduling of Readings

Calendar

Bookmarking

Note-Taking Rubric

Reader Response 1

Reader Response 2

Reader Response 3 and CIA Dossier

Reader Response 4

Design A Cover (Reader Response 5)

Reader Response 6 Theme

Figurative Language

Final Project: Africa Literature Circles

Student Created Rubric

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medieval European History

Medieval European Fair  Become an expert on a particular subject in Medieval Europe.
Feudal Times Paragraph Write about how the feudalism experiential learning activity made you feel.
Castle Project Instructions Due on Wednesday, October 17.  A "floor plan" style castle project.  Use the Castle Parts Vocabulary to help you.
Castle Parts Vocabulary A list of castle parts and definitions.  The original handout also has a layout.
Hundred Years' War (Game Shows and Long Bows) The Rubric for the Game Shows and Long Bows event on Friday, Oct. 3rd.

 

Islam

Preview Notes for Islam Study A note guide for Introduction to Islam in History Alive
Survivor Game: Desert, Oases, Coastal Plains, Mountains A "survivor-style" competition in which student act-out adaptations for the environments that exist in the Arabian Peninsula
Muhammad Re-Illustration A re-illustration of Demi's Muhammad.
Notes: After the Death of Muhammad An explanation of the events following Muhammad's death, including the origin of the Sunni/Shi'ite conflict, the Umayyad Dynasty, and the beginnings of Muslim Spain.
Spread of Islam Essay Instructions A five-paragraph persuasive essay on the spread of Islam.  This document includes general instructions, guiding questions, method, format, and the rubric.
Sample Essay A sample written by Ms. Hall on the Fall of the Roman Empire.  Use this to help you understand the expectations.
Sample Pre-Writing A sample of the note-taking that you will do to pre-write for your essay.
Note-Taking Handout The form that you will use to take notes on Chapter 8 in History Alive.  This will prepare you for the Pre-Writing Handout.
Pre-Writing Chart A Chart to help you organize your ideas for the 5-paragraph format.
Peer Editing Worksheet An detailed checklist to guide peer editing.
The Story of the Crusades A questions handout to guide the reading of Chapter 11.3
Crusades Competition Panel An activity inspiring investigation of key historical figures from the crusades.  Presentations will take place on Monday, January 8.

Islam Video Project

Raising awareness and erasing misconceptions about Islam and Muslims through documentary film clips. 

INSTRUCTIONS General instructions to guide the survey, research and writing process.  These instructions should be a reference for all questions.
CALENDAR Guide to due dates, homework, and class activities.  Is subject to adjustment based on student needs.

TOPIC PREFERENCES

A list and description of all topics
SURVEY QUESTION GUIDE A resource for writing good survey questions.  Use this as a rubric for your survey question.

RESEARCH NOTES TEMPLATE

A working document that should be saved from communities to guide your note taking.
MOVIE TEXT TEMPLATE A working document that should be saved from communities to guide your slide writing

RUBRIC

Grading rubric for Movie

http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm

http://www.al-islam.org/

http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/

http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp

 

Links to appropriate, teacher-approved websites for research.
Suggested Slide Order  

 

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Africa Unit

 "Tour of Africa" Film Shorts Festival Instructions and Rubric
Sample Videos Japan and Ireland

Cultural Legacy of West Africa

Think/Pair/Share Handout for 15.3-15.4
GDP: The Numbers of Africa A PowerPoint explanation
Signs of Power Lesson In class activity
South Africa and Apartheid A PowerPoint
Why should American students study Africa? Writing an Introduction: Instructions and Rubric
Resources for Africa Writing Assignment Click here for Website resources

 

 

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Japan

Shinto PowerPoint  
Modern and Contemporary Japan  
Study Guide for Japan Test 2007  
Project Katana  

 

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Touching Spirit Bear Webquest

Did you know that Circle Justice is real and has been around for many hundreds of years? Circle Justice is one part of a larger movement in the world known as Restorative Justice.

Your mission today is to explore the following websites to learn more about Restorative Justice. You may work collaboratively at your table or on your own. We will compare notes at the end of class.

Directions: Explore the following websites and answer the questions on your worksheet. Please use complete sentences.

http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/PUBS/implementing/contents.html

Restorative Justice

www.restorativejustice.org/intro/tutorial-introduction-to-restorative-justice/processes/circles

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/courts/restorative-justice/welcome.htm

For Question 3:

Click here for a graphic representation of Restorative Justice [Quicktime MOV, 6MB]

 

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