Course Syllabus

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Welcome to Social Studies. I am looking forward to another exciting year of learning! I have been teaching at Brown Summit since 2008 and am honored to be given the opportunity to be a part of such an outstanding school.

In 7^th Grade, we will be studying world history beginning with the Renaissance and moving through to the Modern Era. The units are broken down as follows: 1st Quarter - Unit 1 – Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution; Unit 2: Exploration; Unit 3: Enlightenment; 2nd Quarter - Unit 4: Revolutions; Unit 5: Industrial Revolution and Response; Unit 6 Imperialism; 3rd Quarter - Finish Unit 6; Unit 7: World Wars; Unit 8: Post War Years; 4th Quarter -  Unit 9: Modern World; Review

8^th Grade will be studying United States history with an emphasis on the role North Carolina has played in our nation’s development. The units are broken down as follows: 1st Quarter - Unit 1: Exploration and Colonization; Unit 2: Causes of Revolution and the Revolutionary War; 2nd Quarter - Unit 3: Constitutional Foundations; Unit 4: North Carolina and National Expansion; Unit 5: Civil War and Reconstruction; 3rd Quarter - Finish Unit 5; Unit 6: Industrialization and Immigration; Unit 7: WWI and Roaring 20s; Unit 8: The Great Depression and WWII; 4th Quarter - Finish Unit 8; Unit 9: Post War Politics and Society; Unit 10: Modern USA (1970-Present); Review

Information about homework, classwork and tests can be accessed in Canvas. Locating me under Staff on the Brown Summit Website will direct you to my Canvas page.  

Thank you for entrusting me to teach your child!      

Sincerely,   Mrs. Perdue

Materials needed for Social Studies:

• Composition book
• Writing utensils and paper
• Lenovo Notebook in class fully charged

Social Studies Weight Distribution for grades

Classwork - Even though some classwork will be fully graded for points, please note that not all classwork will receive a score. Classwork not finished in class will be expected to be completed and turned in.

Assessments - There may be formative quizzes and assessments throughout the unit with a summative assessment at the end of the unit.

Homework – Two assignments each Unit will count as Homework…3-Step Vocabulary and the Study Guide. Please note that this is the one assignment where the school-wide policy of receiving a “0” for not being turned in on the due date will apply. No exceptions!

• Vocabulary - All Units will have a vocabulary assignment which will be available on the first day of the unit. This assignment builds the foundation for the rest of the unit and should be the first task completed by the student.

• Study Guide – All Units will have a Study Guide that is due the day before the Unit Exam.

Inquiry Based Projects (IBP) - Inquiry Based Projects are student-centered with an active learning approach that focuses on questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. It's associated with the idea "involve me and I understand." The process includes ask, investigate, create, discuss, and reflect. The projects will be introduced with about 1 week remaining in the unit. Rubrics will be provided to guide the student.

RAFTs - RAFT is a writing strategy that allows the student to make choices and demonstrate understanding through writing. The acronym stands for Role, Audience, Format and Topic. By using this strategy, students are encouraged to write creatively, to consider a topic from multiple perspectives, and to gain the ability to write for different audiences. RAFT will be started during the unit as soon as the students believes they have a handle on the topic and will be due on the last day of the unit. 

Grading Policy for Classwork, Inquiry Based Projects and RAFTS is:

• 1 Day late = -15%
• 2 Days late = - 40%
• More than 2 days late = “0”