Social Studies 7-4

What are the significant physical features and climate regions of Africa?

This week, students will continue identifying the significant physical features of the African continent through map skills activities and reading comprehension activities.  Additionally, students will begin analyzing the climate regions of the African continent and the affect of Africa's geographical location on its climate.

What are the physical features of Africa?

Greetings and welcome back to a new year and a new semester.  Students will begin unpacking standards related to the physical and cultural geography of sub-Sahara Africa during this semester.  A third semester syllabus has been provided for your perusal.  This week,  students will identify the concepts related to the standards ,view a video on the physical features of Africa and begin to analyze and evaluate questions related to the standards associated with the African continent.Download Social studies syallabus third nine weeks

What are the economic systems of the Middle East? How does international trade facilitate economic growth and development in the Middle East?

Due to Cobb County Checkpoint Assessment Testing last week (12/13-12/16), students will be continuing their construction of an economic handbook that will provide them with insight into how economic decisions are formulated by countries to utilize resources and make and exchange goods and services.  Students will understand why nations trade, different forms of trade barriers and various economic goals that countries subscribe to. Additionally, students will be assessed on their mastery of comprehension of those key terms.

What are the economic systems of the Middle East? How does international trade facilitate economic growth and development in the Middle East?

During the week of December 12th - 15th, students will be engaged in constructing an economic handbook that will provide them with insight into how economic decisions are formulated by countries to utilize resources and make and exchange goods and services.  Students will understand why nations trade, different forms of trade barriers and various economic goals that countries subscribe to. 

How do governments distribute power and determine citizen participation in various forms of governments?

Starting the week of December 5th - 9th, students will be engaged in analyzing and evaluating the various types of governments and the degree of citizen participation involved with those governments. Emphasis will be placed on identifying the government types that exist in the Middle East, along with the degree of citizenry input that occurs in those governments.  Also, students will be given exposure to the present civil and political unrest that is currently happening in some countries of the Middle East.

Oil and Religion in the Middle East

Welcome back from a much needed week long Thanksgiving Break!  During the week of November 28th through December 12th, students will be engaged in analyzing and evaluating the influences of oil and religion in the region of the Middle East.  Additionallly, students will begin to investigate the various forms of government that comprise the nations of the Middle East. 

Sources of political and religious conflict in the Middle East/Impact of oil resources on politics, religion and the economies of Middle Eastern countries

Students will be taking an assessment (quiz) on November 15th to determine how well they have mastered the concepts and vocabulary associated with the Arab-Israeli Wars, Conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, various ethnic groups that exist within the region of the Middle East and sources of conflict for the Persian gulf War.  Additionally, students will begin to explore the economic, political and religious impact that the discovery of oil has had on the region.

What are the origins of Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

This week, students will continue to examine the origin of the world's three prominent monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  Students will engage in a comparative analysis of the three religions and they will also be administered a quiz to determine how will they have mastered the vocabulary and concepts associated with the standards that have been taught on this particular unit.  Also, students should have completed the following unit assignments to be turned in this week:  reading study guide, guided reading activity, warm-ups and graphic organizer activity.

What are the origins of Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

This week, we will be concluding our coverage of the physical features of the Middle East and their influence on the people in the region.  Assessment on the physical features component is scheduled for 9/27/11.  Additionally, we will briefly explore the beginning of farming in the Mesopotamian Plain and how this phenomena birth the origin of human civilization.  Finally, we will begin our unit on the origins of the three prominent world religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 

How have physical features in Southwest Asia/North Africa influenced life in the region?

This week, students will be given an assessment(test- Wednesday, 9/14) to determine how will they have mastered identifying both political and physical features of North Africa and Southwest Asia/Middle East.  Additionallly, students will be engaged in analyzing and evaluating the influence of physical features on the development of civilizations in the region and impact on daily life.