2011-2012+School+Year

svrla@chinquapin.org 832-784-2524
 * 6th Social Studies: Ancient and Modern Civilizations **
 * Instructor: Stephen Vrla **

What did mammoth meat taste like to a starving prehistoric hunter? What did cuneiform, an early form of writing, look like to a Mesopotamian farmer who had just moved to the city? What did an Egyptian slave feel like after spending a day building one of the Great Pyramids? What did a bireme, an ancient trading ship, smell like to a Phoenician trader who had just bought spices from an Arab caravan? What did the Coliseum sound like to a Roman senator watching a gladiator fight?

This year, we’re going to answer these questions and many more as we discover how people from ancient civilizations viewed the world. By doing that, we’re also going to learn more about the worldviews of people from modern civilizations, including our own. After all, ancient peoples were just as human as we are, and their hopes and fears were just as real as our own. Armed with this knowledge, we’ll be able to better understand our own thoughts and motivations and those of our fellow humans and work together to make our civilization a lasting one.

As we learn about ancient civilizations, we’ll follow the following schedule:
 * Unit 1: Introduction to history
 * Unit 2: Prehistory
 * Unit 3: Mesopotamia
 * Unit 4: Egypt
 * Unit 5: India and China
 * Unit 6: Greece
 * Unit 7: Africa
 * Unit 8: Rome
 * Unit 9: Americas
 * Current Events Unit

By the end of the year, we’ll be able to answer the following questions:
 * What is history, and why does it matter?
 * What is a civilization? What characteristics do all civilizations have in common?
 * Why are these characteristics necessary for civilization to occur? Why do some civilizations last longer than others?
 * How is our civilization similar to and different from other civilizations?
 * How can we make our civilization a lasting one?

In order to check your learning, I’ll give you the following assignments:
 * ** Class participation ** (worth 10% of each quarter grade): Class participation will include, but is not limited to, listening, taking notes, participating in discussions, and asking questions about material that confuses you.
 * ** Classwork ** (10%): Classwork assignments will include **//“Do Nows”//** and **//“Exit Tickets.”//** We’ll talk more about these assignments during the first week of class.
 * ** Homework ** (10%): Homework will include, but is not limited to, reading the textbook and handouts, watching video clips, writing journal entries, and presenting on **//current events.//** We’ll talk more about current events during the first week of class.
 * ** Papers and quizzes ** (30%): I will assign you one or more quizzes in the middle of each unit.
 * ** Projects and tests ** (40%): I will assign you a paper, project, or test at the end of each unit.
 * ** Exams ** (10% of each semester grade, subject to change): At the end of the 1st semester, I will assign you a midterm exam covering all the material you will have learned during the 1st semester. At the end of the 2nd semester, I will assign you a final exam covering all the material you will have learned during the 1st and 2nd semesters.


 * Think of assignments as opportunities to show me how much you know about the civilizations we have studied and how well you can answer the questions listed above. If you are able to show me your knowledge, you have no reason to be nervous or feel stressed. **

Over the course of the year, you’ll read a textbook called //History of Our World: The Early Ages.// You’ll also read newspaper articles, magazine articles, stories, poems, and other handouts. In class and at home, you’ll take notes in a notebook and write in a journal. **Please bring your textbook, handouts, notebook, and journal, as well as pens, pencils, and highlighters, to every class.**

I expect you to obey the policies listed in the Student Handbook. In addition, I expect you to treat yourself, your classmates, and me with **//respect.//** We’ll talk more about respect as we write and sign a classroom contract during the first week of class.


 * I’m very excited to teach you about ancient civilizations and our own civilization over the coming year, and I know you’re excited to learn about them. If there’s any way I can make this course more meaningful or exciting for you, feel free to let me know. After all, social studies is an important subject, but it should be a fun one too! **

// “History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves and of our common humanity so that we can better face the future.” //  // —Robert Penn Warren // 6th Social Studies Spring 2012

Ancient and Modern Civilizations “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana, //The Life of Reason// **__Instructor:__** **Stephen Vrla** Room: 6th Grade Classroom Tutorials (by appointment): M-F during lunch and after school Phone (before 10:30 p.m.): 832-784-2524 Email: __ svrla@chinquapin.org __ **__Description:__** Last semester, you learned the following skills: This semester, you will use these skills to study four ancient civilizations—Greece, Rome, Africa, and Mesoamerica—as well as modern civilization. You will also learn the following skills, which you will need to know by the beginning of next year:
 * 1) How to analyze sources
 * 2) How to analyze maps
 * 3) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to analyze timelines
 * 4) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to analyze and compare worldviews
 * 5) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to analyze and compare civilizations
 * 1) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to think critically
 * 2) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to read, take notes, and study effectively
 * 3) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to research
 * 4) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to write an essay
 * 5) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How to deliver a presentation

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Readings:__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pearson Education, //History of Our World: The Early Ages// <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">E.H. Gombrich, //A Little History of the World// (excerpts) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Zachary Hamby, //Trickle Down, Olympus// (excerpts) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Selected articles

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Schedule:__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 1: Introduction to semester <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 2: Ancient Greek mythology (Project #1) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 3: Ancient Greek geography <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 4: Ancient Greek government and law (Quiz #1) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 5: Ancient Greek warfare and diplomacy <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 6: Ancient Greek society (Test #1) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 7: Ancient Africa (to be determined) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 8: Ancient Africa (TBD) (Quiz #2) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 9: Quarter project (Project #2) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(Creativity Week) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(Spring Break) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 10: Humane education week <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 11: Mesoamerica 1 (introduction/Olmecs) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 12: Mesoamerica 2 (Maya) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 13: Mesoamerica 3 (Maya) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 14: Mesoamerica 4 (Maya) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 15: Mesoamerica 5 (Aztecs/conclusion) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 16: Current events week <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week 17: Essay??? <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Review Week <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Final Exams

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Assessment:__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Class participation: 12.5% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Classwork: 12.5% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Homework: 12.5% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Quizzes: 12.5% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tests: 25% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Projects: 25%

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6th Social Studies <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3/19/12 <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Ancient and Modern Civilizations (4th Quarter) <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">-attributed to St. Francis of Assisi <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Instructor:__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Stephen Vrla** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Room: 6th Grade Classroom <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Tutorials (by appointment): M-F during lunch and after school <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Phone (before 10:30 p.m.): 832-784-2524 <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Email: __ svrla@chinquapin.org __ <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Description (updated):__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This quarter, students will continue learning about some of the messy problems facing our civilization and brainstorming solutions to them. They will also learn about some of the problems that faced the Olmecs, Mayas, and Aztecs and how these three Mesoamerican civilizations attempted to solve them. In the process of learning about these civilizations, students will continue developing their source and worldview analysis skills as well as their critical reading, thinking, and writing abilities.

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Readings (updated):__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Terry Deary and Peter Hepplewhite, //Horrible Histories// <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">E.H. Gombrich, //A Little History of the World// <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pearson Education, //History of Our World: The Early Ages// <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Other readings to be announced

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Schedule (updated):__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of March 19: Humane education <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of March 26: Olmecs <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of April 2: Mayas <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of April 9: Mayas <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of April 16: Mayas <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of April 23: Aztecs <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of April 30: Social justice <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of May 7: To be announced <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of May 14: Review Week <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Week of May 21: Final Exams

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Assessment (updated):__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Class participation: 20% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Classwork: 20% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Homework: 20% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Quizzes: 20% <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Projects: 20%

<span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**__Other updates that I will further explain in later classes:__** <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**1. Token system:** Throughout the quarter, students may receive one or more wooden circles, or tokens. One definition of token is “an indication.” Another definition is “a coin” (www.merriam-webster.com). Both definitions fit the tokens that students may receive. <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each token will represent a quality like reverence, respect, responsibility, curiosity, creativity, or critical thinking. If a student demonstrates a quality that a token represents, he or she may receive that token. He or she may also receive a token as a challenge to demonstrate the quality that it represents. Thus, the tokens indicate certain, positive qualities. <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Each token may be used in one of three ways. First, a student may keep any token he or she receives. Second, he or she may spend it on an opportunity to work on a project from a list of potential projects instead of attending a class or completing a homework assignment. I may choose whether or not to allow a student to spent a token on a specific class or assignment. Third, he or she may give it to a classmate who he or she believes is demonstrating the quality that the token represents. He or she must speak with me before using a token in this way. <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The token system has two purposes. Its first purpose is to instill certain, positive qualities in students. Its second purpose is to acknowledge students who demonstrate or are capable of demonstrating these qualities. It may be canceled at any time, particularly if students start perceiving it as having another, negative purpose, such as bribing them to improve their behavior or rewarding them to improve their grades. <span style="color: #000000; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**2. News presentations:** Every Monday, we will watch the news as a class. Every other day, one student will watch the news by himself or herself and present it to the rest of the class. His or her presentation will be five minutes long. In it, he or she will include the following parts: an oral, brief description of every story, an oral summary of one story, and an oral reflection on the same story. He or she will also find a news article about the story, print it, and post it on the new current events bulletin board.

<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175,192,227,0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77,128,180,0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26,26,26,0.296875); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">**3. Social justice projects:** This quarter, you will brainstorm and put in action a solution to the messy problem you identified and researched last quarter. On May 5, you will present your solution at a social justice fair at Chinquapin