Last Day of Investigation

This was the last day for students to collect evidence from the video.  By Monday, students need to decide how King Tut died and evidence to support their decision.  Students will have 15 minutes to write the paragraph using the RACES strategy.  If students do not have enough evidence, they can re-watch parts of the video (Link here) or do their own research on the internet.  

Happy Halloween!

King Tut's Final Secrets Day 2

Students continued their investigation today.  Students were able to find evidence in the video.  Tomorrow students will begin writing their paragraph to prove their answer to the question, how did King Tut die? Students will turn in their paragraphs before they leave on Friday in most classes.  

Due today - Egypt: Gift of the Nile

King Tut's Final Secrets

Students will spend two days watching a video to assist them in investigating the death of Tutankhamen.  I put the link to the video below if anyone needs to watch it.  After watching the video students will write a paragraph to answer the question, how did King Tut die?  Students will use the RACES strategy to write the paragraph.

1. Restate the question
Ex:  I think King Tut was killed by...

2. Answer the questions
Ex: I think King Tut was killed by...because...

3. Cite evidence to support the answer
Ex: The video showed...

4. Explain/Expand
- How does it all fit together?

5. Sum it up
Ex: Closing statement


King Tut's Final Secrets

How the Egyptians built the pyramids?

QOD - How did the Egyptians build the pyramids?

Students used the RACES strategy, which comes from Reading class.  The strategy helps students organize their information to answer a question fully.  Students viewed a short video to help answer the question.  Next, we had a discussion on the article "Curse and Coincidence".  It focuses on the curse of Tutankhamen.  

Homework: "The Gift of the Nile" - article on the back of the "Curse and Coincidence". There are seven questions to answer from the reading.  

JIgsaw Teaching

QOD - What are the four important rivers of the Fertile Crescent?  What ways did people use the rivers?

WOD - Rosetta Stone - The Rosetta Stone was written in all three scripts so that the priests, government officials and rulers of Egypt could read what it said. (hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek)

The Rosetta Stone was carved in 196 B.C..

The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799.

The Rosetta Stone was found by French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt.

The Rosetta Stone was found in a small village in the Delta called Rosetta (Rashid).

Students taught each other the different parts of the study guide.  Students retain 90% of what they teach.  Friday, they collected the information in class.  

Ancient Egypt Jigsaw Reading

QOD- How has modern technology improved our knowledge of the ancient Egyptians?

Students split the reading into three parts and will come together Monday to teach each other.  We all checked the Internet activity in class.  

Ancient Egypt in Images

QOD - How has technology improved our knowledge of Ancient Egypt?

- great student responses (x-ray, Lidar, sonar, communication, and chemical analysis)

Today, we watched a 7:30 minute video of images from Ancient Egypt. Student had to identify images and draw conclusions in a word web. We ended class by working on finishing the maps. 

Extension - solve a story problem about the volume of a square pyramid.

Ancient Egypt Map

Lateral Thinking Puzzles
1. Four people try to get underneath one small umbrella, but nobody gets wet. How is this possible? 

2. If the day after the day before yesterday was Tuesday, and the day before the day after tomorrow is Thursday, what day is today?

Today, students will complete their internet activity in class.  When they finish the activity, students will work on a map of Ancient Egypt in relation to Mesopotamia.

Picture of worksheet and map  

Egyptian Internet Activity

WOD - Quarantine -  A period of time during which a vehicle, person, or material suspected of carrying a contagious disease is detained at a port of entry under enforced isolation to prevent disease from entering a country.

QOD - What were the ancient Egyptian gods associated with?

Animal ex: cats, cows, falcon, jackal

Students were able to work on an internet activity to learn about Egypt.  We will finish the assignment in class tomorrow and we will begin on a map of the area.  

Egypt Internet activity

Today, we started learning about Egypt. Students worked on a internet activity to learn about hieroglyphics, mummies, after-life and the religion. It will be due Wednesday after work time on Tuesday.  

Project Gallery

Student that completed their projects on time were able to participate in the project gallery.  Students display their work on the desk for their classmates to analyze.  Students will receive positive feedback and ideas for ways to change the project and make it better.  Most students were responsible with their work, however some students need to use their time more efficiently in the future.  Here are some of the projects:

Final Workday

This is the last day to work on projects. We started class with a Egypt pretest that is not graded. 

Questions

1. Did Egyptians wear make up?

2. What is a vizier?

3. What did King Tut die from?

4. Egyptian form of writing?

5. Which direction does the Nike flow?

6. What body of water does the Nile flow in to?

7. Head of the Egyptian government?

8. Egypt is located in what country?

9. Main religion of Egypt?

10.  Monotheistic or polytheistic?

Project Workday

Students will work Monday and Tuesday in Social Studies to finish their project.  

Project Work Day

Students started class by solving a lateral thinking puzzle, Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones?
Next, students watched and discussed a video about Ebola. It will help students understand the current crisis.
The rest of class time was used to work on the final draft of the project paper.  

Project Workday

Today's goals:

- finish rough draft

- Research for project 

- start typing the final draft

Tomorrow I will include a handout for the project. The project will be due on Wednesday.

Mesopotamia Final Project

WOD - OPEC - The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent intergovernmental organization, currently consisting of 12 oil producing and exporting countries, spread across three continents America, Asia and Africa.
 The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent intergovernmental organization, currently consisting of 12 oil producing and exporting countries, spread across three continents America, Asia and Africa.

QOD - What are the current problems facing Iraq(Mesopotamia)?

Students began their final project on Mesopotamia today.  Students will work independently to complete one of eight different assignment options.  Students will have at least three days in class to create their project.  I will be adding the rubric and handout to tomorrow's blog.  

Mesopotamia Test

Students took the Mesopotamia test today.  It is worth 33 points, it contains matching, multiple choice, and short answer questions.  We will do make up tests tomorrow during class.  Students are able to use their packets during the test.  Due to coaching at the high school level, I will be unavailable for part of each conference day.  


My Conference Schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 7 - 6:00 to 8:00

Monday, Oct. 13 - 6:00 to 8:00

Thursday, Oct. 16 - 3:30 to 4:50

Mesopotamia Packet and Test review

No WOD/QOD

Today, students put together their study packet with all the assignments from the unit.  I told students they need to take the packet home and study it tonight.  To review students completed a scavenger hunt to help students discuss and practice the information.  Students will be allowed to use their packet during the test.  

Test Day tomorrow!

Study Guide and Cuneiform Writing

QOD - Compare/Contrast - Iowa and Mesopotamia

WOD - Standard - a sign carried at the start of a procession

Students used the World Cultures and Geography book to complete a study guide.  Students that completed the study guide early got to write in cuneiform and create codes for other students to solve.  The Mesopotamia test is on Tuesday. 

Presentation reflection and Study Guide

Students started class by reflecting on their role in the presentation and their group. As a class we need to work on voices, follow through, engaging visuals and speeches, and rehearsal.  We will improve for next presentation.

After a brain break, students worked independently on a study guide for the test next week. 

Final Group Presentations

Students finished their presentations today. They were okay for our first attempt, but we have a few aspects to work on including voice volume, follow through on projects, collaborating, and creating our best work. We will have several opportunities this year to improve. We only have a few assignments left until the final test on Wednesday.