THE SYCAMORE SCHOOL

SEVENTH GRADE HISTORY

JEFFREY STROEBEL

PARENT INFORMATION

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The seventh grade history course will provide students with a comprehensive study of world history, beginning with the impact of industrialization and concluding with the Second World War.  Extensive emphasis will be placed on the development of skills necessary for the study of the social studies on the secondary school level.  The primary emphasis of skill development will be in the areas of reading, writing, and synthesizing information from a wide variety of sources.  History content will be integrated with the major literary themes taught in the language arts portion of humanities.  Although history will serve as the hub of the course of study; current events, economics, geography, and political science will be extensively integrated into the course.  

 

COURSE CONTENT:

Unit I      Progress

A)    Industrialization

1)      The Development of Industry

2)      Problems of the Industrial Age

3)      Attempts at Reform

4)      The Progressive Era

B)     Imperialism

1)      The Second Wave of European Imperialism

2)      America Becomes a World Power

C)    World War I

1)      Europe 1815-1914

2)      The First World War

 

Unit II      Struggle and Change

A)    The Middle East: Legacy of the Great War

B)     The Roaring Twenties

C)    The Great Depression

1)      Hard Times

2)      The New Deal

D)    Between The Wars

E)     World War II

1)      The Path to War

2)      The Holocaust

3)      The Second World War

 

MAJOR COURSE GOALS:

·        To provide students with the foundation knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in upper level high school social studies courses (AP).

·        To provide students with an historical perspective regarding the events of the past century and to enable them to apply this knowledge to current situations.

·        To develop skills in reading for information.

·        To develop factual writing skills.

·        To develop an ability to synthesize a wide variety of information and to draw logical conclusions from that information.

·        To develop an ability to utilize historical evidence, evaluate it, and use it to formulate an opinion.

·        To develop an ability to receive and utilize information from a wide variety of media sources.

·        To develop skills in listening and note taking.

·        To assist in developing study skills and time management.

 

IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PARENTS TO KNOW:

Web Site: www.angelfire.com/home/sycamorehistory.  It may also be accessed through the Sycamore School site: www.sycamoreschool.org.  My web site will contain homework assignments, readings, study guides, links, and other additional information.  If students are absent, they should check the web site for assignments (it is not necessary to call the school to request history assignments).

E-Mail: My home e-mail is jstroebel@indy.rr.com.  My school e-mail is stroebel@sycamoreschool.org.  It is better to send messages to my home address, which I have access to at school as well.

Phone:  My voicemail is 479-3357 ext. 166.  My home number is 574-0012.  Please do not call me at home after 9 p.m. and unless you cannot solve the problem in another way (I do check my e-mail frequently).

·        All students are required to have a history notebook.  Readings will be kept in a flexible red binder.  Most readings are also available on my web site. 

·        Homework will vary but reading homework should be expected on an almost nightly basis.  Reading assignments should take between 15-30 minutes.  Assignments will be posted on my web site.  It is generally expected that students will have their reading assignments completed regardless of whether they were in school the previous day.  All writing assignments are due on the due date regardless of whether a student is in school or not (work may be e-mailed).

·        Tests will be approximately every three weeks.  They will be announced well in advance and test dates will be posted on the web site.  Most tests will include a combination of objective (true-false, multiple choice), short answer, and essay questions.  Students will always receive the possible essay questions in advance and be permitted to bring a thesis statement and topic sentences to use on the test.  Parents will be asked to sign all tests and return them to school the next day.  If you would like to keep the test for an additional day(s), please send a note when the signed tests are due.  Students who earn a test essay grade of “C+” or below are eligible to rewrite the essay after conferencing with me.

·        Students will receive a unit guide prior to the start of every unit.  This will list the major things that they will be responsible for knowing at the conclusion of the unit.  Students may also use Digital Learning Advantage, a quiz game, to review for tests.  Digital Learning Advantage is available on the school network.

·        Students will receive frequent grade updates after the second week of a grading period.  Students should always know their approximate grade.  Current averages will be posted on every test.  Students who have grades below a B- will receive a progress report at the midpoint of the grading period.

·        It is very important that students maintain good attendance.  It is very hard to keep up after a long break or frequent absences. 

·        I will be available for extra review sessions from 3:25-4:10 prior to major tests.  These optional sessions are designed to provide additional review for students who require more than is offered during regular class periods.

·        I am available to help students (an appointment schedule is posted by my telephone) before school, after school, and during study hall.  I strongly encourage parents to attend on conference days, but they may also schedule appointments at any time.