BBELIN


 * Middle School History – Emergency School Closure Activities**
 * Brad Belin**


 * __6th Grade__**

a. Please visit the Archaeo News Website: [] b. Scroll through some of the newest articles under “Latest News” c. Choose one article to read, and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper: (*NOTE: please include the title and author of your article at the top of your page) i. Briefly (3-4 sentences) describe what the article is all about. In other words, summarize the finer points in the article. ii. How does this your article connect to the Sixth Grade history curriculum? iii. Why did you choose this article to read and reflect on?
 * 1.** //Current Events of the Ancient World//

a. Please visit the PBS NOVA website: [] b. Pretend that you're an archaeologist – your job is to learn about humans who lived long ago by unearthing the objects they once used. This pile of pot-shards has just come in from the field. Using your historical detective skills, piece together the pot and decide its origins!
 * 2.** //Be an Archaeologist!//

a. Test your geographic knowledge using the National Geographic website: []
 * 3.** //Geography Challenge!//


 * __7th Grade:__**


 * 1.** //American History Movie Clips//
 * a.** Go to the website: []
 * b.** Choose a movie from American History to watch (preferably a time period/era which we have already covered in class)
 * c.** After watching one of the videos, please write down the name of the video you chose to watch, as well as:
 * i.** What is the historical significance of your selected clip to our curriculum in 7th grade?
 * ii.** How has this enriched your knowledge of a specific subject?
 * iii.** What are the __3__ most important points that you came across from your selected movie?


 * 2.** //Current Events//
 * a.** Using either the internet (Google News) or a hard-copy of a Newspaper, please read an article from the front page (newspaper) or Headline (Google News search)
 * b.** After reading this article, please write a reflection about why it is “front page worthy” – why is the story so important that it made the front page and/or headline on the Internet?


 * 3.** //Write a Letter to your State Representative//
 * a.** In this assignment, please write a letter to one of your State Senators, or Congressmen, about an issue that has been bothering you. If you are unsure about who your State representative would be, please look it up at: []
 * b.** The issue should be clearly stated and thoughtful, as well as much as it is formal. Your issue should be something that has had a negative impact or effect in your community (or entire country, such as “texting while driving”, or “school violence” etc.), and you want something to be done to change it.
 * c.** You will NOT be sending this letter “for real”, at least not yet, but it should be addressed at the top as if you were sending it.


 * 4.** //What is the American Dream?// Please write a short reflection (1 -2 pages) about what your idea of the “American Dream” is – IS there such a thing as the “American Dream”? Include some concrete examples to support your reasoning.


 * 5.** //Listen to an American History Podcast –// Please visit the PBS American History Podcast website: [] select, and listen to one that interests you. After you finish listening your clip, please reflect on how it has enhanced your knowledge of the particular subject (5-7 sentences).


 * __8th Grade:__**

and select a news story that is of some interest to you. After listening to it, please reflect upon how it relates to one of the Essential Questions and Understandings for 8th grade history this year. This should at least 5-7 sentences per podcast that you listen to.
 * 1.** //World News Podcast –// Visit the NPR (National Public Radio) website: []
 * 2.** //Watch the History Channel –// Select a show from the History Channel and watch the program. As you watch, take an inventory about what makes the visual depiction of the historical event accurate, or how it could be improved. Record the name of the show/program down, and then also any notes you took while watching the program

b. Test your geographic knowledge using the National Geographic website: []
 * 3.** //Geography Challenge!//


 * 4.** //Conduct an Interview –// Interview a parent, sibling, or other adult relative about the Persian Gulf War. Specifically, ask him/her what they remember, if anything, about the early 1990s conflict. Also, make sure that you ask them to compare what is currently going on in the Middle East today, with what went on during the first Persian Gulf conflict – are there any similarities? Differences? (*Note – you must either record, or write down your interview in a coherent, note format).