NEW DRAFT CURRICULUM
In the new Social Studies draft curriculum, the period of study ranges from 600-1750 C.E. The Big Ideas are:
1. Contacts and conflicts between peoples stimulated significant cultural, social and political change
2. Human and environmental factors shape changes in population and living standards
3. Exploration, expansion, and colonization had consequences for different groups
4. Changing ideas about the world created tension between people wanting to adopt new ideas and those wanting to preserve established traditions.
I will be attempting to use this draft curriculum this year to guide our explorations in Social Studies.
Here are some units of study we may embark on:
In the new Social Studies draft curriculum, the period of study ranges from 600-1750 C.E. The Big Ideas are:
1. Contacts and conflicts between peoples stimulated significant cultural, social and political change
2. Human and environmental factors shape changes in population and living standards
3. Exploration, expansion, and colonization had consequences for different groups
4. Changing ideas about the world created tension between people wanting to adopt new ideas and those wanting to preserve established traditions.
I will be attempting to use this draft curriculum this year to guide our explorations in Social Studies.
Here are some units of study we may embark on:
World Religions
Essential Question: What are the commonalities and differences of some of the major world religions?
Essential Question: What are the commonalities and differences of some of the major world religions?
Click on these websites to find out more information about some of the religions we will study:
Religious Tolerance
Religion Facts
Interfaith
Religious Tolerance
Religion Facts
Interfaith
Early Middle Ages and The Vikings
Essential question: What conditions are crucial for a civilization?
Go to the Links and Resources Page for a long list of interesting sites.
Questions we will look at:
~ Why do empires rise and fall?
~ What is the impact of the fall of a civilization?
~ How can leadership/a leader strengthen or weaken a civilization?
~ What does economic collapse do to a society?
~ Do societies always deserve their reputations?
Below are two videos we will watch in class. The first, is called "Barbarians: The Franks" and the second provides a look at the life, culture and practices of the Vikings, called "The Vikings: Who Were They?" (Episode 1)
Essential question: What conditions are crucial for a civilization?
Go to the Links and Resources Page for a long list of interesting sites.
Questions we will look at:
~ Why do empires rise and fall?
~ What is the impact of the fall of a civilization?
~ How can leadership/a leader strengthen or weaken a civilization?
~ What does economic collapse do to a society?
~ Do societies always deserve their reputations?
Below are two videos we will watch in class. The first, is called "Barbarians: The Franks" and the second provides a look at the life, culture and practices of the Vikings, called "The Vikings: Who Were They?" (Episode 1)
The Medieval Period (Europe, Japan or China)
Essential question: What was life like in the middle ages?
Go to the Links and Resources Page for a long list of interesting sites.
Questions we will look at:
~ What was the medieval worldview?
~ How was society organised?
~ What were the power dynamics during the middle ages? Who held the power? Who did not?
~ What factors led to changing attitudes and worldviews?
What was life like for children during the Middle Ages? This excellent BBC documentary views the middle ages through the eyes of youth.
Essential question: What was life like in the middle ages?
Go to the Links and Resources Page for a long list of interesting sites.
Questions we will look at:
~ What was the medieval worldview?
~ How was society organised?
~ What were the power dynamics during the middle ages? Who held the power? Who did not?
~ What factors led to changing attitudes and worldviews?
What was life like for children during the Middle Ages? This excellent BBC documentary views the middle ages through the eyes of youth.
Here's another video, The Crusades: Victory and Defeat (BBC HD Documentary)
The European Renaissance
Exploration, Expansion and the Impacts of Colonialism