Classroom News

 

May 1, 2018 5:27 PM

Classroom News

Social Studies is swell!! Surviving Middle School What’s Happening in Social Studies Class Mountaineers of of the Month - April 2018
Mr. Sullivan’s
Surviving Middle School Transitioning from Elementary School to Middle School can be challenging. These practical tips can help everyone shift gears as a new school experience starts! Barbara Frazier (edited by Mr. Sullivan) The entrance into middle school is perhaps one of the toughest transitions children encounter in all of their years of education. It presents numerous challenges to the new sixth grader who is leaving the familiar and comfortable environment of the elementary school for the unknown world of middle school with its new responsibilities and demands. Think of the number of new "firsts" that will be experienced. There is the first time using a locker, first time changing classes, first time dealing with multiple teachers, first time responding to bells (and tardies), first time having multiple assignments from different teachers, first time doing complex homework, and first time participating in school athletics. To make matters more complicated, there is the pending threat of puberty with all of its explosions in physical growth, hormones, and emotionality. Moreover, puberty brings with it a growing interest in the peer group, and a gradual movement away from the family as the center of the child's life. What all of this means is that new middle schoolers are having to cope with the developmental demands of early adolescence at the same time that they are being required to deal with new responsibilities that demand their consistent attention and effort. It is no wonder that sixth grade can be very challenging for both children and parents. New Responsibilities and Organizational Skills The new responsibilities include keeping track of all assignments, staying on top of homework for each class, organizing supplies and books, remembering to bring the right books home from the locker, being on time for each class, taking the proper athletic gear to school for P.E., establishing a study schedule, and planning ahead for school activities. Most of these were not part of the sixth grade regimen, and so it will take some time for the new student to get the hang of it. Your job is to help your pre-teen develop a system for meeting the new expectations. You will need to make a list of the new tasks, decide what materials are needed to organize and maintain the system, and then establish a method for keeping track of the items on the list. Keep it as simple as possible. It's better to start simple and build to complex after basic organizational skills have been learned and are working well. The following suggestions may be helpful: Assignments - Use the agenda books distributed on the first day of school for all classes. The Agenda should be be used to write down daily homework assignments. As assignments are completed, they can be crossed off the list. For assignments that are not due right away, use the monthly calendar page for tracking these. This way your youngster will have a visual aid to help him anticipate and plan ahead for more complex assignments. Locker - Set up a routine for visiting the locker. At the very least, be sure that there is a final trip to the locker at the end of each day to get the necessary books for the homework that is listed in the Agenda. Homework - Establish a routine for doing homework. Most kids need some time to wind down after school. Sometimes this is taken care of simply due to involvement in extracurricular activities. If not and your child comes right home after school, it is advisable to allow some free time after school before plunging into homework. Choose the time for homework based on when your child seems to be at her best in terms of attentiveness, mental sharpness, etc. If evening is best, then wait until after dinner. However, if you have a child that gets sleepy early, then you will need to adjust to an earlier homework schedule. The other consideration is your time. Most seventh graders need help with homework, even if only to assist them with study habits. Try to schedule homework at a time when you can be available to help. Planning for the Next Day - Establish a routine for getting supplies and materials ready for the next day. Place all homework and books in the backpack the night before. Do the same with athletic and gym gear. Leave both items next to the door to pick up on the way out in the morning. This will cut down significantly on morning stress as well as help your child develop good organizational skills. The key to success in this area is practice, consistency, and encouragement. If you set up a schedule and routine, take care to monitor it carefully on a daily basis at least until your child has established good habits. Be flexible enough to make adjustments if certain parts of the plan are not working out well, but don't let your child slide in terms of the agreed upon plan. Be patient at the beginning and keep in mind that you will need to do a good bit of reminding. Developments in the Peer Group Most seventh graders are twelve or thirteen years old, which means that they will begin to show signs of early adolescence during the coming year. One of the most significant developments during early adolescence is a new interest in the peer group. The seventh grade peer group, like the sixth grade group, still consists primarily of same sex members. What's new is that there is a growing and deeper involvement in the group that facilitates a psychological shift away from the family and toward the peer group as the main source of self-esteem and identity. Moreover, this new interest in the peer group coincides with the initial stages of puberty, which brings with it major physical changes in appearance that are more akin to adulthood than childhood. In sixth grade, this whole process gets underway, but occurs very unevenly. There is probably no other period in the life of a child where development proceeds at such a fast pace and at such different rates for each individual. The effect of all of this is that the groupings and friendships that were intact at the end of elementary school begin to give way in accordance with the different rates of movement into adolescence. As parents you can help your young teen make use of their current experiences to enhance his capacity for high level thinking as well as further develop empathy for himself and others. Last, it is important to keep close tabs on the evolving peer group so that you can spot dangerous liaisons before they solidify. In other words, know your child’s friends. Changes in the Parent-Child Relationship There are many changes that occur in the parent-child relationship during early adolescence, but what we are concerned with here are those related to helping your pre-teen successfully take on the new demands of middle school. During elementary school parents often assist their children with basic school tasks. For many parents, it has become a regular practice to do some of the child's work for them and/or to rescue them when they forget to turn in assignments on time, forget due dates of projects, forget to bring supplies to school, and so forth. After all, these were young children at the time, and parents out of love and concern wanted things to go well for their youngsters. The problem is that good intentions can sometimes lead to patterns that should have been discarded long ago. In middle school, the ante goes up as the responsibilities and demands are more difficult and complex. The Parent-School Relationship Middle school is not a time for parents to drop back in their involvement with the school, especially during the first year. At the same time, middle school requires a different relationship than was experienced with the elementary school. Like students, parents now have a number of teachers to relate to rather than the single elementary school teacher who knew their child quite well. Secondly, the boundaries between parents and school faculty are more well defined. Part of this is simply a product of logistics, i.e., middle school teachers have many students for which they have some responsibility as opposed to the elementary teacher with a single classroom. They are unable to meet with parents as often, or to have the free flow of communication with parents that elementary school teachers can offer. Another factor has to do with the expectation by faculty that these students have a higher level of maturity, and should be more responsible than the elementary child, thereby needing less intervention at school on the part of parents. How should parents stay involved? Try the following: Meet with Teachers Set up meetings with each of your child's teachers towards the end of the first month of school. The purpose of these meetings is to establish a means of communication between you and the teacher in the event that problems arise. It also lets the teacher know that you are a concerned parent, and that you would like to assist with the academic process. Most teachers appreciate such parents. Be sure that you find out how each particular teacher likes to maintain communication whether it be by telephone, appointment, email, progress report, etc. Learn School Policies Find out from the school what the basic policies are regarding all aspects of operation. Most schools have something written. You should study these policies and review them with your child. Join the PTO Join and participate in your school's parent-teacher organization. In most public schools, this is the PTO. Provide Extracurricular Support Participate in extracurricular activities as a support parent when you can and as time allows. This could be anything from serving as an assistant coach to working in the concession stand at a school game. Observe School Boundaries Observe the school's boundaries regarding your access to students, teachers, and/or other personnel during school hours. For example, you should never just show up at a teacher's door during class, or even after class if you have not called ahead and made an appointment. Also, it is very important to allow your children to function within the boundaries of the school without your interference. As parents, your problems and concerns are very important and should always be addressed, but through the proper channels. This will help you maintain a cooperative relationship with the school, and save your child from unnecessary embarrassment.

Surviving Middle School

Transitioning from Elementary School to Middle School can be challenging. These practical tips can help everyone shift gears as a new school experience starts!

Barbara Frazier (edited by Mr. Sullivan)

The entrance into middle school is perhaps one of the toughest transitions children encounter in all of their years of education. It presents numerous challenges to the new sixth grader who is leaving the familiar and comfortable environment of the elementary school for the unknown world of middle school with its new responsibilities and demands. Think of the number of new "firsts" that will be experienced. There is the first time using a locker, first time changing classes, first time dealing with multiple teachers, first time responding to bells (and tardies), first time having multiple assignments from different teachers, first time doing complex homework, and first time participating in school athletics. To make matters more complicated, there is the pending threat of puberty with all of its explosions in physical growth, hormones, and emotionality. Moreover, puberty brings with it a growing interest in the peer group, and a gradual movement away from the family as the center of the child's life. What all of this means is that new middle schoolers are having to cope with the developmental demands of early adolescence at the same time that they are being required to deal with new responsibilities that demand their consistent attention and effort. It is no wonder that sixth grade can be very challenging for both children and parents.

New Responsibilities and Organizational Skills

The new responsibilities include keeping track of all assignments, staying on top of homework for each class, organizing supplies and books, remembering to bring the right books home from the locker, being on time for each class, taking the proper athletic gear to school for P.E., establishing a study schedule, and planning ahead for school activities. Most of these were not part of the sixth grade regimen, and so it will take some time for the new student to get the hang of it. Your job is to help your pre-teen develop a system for meeting the new expectations. You will need to make a list of the new tasks, decide what materials are needed to organize and maintain the system, and then establish a method for keeping track of the items on the list. Keep it as simple as possible. It's better to start simple and build to complex after basic organizational skills have been learned and are working well. The following suggestions may be helpful:

  1. 1.Assignments - Use the agenda books distributed on the first day of school for all classes. The Agenda should be be used to write down daily homework assignments. As assignments are completed, they can be crossed off the list. For assignments that are not due right away, use the monthly calendar page for tracking these. This way your youngster will have a visual aid to help him anticipate and plan ahead for more complex assignments.

  2. 2.Locker - Set up a routine for visiting the locker. At the very least, be sure that there is a final trip to the locker at the end of each day to get the necessary books for the homework that is listed in the Agenda.

  3. 3.Homework - Establish a routine for doing homework. Most kids need some time to wind down after school. Sometimes this is taken care of simply due to involvement in extracurricular activities. If not and your child comes right home after school, it is advisable to allow some free time after school before plunging into homework. Choose the time for homework based on when your child seems to be at her best in terms of attentiveness, mental sharpness, etc. If evening is best, then wait until after dinner. However, if you have a child that gets sleepy early, then you will need to adjust to an earlier homework schedule. The other consideration is your time. Most seventh graders need help with homework, even if only to assist them with study habits. Try to schedule homework at a time when you can be available to help.

  4. 4.Planning for the Next Day - Establish a routine for getting supplies and materials ready for the next day. Place all homework and books in the backpack the night before. Do the same with athletic and gym gear. Leave both items next to the door to pick up on the way out in the morning. This will cut down significantly on morning stress as well as help your child develop good organizational skills.

The key to success in this area is practice, consistency, and encouragement. If you set up a schedule and routine, take care to monitor it carefully on a daily basis at least until your child has established good habits. Be flexible enough to make adjustments if certain parts of the plan are not working out well, but don't let your child slide in terms of the agreed upon plan. Be patient at the beginning and keep in mind that you will need to do a good bit of reminding.

Developments in the Peer Group

Most seventh graders are twelve or thirteen years old, which means that they will begin to show signs of early adolescence during the coming year. One of the most significant developments during early adolescence is a new interest in the peer group. The seventh grade peer group, like the sixth grade group, still consists primarily of same sex members. What's new is that there is a growing and deeper involvement in the group that facilitates a psychological shift away from the family and toward the peer group as the main source of self-esteem and identity. Moreover, this new interest in the peer group coincides with the initial stages of puberty, which brings with it major physical changes in appearance that are more akin to adulthood than childhood. In sixth grade, this whole process gets underway, but occurs very unevenly. There is probably no other period in the life of a child where development proceeds at such a fast pace and at such different rates for each individual. The effect of all of this is that the groupings and friendships that were intact at the end of elementary school begin to give way in accordance with the different rates of movement into adolescence. As parents you can help your young teen make use of their current experiences to enhance his capacity for high level thinking as well as further develop empathy for himself and others. Last, it is important to keep close tabs on the evolving peer group so that you can spot dangerous liaisons before they solidify. In other words, know your child’s friends.

Changes in the Parent-Child Relationship

There are many changes that occur in the parent-child relationship during early adolescence, but what we are concerned with here are those related to helping your pre-teen successfully take on the new demands of middle school. During elementary school parents often assist their children with basic school tasks. For many parents, it has become a regular practice to do some of the child's work for them and/or to rescue them when they forget to turn in assignments on time, forget due dates of projects, forget to bring supplies to school, and so forth. After all, these were young children at the time, and parents out of love and concern wanted things to go well for their youngsters. The problem is that good intentions can sometimes lead to patterns that should have been discarded long ago. In middle school, the ante goes up as the responsibilities and demands are more difficult and complex.

The Parent-School Relationship

Middle school is not a time for parents to drop back in their involvement with the school, especially during the first year. At the same time, middle school requires a different relationship than was experienced with the elementary school. Like students, parents now have a number of teachers to relate to rather than the single elementary school teacher who knew their child quite well. Secondly, the boundaries between parents and school faculty are more well defined. Part of this is simply a product of logistics, i.e., middle school teachers have many students for which they have some responsibility as opposed to the elementary teacher with a single classroom. They are unable to meet with parents as often, or to have the free flow of communication with parents that elementary school teachers can offer. Another factor has to do with the expectation by faculty that these students have a higher level of maturity, and should be more responsible than the elementary child, thereby needing less intervention at school on the part of parents. How should parents stay involved? Try the following:

Meet with Teachers

Set up meetings with each of your child's teachers towards the end of the first month of school. The purpose of these meetings is to establish a means of communication between you and the teacher in the event that problems arise. It also lets the teacher know that you are a concerned parent, and that you would like to assist with the academic process. Most teachers appreciate such parents. Be sure that you find out how each particular teacher likes to maintain communication whether it be by telephone, appointment, email, progress report, etc.

Learn School Policies

Find out from the school what the basic policies are regarding all aspects of operation. Most schools have something written. You should study these policies and review them with your child.

Join the PTO

Join and participate in your school's parent-teacher organization. In most public schools, this is the PTO. Provide Extracurricular Support

Participate in extracurricular activities as a support parent when you can and as time allows. This could be anything from serving as an assistant coach to working in the concession stand at a school game.

Observe School Boundaries

Observe the school's boundaries regarding your access to students, teachers, and/or other personnel during school hours. For example, you should never just show up at a teacher's door during class, or even after class if you have not called ahead and made an appointment. Also, it is very important to allow your children to function within the boundaries of the school without your interference. As parents, your problems and concerns are very important and should always be addressed, but through the proper channels. This will help you maintain a cooperative relationship with the school, and save your child from unnecessary embarrassment.

Mountaineers of the Month - April 2018

Mr. Sullivan’s April 2018 Mountaineers of the Month were:  They were: Gabby Carter, Hannah Cooper, Alessia Savioa, Mike Kawalec, John Schwab, and Ryan Shute.

Gabby, Hannah, Alessia, Mike, John and Ryan were honored for academic excellence in Social Studies in March. They will receive coupons for  a free appetizer at any Applebee’s restaurant and Pretzel to be named later courtesy of  Mr. Sullivan!

What’s Happening in Social Studies Class by Mr. Sullivan The 2017-2018 school year will begin on September 7, 2017. Can you believe that summer has passed so quickly? The school year passes by just as fast...seemingly in the blink of an eye! I hope that your student will enjoy Social Studies class and will achieve high levels of academic success this year! You can always use Powerschool to check your child's academic achievement. If you need to obtain your child’s user name and password, please contact the Counseling Office at 856-223-2750. If you would to receive a copy of your child’s current social studies grades, please contact me as soon as possible! I sincerely hope your child used the Social Studies / Quia On line Reviews to prepare for tests and quizzes this year. All they had do was just go to QUIA.COM and log in with their username and password! There were online games like hangman, jeopardy, and who wants to be a Millionaire as well as Mr. Sullivan’s famous ONLINE QUIZ Reviews! CLICK HERE to see the kids on the opening day of the 2017-2018 school year! The students will receive instructions how to use “QUIA,” the online test and quiz website. Using Quia, students will complete a short interest analyzer, a brief survey about current events.Social Studies Class Orientation Activities. They will use 6-12 pictures / photos / print outs / cut outs from home to create a personal collage to describe their personality and their interests. Students will also experience also a few “assessments” to determine their Multiple Intelligences, and “brain preferences” 7th Grade Back to School Night took place Wednesday September 13, 2017. Parents experienced the Middle School first hand as they traveled from room to room and got a chance to meet the teachers! Please CLICK HERE to view Mr. Sullivan’s presentation. As part of September’s Geography lessons, the students participated in 13th Annual Mr. Cheeseman Memorial World Map puzzle contest. Click on the link to view this year’s champions and other action photos. The boys and girls sharpened their map reading skills as learned how to read maps and interpret the symbols. Latitude and Longitude were taught in a “hands on” mode as the students re-enforced the information presented in class as they competed in the Eleventh Annual Mr. Burkhardt Memorial Battleship Tournament. Halloween will arrive at the Middle School on TUESDAY October 31, 2017! This year, 72 students participated in the 10th Annual Mrs. Snitzel Memorial Halloween Costume Contest. CLICK HERE to see all the swell costumes. From her luxurious 16th Century Chalet, high on a wind swept mountainside in the Swiss Alps, Mrs. Snitzel announced her choices in the 10th Annual Mrs. Snitzel Memorial Halloween Costume Contest. Best Original: Dave Brister as Bob Ross; Best All-Around: Holden Riefensthal as a Smarty Pants; Scariest: Joe DeAnne as Scary Clown Guy; and Funniest: Maddie DiMarco as Dwight Schrute. Runners Up:were Emily Fare, Mark Grubb, Gillian Osif, Riley Moore, and Brandon Roney. Those receiving Honorable Mention were Gary Batot, Jessica Cinko, Mia Conners, Brynlee Crispin, Aubrey Donohue, Monet DuMont, Reese Goesler, Ava Geiser, Cameron Hazen, and Blake Richardson The students finished the basic elements and concepts of Geography. They’ve renewed their understanding of geography vocabulary, as well as the continents, oceans, and the states of the USA. The kids learned the Global Grid system that forms the backbone of a general awareness of who and where they are in the world. Using Google Classroom, and Chromebooks, the boys and girls finished a short unit about the United Nations. The used web based information to complete several reports about the World’s Governments, Economies, and researched facts about the member nations of the UN. The children have finished working on their Unit about Africa’s Geography and History this Marking Period. First, we finished a whirlwind virtual tour of Africa. Next, the boys and girls learned about Africa’s great Ancient civilizations. Since January 8th, they have been working on a research assessment about one of the Kingdoms. Presentations of their work begin on Tuesday January 30, 2018 To enhance their African experience, they viewed the story of Duma.and read the exciting story of Sunjiata. the Lion King of Mali. CLICK HERE for more information about Duma! CLICK HERE for more information about Sunjiata. We ended the Marking Period when the kids presented their discoveries about Ancient African Kingdoms to their classmates! The students began the new year by participating in the 30th annual National Geographic Society’s National Geography Bee. Monet DuMont emerged victorious for Mr. Sullivan’s Class competition. Mr. Sullivan's Geography Bee Other finalists were Cavan Atagone, Josh Cherian, Mason Gandy, Alexander Howarth, and Blake Richardson. Our School Champion, 8th Grader Drew Rosenberger, if he qualifies, will be invited for the New Jersey State Finals held in March at the former Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). Our School Champion, if they qualify, will be invited to the New Jersey State Finals held in March at the former Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). The state champions will be invited to the national Geography Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., May 20-23 2018. The preliminary round on day one determines the top 10 finalists, who win $500 and advance to the final round on the second day. The student who is crowned National Geographic Bee champion wins the top prize of a $50,000 college scholarship, lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and an expedition for two to the Galápagos islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. The second-place finisher receives a $25,000 college scholarship, and the student who places third receives a college scholarship of $10,000. The boys and girls will be tested to the limits of their geographic knowledge in this spirited and exciting fun filled competition. CLICK HERE to visit the National Geographic Society’s website to learn more about the Geography Bee! The children’s investigation on the US Civil Rights Movement is completed. The boys and girls created a “virtual tour” of important places in the movement using Google’s Tour Builder app. They viewed clips from the story of Ruby Bridges. After tracing the progress of the movement from the 1940’s to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, students read the dramatic historical novel Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper. The book tells the story of the saga of the Little Rock Nine and their struggle to attend the previously segregated Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Click on the title to read more information about the book. The boys and girls also viewed clips from the The Ernest Green Story, a movie also based on the experiences of the Little Rock Nine students and “42,” the story of Jackie Robinson’s first season as the first African American to play Major League Baseball The first week of May was PARCC week in New Jersey’s Middle Schools! We were PARCC testing every day last week! Normal Social Studies classroom activities were be scaled back a bit to allow students to relax after slogging through a high pressure day of testing! Students got to experience a very short week of schoolwork last week! School was closed for Memorial day on Monday May 29th and National Prom Day on Friday June 2nd. There was an early dismissal on Thursday June 1st. Wednesday May 31st students enjoyed for 25th annual Seventh Grade Picnic at Tall Pines Picnic Center in Williamstown. The only full day of school was Tuesday, May 30th. There was never a week like this is the long, long history of the Clearview district! Many of our Social Studies activities this year are technology based, and I hope our class website will serve as a way to extend learning and reinforce what goes on in my classroom. I continue to look forward to another swell conclusion to my 43rd year teaching 7th Grade Social Studies! All the lessons and activities were carefully designed and selected to reach children with many different learning styles and brain preferences. I sincerely hope that the boys and girls enjoyed learning in Social Studies class! The school year will pass by very quickly. Pretty soon it’s going to be September again!! I hope that every one will have an awesome year! Always remember that 7th Grade Social Studies is “swell!”

What’s Happening in

Social Studies Class

by Mr. Sullivan

The 2017-2018 school year will begin on September 7, 2017. Can you believe that summer has passed so quickly?  The school year passes by just as fast...seemingly in the blink of an eye! I hope that your
student will enjoy  Social Studies class and will achieve high levels of academic success this year!

You can always use Powerschool to check your child's academic achievement. If you need to obtain your child’s user name and password, please contact the Counseling Office at 856-223-2750. If you would to receive a copy of your child’s current social studies grades, please contact me as soon as possible!

I sincerely hope your child used the Social Studies / Quia On line Reviews to prepare for tests and quizzes this year. All they had do was just go to QUIA.COM and log in with their username and password! There were online games like hangman, jeopardy, and who wants to be a Millionaire as well as Mr. Sullivan’s famous ONLINE QUIZ Reviews!

CLICK HERE to see the kids on the opening day of the 2017-2018 school year! The students will receive instructions how to use “QUIA,” the online test and quiz website. Using Quia, students will complete a short interest analyzer, a brief survey about current events.Social Studies Class Orientation Activities. They will use 6-12 pictures / photos / print outs / cut outs from home to create a personal collage to describe their personality and their interests. Students will also experience also a few “assessments” to determine their Multiple Intelligences, and “brain preferences”

7th Grade Back to School Night took place Wednesday September 13, 2017. Parents experienced the Middle School first hand as they traveled from room to room and got a chance to meet the teachers! Please CLICK HERE to view Mr. Sullivan’s presentation.

As part of September’s Geography lessons, the students participated in 13th Annual Mr. Cheeseman Memorial World Map puzzle contest. Click on the link to view this year’s champions and other action photos.

The boys and girls sharpened their map reading skills as learned how to read maps and interpret the symbols. Latitude and Longitude were taught in a “hands on” mode as the students re-enforced the information presented in class as they competed in the Eleventh Annual Mr. Burkhardt Memorial Battleship Tournament.

Halloween will arrive at the Middle School on TUESDAY October 31, 2017! This year, 72 students participated in the 10th Annual Mrs. Snitzel Memorial Halloween Costume Contest. CLICK HERE to see all the swell costumes. From her luxurious 16th Century Chalet, high on a wind swept mountainside in the Swiss Alps, Mrs. Snitzel announced her choices in the 10th Annual Mrs. Snitzel Memorial Halloween Costume Contest. Best Original: Dave Brister as Bob Ross; Best All-Around: Holden Riefensthal as a Smarty Pants; Scariest: Joe DeAnne as Scary Clown Guy; and Funniest: Maddie DiMarco as Dwight Schrute. Runners Up:were Emily Fare, Mark Grubb, Gillian Osif, Riley Moore, and Brandon Roney. Those receiving Honorable Mention were Gary Batot, Jessica Cinko, Mia Conners, Brynlee Crispin, Aubrey Donohue, Monet DuMont,   Reese Goesler, Ava Geiser,  Cameron Hazen, and Blake Richardson

The students finished the basic elements and concepts of Geography. They’ve renewed their understanding of geography vocabulary, as well as the continents, oceans, and the states of the USA. The kids learned the Global Grid system that forms the backbone of a general awareness of who and where they are in the world.

Using Google Classroom, and Chromebooks, the boys and girls finished a short unit about the United Nations. The used web based information to complete several reports about the World’s Governments, Economies, and researched facts about the member nations of the UN.

The children have finished working on their Unit about Africa’s Geography and History this Marking Period. First, we finished a whirlwind virtual tour of Africa. Next, the boys and girls learned about Africa’s great Ancient civilizations. Since January 8th, they have been working on a research assessment about one of the Kingdoms.  Presentations of their work begin on Tuesday January 30, 2018 To enhance their African experience, they viewed the story of Duma.and read the exciting story of Sunjiata. the Lion King of Mali.  CLICK HERE for more information about Duma! CLICK HERE for more information about Sunjiata. We ended the Marking Period when the kids presented their discoveries about  Ancient African Kingdoms to their classmates!

The students began the new year by participating in the 30th annual National Geographic Society’s National Geography Bee.  Monet DuMont emerged victorious for Mr. Sullivan’s Class competition. Mr. Sullivan's Geography Bee Other finalists were  Cavan Atagone, Josh Cherian, Mason Gandy, Alexander Howarth, and Blake Richardson. Our School Champion, 8th Grader Drew Rosenberger, if he qualifies, will be invited for the New Jersey State Finals held in March at the former Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). Our School Champion, if they qualify, will be invited to the New Jersey State Finals held in March at the former Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). The state champions will be invited to the national Geography Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., May 20-23 2018. The preliminary round on day one determines the top 10 finalists, who win $500 and advance to the final round on the second day. The student who is crowned National Geographic Bee champion wins the top prize of a $50,000 college scholarship, lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and an expedition for two to the Galápagos islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. The second-place finisher receives a $25,000 college scholarship, and the student who places third receives a college scholarship of $10,000. The boys and girls will be tested to the limits of their geographic knowledge in this spirited and exciting fun filled competition. CLICK HERE to visit the National Geographic Society’s website to learn more about the Geography Bee!

The children’s investigation on the US Civil Rights Movement is completed. The boys and girls created a “virtual tour” of important places in the movement using Google’s Tour Builder app. They viewed clips from the story of Ruby Bridges. After tracing the progress of the movement from the 1940’s to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, students read the dramatic historical novel Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper. The book tells the story of the saga of the Little Rock Nine and their struggle to attend the previously segregated Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Click on the title to read more information about the book. The boys and girls also viewed clips from the The Ernest Green Story, a movie also based on the experiences of the Little Rock Nine students and “42,” the story of Jackie Robinson’s first season as the first African American to play Major League Baseball

The first week of May was PARCC week in New Jersey’s Middle Schools! We were PARCC testing every day last week! Normal Social Studies classroom activities were be scaled back a bit to allow students to relax after slogging through a high pressure day of  testing!

Students got to experience a very short week of schoolwork last week! School was closed for Memorial day on Monday May 29th and National Prom Day on Friday June 2nd. There was an early dismissal on Thursday June 1st. Wednesday May 31st students enjoyed for 25th annual Seventh Grade Picnic at Tall Pines Picnic Center in Williamstown. The only full day of school was Tuesday, May 30th. There was never a week like this is the long, long history of the Clearview district!

Many of our Social Studies activities this year are technology based, and I hope our class website will serve as a way to extend learning and reinforce what goes on in my classroom.

I continue to look forward to another swell conclusion to my 43rd year teaching 7th Grade  Social Studies! All the lessons and activities were carefully designed and selected to reach children with many different learning styles and brain preferences. I sincerely hope that the boys and girls enjoyed learning in Social Studies class! The school year will pass by very quickly. Pretty soon it’s going to be September again!!

I hope that every one  will have an awesome year! Always remember that 7th Grade Social Studies is “swell!”