Major Test Tomorrow!

The students will be taking their test over Chapter 1 tomorrow. There will be no time to study tomorrow so make sure they are prepared when they arrive at class.

Some areas the students will DEFINITELY need to know:

1. Vocabulary words
2. The difference between a line of longitude and a line of latitude
3. The difference between the Prime Meridian and Equator
4. The difference between Absolute Location and Relative Location
5. The difference between a Physical Feature and a Human Feature on the Earth
6. Advantages and disadvantages of a globe and/or map
7. The difference between a calendar and a timeline
8. The 3 parts of a map that help you interpret it (compass rose, scale bar, key)
9. Line of Latitude that divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres
10. Line of Longitude that divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres

If the students are familiar with the terms and concepts above, they should do fine on the test. Remember, the test is a Summative grade and the Summative average counts for 55% of a students total average. STUDY!

Vocabulary Builder & Guided Reading Assignments Due, Poor Grades and Missing Work

Today the students turned in the Chapter 1 Vocabulary Builder assignment and the Chapter 1 Guided Reading assignment. The students have had these two assignments since last Thursday which gave them four days to complete them. Unfortunately, many students failed to turn in their work resulting in a grade of 0. There is simply no reason for students not to have had their work having had so much time to complete these assignments.

The test over Chapter 1 will be on Wednesday 9/16. This will be the first Summative test grade. Remember that Summative grades make up 55% of a students total average. This makes it critical for the students to be prepared.

Please make sure you check with your students about their grades. I have far too many students with failing averages right now because of failing to turn in their work. I do not have a single student with a failing average that has turned in all of their work. If your student is failing the course currently, it is because he/she is not turning in their work and receiving a grade of 0. I will be sending out emails and making phone calls about grades starting this week. Official progress reports will be going out in roughly two weeks.

9/11 Lesson and Commemoration

Friday was a unique day for us at EHMS as it marked the 14^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks on our country. Our classes were shortened so that we could attend a special program meant to commemorate and remember this terrible day in American history.

I realized a couple of years ago that students of middle school age no longer remembered the events of that day. My students this year were not even born when the attacks took place in 2001. That being the case, I took the opportunity to explain, as best I could, what happened and who was responsible. It was an extremely abbreviated explanation, and overly simplistic, but it gave the kids an idea of what happened and how the events of that day still affect us today. Why did my Mom have to go to Iraq? Why is my Dad in Afghanistan? Why is airport security so tough? All questions whose answers are rooted in the events of September 11, 2001.

I showed the students a video clip of news coverage from that day. The videos showed the planes striking the towers and the towers collapsing. The shock heard in the voices of well-known morning news people like Katie Couric, Bryant Gumbel, etc. seemed to make an impression on the kids. We then attended the program where the students were very well behaved.

*HOMEWORK ALERT* - The Guided Reading and Vocabulary Builder assignments are due on Monday morning when the students arrive. Please make sure these assignments are complete and ready to go.

Guided Reading & Vocabulary Builder Assignments and Latitude & Longitude Practice

Today, the students were given a Guided Reading and a Vocabulary Builder worksheet assignment. The class was broken into groups and the students worked cooperatively to find the various answers to the questions on these assignments. Resources included the reading from Chapter 1, glossary, index and maps from the text. Students will continue to work on these assignments in class tomorrow. These assignments will count as two separate formative daily grades and will also serve as review material for the first test (middle of next week).

Also, I pulled up students to the interactive white board to practice their latitude and longitude skills. The students had to plot points, find countries and various other things requiring a working knowledge of latitude and longitude on a world map. Every student did not get a turn today but I am hopeful the rest of the kids will get a turn in class tomorrow.

Please continue to stay on top of your student's grades and remind them that all failing grades can be made up and brought up to passing (70) if they are turned in within 10 school days of the day the original assignment was posted in the grade book.

Chapter 1 Lesson 4 Quiz, Notes, Review and UIL Grade Check

Today, the students took a pop quiz over their notes on Using Globes and Maps (Chapter 1, Lesson 4). After the quiz we reviewed the questions and correct answers. Students were encouraged to retake the quiz if they received a grade below 70 (see me to set up a time).

After the quiz, we finished up the notes for Lesson 4. Full notes for this section are located below under yesterday's post (9/8). We discussed the two types of maps (General Purpose & Thematic) and the differences between the two. We also discussed the two types of Geospatial Technologies that are being used daily in the lives of many Americans (GPS, GIS) and gave some examples of how they work.

We will begin reviewing the Chapter 1 material tomorrow and preparing for the upcoming test (date TBA). Students received a Guided Reading sheet and a Vocabulary Builder sheet for Chapter 1 that they will begin working on cooperatively tomorrow. Each of these documents will count as a Formative daily grade and help prepare the students for the upcoming test.

*IMPORTANT*- The first UIL grade check is this Friday (9/11). Please check your student's grades and encourage them to turn in any missing work ASAP and to redo any assignments for which they received a grade of below 70.

Using Globes & Maps / Chapter 1 Lesson 4

Today, the students watched a video on how Google is going about mapping the face of the Earth. We talked briefly about how this technology helps us in our day to day lives.

After the video, the students worked on their "Lines on a Map" worksheet. The worksheets are due tomorrow (Wed.  9/9) at the beginning of the period.

Next, students took notes on the "Using Globes and Maps" section of Chapter 1 (Lesson 4). Important things to know are the differences between a globe and a map, the strengths and weaknesses of each, the dividing lines of longitude and latitude that split the Earth into hemispheres and the parts of a map (key, scale bar, compass rose). The notes for today are located below.

Please touch base with your student about their grades and whether or not they are caught up in class. Anyone who has missed days or is missing assignments needs to see me.

Understanding the Lines on a Map Worksheet Assigned.

Friday, we continued to discuss the difference between lines of latitude and lines of longitude on a map. Students were broken into groups and allowed to work together on a worksheet activity meant to help them better understand how to read and use these lines when interpreting a map.

The worksheet is NOT due on Tuesday. We will continue to work on the assignment in class on Tuesday and it will be due on Wednesday, Sept. 9.