7TH GRADE NON-WESTERN CULTURE

Mr. Montgomery 2009-2010

Roycemore School

Evanston, Illinois

 

The Purpose of this Course

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the history and culture of Africa and Asia from pre-historical times until the modern era. Since this course will cover a vast amount of history and topics, some areas will receive more attention than others.  Students will participate in class discussions, simulations, readings, role-playing, and taking notes. 

 

Grades and Assignments

Each quarter we will cover 3-5 units of material.  The grade for each of the units will be averaged together to form the quarter grade. The students will be given a list of assignments and will then choose how to complete the required amount based on a series of options.

 

Homework

Students will be given some time during class to complete the reading, and work days for each unit to complete assignments. If additional time is needed, students can complete the assignment as homework. Some of the assignments that students choose, such as creating models or performances, may need additional preparation time at home. Once a week students will bring in current event articles focusing on the regions we are studying.

 

Tests

Tests will be given at the end of each unit.  My main goal is to assess how well the students understand the themes of history and recognize historical patterns.

 

Folders and notebooks

Each student will keep a notebook to complete daily activities and take notes. The notes that the students complete will form the basis of the test questions. The students also receive a binder that will be used to organize papers and keep track of their grades for the current chapter.

 


The grading scale will be:


A+       97-100%

A         93-96%

A-        90-92%

B+       87-89%

B          83-86%

B-        80-82%

C+       77-79%

C         73-76%

C-        70-72%

D+       67-69%

D         63-66%

D-        60-62%

F          59 or below


 



Books

There are two books for the class and they will be used at different times of the year. The book we will use for most of the first semester is World Explorer: Asia and the Pacific. The book we will use for most of the second semester is World Explorer: Africa.  There will also be many handouts and additional required readings.  

Expectations

Students are expected to bring their textbooks, notebooks, folders, homework, and additional handouts to class, and to be prepared for class discussions and activities. Students are expected to follow the rules and procedures for the class and to follow the Roycemore School Code of Conduct.

 

Differentiation

Students will be challenged to do their best in this class.  This may mean that there are different expectations for different students.  If you feel the class is too hard please let me know.  If you feel the class is too easy please let me know.

 

Quarterly Calendar

1st Quarter

South Asia: Physical Geography

India and South Asia

East Asia: Physical Geography

China

 

2nd Quarter

Japan

Southwest Asia and Central Asia: Physical Geography

Middle East

Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region: Physical Geography

Australia

 

3rd Quarter

Africa: Physical Geography

Africa: Shaped by Its History

Cultures of Africa

North Africa

 

4th Quarter

West Africa

East Africa

Central and Southern Africa

 

Information on the World Wide Web

Students will receive a written description of the requirements for each unit.  The web address for this class is:

http://roycemoreschool.org/teacher/montgomery