Social Studies with Mr. Thompson and Mrs. Berry

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NOTE:  Beginning this Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009, I will be staying after school 
every Wednesday until 5:00PM for any student that needs additional help.
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PROJECT
     Students have been assigned a project which will be due on December 14.  
This project will increase the students knowledge on a country within the 
region being studied.  Students will learn more about the countries culture, 
government, economy, and physical features.  The rubrics and requirements of 
the project are on the documents page under PROJECT and each student has been 
provided a copy of it. 
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23 - 27 Nov 09
     Chapter 9 test on Spatial Inequality is on Tuesday.  It is a short week 
and I hope EVERYONE has a safe and wonderful holiday.  We will travel to 
Central America and visit the Mayan culture to determine how they preserve 
their traditions while adapting to the modern world.  The students will be 
putting on skits to help show this as we learn various aspects of their lives.
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16 - 20 Nov 09
     We are finishing our tour of Mexico city were we visited four distinct 
neighborhoods (the "have nots", the working poor, the "Haves" - middle class 
and upper class).  During our visits we discovered why spatial inequality 
exists and how each of these social classes live.  We will conclude with 
discussing how spatial inequality is not limited to Mexico, but it is a 
global problem.  Our chapter test will be next week prior to Thanksgiving 
break.
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9 - 13 Nov 09
     We are finishing up our preview of Latin America and will be travelling 
to Mexico where we will travel through Mexico City discovering how spatial 
inequality effects the people here.  We should also make the connection that 
spatial inequality occurs throughout the world as well.  We will also be 
building on our knowledge of push and pull factors and developed and 
developing countries.
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2 - 6 Nov 09
     We have our Chapter 8 test this Tuesday and Wednesday.  We are beginning 
our world travels starting off with Latin America.  We will spend this week 
looking at maps of Latin America and discovering some of the unique and 
similiar characteristics of this region.
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26 - 30 Oct 09
     This week we will continue our look into immigration and the causes and 
effects emigration and immigration has on the countries around the world.  We 
should finish discussing the causes and effects this week.  The chapter test 
will be the middle of next week.  All of the students should be turining in 
the consumption tracking sheet as we will use this in an upcoming project.

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12 - 16 Oct 09
     We will be finishing up our comparision of consumption between the 
United States (developed countries) and developing countries and taking our 
Chapter test on Wednesday and Thursday.  We will then finish the week by 
looking at immigration and emigration and the impact on the United States and 
other countries around the world.
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EMAIL: richard.thompson@oldham.kyschools.us
       sara.berry@oldham.kyschools.us

Phone:  228-9998  ext. 119 / 123

Quote: Do what has to be done!
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 How Work is assessed:
   - Acheivement Grade                - Process Grade
        Tests                                  Homework
        Quizzes                                Classwork
        Projects                               Participation

There are two grades that each student earns.  The first is acheivement which 
consists of quizzes, tests, and projects.  The second grade is process which 
consists of homework, classwork, and participation.
     The assignments and assessments given will be scored on a point’s 
basis.  Major quizzes, tests, and projects will be worth a greater number of 
points.

Study Suggestions / Strategies for Success
   - Most homework should take 30 minutes or less to complete and should be 
completed on the day it is assigned.
  
Availability for help:  We are available to answer questions and give extra 
help most mornings between 8:10 – 8:30.  We can also be available (with prior 
notice) after school until 5:30.  Computers are available for student use in 
the library and in the classrooms most mornings.  Computers are also
available in the library after school until 5:30 p.m.
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Please visit the Social Studies document page where you will find additional 
information that the students have completed.  They should have copies of 
these in their student notebooks.  These documents will be added several days 
prior to a test to ensure that all students have the necessary items to study.
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