New: May 29, 2012
The homework for Thursday (even) and Friday (odd) is the Unit 4 Review Packet. This is posted in
Photos/Docs as "Unit 4 Review #1 - #4." The unit test will be given during each period's long exam
block. The only other assessment left for the year is the China/Portugal Summative Assessment. The
description, tips, and four activities are posted in Photos/Docs. All begin with "China-Portugal." I
have just added the scoring rubrics in Photos/Docs as "China-Portugal Rubrics." The due
date/deadline for this summative is the entire week of June 4th. There will be no late penalties, but
the absolute final deadline is Friday, June 8th.
May 26, 2012
Hello on a hot weekend. The homework is to continue working on the China/Portugal Summative
Assessment. The description, tips, and four activities are posted in Photos/Docs. All begin with
"China-Portugal." I have just added the scoring rubrics in Photos/Docs as "China-Portugal Rubrics."
The due date/deadline for this summative is the entire week of June 4th. There will be no late
penalties, but the absolute final deadline is Friday, June 8th. On Tuesday (even) and Wednesday
(odd), students will get the final review packet of the year - for the Unit 4 test. The test and its
advanced extension will be given during the long exam block for each class period. I will post the
review packet in the next two days.
May 18, 2012
We are coming down to the end. The final topics are the Spice Trade, Columbian Exchange, colonies,
and the Triangle Trade. This will directly get students ready for the first day of 8th grade U.S.
history. The homework for the weekend is to begin the China-Portugal Summative. The description,
tips, and four activities are posted in Photos/Docs. All begin with "China-Portugal."
May 10, 2012
The deadline for the "Factory to Consumer" formative assignment is Monday. The description of the
assignment is given below (May 4th). The new homework for the weekend is the "Economy Timeline"
(20 points, formative). This is due on Wednesday for even classes and on Thursday for odd classes.
The assignment is posted in Photos/Docs as Economy Timeline #1 and #2.
May 4, 2012
There is a new assignment for this weekend, "Commerce and Trade After the Middle Ages."
Unfortunately, my new scanning program doesn't allow me to scan any longer (so much for new).
However, I am able to post below the new formative, called "Factory to Consumer." For the first
assignment, which is due on Monday for odd classes and Tuesday for even classes, I will accept late
homework with no penalty.
Name:
Factory to Consumer – Formative (15 Points)
Directions: Choose a product you have at home. Think about how it gets from wherever it is made to
your home. Make a list of all of the steps, places, transportation, and people (jobs) involved in the
process of getting the product to the store where it was bought.
Example: A teak table starts as a tree in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. It is cut down by a
Rondonian lumber company and sent to Brasilia, where there is a factory that processes trees into
wood for furniture. The wood gets shipped through the Panama Canal to California, etc.
If you don’t know the complete story of your product, make one up that is possible based on where
the raw materials are found and what needs to be done to turn it into a finished product. Hint: Read
all of the labels on your product. They often contain information about country of origin,
ingredients/raw materials, distributor, name and location of company, etc.
Format: You can write a paragraph. You can make a list or use bullets. You can make a graphic.
April 27, 2012
We've just finished our Traditional Economy/Market Economy simulation. The homework for the
weekend is a follow-up/debriefing assignment. It's posted in Photos/Docs as Econ. Venn, Econ. T-
Chart, Econ. Questions, and Econ. Summary Chart. Econ. Venn and Econ. T-Chart are my notes. Even
day students should use these notes to complete the Econ. Questions and Econ. Summary Chart. This
is due on Monday (even) and Tuesday (odd). There is also an Economy Quiz next week: Thursday
(odd) and Friday (even). The study guide is below.
Study List for Economy Quiz
What You Will Need
==> Economic Terms
==> Economic Pyramid of Traditional Economy
==> The Three Economic Questions: What to produce, how to produce it, how it’s distributed
==> Simulation Debriefing Questions (Warm-Up)
==> Economy T-charts and Economy Venn
==> Economy Continuums
What You Will Need to Know
==> Positive and negative aspects of traditional and market economies
==> Similarities and differences between traditional and market economies
==> How does a traditional economy answer the questions of what goods and services to
produce, how to produce them, and how to distribute them
==> How does a market economy answer the questions of what goods and services to produce,
how to produce them, and how to distribute them
==> Be able to place a scenario on a continuum between Traditional and Market economies
April 18, 2012
New homework is assigned for today (even) and tomorrow (odd), "The Economics of Chocolate." The
assignment is posted in Photos/Docs as The Economics of Chocolate, and Chocolate Article #1 and
#2. The assignment is due the next class (Friday for even, Monday for odd).
April 10, 2012
Welcome back! We're about to start the last unit on the Renaissance, Age of Exploration, Scientific
Revolution, and a global economy. First, we have the Unit 3 Extension using primary sources on the
Inca and Aztec empires. Then, on Thursday and Friday, we will have a final debate, Aztec v. Inca -
which empire was the best. The homework due on Thursday and Friday is preparation for the debate.
Each student got an empire - Aztec or Inca - and a category to find facts about. The assignment and
categories are given below.
Debate – Homework
Directions: For your category, write down one fact that shows why the Aztec Empire is the best and
then write down one fact or reason why the Inca Empire is not.
Aztec
1. Transportation
Aztec
2. Communication
Aztec
3. Social Pyramid/Society
Aztec
4. Empire Building/Government
Aztec
5. Technology
Aztec
6. Use of Land/Modifications/Adaptations
Aztec
7. Success and Strength of Empire
Debate – Homework
Directions: For your category, write down one fact that shows why the Inca Empire is the best and
then write down one fact or reason why the Aztec Empire is not.
Inca
1. Transportation
Inca
2. Communication
Inca
3. Social Pyramid/Society
Inca
4. Empire Building/Government
Inca
5. Technology
Inca
6. Use of Land/Modifications/Adaptations
Inca
7. Success and Strength of Empire
March 16, 2012
The homework for the weekend is a 15-point summative current event, "Floating Gardens." It's
posted in Photos/Docs as "Floating Garden Summative" and "Post Article #1" and "Post Article #2."
This assignment is due on Monday (odd) and Tuesday (P. 2) and Thursday (P. 6 and P. 8). There will
also be a quiz on the Aztec Empire this coming week. A study list for the quiz is given below. There
will be no homework over spring break.
Aztec Quiz – 20 Points Formative
What you will need to know:
• Physical features of the Aztec Empire (land, plants, animals)
• Human features of the Aztec Empire (human activity)
• Location of Aztec Empire (Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Valley of Mexico,
Gulf of Mexico, Tenochtitlan)
• Examples of modification (changes to the land)
• Examples of adaptation
• Challenges to creating an empire
• Solutions to establishing an empire
• Be able to describe the chinampas (floating gardens) and how they work
What you will need to study:
• Aztec - Mexico Warm-Up
• Aztec origin story – “The Aztec”
• “The Marvelous City of Tenochtitlan” and questions
• Aztec information sheet with picture of chinampas at the bottom and map on the back
* Aztec social pyramid
• Aztec calendar handout
• “Aztecs Rise to Power” graphic organizer (pink) – front and back
March 9, 2012
Heading into MSA, there will not be a lot of new homework. We have finished our visit with the Inca
Empire with the Inca Quiz and now we are learning about the Aztec Empire. Specifically, we are
looking at the ways the Aztec adapted to and modified their challenging environment of marsh,
swamp, and island. The culminating activity for this unit is a comparison of Aztec and Inca and their
success in establishing an empire in a widely different, but no less harsh, environment. We will end
this unit with a debate: Which empire was more complex?
March 2, 2012
The homework for the weekend is to answer a set of questions on the Inca Empire using a packet. I
have not posted it here because it involves a packet. Students will keep the packet until the end of
this unit, as the culminating activity will be a comparison of Inca and Aztec culture and how each
culture interacts with its unique environment. If students are not able to do the homework, they will
be given a chance during the up-coming week. There will be a quiz on the Inca culture on
Wednesday
(odd) and Thursday (even). I will post the study list in the next two days.
February 24, 2012
There is no NEW homework for the weekend . . . Students need to turn in any remaining
assignments,
especially the Latin America Current Event and the Geography Panels. These are 20-point formative
assignments. Both of these assignments are posted in Photos/Docs. Interims go out at the end of the
coming week!
February 21, 2012
On Thursday (even), Friday (5th period), and Tuesday (periods 1 & 7) will take a Mini-Summative (15
points) on the following:
Summative Mini-Assessment: 15 Points
What you will need to be able to do:
• Identify human and physical (natural) features of a region
• Describe an example of modification
• Describe an example of adaptation
• Define trade-off and give an example
• Label the regions of Latin America: Mexico, Central America, South America, Spanish-speaking
Caribbean
• Label the following locations on a map: Brazil, Amazon River, Gulf of Mexico, Chile, Pacific
Ocean, Mexico, Andes Mountains, Panama Canal, Caribbean Sea
February 17, 2012
The homework for the weekend is the Latin America Current Event. This is a 20-point formative. It is
due this Tuesday, February 21st, for even classes and on Wednesday, February 22nd, for odd classes.
The other homework for the coming week is the Principles of Geography Panels. This assignment is
also a 20-point formative assessment. The due date/deadline for this is Friday, February 24th for all
classes. Both of these assignments were assigned at the beginning of the week and there was class
time to work on them. Also, both assignments have been posted in Photos/Docs: Geography Panels
(Geography Panels Description, Template, and Principles) and Latin America Current Event.
**February 12 - I've just posted the two formatives, Geography Panels (Geography Panels
Description,
Template, and Principles) and Latin America Current Event, in Photos/Docs. Watch for due dates on
this page.
New: February 10, 2012
The homework for the weekend is called "Urban Growth" and is posted as a two-page document in
Photos/Docs. It's due on Monday (odd) and Tuesday (even). Two formatives will be assigned this
coming week: Geography Panels (illustrating the four principles of geography) and Latin America
Current Event. These will be posted in the next few days.
February 3, 2012
There is no new homework for the weekend. Students have taken the multiple choice part of the Unit
2 test. On Tuesday and Wednesday, students will take the Advanced Extension to the unit test. We
have done two practices. Right after this, we start the next unit on Latin America. The focus of this
unit is geography and how humans interact with their physical environment (adaptation and
modification). Historical models for this are the Inca and Aztec cultures.
January 28, 2012
The homework for the weekend (even) and Monday (odd) is the Unit 2 Africa Review Packet. This
assignment is due Tuesday (even) and Wednesday (odd). It is worth 10 points formative and will be
turned in the day of the Unit 2 test, which is Thursday (even) and Friday (odd). This assignment is
posted in Photos/Docs as Africa Review #1 - #6.
January 21, 2012
The start of the new semester finds us finishing up the unit on Africa. After learning about the
medieval kingdoms of Africa, we are now studying the effects of cultural diffusion on modern Africa
by looking at the case studies of South Africa during apartheid and the situation in Kenya today. The
homework due Wednesday (even) and Thursday (odd) is to read the true story of a South African
soccer player, Mark Fish, and answer questions. This assignment is posted in Photos/Docs as Fish
Story #1, Fish Story #2, and Fish Store Questions.
January 13, 2012
There is no new homework for the long weekend. Some students may need to finish the questions
for
the Africa Packet. They are also being given time in class to finish this assignment. During the exam
block, students are writing the BCR to the Unit 2 test. The BCR is focused on cultural diffusion.
Students can choose among four culture regions that we have studied to use as examples of cultural
diffusion: Kingdoms of Mali, Kongo, and Great Zimbabwe, and the Swahili States. The BCR is open
note, plus there is review activity that adds additional information. This assessment is 20 points and
summative. After this, we study modern Africa, nationalism, and South Africa and apartheid. The rest
of the unit test will be given after the lessons on modern Africa.
January 6, 2012
Happy New Year! We are now applying the concept of cultural diffusion to four regions/cultures of
medieval Africa: the kingdoms of Mali, Kongo, and Songhai, and the Swahili States. There is no
semester exam in 7th grade world studies. Instead, during the exam block, students will write the
BCR to the Unit 2 test. The BCR is focused on cultural diffusion. Students will be able to choose
among the four different cultures to use as examples of cultural diffusion. The BCR will be open
note.
The homework for this weekend is to study for the Cultural Diffusion Quiz - Monday (even) and
Tuesday (odd). The study list is given below. The other homework is to answer questions in the
Africa
Packet. On Thursday/Friday, students received a packet containing summaries of the four culture
regions. The packet is 10 pages (5 double-sided). I assigned the first two pages and questions
today:
pages 64/65 and 68/69, questions 1 through 7. I'm not going to post the entire packet, but students
can turn the homework in all of this coming week.
Cultural Diffusion Quiz - 20 points
Format:
Ten Multiple Choice questions
One definition plus one example of cultural diffusion
One matching artifact to Principle of Culture
What you will need to know:
Definition of cultural diffusion and examples
Principle 8: Culture reflects the beliefs and values of a society
Principle 9: Culture is changed by inside and outside forces
Principle 10: Cultural change can be accepted or resisted
Study:
Definition of cultural diffusion
Cultural Diffusion notes from the charts
Principles of Culture 8, 9, and 10
NOTE: The principles of culture will be given to you on the quiz.
December 17, 2011
There is no new homework for the weekend. Retakes for the Africa Geography Quiz can be done
anytime this coming week. On Thursday and Friday, we will have class geography bees. After winter
break, the winners of the class bees for all grades will compete in a school geography bee. There will
be no new homework over break.
December 14, 2011
There was new homework assigned today. It's called "Nigeria Artifacts." It's due on Friday (even) and
Monday (odd). The assignment is posted as a flip chart (with pictures of the artifacts) in Photos/Docs
as "Nigeria Artifacts."
December 6, 2011
The homework for this week is to study for the Africa Geography/Climate Quiz. The study list is
given
below. Even classes will take the quiz on Thursday; Odd classes on Friday. Holidays have been
graded. Medieval Museum final product grades will start to be posted on Thursday.
Study List for Africa Geography Quiz – 20 points Formative
Handouts and Notes You Will Need
• Definition of Climate and climate equation plus factors that affect climate
• Word Map with Definition of Culture and Indigenous
• Big Map of Africa
• “Africa in the World”
• Map of Climate Regions of Africa
• Climate Map and Vegetation Map of Africa (yellow)
• Physical Feature Map and Crossword
What You Will Need to Know
• Definition of climate and climate equation – factors that affect climate
• Definition of culture (examples) and indigenous
• Name the five climate regions of Africa and one main land feature of each region
• Label Niger River, Congo River, Sahara Desert, Lake Victoria, Kalahari Desert, Mediterranean Sea,
Saudi Arabia, Ethiopian Highlands, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, South Africa, Madagascar, Egypt,
Nile River, Tropics, Equator. There will be a word bank.
Format
• Fill in the definitions and climate regions and give examples
• Label map of Africa
• Postcard: Write about a fictional (or real!) trip through Africa using geographic terms and real
physical features of Africa
December 2, 2011
The Medieval Museum final products are wonderful - this is the best year yet. I'm still accepting final
products, but they will be counted as late. This week, we have learned about the climate and
geography of Africa. There is new homework for the weekend that asks students to predict where
people settled based physical features of Africa. This assignment is due on Monday (odd) and
Tuesday (even). and is posted in Photos/Docs as Settlement #1 - #5 and Settlement Data Table.
Students who need to finish their big map of Africa can use the my map key posted in Photos/Docs
as "Africa Labeled Map."
November 28, 2011
Final Medieval Museum Products are now due. The deadline to be counted on time is Tuesday,
November 29th. I will continue to accept final products after the 29th, but they will be counted as
late
and there will be a late deduction of points (10%). The only other homework until the end of the
week
is to finish the "Create Your Own Holiday" assignment (15 points, formative). All students were given
at least one block to work on this assignment. The due date is Wednesday (even) and Thursday (odd).
This assignment is posted in Photos/Docs as "Aspects of Culture" and "Create Your Own Holiday."
November 18, 2011
The only homework for this weekend is to finish the final product for the Medieval Museum project.
Students have gotten their drafts back - graded and with comments. The final product is due
anytime
between today and November 29th, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving without any late penalty. After
the 29th, it will be counted as late. Rubrics for the final product are in Photos/Docs. This week, we
learn about seen and unseen culture and students will create their own holidays. There will be no
new
homework over the Thanksgiving holiday.
November 11, 2011
We are in the middle of the Unit 1 tests and then off to study cultural diffusion and Africa in the
Middle Ages. We start by defining culture in its many forms and examining primary sources in the
form of artifacts - paintings to start. There is no new homework for Periods 1 and 7. Period 5 has a
unit test on Tuesday. Periods 2, 4, and 6 take the unit test on Monday. For the classes taking the unit
test, students must remember to bring in their review packets for 10 formative points. I will collect
the review packets right before giving the test. For all classes, the text draft for the medieval
museum
project was due Thursday and Friday. I will still accept drafts Monday and Tuesday for late credit.
November 4, 2011
**The Unit 1 Review Packet is now posted in Photos/Docs as Unit 1 Review #1 - #8. Odd day classes
will take the unit test on Wednesday. Even classes on Thursday. Students are also working on their
Medieval Museum Drafts. See entry below, Nov. 1st, for information and rubric.
November 1, 2011
The start of a new quarter! The AFI field trip is this Thursday and the trip to Medieval Times is on
Friday. We are almost at the end of Unit 1. This is our longest unit, so the unit test always falls at the
beginning of the second quarter. By the end of the week, students will have received the Unit 1
Review Packet. This is due for points on the day of the test. The unit test for even classes will be on
Thursday, November 10th, and for odd classes on Friday, November 11th. I will post the Review
Packet on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. The other assignment for the next week is the Draft
of Text for the Medieval Museum Project. The rubric and due dates are given below. Some students
will have a new world studies teacher starting tomorrow. I will still accept and grade anything related
to the Medieval Museum Project. This will include the draft of text and the final product.
Medieval Museum – Rubric for Rough Drafts
Due November 10th (even) and November 11th (odd)
ALL products must have a written text. The rough draft of the text can be in the form of captions,
annotations/labels, PowerPoint slides (printed out), story board, script or notes for an oral
presentation, collection of recipes and script for a cooking show, background information for a 3-D
model, short story and full-length paper. The rough draft is worth 20 points - Formative .
o The text must have an introduction – for example, the first slide, first caption or first paragraph.
o The introduction must clearly state the topic (castles, knights, food, etc.)
o The text must contain factual information from the Research Notes AND
o The text should provide background information about your topic, feudalism, and/or the middle
ages
o The text should be in the format that will be used for the final product
o The text should be free of spelling and grammar mistakes
October 21, 2011
We are on our way to the end of the middle ages in Europe. The last two turning points that will take
feudal Europe to the Renaissance are the Crusades and the Plague. We've started the Crusades this
week. The homework for the weekend is to finish the Research Notes for the Medieval Museum
Project. These notes are due on Monday (even) and Tuesday (odd). This will be one of the last grades
for the first quarter. There will be one more summative - an in-class activity on turning points this
week.
October 14, 2011
This was a great week - we are learning about the turning points that change Western Europe's
political system (the end of feudalism). The homework for this weekend is to construct a timeline of
these turning points. The due date is Monday (even) and Tuesday (odd). Students were given class
time on Thursday and Friday to start their timelines. The directions and grading rubric are given
below.
Timeline of the Middle Ages – Graded Assessment (20 points)
Objective: Create a historical timeline using events (turning points) from the Middle Ages.
Directions:
1. Divide your timeline into equal intervals of 50 years starting with 400 CE and ending with 1500
CE.
2. Place the events listed below on your timeline in chronological order (earliest to most recent).
3. Label each event with the date of the event and name of the event. If the event lasts for a number
of years, use color or symbols to show a range.
4. After you create your timeline, choose one event that you believe is the most important turning
point and write an explanation of your choice underneath the event on the time. Use the textbook,
Across the Centuries, for details about the events. Page numbers are given after each event.
Note: A turning point is an event in time that changes the course of history, lives, and institutions.
There is a measurable difference between before and after the event. The change is often long-
lasting or even permanent. A turning point affects a large number of people.
Major Events – 400 CE to 1500 CE
• 1071: Decline of Byzantine Empire (p. 294)
• 1096 – 1270: The Crusades (p. 296)
• 1066: William the Conqueror takes rule of England (p. 261)
• 800: Charlemagne becomes emperor (pp. 258-259)
• 1347: Great Plague or Black Death (p. 310)
• 476: Fall of Roman Empire (p. 256)
• 1492: Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World (p. 377)
• 1215: King John signs Magna Carta (p. 270)
• 1337: Hundred Years War begins (pp. 312-313)
• 1455: Gutenberg invents printing press (PP. 330-331)
Rubric for Success – Check Your Work!
o Name and Title
o Equal intervals of 50 years
o Events are placed in chronological order from earliest to most recent
o Events are labeled with date and name of event
o Turning point identified and described
o All text is clearly written
o Color is used to enhance information
October 7, 2011
This Monday will be an all-period day, 1 through 8. It's technically an odd day, so Tuesday will be an
even day. The homework for the weekend is the Feudalism Summative Paragraph. The assignment is
given below. The due date is Monday (odd) and Tuesday (even). Deadlines are Wednesday (odd) and
Thursday (even). Students may type their paragraphs or hand-write them.
Name:
Feudal Summative – 20 Points
Directions: Write a paragraph telling how you feel about feudalism as a way to organize society. Your
first sentence (topic sentence) should state your opinion of the feudal system. Your paragraph
should
contain at least five factual sentences that support your opinion. Use your notes!
Think About: the need to organize after the Roman Empire, the feudal pyramid, sources of power,
manors, tradition, fairness, common good, interdependence, self-sufficiency, vassals.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
September 30, 2011
We have constructed the political system of Western Europe in the middle ages (feudalism) - and
now
we're about to take it apart! We will learn about the turning points - events - (Crusades, Plague) that
bring an end to feudalism and usher in the Renaissance. There is a Feudalism Quiz on Tuesday (odd)
and Wednesday (even). The Study List is given below. There will be a summative assessment on the
feudal groups (a simulation) this coming week.
Study List for Feudal Quiz – 30 Points Formative
Format:
• Multiple choice, true/false
• Pyramid to label
• Short answer
What you will need to know:
• Definition of feudalism
• Feudal Pyramid – be able to fill out a blank pyramid for the year 1000 CE
• Feudal Roles – be able to give two jobs and one source of power for each social group
• Political System Terms – be able to give an example for each term from the middle ages
What you will need to study:
➢ Word map with definition of feudalism
➢ “Daily Life” packet and questions
➢ Political System Terms handout
➢ Feudal Role worksheet
➢ Feudalism Pyramid
➢ “Social Structure of the Middle Ages” video guide
➢ Readings: What Life Was Like, Lords and Masters
September 22, 2011
Students have turned in their Topic and Product forms and should now focus on doing research and
collecting information about their topic. On Monday and Tuesday, we will go to the Media Center to
do research. The homework for the weekend is called "Prince Charles Article," and is posted in
Photos/Docs.
September 20, 2011
The Homework for Monday/Tuesday is "Roles and Jobs in Feudalism." The answers for this set of
questions are found in the "Daily Life" packet, which students got on Monday and Tuesday. The
questions and the packet (Daily Life Packet P1 - P6) are posted in Photos/Docs. The questions are
due the next class. Students will keep the Daily Life packet to use as background information for
their
Medieval Museum projects.
September 16, 2011
The homework for this weekend is to decide on a topic and product for the Medieval Museum
Project.
The first checkpoint is the Topic/Product Form (posted in Photos/Docs), which is due on Thursday,
September 22, for even classes, and on Friday, September 23, for odd classes. Students received
rubrics for eight different product categories - a blue paper (posted in Photos/Docs), a format
guideline for the Research Notes (posted in Photos/Docs), and a packet of on-line resources for the
project (posted in Photo/Docs). The Research Notes document is two pages. The second page is a
rubric.
September 10, 2011
The homework is the follow-up questions to the "Mental Maps" of Europe in 500 CE and 1000 CE.
These are posted here after the quiz study list. There will be a quiz this week (24 points formative)
on
the Fall of Rome and geography of Europe: odd classes on Friday, even on Thursday. The study list is
given blow.
The project description for the Medieval Museum Project and the first checkpoint (Topic/Product
Choice Form) were given out on Friday Periods 1, 5, and 7. Even classes will get these on Monday.
Both of documents are posted in Photos/Docs as "Medieval Museum 2011" and "Medieval Museum
Topic Choice."
Fall of Rome and Western Europe Quiz-2009
The quiz will consist of short written response questions, a modern map of Europe, and a historical
map of Europe in 1000 CE (your mental map). Be sure that you can do the following tasks.
Roman Empire
• Describe the benefits of having a central government governing all of Europe under one Roman
Empire.
• Describe the negative impact of the fall of the Roman Empire on Western Europe
Maps
• Be able to label countries, cities, and physical features of Western Europe on a blank modern
map. Only the locations you labeled on the map in class will be used.
• Be able to label Rome, the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic empires (caliphates) on a mental
map of Europe. You will be given a base map with the physical features already labeled.
• Be able to illustrate on the mental map what Europe looked like after the fall of the Roman
Empire.
What You Will Need
• Mental Map of Europe in 500 CE and 1000 CE
• “Setting the Scene” & “Effects on Europe of the Fall of the Roman Empire” (on the back)
• Height & Decline of Roman Empire worksheets
• “Summary: The Middle Ages” handout
• Map of modern Europe
• Video Guide: History of the Middle Ages
Name: Date: Period:
Mental Map Skills
Objective: Interpret a map of Europe using basic map elements.
Directions: Using the Mental Map of Europe you created, fill in the correct answers to the questions.
1. Name the peninsula that was the origin of the Roman Empire: _____________________________
2. Name one of the two islands off the northern coast of Europe: _____________________________
3. _________________________________________ is the largest peninsula in Western Europe.
4. The Byzantine Empire occupied which two peninsulas?
____________________________________________________________________________
5. The ________________________________ River runs through both Germanic and Slavic lands.
6. The mountains that divide the Eurasian continent into Europe and Asia are the ______________
7. The sea that separates the Italian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula is ___________________
8. In the year 100 CE, France was known as __________________________
9. Name one of the two modern countries found on the Iberian Peninsula: _____________________
10. The Visigoths invaded the Balkan Peninsula from which direction? ________________________
11. The Ostrogoths had to cross which mountains to invade the Italian Peninsula? ________________
12. The modern country of Turkey is on what peninsula? ___________________________________
13. Name two natural barriers that might prevent an empire from expanding:
a. _______________________________________________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________________________________________
14. Name two reasons why an empire might wish to expand:
a. _______________________________________________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________________________________________
August 29, 2011
Week 1 Welcome to 7th grade world studies! Please visit my website often
for announcements and homework. I update this website at least once a week.
You should check for updates on Saturdays. Often, I will post actual homework
assignments, which you can print out along with rubrics. Take a minute and
look under the different categories for information about me, about the
curriculum, supplies, and homework. This website is accessible through Edline.
I'm available for help after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays. I'm also available for help at lunch on most days. If possible,
please let me know you are coming in for help in case there is a conflict. I
also work with students during 7th grade Homework Club - after school on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
My email address is Margaret_A_Chang@mcpsmd.org
Students and parents can email me anytime. The best way to reach me is by
email. I usually respond to emails within 24 hours, most of the time during
the same school day.
I'm looking forward to a great year teaching you about the Middle Ages in
Africa, Europe, and Latin America! We will start learning about society in the
Middle Ages by creating coats-of-arms and medieval names. Homework for this
week and over Labor Day is to bring in the world studies dept. contact
information form (gray form) and to finish the personal coat-of-arms (if needed). The directions and
template for the coat-of-arms is posted in Photos/Docs.
There are two field trips already scheduled for this year: a trip to AFI
to see "Tom Sawyer" (end of October) and a trip to Medieval Times (beginning
of November). Dates will be announced soon.
Back-to-School Night is Thursday, September 15th!!!
