Mr. Kernan - The Social Studies Adventure!
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Social Studies Overview Grades 5 - 8
A Summary of Social Studies and Classroom Expectations
Mr. Kernan, Grade 6
Eastford Elementary School
P.O. Box 158
Eastford, CT 06242
(860) 974-1130
Academics
Social Studies:
In Grade 5, students will learn about early America through the American Revolution. While studying early settlers, students will be able to see how the town and state they lived in contributed to the growth and development of our young country. Students may also have the opportunity for some unique field trips to places like Plimoth Plantaion as well as local houses such as Nathan Hale and Jonathan Trumbull.
In Grade 6 & 7, students will learn about our own history by studying the earliest civilizations and their influence on modern Western culture. We will relate the art, technology, governments and mythology of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and others to the present day world around us.
In Grade 8, students will begin learning about American history with the seeds of the American Civil War. As we progress to the American Civil War, through Reconstruction, followed by the Progressive Era, World War I, the Depression, World War II, and all things in between, students will learn about the experiment that is our American Democracy. While looking at these events, we will fairly question decisions made, while trying to understand the context of those decisions.
Technology
We use a lot of technology in the classroom to enhance and extend students' learning while helping them to prepare for a rapidly changing world. Some of the major sites we use are:
www.eastfordct.org
https://www.pearsonrealize.com/index.html#/ (For 5th-8th grade Social Studies)
Academic Expectations and Grading
In Social Studies students will be developing the necessary organizational skills and self-discipline to succeed in the future and to have a great school year.
Students need to come to class with all materials needed for their class. This includes having a pencil and a pen, an agenda, and a reading book with them at all times.
Students need to take responsibility for handing in neat and organized work on time. Students are given ample time and notice so that they may be completed in a timely fashion. It is for this reason that assignments will be done well and passed in on the day they are due. Late assignments may receive a reduced grade or a zero.
Each subject, including specials, will be broken down into basic standards as determined by the Common Core State State Standards and the CT State Department of Education. These standards will be evaluated using the following codes:
E: exceeds expectations
M: meets expectations
P: progressing towards expectations
L: limited progress towards expectationsHonor roll will be determined by conventional letter grades in core academic subjects only. Special areas, Spanish and Health do not receive conventional letter grades.The following percentages are considered when issuing students’ grades for Language Arts, Social Studies, and Mathematics:
- Class Participation: 30%
- Homework: very little. Homework is sustaining a skill you've already met!
- In class assignments: 30%
- Tests/Quizzes/Projects: 40%
o Tests/Projects = 100 points each
o Quizzes = varies
Classwork:
Classwork is a reflection of a student's understanding of the material being presented. It is a chance for the student to practice, to make mistakes and to ask questions. A high level of effort is expected on every assignment.
Assessments:
Assessments can take many forms, both formal and informal: Some examples of informal assessments could be verbal responses in class, a quick series of questions at the end of a section of reading, graphic organizer activities, or a short game. Formal assessments include the more traditional quizzes, tests, projects and written reports. Informal assessments may cover material from a single class or a set of classes, while formal assessments are more likely to encompass larger units of study.
Assessments are the student's opportunity to “show off” what he or she has learned on a given unit or lesson. Assessments inform me and the student what his or her understanding of a specific topic is, whether we can move on, or if we need to stay on the topic a little longer. Student achievement is based on assessment performance.
Homework:
Homework will be assigned to reinforce, practice or expand the concepts and skills being taught, and is often used as a stepping-stone for the next day’s lesson. It is designed to be completed independently, and without a lot of stress!
Class Participation:
Class participation is vital to a student’s learning. Discussions and information covered in class are valuable and will often find their way into later response questions in class, or an essay question on an assessment. Many projects and final report assignments have begun as comments or questions that students have shared in class. It will be difficult for a student to excel without participating fully in class discussions and activities.
Classroom Expectations
Behavior:
Classroom behavior policy follows the guidelines in the Student Handbook. Students are expected to treat each other and the educational process with respect.
Updated 2022
Related Links
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Smartboard Practice
Here's a free online version of the Notebook software we use on the SmartBoard in class. Try it out at home! It doesn't have all the features of the school's version, but it's still pretty neat. -
Social Studies Text
This is a link to our Social Studies text website. From here you can review items discussed in class and use the Study Central interactive study tool.
