World Cultures: Learning about the Mayan Civilization

Today in World Culture Class, you are going to learn about the Ancient Maya Civilization.  (Brainpop login- tmoran1   brainpop)
Click here to view the Brain Pop video
Click here to take the quiz
Click here to make a map
Click here to complete the story online

What was the Maya Civilization?
The Maya was an ancient civilization that thrived between 250 and 900 C.E. in what is now Central America and southern Mexico. The Maya civilization was not governed by a central, powerful authority (like an emperor); instead, it was comprised of a collection of city-states who were united by trade, language, and religious beliefs. During their heyday, they produced remarkable works of art, architecture, and learning. They perfected a calendar system as well as a writing system that used hieroglyphs. Mayan civilization was destroyed by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century, but the descendants of the Maya still live in the same area as their ancestors.

Other resources:
Maya Tic Tac Toe 
Online coloring pages
Mayan Kids- want to learn more?  Than visit this site
Maya or Myth-How much do you know about the Mayans?
All About Maya Culture
Maya Number System
Learning about Maya Culture for Kids

Note Taking Practice

Read the article and write three notes that will help your research. Click here to go to the article.

Learning About Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank:  Exploring the Secret Annex:

  Today you will begin to explore The Secret Annex and learn about its inhabitants.  Visit The Secret Annex and answer the questions on the handout.  Please take your time, explore the different sections, watch the videos and read the descriptions.  There are so many interesting things in this site to do and learn about.  Click here to download the worksheet.

 

Click here to visit The Secret Annex

Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom

We are going to read Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom a story that describes the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman's role in helping free the slaves in the south in the 1800s.  Before we read the story in our textbook, you are going to learn a little about The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman by watching a video, completing a web quest and completing an interactive journey on The Underground Railroad yourself.

Watch Underground Railroad on PBS. See more from History Detectives.

Click here to watch a video about Harriet Tubman 

Your assignment is to complete the web quest on Harriet Tubman. Follow the directions on the sheet and learn more about Harriet Tubman. You may write your answers on the back of the paper.

Click here to go to interactive Underground Railroad site

Boom Writer

Click here to sign up for Boom Writer

The Cay--Learning about the time period and setting

Click here to begin Web Quest on The Cay

If you have trouble with the link--here's the URL address:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=75791
 
You will be working in pairs.  Each group will create slides on two topics from the web quest  on our class Power Point on The Cay.  Go to Google Classroom to access the class Power Point. 

The Call of the Wild

7th graders are about to travel to the Yukon and begin a great adventure with Buck.  Before we actually start reading Jack London's classic novel, The Call of the Wild, we are going to learn a little bit about the Yukon, sled dogs and what it takes to make it rich during the 1800s.

 The Call of the Wild:  Background Information

Skookum Jim Mason, Dawson Charlie and George Washington Carmack found gold in a tributary of the Klondike River in Canada's Yukon Territory. Their discovery set off one of the greatest gold rushes in history.

All kinds of men (and women too), sold or gave up everything they had, and tried to strike it rich. A few actually did (mostly the early arrivals), some decided to profit from the gold fever of others. Some had to move back to wherever they came from, broke and broken, and many didn't make it at all. The Canadian Mounties (their organization began during this tumultuous time) tried to keep order, but there were scams and hoodlums and all kinds of unsavory characters. You had to watch your back, as well as the weather.

Jack London wrote vividly about life during that time, and the effects the harsh environment and circumstances had on the men and animals who lived through it. Now it's your turn.

(Pic from: University of Washington Libraries, text from http://leckrone321.blogspot.com/2011/05/call-of-wild-webquest.html)

Click here to begin The Call of the Wild web quest. 

If you have trouble getting onto the Web Quest, click here to get to the list of research topics and websites.

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

 7th graders-- Today we begin a new play, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. This is a screenplay, a play that was written for television. It was written as an episode for a show called The Twilight Zone. Ask your parents about it--many of them will remember watching it. We will watch a clip today of the opening scene of every Twilight Zone show. Rod Sterling, the writer and narrator of The Twilight Zone began every show the same way. His opening introductions are a good example of a lead that really pulls you in and makes you want to know more! Click here to watch the epilogue of The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Join Quizlet Classroom

Click here to join Ms. Casassa's Quizlet classroom

Writing an Essay- How to paraphrase (and not plagiarize)!

We have talked a lot about citing your sources and giving credit to another person's writing and thought.  Before you begin to research and take notes, let's review how to paraphrase by watching this Brain Pop video.

Click here to watch the video


Click here to take the Brain Pop quiz on paraphrasing
Print out a copy of your quiz and hand it in.

Short Story Unit Review

You have your Short Story Unit Test on Tuesday.  Use the quizlet flashcard and review games to learn the Elements of Short Stories.
Click here to go to the quizlet set

Short Story Unit Review

1.  Elements of Short Stories-

Review list and be able to identify elements

2.  Reread the Short Stories- Click title to go to a copy of the story

“Monkey’s Paw”

“The Raven”
interactive version of "The Raven"

“The Tell Tale Heart”

“The Lottery”

“The Most Dangerous Game”

3.  Use Graphic Organizers to study-
Be able to identify main characters

Literary devices/elements

Plot structure

Authors
Review notes and annotations on stories