R.J. Murray Middle School
2017-2018 Syllabus
Teacher: Ms. Falcon
Email:
Room Number: B440
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
-Marcus Garvey
About the Course – This class will cover early humansup onto the discovery of theAmericas. Students will study the social, cultural, and technical changes that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia. This course is designed to meet the Florida Social Studies Content Standards for 6th grade. Students will study methods of historical inquiry and primary and secondary historical documents.The goal of this class is to create a safe and structured learning environment for all students. I expect all students to be involved in their own education and to take pride in succeeding.
Textbook: Discovering Our Past: A History of the World: Early Ages by Jackson J. Spielvogel
The content will include, but not be limited to, the following:
-Early Humans
-Mesopotamia
-Ancient Greeks
-Ancient India
-Roman Civilizations
-Rise of Christianity
-The Americas
-Imperial China
Course Requirements:
-Each student will maintain a spiral notebook in class to work on daily bell ringers, vocabulary and to take Cornell notes.
-Each student will be held accountable for coming to class prepared and bringing class materials (see Class Materials section)
-Each student will be responsible for making up all work as soon as possible. 30 points off any unexcused late work.
-Expect DBQ Projects
Grading Scale: / Grade Calculations Based on the Following:A - 90 to 100
B - 80 to 89
C - 70 to 79
D - 60 to 69
F–Below 60 / 9 wks Exam/ EOCs
Test/ Projects
Class work/ Homework
Quizzes
Notebook/ Exit Slips
Grade Distribution:
Homework5%
Classwork 30%
Assessment 65%
______
100%
*Cheating and Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If caught, student will receive a ZERO on that assignment or test.
Late Work:30 points will be deducted from late work, except those with excused
absences. Please communicate with teacher at all times.
Notebook Checks: Students will be expected to keep everything related to this course in a spiral
notebook. This includes all notes, handouts, returned tests, etc. There will be a rubric given to
students prior to notebook checks, which will state the order in which all the papers must be organized in. After each unit, I will check the students’ notebooks for completion of work and organization.
Make-up Policy for Class Work:
(1) Check the absent work folders on the wall to pick up any work that was missed.
(2)Ask a classmate for any notes that you missed.
(3)See Ms. Falcon if you missed a test or quiz.
Make-up Policy for Exams: Students are responsible for making up exams within 3 days of
their absences. However, the make-up exams may be different from the original exam. Students
will have to make-up the exam on their own time be it in the morning, during lunch or after
school. All students who earn less than a 70% on a class test will be allowed to take that test over
to try to achieve a higher grade. The highest grade on re-takes will be no more than an 80%.
Class Materials (to be brought to class everyday)
-Spiral Notebook (stays in class)
-Blue or black pens
-Highlighters
-Sharpened pencils with erasers
-Bulldog binder with paper and tabs
-Glue sticks
School-wide Rules
- Be prepared and arrive to class on time.
- Always follow directions and stay on task.
- Respect everyone.
- Keep hands, feet, & objects to yourself.
Additional Classroom Rules
- Goldfish rule
Classroom Procedures
Entering the classroom: Students are expected to enter the classroom quietly with no running. As soon as they enter, they are to get their spiral notebooks from their designated area and go to their seat.
Beginning of class: Class will begin every day with a bellringer question. By the time the bell rings, students need to be in their seats and answering the bell ringer question in their notebooks along with copying the daily agenda. Students who fail to do so, will lose points on their notebook check.
Leaving the classroom: Only one student will be allowed to exit the class at a time. Students must sign out and take a hall pass in order to use the restroom, drink water or go to the nurse.
Walking as a class: Students are expected to form a single file line and walk quietly to the destination.
Test taking: This is simple Notalking. No getting up. No looking around. If a student has a question, they must raise their hand and wait quietly for me to go up to them. Any behavior to the contrary will be perceived as cheating.
Moving around in classroom: Students are to stay in their seat throughout the duration of the class unless teacher has given permission.
End of class: I will be the one who decides when class is over – not the clock and not the bell. I will not dismiss class unless everyone is quiet. When that is the case, I will give the class a signal indicating that they are dismissed. (Goldfish rule)
Phones: There is a strict NO PHONE policy in the classroom, unless teacher specifically asks for them to be used for class activities. NO TEXTING, NO CALLING, AND NO SOCIAL MEDIA! Teacher will ask student to put cellphone away if disruptive. After a second time, teacher will call the front office to store the cellphone in the front office.
Behavior consequences: Warning, Name on Board, Step Outside, Phone Call Home, Parent Conference, Referral (The order may change depending on the action)
Course Outline
- Chapter 1: What does A Historian Do?
- Chapter 3: Early Humans and the Agricultural Revolution
- Chapter 4: Mesopotamia
- Required DBQ Project Lesson: “Hammurabi’s Code: Was It Just?”
- Chapter 5: Ancient Egypt and Kush
- Chapter 9: Ancient India
- Chapter 10: Early China
- Required DBQ Project Lesson: “The Silk Road: Recording the Journey.”
- Chapter 17: Imperial China
- Chapter 6: The Israelites
- Chapter 7: The Ancient Greeks
- Chapter 8: Greek Civilization
- Required DBQ Project Lesson: “Citizenship in Athens and Rome: Which was the Better System?” OR “How Great was Alexander the Great?” (TBD by Teacher)
- Chapter 16: The Americas
- Chapter 11: Rome- Republic to Empire
- Chapter 12: Roman Civilization
- Required DBQ Project Lesson: “What Were the Primary Reasons for the “Fall” of Rome?”
- Chapter 13: Rise of Christianity
The outline is subject to change
Please rip this page from the syllabus. Keep syllabus in your Bulldog Binder. Return this page signed to Ms. Falcon for first HW grade and 10 DOJO points.
Student Name: ______
Period: ______
Sign & Return to Ms. Falcon
Yes, I have read the classroom expectations and procedures and I understand their meaning.
______/ ______
Print Student Name Student’s Signature
______/ ______/ ______
Print Parent Name Parent’s Signature Date