Political Science Spectrum Project – The Requirements

POLITICAL SPECTRUM RESEARCH PROJECT

OBJECTIVE I.  To research one point on the political spectrum.

OBJECTIVE II.  To improve and increase your research skills.

OBJECTIVE III.  To make a product or presentation that accurately and comprehensively explains your point on the political spectrum while meeting all the criteria for an excellent grade.

TOPICS:

Each group will research one point on the political spectrum, chosen by drawing

Each group member will choose 2-3 subtopics from a list to do their individual research

RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS:

Research and the creation of products or presentations are two separate phases of the project and are graded separately. The research grades are individual assignments.

Topics:  Each group member will research 2-3 Spectrum Point subtopics

Sources:  Eight (8) sources per group member, minimum. Four (4) must be non-reference sources

Bibliography:  Each group member must turn in a Bibliography of their sources ( use NoodleBib)

Source          Pages/URL       Copyright Date                        Heading for Card  3 – 5 significant pieces of information in bullet point format, or A single quoted paragraph

Note Cards: Each group member must complete forty (40) correctly completed note cards

                                                                                         

                                                                        Do not write on both sides of the card

                                                                        Note cards should be legible

                                                                        Note Cards need to follow the example  format

                                                                        Points are given only for 100 % completion

 

DUE DATES and POINT VALUES:

Subtopic choices   11/13         10 points

Note Cards             11/23         40 points

Bibliography           11/23         25 points

Product/Present.    TBA            25 points

 

Welcome Back New 8th Graders !

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!

It is required that you have a spiral notebook dedicated to Social Studies. My suggestion is…make it BIG !!:

You will be filling it with……

• Lecture Notes
• Sketches
• Questions
• Diagrams
• Quotations
• Concept Maps
• Hand Drawn Geographic Maps
• Brainstorming sessions
• Short Daily Work Assigments
• To Do Checklists
• Cartoons
• Instructions

And much, much, more!

Sharpening the Saw – the Dreaded “Daily Board Question”

One of the practices that I frequently use in the classroom to start a lesson is the “Daily Board Question”, which each student must address individually (at times collaboratively) in their Social Studies notebook. 

Technically, the “DBQ”, which usually takes anywhere from two to ten minutes to do and discuss, isn’t every day nor is it a factual-recall question, but the activity serves a number of purposes:

• A mental prompt or ”anticipatory set”
• To foreshadow the conceptual theme of the day or week. 
• To introduce new material
• To review old material with a different analysis or perspective
• To practice making coherent, logical, arguments based upon evidence
• To challenge preconceived notions, assumptions, premises
• Orientation to the mindset of the classroom instead of the passing period
• Present a visual format (Diagram, Graphic Organizer, Taxonomy etc.)
• Novelty – to stimulate interest in what comes next
• Synthesis – to combine old concepts into new ones
• Imaginative, counterfactual, scenario thinking and analysis

For example, the daily board question for today in Social Studies was as follows:

Which terms from Column A best match terms from Column B and explain WHY:

Column A                                                                                Column B

Monopoly                                                                        Sphere of Influence

Oligopoly                                                                                 State

Corporation                                                                            Citizen

Sole Proprietorship                                                              Empire

This question was useful for two reasons: first, it served as a basic review of terms from the two sections of our unit; secondly, it led the students to connect the terms in the form of an analogy.

The more I read about scientific studies on the brain and neurolearning, the more clear it becomes that the public schools need to bring more “right -brained” thinking skills into the classroom next to the traditional analysis, application and comprehension activities. We need to integrate synthesis, metaphors, analogies, alinear exercises and visual models with traditional methods in order to maximize student learning.

ADMINISTRATIVE FYI

Updated grades for all students will be posted on Friday 9/14. 

Due to my teaching  and classroom management style, I tend to post a series of grades in blocs of multiple assignments for all of my classes at one time ( possible categories are homework, daily work, participation, quiz, test and project) rather than daily grade entry in just one or two classes.

Most Social Studies classes will not be meeting on Thursday due to the Irons Oaks Field Trip.

REMINDER

Classroom Policy sheets are due to be returned this Friday.

WELCOME TO OPEN HOUSE!

Monday is LJHS Open House – parents and students are encouraged to visit from 9-11 am.

Overview of the 8th Grade Social Studies Curriculum and learning philosophy:

BACK TO SCHOOL !

It is required that you have a notebook dedicated to Social Studies:

You will be filling it with……

• Lecture Notes
• Sketches
• Questions
• Diagrams
• Quotations
• Concept Maps
• Brainstorming sessions
• Geographic Maps
• Instructions

And much more!