Welcome to Mr. May's 2010-2011 History and Social Science website.
On Friday June 10, our eighth graders had a field trip to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and to Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill) in Charlestown, MA. At the Federal Reserve Bank, our students learned of the role of this bank in our economy. In addition they participated in a game in which they will gain experience in how to invest their money. They had lunch on the Bunker Hill green area. Our students received complements from those who observed them. This week our students will examine the Post Reconstruction era up to modern times. One of their activities will be to participate in a play om Jackie Robinson.Other activities will include readings, chart contruction and analysis, a talk show host game, Computer Lab research, film clip,review puzzless and problems, and a variety of games. As usual we'll continue our work on the ELA related skills of skill of identifying the main idea in a reading selection and of using relevant evidence to solve a problem.
Your child should have brought home a Federal Reserve/Bunker Hill Permission Form for our trip to the Boston area in June. To attend this trip students must submit this signed form to me. Almost all of our students have returned this form to me signed by a parent, as well as the money for the trip. The cost of this trip is $4.00; this is for the busses. In these difficult economic times, if money is a problem, please contact me.
Eighth graders don't have much time left in their careers at Atlantis CS. Let's work together to help them finish strongly at our school.
Please read below to review important points from earlier newsletters.
I keep all of your children's tests, quizzes, written responses, and homework in folders. I do this so if we conference, we have a book in a sense about your child's progress. Your children have been told that they may sign out these folders at any time of the year that you would like to view them at home.
Are you seeing the Weekly Homework Assignment Sheet each week? Some of our humorous students excuses as to why they are not bringing these home are the following: "We don't do this anymore." "The teacher ran out of them." (Extras are in the back of my room plus I can always print out more. Also a copy is on this website.) Remember that just by having you sign this sheet and returning it to me, your child receives a bonus point on the next test as well as a 100% for a homework grade. That is how badly I want you to see this sheet.
Please remember that I am available for extra help in my classroom if your child needs it. If you have questions or concerns during the year contact me at 508-646-6410.
Please read below to review the purposes of this course.
Welcome to Mr. May's 2010-2011 History and Social Science website. As an educator for many years, I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to teach so many great kids a subject that has always been my favorite. My primary goal is to help students to improve their History and Social Science concepts and skills. Another major goal is to help students to improve their ELA skills such as reading and writing.During this school year we shall visit people and places of a different time. Very often, however, we shall connect the past and the present. As we experience the past, we hope to learn valuable lessons that can help us both in the present and in the future.
Although this a History and Social Science class, we do a considerable amount of Open Response type of writing. We do this to help students to prepare for life and to practice their ELA related skills. In addition, as we write we are applying History and Social Science concepts in problem solving situations. In life we often have to provide evidence to back up our point of view; my students get a lot of practice in doing this.
In this grade 8 United States History classes, students will explore the U.S.A. from the middle of the eighteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. They will begin with concepts and skills related to the causes of the American Revolution; some of the specific topics are local ones such as the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill.
On the first day of school, your child received a letter from me that provides additional information about what we shall do this year. Please review this letter from time to time.
