Room 117  Social Studies
NEWSLETTER

November 2021

7th Grade creating:

Public Service Announcements 

With the onset of colder weather in Kansas, Students share what they need to be prepared...

7th graders have been learning about climate, weather, and human/environment interactions. But they are taking much more away from project-based learning as they are practicing important real-world soft skills, such as time management, critical thinking, planning, and problem-solving. These students (above) have created a video discussing what people need to do to prepare for blizzards in Kansas using video recording and green screen technology.

Celebrating Success! 

Congratulations to Heidi and Brody for their hard work as they used IXL to achieve subject skill mastery through successfully completing over 3000 questions! We use IXL in class to assist students to reinforce ideas and practicing skills in the area of Civics, Economics, Science, and General Geography.

Setting up the Shot! 

7th Grade are creating using visual graphic technology applications such as iMovie and Panzoid to create content using Green Scene and graphics. 

In addition to using Green Screens and editing applications, students are practicing photography/cinematography, by judging/ setting up lighting effects, camera lens types/angles, to shoot video. 

Xello- Career Exploration and Planning 

All of our classes have been using Xello to start down the path of career and academic success as they plan for their upcoming years in high school and beyond. Xello allows students to explore their strengths and interests as examine possible future career and academic pathways.  

I’m just a bill...

8th Grade students have invested time into learning about the legislative process in our country and are creating various projects of their choice explaining how a bill gets introduced into law. 

Game-Based Learning: 

With the platform iCivics, our Social Studies students have creative agency to learn critical civic skills needed to understand how our governmental systems function and work. 

This month students played through various scenarios in which they attempted to pass bills into laws and make policies. In addition, they learn the skills needed to negotiate compromises and begin to gain experience of our political systems' inner workings.

Project-Based Learning

Students are presented with a real-world problem and are given creative license and guidance to develop a solution to that problem. This Constructivism approach to learning/teaching allows students to take risks in a safe environment and learn from their successes and mistakes with instruction/guidance given where it is needed.  This translates into students developing real-world employable skills, such as team collaboration, planning, critical thinking, problem solving, resiliency, and self-discipline. 

Chess & Game Club   

Game pieces are coming out as 5th - 9th graders meet every Monday and Wednesday for an hour after school to play games and create friendships with others in our school. This also allows students some time to see their teacher outside of the “traditional” classroom setting and provides an alternative club activity outside of after-school athletics. 

As always if you would like to discuss anything, contact me at:

Mwoods@usd357.org 

Best Regards, Mr. Woods