Overarching theme for 2019-2020: systems analysis and sustainability
“There is a tendency at every important but difficult crossroad to pretend that it's not really there.”
-Bill McKibben
Our overarching theme for the year addresses the ways in which we use technology and media to understand and describe reality. We will pay particular attention to the cause-effect chains that drive the news cycles, economic choices, and social movements that are present around us. We intend to develop a clearer understanding of how those chains operate, and how human biases and habits within those chains distort them and affect the stability and sustainability of the world around us.
“There is a tendency at every important but difficult crossroad to pretend that it's not really there.”
-Bill McKibben
Our overarching theme for the year addresses the ways in which we use technology and media to understand and describe reality. We will pay particular attention to the cause-effect chains that drive the news cycles, economic choices, and social movements that are present around us. We intend to develop a clearer understanding of how those chains operate, and how human biases and habits within those chains distort them and affect the stability and sustainability of the world around us.
Unit topics for the year
- Geography of self: how do I fit in?
- Origin stories, both scientific and religious
- Early humans: hunters, gatherers, farmers?
- Ancient civilizations and their legacies
- History day: breaking barriers
- Crusades and conflict: religions unite and divide
- The game of life (personal economy simulation)
- Student-negotiated service-learning community action projects (year-long)
Standards-based Grading and Assessment “The one at the top of the mountain did not fall there.”
What are the learning objectives?
This year in Atlas Social Studies, you will earn grades in six Social Studies learning objectives and two personal development objectives. They are as follows:
Inquiry:
Students make sense of the world through questioning; analyzing information to develop reasonable explanations that support inquiry; and communicating in ways that foster the exchange of ideas in a democratic society.
History:
Students use historical inquiry, including the use of primary and secondary sources, to gather, describe, and analyze information about the past that will help them make sense of the present as well as decisions about the future nationally and internationally.
Physical and Cultural Geography:
Students propose solutions to local and world issues by using geographic tools, such as maps, globes, photographs, and the five themes of geography to analyze data and examine cultural information.
Civics, Government, and Society:
Students act as citizens by understanding how US government function and by exercising their rights and responsibilities within their current societal structure(s). Students act as global citizens by understanding how governments interact and resolve conflicts.
Economics:
Students examine and draw conclusions about how choices within an economic system affect the environment, government, and economy in the state, nation, and/or world.
Personal Development
Objective grades are based on a 1-4 scale:
1. Not proficient yet: little or no evidence of understanding and no problem solving ability.
2. Not proficient yet: evidence of partial understanding and attempted problem solving.
3. Proficient: evidence of understanding and independent problem solving ability.
4. Proficient: evidence of extension of understanding to emergent problem situations.
How are grades earned?
Atlas Global Studies uses a student-directed project-based curriculum. In each unit of study, I introduce the learning objective and ask students to identify the process that they will use to create a project that demonstrates mastery of that learning objective. Typically, at the beginning of the unit I introduce a concept and students develop vocabulary and conceptual understanding. As they read, write, and talk, I give written and verbal feedback on student work rather than a grade. By the middle of the unit, once we have established a firm foundation of understanding, students earn ‘practice’ scores that serve as milestones and indicators for areas where students need to re-learn or dig deeper. At the end of the unit, a student or team of students engage in a hands-on project that culminates in a real-world performance or sharing with an audience. These projects are meant to be challenging, but fun. A student can earn a final objective grade of ‘4’ by doing an extraordinary job at the end of the unit, even if they struggle at the beginning of the unit. That said, hard practice usually means better play in the game.
Is there homework?
You can pass this class by working hard in school every day. I do not require you to do work at home most nights. Do yourself a good turn and read a book.
What are the learning objectives?
This year in Atlas Social Studies, you will earn grades in six Social Studies learning objectives and two personal development objectives. They are as follows:
Inquiry:
Students make sense of the world through questioning; analyzing information to develop reasonable explanations that support inquiry; and communicating in ways that foster the exchange of ideas in a democratic society.
History:
Students use historical inquiry, including the use of primary and secondary sources, to gather, describe, and analyze information about the past that will help them make sense of the present as well as decisions about the future nationally and internationally.
Physical and Cultural Geography:
Students propose solutions to local and world issues by using geographic tools, such as maps, globes, photographs, and the five themes of geography to analyze data and examine cultural information.
Civics, Government, and Society:
Students act as citizens by understanding how US government function and by exercising their rights and responsibilities within their current societal structure(s). Students act as global citizens by understanding how governments interact and resolve conflicts.
Economics:
Students examine and draw conclusions about how choices within an economic system affect the environment, government, and economy in the state, nation, and/or world.
Personal Development
- Quality work on time
- Respect for self, others, and the environment
Objective grades are based on a 1-4 scale:
1. Not proficient yet: little or no evidence of understanding and no problem solving ability.
2. Not proficient yet: evidence of partial understanding and attempted problem solving.
3. Proficient: evidence of understanding and independent problem solving ability.
4. Proficient: evidence of extension of understanding to emergent problem situations.
How are grades earned?
Atlas Global Studies uses a student-directed project-based curriculum. In each unit of study, I introduce the learning objective and ask students to identify the process that they will use to create a project that demonstrates mastery of that learning objective. Typically, at the beginning of the unit I introduce a concept and students develop vocabulary and conceptual understanding. As they read, write, and talk, I give written and verbal feedback on student work rather than a grade. By the middle of the unit, once we have established a firm foundation of understanding, students earn ‘practice’ scores that serve as milestones and indicators for areas where students need to re-learn or dig deeper. At the end of the unit, a student or team of students engage in a hands-on project that culminates in a real-world performance or sharing with an audience. These projects are meant to be challenging, but fun. A student can earn a final objective grade of ‘4’ by doing an extraordinary job at the end of the unit, even if they struggle at the beginning of the unit. That said, hard practice usually means better play in the game.
Is there homework?
You can pass this class by working hard in school every day. I do not require you to do work at home most nights. Do yourself a good turn and read a book.
Standards and Learning Targets
Here is a link to the Social Studies Standards and Learning Targets for 7th and 8th grade students at Main Street Middle School.
Here is a link to the Social Studies Standards and Learning Targets for 7th and 8th grade students at Main Street Middle School.