Early World History
|
What you will learn
This course opens with the ancient empires of China and Rome about 2,000 years ago. Students compare and contrast important features of these empires: how they governed themselves, how they met their basic needs, what factors held them together (or divided them), and what people of the time believed. In the balance of the first semester students focus on the rise of Islamic empires and their relationship to the Catholic kingdoms of medieval Europe. Major themes include conflicts between empires, including the Crusades, as well as connections between empires, such as the Silk Road. In the second semester, the focus shifts from the Old World to connections between the Old World and the New World. Students learn about the age of discoveries, the Columbian exchange, the growth of European power in the world, and the conflicts that tore Europe apart in the 1600s and 1700s. China, the Islamic world, Europe, and the process of globalization are all relevant to students' lives, so connections with present events will be considered throughout the year. Click any of the following links for interactive material about the topics covered this year:
Students use a variety of written and non-written materials to learn about early world history. They learn to look closely at original sources such as works of art and physical artifacts. They gain practice in "interrogating" -- asking questions about -- maps, newspapers, and movies. Close reading is especially important in this class. Students learn comprehension strategies for reading a wide variety of informational texts. Development of vocabulary skills is critical throughout the year. Vocabulary for the course is available for review online at Quizlet.com and on the class Web site (dpeal.net). Students show their understanding through homework, quizzes, tests, and projects, both traditional and online. Students can expect homework several times a week, and all homework is due the next school day unless otherwise noted. Quarterly grades are comprised of four parts. 30% - tests 30% - projects 20% - homework 20% - classroom There will be a midterm exam in January and final exam in June. A note about technology Students are encouraged to use accommodations in this course, especially assistive technologies, to help them read, write, and organize their work. Computer work will be frequent now that the high-school has a Chromebook for every student. Much classwork and homework is now available on Google Classroom (for which there are good apps). Google Classroom gives students the chance to do their work, and keep track of their work, online, and take advantage of many built-in accommodations. Netclassroom gives students assignment details and current grades. Please encourage your students to use Netclassroom. The Web site (dpeal.net) provides materials for research and quiz review. Have a great year! |