1. *

2. Course Syllabus
6th Grade Social Studies covers several areas of history mandated by the NJ State Department of Education in its Core Curriculum Content Standards. From September through June, we will complete the American History requirements outlined in the NJCCCS including an examination of the beginnings of our country. We will begin with the first Americans, go through the Revolutionary War, and end with the War of 1812.
Throughout the year, we will create constant and meaningful connections to the 21st Century to accurately show our students the relevancy of the eras we will be studying. *

3. Curricular Sequencing American History
First Americans
Exploring the Americas
Colonial America
Life in the American Colonies
The Spirit of Independence
The American Revolution
A More Perfect Union
The Constitution
The Federalist Era
The Jefferson Era *

4. Materials Needed Daily
Interactive Notebook--- a composition which houses all of your S.S. notes and assignments (5 needed for the year)
Pencil pouch - pens, pencils, etc.
Agenda book- keep track of test dates, long-term assignments, and homework
Chromebook *

5. Classroom Systems
Agenda Board —tells what the “Do Now” is for that day, the objective is for the lesson, and the activity that will be done
Absentee Files– System where handouts are available, if necessary for the day’s lesson. This is where you go to get what you missed. Class notes and resource materials can be found online. If you are absent, you should look for these online to keep up with what is going on in class.
Chrome Books- used to access the online textbook series. Students will be assigned a chrome book to be used IN CLASS. Students will be RESPONSIBLE for the CARE of the chrome book assigned to them. More information to come. *

6. Classroom Systems
Bathroom Signout– you must sign-out and sign-in at the door
Fire Drill, Code Blue, Code Red—we will follow the exit plans on located on the walls. These are very serious drills and it is important that we follow these procedures for your safety *

7. Typical Day
Do Now—can vary from day to day, but is usually writing down any homework, setting up your notebook, copying the table of contents, and starting an activity to get you “warmed up” for the day’s lesson
Lesson – Teacher will go over the lesson via powerpoint (usually done on Mondays and Tuesdays with stations on Wednesday and Thursday; Friday set aside for various activities to elaborate on the concepts taught)
Activity—Left-side activity where you will process the information presented and/or show your understanding or a specific station activity (current events, geography, reading skills, writing skills, etc.)
Sharing—Sharing of thoughts and understandings with the class or a partner *

8. Grading
Grades reflect the demonstration of knowledge and the understanding of concepts.
Tests 30%
Quizzes 25%
Graded Work 15%
Notebook 20%
Homework 10% *

9. Quizzes Quizzes alternate between “closed book” and “open book”
With a closed book quiz, students will have to prepare and study each term on the study guide
With an open book quiz, students will use the text book (NOT their notebooks) – they need to be very familiar with the material at this point
Caution: Many students do worse on open book quizzes because they are less familiar with the material and do not understand it as a whole or take information in “pieces” rather than understanding the context
All quizzes are announced via a study guide at the beginning of the unit *

10. Tests
All tests are based on the text and information located in your interactive notebook
There are usually 2 tests per marking period
Tests are announced at the beginning of the unit, so you will always feel prepared
Tests are designed to show application of knowledge. Examples are essays, open ended questions, primary source analysis, map analysis, etc. *

11. Study Tools
Study tools are active methods of studying (such as- flashcards, sequence cards, outlining, bulleted list, practice tests, etc)
A detailed list of study tools will be provided for you to choose from
Study tools will be checked and graded as homework and are due on the day of quizzes
You will create a study tools for the information that was presented in class for each lesson
CAUTION! DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY ARE DUE
MAKING THE STUDYTOOL IS ONLY STEP 1, YOU MUST USE THEM NIGHTLY TO EFFECTIVELY STUDY *

12. Stations/Graded Work
Stations are assigned after the lesson has been taught
Stations are designed to extend and enforce your knowledge of a topic and are creative in nature
Stations are done both as group work and independently
Stations are due the day of the quiz
Stations should show your understanding of the objective(s)
Graded work consists of other various assignments/activities in addition to Achieve throughout the year *

13. The Interactive Notebook
Is your lifeline for this class
All teacher provided notes will be taped or glued into the right side page
Any summary notes taken at the end of the lesson will go on the right side pages
Demonstration of your understanding of the concept is done on the left side page using one of the left side strategies
A list of these strategies will be taped into your notebook
The Interactive Notebook will be “spot-checked” weekly on the day of the quiz in addition to periodic checks throughout the marking period. *

14. Homework
Reading will be assigned weekly - generally providing students with multiple days for completion
Other homework requires you to finish work that was started in class (notebook activities, stations, etc).
Homework will be scored on a scale of 1-10 based on completion and thoughtfulness of responses
Every night you should be reviewing the lesson from that day and making a study tool for that information
If you do minutes of social studies each night, you will feel “on top” of things and not stressed out when an assignment is actually due *