1. The Ancient World and Homeroom: Grade 6 Amy Lebenzon
Welcome!
About me: UCB UCLA twins credentialed
12 years at MHS
These are the units we are studying this year in history: Early humans, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India, Ancient China, Greece and Rome
My main job is ready your child for high school and citizenship beyond
History is wonderful way to build skills—critical thinking, writing and communication

2. Welcome New Families and students: 6A
Eva Castano
Georgia Custer
Holland Goss
Luke Harrison
Flynn Husband
Jeremy Meinhardt
Aidan Park
Jack Robertson

3. Welcome New Families and Students 6B
Carlos Jison
Kalia Kroeger
Nicholas Mardani
Matthew Margolis
Noelle Mead
Allison Sison
Thea Winckler

4. A little bit about Ancient World History
6 major units
Focus on themes:
Geography
Government
Religion
Daily Life
For example—every unit will open with a significant geography lesson where students will analyze how geography impacted the rise of civilization in this particular area. Why did ancient civilizations tend to arise near rivers?
Government—that will happen later as the societies become more organized but significant time will be spent on ancient Chinese, Greek and Roman governments
Religion—students will assess the development of religion, especially in India, where we will learn about Hinduism (yoga!) and Buddhism—in China, we will study the three ancient philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism
Finally, we will mostly look at what everyday life was like for people in each region-such as the five social groups in ancient Egypt or in Sparta

5. Skills Reading and interacting with the text Writing, writing, writing
Speaking and listening
Working cooperatively and independently
Using evidence
Research
History is wonderful way to build skills!
It is critical thinking, reading, writing, examining evidence, analysis
Proper citation
Research paper
Evaluating evidence
Primary source analysis
Saving and accessing their work
Individual and group presentations
Working in groups using google docs

6. The Text Interactive and student centered Text stays at school
Codes for online access sent home soon-look in the planner!
The Interactive Notebook
One stop place for all work
Checked often at first
Graded 2x per trimester
The most important tool we are using this year besides the text
Most of the activities we are going to be doing are in this notebook
It will help them stay organized, and help them review for tests
Show it
It will be checked almost daily at first until they get the hang of it
It will be graded 2x per trimester

7. Grading Categories Interactive Notebook Class participation
Tests/quizzes
Projects— in class!
Writing
Completion
Last trimester: Research writing
Homework: some, not a lot
Most of the homework will be in the Interactive Notebook and writing. When we do the research paper in the spring, there will be an increase in homework. My goal is no weekend homework and an average of about minutes when they do have it.

8. 6th Grade A Homeroom Working Together
Middle School = An emphasis on organization, personal responsibility, effective work habits
Please label everything
Reusable lunch box and water bottle, labeled!
Students must be in line by 7:43
When the gate closes at 3:15, all students must go to Homework Club
Contact me via to discuss concerns
Thank you to our 6th grade room parents, Krista Ohannesian & Eric Donaldson

9. How you can help
Where is the homework assignment? In the planner or on Edlio
Insist your child uses the planner
Insist your child utilizes the middle school binder
Check Gradelink at least 1x per week
Subscribe to the 6th grade page on Edlio!
Please send Return to School Form after an absence
Students should be in touch with their teachers when absent
Find Planned Absence Request on the website
How to contact me— is best. I will get back to you within 24 hours tops.

10. Announcements & Upcoming Events
Send a substantial snack and water everyday this week
Haircuts must be done by first day of school
Shoes must be black, white or navy or combination of those colors.
No dress uniform Friday!
After school “jam session” for new 6th graders, Thursday, August 24. Lunch provided
Parent information night on iPad and outdoor education, Wednesday, September 6 at 6:00 pm
Pali Institute trip dates: Sept
Hair for boys all the same length; above top of ears, above collar and above eyes. Girls must be out of eyes and tied back.

11. Sample Activity You have just arrived at a campsite
You see a can of trash
You want to know about the people who were here before you

12. Trash 1. Diaper 10. red stained clothes 18. bread bag wrapper
26. soda cans
2. broken sunglasses
11. size 16 boy’s shirt, sleeve ripped
19. orange juice container
27. hot dog package
3. soda cans
12. diaper
20. egg shells
28. marshmallow bag
4. paper plates, plastic forks
13. suntan lotion
21. Empty can of camping fuel
5. aluminum foil
14. soda cans
22. gum wrappers
6. chicken bones
15. fishing line, old hooks
23. diaper
7. corn cobs
16. diaper
24. toy doll dress
8. cherry juice boxes
17. paper plates, plastic forks
25. paper plates, plastic forks
9. broken necklace

13. Analyze and use evidence
1. How many meals did the campers eat? 2. How many people were at the site? Ages? 3. What are three activities the people did while camping? Give evidence to support your answer.