World Cultures Syllabus
Welcome to World Cultures! This course is designed for students to learn and understand the World from a geographical based curriculum and is essentially Human Geography for the Sixth Grade. We begin the school year by learning basic world map geography, including the continents, oceans, major mountain chains and deserts, latitude, longitude and times as well as map information display and interpretation skills. After the map skills unit, we will study the essential human geography concepts that enable us to later compare and contrast different cultures across the World:
- the development of civilization in prehistory and ancient civilizations,
- comparative religions,
- political systems,
- economic systems,
- demography and population statistics studies.
The “Geography Tools” section will take us into the New Year. Different regions of the World will be discussed and studied as examples while learning the tools of our trade. Once we have finally mastered our essential concepts, we will analyze, compare and contrast the different regions of the World. Students finish our school year with a project in which they will role play as new leaders of a developing country.
The following major projects will be due in the 2009-2010 school year:
History Fair (first semester)
Leaders of a developing country - group project (second semester)
Projects may not be turned in late unless a parent or legal guardian contacts me personally. These will likely form part of our common assessment with the other sixth grade clusters along with the following:
1. Map of the World Assessment (First Semester)
2. Document Based Question Assessment (Second Semester)
3. Literature selection: students will read and analyze literature relating to World Cultures course content learned over the school year. There may be other common assessments, to be determined.
I try to give two tests per six week grading period. These are usually 20 to 30 question multiple choice tests. I create and use these tests to help students with standardized tests. We discuss test taking strategies as the year progresses. Some students may receive shortened versions. Some of these tests may also be common assessments with other clusters.
I expect all students to behave in a manner fitting for a middle school student. This course is largely about learning and understanding other cultures, regions and beliefs. Intolerance or ridicule within my classroom is not welcome. I expect all students to comply with classroom rules which are basically rules of good citizenship.
Please feel free to email at any time with concerns or questions. I will respond as quickly as possible.
Gregory P. Switzer
6B World Cultures
Pin Oak Middle School
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Political and Economic system Test postponed
January 29, 2010 |
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| I have told students we may have a test today on the above handouts. It is going to be postponed to complete letters to Uganda. |
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Project Board Disposal
January 28, 2010 |
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| All project boards which have not been taken home will be recycled today. |
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World Religions test
December 11, 2009 |
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| Test date change. study notes have been given. Students should study the bolded words and their classwork exercises in their composition books. |
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Field Trip Permission Slip Forms (homework)
Due Date: December 11, 2009 |
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| Permission slips for the field trip to see Disney's A Christmas Carol are due to Ms. McManus by Friday, December 11! Please get these turned in as soon as possible. Let us know if you have any questions! |
| Downloads |
 Permission Slip (10.24 KB)
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History Fair begins. Final date for resubmission
November 30, 2009 |
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| Any students who do not have their project on the due date 11/20, will receive a ten point deduction and have until November 30 to turn it in. Those who turn in the project on time but on review, are in danger of receiving less than 80%, will be given their projects back to improve by Nov 30th with a 5 point deduction. Others will be given a choice to resubmit with no deduction. |
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History Fair party
November 19, 2009 |
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| All students are invited to the History Fair party Thurs (11/13)after school, 4-6 pm to work on their boards, share ideas and materials, receive help from teachers and have fun. All 6th gade World Culture teachers will be there to help. We plan to provide pizza and snacks, at no cost to the student. |
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History Fair party
November 18, 2009 |
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| All students are invited to the History Fair party Wed and Thurs (11/12-13)after school, 4-6 pm to work on their boards, share ideas and materials, receive help from teachers and have fun. All 6th gade World Culture teachers will be there to help. We plan to provide pizza and snacks, at no cost to the student. |
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Test
October 23, 2009 |
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| Resources and South America Map test. Capitals will be asked only for South American countries but students should know and be able to locate the countries in Central America and the Caribbean Islands and other geographical features on the map. |
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History Fair, in library
September 23, 2009 |
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| We will meet in Library tomorrow and Thursday. Students should bring 3x5 index cards, or something similar, and a folder that they can keep their History Fair materialin this folder |
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Open notebook test
September 21, 2009 |
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| Climate, maps, charts and graphs test. Students may use their notebooks or binders. |
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2009 December Calendar.pdf
2009 History Fair Parent Letter.doc
October 2009.pdf
Parent Contact Sheet 09-10.pdf
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| Parent Contact Sheet (10.87 KB)
Students should have received this form in advocacy. If you have not seen it, please print a copy to fill out and have your child return it to his/her advocacy teacher. |
Pin Oak 09.09.09 - FINAL.pdf
Flier schools.pdf
Flier schools spanish.pdf
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Pin Oak MS
6B Cluster Pin Oak
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