Work for the Week of 1.28 to 2.3

For all 8th graders who need to access the bag of websites for their World War I themes assessment, please click here. This assessment is due on Monday at 9:00 AM.

I will be adding more in terms of assignments for this week's extra credit towards the end of the week.

Syllabus for 7.3 Social Studies

Week of 1/30- 2/3

Monday: Greatest Video of All Time started.. Take home quiz given today. Due tomorrow.	HW: Finish take home quiz on the Constitution.
Tuesday: Collect take home quizzes. Continue Greatest Video of all time.	HW: Make sure notes on video are completed.
Wednesday: Finish greatest video of all time notes.	HW: Complete veritable cornucopia of Constitutional items enrichment sheet. Due on Monday, 2.6.
Thursday: Conferences	HW: Complete veritable cornucopia of Constitutional items enrichment sheet. Due on Monday, 2.6.
Friday: The voice of the dispossessed: "Eyes on the Prize."	HW: Complete veritable cornucopia of Constitutional items enrichment sheet. Due on Monday, 2.6.

Syllabus for 8.3 Social Studies

Week of 1/30- 2/3

Mr. Kannan- Email: akannan@op97.org

Blog Address: http://op97-kannan783.blogspot.com/

Monday: Introduce sections 1 and 2 on Notetaking Guides for World War I.	HW: Finish sections 1 and 2 on Notetaking Guides from Chapter 21.
Tuesday: Introduce sections 3 and 4 on Notetaking Guides for World War I.	HW: Finish sections 3 and 4 on Notetaking Guides from Chapter 21.
Wednesday: Outline next phase and distribute take home assessment that is due on Monday, 2.6 at the start of class.	HW: Finish take home assessment.
Thursday: Conferences	HW: Finish take home assessment on World War I.
Friday: To Be Announced	HW: Finish take home assessment on World War I.

All best.
Mr. Kannan

The Constitution with one Group and World War I with the other

This week in the realm of 7/8.3 Social Studies, a real interesting dynamic is emerging. On one hand, the promises and possibilities of liberal democracy will be developing with our discourse on the Constitution in 7.3 Social Studies. Students are able to emerge to the very basic idea of the growth of American liberalism, the protection of liberties, and the progressive notion of transforming what is into what can be. On the flipside, the 8.3 discourse will be centered on World War I, a period of time where liberalism, conservativism, progressivism, and any other type of positive- ism failed into a morass of suffering, destruction, death, and agony. (I think I might be bordering on the slightly schizophrenic with facilitating the discourse in both.)

7th Grade Work for the week of 1.23- 1.27
Monday- Quiz on Goals, Principles, Thinkers and Preamble to the Constitution. No notes allowed.
HW: Finish reading section in textbook on Executive Branch.
Tuesday- Concept attainment on Executive Branch.
HW: Compose outcome sentences on the Executive Branch.
Wednesday- RTI Quizzlet on the Executive and Legislative Branches. Discuss Electoral College.
HW: In class options on Electoral College homework assignment.
Thursday- Distribute work back and discuss Legislative and Executive Branches.
HW: Prepare for Monday's quiz on Legislative, Executive, Goals, Principles, Thinkers, and Preamble to the Constitution.
Friday- In class preparation for Monday's quiz on Legislative, Executive, Goals, Principles, Thinkers, and Preamble to the Constitution.

8th Grade Work for the week of 1.23- 1.27
Monday: Introduce World War I. Discuss initial findings. Chapter 20 Enrichment Sheets are due before 3:30. Students will not be asked for their homework. They must submit it on their own recognizance. Due to Graduation Pictures, there will not be an open note quiz on Chapter 20.
HW: Think about why World War I was one of the most horrific moments in human history.
Tuesday: Introduce the maps of the time period and introduce the themes of World War I.
HW: Preview forthcoming themes. Review covered themes.
Wednesday: Finalize discussion of World War I Themes.
HW: Review covered themes.
Thursday: Return work and take questions on Themes of World War I.
HW: Start previewing the World War I Theme Bag of Websites on the blog.
Friday: Work on World War I Themes Enrichment Sheet, googledoc access, and complete over the weekend. Those with internet access difficulties will have to find some time to access the websites over lunch or on Monday and complete the task on their own. Please plan ahead. All work must be submitted to me on Monday by 3:30.

With conferences coming up, my hope is that you have been able to schedule a time to meet with teachers or will be attending the Office Hours option for those who are able to do so. If I can be of any further assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

As promised, here is this week's extra credit opportunities.

Video Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
For this week's seventh grade extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

For this week's eighth extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.



Web Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
This week's website for extra credit can be found here. Examine it, see what is there, and, if there are any interactive activities, go ahead and investigate them. Then, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

Best wishes.
Mr. Kannan

The Cold Increases, as well as the Rigor... of Academics, that is!

Indeed, the cold air and the frigidity of Chicago Winters are upon us. The first snowfall captivated many students. One student tried to remark about it in the middle of class and faced the terse response: "And this impacts our work how?" Yes, the truth of rigor is upon us.

7th Grade Work for the week of 1.16- 1.20
Monday (Dr. King's Day- No School) and Tuesday- Students should concentrate on memorizing the Preamble, as well as their notes on goals and principles to the Constitution.
Wednesday- Preamble memorization/ recitation. Finalize Thinkers to the Constitution.
Thursday- Outcome Sentences on Legislative Branch.
Friday- Study for Monday's quiz on Thinkers, Goals, Principles, and Preamble to the Constitution.

8th Grade Work for the Week of 1.16- 1.20
Monday (Dr. King's Day- No School)- Work on projects.
Tuesday- Collect 5 identifications from everyone. Introduce LeGuin.
Wednesday- Read "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas." Projects are due at 3:30 or 5:00 PM.
Thursday- LeGuin and Industrialization and Progressivism.
Friday- Chapter 20... in a day.


One quick and final point needs to be made. For both groups of students, nightly and incremental preparation is the only way through the dense forest of academic rigor. Even if students don't have something "written," such as a worksheet or some type of homework that is going to be submitted, this does not mean that homework is absent. Rather, it is the highest form of a test. It is a test of character, to see if a student is willing to give more to themselves, their learning, and their emerging scholarship. For example, if the assignment is to study the Thinkers of the Constitution, have students reviewed through flash cards, online review material (The Quizzlet icon could be helpful here), formed study groups to help review, engaged in nightly identification as to where confusion is and where clarity can lie? These are the questions that are placed upon our students. I have little doubt that if students "buy in" to this idea and if they receive help from parents/ guardians/ stakeholders, success will be evident.

As promised, here is this week's extra credit opportunities.

Video Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
For this week's seventh grade extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

For this week's eighth extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit. Please note: You should not access the video link until Wednesday, when we finish with the LeGuin short story.


Web Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
This week's website for extra credit can be found here. Examine it, see what is there, and, if there are any interactive activities, go ahead and investigate them. Then, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

Best wishes.
Mr. Kannan

The New Year Welcomes with Intense Challenges

I wish all of our students a hearty "Welcome back." There is little doubt that all of our students are excited and passionate about their returns. I am sure they have been eagerly anticipating returning to Julian and I know that they are truly excited to come back to B Wing, 4th Floor.

Ok, that might be overselling it a bit.

In any event, the new year brings with it some intensely formidable challenges for all of our students. Seventh graders will be tackling the Constitution along with the Exam to accompany it. Eighth graders will wrap up Progressivism in one week and then head into the First World War. It is a great time for us, filled with field trips to DuSable Museum for the 7th grade and Tommy Guns' Garage for the 8th graders. All of our students will have to focus on work completion and ensuring that time is not wasted in making sure they are not "left behind." (ISATs are coming up soon, right?)

Work for 7.3 Students- Week of 1.9- 1.13
Monday and Tuesday- 20 IT FITS Cards due Wednesday. In class time on Monday and Tuesday to work on completion.
Wednesday- Introduce Constitution through Inductive Learning Task.
Thursday- Introduce Preamble and Goals of the Constitution. Start memorizing Preamble.
Friday- Discuss goals and introduce Principles to the Constitution. Continue memorizing Preamble.
** If anyone needs to make up Chapter 7 quiz given on last week of break, they must make lunchtime appointment with me before Friday the 13th.

Work for 8.3 Students- Week of 1.9- 1.13
Monday- Introduce Progressivism. Read first two sections of chapter 19. Finish enrichment sheet on "Crony Capitalism," due Tuesday at the start of class. (If internet access is a concern, arrive to the Media Center or come in Monday or Tuesday during lunch.)
Tuesday- Introduce Themes for Progressivism Unit. Compose three identifications from last night's reading.
Wednesday- Discuss themes and introduce projects with expectations. Finish reading Chapter 19, two additional identifications on the last sections of the chapter. Five identifications due on Tuesday, 1.17.
Thursday and Friday- In class work on projects/ identifications. Five identifications are due on
Tuesday, 1.17 and projects are due on Wednesday, 1.18.

Two new features to this blog will need to be discussed. Each week I will be including a section of the weekly blog entries entitled "Video Extra Credit" and another section entitled "Web Extra Credit." There will be Googledoc forms to be completed if students wish to earn more extra credit. For 8th graders, as the work piles on, the need to stockpile points with these items could be helpful. For 7th graders, the Constitution Exam awaits. I don't think I need to say more about the need to complete extra credit. Of course, the quote of the week extra credit is still present and able to be employed for extra credit, as well.

All best and happy hunting.
Mr. Kannan
Video Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
For this week's seventh grade extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

For this week's eighth extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

Web Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
This week's website for extra credit can be found here. Examine it, see what is there, and, if there are any interactive activities, go ahead and investigate them. Then, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

Best wishes.
Mr. Kannan