Humanities 8
Course Description:
Humanities is not typically listed as a course at most schools, though it is an increasingly popular idea as cross-curricular visions of education develop. It is a monumental task to develop such a class since its content is vast. Essentially it is a combination of language based courses: English, history, politics, human geography, religious studies and Bible. Every lesson will typically meet standards and skills required of both English and Social Studies; in a good lesson students will not know if the focus of the class is English or Socials. I am organizing the class around historic content, and using historical fiction and primary sources to analyze and understand history. For a more comprehensive look at what will be covered in this course click on PPTs and units, it will give you an idea of the material we will be looking at, and some of the books we will be reading.
A Class Divided:
Many students and parents want to know how and why the classroom is divided and how a split class will work. Since we are doing role plays and things that require numbers I am excited to be in a larger classroom. As to how the material will be differentiated; simply stated the content is the same for all students whether grade 8 or 9. Fact recall, or questions that rely on memory and restating facts learned in class will also have similar expectations from student to student. Differentiated learning will happen in skill based requirements. Writing, citing sources, length of answers or size of projects will sometimes vary depending on grade or circumstance. Not all skills will be differentiated for each grade, for example if a rubric for a poster has: "neatness of layout" listed in the criteria I feel both a grade 8 and grade 9 can have an equal opportunity. To summarize, both grades will feel they are learning the same stuff, but certain skill expectations are slightly higher for older children.
Course Goals:
Class Rules:
Grade Breakdown:
Tests ... 25% (expect about 8 over the year)
I will give mostly small quizzes to test your knowledge. It will be a maximum of one test or two small quizzes per unit. Multiple choice and a few short answers will be the norm. It will be important to keep notes and an organized binder so that you are prepared for these tests. The assignments and class work given are given to help you be ready for these summative tests.
Non Written Assignments ... 30% (Expect about 10 over the year)
Since assignment are generally more fun and often better indicators of what students can DO. I have decided to make this class heavily weighted towards assignments. Assignments will include visual work, posters, PPTs, timelines, dioramas, comics, brochures, and maps. There will also be oral work, skits, debates, role-plays and presentations. These will always come with a rubric and specific instructions. Often they will be started at school and completed at home. I will give you lots of time, but if you procrastinate and do nothing at home until the day before the due-date you will stress yourself out and not do as well. Assignment grades are often directly proportional to how much time and effort you put into it. So work hard and please pace yourself. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home.
Written Assignments ... 25% (Expect about 8 over the year)
There is also written work, paragraphs, newspapers, research reports, creative writing, essays and journals. These will always come with a rubric and specific instructions. Often they will be started at school and completed at home. I will give you lots of time, but if you procrastinate and do nothing at home until the day before the due-date you will stress yourself out and not do as well. Assignment grades are often directly proportional to how much time and effort you put into it. So work hard and please pace yourself. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home.
History Fair ... 20% (Final assignment)
Together with other socials classes you will be participating in a history fair. This is the equivalent of a science fair but with humanities content. You will choose a topic related to the history or historical literature which you find interesting and explore it in greater detail. You will present your findings to the entire school and have the freedom to show your learning however you see fit. Lots of time is given, but many students squander the first few days of class time and create stressful situations for themselves later. Work consistently and this assignment will not seem like such a big deal.
Humanities is not typically listed as a course at most schools, though it is an increasingly popular idea as cross-curricular visions of education develop. It is a monumental task to develop such a class since its content is vast. Essentially it is a combination of language based courses: English, history, politics, human geography, religious studies and Bible. Every lesson will typically meet standards and skills required of both English and Social Studies; in a good lesson students will not know if the focus of the class is English or Socials. I am organizing the class around historic content, and using historical fiction and primary sources to analyze and understand history. For a more comprehensive look at what will be covered in this course click on PPTs and units, it will give you an idea of the material we will be looking at, and some of the books we will be reading.
A Class Divided:
Many students and parents want to know how and why the classroom is divided and how a split class will work. Since we are doing role plays and things that require numbers I am excited to be in a larger classroom. As to how the material will be differentiated; simply stated the content is the same for all students whether grade 8 or 9. Fact recall, or questions that rely on memory and restating facts learned in class will also have similar expectations from student to student. Differentiated learning will happen in skill based requirements. Writing, citing sources, length of answers or size of projects will sometimes vary depending on grade or circumstance. Not all skills will be differentiated for each grade, for example if a rubric for a poster has: "neatness of layout" listed in the criteria I feel both a grade 8 and grade 9 can have an equal opportunity. To summarize, both grades will feel they are learning the same stuff, but certain skill expectations are slightly higher for older children.
Course Goals:
- Teach you the basis of organized argumentation. (paragraphs, essays, debates)
- Get you interested in history.
- Get you reading, writing and speaking.
- Give you an understanding of how Western world views have developed and what has happened when the Western world view interacts with other world views.
- Understand medieval Church history in a holistic way.
- Have you express learning in ways which are natural to you.
Class Rules:
- Talk to each other (not just to me) in a way that is orderly and respectful.
- Listen to each other.
- Respect our school verbally and physically.
- Recycle and throw garbage away.
- Use technology responsibly.
- Don’t touch stuff that does not belong to you.
- Keep track of your own stuff.
- Talk to me about problems or concerns in private.
Grade Breakdown:
Tests ... 25% (expect about 8 over the year)
I will give mostly small quizzes to test your knowledge. It will be a maximum of one test or two small quizzes per unit. Multiple choice and a few short answers will be the norm. It will be important to keep notes and an organized binder so that you are prepared for these tests. The assignments and class work given are given to help you be ready for these summative tests.
Non Written Assignments ... 30% (Expect about 10 over the year)
Since assignment are generally more fun and often better indicators of what students can DO. I have decided to make this class heavily weighted towards assignments. Assignments will include visual work, posters, PPTs, timelines, dioramas, comics, brochures, and maps. There will also be oral work, skits, debates, role-plays and presentations. These will always come with a rubric and specific instructions. Often they will be started at school and completed at home. I will give you lots of time, but if you procrastinate and do nothing at home until the day before the due-date you will stress yourself out and not do as well. Assignment grades are often directly proportional to how much time and effort you put into it. So work hard and please pace yourself. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home.
Written Assignments ... 25% (Expect about 8 over the year)
There is also written work, paragraphs, newspapers, research reports, creative writing, essays and journals. These will always come with a rubric and specific instructions. Often they will be started at school and completed at home. I will give you lots of time, but if you procrastinate and do nothing at home until the day before the due-date you will stress yourself out and not do as well. Assignment grades are often directly proportional to how much time and effort you put into it. So work hard and please pace yourself. Late assignments will always be accepted but I might keep you during lunch time or after school if I feel there is little hope of you getting it done at home.
History Fair ... 20% (Final assignment)
Together with other socials classes you will be participating in a history fair. This is the equivalent of a science fair but with humanities content. You will choose a topic related to the history or historical literature which you find interesting and explore it in greater detail. You will present your findings to the entire school and have the freedom to show your learning however you see fit. Lots of time is given, but many students squander the first few days of class time and create stressful situations for themselves later. Work consistently and this assignment will not seem like such a big deal.