Welcome to Mac's DMS Social Studies Website!

Here, you can read assignment descriptions, access class notes, brush up on your student skills, and find incredible research resources.

The Medieval World - and Beyond!

IN A WORLD of gladiators and emperors, we begin our journey. Our course of study this year will take us from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. We'll explore aspects of Africa, Europe and Asia in medieval times, as well as trace the rise of Christianity and Islam. Highlights will include...

Adversity! Step into the shoes of samurais and knights as they duke it out in the name of chivalry (or survival).

Adventure! Travel to far off lands in search of faith or fortune on a religious pilgrimage or trading caravan.

Discovery! Gaze into the skies with Copernicus and Galileo as they develop their influential theories.

Inspiration! Peek over the shoulders of Michelangelo and Da Vinci as they create some of the world's most exciting works of art.

You'll experience all this and more! You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be hungry for more...

Coming Soon to a Classroom Near YOU!

"What's the point of studying things that happened hundreds or thousands of years ago?"

Well, here are some great reasons:

• You see where many of your cultural traditions (like holidays, manners, political systems, music, etc.) come from.

• You understand modern issues because you are knowledgeable about their historical background.

• By studying all kinds of people and civilizations, you can learn to be more tolerant and compassionate, and to consider multiple perspectives on an issue.

• You can learn about effective leadership by studying great leaders of the past.

• You can face life challenges with courage and creativity, drawing on the wisdom of great people of the past.

 

In order to succeed in Mac's class, you must demonstrate your mastery of the following skills:

Personal Skills

• I listen actively when someone is speaking or when information is being presented
• I clean up after myself
• I am honest
• I put forth my best effort
• I treat others as I would wish to be treated

Academic Skills

• I can gather reliable information from academically appropriate sources, as well as identify and understand the information that is important to me
• I can read and comprehend a variety of primary and secondary sources
• I can record and preserve class notes and other relevant information in a legible and organized fashion
• I can follow written and verbal instructions
• I can engage in civil and informed discussions on historical topics, and work cooperatively in groups
• I can draw my own conclusions and form ideas and opinions based on historical information
• I can support historical theses and my own ideas clearly in writing.
• My written work is well organized and thoroughly proofread; I follow the MLA format and correctly cite all sources.

Grading Policy

Grades will be determined by a variety of assignments including creative and group collaborative assignments (about 20% of grade), small research and writing assignments (about. 20% of grade), written and short answer quizzes (about 25% of grade) and larger writing assignments such as the research paper (about 35% of grade).

Longer writing assignments are completed in individually graded stages with a great deal of teacher and peer support, and many opportunities for students to improve their work.

Some assignments (to which in-class work time is devoted) will derive a fraction of their grade from a "Personal Skills" component which will reflect the student's demonstrated mastery of the skills listed above, during their in-class work time.

Some smaller assignments are graded on a -/v/+ scale, where a "-" indicates that the work needs considerable improvement in order to reach the stated expectations for the assignment, a "v" indicates adequate work, and a "+" reflects that the student has not only fulfilled expectations, but invested extra thought or effort into the assignment. A "-" roughly corresponds to a C, a "v" to a B, and a "+" to an A.

Search This Site:

Look at fun pictures on our Tableau Blog

Peruse some thoughts on teaching

Link to our text: History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond

Link to American History Website

Link to Ancient History Website

Link to Web Design Page