History Beyond Dates and New Worlds of Discovery

As the end of the year rushes up on our students Social Studies is ROCKING!

In fourth and fifth grade we are starting to delve into the Western Expansion of America with cool topics like the exploration of Lewis and Clark, the Trail of Tears and the wagon trains to the Oregon, California and Utah territories.

In sixth we are wrapping up our time in Ancient Egypt with playing a board game that was made and designed by the class. Make sure to ask them about who is the *new* pharaoh of our Egypt.

At the same time seventh grade has been examining the idea of power by studying the Roman Empire and Orson Wells Animal Farm.

Moving into the holiday season and New Year we are starting to explore the concepts of faith and religion. We are doing this by looking at the historical beginnings of Christianity and Islam.

While Social Studies is rocking the 6th grade literature class has been HAVING A LAUGH with The Phantom Tollbooth. Where Milo (and some 6th graders) got caught in the Doldrums and meets many characters like the Awful Dynne and the Mathemagician while trying to save Rythme and Reason.

Next we will be visiting the Middle Kingdom by reading Tolkien's masterpiece The Hobbit.

I hope my students have a laugh and rock in the New Year. I am excited to see what 2009 holds for all of us.

Patt Mills, 6th & 7th grade class teacher