May ELA and Social Studies Curriculum Update

     In ELA the Essential Question is: What is my place in this world?  We have been busy reading the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Along with learning about segregation in the 1930's in the South, students are also working on looking at main ideas and details, using two-column notes in order to better understand the story. In addition, students continue to work on their ability to respond to text by synthesizing ideas from multiple sources. Students will work on an engaging and fun culminating activity of the Roll of Thunder Trial. Students will simulate what a real court of law is like, while looking at the trial through various characters' perspectives.  As May comes to a close, students will be working on a Research project that will be further explained then!

     In Social Studies, student are learning about Ancient Rome. The Essential Question is How is the ancient Roman influence seen today? Also, how does geography impact the  growth of a civilization? Some of the objectives students will meet are the ability to describe how the Etruscans and Greeks had a major influence on Roman culture. Also they will be able to describe the Roman government systems and differentiate between the patricians and plebeians in the Roman Republic. They will study and learn about how Rome expanded from a republic and grew into a vast empire. They will be able to make connections between ancient Rome and our modern world today. They will study the internal weaknesses of the Roman Empire and identify and analyze the reasons that fall of Rome. Finally, students will be able to describe the legacy of ancient Rome as seen in art, science, technology, architecture and engineering.