Social Studies: The United States and the World

Welcome to Mrs. Woerner’s 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies! Seventh graders will focus on the Eastern Hemisphere (Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe) from ancient civilizations to the present. Eighth graders will focus on United States' history from Revolution to Reconstruction. In addition to using course textbooks, we will also be using primary sources, activities, projects, videos, and readers’ theater to expand our understanding of history, geography, government, economics, and society.

Who are you?

Who are you in the Hunger Games? Click the link for the personality quiz (http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/ayf1Hhk/Who-are-you-in-the-hunger-games) and answer the questions. DO NOT ANSWER THE FINAL QUESTION! (It has a star by it. This is a link and an advertisement. You can submit your answers without answering it.) When you find out who you are most like, return to the blog and reflect on the following questions:

1. What character did you get matched up with?
2. Based on what you know about "The Hunger Games," would you agree with the personality quiz? Why or why not?
3. If you could be anyone in the book/movie, who would you want to be? Explain.

CATCHING FIRE AND OTHER SURVIVAL SKILLS

Here, in the Training Room (https://sites.google.com/site/hungergamestraining/training), the Game Makers have set up stations to teach you techniques for survival as well as setting traps for your competitors. The more time you spend training in these areas, the more likely it is that you will survive through the Hunger Games and be crowned a Victor.

Your mentor has suggested that you spend time learning things you do not already know instead of showing off to others what you are good at. Pick things that you are unfamiliar with and learn how they can help you survive the Hunger Games.

Then, return to the blog and post a reflection to the following questions:

1. What five topics did you read about?

2. Which one was the most interesting to you? Explain.

3. If the Capital were to add any training stations, what do you think they should add and why?

4. If the Capital were to eliminate any training stations, what do you think they should cut and why?

If you finish early, check out Trial by Fire or Tribute Trials (http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/games/index.htm) and see how you do! Happy Hunger Games and May the Odds be ever in your favor!

8th grade SS Lab - 4/27/12

Sometimes you can learn a lot about a story merely by learning something about its author. Suzanne Collins has authored numerous books and the following link (http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/index.htm) is her homepage. Click on the link and read about her through WORKS, BIOGRAPHY, and INTERVIEW. (Tabs in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage). Then return to the blog and summarize (in your own words) who you think Suzanne Collins is and how her life and ideas have influenced "The Hunger Games."

8th grade SS Lab - 4/26/12

We are half way through our time together and you have been challenged with a lot of knowledge. Now it is time to test that knowledge. Click on the following link (http://www.gradesaver.com/the-hunger-games/study-guide/quiz1/) and take the Hunger Games Quiz 1. Once you have completed the quiz, return to the blog and reflect on the following questions:
1. What was you score?
2. What percentage of questions (20%, 50%, etc.) were you able to answer correctly based on lessons from class?
3. What percentage of questions were you able to answer correctly based on context clues and educated guesses?
4. If you had to write a quiz question based on the knowledge you have gained so far (Listening Logs, Analysis Activities, Blog Activities), what would your question be? What is the answer?

8th grade SS Lab - 4/24/12

Go to the 8th Grade SS Lab Links and click on the "Hunger Games." This will take you to two games: Trial by Fire and Tribute Trials. Play both games and then return to the blog and reflect on the following questions:
1. In the Trial by Fire, contestants test their abilities and see if they will be able to survive the real thing. There is only one path to survival. Did you survive? Explain. What decisions would you have changed? Explain.
2. Think you could survive a situation like the Hunger Games? It takes more than just strength, or smarts, or stealth. Take the Trials to see your likelihood of survival – then try to discover how you might improve your chances. How did you do? Explain your results.

8th grade SS Lab - Training in Pictures

Like the Olympics, the Hunger Games are quickly approaching. As the tributes prepare, their coaches could take some advice from Olympians.

Click on the following slide show (http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/08/training-perfect-athlete-olympics08-forbeslife-cx_avd_0708health_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=undefined), view the pictures and read the captions. Then, return to the blog and respond to the following questions:

1. What kind of "time" do you think Katniss and Peeta have "put in" in preparation to the Games?
2. How have the Career Tributes made training a full-time job?
3. How has Haymitch "planned it out" for Katniss and Peeta?
4. What kind of "pain" has Katniss "put up with?"
5. What kind of "constant feedback" would you give to a tribute during training?
6. What kind of fuel would you recommend to the tributes to "pump up the calories?"
7. In your opinion, what do you think tributes see beyond the Hunger Games? (In other words, what comes after success?)

8th grade SS Lab - Competitve Training

Katniss and Peeta are in the Capital and have begun their training for the Hunger Games. The training stations include: Basic Survival Skills (Building a Fire, Building a Shelter, Setting Snares, Tying Knots, Purifying Water), Camouflage (How military camouflage works, Hiding in plain site, Disguise and Decoy), Weather (Surviving a Storm, Survive Falling in Ice, Escape a Fire), Wildlife (Poisonous Snakes , Surviving a Snake Bite , Dangerous Insects/Spiders , Surviving a Animal Attack , Tracker Jackers), and Plants (Edible Plants , Medicinal Plants , Poisonous Plants).

Different training stations have been set up by the Game Makers for tributes to train. Katniss and Peeta work on knots and snares as well as camouflage. Other tributes work on areas of strength as well as intimidating other tributes.

The training the tributes experience is similar to the training practiced by Olympic athletes. Read the following article (http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/08/training-perfect-athlete-olympics08-forbeslife-cx_avd_0708health.html) and then return to the blog to respond to the following questions:

1. In your opinion, what are the similarities between tributes and Olympic athletes? Give examples.
2. In your opinion, what are the differences between tributes and Olympic athletes? Give examples.
3. If you would add a training station for the tributes, what would it be and why?
4. If you would eliminate a training station, what would it be and why?