Welcome to Social Studies 9R!

• Please take a textbook from off the table. Then, go to the desk with your name on it. Start filling out the bookcard in front of you.

Welcome to Social Studies 9R

• On the back of your book card, please write the following:– If you have a nickname or shortened version of your

name that you prefer. – Your Social Studies teacher last year.– 2-3 hobbies or activities that you enjoy in your spare time.– 2-3 strengths that you feel you have as a Social Studies

student.– 2-3 weaknesses that you feel you have as a Social

Studies student.– 1 overall goal that you have for your freshmen year.

What Are We Going to Study?Quarters 1 & 2: Ancient World (10,000 B.C.-

500 A.D.)

• Exploring Key Concepts in Social Studies – History, Geography, Culture

• Prehistory and Early Human History – Earliest Humans, Paleolithic Age, Neolithic Revolution

• The Rise and Fall of the River Civilizations– Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus River Valley, Early China

• Rise and Fall Classical Civilizations – Chinese

Dynasties (Zhou, Qin, Han), Mauryan Empire, Greece, Rome

• Emergence and Spread of Belief Systems – Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism and Christianity

What Are We Going to Study?Quarter 3: Expanding Zones of

Exchange (500-1200)

• The Byzantine Empire and Russia

• The Rise of the Islamic Civilization and Religion in the Middle East

• The Middle Ages and the Crusades in Europe

• Development of Chinese Civilization – Tang and Song Dynasties, Mongol invasion, Ming dynasty

What Are We Going to Study?Quarter 4: Global Interactions (1200-1700)

• Japanese Civilization and Culture

• The Renaissance and Reformation in Europe

• African Civilizations – Mali, Ghana and Songhai

• Mesoamerican Civilizations – Mayans, Aztecs and Incas

• The Age of European Exploration

• The Age of Absolutism in Europe

• The Scientific Revolution

Big Questions1. How does technological change affect people, places, and re

gions?

2. How do physical and human geography affect people, places and regions?

3. How do the movements of people and ideas affect world history?

4. What defines a turning point in history?

5. Why do civilizations rise and fall? Are civilizations easier to build than they are to maintain? After it falls, what impact does a civilization have on history?

6. What are the characteristics that make us human?

Skills We Are Going to Work On

1. Critical Thinking

2. Essay Writing

3. Analyzing Documents

4. Collaboration

5. Understanding Multiple Perspectives