New Kingdom Egypt Webquest

Click here to access the New Kingdom Egypt Webquest for Tuesday/Wednesday's class.

Chapter 3 Guided Reading

For those looking to get ahead, here's the Chapter 3 Guided Reading. It isn't due until Friday, September 4th.

Parent Meeting

Parents,

Greetings from North Springs Charter High School! I would like to invite you to a brief meeting regarding your child’s involvement in his/her advanced placement world history class. As I’m sure you know, your children have been hard at work this semester learning a brief, but detailed history of the world. Their work ethic and creativity, in this process, have been truly been astounding.

As we enter the third week of the school year I would like to use this get-together to discuss the following topics:

* What is/are the workload/expectations/benefits of AP
* AP World History Study Guides
* Mr. Benschine’s AP World History Blog
* Extra Credit Film Review Permission Slips
* World History Summer Trip
* Question/Answer Session

The meeting will be on Thursday, August 27th. We will meet in the media center at 6:00pm and should be finished between 6:30 - 6:45pm. Also, I will bring my calendar and will be available to schedule individual parent-teacher conferences after the meeting. I look forward to seeing you!

Chapter 2 Guided Reading

Click here to download the Chapter 2 Guided Reading. It's due on Tuesday, August 25th (7th period may turn in their guided readings on Wednesday).

Socratic Discussion: Guns, Germs & Steel

Students participated in their first Socratic Discussion on Monday. Overall, it was very successful. Students analyzed, debated and discussed the major themes of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs & Steel. Thank you to Tate for providing the pictures from 6th period.

Chapter 1 Guided Reading

Click here to download the Chapter 1 Guided Reading. This assignment is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, August 20th.

Extra Credit Opportunity

In order for Socratic Seminars (especially the first) to be successful, students must feel comfortable speaking in front of and debating with their peers. Last year, to create a lighter and more relaxed atmosphere, students were encouraged to dress as a Greek (to emphasize the Socratic reference). Needless to say from the pictures above it was quite humorous. It also allowed the students to take the edge off of what had been for some a strenuous beginning to the semester. In the end, I felt that it helped facilitate an insightful and open conversation. Thus, students this year will be again offered the opportunity to earn extra credit by dressing as a Greek in class on Monday, August 17 (the date of our first Socratic discussion).

Socratic Discussion Procedures

The Socratic Discussion is patterned after the way Socrates conducted learning activities in Ancient Greece. All of his students were expected to share their thoughts and opinions regarding the written and spoken word. Students were further required to read, analyze and evaluate assigned materials prior to class discussion. Socrates remained silent to allow true discussion to flow from his students.

Today, when a class is conducted using the Socratic Discussion method, students are also required to come prepared to discuss assigned materials and share ideas and opinions, using the text or real life experience to back up their answers. They are not permitted to participate in the class unless they are prepared. This method of instruction can be used effectively for any genre or subject, fiction or nonfiction.

Student Preparation: Prior to the discussion, students are asked to read the text, magazine article, or newspaper; watch the video; listen to the song; etc., and to record their answers to the questions which the teacher has developed. Important: Students should be instructed to record their responses in complete sentences and to explain them thoroughly. The "why" is implied!

Class Setup and Procedures for Socratic Discussion: Students are arranged in two concentric circles. The inner circle contains the speakers who will be involved in the discussion; each student must contribute. The outer circle contains the listeners. Students in the outer circle are not to speak, but only to listen to the discussion.

Important: Two empty seats are reserved in the inner circle.

Students in the outer circle have the option of joining the inner circle when:

1) the discussion appears to be off topic.

2) the discussion becomes nonproductive with arguments and "put downs."

3) inner circle members have not discussed an area deemed important.

(Once a student takes an empty seat, he or she must stay for the remainder of the discussion. When both empty seats are taken, the inner circle is complete. Students must weigh whether they really want to enter the inner circle)

Responsibilities of the inner circle members: Students are to clear desks and display only prepared answers to the discussion questions.(No pencil or pen is allowed.) Students, not the teacher, determine the first speaker. A student enters the discussion only when the previous speaker indicates that he or she has finished.

Circle members decide how the discussion proceeds. For example, students may:

1) choose to speak in sequence around the circle.

2) decide to appoint a discussion leader.

3) let each speaker choose the next participant.

Follow-up questions may be asked by inner circle members; for example:

1) What do you mean by...?

2) Where in the text do you find support for that?

3) Would someone take issue with....

4) What is your point?

5) Are you saying that...?

When a student opts to take an empty seat, he or she becomes the next speaker.

The final responsibility of the inner circle members:

1) Come to a consensus on each question

OR

2) Simply make sure each member has had an opportunity to discuss answers to the assigned questions, and then perhaps agree to disagree.

Responsibilities of the outer circle members: To ensure the practice of good listening skills, students are required to submit to the teacher their written responses to the discussion questions before the inner circle begins the discussion. (Otherwise, students tend to compare their work with the ongoing discussion.)

If the inner circle decides to reach a consensus, students of the outer circle are required to summarize and record the consensus; OR, if the inner circle members decide to simply share ideas and opinions in response to the discussion questions, students in the outercircle are to script as much of the discussion content as possible as the discussion evolves. At the end of the discussion, outer-circle students are to highlight or circle any words or phrases they believe to be important. If outer circle students have a hard time hearing inner circle students, a simple raising of the hand from an outer circle student can direct an inner circle student to speak up. The final activity required of outer circle members is to share their summaries or key words and phrases with the students of the inner circle.(Students of the inner circle cannot comment; they become the listeners!)

Planet Earth Extra Credit Film Review

Students, remember that your extra credit film reviews for Planet Earth: Pole to Pole are due Tuesday, August 18 at the beginning of class. If you are in 7th period, you may turn-in the assignment either Monday during class or Tuesday anytime before 2:00pm. No late extra credit assignments will be accepted. I hope you all enjoyed the film.

Geography Quiz at Free Rice

In light of the results of our first geography quiz, it was suggested by a few students that I provide the class with a link to the Free Rice website, thus giving students access to practice geography quizzes. Students, please click here to access the site. After opening the Free Rice webpage, simply click on the subjects tab, then select "Identify Countries on the Map." This site will provide you with both an opportunity to practice your mapping skills and will act as a tool to combat world hunger.

Greetings Students and Parents!

Welcome to the North Springs Advanced Placement World History blog. The purpose of this site is to provide both students and parents with class updates and supplementary information to class discussions. Parents, this site will act as a portal enabling you to gain insight to your child's educational experiences in AP World History. Students, you'll be able to use this site to access your guided readings and check study session times amongst many other things. Please feel free to register as followers to the site and post comments on anything you find to be particularly interesting. I look forward to an exciting and productive year. -- Mr. Benschine