7th Grade Social Studies

Ms. Manning

Welcome to 7th grade Social Studies! We will be studying Ancient Civilizations from the dawn of man up through the Ancient Romans. This time frame covers several thousand years of history. We will be examining how early man transitioned from a nomadic people to farmers who stayed in one place and grew their own food. The world is our playground and we will study civilizations from all over the globe looking for similarities, differences, and themes that connect them together. This curriculum follows the frameworks established by the state of Massachusetts. It should be an exciting year as we explore new time frames, new people, and try to understand what it would have been like to live “way back when”. History is so much more than a bunch of dates to be memorized… it should be experienced, touched, tasted, smelled, and critically examined. To get you ready for the year there is a summer assignment.

Summer Assignment:

“Experience History”

I love history and want you to as well! History is all around us in many different shapes and forms. It becomes more interesting if you can interact with it… see it, talk about it, touch it. All of the students are asked to “experience history” over their summer vacation. For the parameters of this assignment, let’s call something historical if it is over 70 years old. This experience can happen in a number of different ways…

-Visit a historical site. If you are traveling with your family anywhere in Greater Boston, in the state of Massachusetts, the United States, or the world, visit a historical site in that location (nothing in Medfield – you have already learned about the Peak House in elementary school). Climb a lighthouse, visit a fort, go to a museum, walk through a historical house, visit a monument… Have fun and learn a little something in the process.

-Talk with someone over 70 years old about their childhood. Conduct an interview with a grandparent, neighbor, friend of the family – someone who has seen the world change over time. What did they do without TV? How did they get to school? What did they do for fun? How did they survive without an IPOD, cell phone, or videogame?

-Read a historical book. Learn about a topic or an era that interests you. Are you a WWII buff? Love medieval Europe? Want to learn about the Great Wall of China or Roman gladiators? Want to figure out what caused the Civil War? Pick up a book and dive in!

You are only required to do one of the activities above but are always welcome to do more. You will be asked to write a short paper (about a page) about your experience about a week after we get back to school. This paper is a great way for us to learn about you and your interests and also gives us a chance to take a look at your writing skills. Take some quick notes about your experience so you will remember some facts to use in your paper. Have fun experiencing history but also remember that the summer is a time to relax and unwind. Enjoy yourselves and we’ll see you in the fall!

Have a Great Summer!