Home Stretch!

With only a week and a half left of 7th grade, we realize how short a time there is left to raise our grades. The ch 16 study guide is due today, and after we review it we will play our review game thursday, and then take our final test of the year on friday. Next week will be a relaxed discussion of ch 17 and the exciting revolutions that took place. Text books have been turned in so very little homework will be assigned in the next week and a half. Make sure your child prepares for the final test of the year!

Text Books Due

Students need to bring back their text books from home this week. We are still studying Ch 16, The Age of Exploration and have begun our look into the causes of American Slavery and how racism played into the economic need for slavery. No homework as students will not have books at home to use!

Age of Exploration

After Current Events we continued with our look at the factors that led to the increased desire of Europeans to explore the world around them. Questions at the end of Section were started, but are not required to be finished for homework allthough Per 3 is to complete #5 on page 451 for homework

The Last Unit!

To close out a wonderful year of World History, our last unit of study will be on the Age of Exploration. Today students received a map of the world and were instructed to draw and label the routes that 8 explorers took during this historical period. Countries of origin were included as were continents and oceans. Time and markers were provided in class to complete this assignment and students will have the chance to finish this in class tomorrow.

Test Monday

Thank you to all the parents who visited last night during open house! I had a wonderful time with all of you. The Ch 15 test is monday, and these are the names of students who have current events this coming thursday.

Per 1
Kaylene Brouwer
Adam Caron
Adara Cervantes
Emily Cid

Per 3
Wolf Tressler
Richard Turner
Donny Van Hoogmoed
Elijah Wilson


Per 6
Richard Garrison
Erika Gomez
Johnny Guitierrez
Rodrigo Herrera

Study Guide Today

Today we completed the study guide for ch 15, and students were told that it is due tomorrow. We will play our review game thursday and hopefully test on friday. Here is the study guide for students who missed today.

Chapter 15 – The Aztec and Inca Empires

Study Guide

1. Why were the sons of Aztec nobles sent to special schools?

2. What is a codex?

3. Describe the ceremony when an Aztec king was crowned.

4. What Inca ruler led a great expansion on the empire?

5. Describe the life of a lower-class Inca.

6. What is a major similarity between the Aztec and Inca religions?

7. Who led the conquistadors against the Inca Empire?

8. Why was the Inca road system important?

9. How were Inca stories passed to future generations?

10. Describe Inca buildings.

11. What was a community of Aztecs called?

12. What groups were the lowest class of people in the Aztec Empire?

13. Who were the first Aztecs?

14. How did the first Aztecs conquer the land around Lake Texcoco?

15. Describe Tenochtitlan before the Europeans arrived.

16. What were the 3 factors that led to the rise of the Aztecs?

17. What were the reasons that the Spanish came to the Americas?

18. What did the Spanish unknowingly bring that helped them conquer the Aztecs?

19. Why did Moctezuma II welcome Hernan Cortes?

20. Why did Native American tribes make alliances with Cortes?

21. How did Tenochtitlan’s location help the fall of the Aztec Empire?

22. How did horses help the Spanish conquer the Aztecs?

23. What was Machu Picchu?

College Week

Today in class we discussed the things the students look forward to most about college. I was able to tell some of my college experiences and even show some pictures. We will continue our study of the Inca this week, and a reminder that the typed essay on the Aztec Empire is due tomorrow.

New Current Event Names

Today we began our study of the Inca Empire as part of our study of the Native American Cultures. The essay students have been working on about the Aztec and Spanish will be due - typed - on tuesday of next week. These are the names of the students who have current events this thursday.

Per 1
Jessica Uyehara
Danielle Valenzuela
Micayla Wiener
John Balsamo

Per 3
Erik Shepherd
Amanda Small
Carmen Tovar
Tanner Thompson


Per 6
Calvin Dickenson
John Efseaff
Ulixes Flores
Aubrey Fox

IVF Statement Essay

Yesterday we took a pop quiz that scored our ability to create complete IVF statements from selected paragraphs from the text. Most students did exceptional. Today we took those IVF statements and along with the other statements we've created as a class the past week outlined an essay detailing either the rise or fall of the Aztec Empire. Students are not to complete the outline or the essay as homework, but will have plenty of time in class where we can peer edit the rough drafts.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo but studying how the first Spaniards came to Americas and conquered the Aztec Empire. Students took notes on Ch 15 section 2 and created IVF statements from selected paragraphs in the text. Current Events will be this thursday as we continue our study of the Aztecs and later this week the Inca Empire as well.

The Aztecs - Ch 15

Today we began our study of the Aztec empire. We also presented current events and an alarming number of students did not complete their current events. Please check the list below to see if your child is assigned a current event for the coming week.

Per 1
Aaron Raynor
Devyn Robledo
Jimmy Stewart
Becca Tannheimer

Per 3
Nicholas Rodia
Celina Rodriguez
Daniel Sanchez
Kylee Schmale

Per 6
Jonathan Cardenas
Juliana Cornejo
Gage Costaello
Summer Del Real

The end of the Maya

Today we will complete our study guide of ch 14 which covered the early Americas. Tomorrow we will play our review game and our test will be on wednesday. If your child is absent today here are the review questions that you can help them complete and study before wednesday. The completed study guide is due tomorrow, tuesday April 29th.

Ch 14 – The Americas
Study Guide

1. Who were the first people to arrive in the Americas?

2. Where is Mesoamerica?

3. What were the main sources of food for the early Americans?

4. What impact did farming have on early people’s lives?

5. Why are the Olmec considered a complex civilization?

6. What is the period called when the Maya spread throughout the Yucatan Peninsula?

7. What types of buildings did the Maya build?

8. Why were conflicts and wars between Mayan cities so common?

9. Why was the temple in the city of Palenque built?

10. What did cities hope to gain from fighting with other cities?

11. List the theories that explain why the Maya declined.

12. The Lower Class of Maya spent their time doing what?

13. List the duties of the Lower Class of Mayans.

14. What group of Maya held the lowest social class?

15. What important religious ability did the Maya believe their Kings had?

16. How did the Maya usually supply their Gods with blood?

17. What is the significance of Mayan cities and sculptures?

18. How was Maya writing similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics?

19. How did the Maya create records of their culture?

20. What is the significance of the Popol Vuh?

21. How did Maya rulers maintain control over society?

22. What did Mayan Gods need to prevent disaster?

The Americas

This week we began our study of the Americas. We covered the Olmec civilization yesterday and we began our study of the Maya today. Students completed several IVF statements relating to the reading and engaged in lively discussion regarding the social classes of the Maya. No homework this week, only the in classwork and discussions. Current events tomorrow!

Benchmark 3

We finished the benchmark study guide today and will play a review game tomorrow. The benchmark will be thursday after current events.

Test Today, Current Event Names For After Spring Break

Today's test will be open book on ch 13, and these are the names for students giving current events on the thursday after we get back from the spring break. Have a wonderful week off!

Per 1
Jacob Hosmer
Eugenia Ji
Jake Kosdondy
Alexah Leamons

Per 3
Stephanie Klein
Michelle LaFarge
Vanessa Macias
Kevin Marin


Per 6
Nicholas Sauer
Allison Sherman
Emma Sluiter
Isabella Solorzano

Test Tomorrow on Scientific Revolution

In order to keep the information fresh in our minds before the break, we will be testing on ch 13 tomorrow instead of waiting until after the break. This won't give us time to play a review game or complete a study guide. Please remind your students to review the classwork on this chapter tonight. I will allow students to use their book in class during the test, so this will be our first open book test of the year.

Ch 13 - The Scientific Revolution

The internet connection has been off and on recently, so this post will attempt to update everyone with everything that has happened lately. The 4th and final quarter of the school year began today, as did our study of the Scientific Revolution. Grades for the 3rd quarter have been turned in and I'm looking forward to finishing strong this last quarter.

We have been learning a new skill in class to help us better understand the text. We are creating I.V.F. statements which help us:
Identify who/what the portion of text is about
the Verb which the subject is doing
and finally we Finish the statement with the relevant details

When we place the I.V.F statement all together we find we have a concise statement that details larger portions of text and also serve as excellent topic sentences for historical writing assignments. The students are still learning how to do this and we will be practicing it together in class before any homework of this type is given.

Study Guide

Today in class we reviewed the entire chapter, Ch 12, and covered some points that we missed the first time. Tomorrow students will be given this study guide to prepare for the test which will be early next week.

____ 1. According to the church, what was the connection between purgatory and indulgences?


____ 2. Name the results of the Reformation.


____ 3. Create a timeline of events of Martin Luther’s life.


____ 4. Martin Luther challenged the traditional structure of the Catholic Church by arguing what?


____ 5. Martin Luther believed what about people’s relationship to God?


____ 6. Who wanted to translate the Bible into English?


____ 7. Summarizes, in one statement, the Catholic Reformation.


____ 8. Describe life in Spain before Catholic rulers came to power.


____ 9. What effect did the Catholic Reformation have on Asia and Africa?


____ 10. Why was the Catholic Church in Spain so strong?


____ 11. Why did the Jesuits and Ursulines promote education?


____ 12. The shared goal of the Jesuits and the Ursulines was what?


____ 13. Christians, Muslims, and Jews prospered for centuries in Spain because they did what?


____ 14. For what is Saint Francis Xavier known?


____ 15. Which effect of the Reformation has had the greatest influence on American society?


____ 16. What caused the Catholic Church to organize new religious orders in southern Europe?


____ 17. What is federalism?


____ 18. After the Reformation, where did most protestants live?


____ 19. What led to the sharing of power between a central government and local governments?


____ 20. Who were the Huguenots?

New Current Event Names

Today in class we finished Sec 2 of Ch 12. Students completed question 1a and 1b by the end of the period and turned in their keywords/main idea sheet that they have been working on the past few days. Here are the new current event names.

Per 1
Micayla Wiener
John Balsamo
Kaylene Brouwer
Adam Caron

Per 3
Wolf Tressler
Richard Turner
Donny Van Hoogmoed
Elijah Wilson

Per 6
Katrina Kimes
Gregory Laveaga
Kimberly Lorenzo
Jonathan Magdaleno

Ending Section 1

Today we finished Ch 12 sec 1 by completing key words and main ideas from selected paragraphs from the end of the section. We reviewed the basic beliefs of John Calvin, Martin Luther and Henry VIII. No homework tonight, students just need to bring their sheet with the weeks bellringer activities and class notes.

The Reformation

This week we begin our chapter on the Protestant Reformation. We began the reading of section one on page 328 and took notes on the first two pages. We covered Martin Luther, the sale of indulgences, and other practices that lead to the reform movement. No homework today.

Compare/Contrast Essay due Monday 3/10

Students competed their 4th paragraph in class today comparing Leonardo and Michelangelo. Over the weekend students should rewrite the essay correcting spelling and grammatical mistakes and using transitions to flow from idea to idea smoothly. This essay is due monday and will be worth 50 points.

Compare/Contrast Essay

Today in class we began a compare/contrast essay of Leonardo and Michelangelo. Students were given a graphic organizer in order to gather information on these two topics. Students are to complete a rough draft of the introduction tonight for homework. The 4 paragraph essay will be due on monday.

Test Today

Students took the test on the Renaissance today covering all of Ch 11. There will be no homework tonight, but students will be starting a compare/contrast essay on two famous Renaissance artists tomorrow. Current Event names for this thursday have been posted in class since Friday, but will be posted here today as well.

Per 1
Hailey Peoples
Daniela Quezada
Alex Ramirez
Aaron Raynor

Per 3
Bryant Perez
Nicholas Rodia
Celina Rodriguez
Daniel Sanchez

Per 6
John Efseaff
Ulixes Flores
Aubrey Fox
Richard Garrison

Ch 11 Sec 3

Today in class we covered the first part of section 3 and how the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe. We learned the role universities played in the establishment of the humanities in Northern Europe. No homework tonight.

New Current Event Names

These students will be giving current events this coming thursday.
Per 1
Michael Martinez
Mercy Mburu
Angel Monobe
Carly Norris

Per 3
Maggie Morales
Allyson O’Brien
James Ortiz
Ryan Owens

Per 6
Jonathan Cardenas
Julie Cornejo
Gage Costaello
Calvin Dickensen

Today in class we will continue our study of the Renaissance and move into section 2-3 to cover the aspects of perspective which had a profound impact on Renaissance art. No homework over the weekend.

More Renaissance

In class today students identified reasons that the revival of classical learning and art led to a renewed interest in the humanities. Students focused their attention on the writings of Dante and Machiavelli. No homework tonight.

The Renaissance

Today we began our Chapter on The Renaissance which is chapter 10. Students today listed and defined all the key terms from section one and we discussed the implications of interest, banking, and trade on the rebirth of ideas in art and learning that became The Renaissance.

Ch 10 Test Friday

Today in class we reviewed the study guide for chapter 10 which students should have completed for homework last night. The study guide has 25 questions for students to use to prepare for the multiple choice test. Students were given points for the completeness of their study guide in class today. Happy Valentines Day too!

Day of Silence

Students today did an excellent job keeping their vow of silence. Many didn't break their vow once!

Poster Projects Due Tomorrow

Students have been doing a great job the last couple days as they've worked in groups of 4 to complete their posters on Ch 10 sec 2-3. Most groups are almost finished and will have only minor touching up to complete at home tonight. We will do current events tomorrow and present the posters to the class. Friday will be our first simulation of the year, students will undergo a vow of silence to be silent for the entire school day. All 7th graders will participate in this simulation, and it will be school wide and supported by all the teachers. These posters are the first major source of points for the 3rd quarter and students should realize that and act accordingly.

Poster Projects - Ch 10 Sec 2-3

The debate yesterday went very well, and students did an excellent job articulating their prepared arguments. Today students were given the instructions for the Poster Project that will be due next week covering Ch 10 Sec 2-3. The topics are The Crusades and Christianity in Medieval Europe. Students formed their groups today and delegated tasks and topics. Group work will begin monday.

Debate Tomorrow!

Today in class we covered Ch 10 Sec 1. Students began a chart listing the powers held by Popes in Medieval Europe as well as the Kings of Europe during the same time period. Students need to complete at least ten reasons why popes and ten reasons why kings should have more power in Medieval Europe. If this assignment is completed by tomorrow students will divide into two groups, each side arguing in favor of popes or kings. Points will be awarded based on the written assignment, strength of arguments, and clarity of ideas during the debate which will take place tomorrow. Parents should review the ten reasons their child has written down and ensure its clarity and accuracy with the text from ch 10 sec 1. It should be fun!

Welcome to the Third Quarter!

Hello parents. Welcome to the second half of the 2007-2008 school year. It has been a wonderful first half and I'm very excited to start another excellent quarter here at Rancho-Starbuck. Please remind your child that he/she has a 100% A+ in the class right now, and will only loose that with missing or incomplete assignments. Today we completed a European Word Search, using key terms from our unit on Medieval Europe. This will be due tomorrow if it is not finished in class.

Benchmark Review - Quarter 2

Today in class we began our extensive review for the Second Quarter Benchmark Test, which will be this friday. Students were given a study guide to complete in class today and tomorrow consisting of 20 review questions covering the topics discussed in class since the start of the 2nd quarter. These topics are West Africa, China, Japan, and Europe in the Middle Ages. Each topic has 3-4 questions that students will answer and which will be graded. Additionally, current events will be given this week for the following students:
Per 1
Summer Del Real
RJ Dioneda
Erik Flores
Riley Gallagher

Per 3
Maria Covarrubias
Holly Diaz
Juliana Fierro
Oscar Gomez

Per 6
Nicholas Sauer
Allison Sherman
Emma Sluiter
Isabella Solorzano

Review Game today, Test tomorrow!

Today students will be playing the jeopardy review game for ch 9 - Medieval Europe after current events are presented. The study guide was completed and reviewed yesterday, and today's game should be an excellent preparation for the test tomorrow.

Ch 9 Test Friday

Students today were given their study guide for chapter nine, we went over the first 15 questions in class, and will complete the remainder tomorrow. Thursday will be our review game, and we will test on Ch 9 on friday of this week.

Feudalism and the Manor System

Today in class we studied the Feudal and Manor systems that developed in Europe during the middle ages. We also posted the new current event names for next thursday.
Per 1
Kaylene Brouwer
Adam Caron
Adara Cervantes
Emily Cid

Per 3
Richard Turner
Donny Van Hoogmoed
Elijah Wilson
Jacob Arce

Per 6
Marc Parra
Gavin Proctor
Alexandria Rannis
Pricilla Salceda

Medieval Europe

Today we started with a bell ringer activity where students placed in chronological order events that took place in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. We discussed life as a peasant during the middle ages and students discussed ways a peasant could improve his or her life. We also presented current events at the end of class.

Welcome to 2008

Its been a wonderful winter break but I am so ready for 2008 and all the exciting topics we will cover in world history. Yesterday we began our study of Medieval Europe. Students completed a map of the physical features of the continent and colored and labeled the major landmasses. Students turned them in today and they look great. We then began our study of Chapter 9 with section 2 and focused our discussion today on the establishment of kingdoms in Northern Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Students completed index cards that summarized the main idea that Christianity was spread to Northern Europe in two ways: Missionaries sent by the pope and Monks living in monasteries. No homework tonight.