8th Grade/ Ancient Aztecs

In the 1400s and early 1500s, the Aztecs dominated the region around modern-day Mexico City. At their peak, they controlled the lives of some 10 to 20 million people. Not always well loved by other groups in the area, the Aztecs created a society that surprised and impressed the Spanish conquistadors who arrived in 1519. Our investigation will work to examine parts of Aztec society in order to decide what we should emphasize when telling the Aztec’s story (Agriculture or Human Sacrifice).  

7th Grade/ Colonial Gardens

The study of life in these 13 colonies can be broken down into the following categories:

• Life on a Farm vs. Cities--> Food
• Crime and Punishment
• Class Differences

We will start our examination of these areas by planning and creating a colonial kitchen garden in order to evaluate and analyze colonial life in farms and cities. This will lead us to answering the question of how essential was colonial gardens to the colonist’s way of life? 

6th Grade/ Physiographical and Environmental Features- North Africa and Near East

We now move into our second unit of study for the year. We are going to be studying the geographical effects of North Africa and the Near East in order to see how this area effected settlement in the civilizations of Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. The first part of our investigation required us to fully understand the physiographical and environmental features of the area. In order to understand these features, students will complete a mapping laboratory exercise that will require them to analyze and evaluate the impact of these features.