Frank McVey Social Studies - Engaging Activities and Resources

1. Frank McVey Social Studies fmcvey@cbsd.org (267) 893-2700 (extension 6346) Welcome • If you have questions that I don’t get to tonight, please e-mail me or call. • Sample Activity Materials – please look over the activity sample. If we have time, I will go over this sample class activity that the students completed.

2. Background • History Degree from Franklin and Marshall College (1996) • Masters in History from Villanova (2004) • 17th Year at Holicong Middle School • Two Children – Ages 9 and 11

3. Curriculum • Industrialization and Reform • America as a World Power • The1920s, Great Depression, and New Deal • WWII and the Early Cold War • Decades of Change • End of the Cold War and Contemporary America • How can students use history to understand the world today and make the best decisions?

4. Teacher Site and Communication • Major assignments will be listed on my web site. Normally, daily assignments are also available. • Teacher sites can be accessed from the school district website (www.cbsd.org) • http://www.cbsd.org/Page/4760 • Course requirements signed 9/3

5. Core Assessments and Unit Exams • Core assessments and unit exams make up the “5th marking period” that counts as 20% of the final grade • Five Unit Exams = 10% of the final grade • Essay = 5% of the final grade • Oral History = 5% of the final grade

7. District Core Assessments Oral History Project – students create a product based on their interview of a person who participated in or witnessed an event or era in American History Essay –all 9th grade students will write an essay (during class) that will count as one of the core assessments

8. Assessments • Written tests and/or assessments for each unit • Late Policy – students lose 10% of the available points for a major assignment for each day it is late • 2nd Chance Learning – students can improve their grade on major assessments to a maximum of 70% • Students must arrange with the teacher to complete 2nd chance learning within one week of receiving their grade on the original assessment

9. Enrichment Opportunities • History Day • History and Music Integrations • World Affairs Club (Model Congress and UN) • Mock Trial Club • Teacher Directed Activities

10. Skill Development • Critical Thinking Skills • Writing Skills – Essay and DBQ Writing • Reading Comprehension • Analyzing Data • Interpreting Primary Sources • Analyzing Perspectives • Technology, Presentation and Speaking Skills

11. Lemonade Stand Sample Activity Objective: Students will understand the way competition impacts price in a capitalist economy • Students determined that $.20 was the best price to charge if there was no competition • Total customers determined by the demand chart • Each “round” student groups decided on a price for each cup and a number of cups to make • Unused cups were lost • Customers always bought the cheapest lemonade first

12. Conclusion