History class immersed in ancient civilizations
Mrs. Halverson’s World History I class has been immersed in the ancient world. The last few weeks, the students have been studying the ancient river valley civilizations, specifically looking at Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. Students practiced writing in Cuneiform, a wedge-shaped writing that was very time-consuming. They also researched Mesopotamian inventions, studying maps of these places, and the importance of water sources for the development of civilizations. Many of the students enjoyed learning about the Egyptians and the pharaohs’ tombs. The final project was a debate: What was ancient China’s greatest contribution? The students researched six inventions: paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, tea and the seismograph and then teams were chosen – junior guys versus senior guys. It was a great debate day; the students did a great job providing background information on their specific invention, as well its lasting contribution globally. Now, on to ancient Greece!
Specialized help available in resource room
In the resource room at Granton Area Schools, we spend our time making sure that our students have the specialized help they need to be successful in their academic work. We know that every one of our students is unique, with their own strengths and weaknesses, and we are here to help them identify their strengths and to build on them, while also helping them to improve in the areas where they struggle. Some people think in pictures, while other people think more in words and find it difficult to picture things in their thoughts. These are both valid thought processes and it is important to identify each person’s unique way of seeing the world and learning through their experiences. For some students this may result in verbal testing or study guides that include pictures that help make connections to information they need to remember; for others this may result in having them write out questions and answers to help embed this information into their memories, thereby improving their ability to recall needed information. At the end of the day, we all want our students to be successful and happy in whatever path they choose, and these are just a few of the ways we strive to guide them on their path.
