Sunday, December 10, 2017

Revision Week

Please make sure that the students are watching the videos from the blog, I have always put videos for different levels of understanding, so make sure you watch the appropriate level. The semester exam will cover Early Humans, Mesopotamia, and the 5 themes of geography of Egypt.

I will be revising with the children this week so please only have the students watch the videos. Thank you. 

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Revision

Please make sure that all students come ready for revision week by making sure they watch all the video material since the begining of the year on this blog, please make sure to look in the blog archive. The social studies book can also be useful as we covered both the Early Humans chapter and Mesopotamia. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Resources and Weekly Plan

Please have students look at this website for this week's project and continuation of our theme on Ancient Mesopotamia:

https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/mesopotamia-history/top-11-inventions-and-discoveries-of-mesopotamia/

Looking forward to seeing the different posters from grade 5! 

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Homework for Tuesday 28th November

Social Studies Project on Mesopotamia: Sumerian Inventions 



Today grade 5 went to the computer lab to learn how to do research for their social studies project on the Sumerian Inventions. They are to make a poster on the theme and can be as creative as they want (creativity is a bonus). They will present their posters on Tuesday 28th of November, and will have to explain the 5 inventions, choose their favourite one and explain why. Bonus to those who want to also present an extra invention, as Sumerians invented many things. 

5 Inventions all students will have to present: 
  1. Agriculture/Irrigation: Keywords for research are levees, gated ditches, canals, floods
  2. Wheel: Keywords for research are pottery wheel and carts 
  3. Writing: Keywords for research are clay tablets, stylus and cuneiform 
  4. Calendar: Keywords for research are Zodiac, time and star chart
  5. Plow: Keywords for research are seeder and oxen
I will be posting some websites for students to read information on each invention tomorrow, in the meantime please make sure each student tries to apply what we learned in the computer lab today and researches on his own, the different inventions. 

Looking forward to seeing the great Sumerian Inventions as presented by grade 5. The best poster of each class will be proudly hung on the class wall and the top 3 will receive a small prize! 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Weekly Plan: 19 - 22 November

Please note that we have a long weekend next week and therefore only a 4 day week. Next week we will be continuing the theme of Ancient Mesopotamia.

Finish Lesson 1 on "The land between the two Rivers" and start Lesson 2 on Independant Sumerian City-States.

Please note that the plan is subject to change. Thank you! 

5 Themes of Geography: Mesopotamia

This is the presentation introducing the 5 themes of geography of Mesopotamia:





Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Weekly Plan: 12 - 19 Nov

Next week we will continue the theme of Mesopotamia:

1. The land between two rivers
2. Independent Sumerian City-States
3. Mesopotamian Achievements



Homework

Read in the Social Studies Book Lesson 1 from p 94 to p101.

Extra Credit for those that choose one video to take notes from, as we did in class this week!

Please make sure the students watch all the videos below on Ancient Mesopotamia:

https://kids.britannica.com/students/assembly/view/187627





Rap song about Mesopotamia:



For the more advanced students: 




Monday, November 6, 2017

Mesopotamia Vocabulary

These are the vocabulary words for Ancient Mesopotamia: 

Sumer: 
  • An area in the southern region of Babylonia in present-day Iraq; site of the Sumerian civilization of city-states that flowered during the third millennium BC.

Sumerians: 
  • A member of a people who inhabited ancient Sumer
  • of or relating to ancient Sumer or its inhabitants

City of Nippur: 
  • City in Ancient Mesopotamia on the Euphrates. 

Nissaba: 
  • A Sumerian first name 

Journal: 
  • A daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations. 

Nomads:  
  • A member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons

Farming: 
  • Working the land as an occupation or way of life
  • The practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

Livestock: 
  • Animals kept or raised; especially : farm animals kept for use and profit 

Tame: 
  • To bring under control
  • To subject to cultivation. ex: “wilderness tamed by farmers”

Domestication: 
  • To adapt to living with human beings and to serving their purposes 

Fertile: 
  • Producing vegetation or crops plentifully. ex: “fertile farmland” synonym: Rich 

Banks: 
  • The rising ground at the edge of a lake, river, or sea. ex: “the river banks”  

Flood:  
  • Great flow of water that rises and spreads over the land

Barley: 
  • A cereal grass with flowers in dense spikes. 

Wheat: 
  • A cereal grain that can be made into a fine white flour used mostly in breads, baked goods (as cakes and crackers), and pasta as (as macaroni or spaghetti) and that is used in animal feeds.

Ancestor: 
  • One from whom an individual, group, or species is descended.

Unpredictable: 
  • Not occurring at expected times
  • Unknown in advance. ex “an unpredictable future”
  • Impossible to foretell

Levees: 
  • A bank built along a river to prevent flooding
  • A landing place along a river 

Ditch: 
  • A long narrow channel or trench dug in the earth. ex: “Gated ditches” 

Plow: 
  • A farm machine used to cut, lift, and turn over soil. ex: “The cow pulls the plow” 

Zodiac: 
  • An imaginary belt in the heavens that includes the apparent paths of most of the planets and is divided into 12 star groups or signs
  • A figure showing the signs of the zodiac 

Priest:
  • A person who has the authority to lead or perform religious ceremonies 

City-state: 
  • A self-governing state consisting of a city and surrounding territory 

Village: 
  • A place somewhat smaller than a town

Ziggurat: 
  • Ancient Mesopotamian temple

Merchants: 
  • A buyer and seller of goods for profit; especially one who carries on trade on a large scale or with foreign countries.

Craftspeople: 
  • Workers who practice a trade or craft.



Household: 
  • Those who live as a family in one house; also : a social unit made up of those living together in the same house 

Chores: 
  • The regular light work of a household or farm
  • An ordinary task
  • A dull, unpleasant, or difficult task

Weave:  
  • To form by lacing together strands of material; especially to make on a loom by lacing together threads going lengthwise with threads going crosswise. Ex: “weave cloth”
  •  To form into a fabric. Ex: “weave wool into tweeds” 

Yarn: 
  • A natural or manufactured fiber (as cotton or wool) formed as a continuous strand for use in knitting or weaving.

Tablet:  
  • A flat slab suited for an inscription.

Scribe: 
  • A person who copies manuscripts. 

Burden: 
  • Something carried. Synonym: Load
  • Something taken as a duty or responsibility. Ex: “tax burdens”

Irrigation: 
  • Act or process of watering crops in the field 

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Introducing Mesopotamian Civilization


Please make sure to watch this short video for Tuesday 7th of November. We will be discussing it in class so make sure the students come ready. Thank you! 


Saturday, November 4, 2017

Weekly Plan

This week we will be studying Mesopotamia in Social Studies and our first lesson will be the 5 themes of Geography of Mesopotamia. The reference unit in the book is from p81 to p130 in the Social Studies Book.

Have a great week!




Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Follow by Email

I have added a Follow by Email, just above this post for parents and students who want to be reminded when something has been updated on the blog, the same will be done on the English Blog. Thank you. 

5 Themes of Geography Resources

The following is the list of all the countries selected in grade 5, few students have not picked a country yet and should not pick the same country as their classmates.

Australia:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/oceania/australia/aulatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/_jee6u3linli/5-themes-of-geography-australia/

United Arab Emirates (UAE):
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/uae/aelatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/mduakj2bh5mg/5-themes-of-geography-united-arab-emirates/

Germany:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/germany/delatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/aaeugq9cikbz/germany-the-five-themes-of-geography/

Russia:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/russia/rulatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/vt5pmnxjb92v/russia-5-themes-of-geography/

Romania:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/russia/rulatlog.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Cu8w93HA0

England:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/england/ukelatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/s9pnggtduyqm/5-themes-of-geography-london/

Brazil:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/brazil/brlatlog.htm
https://mycountrywiki.weebly.com/humanenvironmental-interaction.html

Spain:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/spain/eslatlog.htm
https://www.powtoon.com/online-presentation/cfyP2c0vfRp/spain-5-themes-of-geography/?mode=movie

Italy:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/italy/itlatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/wgjt1tx2trkr/italy-5-themes-of-geography/
https://prezi.com/4a1wakjcoo-m/5-themes-of-geography-in-italy/

Mexico:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/mexico/mxlatlog.htm
http://edu.glogster.com/glog/5-themes-of-geography-on-mexico/luxmgfaqpx

India:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/india/inlatlog.htm

Iraq:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/iraq/iqlatlog.htm

Greece:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/greece/grlatlog.htm

Kuwait:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/kuwait/kwlatlog.htm

France:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/france/frlatlog.htm
https://sites.google.com/site/5themesfrance/region/pictures
https://france5themes.weebly.com/location.html

Oman:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/oman/omlatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/5jiyzbnr5nbs/e-kelly-dahl-5-themes-oman/

Portugal:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/portugal/ptlatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/sabjjhdckhni/the-5-themes-of-geography/

Burkina Faso:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/burkinafaso/bflatlog.htm
https://sites.google.com/a/meadowbrook-ma.org/gps-africa/home/burkina-faso-by-zamir
https://prezi.com/s9wy6jyzdidd/burkina-faso-five-themes-of-geography/

Qatar:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/qatar/qalatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/a026d0do1tix/5-themes-of-geography/

Madagascar:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/madagascar/mglatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/skno-o108rvg/5-themes-of-geography-madagascar/
https://www.slideshare.net/buddy2311/madagascar-and-the-five-themes-of-geography

Argentina:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/argentina/arlatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/_cvekdwwen2e/5-themes-of-geography-argentina/

Uruguay:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/uruguay/uylatlog.htm
https://prezi.com/nrviutfrzbxm/five-themes-of-geography-urugay/
https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-uruguay-1435811


5 Themes of Geography Dice Project

Social Studies Grade 5 Project: 5 themes of Geography Dice



This will be a project that will count as a quiz grade. Every student will choose a country they will present in class on the 5 themes of geography for the selected country. No one can choose Egypt as will have covered Egypt in class. All students have seen the example dice in class on my country Mauritius. Please find pictures below.

The 5 themes of geography are:

1) Location: Where is the country?
  • Absolute Location: Coordinates of the Capital city and any other major cities of the country.
  • Relative Location : Location of the country in relation to the equator or the tropic of Cancer, or or the tropic of Capricorn. Where it is in relation of the seas or the oceans if applicable. What continent it is in?
2) Place: What is it like there? 
  • Human characteristics: What are the people like, what is their culture like? 
  • Physical characteristics: What are the different types of natural environments in the country?  
3) Region: What does it have in common with the countries in the region? 
  • Human/cultural characteristics that are similar with countries in the region.
  • Physical characteristics that are similar with countries in the region.
4) Human-environment interaction: How do they impact one another? 
  • Can be positive or negative impacts.
5) Movement: How are places connected? 
  • Tourism, trade and immigration in the country. 


5 Themes of geography: EGYPT 




5 Themes of geography: MAURITIUS










Saturday, October 28, 2017

Resources: From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age


This week will will be moving on from the 5 themes of geography and away from the Stone Age, paving the way to discovering Mesopotamia! Make sure you watch the videos below before the next social studies class.












Ms Aurelia's English Blog Grade 5

Please make sure you save the new English blog for grade 5:

https://accenglishgrade5.blogspot.com.eg

And please note the parent teacher meeting on Tuesday 31st October at 4pm. Please be on time! 

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Notes for the Prehistoric Animals

The Woolly Mammoth: 


  • Was a distant cousin to today's Asian Elephant, they were at least 4 meters tall and weighed 6 tons! 
  • They lived during the Ice Age, and disappeared around 10,000 years ago. 
  • They were covered in a thick furry coat, which kept them warm in the frigid Artic plains. 
  • Even their ears were covered in fur! 
  • They had enormous curved tusks which helped them dig up food and defend themselves. 
  • Many mummified Woolly Mammoths have been found over the years, from Siberia to Alaska, this is how we are able to learn more about these animals. 
  • The first skeleton was found in Russia in 1799, and in 2012, a little Russian boy of 11 years old found a mummified Mammoth that was nicknamed Zhenya.
  • Cave paintings made by the early humans living during the Ice Age shows that they had a very special relationship with the Woolly Mammoth! 

The Stag Moose:

  • The Stag Moose was hunted by early humans and it is known to have lived in North America until some 10,000 years ago.
  • Fossils of the Stage Moose, were first uncovered in the early 19th century. 
  • Since then many fossils have been uncovered in North America. 
  • Stag Moose were large animals and were a little bit taller then our modern Moose.
  • It had a deer-like face but a Moose's body and strange broad antlers that stood out straight from either side of its head.

The Terror Bird:

  • The first fossil was discovered in 1887, in Argentina
  • They were the dominant predators in South America 62 million years ago.
  • The Terror Bird weighed as much as a panda bear, could run faster than a horse and could not fly.
  • Their nests were on the ground and they had gigantic eggs! 
  • The Terror Bird was a carnivore and loved eating small mammals. 

The Short Faced Bear:

  • The giant short-faced bear, also called the bulldog bear, lived in North America, 1.8 million years ago.
  • The first fossils were found in California and unfortunately scientists have not discovered many fossils of this bear. 
  • They lived Mountains and woodlands of North America
  • The Bulldog bear is the fastest bear that ever existed and could run up to 64 Kilometers per Hour.

The Giant Ground Sloth: 

  • The first fossil was discovered in 1788, in Argentina
  • Megatherium means “giant beast”
  • They were very common in the Americas, especially South America.
  • The Sloth could weigh up to 4 tonnes and was as tall as 6m.
  • It had huge claws, long dark hair and could walk on its back legs just like a bear.
  • When standing on it back legs, its muscular tail would act like another leg. 
  • Most scientists believe that their diet consisted of leaves, grasses and insects. 

The Giant Beaver:

  • Few fossils of the Giant Beaver were ever found, with the first discovered in 1837 in Ohio.
  • The giant beaver lived in many parts of North America, 1.8 Million years ago.
  • It was the largest beaver that ever lived, as big as the Black bear today. 
  • The early humans of North America may have valued the giant beaver for its fur as well as its meat.
  • The Giant Beaver had huge front teeth almost 15cm long. 

The Hagerman Horse: 

  • The Hagerman horse is also called the American Zebra
  • The Hagerman horse first appeared about 3.5 million years ago.
  • The first fossils were found in Hagerman Idaho in 1928.
  • Five nearly complete skeletons, more than 100 skulls, and forty-eight lower jaws have been found in Hagerman.
  • The horse probably lived in grasslands and floodplains, which is what Hagerman was like 4 million years ago.

    The North American Jaguar: 

    • The North American Jaguar could live in many different habitats all over North America.
    • But in order to get there, its ancestors had to traverse nearly the entire globe.
    • Fossils of the Jaguar have been found in Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Washington. 
    • Giant prehistoric jaguars were about the size of a fully grown lion or tiger, and were probably several times stronger, with a much stronger bite.

    Monday, October 16, 2017

    Resources for North American Jaguar

    North American Jaguar 

    Giant jaguar is Number 8 in the video below:










    Website:

    https://prehistoric-fauna.com/Panthera-onca-augusta

    Resources for Hagerman Horse Group

    Resources for Jefferson's Ground Sloth Group

    Resources for Short Faced Bear Group

    Short Faced Bear

















    Resources for Terror Bird Group

    Resources for Giant Beaver Group

    Resources for Stag Moose Group

    Stag Moose 















    Website: https://www.thoughtco.com/stag-moose-cervalces-scotti-1093143

    Resources for Woolly Mammoth Group