Author: Matthew Trerice

Map Check 7 – Africa’s Physical Features

Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the locations of the major physical features of Africa. Students have been practicing in and out of class for the last two weeks. Map Checks will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The practice assignment and games can be found on Google Classroom.

Africa Travel Brochure Project

Students have been learning about Africa and as a way to show what they have learned they have been creating a travel brochure designed to highlight specific information about Africa. The directions, a checklist to be sure they get full credit and past examples can be found on Google Classroom.

Consequences of Latitude

This week and next we will be highlighting the importance of Latitude and the consequences connected with the latitude of a location. Students will be be participating in several assignments and activities to highlight this idea and the test will take place in about 2 weeks. Stay tuned for a study guide the beginning of next week to be posted on Google Classroom.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Unit 5- Africa (Five Themes of Geography)

This week we will start our look at the continent of Africa. We will be focusing on the basic geographic features using the Five Themes of Geography.

Map Check 7- Africa’s Physical Features

Students will begin practicing for their next physical features Map check this week. The practice assignment and game can be found on Google Classroom.

Parent Teacher Conferences

This Thursday (4/11) will be our final Parent-Teacher Conference of the school year. Conferences will take place from 4-7pm. If you would like to arrange a separate time to discuss your child’s grades and behavior in class but cannot make it on Thursday please send me an email and we can discuss how best to communicate.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please let me know!

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Five Themes of Geography

The project for the Five Themes of Geography in Australia was due at the end of last week and is being graded currently. Grades should be posted in the next few days. Any late projects should be submitted as soon as possible!

Consequences of Distance

We are finishing up our look at Australia before break by examining the several consequences of distance in Australia. This continent is separated by distance and the distances within the country are also difficult to overcome as well. Students will be creating a thinking map (Circle Map) in class to show they understand the basic concepts. The main reading and directions for the circle map are located on Google Classroom already

Map Check 6- Australia’s Physical Features

The Map Check will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Makeups (if needed) will take place the following class period once students have shown that they have studied since the original assessment to be more prepared the second time around.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Five Themes of Geography- Australia

The last 2 weeks we have been looking at Australia from the viewpoint of the Five Themes of Geography. Students have done several readings and will be responsible for completing a Graphic Organizer summarizing the information covered in our readings about Australia. The Graphic Organizer and the rubric associated with it is posted to Google Classroom. The Graphic Organizer will be summative and will be due at the end of the week.

BIG IDEA- The consequences of Distance

This week we are continuing to look at Australia and will look at some of the consequences of distance. Several lessons will be posted to Google Classroom as we explore how Australia’s distance to the rest of the world has affected them in several different ways. We will have a short test on this information next week prior to Spring Break.

MAP CHECK 6- Physical Features of Australia

This week we will also be introducing the practice assignment for Map Check 6. The assignment is posted to Google Classroom for all classes and will be assessed at the end of next week before Spring Break.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me!

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Map Check 5 Retake-

Students were given their scores for their formative Map check that they took 2 weeks ago. If students were below a B- I have asked them to study and try again. The day of the Retake will be Tuesday and Wednesday of this week during class for any student who scored below a B-. On an important side note about the retake: I am asking that all students below the B- range provide some sort of proof that they attempted to study for the retake. Students were given several options including taking a screenshot of them playing the review game, having a parent write and sign a note vouching for them OR to bring in a map they printed out from home and labeled the features. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Mountains of the world and their biggest consequences in South America.

This week we will begin digging deeper at examining the physical features in South America. We will start by examining how the mountains have influenced the pattern of cities on the continent and will examine a few other effects linked to the mountains and peoples interactions with the mountain ranges. Our next assessment over content will take place next week and students should look for a study guide to be posted on Google Classroom this week!

Consequences of Elevation Flowchart

Two weeks ago we read about some of the consequences of elevation in South America. Students then created a visual thinking map to help them organize the main ideas of the reading. This project’s due date was extended due to the snow and cold days and should be submitted today (2/4) and tomorrow (2/5). If a student missed the day to see me in school last week or needs an extra day I will allow the project to be submitted as late as Wednesday of this week due to the cold and snow days in combination with the fact that we are also NWEA testing right now and it is easy for things to get missed when routines are disrupted. The directions and the reading needed to complete this project were posted to Google Classroom the week of January 21st.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please let me know!

• trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

Map Check 5: South America

This week students will be taking Map Check 5 on Thursday and Friday. The practice assignment was posted to Google Classroom before winter break.

Elevation’s consequences in South America

We will continue to explore the consequences elevation has on the people and the land in South America. The goal of the unit is to understand the basics of the geography in South America AND to understand how elevation (low or high) can play a major role on a landscape and by extension a society. The mini-project, Consequence of Elevation Flowchart,  was assigned last week and will be submitted this week to be checked for understanding. The directions are posted on Google Classroom and students can be access it by logging in with their username and password.

Card Marking 3 Begins

We are now half way through the year and report grades have been calculated at this point for last card marking. Please continue to check with the OL Smith Blog for the release time of reports cards in the next week or two. As always if you have any concerns or questions about the report card grades or what you have noticed online please send me an email or feel free to call the school and leave me a message and I will get back with you as soon as possible.

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Climagraph Retake Test

This week we started by reviewing and retaking the climagraph test that students took before break. We spent much of our first class period reviewing and then every student had a chance to try again on the test. Tests have already been scored and students will be given the best score between the two tests.

Unit 3 – South America

This week we are also starting to look at South America by beginning unit 3. Our focus will be on the consequences of differences in Elevation, which are very dramatic on this continent. Students will begin studying for our next map check which will focus on South America’s physical features. The practice assignment has been posted to all Google Classroom accounts and should be completed by Tuesday (B-day) or Wednesday(A-day) of next week.

Card Marking 2 – Ends next week

Next week is the end of card marking 2. Any missing work should be submitted by Wednesday at the latest.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please let me know!

trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

Climagraph Assessment

This Thursday and Friday there will be a test on climagraphs. The study guide has been posted on Google Classroom. Students should use past assignment, notes, and slideshow (all posted to Google Classroom) to help them prepare and review. The actual test will cover two ideas about climagraphs. The first will part will be checking to see that students can read and understand what the graph is telling them about a place. The second part is asking them to compare climagraphs to try to decide where in North America the climagraph is coming from.  This assessment will also serve as the final assessment for North America.

 

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns,

-Mr. Trerice

trericm@dearbornschools.org

Regions Assessment – Makeup assignment

Last week students received their scores back from the test covering information learned about regions of North America. They were then asked to make test corrections on an assignment on Google Classroom named Regions Make-up assignment. Students who have not completed this task will need to complete this assignment as soon as possible. The test corrections will replace a test redo for this test and will be the only way to improve their grade for this assessment.

Understanding Climagraphs

Last week we introduced a useful graph we will be using in Global Studies as we study most regions for the rest of the year. This graph helps us to see what the climate is like in a location. However, it can also help us make other determinations about a location as well. We will continue to develop our understanding of this graph this week by having students create their own using data. Students will then try to determine where in North America this place is located by using their notes and prior knowledge about the regions of North America. This assignment will serve as an quiz grade.

Upcoming assessments

Starting at the end of this week students will begin a summative project where they compare two places in North America and use their climagraph to make an argument for which location is better for human settlements. The directions for this project will be posted on Google Classroom Thursday and Friday Students will complete most of the work for this project in class. If students do need to make corrections to the project they will need to be completed over the holiday break.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

trericm@dearbornschools.org

-Mr. Trerice

Map Check #4

Students will be taking Map Check 4 this Monday and Tuesday (11/19-20) of this week. Any student who received a 11/16 or below will be asked to retake the assessment when we return to school after the Thanksgiving break. A day classes will take the retake during school on Wednesday (11/28) and B-day classes will have the retake on Thursday (11/29). Please encourage your child to show you their score (it will be posted on Google Classroom and Parent Connect) and if they did not receive a 12/16 or higher please encourage them to play the review game that has been posted to the Practice assignment for the last 3 weeks. Alternatively, you can use the link posted here: https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3452?c=W8KFR  

Understanding Regions in North America Assessment

At the end of next week (29th and 30th) we will be taking a summative assessment over the regions in North America from Unit 2. A study guide will be posted after thanksgiving break.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

trericm@dearbornschools.org

 

-Mr. Trerice