Mr. Mendini’s
Social Studies Class 2020-2021
Dear Parents,
This year for Social Studies class the students will be focusing on the reading
and study of the following time periods in our nations history:
The Land and Early People will focus on the first inhabitants of North America. We will explore landforms, bodies of water, climate and vegetation that make up our continent. We will learn how all of these affect the way people live in different regions. We will also explore the cultural groups of Native Americans that inhabited various regions of our country. We will identify similarities and differences between various tribes throughout the country.
Time of Encounters(European Explorers)will focus on the time when Europeans were exploring and trading in new places around the world. We will learn what the world was like and how cultures interacted through trade. We will also learn the various reasons why the Europeans were looking for new water routes to Asia and why new colonies were being settled in the Americas.
The English Colonies will focus on why the colonies were founded. We will read about Jamestown and Plymouth and the day to day activities and life of the colonists. We will learn about the Middle and Southern colonies leading up to the original 13 colonies
The American Revolution will begin with understanding the reasons for the French and Indian war and the effects of its aftermath. We will also compare patriot and loyalist colonists in regards to the events that culminated in the American Revolution. We will learn about key individuals on both sides and discuss many of the major battles and create a timeline of significant events. This unit will end with discussion on the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
We will also be studying Michigan History, Economics, The U.S. Constitution, Core Democratic Values, and States and Capitals. We will also be doing some projects, a Native American Report and an Explorers Project.
Each day the students come to class, they must have their Social Studies notebook, pencil, and any homework or worksheets.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at
school or by email at amendini@kingsford .org
Mr. Mendini