7th Grade Social Studies
Miss Liz Zeglin
Room 267
Period 1 Only
About Me
*Certified in social studies in PA since 2005
*First year teaching social studies at GSMS
*Have taught language arts for seven years
here at GSMS
*Lived and traveled internationally for several years.
(Dhaka, Bangladesh & Cairo, Egypt)
*Taught all grade levels and multiple subjects (art,
drama, English)
Social Studies Program
*GSMS uses an innovative program called TCI:
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TCI “takes social studies online”
Increases student engagement
Differentiates instruction to all learners
Aligned to state standards
Is a collaborative curriculum
Website: http://www.teachtci.com/
FROM: http://www.teachtci.com/why-use-tci-interactive-socialstudies-textbooks.html
Textbooks
*In class, we use hard copies of the textbook.
*At home, students can log onto the online
textbook using the instructions.
*Please take a copy of the handout or check
my website for the online directions.
http://greensburgsalem.org/Page/3531
Using Class Website/Accessing
“Geography Alive” Text Online
Every Sunday, I will update our social studies website.
*To access:
1. Go to the GS Middle School website:
http://greensburgsalem.org/Page/943
2. Click on “Faculty”
3. Find “Zeglin, Mary”
http://greensburgsalem.org//Domain/230
4. Click on Social Studies 7 on the left section for weekly plans
5. TO Re-read text at home: Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Click
on
http://www.greensburgsalem.org/Page/2238
6. Then, find a social studies teacher and use their log-on name.
I do not have one. Then, click on:
Click Here to access Social Studies resources using the information below
7. Follow the directions. Click on the chapter to read the text.
Social Studies Procedures
1. Pledge of Allegiance/moment of silence
2. Attendance is taken and excuses need to be taken to the
office
3. Pass out folders and textbooks. Students may take their
folders home. However, they must bring them back to
complete the Interactive Student Notebook.
4. Geoterms must be completed fully. Each box is one point.
Students are encouraged to take their time and think. This
assignment will be graded for each chapter.
5. Extra credit will be offered from time to time.
6. For big activities, we conduct them with the other 7th grade
social studies class on the stage. For each unit, there is a
simulation activity that relates to the essential question of the
lesson.
7. TCI lesson procedures: Preview, reading text, geoterms,
reading notes, processing activity, exam
8. In addition to the chapters, students work on mapping labs.
Social Studies Curriculum
Social Studies Big Ideas:
1. How do continuity and changes in human history influence society
today?
2. How do the actions of citizens and governments affect each other?
3. How do economic considerations impact other aspects of society?
4.How does the geography of a place affect the human experience?
Every chapter has an Essential Question that focuses the lesson.
Students are challenged to use higher level thinking. The content
is not to be memorized as facts but to facilitate understanding of the
Big Ideas. For example, in Chapter 14, we learned about the European
Union. However, the point was for students to learn about the concept
of cooperation in international organizations. (Like the United Nations,
etc.) So students are learning
how to think and apply concepts to the world around them.
Topics of Study
*Supranational Cooperation in the European Union
*Population Dilemmas in Europe
*Invisible Borders: Transboundary Pollution in Europe
*Russia’s Varied Landscape: Physical Processes at Work
*New Nation-States from the Old Soviet Empire Will They Succeed?
*The Nile River: A Journey from Source to Mouth
*Life in the Sahara and the Sahel: Adapting to a Dessert Region
*Micro-entrepreneurs: Women’s Role in the Development of Africa
*Nigeria: A Country of Many Cultures
*Resources and Power in Post-apartheid South Africa
*Oil in Southwest Asia: How “Black Gold” Has Shaped a Region
*Istanbul: A Primate City Throughout History
*The Aral Sea: Central Asia’s Shrinking Water Source
*Waiting for the Rains: The Effects of Monsoons in South Asia
*Tech Workers and Time Zones: India’s Comparative Advantage
*Mount Everest: Climbing the World’s Tallest Physical Feature
Best Ways to Contact Me
The best way to contact me is through email or written note sent with
your student. However, if you would prefer to speak to me, call the
main office. I will call you back during my next planning period at
8:30-9:30 am.
*Email: mzeglin@wiu.k12.pa.us
Main Office: 724-832-2935