Right now the sixth graders are studying the dark ages. This time is an awful time of the downfall of Rome. When the visigoths attacked Rome, many cultures did too. As a result, Rome was split into many colonies. The sixth graders are watching a movie about it also. They learned that that sicknesses spread all around Europe. In spite of everything awful, the only light situation was Christianity. Christianity kept hope in people. This...

Right now, the sixth graders are studying Rome at USM. We just played an exciting game of Antike, where you were a civilization trying to get victory points to win. Overall, Phoenicia won, but Greece came in second. As another part of the project, we had too write seven papers plus a visual. We write one on our civilization, three on leaders, and three on cities. The visual was a map or a timeline. I hope that all of the sixth graders do...

Not so long ago, in our galaxy, right here on earth, in the USA, in WI, in the school of USM, a new unit was started in history class.  This unit is Rome (a particular favorite of Mr. Matera!).  At the start of our unit, we were introduced immediately to our project for the unit, the Antike project.  The students were assigned to write one civilization paper, about the empire we were given in the beginning.  Also assigned were 6 small...

The 6th graders are currently studying Greece a peninsula covered with mountains in southern Europe.  By 550 B.C. Greece became the greatest traders in the entire Aegean region. All of Greece is within 80 miles of sea, which makes trading easy. Ancient Greece started as to city-states or “pilos”, the Minoans and the Mycenaean’s. The Minoans were rich with wood, olive oil, and pottery but did not speak the Greek language. So The...

Ni hao. That means hello in Chinese! Right now, the 6th graders are studying Ancient China. It is a fascinating time, when China was one of the most powerful empires in the entire world. Their empire was huge. They occupied lands around both of China’s major rivers, they turned north and advanced almost to the Gobi Desert! When they went south, they advanced as far as the Xi River.  By the time the Qin Dynasty came around in 221...

Everyone knows about mummies & pyramids. Rightfully so I say. These are the hallmarks of an ancient civilization that was much more advanced than the rest of the world at that time. As most “tribes” and I do use that term loosely were still hunting and gathering, the Egyptians were engineering and empire. The Egyptians were not only building huge pyramids but they had constructed irrigation canals, multi story houses,...

I thought I would write  to tell you what is going on in my class. The year is off to a great start. We have already had back to school night, where I got to meet the parents of my wonderful students. They are a great bunch of kids. I look forward to this year and the projects ahead. In class, we have started discussing the Stone Age. This is a topic that most students find dry. I try to punch it up a bit and I think I have done a good job...