Mr. Cole’s 8th Grade Mr. Cole’s 8th Grade Geography ClassGeography Class

Learner OutcomesLearner OutcomesRulesRulesCurriculumCurriculumAssessmentAssessment

Learner OutcomesLearner Outcomes

Students will learn the Five Themes of Students will learn the Five Themes of Geography.Geography.

Students will learn how to find locations on Students will learn how to find locations on the globe using latitude and longitude.the globe using latitude and longitude.

Students will be to define physical and Students will be to define physical and cultural geography.cultural geography.

RulesRules1. “Tardy” means that you were not in your seat when the bell

started to ring. This means you are sitting down, quiet, and ready to learn.

2. When I am talking, you are not talking. When you are talking, I am not talking. During a discussion you will wait to be called on before speaking.

3. Keep your body to yourself. Do not touch anyone! This includes all poking with writing instruments, kicking chairs, desks, etc… And this definitely includes touching me!

4. If you try, you will succeed academically. I will help you if you first try, then ask me for help after you have made a serious attempt.

5. Have all materials for class everyday, no exceptions. I will not remind you. You will not be allowed to go back to your locker to get materials you have forgotten.

CurriculumCurriculum

Fall SemesterFall Semester First Quarter - Five Themes of First Quarter - Five Themes of

GeographyGeography Second Quarter - ClimateSecond Quarter - Climate

Spring SemesterSpring Semester Third Quarter - MigrationThird Quarter - Migration Fourth Quarter - ResourcesFourth Quarter - Resources

AssessmentAssessment

Students will have one major project Students will have one major project per quarter (performance assessment) per quarter (performance assessment) worth one-fourth of their grade.worth one-fourth of their grade.

Students will have have a unit test at Students will have have a unit test at the end of every unit and quizzes at the end of every unit and quizzes at the end of every chapter (traditional the end of every chapter (traditional assessment), all together worth one-assessment), all together worth one-fourth of their grade.fourth of their grade.

In class activities and out of class In class activities and out of class homework will make up the remaining homework will make up the remaining one-half of a students grade.one-half of a students grade.

Powerpoint is a very versatile program that I would use in various ways. For example, I would use Powerpoint in my class occasionally if I wanted to give the class notes via a multimedia presentation. The use of Powerpoint in this way would require having projector in the classroom that could display the presentation on a screen. The down side to having a presentation is the need to dim the lights which may cause some students to become sleepy. Powerpoint would be, of course, just one method of many at a teachers disposal to communicate knowledge to students. It would be particularly effective when visual aids are needed or when setting standards for the school year, as I have done with this presentation.

The instructional implications for students would be confined mostly to group or individual projects, certainly not everyday use in social studies. For a group project it would be perfect for presenting the group’s final presentation to the entire class with a student narrating. Students could easily integrate a variety of visuals and audio with their presentation making for an interesting, stimulating presentation. The same would be true for and individual student’s project. Powerpoint is fairly easy and self explanatory software program to use; its similarities to Microsoft Word, a word processing program, make its use easy for teachers to teach to their students.

Uses and Instructional Implications of Powerpoint