7th Grade

Here are 12-2 Notes

Kingdoms, City-States, and Empires
Chapter 12
Section 2
East African Trading Civilizations
• East Africa Boundaries: Red Sea, Indian Ocean
– Primarily trading centers
– Port cities
– Arab and African traders settled the area
• Aksum- Present day Ethiopia
– Controlled trade in the Red Sea
– By 200’s A.D. controlled all trade from India to the Mediterranean Sea
– Christianity came to Aksum around 300 A.D.
– By 600 A.D. Arabs had seized control of the region and Aksum began to decline
• Cities of Trade
– Sailors used seasonal winds to reach China and India, when winds changed, they sailed back
– Took- skins, Ivory, gold and other metals
– Brought back- cotton, silk, and porcelain
– Islam introduced to region during this time
– New language- Swahili- Bantu/Arab language
– Most widely spoken language in Africa today
• Rise of City-States
– City-State- city that has its own traditions, governments, and laws. Both a city and an independent state
• Important city-states
– Malindi, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Great Zimbabwe
– Kilwa
– 3 and 4 story stone and coral dwellings
– Traders paid high taxes to trade there
– Conquered by Portugal in the 1500’s
• Great Zimbabwe
– Inland and east along the Limpopo River
– Connected to the east by a system of trade networks all the way to the Indian Ocean
– Reached it’s peak of power in about 1300 A.D.
– 1000’s of people called this walled city home
North African Trading Powers
– Boundaries- Sahara and Mediterranean Sea
– Phoenicians were the first to explore this region
• Rise and Fall of Carthage
– Phoenician trading center in present day Tunisia
– Wealthiest city in the world at the time
– Controlled trade in the Med. Sea from 500-200 B.C.
– Taken over by Roman Empire in 146 B.C.
– City was destroyed
• Roman and Islamic Influences
– Cities grew all along North Africa under Roman rule
– Christianity spread as well
– 1000’s of miles of roads to connect its empire
– Roman Empire falls in 476 A.D. and competing forces fought over the land until Arabs gained control in 600’s A.D.
– Islam spread and replaced Christianity

West African Kingdoms
• Based on the trade of salt and gold
• No refrigeration at the time so salt was very important
• A lot of trading between north and west Africa
• Growth of important cities like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai and Forest Kingdoms like Benin
• Ghana
• Between the Senegal and Nile Rivers
• Controlled trade in western Africa
• Called the land of gold
• High taxes
• Mali
• Upper Niger River valley
• Powerful in mid 1200’s
• Kings controlled the flow of salt and gold to the north
• Kings were called Mansa-emperor
– Most important Mali king was Mansa Musa
– 20 year reign brought peace to the region
• Mansa Musa and the Spread of Islam
– Was Muslim himself
– Made regular pilgrimages to Mecca
– Brought 60,000 people with him
– Each of his 80 camels carried 300 lbs of gold
– Gave it away as a gift
– Europeans heard about his wealth and began buying Mali gold
• Songhai
– Becomes powerful after Mansa Musa’s death
– Tombouctou was Songhai’s major trading center
– Important caravan stopping location along the Nile
– Greatest Muslim learning center
– Songhai declined after northern invaders attacked in 1591
• Forest Kingdoms
• Benin
– late 1200’s
– Traded ivory, palm oil and pepper
– Worked with bronze, brass, and wood
– Created some of the finest sculpture of the time
– Trade partners- Africa and Europe
– European began to trade guns for slaves
– Many African Americans are descendants of these forest kingdoms

7th Grade

Notes 12-1

African Beginnings
Chapter 12
Section1

Changing Survival Skills
Hunter-Gatherers
Nomadic – moved with herds
Hunted animals for meat
Collected fruits, nuts, and roots
Made tools from stone
This age became known as the Stone Age

Farming and Herding
Earliest farming probably in Northern Africa- present day Sahara Desert
In the beginning harvested wild grains
Then collected seeds
Then kept seeds from stronger plants and threw out seeds from weaker plants
This is called domestication-adapting plants or animals for human use.

Early Settlements
Domestication of plants and animals meant people could stop being nomadic
Most early settlements were by water sources
Mainly rivers
Transportation
Food
Fertile soil
Surpluses allowed for specialization outside of farming

Egypt- 5000 B.C
Nile River Valley
Good soil for farming- fresh silt from flooding
Transportation
Food Source
Ruled by kings (Pharaohs) and queens that were treated and worshiped like Gods
Built temples (pyramids) to honor them
Hieroglyphs- system of writing using symbols
Specialization allowed them to develop skills like paper-making, architecture, astronomy, and medicine

Nubia- 6000 B.C.
South of Egypt along the Nile
Napata- greatest Nubian Civilization
724 B.C. Nubians of Napata conquered Egypt
Meroe- Weaker Nubian civilization, conquered by Ethiopians from Aksum around 350 A.D.

The Bantu Migration
4000 years ago in Africa, one of the largest migrations takes place
Bantu speaking peoples began to move
Southern migration fro west-central Africa into south-east and south-west Africa
Why Migrate?
No one knows for sure
May have been the new ability to farm the rainforests
overpopulation
Over 100’s of years Bantu speaking people spread all across Central and Southern Africa
Bantus Spread Their Language
People were living in regions where Bantus migrated to but Bantu language and culture came to dominate all regions they inhabited
Language and Ethnic Groups
Ethnic Groups- group that shares language, religion, family ties, and customs
Shared history
Most of today’s Africans in Southern and Central Africa speak Bantu (200 million)

8th grade

Because of an elevated number of absences, we have had to push the test back until Friday. The students were very upset and sad at this unfortunate news as I am sure you guessed. Well the presentations are really good so far and I have been very pleased.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

TEST THURSDAY!!!!!!!
Make sure you are studying. The vast amount of you did not have your notes done in class yesterday. Not good at all. Get this study guide done and done well.

1) What Europeans countries were in a struggle for colonies?
2) Where were the French territories in N. America?
3) Where were the Spanish territories in N. America?
4) Where were the English territories in N. America?
5) What natural barrier separated the French and British colonies?
6) What Indian tribes fought on the side of the French?
7) What Indian tribes fought on the side of the British?
8) What general’s men fired the first shot in the French and Indian War?
9) Explain the situation at Fort Duquesne with General Washington.
10) Explain the Albany Congress and Albany Plan of the Union
11) Who takes over control of Colonial forces after Braddock was shot and killed?
12) Explain the Battle of Quebec
13) Explain the terms of the Treaty of Paris
14) How did the newly arrived British settlers treat the Indians in the Ohio Valley?
15) Explain the Proclamation Line of 1763?
16) Explain the Sugar Act
17) Explain the Stamp Act and the colonist response to it
18) Explain the Townshend Act
19) Who were the Sons of Liberty
20) Explain the Quartering Act
21) Summarize the Boston Massacre
22) What was Liberty Tea?
23) Summarize the Boston Tea Party
24) Explain the Intolerable Acts
25) Summarize Lexington and Concord from beginning to end (Be thorough with your answer!)

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Presentations are going really well. Yesterday we got through about 10-12 of them and they rocked. I am out today tending to my sick daughter, but will return tomorrow to continue with presentations. Make any last minute corrections and be ready to present tomorrow.

Mr. Clark

7th grade

7Th grade tested over chapter 11 today. Since we could not have our regularly scheduled online study session and not a lot of students able to attend the 7am study session on top of the considerable absences we have as of late, I decided that at the end of the test the students, if they had them, could use use their notes. There were a significant number of students that did not have the notes in their notebook to be able to use as a resource. That is unfortunate, but teaches a valuable lesson. Do the work that you are assigned. They have had 7 days to get the notes into their notebook and I even reminded them on a daily basis last week and Monday. The test scores are pretty good, however, I will tell you that using the notes is something that will rarely if ever happen again so please do not mistake my generosity for the norm.


The projects are going to be finished up on Friday and we will be presenting on Monday and Tuesday. I have been very proud of the way the 7Th graders have handled themselves in the lab. They have been focused, hard-working and taking it very serious and for that I thank each and everyone of them.

8th grade

Chapter 5 Section 3

From Protest to Revolution
Chapter 5
Section 3
A Dispute Over Tea
• Tea was very popular
• “would rather go without dinner than without a dish of tea”
• Parliament Passes the Tea Act
– British East India Company supplied most of the tea to the colonies
– Tax tea…sat on boats unsold
– British merchants were allowed to sell tea
– Undercut the colonial merchants
– Colonists boycotted Tea Act buy continuing to buy colonial tea at a higher price
• A New Boycott
– Started drinking coffee and “Liberty Tea”
– Refused to allow British merchants to unload their cargo of tea
• Boston Tea Party
– November 1773 3 British ships reach Boston harbor
– Dec. 16th Sam Adams & Sons of Liberty demand ships leave the harbor
– They refuse
– Sons of Liberty dress like Indians and dump 342 chest of tea into Boston Harbor
• Parliament Strikes Back
– Colonists had mixed reactions to tea party
– Britain passes Intolerable Acts
• British ships blockade Boston Harbor until tea is paid for
• Town meetings forbidden
• British officials must be tried in Britain
• New Quartering Act
• Quebec Act
– Set up separate government for Canada
– Complete religious freedom for French Catholics
– Gave land in Ohio Valley to French Canadians
• Other Colonies Support Boston
– Smuggled food into Boston
– All Merchants closed in a show of unity
– First Continental Congress-
• Boycott of all British goods until Intolerable Acts were repealed
• Agreed to meet again on May 1775
• Encouraged each colony to setup a militia
• Militia- citizens that served as soldiers during an emergency
• Lexington and Concord
– Minutemen- men trained and ready to fight at a minutes notice
– British soldiers marched on Concord to seize a cache of arms stored there.
– Led by General Thomas Gage
– Supposed to be a surprise
– April 18th 700 British troops leave Boston
– Sons of Liberty watching
– 2 lamps hung in Old North Church-By sea
– Militia waited on banks of Charles River
– Day break on April 19th, near Lexington British commanders ordered militia to go home
– Militia disbanded and headed home
– Shot rang out from somewhere
– Fighting breaks out
– 8 militiamen killed
– British move on Concord
– British found nothing at Concord
– Supplies had been moved
– On the march back to Boston, militia, now larger waited for British
– 300 militiamen
– More fighting
– 73 British killed and 200 wounded
– Became know as the Battle of Lexington and Concord
– All hope of a peaceful solution was gone
– Only option…..WAR!

8th Grade

We continued working in the computer lab today. A lot of good work got done today. We will be in there again for the final day on Friday. Tomorrow we will be talking about the rest of Chapter 5. I will figure out how to get the notes to you since I feel that they are too long to post on the blog. Fear not, you will get them.

I was only able secure the computer lab for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. If that is not enough time to complete the assignment, you will need to complete it on your own time over the weekend. I am sorry to do that, but that is the way it has to be. We will begin presentations on Monday and into Tuesday.

You have done a great job in the computer lab the last two days, please let that behavior carry into Friday.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Tomorrow is Chapter 11 Test. You have know about it since Friday of last week. Tonight should be brushing up on information you are unclear on. I will have to apologise for not being able to host an online study session. Wednesday nights I have obligations I cannot change. I am confident you will be ready. The true or false/ multiple choice portion focuses on vocabulary and simple ideas.(pay attention to the resource map in your textbook. The short answer section deals with concepts and complex ideas. I fear that some of you have not studied for this until today. That will be a mistake more the majority that this is true for. You cannot be successful that way.

We will be in the computer lab on Friday to finish up our Power Points. The presentations will begin on Monday and carry into Tuesday.

I will be here at 7 in the morning tomorrow morning and anyone that wants to meet and talk about the test can come down to our room.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

I fell asleep last night and did not get the summary notes for chapter 5 posted. Here they are.

Road to Revolution
Summary

1) French and Indian War
2) Indian Wars
3) Proclamation Line of 1763
4) Sugar Act
5) Stamp Act
6) Refusal of Colonial Representation in Parliament
7) Townshend Acts
8) Quartering Act (s)
9) Boston Massacre
10) Tea Act
11) Intolerable Acts
12) Quartering Act
13) Lexington & Concord


Computer research started today. Power Point creation is Wednesday and Friday and Presentations begin Monday. I am looking forward to seeing the completed assignments. They should be better than last years.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Computer work started today. Both classes handled themselves very well in the lab. A lot of good research happened. We will begin working on the Power Points tomorrow and finish up on Friday. Presentation will begin on Monday. This is a large part of your grade this quarter, take it serious.

Thursday there will be a test over Chapter 11. Be reviewing your notes and reading the sections.

Parents....if you have Power Point 2003 or higher, your student can work on their projects at home. Your student should be studying for their test on Thusday over Chapter 11.

Mr. Clark

7th and 8th Grade

We selected topics for our projects today. I felt that if the students had a say in their topic they would be more inclined to do a better job. The requirement is going to be a 8 slide minimum Power Point. During the 4 quarter we will write a paper about our topic in conjunction with Mrs. Venekamp's class and their research projects. We did these projects last year and they turned out pretty good. I have higher hopes this year since we know what to do this time.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Notes

Here is 11-3. You have until Monday to have all 3 sections in your notebook.

Resources and Land Use
Chapter 11
Section 3
Agricultural Resources
• Most Africans are Farmers
• Subsistence Farmers- growing just enough to support one’s own family
– They grow wheat and barley in dryer savannah regions
– They grow fruits and vegetables in regions with more rainfall
– Ex. corn, rice, fish, goats, and poultry
• Crops for Sale
– Cash Crop- crops raised for resale
– Ex. Coffee beans, tea
– Cash crops farming is on the rise
– Is leading to food shortages when harvests are light
– Also bad when global prices drop. Families struggle for food and money
• Harvesting Trees
– Hardwoods grow in all regions of Africa
– 1000’s of acres of trees have been cut down
– Tree farmers are now starting to replace what they cut down to counter deforestation
– Treating trees like the renewable resource that they are
Natural Resources
• Economy-system for producing, distributing, consuming and owning goods and services
• Mining, many areas are rich in mineral resources
– Ex. Gold, diamonds, petroleum, iron, and coal
– Be familiar with the map on 377. Have an idea of what is found where
Improving Economic Health
• Specialized Economy-when a nation is dependent on one type of industry
• Strengthening Economies
– crops must be successfully grown and sold at a high price for farmers to be successful
– Diversify- add variety
– In order for most African countries to be successful, they must diversify their economies
– More flexible type of economy
– More diversified an economy, the stronger the economy, not as fluctuating
• Where Does the Money Go?
– Mining requires many workers and expensive equipment
– Foreign companies take most of Africa’s mineral resources and take profits out of Africa
– This does nothing for Africa’s economy
– Africa wants to grow it’s manufacturing and refining industries to keep those profits

8th grade

Parents...I provided the students with a printed out copy of the notes in class today. I felt that the notes were too long to try and post on the blog. Sorry for not posting them last night. With conferences after school last night time got away from me and I did not get it done......sorry for any problems that caused.

We are getting into the French and Indian War and causes and lead up into the American Revolution. The student interest seems to be growing as their confidence in the subject matter grows, I have some really fun stuff planned and the students will determine how much of it we are able to actually do.

Mr. Clark

All students and parents

Last night we felt was a great success. Students took the conferences very serious and did an outstanding job. All should be proud. I do not think it could have gone better. Parents seemed pleased as we circulated and chatted, students were explaining and taking responsibility for their grades, and as for the teachers, to see this experiment come to fruition and be that smooth on the first attempt is a testament to the entire community here at ICS.

We have one more night of conferences on Thursday. The Tuesday group set the bar pretty high, but I know you can do just as well.

Thanks for making it such a success.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Notes

Here are notes for 11-2. They need to be in your notebook. I will be checking.

Climate and Vegetation
Chapter 11
Section 2
What Influences Climate?
• Distance from the Equator
– Runs through the midsection of Africa
– Tropics also run through Africa
– Much of Africa has a tropical climate
– Influences not only climate, but also seasons
• Role of Elevation
– Higher the elevation- colder the temperature
– Irrigate- supply with water from another source
– Drought-long period with little or no rain
– Oasis- a fertile place in the desert with water and vegetation
• Unpredictable Rainfall
– Because of Africa’s size, rainfall varies from region to region
– West Coast and Central Africa get a lot
– North and South get very little
Vegetation Regions of Africa
• Tropical Rain Forests
– Covers close to 20% of Africa
– Lush vegetation and variety of wildlife
– Farming, Fishing, Hunting, Logging
• Tropical Savannas
– 2 seasons- dry and wet
– Tall grasses and scattered trees
– Large pack animals
– Farming(wet season) Trade(dry season)
• Desert Living
– Nomads- people who have no permanent home
– They follow trade routes or migrating animals
– Live up in the mountain regions during rainy season and around oases during dry seasons
– Make a living trading, herding, or caravan leaders
Climate & Health
• Sleeping Sickness
– Tsetse Fly- found in 1/5 of Africa
– A bite can kill a cow
– A bite to a human causes “sleeping sickness”
Malaria
– Spread by mosquitoes
– Moist climates- breed in swamps or standing water

7th Grade

Parents......The students are using you as an excuse to not get the notes off the blog. I know this is not true. I am asking for some assistance. Please check agendas and if they have notes to get help me make sure they are copying the notes. It makes class discussions very difficult when they do not have the notes to refer to.

Students..... you are now a day behind because many of you failed to get the notes. I am running out of patience for excuses. A large number of you that claim to not be able to get the notes are the same students staying until 4 or later in aftercare. School is your job. Your boss at a real job would not accept lame excuses and I will not either. Start taking responsibility for your education. It is disheartening when your teachers and parents care more about your grades than you do. Step up. This is a new quarter and your grade will only be as good as the effort you put into it.

7th Grade

Here are the notes for 11-1.

Africa Land & Water
Chapter 11
Section 1
Regions and Landforms
• Africa has 46 countries
• 5 main regions
– North
– West
– South
– East
– Central
• Each region has several different climates and landforms

• The Regions
– North
• Rocky mountainous, seemingly endless deserts (Sahara, the world’s largest desert)
– West
• Most populated
• Grasslands
• Fertile soil for farming
– East
• Few Plateaus- large, raised areas of mostly flat land
• Many mountains
– Central and Southern
• Flat rolling grassland
• Thick rainforests
• Mountains
• Swamps
• Deserts in the south(Namib and Kalahari)

• Plateau Continent
– Much of Africa is a raised Plateau
– Elevation- height above sea level
• Mountains
– Highest is in East Africa
– Mount Kilimanjaro
• Coastal Plains Edge the Continent
– Dry and sandy
– Marshy and moist
• Great Rift Valley
– Formed millions of years ago as the continents pulled apart
– Rift- deep trench
– most of Africa’s major lakes are in this area

• Africa’s Rivers
– 4 large rivers
• Nile
• Congo
• Zambezi
• Niger
– Nile River
• Longest river in the world
• Fed by the White and Blue Nile
• Tributaries- smaller rivers that feed into a larger river
• Farming along the Nile
– land has been farmed for 1000’s of years
– Over flows it’s banks and deposits fresh silt every year
– Fertile- rich in the substances that plants need to grow
– Aswan High Dam prevents this area from getting fresh silt now….land will become in fertile in time
– Used to produce electricity
– Created Lake Nasser- largest man made lake in the world
– Congo River
• Flows through rain forests of Central Africa
• 2nd largest river in Africa
• 100’s of tributaries
• Fishing and farming in this region
– Niger River
• 3rd longest river in Africa
• Flows north then cuts south
• Fishing and farming
– Zambezi River
• 4th largest river in Africa
• Southern Africa
• Forms the border of 6 countries
• Boats can only travel 460 miles of the 2,200 miles of river
• Used for electricity
• Victoria Falls mist can be seen up to 40 miles away

Fall Break is coming to an end

Well it is Friday morning and Fall Break is coming to an end. I fly back to Indy Saturday afternoon. Everything went smoothly here in Phoenix. I was overwhelmed at the amount of "stuff" my grandmother had pack ratted away over the years. Amazing. I am anxious to get back to school and get started on Africa, and move closer to the American Revolution. The classes start getting interesting from here on out.

Hope you all had a great break and I am looking forward to you all returning rested and ready to learn. 11 weeks until Christmas Break.

My homeroom, congratulations, I am so proud of you guys. Only one F in the class. You all have come a long way from the beginning of the year last year. We have been through a lot and to see you all passing is incredible. Way to go and keep it up! I knew you had it in you.

See you Monday.

Mr. Clark

The family and I had a GREAT time at Mammoth Cave and Cave City Kentucky. We saw a lot of really cool stuff, all of which I have photos of to show you on Monday. I also went to this way cool antique shop and picked up some awesome things for U.S. History. I bought a tobacco spike from the late 1700's to early 1800's. I also picked up a tobacco cutter from the same time period.....how awesome is that!!!!!. To add to our discussions about cash crops and middle colonial farming, I bought an actual cotton plant with cotton buds on it and picked tobacco and brought back some leaves to show you all.

I leave in the morning for Phoenix to lay my Grandmother to rest. She has been waiting a long time for the day she gets to meet her savior and, if you believe like that, she has now closed her eyes and taken her last breath here on earth and opened her eyes and took her next breath in heaven with the Lord.

Looking forward to getting back to school and sharing all the exciting things I got with all of you.

Hope your break is going well and all are safe and having fun.

Mr. Clark

To All

We made it!!!! Grades are done, whatever Power School says is what it is.

The first quarter is over and we made it.

Enjoy your break.....you earned it.

See you on the other side of Fall Break

Mr. Clark