2014 - 2015

SANDTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL

5400 CAMPBELLTON ROAD
ATLANTA, GA 30331
PHONE: 404-346-6500

Instructor: Dr. Brady D-114
Phone: (404) 346-6500 EXT: 273
Email: bradyj@fultonschools.org
Help Session: Thursdays 7:45 a.m.-8:20 a.m.
Website: DrBrady7thgradesocialstudies.weebly.com

CLASS RULES:
1. Enter the classroom quietly and go directly to your seat.
2. Begin the warm-up immediately after entering.
3. Raise your hand and ask for permission before leaving your seat.
4. Do not ask to use the restroom during the first and last ten minutes of class.
5. Eating and drinking is not allowed in the classroom; nor is gum chewing.
6. You may use regular pencils or blue or black ink pens, but no mechanical pencils.
7. You must show respect to all students and the teacher at all times.
8. Come to class with all required materials no one will be allowed to return to
their lockers after entering the classroom.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Seventh grade is the second year of a two year World Area Studies course. Seventh grade students
study Africa and Asia. The goal of this two year course is to acquaint middle school students with
the world in which they live. The geography domain includes both physical and human geography.
The intent of the geography domain is for students to begin to grasp the importance geography
plays in their everyday lives. The government/civics domain focuses on selected types of
government found in the various areas in order to help students begin to understand the variety of
governments in the world. The economics domain builds on the K-5 economics; however, the focus
shifts from the United States to how other countries answer the basic questions of economics. The
history domain focuses primarily on significant events in each region from the twentieth and twenty-
first centuries. A copy of the Georgia Performance Standards can be accessed from
www.georgiastandards.org.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
In this course, students will learn about significant people, places, and events in the development of
Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The purpose of the Fulton County Schools Social Studies Program
is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public
good as citizens of a society which is culturally diverse, democratic and globally interdependent.
Goals for the Program and, therefore, this course are that each student will:
demonstrate a knowledge of the fundamentals of social studies
learn to apply the skills necessary for processing information
make informed and reasoned decisions
demonstrate an awareness of and respect for cultural diversity
demonstrate democratic principles and actively participate in civic processes
evaluate the nature of the global community.

Students will use maps to retrieve social studies information, and they will be expected to be able to locate,
analyze, and synthesize information related to social studies topics and apply this information to solving
problems and making decisions.

SEVENTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS:

Africa
SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africa.
SS7G2 The student will discuss environmental issues across the continent of Africa.
SS7G3 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, and physical characteristics on
population distribution in Africa.
SS7G4 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Africa.
SS7CG1 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.
SS7CG2 The student will explain the structures of the modern governments of Africa.
SS7CG3 The student will analyze how politics in Africa impacts standard of living.
SS7E1 The student will analyze different economic systems.
SS7E2 The student will explain how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Africa.
SS7E3 The student will describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence
or absence in Nigeria and South Africa.
SS7E4 The student will explain personal money management choices in terms of income, spending,
credit, saving, and investing.
SS7H1 The student will analyze continuity and change in Africa leading to the 21st century.

Asia
SS7G5 The student will locate selected features in Southwestern Asia (Middle East).
SS7G6 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southwest Asia (Middle East).
SS7G7 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, Distribution of
natural resources and population distribution on Southwest Asia (Middle East).
SS7G8 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle
East).
SS7CG4 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.
SS7CG5 The student will explain the structures of the national governments of Southwest Asia (Middle
East).
SS7E5 The student will analyze different economic systems.
SS7E6 The student will explain how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Southwest Asia
(Middle East).
SS7E7 The student will describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence
or absence in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.
SS7H2 The student will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the
21st century.
SS7G9 The student will locate selected features in Southern and Eastern Asia.
SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia.
SS7G11 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of
natural resources, and population distribution on Southern and Eastern Asia.
SS7G12 The student will analyze the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southern and Eastern
Asia.
SS7CG6 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.
SS7CG7 The student will demonstrate an understanding of national governments in Southern and
Eastern Asia.
SS7E8 The student will analyze different economic systems.
SS7E9 The student will explain how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Southern and
Eastern Asia.
SS7E10 The student will describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence
or absence in India, China, and Japan.
SS7H3 The student will analyze continuity and change in Southern and Eastern Asia leading to the
21st century.

TEXTBOOK:
People, Places and Change, Holt Rinehart Winston ISBN#0030432243 $43.50

Bring the following items to class every day: binder with loose leaf paper, black/blue ink
pens or pencils (NO MECHANICAL PENCILS), highlighters.

COURSE OUTLINE:
Personal Finance (Junior Achievement Finance Park units)
Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Geography of Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Historical Developments of Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Political Developments in Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Government/Civic understandings of Middle East, Africa and Asia
Economic Developments in Middle East, Africa, and Asia

Late Assignments: Late assignments are only accepted with an approved absence; otherwise no late
work will be accepted.

ABSENCE/MAKE UP PROCEDURES: Upon returning to school following an absence, it is the students
responsibility to contact the teacher(s) to request make-up work. The student must complete make-up work
within the time specified by the teacher. At Sandtown Middle School, the amount of time given to make up
work will be the same as the amount of time the student was absent unless other arrangements are mutually
agreed upon. Make-up work for unexcused absences may be reduced by 10 points. Make-up work
submitted late will receive a zero. The student will receive the actual grade on the make-up work if the
absence was excused. (FCBOE Policy JBD)

RECOVERY PROCESS/Provision of Improving Grades:
1. Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing cumulative grade will be
allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student had demonstrated a
legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance.
2. Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve their
grades.

ENRICHMENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES:
Field trips, audio-visual presentations, guest speakers, use of library, supplemental materials




GRADING SCHEME: This class will adhere to the Fulton County Grading Policy:

A 90 and above
B 80-89
C 70-79
F Below 70
W (1-100) Withdrew/ Pass or Fail
NG No Grade
INC Incomplete

By county rule, any grade below 70 is failing.

The final grade in this class will be determined using the following formula / criteria:
Performance on Tests and Performance Based Assessments 25%
Performance on Class work/Participation 25%
Performance on Quizzes 20%
Performance on Homework 15%
Performance on Journals/Current Events 15%

HOMEWORK: Evaluation of homework may consist of detailed grading, generalized checking, or a
combination of both techniques.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR: Students in this class are expected to adhere to the rules and policies of Sandtown
Middle School and Fulton County as stated in the SMS Student Handbook / Agenda and the FC Guidelines for
Student Behavior.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Cheating and plagiarism are inexcusable forms of conduct and will be dealt with strictly. Sandtown Middle
School defines plagiarism as a student taking credit for work that is not his/ her own work. A zero will be
given for the assignment, the teacher will contact the parent(s), and a record of the incident will be placed in
the students disciplinary file. Repeated offenses will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action.

TEACHER/ PARENT COMMUNICATION: An open line of communication is encouraged between
teachers and parents. Parental visits are encouraged; however, it is the policy of Sandtown Middle School
that all visitors must report to the office before going to other parts of the building. A Visitor Pass will be
issued as evidence that this procedure has been followed.

An appointment must be made in order for a conference to be held.











This syllabus is a general outline of the course and is subject to modification. Each student has
been provided with a copy of this syllabus. A copy of the syllabus is also posted on my website
mrjordan7thgradesocialstudies.weebly.com. This page should be signed by a parent/guardian,
and then turned in.

Signing below indicates that you have read the syllabus and understand the
expectations for Mr. Jordans 7
th
grade Social Studies class.

Please remove this page and return to Mr. Jordan.




______________________________________ __________________
Parent / Guardian Signature Date


______________________________________
E-mail Address


______________________________________ __________________
Student Signature Date