Impromptu Question on the Indians

Impromptu Student Question: How could we prove/know that Indians had been right here on this space that is now Lamar Middle School?

Students suggested the following.

**Someone old enough to remember Indians here could be a primary source.

**A journal written down about and passed down by the Indians telling they had gone through this space and possibly killed some mighty animals.

**You could actually study the Indians who had been around this area…you could ask your family about stories about Temple.

**Ask an Indian.

**Look underneath the building for footprints.

**You could prove it with any artifacts you could find on the site…e.g. arrowheads, pottery, their daily tools they used to survive.

I wonder if you have any further thoughts about this, students? Please answer in an anonymous comment.

Thur, 27aug09

Becker's Definition of "History"

For Thursday, 8/27: Here are the instructions I gave in class for this assignment.

Becker’s Definition of “History”

history: the study of the development of human societies in time and in space – Carl Becker, American historian

Directions: Write 3 paragraphs explaining what Becker MIGHT have meant when he defined history in this way. Each paragraph should have four or more sentences discussing the following.

1. Write one paragraph about what Becker might have meant by “the development of human societies.”

2. Write one paragraph about what he might have meant by “in time.”

3. Write one paragraph about what he might have meant by “in space.”

Remember, there are not specific "right" and "wrong" answers to this. I want to see evidence that you are thinking and trying to figure out what Becker MIGHT have meant.

Image Source: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/73/6373-003-91ACED5E.gif

Six Pics Activity: Good Job, Students!

You did excellent work analyzing the Six Pics of You Know Who! Here is a Slideboom presentation of the Six Pics. Click here to link to the table I compiled as you shared your analysis.

Six Pics - Slideboom

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Welcome to IDS 7

Welcome, students, to Interdisciplinary Seminar (IDS) 7. We are delighted you have chosen this class and look forward to learning together this year. Our primary focus will be the coordinated study of English/Language Arts and Texas history, geography, and government in depth and complexity. We hope that through this course you will grow intellectually and discover how events in Texas and beyond have helped shape you into the person you are and will become.

Texids blog is set up to assist your learning activities in the course, particularly with the social studies component. You hopefully should be able to access Texids from home and/or with other computers connected to the Internet. We will also be using computer labs here at LMS on a regular basis. If you don't have home access to computers, please come see me, and I'll make arrangements to help you be able to check the blog on a regular basis.

Now I want you to copy something into the front of your notebook:

1. Bring all supplies and learning materials to IDS 7 every class day.

2. Throw away nothing from this course unless told to do so. We will organize your papers into a folder at the end of each six weeks. The folder will count as multiple grades.

And now, here's your first assignment. Happily it's a fairly easy one.

For Tuesday, 8/25: Bring the following supplies to class. You will receive a grade for bringing the supplies. Remember to bring them with you each day of class.

***Looseleaf binder and notebook paper

***Subject dividers

***Bic (or some other brand) 4-color pen

***Highlighter pens (4 or 5)--light colors: yellow, orange, light blue, light green, pink

***Colored markers (package of 8-10 thick-nibbed ones)

***Small stapler

***Hole punch

***Post-its--2 or 3 different small pads

***Small bag to hold pens, stapler, etc.--Not necessary if you can bring them in a backpack or some such carrier

Note: If you have any difficulty in getting the supplies or if you need more time, just bring a note from home signed by a parent or guardian, and you will be given more time.

I also plan to post links to some of the learning activities we do in class. Feel free to download them to your own computers for future use. I strongly encourage you to fool around with them and improve them. I will give you Extra Credit for doing so. Get creative, people!