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7th Grade Social Studies

The seventh grade curriculum engages students’ knowledge of Global History so that they may better understand the foundation of American History. Studying, Political, Economic, and Social (PES) systems becomes an integral part of the evolution and progression of American History.

They investigate the development of ideas and the application of those ideas to the early American republic.

More specifically, to enhance their understanding of the connection of PES to history, the students study the World in 1500, European Exploration, Establishment of the 13 Colonies, the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the New Republic. Students investigate the European influence in the Americas and the long term causes of the American Revolution.

This course emphasizes skills in research, writing, listening, speaking and the analysis of primary source documents. Students prepare written reports, projects, and respond to Document Based Questions (DBQ). Current Events is an ongoing activity which increases student awareness of global, national, and local events.

SKILLS, CONCEPTS AND THEMES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES:

1) Provide framework and methodology
2) Problem Solving and decision making
3) Use of geography to determine living patterns
4) History
5) Interdisciplinary connections
6) Analyze Primary Sources
7) Economics and Economies
8) Values and Empathy
9) History
10) Change
11) Current Events
12) Inferences
13) Research Skills
14) Written and oral communication

INTERACT PROJECTS:

Independence

Students role-play delegates to the Continental Congress where they bargain, debate, give speeches, and vote on vital issues. They also write research papers and complete projects such as building models and make presentation talks on period architecture. Students engage in an interactive experience in which they must decide if they want to join the British side or the Patriot side and prepare for the American Revolutionary battles.

Lewis and Clark

Students take a journey to the Pacific Ocean during the early 1800s to re-trace the route of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery. In preparation for the journey, students learn vocabulary, critical map skills, and play a comprehensive game to check their understanding of the rules of their impending travel. As they begin their expedition, students form their own Corps, rotating jobs of Captain, Interpreter, Journal Writer, and Private each day as they encounter real-life challenges.

Civil War

As members of four Union and two Confederate units, students re-live the War that divided this nation as they compete for combat points. This project explores at least one significant battle (Bull Run, Gettysburg, Antietam, Sherman’s March, etc.). Cooperative groups participate and read dispatches, perform soldier interviews, and endure camp life. Students experience 19th century culture, photography, music, poetry, and painting. The Civil War project culminates with the re-enactment of the meeting between Generals Grant and Lee as well as Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

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Congratulations To Our Walt Whitman Poetry Contest Winners!

 

                

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LHS is a recognized New York State private school, located in Suffolk County, Long Island.

 

 

 

 

Parent Bravos

Here is a small sample of some of the  beautiful comments from our Parents

From a 6th Grade Parent:

Dear Mr and Mrs Stark,
And all our wonderful LHS teachers! We want to support all parents in sending our deepest gratitude for giving our kids some sense of normalcy during these very challenging times.
It’s very important for us to know that while my husband, as many other ICU doctors and nurses, are fighting every day with this vicious disease, our children can still follow their routine, learn, and communicate with their teachers and friends. It helps us, parents, and it definitely helps kids to continue their growth as individuals.
I see excitement in (our daughter’s) eyes when she is getting ready for school in the morning, when she is running to the printer to get an assignment, or just talking to her friends during breaks.
Thank you so much to every single one of you!
 
 

From a 3YR Old Parent:

“We wanted to say thank you for accommodating the preschool families with the tuition suspension during this time.
We are also amazed (and truly grateful) that the zoom on- line learning format is continuing despite the circumstances.
I know this is not an easy time for businesses, organizations etc. If there is anything at all we can do to help the school during this time or once we return, please let us know. Maybe a fundraiser or maybe there is something we can do for our individual teachers. Just brainstorming…
Finally, some thoughts as we’ve entered week 3 of zoom/on-line learning. It’s been such a wonderful experience participating in our kids’ learning! Yes managing working from home and helping with homeschool can be exciting… but I’ve enjoyed seeing firsthand how dedicated our teachers are to not only teaching and providing additional resources to enhance learning, but also doing it with such great enthusiasm.
 There’s a great sense of community and collaboration between administration, teachers and parents, and it is evident that our main goal is how to make this experience the best it can possibly be.
How lucky are we to have such amazingly dedicated teachers in our kids’ lives! How blessed are we to be part of the
Laurel Hill family!
In the midst of chaos you have given us a sense of normalcy and we are genuinely appreciative of all your efforts.
 
 

 

 
 
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As Charles Dickens famously observed…
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .
it was the season of darkness,
it was the spring of hope . . .
We at Laurel Hill live “the best of times” every day because we are blessed by the beauty, by the serene innocence, and by the precocity of our boys and girls.
We at Laurel Hill live “the best of times” every day for the blessing of totally dedicated teachers and support staff who clearly know why they selected to do what they do in career and in life and give, and give, and give tirelessly to fulfill their greatest ambitions for their children’s growth and well being.
We at Laurel Hill live “the best of times” because we are blessed to have families joined with us to support and to build – partners in turning great ideas into great accomplishments, partners ready to share their skills and to help in the work that needs to be done.
 
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
 
FROM A TEACHER….
Ms. Bond’s Zoom Classroom
Never in my teaching career would I have thought that I would need to teach elementary class via online classes. Yet, here we are in uncertain times, teaching in a media platform that is geared towards the children of this generation.
As apprehensive as I was before the first day of Zoom (I woke up a number of times during the night like it was my first day of school!), I now feel energized and excited about what we are able to do with the Zoom program. I’ve found that I’ve been able to keep most of my teaching the same as when it is a live class! In Reading, we’ve done an author study and vocabulary work in just three days! I am so proud of how much hard work my students continue to do while they are at home!
FROM A PARENT…..
I hope this email finds you well and safe. I have been thinking about you & Mr. Stark often and must first apologize for the time lapse in reaching out to express my deepest gratitude. I can’t believe that we have just completed 3 weeks of successful and engaging remote learning. Your steadfast leadership at the onset of this crisis was inspiring. As this crisis turned into a nationwide tragic pandemic, your engaging and detailed remote learning program did not waiver. In fact, it strengthened! Our children were the lucky ones to maintain a sense of normalcy with their routine schedule and engaging “live” classes with all of their treasured teachers and classmate friends.
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