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5/6 Social Studies Ms. Krakauer

Welcome to Social Studies with Ms. Krakauer!
I am so glad to have you in class. This is my 13th year teaching at Innovation Academy and I'm looking forward to getting to know some new faces this year. Here are some fun facts about me:


1. In addition to being a teacher, I also work part time as a freelance balloon twister.

2. I love to travel, and I have a blog all about global education:                     

           InnovationOnEarth.com

3. This past summer, I hiked into the crater of a volcano in Indonesia.


What are some fun facts about you? Email me with yours! skrakauer@innovationcharter.org


What's happening today?  


Click HERE for our 

daily log of homework, 

agendas, and more.





Where can I learn more about this quarter's unit?

Want to check out a rubic? Look at a calendar? Get some resources for class? Click here for info on the HOLY COW unit


What else are we studying this year?

Quarters 1-2: Discovering Early America

Just like the explorers and settlers who discovered early America, students will get a chance to “discover” the motivation behind, and the effects of, European life in the New World. Students will try to figure out “who really discovered America?”  They will study Native American civilizations in both North and South America.  From the early Maya, Aztec, and Incan people to the Wampanoag of Massachusetts, how did Native Americans interact with the land?  

As they learn about some early explorers, students will reflect upon the goals of those journeying to a new land, and how they treated the Native Americans.  Students will decide if Columbus was really the hero he is made out to be in many history books, or if the Taino Native Americans were actually the victims of Columbus and his men as they came to the New World.  Students will create a board game that demonstrates their knowledge of early explorers and the impact on the Native American people. Students will also learn about how settlers found success (or hardship) in the new colonies.  They will research the thirteen original colonies and learn about life for European settlers.  Through a study of slavery, students will learn how life in the Southern colonies differed from life in the North.  Students will write and present original poems and music about the life of a colonist or slave character. In addition, after studying principles of economics, students will take a test and create a business plan to demonstrate their understanding of these concepts.  


Quarters 3-4: Holy C.O.W. (Cultures of the World)

In this project, students will explore how they can become true global citizens.  Through this lens, we will study world geography, religion, and culture.  This year, the geographical regions that students will focus on are Asia, Europe, and Oceania.  Throughout the quarter, students will research one country and one of  the five major world religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam or Judaism.  Becoming experts on a single country, they will prepare a self-directed study about an aspect of life in that place.  Products will be created based on the guiding themes of geography: location, place, human environment interaction, movement, and region.




Overview of Our Curriculum:

5th and 6th Grade Social Studies Two Year Cycle


2015-2016 Quarters 1-2: Discovering Early America ~ U.S. History I

Native Americans, Early Explorers, Economics, African American history, and the Thirteen Colonies


2015-2016  Quarters 3-4: Holy C.O.W. (Cultures of the World) ~ World Geography & Culture II

Religion and Culture, Focus on Europe, Asia, and Oceania


2016-2017 Quarters 1-2: Reaction, Revolution, Reform ~ U.S. History II

The American Revolution – Causes, Battles, Key Players, Early Government


2016-2017 Quarters 3-4: The Global Action Project ~ World Geography & Culture I

International Development and Change, Focus on Central & South America, and Africa


For more information, get in touch!

Sara Krakauer

skrakauer@innovationcharter.org 

x3237

General 5/6 Social Studies Web Docs