7th Grade Jump Start - Social Studies: Week 2

Social Studies

Week 2 - Day 1

(Facts, Opinion, and Evidence) Essential Question:

How do we learn about the past?

• Practice differentiating facts from opinions with this Fact / Opinion Examples and Practice PDF. Think about why it is important to distinguish fact from opinion in historical writing. 
• IXL- Identify Facts and Opinions

Social Studies

Week 2 - Day 2

(Dates Used With Time) Essential Question:

 What tools do we use when measuring time?

• Watch this Dates Used With Time Video to understand how time is measured and labeled. 

• Read this Khan Academy Article which answers common questions about terms used with dates. 
• IXL- Reading and Creating Timelines with BCE and CE

Social Studies

Week 2 - Day 3

(Rome and the Rise of Christianity) Essential Questions:

How do new religions develop? How do new ideas change the way people live?

• Watch this video to review The Five Major World Religions- TED Ed. In 6th grade you learned about Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. This year in 7th grade, you will learn about Christianity and Islam. 
• Think about:

1. What is the big idea of each religion?

2. Do any of the religions share any common trends or beliefs?

3. How does religion inspire and affect culture?

• Origins of Christianity- IXL

Social Studies

Week 2 - Day 4

(Fall of Rome) Essential Question: Why do civilizations rise and fall? 

• Read the article Eight Reasons Why Rome Fell- Newsela to review some of the causes of the Roman Empire’s collapse.
• IXL- Fall of the Western Roman Empire
• Watch The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire- TED Ed Video to understand how the eastern Roman Empire changed over time.
• IXL- The Byzantine Empire

Social Studies

Week 2 - Day 5

(Islam) Essential Question: 

How do religions develop? How do belief systems influence society and government?

• Read the article Introduction to Islam- Newsela to review the origins and basic beliefs of the religion of Islam.

• Read The Five Pillars of Islam in order to understand the most important beliefs and guidelines Muslims must follow.
• Check out this Google Earth- Pilgrimage to Mecca which shows the historic stops on the journey to the Muslim’s holy land.
• IXL- Origins of Islam