UNDER, NEAR, AND OVER THE SEA

This unit integrates social studies, science and English in a study of the ocean and its inhabitants, as well as the role oceans played in early exploration and the development of cities. It also addresses conflicts associated with oceans. Activities include creating an original under-sea world, as well as studying conflict through stories such as "Three Skeleton Key," "Survive the Savage Sea," and "White Seal."

CIVIL WAR

While students study the Civil War in history, they will have a chance to participate in a variety of stimulating activites. They will examine the use of prothestics and early medical practices. They will also have a chance to research and become a character from the Civil War era, who they will present to the class in an interview format. Other activities include: an examination of Civil War poetry and songs, a simulated battle, and a piece of historical fiction written to show mastery of the topic in all subjects.

WILD, WILD WEST

While students study Westward Expansion, the Gold Rush and Cowboys and Outlaws, they can learn about the flora, fauna and wildlife specific to the west. They will also debate a range of environmental issues. They will also be exposed to Cowboy poetry, Westerns, Native American Myths and Legends and explore America's fascination with the wide-open spaces of the west. As a culminating activity they will write and perform their own historically based Western.

M.O.I. (My Own Invention)

This unit will provide students with the knowledge of how inventions have influenced history, culture, and the way we live. They will be exposed to famous inventors and their inventions and have a chance to build their own original invention. Other activites include simulating an automobile assembly line, marketing their products through business letters, creating advertising campaigns and commercials for their inventions. This unit culminates in a field trip to the Automobile Museum and a Presentation day, during which they show off what they have created during this unit to peers, teachers and parents.

WORLD WAR II

History provides the backdrop for this unit on World War II and the Holocaust. Students will read The Diary of Anne Frank and examine how language played a role in Hitler's rise to power and the Holocaust. They will also study chemistry and the atomic bomb and will visually acknowledge our history of intolerance and need for peace with a peace mosaic.

CONFLICT

As students study law and the justice system, they will be reading several short stories with conflict, including James Thurber's "The Dog That Bit People" and Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki Tikki Tavi." They will also study evolution versus creationism and examine the Scopes Monkey Trials. They will then take a field trip to the state legislature to perform a mock congress with their original bills and put Muggs from "The Dog That Bit People" on trial for assault.

DREAM VACATION

In this unit students can travel to any destination in their own minds. Through extensive research and "I-search" students will find out everything they need to know about a country and market it to others through the use of travel brochures, display boards, commercials, and informational packets. They will be responsible for certain research/I-search topics assigned by each teacher in a certain discipline and will be able to choose which items to explore based on a contract grade. The final project will be presented to teachers, peers and parents on a Display Day. During this time, guests with passports may take a trip around the world, sampling food, culture and information from each destination.

MYSTERY UNIT

In this unit students will study some of history's natural mysteries as well as some recent not-so-natural mysteries. The unit will culminate with a recreation and examination of a crime scene, led by a local law enforcement agent.

STUDENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS

This unit will give you the steps involved in getting your team or class involved in a student-centered, student-driven project to benefit the school, the community or both. With these projects, students decide on the project and then are fully in charge of making things happen. Past projects include: returning historical duck decoys to Nevada, convincing the City of Reno to let our school become the community park they were planning on building, by simply laying sod, and building an outdoor classroom.

P.O.P. (Protect Our Planet)

In this unit students undertake a journey to teach others how we can work together to help protect our planet. They research a topic of their choice having to do with the environment in groups. Then in a presentation in front of the entire team, the teachers and their parents they present their findings through mediums such as music videos, slide shows, skits, experiments or role plays.

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