Course+Syllabus

FOUNDATIONS OF WORLD HISTORY  2014-2015   MR. MILLINGTON   EMAIL: kmillington@rsu14.org   wikipage: WorldFoundations.wikispaces.com   Cel.ly: Text @WorldFoundationWHS to 23559 to join   Twitter: Follow me @Coachmilli11   Cell Phone: (207) 838-3816 (feel free to text me with questions)   Late Night Hours—Monday and Tuesday

“A country without a memory is a country of madmen.” --George Santayana

__Purpose and Philosophy__ Foundations of World History is a survey course focusing on six thematic areas of history. Each theme will be driven by essential questions that can be used to examine both our past and present. The major focus of the course will be to develop skills that help us develop a better understanding of the world today and prepare us for the challenges related to the future analysis of history and the human experience.

__Units__ Essential Questions: How does where we live shape how we live? How do humans use and adapt to their environment? Essential Question: Why do people have religion? How does religion affect the way people live? Essential Question: How do people organize and control an area? Essential Question: How do societies determine the distribution of wealth and resources? How do societies acquire goods and services that they cannot supply themselves? Essential Question: How do new discoveries and inventions change the way people live? Essential Question: How do societies impact one another?
 * __Geography__
 * __Religious and Ethical Systems__
 * __Power and Authority__
 * __Economics__
 * __Science and Technology__
 * __Cultural interactions__

__Skills:__ -Identify key information -Analyzing primary sources -The research process -Compare and contrast modern and historical information -The writing process -Note taking strategies -Oral presentation skills -Group work

__Course Materials:__ The textbook for Foundations is called, World History - Patterns of Interaction. Students need to sign a book out from the library.

__Grading__ Your grades for this course will be divided into four categories Assessments 50% Graded Assignments 25% Homework/Classwork 15% Blogs 10%

__Google Classroom__ World Foundations is a paperless class. All assignments will be distributed in Google Classroom through our class folders. Students will need to join the class. All work will be assessed as well and returned through Google Classroom. Also, there will be announcements made through Google Classroom.

__Cel.ly__ Cel.ly is another way of communicating with students. If you have a cell phone text @WorldfoundationsWHS to 23559 to join. Messaging rates do apply if you don’t have unlimited texting.

__Wikipage__ The class wikipage is HumanitiesWHS.wikispaces.com. We will be moving away from using the wikipage as we get more comfortable with Google Classroom. For now, class information, assignments, and links to articles and videos can be found on the wikipage.

__Twitter__ Follow me on Twitter at @Coachmilli11. From time to time I may retweet or send out a link to an article that connects to what we are talking about in class. I encourage you to do the same. The class works best when we are making connections to the current world we live in.

__Google Blogger__ Each student will be setting up a blog through Google Blogger. Students will be asked to blog reflections about class discussions, articles, or videos. Blogs will represent 10% of your quarter grade. __Policies__ For us to each succeed to the highest level, it is necessary for us to operate with a common understanding. As for classroom rules, I like to operate with three rules. While small in number, they encompass all that we do: · Come to class on time and prepared for study. · Respect others (which includes use of ipods, cell phones, etc. when someone is talking) · Produce the highest quality work. If we can follow these three policies, we will all have the same opportunity to find success.

__Hat Rule__ Please remove your hat when entering room 107 or room 108.

__Absences/Late Work__ If you are excused absent from class, for any reason, it is your responsibility make up work. Since the class is paperless you will be able to access assignments from home. Contact me if you have questions about the work. Any work that may have been due on the day of your absence is due on the first day of your return. Major assessments will be marked 15 points off per week. After two weeks, the highest grade a student can earn on an assessment is a 70. Any and all work for an unexcused absence will not be accepted.