World History Class Lessons
study of the following subject areas:
• Basic Concepts of World Geography
• Expansion and Disintegration of the Roman Empire
• Islam in the Middle Ages
• Sub-Saharan Civilizations of Ghana and Mali in Medieval Africa
• China in the Middle Ages
• Medieval Japan
• Medieval Europe
• Meso-American and Andean Civilizations
• Diffusion of the Renaissance
• Developments of the Reformation
• Scientific Revolution
• Political and Economic Change in Europe
STUDENT READING COMPONENT:
McDougal-Littell textbooks and teacher materials provide students with a variety of written forms: Primary Sources, Starting with a Story, Expository Text, Anthology, Stories in History series, California Standards Enrichment Workbook, and Reading Study Guide. In addition, reading instruction including reading strategies, language development and reading comprehension is included at the start of each lesson.
Standards-based unit assessments will be given to measure student knowledge and understanding of concepts.
STUDENT WRITING COMPONENT:
Students will complete a variety of written work expressing their knowledge and understanding of grade 7 history-social science standards. Students will use writing to describe, explain, analyze, make predictions, create comparisons, and draw conclusions. Students will be assessed in writing to show their knowledge and understanding of the grade 7 social studies standards.
STUDENT ORAL COMPONENT:
Students will complete a variety of formal and informal oral presentations expressing their knowledge and understanding of the grade 7 history-social science standards. Students may be assessed orally as well.
(Scope and Sequence of State Content Standards from McDougal-Littell 2006 Grade 7 textbook)
Chapter 1 – Tools of History (3 weeks)
Students will study basic Geography concepts and tools used by historians.
• Lesson 1 – Geography of the World
• Lesson 2 – Mapping the World
• Lesson 3 – Discovering the Past
• Lesson 4 – Interpreting the Past
Chapter 2 – The Fall of Rome (3 weeks)
Students will learn about the factors leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire.
• Lesson 1 – The Rise and Expansion of Rome
• Lesson 2 – Decline and Fall of the Empire
• Lesson 3 – The Early Byzantine Empire
• Lesson 4 – The Legacy of Rome
Chapter 3 – Development of Islam (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the development of Islam and the basic teachings of Muhammad
• Lesson 1 – Life on the Arabian Peninsula
• Lesson 2 – Islam and Muhammad
• Lesson 3 – Islam after Muhammad’s Death
Chapter 4 – The Rise of Muslim States (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the expansion and contributions of the Muslim Empire.
• Lesson 1 – The Expansion of Muslim Rule
• Lesson 2 – A Golden Age in the East
• Lesson 3 – Muslim Rule in Spain
Chapter 5 – West Africa (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the development and contributions of the sub-Saharan kingdoms of Medieval Africa.
• Lesson 1 – West African Culture and Daily Life
• Lesson 2 – The Empire of Ghana
• Lesson 3 – The Empire of Mali
Chapter 6 – Central and Southern Africa (1 Weeks)
Students will learn about the development and contributions of the kingdoms of Central and Southern Africa.
• Lesson 3 – The Kongo Kingdom
Chapter 7- China Builds an Empire (3 weeks)
Students will learn about the dynasties of China.
• Lesson 1 - Reunifying China
• Lesson 2 – Advances Under the Tang and Song
• Lesson 3 – The Mongol Empire
• Lesson 4 – A Return to Chinese Rule
Chapter 8 – Feudal Japan (3 weeks)
Students will lean about the feudal military society of Medieval Japan
• Lesson 1 - Land of the Rising Sun
• Lesson 2 – Growth of Japanese Culture
• Lesson 3 – Samurai and Shoguns
• Lesson 4 – Korea and Southeast Asia
Chapter 9 – Feudal Europe (3 weeks)
Students will learn about the development of feudalism in Medieval Europe.
• Lesson 1 – The Development of Feudalism
• Lesson 2 – Daily Life in Medieval Europe
• Lesson 3 – Feudalism in Europe and Japan
Chapter 10 – The Church (3 weeks)
Students will learn about the influence of the church in Medieval Europe.
• Lesson 1 - The Role of the Catholic Church
• Lesson 2 – The Crusades
• Lesson 3 – Plague and the Hundred Years’ War
• Lesson 4 – Changes in Government and Economics
• Lesson 5 – The Ottoman Empire
Chapter 11 – Early Meso-America (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the geography of Meso-America and the Mayan empire.
• Lesson 1 - Geography and Agriculture in Mesoamerica
• Lesson 2 – The Olmec Civilization
• Lesson 3 – The Mayan Civilization
Chapter 12 – Aztec and Inca Civilizations (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the development and contributions of the Aztec and the Incan Civilizations.
• Lesson 1 - The Aztecs
• Lesson 2 – The Inca
Chapter 13 – The Renaissance in Europe (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the contributions of the renaissance in Europe.
• Lesson 1 – Origins of the Renaissance
• Lesson 2 – The Italian Renaissance
• Lesson 3 – The Renaissance Spreads
Chapter 14 – The Reformation (2 weeks)
Students will learn about the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-reformation.
• Lesson 1 – Trouble for the Catholic Church
• Lesson 2 – Reform and Reaction
• Lesson 3 – Expansion of Christianity
Chapter 15 – The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Reason (3 weeks)
Students will learn about the effects of the age of Exploration and the Scientific Revolution.
• Lesson 1 – History of Scientific Thought
• Lesson 2 – The Scientific Revolution
• Lesson 3 – The Age of Exploration
• Lesson 4 – Impact of Exploration
Chapter 16 – The Enlightenment and Age of Reason (1 week)
Students will learn about the ideas that led to the American and French Revolution.
• Lesson 1 – The Enlightenment
• Lesson 2 – Democratic Ideas Develop