Friday, January 11, 2008

Smarter than a 5th grader? CMUS

My favorite "theme" to take on with 5th graders in January is the story of Ulysses. We make up dances that go with the stories and play and listen to music to accompany them. There are obviously many life lessons learned from these stories as well and there is just enough of a suggestion of battle and adventure to lure in even the coolest of 5th graders.

To begin this unit, I want to make sure that they have some concept of a timeline of the History of the World. Much as I'd like to watch Mel Brooks and his version- totally not appropriate for school.

Instead, I gave them the following list of events and asked them to put them in order. Do the best you can without cheating- no google help (if you care to) and see how close you come. I'll post the answers in a later post.

As to whether you are smarter than a 5th graders, I will only say that if you are aware of the fact that I, Sophanne, was born AFTER Christopher Columbus, and you recognize that the Viet Nam war (at least the one most often spoken of) did NOT happen immediately after the Battle of Troy, then you are smarter than Monday's 5th grade.

1. Battle of Troy
2. Alphabet invented
3. U.S. Civil War
4. American Revolution
5. World War II
6. Viet Nam War
7. Birth of Jesus
8. Vikings (not the Minnesota kind)
9. Gunpowder invented
10. Great Wall of China built
11. Christopher Columbus voyage to North America
12. Disco
13. Mrs. Sophanne's Birthday
14. Schools have internet access
15. Iraq War
16. Concept of Democracy "invented"
17. Invention of the Electric Light Bulb
18. World War II

p.s. on knit night--- Mr. Knit Night is going to demonstrate his knitting machine at The Knit Shoppe in Canonsburg from 10:00-4:00 if you are interested and nearby!

8 comments:

Karen said...

Let it be known that I failed the Global Studies Regents (a statewide test, only in NY I believe) TWICE. I dislike history, and I probably have this ALL wrong. Also, you have WWII on there twice...I assume one is supposed to be WWI. :)

Battle of Troy
Birth of Jesus
Gunpowder invented
Great Wall of China built
Vikings (not the Minnesota kind)
Christopher Columbus voyage to North America
Alphabet invented
Concept of Democracy "invented"
American Revolution
Invention of the Electric Light Bulb
U.S. Civil War
World War I
World War II
Disco
Mrs. Sophanne's Birthday
Viet Nam War
Iraq War
Schools have internet access

Anonymous said...

Here's my best guess:

Alphabet invented
Battle of Troy
Concept of Democracy "invented"
Birth of Jesus
Gunpowder invented
Great Wall of China built
Vikings (not the Minnesota kind)
Christopher Columbus voyage to North America
American Revolution
U.S. Civil War
Invention of the Electric Light Bulb
World War I
World War II
Viet Nam War
Disco
Mrs. Sophanne's Birthday
Schools have internet access
Iraq War

I toyed with putting your birthday last on the list in a shameless attempt at brownie points but gave it up. You would see right through that.

Tammy said...

Oooh! I love tests! Let's see...

1. Alphabet invented
2. Battle of Troy
3. Democracy
4. Great Wall of China
5. Birth of Jesus
6. Gunpowder invented
7. Vikings
8. Christopher Columbus
9. American Revolution
10. Civil War
11. Light Bulb
12. World War I
13. World War II
14. Viet Nam War
15. Mrs. Sophanne's B-day
16. Disco
17. Iraq War
18. Schools get internet

How fun!

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

As a native Minnesotan I must ask you not to mention the Vikings this time of year, it's just really painful...

Lydee said...

Nothing,
Nothing,
Nothing,
Nothing,
Nothing,
BIRTH OF CAROL

My mom always said "BC" meant "Before Carol", as in "Before Carol, I used to...."

Anonymous said...

I would love to go see the demo of the knitting machine but sadly I have a chorus booster meeting that day, and I can't skip this one since I am the secretary.

Yarnhog said...

My kids think I am a genius, because I always get the Jeopardy questions right. I'm not about to risk losing their admiration by totally blowing this test (or, like, helping with homework and stuff).

5elementknitr said...

1. Alphabet invented
2. Battle of Troy
3. Concept of Democracy
4. Birth of Jesus
5. Great Wall of China
6. Vikings
7. Gunpowder invented
8. Christopher Columbus
9. American Revolution
10. U.S. Civil War
11. Invention of Electric light bulb
12. WW1
13. WW2
14. Vietnam
15. Mrs. Sophanne's b'day
16. Disco
17. Schools have internet access
18. Iraq mess

Hope it's close!