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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!
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8 comments:

  1. Karen1:52 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2:52 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tammy3:33 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The A.D.D. Knitter4:16 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lydee5:20 PM

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:33 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yarnhog6:52 PM

    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).

    ReplyDelete
  8. 5elementknitr7:53 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete