This document outlines the curriculum, expectations, and supplies for a 6th grade social studies class. It includes: - An overview of the course content which will cover the geography and history of the Eastern Hemisphere, including major ancient and modern civilizations. - A list of required supplies and materials for classwork and homework assignments. - Classroom expectations which emphasize being prepared, respectful, and asking questions. - Details on grading, homework policies, absences, units to be covered, and contact information for the teachers and website.

1. Labuski - 1 -
Great Hollow Middle School
Mrs. Labuski & Mrs. Portsmore
6th Grade Social Studies
Students will learn about people who helped to develop our culture. Major areas of study
include Eastern and Western Europe and the Middle East. Students examine both ancient
and modern civilization with an emphasis on economics and geography. Map and research
skills are stressed throughout the schoolyear. Grade 6 Social Studies is based on the
geography and history of the Eastern Hemisphere, including:
 the development of cultures, civilizations, and empires;
 interaction between societies; and
 the comparison of trends in government and economics.
Please read and review the following information with me and then with a parent at home.
Please have the attached page signed and in class by Monday.
Supplies to be brought to class daily
 Team Binder filled with required school supplies, agenda & free reading book
 1½ -inch hard covered binder with a little loose-leaf
 three dividers
 1 family-size box of tissues to donate to classroom
Supplies to be kept at home
 Textbook: World: Adventures in Time and Place
 loose-leaf
 At home, you will need 7 file folders to keep completed units of study to be filed in a
crate as we complete each unit. The units are:
6.1 PRESENT-DAY EASTERN HEMISPHERE GEOGRAPHY
6.2 THE FIRST HUMANS THROUGH THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION IN THE
EASTERN HEMISPHERE:
6.3 EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS IN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE
6.4 COMPARATIVEWORLD RELIGIONS
6.5 COMPARATIVECLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS IN THE EASTERN
HEMISPHERE
6.6 MEDITERRANEAN WORLD: FEUDAL WESTERN EUROPE, THE
BYZANTINE EMPIRE, AND THE ISLAMIC CALIPHATES
6.7 INTERACTIONS ACROSS THEEASTERN HEMISPHERE

2. Labuski - 2 -
Class Expectations
1. Be seated and prepared to work at the sound of the bell.
2. Be an active and attentive participant.
3. Act in a respectful manner at all times.
4. Follow directions at all times.
5. ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!
Extra Help
Extra help will be available upon request during lunch and schedule prior to all tests and
quizzes. Extra help may be used to review a test, to get help with a homework
assignment, catch up on notes, or complete an assignment. It is not designed to replace
studying. Students must contact me prior to lunch to get a pass to be excused from the
cafeteria that day.
Midterms, Finals and State Assessments
There will be a midterm for social studies. The date is to be determined. In June there
will be a final exam. There are no state assessments in social studies. Assessments are
skills-based.
Grading
Grades are based upon a numerical average of the activities completed throughout the
quarter. Test, weekly skill quizzes, and homework all receive a percentage of the
student’s quarterly grade. All work is expected in on time and with acceptable quality as
discussed in class. The breakdown is as follows:
50% = tests 30% = quizzes 10% quarterly DBQ 10% = HW
The district grading system is as follows:
It is important to celebrate ALL grades that were
achieved with effort. If your child works hard and does
the best he or she can and receives a C (average), then
that grade should be celebrated. If a C is achieved with
minimal effort, then support and encouragement should
be provided to see that the next grade is reflective of your
child's ability. Not all students and not all grades are
going to be A's, so it is important to celebrate the growth,
progress, and effort that the child puts forth.
Proper Heading
First & Last Name Date (Written Out)
Mrs. Labuski Per _____ Assignment Written Out
A+ 97 and above 4.4
A 93 to 96 4.0
A- 90 to 92 3.6
B+ 87 to 89 3.3
B 83 to 86 3.0
B- 80 to 82 2.6
C+ 77 to 79 2.3
C 73 to 76 2.0
C- 70 to 72 1.6
D+ 67 to 69 1.3
D 65 to 66 1.0
F 64 or below 0

3. Labuski - 3 -
Homework
Homework is expected to be completed neatly, completely, and on time. The homework
for the whole week will be written on the agenda in the classroom every Monday.
Students are expected to copy down the homework for the whole week into their agendas.
On nights when no homework is assigned, that will be documented in the agenda as well.
Assignments will also be posted on the website.
Homework missed not due to absences cannotbe made up for credit. If your child
missed class for lessons or any reason other than a legal absence, then it is his/her
responsibility to complete the homework on time. Please write a full heading on all
homework assignments
The homework grade is a percentage of the number of completed assignments.
Remember that homework counts as 10% of your quarterly average, so if you do not do
your homework you will drop a whole letter grade!
For a child to receive credit for completing his/her homework, the homework must:
 Be completed in pen
 Be completed on loose-leaf paper
 Restate answer in full, complete sentences.
 Complete all parts of the assignment
 If your child does not complete all parts of the assignment, then your child will
not receive credit for the completed assignment.
If your child struggles with the homework, please do not send in a blank assignment.
Please write a note on the assignment and sign that the homework was attempted after
utilizing all available resources.
Absences
When a student is absent from school, a “homework buddy” from class should be called
to find out what was missed and the team website should be checked. The student will be
given a reasonable amount of time to make up any work due to legal absences. When the
student is back at schoolafter an absence, he/she is to check the “absent binder” for
his/her class. If a student will be absent for 3 or more days, parents may contactthe
counseling office to have work compiled and ready for parent pick-up. Pleaserefer to
the websitefor additional absenceinformation.

4. Labuski - 4 -
Units Covered
 Review of map terms, latitude/longitude
 Five Themes of Geography, Regions of the World, Culture (Chapter 2 in textbook)
 Prehistoric People (Chapter 3)
 Ancient Mesopotamia/Sumer (Chapter 5)
 Ancient Egypt (Chapter 4)
 Ancient India (Chapter 6)
 Ancient China (Chapter 7)
 Ancient Greece (Chapter 8)
 Ancient Rome (Chapter 9)
 World Religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism
(Chapters 5, 6, 9, 10)
 Middle Ages (Chapter 12)
 Renaissance (Chapter 12)
 Empires and Cultures of Asia (Chapter 14)
Website & Contact Information
Please check our team website on a regular basis to stay informed of important
information and assignments. This is not designed to replace your child’s use of his/her
agenda. Please use the website as a resource to ensure that your child is correctly filing
in his/her agenda. Please remember to sign your child’s agenda every night!
In addition to checking the team website on a regular basis, please also refer to the
gradebookon parent portal. This is an excellent resource to monitor your child’s growth
and performance. On this website you will be able to access your child’s current grades,
homework, extra help attendance, average, and assignments. If you see that your child is
missing homework or has an average that you hope will increase, it is up to the
STUDENT to see me with any questions concerning his/her performance. Let’s allow
our 6th graders to begin to grow in becoming responsible for their own choices and
decisions with regard to their education.
Team Orion website: http://teacherweb.com/NY/GreatHollow/TeamOrion
Grades: http://portal.smithtown.k12.ny.us/public/
Text Message Alerts: Text 81010 with the message: @LabuskiSS
Mrs. Labuski’s email: mlabuski@smithtown.k12.ny.us
Mrs. Portsmore’s email: rportsmore@smithtown.k12.ny.us
Main Phone Number: 382-2800

5. Labuski - 5 -
Great Hollow Middle School
Mrs. Labuski & Mrs. Portsmore
Social Studies
Please sign and return this paper to Mrs. Labuski by Tuesday, September 8th.
I have read and understand the above Social Studies 6 Policy and Curriculum.
________________________ ___________________________
(student’s signature) (parent’s / parents’ signature(s))
Please initial:
____Iunderstand my child must complete the full assignment to receive credit for the
homework.
____Ifmy child does not understand the homework an attempt will be made and a parent will
sign the attempted assignment.
I will do my best to sign my child’s agenda every night. ___________________________
(parent’s / parents’ signature(s))
I will ask my parent to sign my agenda every night. ________________________
(student’s signature)
Please send Mrs. Labuski an email so that she has a record of your
email address to be used for important updates and
communications.
mlabuski@smithtown.k12.ny.us

6. Labuski - 6 -
Please sign up for text alerts
text @LabuskiSS to the number 81010