This year in Social Studies, Mr. Landry’s Middle School students have been actively engaged in learning about history, geography, and the world around them through hands-on experiences and exciting competitions. “From mapping out continents to researching historical events, it has been a year of discovery and critical thinking,” explained Mr. Landry. Throughout the course of the year, the 6th grade students have been studying world geography.
One of the students’ favorite activities comes at the end of each unit when the students celebrate with a “food feast” centered around the foods local to the region that was just studied. From deep dish pizza to tacos to baked beans, the children love to sample all the different cuisines!
One of the annual highlights of OMPH School’s Social Studies curriculum is the Geography Bee. Students put their knowledge of world capitals, landforms, and cultures to the test in a spirited competition. After multiple rounds of challenging questions, the top two students from each middle school grade compete against one another in a championship round. Congratulations to Patrick Landry (8th grade), who was this year’s school Geography Bee winner. Patrick represented Our Mother of Perpetual Help School at the Diocesan Geography Bee on March 19, where he competed against students from other middle schools throughout the diocese.
Another exciting project for Social Studies students this year has been National History Day (NHD), where 8th grade students conducted in-depth research on historical events and figures based on this year’s theme, “Rights and Responsibilities.” Through exhibit board displays, websites and documentaries, students explored the impact of historical moments and connected them to today’s world. “This year, students’ projects covered a wide variety of topics including: the ethical considerations of cloning, the Patriot Act and the protection of citizens’ rights, as well as the regulation and safeguarding of artificial intelligence usage,” said Mr. Landry.
Over a two year period, the 7th and 8th grade students undertake a comprehensive study of the history of the United States from the time of exploration and colonization, up through current events. The Civil War falls roughly midway through the curriculum; toward the end of this school year, the 7th and 8th grade students will take a field trip to the Gettysburg National Military Park where they will have an opportunity to walk and stand in the very same battlefield locations that they learned about in class.
After canvasing the battlefield, the students will spend the remainder of their trip exploring the visitor’s center and museum, where they will be able to see some of the nearly 90,000 artifacts and relics from this pivotal battle. With more engaging lessons, activities, and discussions planned for the rest of the year, Middle School Social Studies classes continue to inspire curiosity about the past and the present. Whether through competitions, research projects, or classroom debates our students are growing as critical thinkers and informed citizens!
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