Sixth grade students jumped into a study on the Persian Empire upon their return to school on Tuesday. We’ve discussed the pros and cons of empire and the ways in which the world can change more rapidly due to an empire’s organization and reach. We’ll look at the various facets of the Persian Empire in order to later contrast it with Alexander the Great’s approach and the Roman Empire. 

Seventh and eighth grade students began with a quick exploration to consider how they would shape a government and legal system of their choosing. Working in two large groups, these teams considered what structures and laws would be important to have in place for the good organization of a country. Upon completion of this exploration, students were given the option to work solo or in teams of two to compare and contrast two government systems. Students have selected a wide range of government systems to explore, both through historical and modern-day examples. They’ll present their research to the class next week. 

Students in culinary arts began the semester with introductions and some organization work. Throughout the course of the semester, each student will be responsible for leading the class through at least two class sessions, demonstrating recipe selection, planning, organization, leadership, and kitchen skills. I’m excited to see all the delicious things they create this year!