Mrs. Mansfield's Middle Ground
 
As we begin our study of Asia, some of you may be interested in enrichment opportunities.  Look for the National Geographic Geography Bee at Portland Middle School to be happening in December.  Also, check out the Confucius Institute at MSU's website for podcasts, blogs, and other resources on Chinese language and culture at http://confucius.msu.edu/resources.htm.
 
Classical Athens and Han China: How great are the differences?  Our seventh grade students are exploring this question as we begin our unit on Asia with this document-based question (DBQ) essay.   This week, our focus has been on analyzing historic documents, organizing information, and writing our thesis statements comparing these two cultures that influenced our American society in important ways.