SPICE (but not pumpkin spice)

A felicitous Tuesday to you all! Ordinarily I think of Tuesdays as the worst day of the week (Mondays are to bask in the glow of what was the weekend and Wednesdays signal the halfway mark of the week...Tuesdays are just...Tuesdays), but this particular Tuesday signals the beginning of a short week, and I think we can all hang with that.

Today we finally issued WHAP textbooks to you.  There are a few things to note about this textbook.

1. It comes with a pretty nifty companion website with chapter summaries and practice questions.
2. You can access it completely online as well using your PISD login information.

I know some of you are on a "wait list" until you receive your physical copy, but we are working our hardest to make sure you're taken care of soon!

We also began working on our SPICE charts.  Hopefully you've gathered that this has little to do with spices (although I'm quite partial to cayenne pepper...I put it in like everything I make), and everything to do with the characteristics of civilizations.  Our expectation was that each group developed a basic understanding of their assigned civilization.  You're in good shape if you can answer the following questions:

• What was the role of women? What limitations were placed on them? Did any exceptions exist? Which social classes existed and was there a known hierarchy in place?
• What type of government(s) emerged? Who ruled and how did they justify their rule? Was this a hereditary position with a known family in charge? Were there any attempts at expansion or were there conflicts with other civilizations? 
• Which geographic features played a role in shaping the civilization? What kinds of innovations developed in the area? 
• What examples of artistic expression was the civilization known for? What religious beliefs and practices were associated with the civilization? Did the civilization have a written language? 
• What kinds of jobs did people have? Did the civilization trade with other peoples? What kinds of commodities were produced and/or exchanged? 

Tomorrow we'll be in new groups so that we can learn about all of the core civilizations in the Ancient World.  

Reminder: Map Check tomorrow! Look online if you still haven't reviewed for this.

Already caught up with all of your school work? Try the following:

• Double check that you're using the right words!
• Create a new melody here.
• Learn a new language for just a few minutes a day.
• Watch a techno violinist perform.
• Want to see how people in the 90's viewed the Internet? 
• How well do you know Disney films?

Here's my first S.U.P.E.R. of the school year (Siddiqui's Unbelieveable and Prepossessing Eating Recommendation): The Caribbean Cabana located in the Dallas Farmers Market.  They have delicious jerk chicken, macaroni pie (uh...what?!) and chana (for my brown peeps).  And for those of y'all with dietary restrictions - it's kosher! Their Mango Sunrise juice is pretty amazing. 

- Ms. Siddiqui