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Welcome to Mrs. Minnick's Humanities Class.

Humanities joins the study of language arts and social studies. This course is built around the study of five novels: //Jaguar// by Roland Smith, //Walkabout// by James Vance Marshall, //Out of the Dust// by Karen Hesse, //Number the Stars// and //The Giver// by Lois Lowry. Each novel takes us on a journey of self-discovery to another time or place.

In //Jaguar//, set in the Brazilian rain forest, Jake struggles to build a relationship with his father, and discovers his own strengths along the way. In //Walkabout//, Mary and Peter wander through the Australian Outback hoping to find civilization, but discover along the way just how much they love each other, and that they can survive on their own. In //Number the Stars//, set in Denmark during the German occupation of World War II, Annamarie travels alone at night along a winding forest path to save a friend, and discovers a well of courage and resourcefulness within. //Out of the Dust// takes place in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, where Billie Jo gives up on her father and on her dreams, only to discover, as she journeys like Dorothy toward the green fields of California, that Oklahoma is where her heart lies. In our final study, //The Giver//, a work of science fiction set sometime in the future in no particular country, Jonas makes the journey of a lifetime when he decides he must leave the community he has always called home.

To deepen our novel study, students explore relevant topics in history, geography, social studies and culture. They engage in independent research projects and outside reading. To personalize their studies and make them meaningful, students engage in a variety of language arts activities which lead them to reflect on themselves and the literary works they are reading..

We began using wikis and blogs last year as we conducted research, responded to novels, and wrote papers so that students could share their work with each other, and with family members. Students who have a real audience for their writing, develop their authentic author's "voice", and their words take on new authority!

Come on in. See what we are about.