Dear Parent(s) of a 7^th Grade Student:

          We are embarking on our third year with the 7^th Grade “Old World Faire.”  We are doing this activity to enrich our social studies curriculum and to create a cohesive 7^th grade experience.  Students are now tested in the 8^th grade on social studies material learned in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade.  Our team believes this will be an opportunity for 7^th graders to tangibly be involved in studying the CA State Standards for social science and to actively participate in other units for refreshing their knowledge.   Each teacher has taken a unit of emphasis so students will have a variety of the medieval cultures we have studied.  Individual teachers will provide more information on the student’s focus.

            Your child will be working in a group of 4-5 students to develop a product or service that may be bartered at the fair.  The students will have two rounds of bartering for which their objective is to return to their culture with their newly acquired knowledge or commodities.  They will record their finds and products obtained when they return from their bartering sessions.

  The parents and other classes will have viewing opportunities from 9:00 AM-10:00AM that morning of the faire before the bartering begins.  To even further enrich the day, the students will see a play, will listen to medieval and Renaissance music played by our band and orchestra, will experiment with alchemy, and, finally, will participate in medieval themed games and P.E. activities specifically designed for this day. The 7^th grade teachers are working as a team to make this day fabulous and equitable.

            We will need your help, cooperation, and support for this unforgettable adventure.  We will need parent volunteers as coordinators, shift workers, set-up crew, clean-up crew, costume and classroom helpers to do sewing and help students get resources.  We will also need “easy-ups,” free standing umbrellas, or any other type of awning or tent that will provide shading for each booth.  If you are available to offer assistance and be a part of the crew to help us launch a successful fair please sign the attached form and indicate your availability or offerings.  No part is too small!!!

            We are looking forward to a productive and exciting fair experience, and we need a crew to help make this voyage successful! 

Respectfully,

The 7^th Grade Social Studies Team:

Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Camp, Ms. Kern, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Shihabi, and Mrs. White;
Mr. Burns, Mrs. Fruehling, Ms. Sobrino, Mr. Brown, Ms. Stroube, Mrs. Terndrup, Ms. Custodio, Mrs. Klee, and Ms. Rundle