Today we learned more information about the Civil War and played a game to review for our final test. We'll take this test next week and it will cover the following:
Opium Wars, Irish Potato Famine, James K. Polk, Manifest Destiny, Westward Expansion, Events Leading to the Civil War, and the Civil War. Please make sure you study! Also make sure you finish up your packet for HW this week. You have also been assigned two podcasts that need to be complete. See previous dates to finish those!

Today we learned about one of the major political causes of the Civil War---the division of free states and slave states entering statehood. Students have a packet to complete. We completed about six pages of it in class, so they only have a bit more to do. However, students should also review any material that has been previously assigned. We'll be having a review for test next week and a bit more information about the Civil War and then a final test on May 12th!

Watch Crash Course Civil War #1
Watch Crash Course Civil War #2

Today we learned about James K. Polk and Manifest Destiny. Students need to complete the packet for this week, which includes the Donner Party, the Mexican-American War, and the Gold Rush.

In addition, students should listen to The Past and the Curious podcast. You can pick any episode you would like, but it should be about something (or some time) that we have learned about so far this year. Complete the Podcast Response and bring it to class next week.

Today, we took a quiz over our last unit of study and began our new unit of study. I graded these in class and gave them back to students. Everyone has the opportunity to make corrections We will have one more quiz (probably the last day of class). Most everyone was able to finish their homework for this week, so I'm adding an element for this week. I'd like for students to listen to the following podcasts and write down 10-12 facts they learned while listening.

How Potatoes Took Over the World

You can pick any episode you would like from the Age of Jackson podcast.

Today we learned about Dolley Madison and her brave heroics! We also learned about the Monroe Doctrine and the Jacksonian Era (especially the Election of 1828, the Spoils System, and the Indian Removal Act). We will have a quiz on Thursday covering the War of 1812, Dolley Madison, Monroe Doctrine, and Andrew Jackson.

Today we played Timeline again (thanks, Mae for bringing in your versions!). We also discussed the War of 1812. Please get caught up on any of the work you may have missed from last week (Revolutions) and be prepared for a quiz over Revolutions and The War of 1812 next week. Students should also work on their War of 1812 timeline.

Today we reviewed about Revolutions and we also discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We also played the game Timeline (which was VERY fun!) For next week, please print off the following 10 pages about the artistic revolutions and the industrial revolutions.
Also look at the Romanticism art pieces and listen to some Romanticism music (Berlioz, Liszt, and Chopin--there are many more, but these are just a few!)

Happy Spring Break! This week, work on finishing up our revolutions section, which discussed artistic and industrial revolutions. Don't forget to listen to the music (and view some of the different types of art online as well!). If you have not answered all the of the research questions about the conflict with Ukraine and Russia from March 3rd, please make sure to do that as well.

Today we began to discuss REVOLUTIONS! Complete the packet we started in class. In addition, please research the following and take notes (bring your notes in next week):
Why is Russia invading the Ukraine?
Is the Ukraine fighting back? How so?
Who else is involved in the conflict?
Can we categorize this as a revolution? Why or why not?
Using page 44 of your packet as a guide, what would you say is the cause (political, economic, or social) of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine?
What is NATO? How is NATO involved in the conflict?

Writing prompt: Are revolutions ever justified? Why or why not? Use the graphic organizer we started in class to help you formulate your answer.

Today, we took our first quiz/test of the semester. We had enough time that we were able to go over the test as well, so students should have an idea of how they did. For HW: Please watch the following Crash Course videos and take notes over them. We'll be discussing various revolutions next week, so this will help prepare you for our discussions.

Agricultural Revolution
Market Revolution
Industrial Revolution
European Revolutions

Today we played the Five in a Row review game to prepare for our quiz next week.

Our quiz will cover the following topics:
Revolutionary War Battles
Important American Documents
American Government
Constitution/Bill of Rights
French Revolution
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon Bonaparte

The writing prompt is on the Napoleon page. Study hard!

This week, in class, we reviewed the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. We also came back to the United States and learned about what was happening in the US at that time. We began discussing the Louisiana Purchase. Everyone has map work and biography work to do about the Louisiana Purchase. I also pushed our quiz back one week, so we won't take it next week, but 2/24 instead.

Writing Prompt: Take the perspective of either York or Sacagewea. Pretend to be one of them. Write a journal entry from their perspective about their time with Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. DON'T FORGET THE BRAINSTORM!

Today, we spent a lot of time going over the Bill of Rights and discussing Amendments to the Constitution. We'll have a quiz soon, so make sure you have a good understanding of those rights! Also make sure you know the timeline of the following documents: Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution, Bill of Rights/Amendments.

For HW:
Complete the French Revolution packet.
Writing Prompt: Do you think it is important for every American citizen to know the Bill of Rights? Why or why not? Create a brainstorm of at least three reasons and then write clearly to support your claim.

We've been out due to illness, but here are the pages you will need for the next packet (this is packet #2).
Packet #2 and Bill of Rights Pages

Watch several Bill of Rights Videos. Which do you like the best? Which is most helpful to memorize the Bill of Rights?
1. Flocabulary Bill of Rights
2. Pretty Important and Very Epic
3. Disney Bill of Rights

Welcome back to class! We're starting off this semester with the Revolutionary War and a study of the Declaration of Independence. I have sent home a packet of work to be completed this week. We're going to try this strategy instead of the entire workbook. We worked on quite a bit of it in class. We learned a new summary strategy as well (SWBST--somebody wanted but so then). It's great for synthesizing what is important and really writing briefly about what you have read/learned).

For HW this week:
Please complete the packet for the week.
Writing Prompt: Do you think the American Revolution would have happened if the Age of Enlightenment had not happened? Why or why not? Support your thinking with at least three reasons. Also show evidence of a brainstorm/graphic organizer before writing your paragraphs.

Today we took Test II for the semester. I also did a workbook and notebook check. I'll be working on grades over the break and should have something to you by January at the latest!

I'm looking forward to learning more about history with all of you in the New Year!

Happiest of Holidays!
(No HW over the break---rest and relax!)

Today, we reviewed for our test next week. We will have an in-class test over pages 42-the end of the book AND any additional notes we have taken in class. I will also be checking the notebooks and their writing journals for completion. For HW: STUDY FOR YOUR TEST!!! Make sure all the pages from 42-the end of the book are completed!

Writing prompt for this week: Explain how the French and Indian War was a major cause of the Revolutionary War.

Remember to show a brainstorm and a thorough written response (complete sentences, etc.)

*I've challenged everyone to memorize the preamble to the Constitution and we're almost at 100% for that! A prize is given for memorizing!

Today we wrote out the preamble to the Constitution and then explained all the language in the document. We will do this several times with the founding documents of our country. We also made a timeline of important documents for our country. Then we discussed page 70 of the workbook, which was political cartoons. For HW this week, please complete pages 70-73. We'll review for our test next week, and take our test the last week before break.

Today we reviewed which part of the Enlightenment ideals were present in our founding documents. We had a great discussion about liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We also discussed The Great Awakening and the French and Indian War. There is no HW over the break except to get caught up on any workbook work that needs to be completed! We will be having a test on 12/16 (which is the last day of the semester, so go ahead and use this time to get your workbook things completed).

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and are blessed beyond measure.

Today, we reviewed major people of the Enlightenment and how those philosophes influenced and impacted the newly forming America. For HW, please complete The Great Awakening, The French and Indian War, and Road to the Revolution (pages 64-69). Also complete the writing response prompt in your composition book:
"How are the Enlightenment ideals present in America's founding?" Remember to do a brainstorm at the top of the page and then a thorough, well-written paragraph (or more) at the bottom of the page.

Today we took a quiz about the middle and southern colonies and then completed a sort about the colonies. We also worked on our writing prompts. I gave each student a notebook to collect all their writings. They should make a brainstorm of the topic and include notes. Then have a short writing sample to answer the question.
HW:
please read/complete pages 59-63.
Writing Prompt: Which of the three colonies groups would you have preferred to live in? Discuss the economics, environment, and the religion of that region and why it would be a good fit for you.

Students received their midterm tests back. They may add more information & correct their answers for more points. They will need to bring these back next week and they should write their information in a different color (marker, pen, colored pencil, etc.). Please do not erase any of the original information/answers. We also took a quiz today in class over the New England Colonies.

For HW, please read about the Middle Colonies & Southern Colonies pages 53-57. Be prepared for another quiz!
Writing Prompt: In your opinion, what were the three most challenging things about being a colonist in the New World? Thoroughly explain your answer. Put the question at the top of the page, your brainstorm on the top half and your response on the bottom half (and on the back if necessary).

Extra Credit: Print and cut apart the spooky history timeline. Glue on a piece of paper in the correct order to make the timeline. Figure out the dates. DO NOT USE ANY OUTSIDE SOURCES TO FIND THE DATES!

Today we completed pages 41-46 in class and learned about the relationship between the new Colonial Americans and the Native Americans. For HW, please finish anything from 41-46 that you did not finish in class, and also read & do pages 47-52 (there may be a quiz next week, so be prepared!).

More Info about Anne Hutchinson
Salem Witch Trials
Colonizing America

Today, we played a quick review game called Listography. It was pretty fun and we will definitely have to play it again :)
We also took our first test and had our first official workbook check. Grades for workbooks are check minus (C), check (B), or check plus (A). Workbook checks count for 20% of students' grades in this class, so it's important to make sure all workbook work is completed before a notebook check (test days). Tests will count for 45% of students' grades, while quizzes will count for 25%, and class participation will be 10%. We haven't had any quizzes yet, but I will calculate grades for the midterm and get those to you over the break.

There is no homework over fall break, so have an awesome, restful time and be ready to work when we come back!

Today we took A LOT of notes in preparation for our midterm test next week. It will cover everything from page 1-41 in the workbook. Please make sure you study, so you are prepared! Also make sure that you complete all the pages in the workbook from page 1-41, as there will be a notebook check next week as well.

Today, we worked on learning a note-taking method called Cornell Notes. This type of note-taking is helpful when reading texts. It requires you to write questions of the content and then use the passage to answer those questions. After that, students should write a summary and response using their notes. We used an article about the first Thanksgiving today, since we are learning about Natives and Colonial interactions.

I also wanted to let you know that we will have a test on 10/7. This is the Thursday before Fall Break. I will also check workbooks on that day, so please make sure your workbook is up to date. The test will cover everything we have learned thus far (p. 1-41)

HW for this week:
-Work on your workbook pg. 1-41 (pages 37-41 are new)
-Watch the Crash Course about the Dutch East India Company
-Take a virtual tour of The Palace of Versaille
-Finish your Cornell Notes from class

Next week, we'll review absolute monarchs and play a review game (to prepare for the test)

Today we reviewed the first settlements in the New World, Roanoke & Jamestown. We also discussed the difference between Pilgrims and Puritans. Finally, we wrote about our connections in the Hexagonal Thinking activity we did last week.

For HW:
Complete pg. 28-37 in the workbook (stop at the middle of 37--after the graphic organizer. You do not have to read King Louis XIV.
Also complete your List-Group-Label activity that we started in class. You should find 30 important words from pages 20-25. Then, group the words by similarities. Once you have grouped the words, you will then create a title or label for how the words are related.

Today we did a critical thinking strategy called hexagonal thinking. This activity required students to make connections to isolated concepts and ideas present in the text. Students selected 10 words from their workbook passage (pg. 16-19) and then 3 words from my "Current Events" list and they had to make connections between these words. Next week, we will continue to think about these connections.

For HW:
-Workbook pages 20-17
-Crash Course Video

Yesterday was a fun class! I love how this small little group is engaging with one another! We debated back and forth a bit about the pros and cons of the Columbian Exchange and the Triangle Trade. Then, I had everyone work on a graphic organizer for writing an argumentative paper. History is a discipline in which excellent writing skills are crucial! We completed the entire organizer, so students just have to write the paper now! I think we determined that it would be about 14 sentences long. If you have questions about this, please let me know!

HW:
Write (or type) your argumentative paper.
Complete pages 16-19 in workbook

We had some great discussions today about European explorers and whether they were truly heroic or not. We review the content from pages 1-10 and most everyone had their workbook completed. Students are free to write in the workbook (it's theirs to keep). If you weren't able to complete a few of the pages, that's o.k.! You can go back and do those this week. I take a workbook grade on test days.
For HW-students should finish their explorer report card and make sure they have well thought-out comments and feedback to support the grade they give the explorer. Please copy or type these up neatly and bring them back to class next week. In addition, students should also complete pages 11-15 this week. There is a bit more writing this week, so please make sure you are writing in complete sentences and with paragraphs that are at a minimum of five sentences. This is a middle school class, so everyone should be able to do that at this point! As always, if you have questions, please don't hesitate to email!

In class today we reviewed the classroom rule(s) (Be Respectful) and students received their history workbooks for the fall semester. Please keep up with this workbook and bring it to class each week!

We also played some icebreaker/history games to get to know one another better.
For HW:
Read and do any activities from pages 1-10 in your workbook. Bring this back next week and be prepared to discuss!
Here are the links for the videos for pages 1-10
Lief Erikson pg. 4
Christopher Columbus pg. 5
Ponce de Leon pg. 6
John Cabot pg. 8