Today we made it through several more of our peer presentations.  We still have about four more to go, so we will finish those up on the last week of class.  Please complete the peer handouts for HW this week.  There will be no final exam in this class.  Your presentation serves as your final exam grade. 

Today we heard presentations from five students.  We also wrote feedback for each of these students.  We learned about the evacuation of children during WW2, Concentration Camps, Joseph Stalin, Women during WW2, and Pearl Harbor.  Please practice your presentations and make sure you are within the time limit to do all the instructing and worksheet activities that you need/want to do.  Everyone gets 10 minutes.  Please complete any worksheets that were not completed for HW.  

Today we created a rough draft of our worksheet for our presentations next week and discussed how our presentations will go for the next two weeks.  Students can use this rubric to aid in their presentation of the material and this rubric for their worksheet creation.  Practice your presentation at home this week!  Time yourself!  

Please refer to 3/30 for the order of presentations. 

I would appreciate your feedback about my courses for next year.  Thank you! 

Today we spent a large majority of our time conducting research.  I walked the students through how to collect and record information (and include sources).  We will use this data for our presentations and projects.  Presentations will be 4/13 & 4/20.  Here is the presentation schedule:
4/13                                          4/20
Emma                                     Ian
Jake                                           Tyler
Bella                                          Mae
Noah                                        David
Isabelle                                   Juno
Julia                                          Joshua
Silas                                         Leo

Please continue to bring in articles and/or books relating to your topic.  

Today we took a quiz on the Russian Revolution.  Students were able to select where they would like their points to go.  Some students risked all of their 10 points on ONE QUESTION!!
As we start our new unit on WWII, we have decided to do independent research projects.  We will be working on these both at home and at co-op, so please bring all materials to class with you each Thursday. 

Students will present starting on 4/6 and 4/13.  Students are responsible for teaching the class about their chosen topic.  Students must also have a handout/worksheet for the class to complete.  Lastly, students will need to have a visual aid of some sort: a diorama, a model, graphs & charts, props, infographics, artifacts, brochures, etc.  Use graphics programs such as Canva or Piktochart to make stunning designs!

Here are some videos to watch to give you a scope of WWII--Remember, we can't cover everything!
Crash Course 35
Crash Course 36
Oversimplified Part 1
Oversimplified Part 2

For class on Thursday--Please bring research material you have found about your subject.  These can be printed materials that you have found online or they can be books you have at home or from the library.  We will be discussing how to go about completing and organizing research this week.  

Today we starting learning about the Roaring Twenties and The Great Depression Era.  Here's a Crash Course to try and get a grasp on some of the complexities of the time!  For HW: finish your packet and study for a quiz about the Russian Revolution for when we return from break! 

Today we read and annotated an article about the Russian Revolution.  This was a challenging article, so a rereading might be necessary.  For HW this week, please complete all the questions associated with the article.  Questions on page 10 should be complete paragraphs and should be written with complete sentences.  Questions on page 11, should be at least 2-3 sentences fully answering ALL parts of the question. 

Test Day!  Yay!  Today was our test day and it seems everyone studied!  I'm really proud of the improvements I have seen from the Progressive test to this test.  We'll take the week off from HW this week, since we've been prepping so hard.  Next week, we'll start the Russian Revolution.  I have two surveys I would like for everyone to please complete, depending on your role in the class.  Student Survey/ Parent Survey

Surprise! No test today!  Most everyone had completed their notecards and most (if not all) of the additional assignments.  If you did not, please make sure those are complete next week.  I will take them up (I promise) and WE WILL HAVE A TEST! Keep studying your cards! 

Today in class, we played a review puzzle game.  Students had to alternate their group member's to answer trivia questions about WWI.  Once completed, they were able to collect a puzzle piece.  The group that completed their puzzle first won!  It was a lot of fun and I think everyone got some review! 

Today in class we participated in a jigsaw discussion.  Students learned about the Zimmerman telegram, Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points Speech, and the Treaty of Versailles/ League of Nations.  We will have a test next week over all of the WWI content.  For HW, students should complete the Flashcard Project to prepare for the test.  

This week, we continued our understanding of WWI by examining the social, economic, and political issues surrounding the war.  For HW this week, students are learning about the "Theatres of War" and completing a crossword (one of the answers in not on the page, but is in the Hale book instead).  Students are also learning about trench warfare and completing a creative writing assignment to accompany it. 

Today we reviewed the concepts of trench warfare and the technological advances of WWI.  Then we created a quiz for our classmates.  For HW, please watch the Crash Course video and complete the worksheet.  In addition, complete the coloring page about WWI.  You are free to use outside sources to complete this page. 

Today we reviewed our causes of WWI, especially focusing on the vocabulary matrix on the last page of the packet.  I think everyone has a better grasp on how that should be completed for the future.  We'll continue to work on these both in and out of class.  They are fantastic for critical thinking, supporting arguments, and developing sentence complexity!  This week, students should read pages 31- 60, leading up to the year 1915.  In addition, students should complete the (smaller) packet for this week about trench warfar and weapon technologies.  

Welcome back!  Today we began our study of WWI.  Almost everyone had their Nathan Hale book in class, so great job!  If you don't already have a copy of that, please get one and bring it to class every week.  We will be referring to pages in class and to complete in class assignments.  For this week, students should read Pages. 1-30 and complete the first packet.  The last two pages of the packet are blank, so it is not necessary to print those. 

Also podcasts are required for our freshman, but if anyone would like extra credit, you can also complete a podcast reponse form! 

Today we took our Progressive Era test and many of the students were confident they did well!  There is no assignment over the break, so rest, relax, and enjoy your time together!

When we return from break, we'll begin our study of WWI.  We'll be reading Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales--Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood, so if you are able to find a copy of that book over the break, that would be great.  Feel free to check it out from the library, purchased a used copy at McKays or purchase a new copy if you would like.  You can even borrow it from a friend if you would like!  You will need it for 3-4 weeks and we will be using it both in and out of class. 

** If you would like to have a progress report, please let me know by 12/20 and I'm happy to get that to you! 

Today we played Reindeer Races to review for our Progressive midterm test next week.  We found some holes in the learning, so there are definitely some areas where students can spend some time preparing.  Please go back and watch the documentary again and any Crash Course vidoes that have been assigned.  Students also have all of the homework that has been assigned for the Progressive Era so they can review those materials as well.  Please bring your Progressive Newspaper back to class on Thursday and I will take that up for a grade. 
NO PODCAST THIS WEEK--Just study for your test! 

In today's class, we shared our Progressive Era newspapers and began working on our study guide for the test (which will be 12/15).  For HW, students need to complete an "If I were...." about all seven of the Progressive "Who's Who" people. 

If I were ___________________________
I would ____________________________
And I would ________________________
And I'd even ________________________
But I wouldn't _______________________
Because _____________________ does/did that

Today we read an excerpt from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, and most of us quickly realized the great need for the FDA!  After that, we completed a question trail in groups to review the Progressive Age and The Jungle.  For HW, please complete the questions to accompany The Jungle.   Some students were asking about a full copy of The Jungle.  It is in the public domain and is a part of the Project Gutenburg collection.  You can find the full text here. 

Today we learned about Sketch Notes and pratice taking them by watching a documentary in class.  We stopped throughout to discuss.  We only made it about half-way through, so please watch the rest and continue your sketch noting!  We also discussed our assignment for over the break.  Instead of a packet about the Progressive Era, students are tasked with creating their own newspaper.  Use the assignment sheet to meet the requirements and work on this one a little at a time over the break.  DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE WE RETURN!!! Print out a copy to bring to class on 12/1. 

You will need to make a copy of your own before you can begin editing.  

Today we started learning about the Progressive Era.  We read an article and annotated it in groups to guide our thinking.  For HW this week, please answer the questions (multiple choice and discussion) at the end of the article and bring this back to class next week completed. 

Today we had a fun day in class reviewing how to construct & read timelines all while learning about some spooky and mysterious events in history.

For HW this week:
Watch the Crash Course and complete the study questions about the Gilded Age.
On the back of your packet, write a 10 question quiz about the Gilded Age for your classmates to take (include your answers).
Select ONE of the interesting/spooky events from our timeline that took place during the Gilded Age (1870-1900) or the Progressive Era (1897-1920) and research more about it.  Write 200-300 words telling us more about the event.  Bring these in to share next week.
Podcasts (for those of you who complete podcasts)

In class today we focused on studying and reviewing for the test, which has now been reopened.  Again, students may use anything we have completed in class, but no other outside sources (i.e. internet, other books, older siblings, or parents, etc.).  I will turn off the test on Wednesday evening, so please complete in before then. 
In addition, students should complete the second Gilded Age packet.  I ran out of ink this week, so here is the link to print a copy of the weekly packet.  Students who complete podcasts, should have a completed podcast to turn in on Thursday.    

Over the break, students should complete History Quiz II, which covers the Reconstruction and the beginnings of the Gilded Age.  As a reminder, I have to manually grade this test, so students will not have a grade once they finish.  Please have the test finished before returning to class on 10/20.  Please study carefully over the following topics:
Reconstruction Amendments
Barriers to voting (What does the word DISENFRANCHISEMENT mean?)
Plessy v Ferguson
Sharecropping
Gilded Age
Robber Baron v Captain of Industry

When you are ready , you can take the test!  Good luck!  ADDED 10/17- FAMILIES--I HAVE TURNED OFF THE TEST  FOR THE TIME BEING.  I found a packet of work that I thought I had already returned to students.  For that reason, I am moving the test to be completed next week.  This will mean that students will have a heavy workload for the upcoming week, but hopefully after a week off, and plenty of time to study, the test will be easy!

Podcasts are also available if anyone should desire to use this time to earn extra credit!  If you would like a midterm grade from me, please email me and let me know! 

This week, we discussed the tense election of 1876.  We also briefly discussed the Electoral College.  Students need to complete three things for homework:
1. Finish Coloring Map of Electoral Votes for Electon of 1876
2. Packet
3. Watch video about Electoral College

Today we rotated through four stations to really work on understanding some challenging historical concepts.  Students were able to work with peers and get more practice with determining the social, emotional, and political impacts of an event.  In addition, students worked on writing summaries, making connections to current events and reading a map about sharecroppers. 
I ran out of packet copies, so if you need one, you can download it here: Reconstruction Ends
Please also finish your Sharecropper's Map.  Also please make sure to have colored pencils for next week's class. 

Today we took a quiz over the Civil War recap and the beginnings of the Reconstruction. Before our quiz, we played a review game.  Students have a new HW packet about the continued Reconstruction.    

In today's class, we reviewed the Civil War recap from last week--the information will be on the quiz we definitely will be having next week!  In addition, we began to work on what happened after the Civil War, which was the era known as The Reconstruction.  This time period was pretty timultuous (as we'll see)!  We worked a bit on geography for the southern states along with identifying the military zones of the south.  For HW:
Please finish your map and complete your packet.  You should also watch this VIDEO about The Reconstruction.  This goes into some detail about sharecropping, which we'll talk more about next week (DON'T FORGET THE QUIZ!). 

Today, we continued our quick recap of the Civil War with a jigsaw discussion.  Stuents should finish the packet, which discusses the Gettysburg Address.  In addition, if there are any holes in the notes from class, students should use outside resources to fill those holes.  Make sure you study those notes (there just might be a quiz next week)! 

Today we began our discussion of the Civil War era.  We'll do a brief review on this before moving on to the Reconstruction.  Students were given a packet to complete and bring back to class next week.  9th grade students must complete a podcast response form (I will take these up for a grade beginning next week).  

What a great first day of class!  It was so great to see so many new and returning faces!  Today, we went over the expectations for the class and started a podcast assignment.  Students need to finish this podcast assignment for homework this week.  In addition, students should also review the terms on the Find Someone Who activity sheet.  Need to Listen to the podcast again?  You can find it here: Cabinet of Curiosities.