Monday 12/14

We began to look at WWI and what drew America into the War. We had a quickwrite to review what started the war. The alliance and the assassination of the archduke of austria were the key points that began the war. America largely stays out of it for many reasons but among them are the fact we didn't even know what side to fight against. Little events would slowly pull us in however.
We looked at the first reading. Period 4 and 5 looked at the second as well.

Friday 12/11

We reviewed yesterday's cartoons. We then looked at the other colonies America was taking over at the time including Hawaii and the Panama Canal.
Imperialism Notes

Thursday 12/10

US History-Philippine war cartoons were what we looked at in class. We did analysis of different cartoons and how they showed both sides of American opinion. Here is a link to the questions as well. Questions part

Wed 12/9

US History-We finished up looking at the Philippine American War and then read the poem the white man's burden. In this we were trying to see what responsibilities colonizing other countries brought with it. We also looked at the poem the black man's burden and the other side of the story.

Tuesday 12/8

US History- 1,2,4th-read the handout on the Philippine american war after we finished the notes from yesterday. The assignment is at the end of the notes from yesterday. You can ask me for the reading part.

5th period did similar but online Follow the Link to Google Classroom Google Classroom link


Economics-This link is for Econ in class.
1. Click this link www.everfi.com/register
2. Register with the code c01fbfb8
3. Sign up to be in the class(I'm not sure exactly what this entails but use your rusdlearns info)
4. Begin the modules. There are 9 that you will need to do by January 8th. While they are all relatively simple, they take a little time. 
5. When you have completed the program print off your certificate of completion. (I can also check your progress and see how you are doing throughout the time. 

This is going to be in replacement of our normal Growing Up project. It will be roughly a 100 point project grade. 

Monday 12/7

We finished up the temperance movement assignment from friday and began to look at the second part of the unit which was the "power." America will grow as a nation in world power from 1898-1920. The spanish american war, coupled with the addition of colonies and world war I will put america on the map. we finished class with notes on the start of the war.
Notes to start spanish american war

Friday 12/4

We continued looking at progress made in America during this time period. One of the big pushes that took place during WWI(besides women's suffrage that we saw yesterday), was the temperance movement. America saw alcohol as not only a terrible thing but also a waste of resources.
If you are interested in an interesting look at how drinking fountains impacted the temperance movement I'd highly recommend this podcast from 99% invisible. Podcast

Reading on the Temperance movement of the 1800's and first part of assignment
Notes and Second part of assignment

Thursday 12/3

Today in class we finished discussing the Fire from yesterday. If you look at last thursday  nov 19 notes the last two slides are actually from today. Their was quickwrite # 2 from unit 4. Also the results of the fire. With that it led into another goal of women that paralleled getting better working conditions. That was the women's suffrage movement. We went through some notes and then  had a short assignment from the book to finish class.
Women's Suffrage Movement

Wed 12/2

We watched a documentary on the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. This tragic event in downtown New York shook the US labor world.
This is a different but similar film done for the 100 year anniversary of the fire as well.
Triangle Shirtwaist Video

Tuesday 12/1

We continued the muckrakers from yesterday. (look at notes). The 3 muckrakers we looked at were Upton Sinclair, John Spargo, and Ida Tarbell. There were many more of these but a muckraker is a journalist who tries to solve a problem or do research on a problem in society. Today we can see these type of people everyday on the news and dateline type shoes, but for the time it was a new form of journalism to solve the issues of the day. You are completing the questions from the handout however for question 3 you are supposed to do the 3 questions on yesterday's notes about the three muckrakers(sorry its confusing but I wanted the questions to be a little more specific).
The Jungle/Bitter Cry of Children/Questions
Ida Tarbell reading

Monday 11/30

Welcome back from break! Today we began Unit 4 titled Progress and Power. This builds on last unit, and will look to solve many of the problems America faced at this time. The goal was hopefully progress could be made during the Progressive Era. We also will be looking at America's growth as a global power. The events of the Spanish American War, Imperialism and WWI will allow America to grow in world wide strength.

Notes for monday and tuesday with tuesday's assignment

Friday 11/20

US-students took the quiz

Thursday 11/19

US History-We are semi ending unit 3 and beginning unit 4 prior to tomorrow's quiz on unit 3. Below students compared the events of the Pullman strike from two different newspaper perspectives. It reflects the two ways America saw strikers. Both newspapers in Chicago reported the incidents in different ways. Notes are attached as well and the final slide has the assignment that went with the reading.
Link to the Assignment on the Pullman Car Incident
Notes and Assignment

Wed 11/25

US History- We changed the date of the quiz/test to friday. We finished looking at the populists and students had 15 minutes to study and review for the quiz.

Tuesday 11/17

We finished looking at the post from last friday with the last two pages on the Homestead strike. It doesn't really end well for anyone. The workers get shot, the Pinkerton's get shot, Carnegie and Frick look like jerks. It was one of the first strikes in America and a step toward eventual labor improvements in America.
We finished class by looking at pages 219-223 in the textbook on the rise and fall of the populist party.
Populist Party Handout
There will be a quiz on Unit 3 on Thursday

Monday 11/16

US History-We continued looking at Industrialism. We looked at the next 2 handouts from Friday's post. Vertical and Horizontal Integration made building a bigger and better company possible. The titans of the day succeeded in doing both of these. We also looked at the end from a clip of how some of Carnegie's workers went on strike when their wages were low.

Friday 11/13

US History
We began looking at Industrialism in America. A perfect example of the Like a Monet unit title. While America was getting wealthy many workers were not. The rich were getting richer and the poor were staying poor. We took a slide of notes and then looked at an intro handout on Robber Barons vs Captains of Industry. Lastly we watched a clip from the Men who Built America that looked at how John Rockefeller turned his oil refining business into a Monopoly.
Notes to start section
Today was the first 2 pages on here.

Thursday 11/12

In class we were looking at two African American leaders that both set a path to equality in America. W.E.B DuBois and Booker T Washington took different paths to equality, one more direct and the other over time.
Notes and Quickwrite

Tuesday 11/10

We looked at how the Chinese Exclusion Act was put in place and why people were wanting the Chinese run out of America. While they contributed in an Amazing way to the transcontinental railroad of yesterday, within 20 years America prohibited their immigration.
Chinese Exclusion Act Reading
Basic Understanding of Law
Primary Source Opinions on Chinese Exclusion

Questions that went with this

Monday 9th

We can work through this tomorrow but the main part
Econ notebook

US History

This is the first part of 5 clips. If you open it in youtube the next 4 episodes will be on right side.

Thursday 11/5

US- Notebook order for US. It is due tomorrow. We also started taking some notes on urbanization and people coming to America through Ellis Island.

Econ-We finished price ceilings and floors. Students had time to review for tomorrow's test and fix yesterday's quiz answers if they wanted to.

Wed 11/6

US-We continued looking at immigration. We started Unit 3 which was titled Like a Monet. America looked good to the world, and seemed like a great place to be. Up close though it was not nearly as nice. It had many problems that it was struggling to work through. We also did our first quickwrite which will be posted later. We looked at two political cartoons and compared immigration of the past to today. We are going to be looking at political cartoons this unit. They are usually done to try to make an argument for something.
Political Cartoons

Econ-Class had a quiz on supply and demand curves. After I went over last weeks work and tried to clarify price floors and ceilings.

Tuesday 11/3

US-We continued looking at immigration into America at this time in history. One of the ways this was evident was the Statue of Liberty. It became a symbol for America and what it stood for. Below the statue is a poem. It does a great job of showing how America stood for something unique in the world.
The new Colossus

Econ-We reviewed yesterday's work and graphs

Monday 11/2

Econ-Sorry not there(I have golf for playoffs to work) The following notes should be written in your notebook, then the quickwrite done before you start on the graphing.

Notes and Quickwrite

US-The class continued looking at how America was taking place after the Civil War. The main thing was what like was like as cities began to grow. The massive wave of immigrants lead to major issues throughout cities.
Immigration into cities

Friday 10/30

US History-Students took their midterms on unit 2
Econ-took department quiz then finished and turned in yesterday's work

Thursday 10/29

Economics Link to Articles

Mcdonald's Mighty Wings

Dream College

US History-Students looked at the Reconstruction after the Civil War, as well as major issues like sharecropping.
Study Guide
Reconstruction Work

Wed 10/28

US History-Students took the school quiz. They had roughly 25 minutes to study and review for friday's test or ask questions to me as well. TEST FRIDAY!!! It is also the end of the 1st quarter.

Economics-We began looking at Chapter 6 combining supply and demand. It is important for the market to be in equilibrium otherwise things get out of whack. We had a short assignment.

Tuesday 10/27

Economics-We finished the graph work of 5.3 and what would shift a supply curve. We then had a short in class assignment reviewing all of it.

US History-Students got a study guide for the exam friday. There is also a schoolwide quiz tomorrow reviewing the first quarter. After that we discussed the 13-15th amendments. These 3 amendments helped African Americans, mostly former slaves adjust to life after the Civil War. Ending slavery, becoming citizens and having the right to vote.

Only look at page 1

Monday 10/26

Economics-We finished up looking at the wheat game by doing a review sheet. It revealed what the equilibrium point was for wheat and that 6$ was the perfect price. It was the perfect price because it is where there would have been no surplus or shortage. We finished by reviewing the graphs from thursday of last week.

US History-We finished the Civil War and went over the Gettysburg address. Period 1, 4 and 5 went through it line by line but put it in their own words. This address gave both purpose to the war but also the motivation of why it is so important. Period 2 we finished up friday's lesson and finished the notes of the war.

Friday 10/23

Economics-We played the wheat game. It was a game of buying and selling, which will eventually show us the importance of supply and demand put together.

US History-We continued the 5 questions on the politics of the Civil War(or started it depending on the class) We were mostly focused on the Emancipation Proclamation and how and why Lincoln freed slaves in the rebelling states. This "weapon of war" may have turned the tide for the North.
Politics of war slide is the work but the rest is notes we have been looking at

10/22 Thursday

US History:
This was from tuesday for 5th, wed for 1st and thursday for 2nd and 4th.
5th period took a quiz.
We wrapped up causes for the Civil War and began to look at the war.

Economics: We continued looking at what shifts supply curves.

Wed

All classes took a survey for the school.
Us History
Period 1 Worked on Dred Scott/Abraham Lincoln work after survey.
Period 2,4 and 5 had an assignment on google classroom that they needed to do and then resubmit online. Each class has a different code so you will need to see me if you need to do it.

Period 3: Survey and then we started looking at what shifts supply curves

Tuesday 10/20

US History: we looked at John Brown and why he was so controversial. Period 5 also got a handout on dred scott.
John Brown Notes

Economics: We were looking at labor as a relation to cost. How many workers should be hired?

10/19

US History, the post from friday has the reading from today on it as well. We looked at Uncle Tom's cabin and how it influenced the Civil War.

Economics-We started looking at 5.2 in the book. It is about how costs can impact production. There were notes and a handout on 5.2

Friday 10/16

Yesterday was parent teacher conferences

Economics-We reviewed the work from 5.1 together in class

US History-In class we looked at the nullification crisis. The main point of this is to get across the idea that slavery was not the only issue in America causing anger among the states. In the south money, tariffs and the fact they felt they were being taken advantage of were at the heart of the south's desire to declare itself separate some 30 years before the Civil War.
Nullification and Uncle Tom's cabin

Wed 10/14

US History: period 1 and 2 we looked at what caused the civil war intro and then watched 15 minutes of video clip on division in civil war. Period 4 and 5 had students at psat's and we watched the video on division.

Start of Civil War(2 pages)

Economics: we worked on a review assignment of 5.1. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not confuse the concepts from it with demand. 

Ask me for the handout

Tuesday 10/13

US History-students finished their journal entries of manifest destiny. We finished by starting to look at the other part of this unit, the to 2 nations part. We looked at the first thing that impacted the Civil War. Going all the way back to the 1790's The cotton gin led to the revitalization of slavery in the south. The north was slowly eliminating slavery as was the south. However this invention flipped the course of abolition in the south.

Econ-We started to look at 5.1 notes. It was tricky, if you didn't understand them I would encourage trying to read through that section in the book on supply.
Notes 5.1 and yesterday's quickwrite

Monday 10/12

US History: we were looking at Manifest destiny and America getting larger. We discussed a little the Louisiana purchase and how it doubled America. We watched a 15 minute video of people coming to California and Texas. Last students looked at manifest destiny by journal entries from 3 different groups. The assignment can be found toward the end of the power point posted last wed. 

Econ: students had a quiz on chapter 4. After this their was a warmup on the start of supply. This was warmup. The curve I can't insert but it looked like a demand curve except the line went from the bottom left to the top right. 

Copy this curve, which is a supply curve.

After labeling it with price and quantity numbers come up with a “hypothesis” for what they law of supply would be and why?

  

10/9 Friday

Economics: we finished chapter 4 looking at elasticity of demand. There will be a quiz on monday on chapter 4.

US History-We finished discussing the Indian Removal. We did the second quickwrite from the notes posted wed on the monroe doctrine. We finished by talking about the notes on monroe doctrine and war of 1812.

10/8 Thursday

US History-We finished our notes about John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, we spent the last twenty minutes of class looking at the Indian Removal Act. Notes are on yesterday's power point.
Trail of Tears Papers

Economics-We spent our time looking at demand curves and how they shift. Certain things can cause a demand curve to shift to the right with increased demand, and to the left with less demand. This changes demand curves.

10/7 Wed

Econ-We reviewed 4.1 and yesterday's work. Quickwrite 1:

•What things are there little substitutes for?

•How do you know whether to keep buying something or stop buying as the price rises?

•How could you use your answer above if you owned a business?

US History-We reviewed why Marbury vs Madison was important and what judicial review means. This idea that judges can decide whether laws are ok or not. We also started our unit 2 notes with quickwrite 1. 
Notes and Quickwrite

10/6 Tuesday

Economics-To do the back side of your paper you need to use the document that you can read by pushing the link. It is on elasticity. You will need to look at section 3 in chapter 4 to know what elasticity is.

Handout for Questions

US History-Sorry I was out on Jury duty. Still trying to get this caught up but in class students looked at the Whiskey Rebellion and had some questions that went with a reading and the court case between Marbury vs Madison.
Marbury vs Madison

10/5 Monday

US History-We began looking at some early issues in America. Unit 2 is titled A new nation to two nations. It is the journey of how America, as a brand new country slowly grows a part. Eventually resulting at the end of the unit with a massive Civil War. How we get to that point though is what Unit 2 is about. The first issue we looked at were the Alien and Sedition Acts. They brought forth the idea of state rights and can a state just ignore a law of the federal government? In America today we see states like Washington and Colorado avoiding drug laws. How do they get away with this? Well it is just one example of states ignoring the government. Anyways that was what took place under John Adams and the first issue we see between the country and some states.
Alien and Sedition Acts


Econ-Students began looking at demand in 4.1. We looked at rising Disney prices and why they would raise their prices again. They then did an in class assignment.

Friday 10/2

Economics-Students signed up for their stock market picks. We are playing a stock market game for extra credit. It is points to sign up for the game though. It is the one way students can earn extra credit this semester. Directions can be found with Mr LeDuc

US History-Classes were short because of the assembly. We started Unit 2 by looking at the journey of Lewis and Clark after the Louisiana Purchase. It was a short video because of the classes being so short. Students also turned in notebooks.

Thursday 10/1

Economics: We looked at what a stock was and how you buy into a company. While many people do not know what stocks are, at some point in your life you will most likely have your money connected to it. Students had to find 5 stocks that they thought would be a good investment. They had to find what the stock symbol was, what its price is, its p/e ratio, and the market cap or cost of the company. Also in one sentence why they would invest in it. Tomorrow we will be signing up for the stock market game we will be playing in the class. NOTEBOOKS WERE TURNED IN

US History
Students will be turning in there first notebook check tomorrow. Students should have put everything in order. If there is something missing feel free to go through and print off what you missed. Future notebooks will just be given a list to organize on your own, but the first time I wanted expectations to be clear and things to be put in proper order.

A list of what should be in notebook for Econ and US History(the numbering is slightly off on 4, ignore that)

Wed 9/30

Test day for US history, bring notebook materials tomorrow

Econ-organized notebooks for first turn in.

Tuesday 9/29

Economics-Took first test of year. Turned in study guides

US History-Finished looking at Bill of rights and then reviewed for test tomorrow

Monday 9/28

Economics we reviewed for the test tomorrow.

US History, We looked over our first quiz of the year and started looking at the Bill of Rights. What it means and how it impacts us today.
Bill of Rights handout

Friday 9/25

All classes went to a seminar on what is taking place in North Korea. US History and Economics has a test on tuesday.

US history study Guide
US Study Guide

Econ Study Guide
Study GUide

Thursday 9/24

Sorry if you were eagerly awaiting this update. It came a little late

US History: We spent the day looking at the debate over whether America should adopt the new Constitution. The debate raged between those called Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The Federalists wanted the new Constitution and the Anti-Federalists did not. This would be the birth of the first two political parties in America. They centered on whether the states or the government should have more of the decisions and rights. Test on Tuesday
Federalist and Anti Federalist

Economics: We wrapped up the first unit by looking at centrally planned economies and the positive and negatives of them. True we typically think communism and socialism is terrible. Though we have every right in America to agree with that, there are still people and nations who feel it has many positives.
Notes from Thursday

Wednesday 9/23

US History: We looked at what is in the Constitution, America's law. It has lasted the test of time, and is still in existence today. It established things we think of as normal now like a President and two branches of government. It also separated our branches of government into 3 branches so that it could keep them in check.
Class Reading and Work

Econ: We looked at Chapter 3 section 4 in textbook on safety nets. Students had to find the safety nets the government provides and describe them. Overall in class we looked at how safety nets are in place to help Americans who fall on hard times. Though they are abused at times and taken advantage of, they are a good things to those who are in need. It is a difficult balance but allows hopefully to help those who do things like lose their job, or have economic difficulties.

Tuesday 9/22

US History: We discussed the questions from yesterday. Trying to make sense of the issues and the results of the Constitutional Convention. At the end students looked at some of the results with the reading. Students then wrote a small summary of the Virginia Plan, New Jersey plan and Connecticut Compromise.
Reading

Economics: Students had quickwrite 6: Why does the government pay for fire and police but not ambulances? Why does the government pay for roads and sidewalks but not driveways? What would happen if the government told the people to pay for it if they wanted these things? Would you prefer this if they lowered your taxes so you had extra money to pay for it.

We then discussed Public Goods, Free Riders, and Externalities. I would strongly recommend those not there to read chapter 3 section 2 in the textbook. 

Monday 9/21

US History: Students took on the role of representing one state in the constitutional convention. They had to pick a state and then do a little research about it. (if making up use 1790 census on wikipedia for your research). After this they had to look at key issues of the convention and try to speculate how and why their state would react, based on the information they have found.

Convention handouts : Issues to read    Questions

Econ: We had a quickwrite and had notes. The topic was how America's free market works. Why it is important to have a little government intervention in our free market system.

Quickwrite 5 and notes

Friday 9/18

US History: America had to set up it's new nation. It new certain things it wanted to avoid, and certain things it wanted to include. The articles of confederation were America's first draft for our country. It was weak, but certainly nothing like Britain. While it had problems, it took Shay's rebellion for people to consider changing it. In class we looked at the weaknesses of the country and what the big deal was with Daniel Shay's rebellion(from wed classwork).

Notes: Articles of Confederation

Economics-We reviewed answers of what different countries with different economic systems look like.

Video clip from class about what markets are important and why we specialize in one or two things for efficiency.

Thursday 9/17

US History: We had our first quiz of the year. This took up most of the class period.

Economics: We looked quickly at yesterday's class work. We then took the free market, mixed market, centrally planned market idea and examined real life countries that reflect those ideas. Can we see patterns in examples of what it is like to live in these different economies.

Handout of comparing countries:
Comparing Economic Countries

9/16 Wed

I was out with a district conference today.
Econ: had a book assignment from chapter 2 section 3 and 4(if absent need to ask for handout)

US history: They were supposed to imagine a situation where you would be creating a new nation. What struggles would you have? What things would need to be put in place? The second part assigned was about Shay's rebellion. It was one of the first big issues America will face with it's new country.

Classwork:
Shay's rebellion
Teenage World

9/15 Tuesday

US History Students continued to look at yesterday's assignment on how we won the war. After that we had one slide of how the war ended with the British help. By 1783 we were finally a new nation. The difficulty would now be how to set up a new country. Quiz on thursday!

Econ: Continued looking at economic systems in particular the free market system of America. Examples are the pope tickets being sold in NY. Is this right or wrong? We also looked at how we have extreme wealth and extreme poverty in a free market. In the beginning of class we reviewed the invisible hand idea from yesterday's homework.

Monday 9/14

In US history we reviewed the Dec of Independence questions from Thursday. Some important notes are the connection between the Enlightenment ideas and America. Much of what John Locke said about rights and equality was included by Jefferson. At the end of class we looked at when the American Revolution began in 1775. The fighting started a year before the Declaration was signed. Many still hoped to avoid a full war though. We watched a clip of the first shots of the war, then began looking at how America was able to win the war against a nation as strong as Britain.

Revolution Handout


Econ:Quickwrite: —How do you think competition makes you better? (sports/business/academics ect..) Why is it important in business? If I had 7 A’s, 7 B’s, 7, C’s, 7 D’s, and 7 F’s to give out this semester. And you were simply competed against your classmates for those 7 spots in every grade. Do you think you would do better or worse? Why?
Began discussing Economies of Chapter 2. Students had to read page 33 and try to illustrate what Adam Smith meant and was trying to show about how a free market works by analyzing his "invisible hand" idea. 

Friday 9/11

US History: We looked at 9/11 and how the date has shaped the world. Below is a video clip which sort of inspired discussing it today. As time goes on we tend to forget what and why this event happened. The bottom clip was just a great look at how intense the action was the day of. 

Students also had 

Quickwrite 5 which asked Why 9/11 happened, How has our world changed since then and to compare 9/11 to Pearl Harbor. 

Video from NYU dorm

Econ: We looked at Chapter 1 Section 2. Costs and Thinking at the margin. There was quickwrite 2, notes and an in class assignment. (to be posted)

Thurs 9/10

US History: (the notes from yesterday's post included the notes from today).
We reviewed why loyalists thought breaking free from America would be a bad idea. We also began to talk about the decision to declare Independence. Lastly students looked at part of the D of I and analyzed some simple things from it.
Reading on Declaration of Independence and Questions

Econ: Finished their business ideas from yesterday.

Wed 9/9

US History: We continued with the notes from yesterday. They are included here. We are basically reviewing the work from last week. It also contains the Quickwrite from tuesday.
Notes and Quickwrite from Tuesday

Econ: We began looking at a couple of key ideas and terms from Chapter 1 Section 1. The final slide has the assignment students did in creating their own business as an entrepreneur.
Econ Notes and assignment

Tuesday 9/8

This blog will be split often with US History and Economics material. Just make sure you are reading the right section.

Economics: Syllabus that needs to be signed and returned.
We began to look at the beginning of what Economics means. Quickwrite # 1 was:
How do we determine what something is worth? Why do things cost money?

I had an Arnold Palmer Arizona and asked what is it worth to you? What would make it more or less valuable?

US History:
We began reviewing and going over the things done last week. We also looked at the Boston Massacre and how the event was largely influenced by the propaganda of Paul Revere. There was  quickwrite on it.  Notes to be updated later.

Friday 9/4

To be loyal, or not to be loyal? That was really the question of the time. Things should be back to regular class come Tuesday thankfully. Until then the last thing you will be looking at this week and early next week is the debate over what the colonists should do? Things have been growing apart between Britain and America but what does that mean? Do they really try to challenge the greatest nation on the planet at the time. Great Britain would essentially squash any country in the world. They had colonies and territories all over the world, how dare America challenge their authority. The colonists were split. Most people living there you have to remember were born in Britain or at least consider themselves British. It would be a difficult decision to do anything crazy, especially knowing it could mean death for themselves. Two major groups formed. Those called "Loyalists" who were simply Loyal to the King and Britain. On the other side were Patriots or Rebels, those that desired Independence. You are looking at the big debate between the two. Common Sense was a small pamphlet by the way that was HUGE at the time. It was the Harry Potter/Hunger Games/Twitter of its day. Though short it was powerful, and gave arguments for why America should become its own country. In the words of Thomas Paine it was common sense to break free. He did his best to convince colonists to agree with him. Have a good 3 day weekend!

Loyalists (IGNORE THE QUESTIONS ON THE 4th PAGE) Use the ones you have if you guys get that far
Correct Questions

Thursday Sept 3

Yesterday and probably part of today you were looking at the widening split. The next part of the split that I want you to look a little closer at is one of the many taxes the British put on the Americans. We will review this next week but there was a good argument why the British had to tax America. Imagine for a second Puerto Rico gets attacked tomorrow by Cuba. They could be conquered but America sends down our military to help them. It ends up costing America 200 billion dollars but we are able to save Puerto Rico from invasion. Would America not ask Puerto Rico to at least help pay some of the costs of saving it? Great Britain had just won a war against France to keep and protect America. All Great Britain was doing was asking us to pay our share of the war. Thus began the beginning of Britain trying to tax America over and over again. The tax that angered colonists more than any other was the Stamp Act. It essentially taxed many things the colonists bought and paid for. Letters, Newspapers, Licenses, Death Certificates. It was one of the many things that led to the snowball growing larger and larger and larger.

I was going to have you write down a few slides but we will save most of it for next week. In your notes section I do want you to write down the following:

I. The growing snowball leading to America's Revolution
    A. The Enlightenment
    B. The Great Awakening
    C. The results of the French and Indian War
    D. The start of taxation

Reading of Stamp Act

September 2nd

Start the video at the 4:24 mark(Only the second half of the cartoon matters)

If this video doesn't work here is the youtube link

Hopefully the video works for your to watch.
While it is just a cartoon about Donald Duck it does a great job of showing an idea about history. The phrase "snowball effect" comes from something very similar to what Donald showed in this cartoon. Once a snowball starts rolling it begins to get larger and larger and larger. Before you know it, it is an out of control ball. In history we see similar things take place. What starts as a small incident, leads to larger and larger and larger problems. The first big "snowball" we will see this year will lead to the beginning of America starting as a country. The reading you have "widening split" describes this in another way. A split is obviously a separation between two things. A widening split means those two things are growing further and further apart. The two things in this particular case and Great Britain and it's colony America. There are many things that happen that lead America to eventually decide to break free. You are going to begin to look at some of those reasons.

Quickwrite # 3-Come up with an example of when a snowball effect situation has happened or could happen in your own life?  (An example: From history the great awakening and enlightenment leads to questioning British controlling their life, which leads to frustration from the 7 years war, which leads to taxes, which leads to the boston tea party, which leads to stricter rules, which leads to declaration of independence. One thing leads to another and it gets bigger and bigger and bigger)


In case it is needed below is the reading and questions:
Widening Split Reading
Questions for reading

9/1 September 1st

Today in class you will be looking at the Puritans and their role in early America. They established their settlement with strong ideas to make America different from every other nation on the planet. In the quickwrite section of your notebook please answer the following question. Make sure to answer each of the parts of the question.

Quickwrite 2:
Why do you think America has slogans like, "God Bless America," "One Nation Under God," and "In God We Trust."? Do you think they are true? Are they still as relevant today as they were in the beginning of this country?

This is the reading that goes along with the questions you will receive in class.
Questions

If you finish early please move on to tomorrow's work called the widening split reading and questions. You may need to tell the teacher this. The reading is a class copy so please do not take home.

August 31st

I am out this week because of my son's birth. I will be back next week.

Students today began to look at the early settlers to America. This included mostly Spanish and English settlement. The biggest idea with most of these people coming together was the idea of the 3 g's. Gold, God and Glory. For the most part people came to get rich, bring God to the people, or become famous. It turned out a little different for each group that came, but the idea was the same. There were two worksheets that used chapter 1 section 3 and 4 in the textbook.

handouts for class on colonization

Friday August 28

We finished up the first week finishing our sourcing handout. After we begun discussing what the term "The American Dream" means. It is a term that can be used to describe many different things. Some people view making it to America and it's freedom as the dream. To others it is rising out of poverty to achieve greatness. For some it is simply a two story home, a family of 4 and a white picket fence. The American Dream is all things to all people, which makes it unique. No other countries have this sort of calling. At the end of the period students used a blank paper to put in their own words what the American Dream meant to them.

Instructions:

 1. At the top write “The American Dream to me”

 2. Below that please write a definition for what you think the American Dream means

 3. Lastly use the rest of your paper to write down any words or phrases, draw a few images with descriptions, or just try to capture a “big idea” about what achieving the American Dream would look like. This would best work if you were using your own life, but it can be a general idea as well.  

August 27th

Today we finished watching the final scene from Saving Private Ryan. In it Tom Hanks tells Ryan as he is dying to, "earn it." Basically make good use of the life they are dying to save. It was a nice reflection on how many have come before us to provide safety and freedom for us as citizens and how much we should appreciate it. The first quickwrite can be found below. We also began the setup of our notebooks. They should have a title page with Unit 1, your name and period, and the title of the unit Nation's Founding. After that space should be saved for quickwrites, after that comes notes, and lastly all work from class. We finished class by looking at the term sourcing and how we do this when looking at several documents.

Quickwrite 1 from Saving Private Ryan
Sourcing Document

August 26

Today we continued on looking at the question of why we study History. We read a short reading by historian David McCullough where he discusses how invaluable history is to life. Its ability to help you stand up for good, know right from wrong, and even live life better. Below is the reading. We also began to watch the end of Saving Private Ryan which we will finish and discuss tomorrow.

Why History?
Spanish Version of Why History?

August 25th

Today we began answering the question, "Why do we study US history?" Students took a modified citizenship test for the U.S. Though we often emphasize many subjects in school, history is the one our nation expects all immigrants to be familiar with. Becoming a citizen means being able to be a part of our democracy, vote in elections, serve on juries, and know your rights. It is difficult to have an opinion about an election without knowing what a president does. It is why knowing our history is vital to being a citizen.

August 24

Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year!!! This website will contain the material we will be covering in class. While not a substitute for the classroom it should be your first stop on any missed days. If you have any questions feel free to email me at the school address. kleduc@rusd.k12.ca.us

Below is the class syllabus. It needs to be signed by a parent and yourself by Friday the 28th. 

Syllabus