This week...

Here's a breakdown of what's going to be happening this week.

Day One: Quiz and PowerPoint presentation on Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X.

Day Two: Finish group work project. By the end of the day I need all graphic organizers, all group Venn diagrams, and all discussion questions answered.

Day Three: The U.S. and Native Americans - Part One. Reading and discussion regarding American treatment of Native Americans throughout history. 

Day Four: The U.S. and Native Americans - Part Two. In class project on the perspective of settlers in the west and their reaction to Native Americans.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

New Marking Period

We have officially begun the first full week of the second marking period. Here's how class breaks down.

Monday: PowerPoint on Constitutional Convention Compromise. Group work on Separation of Powers and Federalism. Homework - Checks and Balances.

Tuesday: Quiz on the Legislative Branch. Individual and pair work on legislative power and equal rights.

Wednesday and Thursday/Friday: Group project - "Legislative Power and the Struggle for Equality".

Parents, please remember that parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for thursday evening and friday afternoon. I look forward to meeting and speaking with you.

Last week of the first marking period!!!

Here's what's on the schedule for this week.

Tuesday: Turn in Cold War Evaluation Projects (These must be in by wednesday or they will be counted as a zero). Articles of Confederation group work/problem solving.

Wednesday: Compromise at the Constitutional Convention. How did the founders work out their problems?

Thursday: Set up of the Legislative Branch (Separation of Powers, Federalism, Checks and Balances).

REMINDER!!!

The final project for the unit, "Evaluating the Cold War", is due Tuesday. You had two days in class to begin and complete the project, if it is not completed it needs to be turned in for homework.

Project directions were as follows:
Part I: Summary of Events.
Using the handout and a textbook, write a two sentence summary of each event that is listed on the sheet.
- The first sentence should summarize the event itself.
- The second sentence should say how the event affected the Cold War.

Part II: Event Placement.
Once all events have been summarized, cut the event cards out of the sheet. You are now going to place the events on another sheet of paper in order of importance. You must decide which event was most important, second most important, third most important, and so on. Do not just put them in any order; you are going to have to explain WHY you chose to put them where you put them.

Part III: Written Response.
Once both of the first two parts of the project are COMPLETE, ask me for the written response prompt. It will consist of three paragraphs.

Events included in the project were: The Berlin Airlift, The Korean War, House Un-American Activities Committee, Senator Joe McCarthy, The Space Race, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Bay of Pigs, The Vietnam War, The Break-up of the Soviet Union, Detente.

The written response should consist of three paragraphs (3-5 sentences each) and contain answers to all parts of the following prompt.
1. Why do you think we should still study the Cold War today? Why is it important? What did you learn from your study of the Cold War that could affect your life personally?
2. Which event did you choose as the most important? Why? Which event did you choose as the least important? Why? Were there any Cold War events that were not part of the project that you felt should be? Which ones? Why do you think they should have been included?
3. Explain the process you used to put the events in order of importance. What criteria did you use? How did you decide which was most important? How did you decide what was least important?

THESE ARE DUE TUESDAY!!!!

Announcements

These few weeks at the end of September and beginning of October are a little confusing what with all the days off, but here is a breakdown of what has happened and what will be happening: 

Week of Sept. 29 - 

We only met two days. One day was used to finish our Cold War Group Work project, the other for the Unit Test on Democracy and Communism.

Week of Oct. 6 - 

We will only meet three days. Day one will be used to review the end of the Cold War. Days two and three will be used to complete the final project on Democracy and Communism (Evaluating the Cold War).

Week Four

First of all, remember that I've posted your grades outside of my room. If you forget your randomly assigned number that is paired with your grade, come see me and I'll remind you what it is.

Day One: PowerPoint Presentation - The Beginning of the Cold War. (Notetaking, Discussion) Homework assignment to compare and contrast Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan assigned. Due Thursday/Friday.

Day Two: QUIZ!!!, Lecture/Notes on The Cold War at Home (Notetaking, Discussion, Document Analysis)

Day Three: Group Work Project - Events of the Cold War. (Reading Comprehension, Information Organization, Working as a Group)

Day Four: Finish Group Work Project - Events of the Cold War. View video clips on different events as summary.

Homework Due Monday, Sept. 22!

Homework this weekend is to complete the second Vocab Sheet. 

Make sure you complete both sections of the sheet. The "In my own words" section should be a summary of the definition as if you were telling someone on the street about the term. The picture/symbol section can be anything you can think of that will help you remember the term. 

Remember, if you have your sheet completed to be checked Monday, you can use it as a cheat sheet on the quiz on Tuesday. 

You know that homework is worth 10% of your grade, but also remember that it is usually the basis for our beginning class discussion. Make sure it gets done!!!

Third Week

This week we will be finishing up our introductory unit on the beginnings of Government and beginning our unit on Democracy.

Day One - Vocabulary Sheet Homework Due. PowerPoint presentation on the beginnings of American Government: The Virginia House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact.

Day Two - QUIZ!!!! Handout and discussion on early democracy.

Day Three - Democracy in America.

Day Four - Communism.

Week Two

Well, we made it through our first week together. Here's what I have planned for the second week.

Monday - Why Government? A reading and discussion activity focusing on the need for government and the way government has evolved through history.

Tuesday - Forms of Government. Lesson regarding all the different ways governments are set up around the world.

Wednesday - Early American Government. Lesson regarding the Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses and how they both still influence us today.

Thursday/Friday - Comparison of Government Poster. Our first project!!! We will be comparing two forms of government through artwork and words.

Our first quiz will be at the beginning of next week and will be over all the material we cover this week. Homework assignments will be assigned as the week progresses.

Homework - Due Monday Sept. 8

HOMEWORK FOR MONDAY!!!

On a sheet of paper, list five SPECIFIC ways the government affects you or your life. For each one, explain what you think the purpose of the government controlling that aspect is.

Ex: The state government says I have to wear a seatbelt while driving. I think they do this because it’s more safe to wear a seatbelt and one thing the government is supposed to do is protect the citizens.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to a new year at Queens Preparatory Academy! As part of your ongoing Social Studies curriculum, this year you will be studying United States Government and Economics. We will usually be seeing each other four times a week. There will be one quiz or test every week and I aim to have at least two projects every marking period. Most projects will be done in class. The first week is going to look a little bit different because, as we didn't have school on Monday, we will only be meeting three times. It will go like this:

Tuesday: Introduction to class, Most Important Event Assignment

Wednesday: In class review of Most Important Event Assignment, Writing Assignment

Thursday/Friday: Preassessment (this will be in the format of a test and is given to see what you remember from last year and what I need to work on this year)

I am looking forward to a successful year.