The Constitution

The Constitution
The Constitution

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Columbian Exchange

Historical Fiction Story


This week we are writing historical fiction stories. Students choose a European expedition to the New World. After reading, they create a fictional character to either place in the expedition as a European, or to be a member of a real Native American Indian tribe that came in contact with that expedition. Students include elements of the Columbian Exchange as well as create a story line for their character.

First, students read about the Columbian Exchange, then collect and categorize good and bad things traded between Europeans and Native Americans. These items might include plants, animals, technology, disease, ideas, etc.

Reading for the Columbian Exchange can be found here:
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_2/Unit_IIQ3R1.html

Use the benefits and drawbacks sheet to collect information about the Columbian Exchange:
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_2/Unit_IIQ3R2.html

The second step is for students to choose a European expedition from our study last week.

The third step is to create a character page. A picture of the character is drawn, personal background information about the character should be included. Two statements must be completed on this page:
1) My main character wants _____________________ more than anything else in the world.
2) My main character wants to avoid ___________________ more than anything else in the world.

The fourth and final step is to actually write the historical fiction story.
The benefits and drawbacks sheet; the character page; and the story are due on Friday.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain

Click on the link to learn about Christopher Columbus and play the game Rags to Riches

First:  read the information about Columbus

Second: play the rags to riches game- If you win a million dollars, show me!  If not, play until you win.

Third: play the Christopher Columbus Game.  Once you have played the game and have taken the quiz at the end, print your certificate with your name on it.  Give it to me.

Watch Columbus videos    Create a T-Chart with hero in one column and villain in the other.  As you watch, take notes.  After watching the videos, continue researching online.  

Next, write an essay that is at least 5 paragraphs long, to answer the question:   "Was Columbus a hero, or a villain?" 

Remember, when you make a statement about Columbus, you must back it up with facts and details. Not only that, but when you write facts and details- you must prove that it really happened!  In other words, find primary sources that support your claims.  These can easily be found by searching for journals of Columbus, letters from Columbus, letters about Columbus, etc.  Use quotations from the sources you find in your essay.  Keep in mind, when you include a quote to prove your point, you must explain to the reader how it relates to your argument.  

A little help:  use the outline to help you write the essay, it will help keep you on track!
     





Friday, September 19, 2014

Age of Exploration- Vocabulary

Just in case you missed class (there are a few of you), I have listed the vocabulary words students received in class today.  If you do not have a textbook, feel free to look them up on the internet and write down the information on lined notebook paper.  It is due on Tuesday of next week.

The Age of Exploration- Vocabulary (pages 32-49 in textbook)
  1. Commercial Revolution:

  1. capital:

  1. joint-stock companies:

  1. Renaissance:

  1. astrolabe:

  1. monopoly:

  1. Prince Henry:

  1. caravel:

  1. Bartolomeu Dias:

  1. Christopher Columbus:

  1. Ferdinand and Isabella:

  1. viceroy:

  1. Line of Demarcation:

  1. Treaty of Tordesillas:

  1. Vasco da Gama

  1. Pedro Alvars Cabral:

  1. John Cabot:

  1. Amerigo Vespucci:

  1. Vasco Nunez de Balboa:

  1. Ferdinand Magellan:

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Big Essay

Now that we have researched Pre-Columbian Native Americans, we are ready to answer the question "Were Pre-Columbian Native Americans worthy of respect?".
Keep in mind, we are not trying to judge a civilization based on our values, but rather decide whether or not that civilization had culture.  When historians and archaeologists study a civilization, they look at the culture to better understand its people.  For our purposes, we have divided culture into three parts:  Economic, Social, and Political.

Your job is to prove that Pre-Columbian Native Americans did have economic, social, and political cultures.  Use the notes you wrote on the graphic organizer, and if necessary use the textbook.

Steps in this process:
1.  complete the graphic organizer
2.  complete the outline
3.  write a rough draft
4.  have rough draft peer edited
5.  type a finished essay
6..  score the finished essay on the scoring guide

Turn-in:  graphic organizer, outline, rough draft, the finished essay, and the scoring guide stapled together by the beginning of class, Wednesday, September 17th.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Geography Whiz!

Click on the following links (in order) to play geography games that help you learn the physical features of the United States:

1.  Geographic Regions of the U.S.  (tutorial)

2.  Geographic Regions (game)

3.  Lakes (tutorial)

4.  Lakes (game)

5.  Rivers (tutorial)

6.  Rivers (game)

7.  Oceanography (tutorial)

8.  Oceanography (game)


Friday, August 29, 2014

Welcome Back!!

Pre-Columbian Native Americans


We tend to think of American history beginning with the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World in 1492.  In reality, it was not a new world, in fact people had been living there for thousands of years.  Many civilizations had sprouted and thrived in fertile North America.

Our first area of study in 8th grade social studies features Pre-Columbian Native American civilizations.  We will study the geographic, economic, social and political aspects of several tribes from the different culture areas. During this unit we will collect, organize, analyze, and interpret information.  Then we will make an evaluation of Pre-Columbian Native American civilizations, synthesizing an essay to answer the question, "Were Pre-Columbian Native Americans worthy of respect?"

Step one in this unit will be to complete the Hunters Move to America Map
Step two in this unit will be to  Begin working on: Physical Map of North America.
Step three: complete a  Native American culture area map  
Step four:  choose a Native American culture area to research
Step five:  complete graphic organizer for economic, social, political, and geographic aspects of culture area
Step six:  complete  Outline  for essay
Step seven:  Write the 5-paragraph essay
Step eight:  Score your essay on the rubric

Friday, May 23, 2014

Flight to Freedom

Today you will start playing "Flight to Freedom", a game that takes you through slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

If you find that you cannot get on the site to play, go to:  End of the year test instead.