Click here to take the test

You will need to get a username and password from me before you can take the test.

Last chance to study, The Test is Tuesday!!

This is the last chance to review for the test. Click on the title of this blog to see notes and to take a review test. On the left side of this page, in the green box, find the heading "Study Help". Click on each of the links to get ready for the test.

Get Ready For the Test 2!! Click here to go to notes and practice test

Today's lesson will emphasize the Battle of Saratoga, and Valley Forge.
We will be taking a few notes, formal assessments, and other classroom activities. No homework!
The test will be on Tuesday.

Get Ready For The Test!! (click here for notes and practice test)

Today, we will be taking notes, doing some in-class activities, and using formative assessments to get ready for the American Revolution test on Monday. No homework assignment.
Do you know what will be on the test? Click on the title of today's blog to go to a site with notes, and a practice test.

Projects due today/Notes on the American Revolution

The projects are due today. If you want an A you must turn in your project at the beginning of the class period-- You can still earn a B if you turn in the projects before the end of the quarter.

Today, we will take notes on the American Revolution, and start preparing for the test on Tuesday.

Last day for projects

This is the last day you may work on the two projects in class. It is not, however, the last day to hand in the projects. If you want an A on your work, you will need to turn in the projects tomorrow, at the beginning of the period. You can still earn a B, if you do good work, and turn in the projects before the quarter is over.

Continue Projects

For those of you who may have finished the projects, you may earn extra-credit by clicking on sample test questions, then taking a quiz. You will earn 1 extra-credit point for every quiz you complete correctly.
You also have the options of working on an assignment from another class, or reading a book.

Biography and Power Point continue today

Now that we have missed three days of school, everyone is rested up and ready to go!
I will have to give you 3 school days to work on the projects. So the projects will be due on Wednesday.
Need a reminder?

To write a biography you must complete the following before writing:

1. Select a person you are interested in
2. Find out the basic facts of the person's life.
3. Think about what else you would like to know about the person, and what parts of the life you want to write most about. Some questions you might want to think about include:
-What makes this person special or interesting?
-What kind of effect did he or she have on the world? other people?
-What are the adjectives you would most use to describe the person?
-What examples from their life illustrate those qualities?
-What events shaped or changed this person's life?
-Did he or she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky?
-Would the world be better or worse if this person hadn't lived? How and why?

To find biographies, go to:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
then find the heading "People important to the American Revolution"

To select a battle and collect information, go to:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
then find the heading "Battles of the American Revolution"

For a Power Point tutorial, go to:
http://www.actden.com/PP/

Another Snow Day

O.K., I'm tired of the snow. It can stop now, really. As you know, the two projects are due Friday. But..., since we have missed two days (at least), I am going to have to allow the projects to be turned in on Monday, the 14th.

Enjoy the snow, hopefully we will get back to work tomorrow!

Snow Day!!

Enjoy your day off! Remember, the biography and the Power Point are due Friday.

12/07/09, continue projects

Remember, you have this week to write a biography of a famous person from the Revolution, and create a Power Point of a major Revolutionary battle!

Review the instructions below:

To write a biography you must complete the following before writing:

1. Select a person you are interested in
2. Find out the basic facts of the person's life.
3. Think about what else you would like to know about the person, and what parts of the life you want to write most about. Some questions you might want to think about include:
-What makes this person special or interesting?
-What kind of effect did he or she have on the world? other people?
-What are the adjectives you would most use to describe the person?
-What examples from their life illustrate those qualities?
-What events shaped or changed this person's life?
-Did he or she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky?
-Would the world be better or worse if this person hadn't lived? How and why?

To find biographies, go to:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html

then find the heading "People important to the American Revolution"

When collecting information about a battle, remember who, what, where, when, and why

To select a battle and collect information, go to:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
then find the heading "Battles of the American Revolution"

For a Power Point tutorial, go to:
http://www.actden.com/PP/

Saturday Class!!!

If you have Saturday class, you may work on the assignment below, or work on one of the assignments on this site that you have not finished.

If you are not sure which assignments you have and have not finished, click on the Fairfield School District Parent/Student Portal on the upper right corner of the green box to the right, then look for any missing assignments.

To complete today's assignment, click on the following link, save the worksheet to a word document:
Document Analysis Worksheet: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/document.html

Go to the link below to read a pamphlet called "Common Sense". When you see the first page click on the start button, then read each section. Fill out the Document Analysis worksheet based on the information you find.
http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/

Biography/Battle Power Point/ continued

Just as you did yesterday, go back to Monday's blog to find instructions for the biography and the battle Power Point. Keep in mind, as you gather information, only collect the facts. If you write sentences and paragraphs from other authors, you will find that the ideas and words of those authors will appear in your work.
Look at this example and determine what fact(s) you can gather:

He was born the poor son of a broken down businessman, in a
ramshackle house found in the less than desirable part of town,
in the year 1937.

If you read this statement in a book about a person you are researching, what would you write in your research notes? It should not be a matter of simply re-phrasing what this author has written. The only fact that can be gathered from this statement is that the subject was born in 1937. Does this mean you cannot include opinions about the life of your subject in the biography? Absolutely not. You should include your opinions about the subject after you have researched and examined the facts about this person's life.
Again, collect facts, as many as possible, examine them and write the biography in your own style.

Biography/Battle Power Point/ continued

Having read and analyzed the Declaration of Independence, we are now ready to study the war aspect of the fight for independence. We will begin by looking at General George Washington and the early struggles of the Continental Army.

Then, you will either begin work on a biography of a famous war hero or heroine, or create a Power Point presentation of a Revolutionary War battle.

Not sure what to do, or where to begin?? Go to Monday's blog to find instructions for the biography and the Power Point. Both assignments are due next Friday, December 11.

Declaration of Independence Continued

In groups we will continue with the Declaration of Independence today. After the groups have finished and turned in the work, you may go to the following site and complete the activity:
http://www.texaslre.org/lfei_declaration.html

The Declaration of Independence

Today we began our analysis of the Declaration of Independence by looking at 17th century English philosopher John Locke. The study of Natural Law philosophy helps us to understand how Thomas Jefferson justified revolution. Did I say "revolution"? The word "revolution" means drastic and/or complete change. Many historians argue that the Founding Fathers were not looking for drastic change, rather, they wanted things to stay the same. They wanted the benefits of being a colony of the English Empire, but not the responsibility. Before 1763, the colonists ran things as they saw fit, did not pay taxes, and ignored the rules of the "Mother Country" when it came to international trade.
Others, make the argument that the fight for Independence was about Constitutional rights. These historians say the colonists had everything to lose in this war, and nothing to gain... except one thing- freedom.
What do you think?
Tomorrow, we will get into groups, and finish analyzing perhaps the greatest political document of our nation's history.

Wondering what "Natural Law" philosophy is? Click on the link below to find out

Declaration of Independence/ introduction to projects

We now know the causes and the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Today, we will begin study of the War itself.
You will complete the following tasks for this unit of study:
1. Analyze the Declaration of Independence.
2. Write a biography of a famous Revolutionary War hero or heroine.
3. Create a 5 slide Power Point for a Revolutionary War Battle.

To analyze the Declaration of Independence, go to:
http://eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_4/Unit_IVQ1R3.html

To write a biography you must complete the following before writing:

1. Select a person you are interested in
2. Find out the basic facts of the person's life.
3. Think about what else you would like to know about the person, and what parts of the life you want to write most about. Some questions you might want to think about include:
-What makes this person special or interesting?
-What kind of effect did he or she have on the world? other people?
-What are the adjectives you would most use to describe the person?
-What examples from their life illustrate those qualities?
-What events shaped or changed this person's life?
-Did he or she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky?
-Would the world be better or worse if this person hadn't lived? How and why?

To find biographies, go to:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
then find the heading "People important to the American Revolution"

To select a battle and collect information, go to:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
then find the heading "Battles of the American Revolution"

For a Power Point tutorial, go to:
http://www.actden.com/PP/

TEST DAY!!!

Today you finally get the chance to show what you know! All those days of notes, assignments, reading and studying will pay off today. The test is all multiple choice for a change, and we will grade it in class, so you will know your score before you leave for.....
THANKSGIVING VACATION! Good luck on the test.

If there are assignments you have not completed, finish during the long weekend, then turn in.

If you are caught up on assignments try coloring a turkey/pilgrim with your computer mouse:
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/thanksgiving/pilgrim-turkey.html

Review for Test

Today, we will watch the exciting conclusion of the historical fiction film "April Morning". On Wednesday we will take a test on causes of the American Revolution. Make sure you are familiar with the following topics:

Taxes:
-Sugar Act
-Stamp Act
-Townshend Acts
-Tea Act

Colonial reactions to taxes:
-violence
-boycotts
-began manufacturing products
-created committees of correspondence

Events:
-The Boston Massacre
-The Boston Tea Party
-Battles of Lexington and Concord

Ways British attempted to gather more income from the Colonies:
- Taxes
- Enforcing the Navigation Acts to end smuggling using Writs of Assistance

British actions viewed as "unconstitutional" by the Colonists
-Taxes of any kind (taxation without representation)
-Writs of Assistance
-Quartering of soldiers in peace-time
-The Intolerable Acts
-The Proclamation of 1763

Take a look at these links to study and take a practice test! Remember the test will not be about the French and Indian War, only that it led to a deep financial crisis for Great Britain.
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Colonial_Crisis/Stamp_Act_Crisis.html
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Colonial_Crisis/Stamp_Act_Congress.html
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Colonial_Crisis/Boston_Massacre.html
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Colonial_Crisis/TeaParty.html
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Colonial_Crisis/Intolerable_Acts.html
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Colonial_Crisis/Lexington_Concord.html
Another nice study tool is the Revolutionary War game to the right of this screen under games and quizes.

April Morning Continued

We will continue to watch April Morning today. Those of you reading historical fiction novels about the American Revolution should be thinking about the connections between the stories and the events and laws we studied last week as causes of the Revolution.

I wonder..., based on what you have learned, and the great examples of stories you have read and are currently watching, could you write a historical fiction story about the American Revolution? Would your main character be a boy or a girl? A Patriot, or a Loyalist? It has been estimated that only 1/3 of the colonists believed they should declare independence at the time the Declaration of Independence was written. Talk about conflict!

If you are sick at home today, you will miss the battle of Lexington. You will not need to make time outside of class to watch today's part of the film. However, you should watch the film below. It is a PBS series called "Liberty's Kids!". It is in a cartoon format and fun to watch.

Saturday Class

If you have Saturday class on 11/21, you will find your assignment below.

click on the following link, save the worksheet to a word document

Document Analysis Worksheet: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/document.html


Go to the link below to read a pamphlet called "Common Sense". When you see the first page click on the start button, then read each section. Fill out the Document Analysis worksheet based on the information you find.

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/

April Morning

As promised yesterday, we will be watching a film called "April Morning" in class. If you have Mrs. Kaska, Mrs. Bailey, or Mrs. Jones for reading, you have selected a historical fiction novel about the American Revolution. The film we will watch was a very good historical fiction novel about the American Revolution, that was adapted for a television movie by Hallmark.

If you are absent today, there will be no need to make up today's part of the film. However, I would like you to watch this video about Paul Revere's Midnight ride. It is from a PBS series called "Liberty's Kids!", and is in a cartoon format. Take 22 minutes from your busy schedule to watch this entertaining and educational video before Monday.

Events leading to the American Revolution

This week we have looked at laws passed by the English Parliament that helped lead the way to Revolution. Today, we will see how events such as the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party encouraged many to rebel.
For a full account of the Boston massacre by an anonymous source, click on the link below:
http://www.patriotresource.com/documents/bostonmass/anonymous.html

Eyewitness account from participant in the Boston Tea Party, George Hewes:
http://www.patriotresource.com/documents/teaparty.html

What do you know so far? Take a look at this PowerPoint, then see if you can answer the first 10 questions:
http://www.hardee.k12.fl.us/powerpoint/american_revolution.ppt

Tomorrow, we will begin watching my favorite Revolutionary War film- April Morning
The film is about a family living in the village of Lexington where the first shot of the war was fired. Since you are currently reading historical fiction in reading, and many of you have chosen Revolutionary War novels, this will fit right in!

No work for today. If you have not finished this weeks assignments, now would be a great time to finish.

Magna Carta/ English Bill of Rights

The English Colonists in general were prosperous. There were many opportunities available in America that did not exist in England, and, being 3,000 miles away from the "Mother Country", one would be hard pressed to find another group of people with more freedom. Why then, did the colonies rebel against the most powerful nation in the World?
Today, we will see that it was a matter of constitutional rights!
England's constitutional government is based on several documents. Today we will look at the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights.
Click on this link to the Magna Carta:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/print_friendly.html?page=index_content.html&title=Magna_Carta


Click on this link to the English Bill of Rights:
http://www.constitution.org/eng/eng_bor.htm

Magna Carta video: 30 seconds


English Bill of Rights (Declaration of Rights) video:

1. How was the Magna Carta different from the English Bill of Rights?

2. What basic rights that you think are important were not included in either of these two documents?

3. What were some basic ideas included in the Magna Carta?

4. Which parts of the English Bill of Rights do you think the Founding Fathers might have included in the Constitution? Explain your answers

Finish the British Laws Chart

Yesterday we discussed the French and Indian War, and how that led to a series of laws passed by Parliament. On the chart from yesterday's post: describe each law; give reasons why colonists did not like each of the laws; and finally, explain how they showed their dislike. You may use the links I gave to you yesterday, or you may use your textbook.

Need a little help? Try the following links:
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfm
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1443
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/E/townshend/dutiesxx.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/teaact.htm
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/intolerableactsdef.htm

The assignment is due tomorrow, but if you finish today you should click on the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/road.html
http://www.history.org/History/teaching/revolution/loyalty.html
These links are interactive games that will increase your knowledge of the American Revolution

British Laws Chart

Before we begin today's lesson, please complete a required school survey by clicking on the link below:
http://survey.gpaea.k12.ia.us/survey/19949/da62/

This week we will look at causes of the Revolutionary War. To start you will click on the link below, where you will find a worksheet about English laws passed having to do with the Colonists. Save the worksheet to a word document then fill it out. It is a chart to help you collect information.
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_4/Unit_IVQ1R1.html

To find information to fill out the chart, use the sites below:
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html

http://www.historycentral.com/REVOLT/causes.html

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/

http://www.kidport.com/Grade5/SocialStudies/AmericanRev.htm

There is a lot of information about causes of the American Revolution, but these sites should prove very useful!

Finish your work for the week

Remember, there were 3 assignments this week. Some of you have already finished, but for those who have not, your goal should be to finish today. If for some reason you are unable to finish today, I will give full credit for all three assignments on Monday, if turned in by class time.
If you cannot remember the instructions, go back to the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday blogs for a reminder.

If you are finished with the assignments, or you finish during class today, you may go to the sites on the right of my blog. Do not click on advertisements for other sites! Stay within the boundaries of the links I have given you.

Veterans Day

Today is a special day as we celebrate and remember veterans past and present. If you have finished the film questions, and the document based question activity from Monday and Tuesday (which should be turned in by Thursday), find out what you know about our fighting men and women!

First watch 13 min. film below. Answer the questions at the end of the film on a microsoft word document. The Veterans Day film questions are due tomorrow. when you finish, try the activities by clicking on the links above the film box:


Take this Veterans Day Quiz:
http://www.theholidayzone.com/veterans/veterans_day.htm

U.S. military quiz:
http://www.theholidayzone.com/veterans/military_trivia.htm

Veterans Day vocabulary quiz:
http://www.theholidayzone.com/veterans/veterans_vocab.htm

How well do you know the Star Spangled Banner? Find out!
http://www.theholidayzone.com/veterans/star-spangled_banner.htm

The Middle Passage continued, Document Based Questions

Make sure you have answered all of the film questions before beginning anything new today.

Click on the following link, then copy and paste images and questions 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b, to microsoft word document.
http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scostei/jun09/8SS-bk2-609w.pdf

Don't forget to answer the questions! Print and turn it in.

If you are finished with the film questions, and have answered the questions for today, please go to sample test questions to the right of this blog. Click on quiz 1, then answer the questions.

Monday, November 9, 2009 "The Middle Passage"

Not sure what "The Middle Passage" refers to???
Watch the video below, then answer the questions that follow! No need to watch the entire film,
only watch 35 minutes. That will give you the information you need to complete the assignment.


Copy and paste the following questions to a word document; answer the questions; print the word document; Turn it in!

1. What is "The Middle Passage"?
2. According to the film, how many slave ship mutinies were successful?
3. Name three items that were traded for slaves in Africa.
4. Why did some slave traders choose to "loose pack" slaves aboard their ships?
5. Why did some slave traders choose to "tight pack" slaves aboard their ships?
6. According to the film, about what percentage of African slaves were brought to the U.S.?
7. Name one way slavers gave Africans exercise on the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean.
8. One slave named Equiano became a slave trader himself. Which African nation was he kidnapped from?
9. Explain the job of a "Factor".
10. Which European nation was the first to ship slaves to the Americas?
11. How many Africans were shipped to the Americas by British ships?
12. Explain the "Triangle Trade".
13. Why were the owners of the slave ship "The Zong", brought to trial?
14. Who was the former slave ship captain that came to believe the slave trade was evil, became a minister, and wrote the song "Amazing Grace"?
15. In what year was the importation of African slaves abolished in Great Britain, and in the United States?

Colonial Journal due today!

If you have not already written the journal, today is your last day to work on it. Need a reminder for the instructions?? Click on the link below!

http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_3/Unit_IIIQ4R2.html

Need a reminder on how the assignment will be graded? Take a look!

http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_3/Unit_IIIQ4R3.html

Bored on your day off???

If you've finished the colonial journal assignment, take a look at these games on the Colonial Williamsburg site:
http://www.history.org/kids/games/

Enjoy your day off, the assignment is due tomorrow!

Continue Colonial Journal

Remember, this Journal assignment is not due until Thursday. Take your time and do it right.
If you need to do a little research try the following links!
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/graphics/13mapnew.htm

http://www.history.org/media/videos.cfm

Colonial Journal

Today students will travel back in time to explore life in the original 13 English Colonies. Set your time machine for the early 1700's, then click on the link below!
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_3/Unit_IIIQ4R2.html


Interested in how this will be graded? Click on the link below to find out!
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_3/Unit_IIIQ4R3.html

The assignment is due Thursday. Try your best, and have fun

If you need to do a little research, you might try going to the PBS colonial house site. The interactive history is very cool
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/index.html

History of Halloween

Interested in the history of Halloween? Take a look at this video from the History Channel!

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=halloween

Colonial Diversity

Today we are looking at diversity in the English Colonies. Each student will choose to research
one of the following: New England Colonies; Middle Colonies; or the Southern Colonies. There is a chart to use in order to collect information:
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_3/Unit_IIIQ4R1.html

Some sites that might help your research:

http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/00_01/CA/home.htm

http://www.kknfa.org/Religion_13Colonies.htm

http://cybersleuth-kids.com/americanhistory/chapter2/middlecolonies.htm
http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/colonization_ne_colonies.html
http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/colonization_s_colonies.html

Thursday, October 28, 2009

Today students categorized their colonial occupations as: upper sort; middlin sort; and lower sort. The second step was to place themselves in social rankings in colonial times. The English colonists came from a monarchic society. They were born into a particular order of society. Opportunities were limited to that social order. We then watched a film about Benjamin Franklin who managed to move up the ladder of success even in that monarchic system. In America opportunity was there for those who were willing to work hard.....

To learn more about Ben Franklin, click on the following link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=1215742n

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Today each student received a colonial occupation....
1) Describe occupation
2) Explain why that person is important to the colony
3) Justify your person as upper sort; middlin sort; or lower sort
You will need to do a little research, the links below might help!

http://legendsprings.dvusd.org/colonial_occupations.htm

http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/trades/tradehdr.cfm

http://colonial-america.suite101.com/article.cfm/colonial_occupations_in_early_american_history

Farmers: http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/trades/traderural.cfm
Planters: http://www.historypoint.org/education/teaching/history_backyard/tobacco_slavery_virginia_colonies.asp

Colonial Life

Today we "re-wrote" the Mayflower Compact. Hopefully, we learned a little about the people who signed it. For instance, only men signed the document because women were economically dependent on their husbands; Some of the men signed their name with "Mr." because they were considered gentlemen rather than commoners; and perhaps they lived in a perfect world where there were no rules for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Brand New!!!

Welcome to my blog. During the second quarter this year, students and parents should be able to follow assignments, go to important links, watch videos for class, and even play games for social studies skill building!