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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