U.S. History for Wednesday & Thursday, October 28 & 29

1. Reviewed Immigration, Industrialization, & Progressive Era Test.
2. Completed #7-10 on Spanish American War worksheet which was begun last time.
3. Worksheet:  Acquiring New Lands.  Students were to complete only section A (complete the chart for questions 1-4) and section C at the bottom about Emilio Aguinaldo.  This sheet is due at the beginning of the period on Friday October 30 (odd classes) and Tuesday, November 3 (even classes).
   

Period 8 World History for Tuesday, October 27

1. Turned in homework:  pg. 344 #1, 3, 6
2. Began Imperialism Motives chart with partner.
   

Great Opportunity!!!

I received an email from our district recently about a chance for students to write an essay and win incredible prizes.  It would be great if my students got involved in this and I am here to help if you would like to give it a shot.  The teacher submitting the winning essay also gets a piece of the prize--double bonus!

Being An American  Essay Contest

The Bill of Rights Institute is sponsoring an essay contest which challenges students in grades 9-12 to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, helping them better understand and embrace America's civic values and founding principles.

The Question:  What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American? 

Trace the enduring importance of this value throughout the American story discussing: 

A founding document that reflects this value;

a figure from American history who embodies this value;

and examples of how you have and/or could put this value into practice.

Essays may be no longer than 750 words and may only be submitted online by a teacher. 

All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST, December 1, 2009. 

Complete contest rules and regulations, student eligibility, essay guidelines, judging and awards information may be found at:

www.BeinganAmerican.org/Letter

Eighteen Student and Teacher $5,000.00 cash prizes

Eighteen Student and Teacher $2,500.00 cash prizes

Eighteen Student and Teacher $1,250.00 cash prizes

...and more!

Twenty-Seven All Expense Paid Trips to Washington D.C.!

U.S. History Monday & Tuesday, October 26 & 27

1. Notes:  Taking Hawaii.  Copy from a classmate.
2. Video:  Yellow Journalism.
3. Worksheet: The Spanish American War
4. Homework:  page 345 #2, 3, 4.  Due next class at the beginning of the period.
   

Period 8 World History for Friday, October 23

1. Notes:  Reactions to the Industrial Revolution--Arts & Literature.  Copy from a classmate.
2. Imperialism vocabulary: copy from a classmate
3. Homework:  Pg. 344 #1, 3, 6
   

U.S. History for Thursday & Friday, October 22 & 23

1. Finish Imperialism Chart.
2. How should the U.S. respond:  North Korea & Darfur
   

U.S. History Immigration, Industrialization, & Progressive Era Test Make-Up Date

The make-up test for those who were absent on test day (because of a verified, cleared, EXCUSED absence) will now be Friday, October 23 at the beginning of lunch in my classroom.  Don't forget, no show = zero!

Period 8 World History for Wednesday, October 21

1. Notes:  Reforms of the Industrial Revolution.  Copy from a classmate.
2. Imperialism Introductory Game:  The Scramble for Africa
   

U.S. History for Tuesday and Wednesday, October 20 & 21

1. Took benchmark #1.  Make-up will be Friday, October 23rd at lunch in my classroom.
2. Notes:  U.S. Motives for Imperialism.  Copy from a classmate.
   

Period 2 U.S. History Monday, October 19

1. Turned in review sheet.
2. Took Immigration, Industrialization, & Progressive Era Test.  The ONLY make-up time will be Wednesday, October 21 at lunch in my classroom.  See me before then if you have a schedule conflict or you will receive a zero on that test.  No Show = Zero
   

Period 8 World History Monday October 19

1. Turned in storybook.
2. Turned in storybook packet.
3. Finished the Investigating the Effects of the Industrial Revolution chart.
4. Homework:  Industrialization Case Study:  Manchester
   

Periods 1, 3, & 5 Friday, October 16

1. Turned in essay.
2. Turned in review sheet.
3. Took Immigration, Industrialization, & Progressive Era Test.  Make up will be Wednesday, October 21 at lunch in my classroom.
4. Began Imperialism Spectrum chart.
   

Period 8 World History for Thursday, October 15

1. Last minute tips for the French Revolution Storybook which is due at the beginning of the period on Monday, October 19th.
2. Began investigating the effects of the Industrial Revolution.  Print out the handout and bring it to class.

NOTE:  I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY UPLOADING THE DOCUMENTS.  PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER.

Period 2 U.S. History for Thursday, October 15

We will be having our test on Monday the 19th.  Today in class we had a pre-assessment that covered topics from the entire school year.  The score won't count in your grade but if you participated in the assessment you will have earned 10 out of 10.  If you were absent today, you'll be excused from it.

Period 8 World History for Tuesday, October 13

Above:  George Stephenson's "Rocket," the first railroad locomotive.

There have been a lot of notes the last couple of periods.  You guys have done a great job of staying focused and paying attention.  Good work!

• Quick-write:  

• What improvements in farming helped create the agricultural revolution?
• How did the agricultural revolution help the industrial revolution?

• Notes on slides E through H.  Copy from a classmate.
• Video:  Technology Transforms an Age.  No make-up possible. 
  

Period 2 U.S. History for Tuesday, October 13 and Periods 1, 3, 5 for Wednesday, October 14

REMINDER:  There are some big things that will be impacting your grade in the coming days. 

• The Immigration, Industrialization, and Progressive Era Test is coming your way very soon.
• The "Bringing it All Together" essay is due on Thursday (even period classes) and Friday (odd period classes).
• The test review sheet is due on the day of the test as well.

Do well on these things and your grade will get a nice boost.  Slack off and do poorly, then your grade goes into the dumper.

Here's what we covered in class:

1. Tips from the Write Source books for writing your essay.
2. New vocabulary for our new unit on U.S. imperialism.  Copy from a classmate.
   
3. Assembled the Imperialism Spectrum chart that we'll be using in class next time.
   

Periods 1, 3, 5 for Monday, October 12

Just a reminder that we will be having our test on the Immigration, Industrialization, and Progressive Era unit on Thursday, October 15.  Here's what we did in class today:

1. Review sheet in preparation for the test.  The review will be due the day of the test.
2. Assigned an essay for this unit.  Also due the day of the test, typed.  This essay will follow all of the typical formatting of an essay for your English class:  hook, thesis statement, topic sentences, concluding paragraph, etc.

Period 8 World History for Friday, October 9

1. Vocabulary for our new unit, the Industrial Revolution.  Copy the terms and definitions from a classmate.
2. Notes on the Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.

Period 2 U.S. History for Friday, October 9

Just a reminder that we will be having our test on the Immigration, Industrialization, and Progressive Era unit on Thursday, October 15.  Here's what we did in class today:

1. Review sheet in preparation for the test.  The review will be due the day of the test.
2. Assigned an essay for this unit.  Also due the day of the test, typed.  This essay will follow all of the typical formatting of an essay for your English class:  hook, thesis statement, topic sentences, concluding paragraph, etc.
   

U.S. History Periods 1, 3, 5 Thursday, October 8

Continued with 7 Super Americans chart.  Copy the notes from a classmate if you were absent.
We will be having the test on this unit on Friday, October 16th, not Wednesday as previously announced.

U.S. History: W.E.B DuBois' The Souls of Black Folk

There is a new edition of W.E.B. Du Bois' classic work The Souls of Black Folk available from the Library of America (LOA).  We discussed this book the other day in class as we were reviewing Du Bois' ideas.  I read it last fall and found it intriguing.  This particular edition is really nice as the LOA puts together a quality book.  I wrote about the LOA last fall.  Incidentally, one of the people featured in the video I posted was Henry Louis Gates, the Harvard professor who became the key figure of the police incident that caused a firestorm this past summer.

Anyway, these books by the LOA are printed on acid-free paper and are beautifully produced.  I've seen some at Borders so you can get them there or find them at the Library of America website.

Period 8 World History for Wednesday, October 7

This class continues to make great strides.  You're doing a good job of taking care of your classwork and your behavior has come a long way.  Let's keep it up!

Today in class:

1. Worksheet on the Congress of Vienna.  Due Friday at the beginning of the period.
2. Industrial revolution vocabulary game.  Copy the terms from a classmate.
3. The final French Revolution Storybook work time in class.  We had about 20 minutes to work on it.  Also, because of the fair and the Wonder Valley Ranch camp going on next week for some students, I've extended the due date for the project for everyone.  It will now be due on Monday, October 19 at the beginning of the period.  You're welcome!
   

Period 2 World History for Wednesday, October 7

1. Finished off the 7 Super Americans chart.  Copy the notes from a classmate.
   
2. Watched a short video on the Gilded Age.  No make-up assignment for this.
   

Period 2 U.S. History Monday, October 5

1. We continued on with the 7 Super Americans chart.  Copy the notes from a classmate.
   

Periods 1, 3, 5 U.S. History for Tuesday, October 6

Hope you enjoyed the stations today.  Sounded like Pit kept everyone active and even stirred up some hostility!  Here's what we did today in case you were absent:

1. Notes on political machines.  Copy from a classmate.
2. Page 250 #5, 6 and page 272 #1, 2 all under the "Main Ideas" section (not the "Terms and Names" section).  This is due at the beginning of the period on Thursday, October 8.
3. Played Pit.  This game is designed to help you remember what a monopoly is.  That is what guys like Rockefeller and Carnegie tried to achieve.  There is no make-up assignment for this game--you missed it!
   

Period 8 World History for Monday, October 5

1. Finished the guillotine video.
2. Notes on Napoleon.  Copy them from a classmate.
3. Review the Democracy/6 Thinkers Test.
4. Storybook work time.  Don't forget that the storybook is due at the beginning of the period on Thursday, October 15th.  No excuses!
   

Periods 1, 3, 5 U.S. History for Friday, October 2

Same lesson plan as Period 2 for Thursday, October 1.

Period 2 U.S. History Thursday, October 1

1. Continue 7 Super Americans chart.  
2. Watched the first 20 minutes or so of Made in L.A.  There is nothing to make up for this part--you missed it!
   

Period 8 World History Thursday, October 1

1. Directions for the French Revolution Storybook Project.  Project is due at the beginning of period 8 on Thursday, October 15th.  Read the directions sheet carefully then get the rest of the packet from me in class on Monday the 5th.
2. Begin Guillotine video.  If you have a cleared, excused absence through the main office at school, you will be excused from the first portion of the video.  If your absence is not cleared through the main office, you will have a zero on the first portion of the video.  We will complete the video on Monday.
   

U.S. History: Made in L.A.

The video I'm showing (part of it, anyway) to my U.S. History classes right now is called Made in L.A. It highlights the struggle of immigrant laborers against the company Forever 21.  I came across this video a couple of years ago.  It was on PBS (yes students, some people actually watch PBS!) and I found it to be poignant and shocking.  Sadly, I almost expect there to be labor abuses in other countries around the world.  But workers being underpaid and abused here in the United States?  In California?  In Los Angeles, just a few miles from where I used to live?  Hard to believe, yet true.

There are scenes in the video from places I am very familiar with in L.A., including my beloved UCLA.  One of my favorite scenes is when the workers go to the Forever 21 store at the Beverly Center shopping mall and talk about how little they got paid to make some of the garments in the windows.  I like showing the film to my students because I think it opens their eyes a little bit to the struggle that many people face here in America and also brings the laborer's struggle that we discuss in the early 1900s up to the present time.  There are some thought-provoking issues and even though the majority of the film has English subtitles, students do a great job of paying attention.  Check out the website for the film.