Class Agenda 12/21

1.  Bellringer:  Read rationing document (pg. 21)...answer questions 1-5 on pg. 23.
2.  Finish Government Involvement (Notes pg. 20)
3.  Propaganda Assignment

HW - Enjoy the vacation...I'll see you in 2013!

Class Agenda 12/20

1.  Bellringer:  How did President Wilson react after Congress voted to declare war?  Why do you think he reacted that way?  View Movie Clip.  Review HW.
2.  Homefront Movie Clip ... What happened to freedom in America during WWI?

• Government Involvement (Notes pg. 20)

HW -

Class Agenda 12/19

1.  Bellringer:  How did the Zimmermann Telegram encourage America to enter the war AGAINST Germany?  Review HW
2.  Read "Make War for Democracy"(pg. 12A-12B).  Answer "Questions for Review on pg. 12B.

HW - pg. 20...how does this document parallel/support title on pg. 12A?

Class Agenda 12/18

1.  Bellringer:  Re-read the bottom 3 lines of page 10.  What does it mean to be "impartial?"  Compare this statement to pg. 13.
2.  American Neutrality...just how neutral were we?  (pg. 12)
3.  Zimmermann Note (pg. 17-18).  How did this steer America towards war?

HW - pg. 16

Class Agenda 12/17

1.  Bellringer:  On a separate sheet of paper, take "Active Listening Notes" (like you do in ELA) on the Christmas Truce of 1914 (create a bulleted list:  What happened during the first Christmas of World War I?)  Listen to story below:

2.  Compare Active Listening Notes to the movie clip

HW -

Class Agenda 12/13

1.  Bellringer:  Why did trench warfare lead to a stalemate (neither side could win)?
2.  Finish Trench Warfare (Movie clip).  Identify reasons why trench warfare was so terrifying to soldiers.
3.  Read the following primary source document from Richard Schmieder (in the trenches), March 13, 1915.  What is he saying ABOUT trench warfare?

• “In three days, on a front of about 200 yards, we lost 909 men, and the enemy casualties amounted to thousands…. Don’t ask about the fate of the wounded! Anybody who was incapable of walking to the doctor had to die a miserable death; some lingering in agony for hours, for days and even for a week…..There are moments when even the bravest soldier is so utterly sick of the whole thing that he could cry like a child.” 

4.  Is THIS why America stayed out of the war?  Review HW.

HW - 

Class Agenda 12/12

1.  Bellringer:  If you had 2 projects due on Friday, would you...work on 1 project at a time...OR...work on both at the same time?  Why?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy?  Bridge discussion into the German Schliffen Plan for WWI

2.  Powerpoint on Trench Warfare (view slides 14 thru the end...finish notes pg. 6)

3.  Movie clip on Trench Warfare (5 mins)

HW - pg. 10-11

Class Agenda 12/11

1.  Bellringer:  Without looking at your notes....What were the long-term causes for World War I?  Hint....M.A.I.N.

2.  "The Spark" that starts the war (pg. 7-8)

3.  Geography of World War I (pg. 9...map on pg. 8B may help you.  You can skip question 5 on pg. 9)

HW - finish map

Class Agenda 12/10: World War I

1.  Bellringer:  How many of you have been blamed for something you didn't do (or only partially did)?  What is the cartoon saying about the blame for The Great War (World War I)?

2.  M.A.I.N - the causes of World War I (pg. 6).  Review class research with powerpoint (stop at slide 17).
3.  Clip:  Summary of World War I Causes

HW - 

Class Agenda 12/7

1.  Bellringer:  Why is today a "date which will live in infamy?"  71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  How does this apply to our current unit of study?  

2.  TEST:  American Imperialism 

HW - 

Class Agenda 12/6

1.  Bellringer:  Is there a short-cut that you take to get someplace?  Why do you use that route?

2.  Introduce the Panama Canal as a premier "short-cut."  Complete graphic organizer on pg. 23 while reading pgs. 16-22.  Follow up with discussion of how the canal works and a look at a live webcam

3.  Review Activity (pg. 24) - you'll need to know these places for the test tomorrow!

HW - Test tomorrow (pg. 25 - review sheet.  Click here for flashcards)

Class Agenda 12/5

1.  Bellringer:  Why is the statement "I'm starving" an example of a "figure of speech?"

2.  ELA in Social Studies!  "Big Stick" simile exercise/activity (pg. 13)

HW - Finish your simile cartoon

       - TEST on FRIDAY(review vocab and pg. 25)

Class Agenda 12/4

1.  Bellringer:  Do you know anyone that is "old-fashioned" or not "with" the times?  Examples?  Compare this concept to Japan during the era of American Imperialism...
2.  The US in Japan.
3.  Teddy Roosevelt's Big Stick Policy (pg. 12)

HW - Do pg. 15

Class Agenda 12/3

1.  Bellringer:  Ever call "dibs" on something?  "Shotgun" for the front seat?  See pg. 11g.  Discuss.

2.  Read "Open Door" Article (11a-11d) - do MVPs (11e-11f)

HW - finish MVPs (if not done)

       - LAST CHANCE FOR T-SHIRT SALE TOMORROW!  Click the logo for an order form.  

Class Agenda 11/30

1.  Bellringer:  Yellow Journalism...pgs. 9-10
2.  Review Spanish-American War:  A visual history:  Review of HW questions.
3.  Finish Overview of American Imperialism (pg. 4)

• Map Activity (pg. 8a-8b)

HW - none

        - Last chance to order a t-shirt on TUESDAY 12/4

Class Agenda 11/29: American Imperialism

1.  Bellringer:  Tell me about a time when you have taken advantage of or teased a younger sibling/cousin/etc...OR a time when an older sibling has taken advantage of or teased you.  Why was think able to happen?  Bridge discussion into the vocabulary term imperialism. 

2.  America Becomes a Colonial Power (Notes:  pg. 4, 6, 7).  Thru Alaska & Hawaii.

HW - pg. 8c thru 8g:  Do questions on 8g

Class Agenda 11/28

1.  Bellringer:  pg. 1
2.  TEST

HW - 8th grade t-shirt orders due tomorrow!

Class Agenda 11/27

1.  Bellringer:  Share your Progressive Bear with your table partner.  Looking at your packet cover, how is TR treating trusts?  

2.  Brain-pop on Teddy Roosevelt.  Notes (pg. 20b).  

• How did John Muir impact the movement toward conservation?

3.  T-shirt sale:  Show your J-D spirit, and help the relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  

4.  Unit vocabulary review exercise (pg. 4a-b).

HW - Study for Progressive Era Test TOMORROW

- use flash cards

Class Agenda 11/26

1.  Bellringer:  Brain-pop on Women's Suffrage.  Looking at pg. 18 - make predictions on the blanks.

2.  Who Could Vote?  (pg. 18).

3.  Teddy Roosevelt Research:  Progressive Bear Assignment.  We'll be using our class text book to gather research in class (...or at home:  pg. 602-605).  However,  you can consult this website for your research, if the pages linked above are unavailable.  

HW - Progressive Bear Assignment due TOMORROW

UNIT TEST - WEDNESDAY (use review sheet...and Unit Vocabulary Cards.

Class Agenda 11/20

1.  Bellringer:  Watch Susan B. Anthony clip and answer the questions on 15.  Bridge discussion on women's suffrage into today's activity.

2.  Opposition from Congress (pg. 19)

3.  Group Reading Activity..."Winning Votes for Women" (pg. 17a-17e).  

• 1917 Imprisonment of Alice Paul:  How did the prison address her hunger strike?  Why was this important?  Discuss.

HW - Finish 17d-e?
       - Progressive Era Test MONDAY (See pg. 4a-4b & 21)

Class Agenda 11/19

1.  Bellringer:  If you didn't have school today, how would you spend the day?  Do pg. 16 - how is your day different from kids during the Industrial Era?

2.  Watch clip on Sam Gompers - then answer the following questions:

• Summarize:  What did Gompers WANT for workers?
• What was the AFL?  
• What role was the Department of Labor (1913) to play in the lives of workers?  

3.  Proceed to other Social Progressive reforms (pg. 15)

HW - none

Class Agenda 11/16

1.  Bellringer:  Why do companies have to put these labels on their products?

Informing consumers about food ingredients wasn't always a priority for companies....

2.  Group Activity:  Read pages 9-11 and complete the column on pg. 14 titled "What was exposed?"  As a class, we will complete the column titled "What was the end result?"

3.  Rank the 3 muckrakers profiled today:  1 being the most important, 3 being the least important.  Which muckraker had the GREATEST impact on society?  Explain your ranking.

HW - none

Class Agenda 11/15

1.  Bellringer:  Review...Why was Thomas Nast and the Good Government League AGAINST Boss Tweed?  

2.  Political Reform Notes.

3.  Movie Clip:  How does this clip "spoof" the recall election of Gray Davis in 2003?

HW - none

The Tweedie's

Awards for the best Boss Tweed Theatre skits (by popular vote):

Period 2:  Kyle C, Mackenzie K, Akbar Q, Ryan C
Period 3:  Vincenzo D, Sarah H, Cassie D, Abbie L
Period 6:  Joe F, Jake D, Bri S, Joe K
Period 8:  Adam F, Mike Y, Matt S, Lauren N, Kristin L-G
Period 9:  Holly F, Giovanni A, Julia C, Aryanna N

Congrats to everyone on a job well-done!

Class Agenda 11/14

1.  Bellringer:  What is your own definition of teamwork?  Today we will be using teamwork to put together a skit for....

2.  Boss Tweed Theater !  In your group, you will have 5 minutes to organize a skit/dialogue/interaction between Boss Tweed, Thomas Nast, a member of the Good Government League, and a poor immigrant.  Your skit must include every member of your group in some way...and must be NO more than 2 minutes long.  Props are allowed.  Use your research from yesterday to help develop your skit.

3.  "Tweedie" Voting:  Which was the best team?

HW - 

Class Agenda 11/13

1.  Bellringer:  As a machine, the car has advantages and disadvantages.  Create a "T" chart and list + and - of the car.  Bridge discussion into the + and - roles of political machines...

2.  Political Machine Case Study:  Boss Tweed (pg. 7a).  Which groups liked/hated him?  How do you know?  Group research activity (Textbook pgs. 596-97).  Review.
3.  New Marking Period = new seats!  Reminder:  Every marking period we switch seats to change perspectives, and to be able to work with new people when we use "proximity" groups for collaboration.  Fresh start, new places, new faces.

HW - none

Class Agenda 11/9: Progressive Era

1.  Bellringer:  Look at the pictures in this powerpoint:  Review...

• What was happening?
• What were the effects of this event?

2.  Bridge Bellringer discussion into....Progressive Era Unit Intro (notes...pg. 5)

3.  Table partner Activity (pg. 6).  Review activity as a class...last page of slide show.  

4.  Veteran's Day Weekend:  Why do you think that we have Veteran's Day as a holiday?  Watch...

• The History of Veteran's Day.

HW - none

Class Agenda 11/8

DBQ:  Day 4...and our FINAL day of essay composition.

1.  Bellringer:  Review your work from yesterday and pick up where you left off in composing your DBQ essay.

2.  When you finish writing your essay, complete the DBQ Checklist.

HW - none

Class Agenda 11/7

DBQ:  Day 3

1.  Discuss election results.

2.  Finish honing your outline...5-7 minutes.
3.  Review pg. 4 of your DBQ writing packet

4.  Begin writing the essay (use pen, on loose-leaf paper, skipping lines as you write).  Tomorrow you will finish writing the essay and complete a checklist of essential components.

HW - None

Mock Election Results

JDMS elected Barack Obama for another term...he won 61.2% of the votes cast.  Thanks for participating!

Class Agenda 11/6

DBQ:  Day 2

1.  Bellringer:  Read DBQ packet (pink):  pgs. 1, 4

2.  Review CRQ questions and analysis.  Discuss Part B (essay) directions.  How many documents do you have to use in your essay?

3.  Create thesis statement and an outline.  Essay writing will start tomorrow and wrap-up on Thursday.

HW - watch election coverage!

Class Agenda 11/5

DBQ: Day 1 

Document Based Question Essay on the Industrial Revolution begins today!
Together, we will be working on reviewing and improving our DBQ Essay procedure.

1. Read DBQ Essay question/directions
2. Brainstorm: What were the + and - effects of the Industrial Revolution? List BEFORE you read the CRQ (Constructed Response Questions) that are based on the documents.
3. Read the DBQ directions in the "Guide to Writing DBQ's" packet (pg. 1): Steps 1-2. Read pg. 5 to review on "How and Why to Analyze Documents."

HW - Answer CRQ questions

Class Agenda 11/2

1.  Bellringer:  Do pg. 1
2.  TEST:  Industrial Revolution

HW - watch the news (storm recovery AND election coverage)

Class Agenda 11/1

1.  Bellringer:  What is the essential difference between a farmer's market and a stock market?  What is similar between the 2?  Create a "T" chart of similarities and differences.

2.  Brain-pop:  Stock Market...Check the "markets."  What is an index?  How does that represent the "health" of the economy?  What is a bull/bear market?

3.  Test Review:  on page 5, define the unit vocabulary in your own words....without looking them up.  Check/edit your work.

HW - Study for test tomorrow:  Use the review sheet on pg. 29, and the Quia flashcards

Class Agenda 10/31

1.  Bellringer:  Why do people collect "stuff" like baseball cards, coins, stamps, autographs, etc?  Bridge discussion into the concept of "buy low, sell high"...a key principle of investment.

2.  Discussion of pg. 17a-c.  Brain-pops on "Stocks."

3.  Stock case study:  Apple, Inc.  Using the internet, we will check the value of Apple stock today, and use "hindsight" to see what could have been, if we invested at various times over history (pg. 19a-b)

HW - Ind Rev Test on FRIDAY  

        - Click here to review vocab flashcards

Class Agenda 10//30

1.  Bellringer:  pg. 25a.  Define urbanization - 

2.  Movie - Profile on city life:  crime, poor immigrants, sanitation, and new inventions (answer questions on pg. 25a.  Discuss.

3.  On a separate sheet of paper, write a poem synthesizing what we have learned over the past few days: 

Topic = What was life like for the urban poor during the Industrial Revolution?

• Length:  MINIMUM 3 stanzas with 4 lines in each  
• Style:  Rhyme OR free verse (be aware of the beats per line...so that it "flows")
• Techniques:  Consider pg. 7-8 of "The Bob"... and using an element of poetry, such as simile, metaphor, imagery, personification
• Social Studies Content:  Use your packet pgs. 23-28.  
• Have fun with it!

HW - finish poem
       - TEST Friday (pg. 29, Blog)

Class Agenda 10/29

1.  Bellringer:  Pg. 26a...Jane Addams/Hull House question:  See clip... Jane Addams.

2.  Discuss and review pg. 25b

3.  Jigsaw Activity:  Town Meetings (pg. 28).  Contrast:  Life for the working class vs. life for the upper/middle class.

HW - none

Class Agenda 10/26

1.  Bellringer:  What are some of the + and - of a longer school day (8:00am-6:00pm)?  Bridge discussion into the painfully long days of factory workers during the Industrial Revolution.

2.  Notes (pg. 26a)  Child Labor movie clip.

3.  Movie Clip - Mother Jones.  Answer question on the bottom of 26a.  What is the status of child labor today (ex - coco industry)?

HW - Do pg. 25b

Class Agenda 10/25

1.  Bellringer:  What is the importance of our school fire drills?  List.

2.  Primary Source Analysis:  Shirtwaist Factory Fire article and questions (pg. 20-23).  Discuss answers.

3.  Electoral Map 2012...what are the candidates doing now that the debates are over?  

HW - pg. 24

Class Agenda 10/24

1.  Bellringer:  Andrew Carnegie clip:  How did he impact the Industrial Revolution?  Cause & Effect...
2.  Turn-in Tiered Activity and 10 week extra credit
3.  Review work from yesterday:

• "Monopoly Men" (pg. 8)
• Sherman Anti-trust Act primary source activity (pg. 9-11)

4.  Ida Tarbell vs. JD Rockefeller (video clip).  Answer the following questions:

• Define muckraker -
• How long did Tarbell work on her book?
• What was the effect of her book?  

HW - Read pgs. 30-33

Class Agenda 10/23

1.  Bellringer:  REVIEW...why are corporations bad for consumers, but good for the owners?

2.  Monopoly Men Activity (pg. 8).  Summarize:

• What industry did they monopolize?
• How did he create a monopoly?
• How big was their monopoly?

3.  Review Philanthropy...

HW - Sherman Anti-Trust Act document and questions

Class Agenda 10/22

1.  Bellringer:  Read "What is a Corporation" on pg. 16 of your unit packet.  Answer the following:  What is a corporation?  How can corporations raise $?  If Nike is viewed as a "person," what kind of person is it?  

2.  Tiered Activity (TA= tiered activity packet)...Day 2.  Do quiz on pg. 4 of TA.  Grade quiz as a class...then go on to page 5 and follow the directions based on what you scored on the quiz.  You might need to use your unit packet (as indicated on pg. 5 of TA).

3.  10 WEEK EXTRA CREDIT:  Imagine that you are SMALL business owner living during the Industrial Revolution.  Your business (and consumers) has been negatively impacted by rise of "robber barons" and their monopolies of this era.  Using at least FIVE vocabulary words on pg. 1(TA), write a letter to your Senator explaining reasons why our government should regulate and/or declare monopolies illegal.  Do this assignment on a separate sheet of paper.  Highlight the vocabulary in your letter.  

HW - finish your assignment in the TA packet (if you didn't finish in class)

       - 10 Week Extra Credit due Wednesday  

       - Watch the debate tonight @ 9:00!

Class Agenda 10/19

1.  Bellringer:  Why do you think that Monopoly the "world's most popular board game?"

2.  Mini-Project:  Tiered Activity (TA= tiered activity packet).  We will be using this packet WITH our unit packet (UP= unit packet).

• Review vocabulary you will encounter in your reading (pg.1 TA)
• Read article "Monopoly - Not Always a Game" (pgs. 12-16 UP) and complete the MVPs (on pg.2-3 TA) as you read each "Section."  An MVP is the "Most Valuable Point" of a section of reading.  Your must summarize (not copy) and/or identify the "most valuable point" of each section of the reading.  
• A "Section" is 2 paragraphs of reading.  For example, "Section 1" will be the first 2 paragraphs of the reading...Section 2 will be the next 2 paragraphs...and so on.  

HW - Do pg. 17

Class Agenda 10/18

1.  Bellringer:  A unemployed man steals food to feed his hungry family.  Is he a hero or criminal?  Both?  Explain.  Bridge to discussion of perspective...and link bellringer concept to the contrasting terms of captain of industry and robber baron.

2.  Brain-pop:  Industrial Revolution.  Review from last year, and pre-view for this unit...why do we consider this the Second Industrial Revolution?
3.  Industrial Society Notes (pg. 7).  Powerpoint will transition the class to pg. 6 activity.

HW - none

Class Agenda 10/17: The (2nd) Industrial Revolution

1.  Bellringer:  Billionaire...pg. 4A-4B.  Discuss...and bridge to Homestead Act primary source analysis (pg. 4D).  What were the risks and rewards for taking advantage of the Homestead Act?

2.  Homestead Notes (pg. 4C).  On the bottom of 4C, answer the following question after watching the video clip:  How were Native Americans impacted by the Homestead Act?  List 3.

HW - none

Class Agenda 10/16

1.  Bellringer:  Do pg. 1
2.  Immigration Era Test

HW - Watch "Round 2" of the Presidential Debates tonight!

Class Agenda 10/15

1.  Bellringer:  Get your project from the pile and put it on your desk.
2.  Gallery Walk:  We will have some time to walk around the room and appreciate the hard work of our classmates.
3.  Reminder:  Test tomorrow...use your review sheet and the flash cards on "The Blog"

HW - Study for Immigration Test

Class Agenda 10/12

1.  Bellringer:  pg. 18-19.  How did America change in their treatment of immigrants?

2.  Read the article "Are Illegal Immigrants Good for the U.S. Economy?" on page 20.  Create a "T" chart on pg. 21 with a summary for each side of the argument...3 bullet points for each side.  Who do you agree with?  Why?  

3.  Project Advice and Q & A.  How do I make sure that I get a good grade?

• Follow ALL directions in the task
• Do NOT "copy and paste" your research...this is called plagiarism...and is a serious academic offense!  
• Properly budget your time, so that your project is on time
• Be sure to include citation for your sources on the BACK of the poster (use the directions I gave you)
• Make sure it is neat, clean, and thoughtfully planned
• Make sure you have appropriate resources (I have poster board and other resources for those financially in need of help)
• Be careful with your project on your way to school on Monday:  Check the weather before school (garbage bag?) & avoid rolling it up.  Come directly here Monday morning to drop it off.  

4.  Discuss Vice Presidential debate.

HW - Project due MONDAY 

        - Test TUESDAY (use your review sheet to get ready!)

Class Agenda 10/11

1.  Bellringer:  Looking at the chart on pg. 15a, answer the following question:  What happened to the number of Chinese immigrants between 1881-82?  1882-84?  Introduce immigration quota.  Review nativism.

2.  Activity:  Chinese Exclusion Act (pg. 14-15)

3.  Movie Clip:  After viewing the movie clip below, answer the following questions:

• How were Chinese launderers treated differently than white launderers in San Francisco?
• In the Yick Wo case, who did the Supreme Court decide in favor of?    

4.  Review Sheet for Test on TUESDAY

HW - Project due Monday 10/15

       - Unit Test on Tuesday 10/16

Class Agenda 10/10

1.  Bellringer:  Do questions on pg. 6.  Using question 1, we will look at the change in the immigration of different groups, and discuss the emergence of nativism - the policy of protecting the interests of "native" inhabitants against those of immigrants.

2.  Group-Directed Activity:  Read "Coming to America" on pgs. 8-10.  As you read, discuss, and complete chart on pg. 11 summarizing each era of immigration.

HW - Project Due on MONDAY 10/15
       - Immigration Test 10/16

Class Agenda 10/9

1.  Bellringer:  What was the impact of immigration on modern culture?  A son of an Arab American, and Caucasian American created a company worth $300 Billion and employs around 50,000 people across the planet.  Steve Jobs was worth over $8 billion, and not only had a significant impact the economy, but on American culture as well.

2.  How did Ellis Island work?  Ellis Island video clip.  

3.  Take Citizenship Test:  How can immigrants become US citizens?  Notes...see last page of slide show (pg. 13c)

4.  Student Council Announcement:  Anyone interested in being involved with student council/volunteer work should attend a meeting during 8th grade lunch on Thursday, October 11th.  The meeting will take place in Room 17.  Mrs. Ferris will be facilitating the meeting.  We will not be having an election process for this year's student council, so if you want to be involved, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you attend this first meeting on Thursday during lunch.

HW - Project Due on MONDAY 10/15 (anyone have a late contract?)

       - please let me know TODAY if you need help getting supplies!

Class Agenda 10/4

1.  Bellringer:  Imagine that someone is going to move to J-D from Egypt.  What advice would you give them about how to adapt to life here?  List 3-5.  Bridge discussion to assimilation...

2.  Mary Antin HW Review & Movie Clip

3.  Discuss Presidential Debate - fact vs. fiction?

HW - Work on Project - let Mr. Law know if you need help with supplies

       - Project due 10/15 (get supplies?)

Class Agenda 10/3: Immigration Unit

1.  Bellringer:  Think of a place that you would like to live (other than upstate NY):  Complete the "T" chart in the powerpoint (see agenda item #3 below)...what do you like about the place where you would like to live?  What would you NOT miss about living here?  Bridge discussion to push factors and pull factors of immigration.

2.  Activity:  Complete pg. 5

3.  Review (powerpoint...see pg. 7)

HW - Pg. 4a-4b...do q's 1-3 (pg. 4b)
        - Watch debate @ 9:00
        - Project contract due tmrrw

Class Agenda 10/2

1.  Bellringer:  Pg. 1
2.  Reconstruction Era Test
3.  Immigration Project discussion.  Anyone who needs supplies should see me before THURSDAY.

HW - Project contract due Thursday 10/4
        - Project due Monday 10/15

Class Agenda 10/1

1.  Bellringer:  Complete carpetbaggers reading selection:  Why did carpetbaggers go to the South...and why did they leave?

2.  Roots of Segregation (pg. 24 notes).  Have you ever broken a rule at home?  Do you have any rules at home that have "loopholes?"  Bridge discussion to Jim Crow/segregation laws in the South.

3.  Plessy v. Ferguson:  What role did this case play in segregation?

4.  Vocabulary Challenge (pg. 4-5).  Create your own definitions and/or pictures without looking them up!  Spend EXTRA time studying the ones that you had trouble with...

HW - Pg. 26 - Test Tomorrow

Class Agenda 9/28

Note:  Mr. Law is attending a workshop today.

1.  Bellringer:  As a pre-read exercise, complete the True/False questions on pg. 18.

2.  Group-Read-Activity:  Read article on the Jim Crow South (pg. 19-20).

3.  Go back to pg. 18 and check/correct your T/F responses...for each question, provide "Evidence" at the bottom of the page for why the response is true or false.  What statement in the reading helped you draw your T/F conclusion?

4.  Review answers as a class.

HW - none

Class Agenda 9/27

1.  Bellringer:  Do Q's on pg. 25.  How were Southern African-Americans negatively impacted after the Civil War?

2.  Sharecropping discussion (pg. 17) Why is sharecropping sometimes referred to as "the ghost of antebellum South?"

3.  Vocabulary Review (pgs 4-5).  Class Activity - in your groups identify and summarize the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.  Your summary must be 5 words or less!  Draw a picture to represent each amendment.  Divide a piece of notebook paper into thirds...using one section for each amendment...we will model this "foldable" technique in class.  

HW - Test Tuesday...use review sheet (pg.26) and blog:  Click for Vocab Flashcards

Class Agenda 9/25

1.  Bellringer:  View video clip (reviewing the impeachment topic from yesterday) and answer the following question:  How did Andrew Johnson create conflict with the Radical Republicans?

2.  Pg. 16 bottom..."Review."  Did checks and balances work in the case of Andrew Johnson?  

3.  KKK - "A Failed Revolution" view last 2 minutes of clip (above) - discuss and view powerpoint.  What was the role of the KKK in the "New South?"  What kind of impact did they have?  

HW - none

Class Agenda 9/24

1.  Bellringer:  Which is best...A)  SU Football   B) SU Basketball  C)  SU Lax  D) None of the above.  Introduce concept of bias - favoring one side or another.  Bridge concept to the political bias now, and post-Civil War...

2.  Contrast Moderate and Radical plans for Reconstruction...What are the basic beliefs of each group? (use pg. 9...use pg. 9 to help complete pg. 11)

3.  "Impeaching a President" (read pgs. 13-15 and complete handout).

HW - finish handout

Class Agenda 9/21

1.  Bellringer:  In your opinion, what is the hardest part of forgiving someone?  Explain.  Bridge discussion into the vocabulary term:  amnesty

2.  Lincoln's Death...and plan for Reconstruction (pg. 7)

3.  Freedman's Bureau Powerpoint (pg. 6)

HW - Finish pg. 11?  If not done...

Class Agenda 9/20

NEW UNIT:  The Reconstruction Era

1.  Bell Ringer:  How does it feel to lose?  List.  Compare these feelings to the feelings in America after the Civil War.
2.  View Video Clip:  What was the nation "feeling" after the Civil War?  Southern whites?  Veterans?  Northerners?  Black Southerners?  

3.  Reconstruction Intro (p.pt.)

4.  SSR...Unit Preview (pg. 12a-12b)

HW - Finish reading pg. 12a-12b

Class Agenda 9/19

1.  Bellringer:  What determination can you make about the chart?  Does this mean that Obama will lose his bid for re-election?  Explain.

2.  "Obama:  Pass or Fail?" Read article and complete the handout.  We'll be using our "Group Reading Strategy" to accomplish this task.

3.  Discuss results...

HW - finish Obama assignment (if not done)

Class Agenda 9/18

1.  Social Studies 8 Pre-test...what do you already know about American history?
2.  Current Event/Election coverage

HW - none

Class Agenda 9/14

HAPPY CONSTITUTION DAY (observed today, rather than 9/17)!

1.  Bellringer:  Do page 1.  

2.  QUIZ:  Geography & Civil War 

3.  Test your knowledge on the Constitution with the Constitution IQ Quiz

•  Why is the Constitution so important to us?

HW - Watch the news!

Class Agenda 9/13

1.  Bellringer.  The answer to this will surprise you!
2.  Emancipation Proclamation (pg. 30-31)

3.  Civil War Battles - Quick Overview.  Discuss changing technology in warfare.
4.  Breaking News...what have you seen/heard about the embassy protests/attacks?  What's it all about?

HW - Use blog and packet to review for Review Quiz tomorrow

Class Agenda 9/12

1.  Bellringer:  Describe a time when you "put something off," when it really needed to get done.  Has that ever happened with school work?  How did that work out?  Explain.  Make connection to the compromises made in regards to the slavery issue (putting the slavery issue off) in the decades before the Civil War.

2.  Civil War Review:  Causes of the Civil War (pg. 25-26) & Timeline (pg. 27-28)
3.  S.P.A.M. activity (pg. 29)

4.  BREAKING NEWS:  US Ambassador killed in Libya

HW - Read pg. 9-13

Class Agenda 9/11

1.  Turn-in/Grade Map assignment

2.  Bellringer:  What does this statement mean to you?  "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."  How does this apply to us on this anniversary of 9/11?  

2.  9/11 Discussion and Movie Clips:

• Brain-pop - "9/11"
• How 9/11 Changed Us (5 Min) 
• The day the 21st century began (6:20) 

HW - Read packet pgs. 9-13 (Start at "Impact" section on bottom of pg. 9) 

Class Agenda 9/10

1.  Bellringer:  If you were visiting another state, and someone asked you where Syracuse is...how would you give them an idea about where you are from?  Introduce term - relative location

2.  5 Themes of Geography Notes (pg. 3)

3.  Map Activity

4.  Last call for late "stuff"...after today, unexcused late assignments will not be accepted (as per our discussion of the class expectations)

HW - Finish Map Activity 

Class Agenda 9/7

Note:  Only periods 2, 3 and 9 will follow the agenda below.  The schedule has been altered due to the Science Pre-test and Picture Day.  

1.  Bellringer:  Think back to last year in Social Studies....what caused the Civil War?
2.  Civil War/Slavery movie clip and class discussion

HW - Last call for late assignments will be MONDAY.  After that point, late assignments will not be accepted.

Class Agenda 9/6

1.  Bellringer:  To write a good paragraph, what do you need to include?  List....  

2.  Collect Expectations Sheet

3.  Me, Myself and I Writing Exercise:  Draft a biographical paragraph about a classmate.  Remember:  

• Topic Sentence
• 3 Supporting facts/details
• Concluding Statement

HW - Finish Paragraph

- Late Profile -or- Expectations Sheet?  Last chance for points...

Class Agenda 9/5

1.  Bellringer:  Put your profile on your desk and write tonight's homework in your planner.
2.  Collect Profiles.  Although late homework will not typically be accepted, I will accept Profiles tomorrow.
3.  Discuss class expectations (Social Studies with Mr. Law)

HW - Signed expectations sheet
HW2 - Any late Profiles?  Do you have your SS binder?

Welcome 8th Graders!

1.  Attendance & get your seat for the first marking period
2.  Introductions:  Mr. Law, Room 204, & Social Studies 8
3.  Student Profile - complete and have it signed at home

HW - Parent/Guardian Signature on Profile
Supplies - 3 ring binder (1.5 or 2", loose leaf paper, writing utensils)

Congratulations 8th Graders!

Best of luck to you and your future!  You will do a phenomenal job at the high school...and beyond!  Enjoy your summer...

Class Agenda 6/18 - 6/22

Last Week of School!

Monday 6/18 - Global History I (9th grade) pre-test.  "Are you ready for High School?" - p.pt.
Tuesday 6/19 - 8th grade class trip
Wednesday 6/20 - Periods 2-3 ONLY:  Finish Forrest Gump and complete the analysis of the movie.  Red Ram Day for the remaining periods.
Thursday 6/21 - Period 6 ONLY:  Half-day
Friday 6/22 - 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony.  Good luck at the High School!

Class Agenda 6/11-6/15

This week we will be analyzing the historical events presented by the film Forrest Gump (edited version).  As we watch the movie, will make daily observations of historical events, and how those events connect to the topics that we have learned about over the past several weeks.  Each student will be responsible for a movie critique, an interpretation of the feather (from the opening scene), and we will even write a new "chapter" of the movie choosing an event for Forrest to be written into between 1984-present...  This is the FINAL grade of Social Studies 8! Click here for the handout.

FINAL EXAM WEEK (6/4-6/8)

FINAL EXAM - FRIDAY JUNE 6th 

We will be prepping for our final exam this week in class.  Due to a number of interruptions during our school week, students will be required to keep up with the following review assignment in the "8th Grade Social Studies Review Sheets" packet.

Monday June 4 - pgs. 1-4
Tuesday June 5 - pgs. 5-8
Wednesday June 6 - pgs. 9-12
Thursday June 7 - pgs. 13-18  (p.pt. 17-18)
Friday June 8 - FINAL EXAM


Students are encouraged to use the flashcards that are available via the main page on this blog.  Students are also encouraged to use old packets and tests to prepare for the Final Exam.  Even the blog itself could be a great tool to review old material...notes...and even movie clips.  Good luck!  

Current Issues Project (5/21-6/1)

1.  Monday May 21st:  Discuss directions...choose topic and partner.  Start reading and taking notes on the articles for your topic.

2.  Tuesday May 22nd:  Finish reading the articles...and find an article for "Step 4" on the project packet.

3.  Wednesday May 23rd:  NYS STATE SCIENCE EXAM.  Regular classes will not be in session, but students may work on Steps 1-4, if they are behind.

4.  Thursday May 24th:  Complete Steps 4-5.  Start considering Steps 7-8...with remaining time.  Plan out what supplies you will need for TUESDAY'S class.  I'll supply markers, colored pencils, and straight edges.

5.  Tuesday May 29th - Wednesday May 30th:  In-class work days (Steps 7-8).

6.  Thursday May 31:  PROJECT DUE DATE.  Presentations begin...

Class Agenda

1. Bellringer:  Watch Brainpop on "Political Party Origins"... discuss.
2. Use a laptop to complete the "Modern Politics" handout
3. With the remaining time in class go to www.icivics.org/games....and on the back of your class work sheet...identify which game you played and explain what you learned from that game.

 HW - none

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  What determination can you make about the chart?  Does this mean that Obama will lose his bid for re-election?  Explain.

2.  View clip.
3.  "Obama:  Pass or Fail?" Read article and complete the handout.
4.  Discuss results...

HW - finish Obama assignment

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Does a president's personal choices affect your opinion of him?  What if he is doing a good job running the nation?  Explain.
2.  Bill Clinton and George W. Bush's Presidencies.

• Bill Clinton Biography
• George W. Bush Biography and 9/11 clip

3.  How will history remember George W. Bush? As a good president, bad president, both?


HW - none

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Watch clip...What was Reagan's legacy as our nation's president?  What is meant by the title..."The Great Communicator?"
2.  Discuss the rise of Conservatism and the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

HW - none

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Does the president have to play by the same rules as the rest of us?  Or should he have the power to do whatever he wants (if it helps keep us safe)?  Brain-pop...Richard Nixon.
2.  Presidents Nixon thru Carter

• Watergate and Nixon's pardon
• Iran Hostage Crisis

HW -

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Pass back old materials...review for Assessment
2.  Civil Rights Assessment
3.  Cesar Chavez Brain-pop

HW - none

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  pg. 21-22
2.  Discuss the issues AFTER the Civil Rights legislation.  Civil Rights today?  Discuss President Obama's statement...

HW - Quiz tomorrow

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  What type of roles does TV play in our society today?  List.  Bridge discussion to the importance of TV during the Civil Rights Era...
2.  View Civil Rights Highlights Clips (pg. 23).

• Clip 1
• Clip 2
• Clip 3
• Clip 4 & 5

3.  Based on the footage you saw in the clips...Why do you think TV was so important in the successes of the Civil Rights movement?  How was this similar to what we discussed about the TV and the Vietnam War?  How does Social Media play a similar role today?

HW -

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Contrast philosophies...how was Malcolm X different from Martin Luther King, Jr?
2.  Civil Rights Overview:  1.e - 1.k

HW - finish overview

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Martin Luther King, Jr Brain-pop.  What technique to MLK, Jr use to try to change our nation?
2.  Class Activity:  pg. 2.  View Clip.
3.  Why was Jackie Robinson important to the Civil Rights Era?


HW -

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Brain-pop...Brown v. Board of Education Topeka.
2.  "Black and White Together" (pg. 13-19).  Do pg. 20 questions 1-3 at bottom.
3.  Central High clip.  What problem still remained after Brown v. Board?

HW -

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Read pg. 1d...What is segregation?  View Clip...Jim Crow South
2.  Roots of Segregation (pg. 1c)
3.  Brown v. Board of Education (pg. 11-12)  View Clip

HW - finish pg. 11-12

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  In 3 words or less...describe your reaction to watching "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till"

2.  Answer the question:   Why was Emmett Till so important to the Civil Rights Era? 

3.  Create a tombstone for Emmett Till.  Include an epitaph (definition - a concise phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died).  Your epitaph MUST be 30 words or less...4 lines max...AND MUST relate to the question in #2 above.  Bonus for additional poem, haiku, or cinquain.  

HW - finish tombstone

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  ESSENTIAL QUESTION - Why was Emmett Till so important to the Civil Rights Era? 

2.  Complete "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till"

HW -

Class Agenda: Civil Rights Era Unit

1.  Bellringer:  What rights are we guaranteed by our Constitution?  Bridge discussion to the Civil Rights Era and segregation.  Rights were NOT guaranteed to our African-American citizens...

2.  Civil Rights Case Study:  Emmett Till.  Why was Emmett Till so important to the Civil Rights Era? 

HW -

Class Agenda

MATH TESTING DAY:  We will be operating on a 2 hour delay schedule, so our class periods will be shortened. 

1.  Bellringer:  Brain-Pop..."Cold War" review
2.  Quiz

HW - none

Class Agenda

MATH TESTING DAY:  We will be operating on a 2 hour delay schedule, so our class periods will be shortened. 

1.  Bellringer:  Brain-pop review of the Vietnam War
2.  The Cold War Goes Global (pg. 48...powerpoint)

HW - Cold War Quiz tomorrow (use the studying hints given in class)

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  What was your impression of our guest speaker yesterday?  Identify one "tid-bit" that you learned....
2.  Vietnam Stations (pgs. 58-60).  Movie clip for pg. 58
3.  Review Station work

HW - pg. 57

Class Agenda

Class will meet today in the LGIR for our guest speaker Mr. Rybek, who will be sharing some stories about his experiences in Vietnam.

HW - finish questions from "Fall of Saigon" article

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Watch Video Clip...as a summary of our last 2 classes.
2.  Guided Reading Activity (pgs. 62-65)

HW - none

Class Agenda

ELA TESTING DAY:  We will be operating on a 2 hour delay schedule, so our class periods will be shortened. 

1.  Bellringer:  What is the difference between gorilla and guerilla?
2.  Finish Vietnam (powerpoint)...pg. 48

HW - none

Class Agenda

ELA TESTING DAY:  We will be operating on a 2 hour delay schedule, so our class periods will be shortened.  

1.  Bellringer:  What was the domino theory?
2.  Vietnam Notes (powerpoint)...pg. 48

HW - none

Class Agenda

ELA TESTING DAY:  We will be operating on a 2 hour delay schedule, so our class periods will be shortened.  

1.  Bellringer:  View Clip:  What was McCarthyism?
2.  Review Rosenberg Questions
3.  Notes:  pg. 49-50

HW - none

Class Agenda: Cold War Unit Part II

1.  Bellringer:  Complete a "T" chart for review.  Label one side Western Bloc, and the other side Eastern Bloc....classify the following:  democracy, totalitarian, command economy, capitalism, NATO, Warsaw Pact, USSR, USA.  Bridge bellringer from review/known to new/unknown...

2.  The Rosenberg Trial (pg. 51-56)

HW - finish Rosenberg questions

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  How are your interests/hobbies/music/likes/dislikes different from your parents or guardians?  Create a "T" chart to contrast.  Introduce concept of generation gap

2.  1950s Culture Story (pgs. 28-33)

3.  Brain pop review.....time permitting
4.  Anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr....discuss the Civil Rights Era in the 1950s.

HW - Cold War (part I) Quiz tomorrow

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Top Secret Activity!  pgs. 31-33.  Develop solutions to the crisis in Cuba.

2.  Cuban Missile Crisis Notes (pg. 6)

• "Hour of Maximum Danger" movie clip

HW - QUIZ Thursday

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Take out a piece of paper and label it "Butter Battle Book" Active Listening Notes.
2.  Watch the reading of the "Butter Battle Book"...and take notes.  This is good practice for the ELAs when we get back from break.

3.  Activity:  Compare an Contrast the Butter Battle Book with what you have learned about the Cold War (pg. 25).  Lastly - write an ending to the book...based on what we know today about the end of the Cold War...how should this ending be re-written?

HW - Read about the Cuba Crisis (pg. 29-30)...and answer the questions at the end.

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Pg. 3...bomb drill primary source.  Analyze the document...
2.  The Cold War - Ike and JFK (pg. 21a-21b)...Compare and contrast their approaches to the Cold War
3.  Movie Review:  Identify 3 unit vocabulary words in the movie...and draw a simple picture representing one of those vocabulary words.

HW - Cold War Quiz on THURSDAY

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Pg. 20...map activity:  Korean War
2.  Korea 1950-53 (pgs. 17-19)
3.  Brain-pop:  Korean War

HW -

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  What would be the motivation for someone to "run away" from home?  Bridge into concept:  defect (verb)

2.  Preventing Soviet Expansion (pg. 7-9)

3.   Review "Berlin Crisis (pg. 15-16)."  Bridge into discussion on Berlin Wall (powerpoint).  Apply concept:  defect

HW - 

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Make a "T" chart with USA and USSR at the top...then classify the following words/adjectives:  controlled, democracy, command, capitalism, freedom, totalitarian (review from yesterday).
2.  Iron Curtain MVP activity (pgs. 12-15)

HW - Map on pg. 11

Class Agenda: The Cold War

1.  Bellringer:  What does it mean when someone is acting "cold" to you (or someone is giving you the "cold shoulder?"  How does that make you feel?  Link this concept to the "Cold War"...

2.  Cold War intro (powerpoint).  Pg. 10a

3.  Intro notes (pg. 7)... UP TO "Soviet Expansion"

HW - pg. 34-38

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Get started!...DBQ essay is due at the end of class!

HW - none

Class Agenda

1. DBQ - outline and begin writing. Essay will be completed tomorrow

HW - optional extra credit - see post from yesterday for details

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Read DBQ Essay directions and brainstorm the essay question.
2.  Take WWII Test
3.  Start DBQ document questions AND analysis.

HW - Finish document questions AND analysis
* 30 WEEK Extra Credit DUE FRIDAY!  (pg. 55-56; Q's 1-3 and a write a 1 paragraph summary of the reading).

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Get laptop open and navigate to the website for the webquest
2.  Webquest (pg. 52-54)
3.  Review "Judgement" HW
4.  United Nations Brain-pop

HW - Test TOMORROW - WWII
* 30 WEEK Extra Credit DUE FRIDAY!  (pg. 55-56; Q's 1-3 and a paragraph summary of the reading).

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Can peace ever come from violence?  What is your opinion?
2.  Powerpoint - War in the Pacific - read pg. 57
3.  Holocaust reading (pg. 50-51)

HW - pg. 61-63 Judgement Day at Nuremberg
* TEST on Wednesday!!  Study guides in the back of your packet...and vocab is on the blog.

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Do pg. 41 on D-Day
2.  D-Day Powerpoint and Movie Clip
3.  Yalta Conference (pg. 58-60)

HW - Test Wednesday

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Complete page 46 TOP...as a review:

2.  Propaganda (pg. 42 top...we'll look at some examples in class)

• How does this propaganda film portray Germany?  Hitler?  Nazi leaders/soldiers?  

3.  What events/factors helped turn the tide against the Axis?  (powerpoint) 

HW - "Going for D-Day" pgs. 36-40

Class Agenda

1.  Bellringer:  Rosie the Riveter...pg. 35
2.  The American Homefront (pg. 34)

HW - none