10/31/13

We started class by cleaning out our binders from the 1st quarter, and having a raffle for the unused first quarter bathroom pass tickets.

Next, I reviewed last night's homework with students.  Their homework was to take Cornell-style notes on pages 141-144 in the textbook. 

See Wednesday's blog for pages 141-144.

At the end of class, students worked on answering questions about the Colonial Government System using their notes and the textbook. 

Colonial Government System Questions and Note Organizer

Homework is to finish all the questions on the Colonial Government System sheet (#1-6).

10/30/13

Students took an open-notes quiz on the French and Indian War using the cause and effect organizer which was last night's homework.  Students who missed class must see me at an appropriate time to take the quiz.  I will allow re-takes during team time if students are not happy with their original grades.

Next, I introduced Cornell-style notes to the students. I modeled how to take Cornell notes.

Cornell note organizer

Pages 141-144

Students read pages 141-144 and took Cornell notes onto the organizer.  They took notes on the main idea into the large box on the right, then pulled out key words and wrote them in the column on the left.  At the bottom of the page they briefly summarized the entire page of notes they took.

Homework is to read pages 141-144 and take Cornell notes onto the organizer.  Attach additional paper to the back of the notes if needed.  Do not answer the questions on the second page of the notes.

10/29/13

Student began class by quizzing other groups on the questions they created on the Question Building activity.  See previous blogs for this information.

Next, I introduced a graphic organizer.  Students entered information using their Question Building Activity sheets and the textbook.

French and Indian War Graphic Organizer

Refer to yesterday's blog for the textbook readings.

Homework is to finish the graphic organizer we started in class.  There will be an open notes quiz on the information tomorrow.

10/28/13

I was absent on Friday, but students worked on the same lesson as today.

In class today students worked with their groups on the Question Building Activity related to the French and Indian War.

Question Building Activity

Students worked in groups to examine primary and secondary sources documents.  They drew conclusions about each document, wrote questions about each related to the war based on the documents, and finally used their textbooks to answer the questions they wrote.

Primary/Secondary Source Inputs

Textbook Reading

Homework is:  Students should use the textbook reading to finish answering all the questions they wrote about this conflict.  

10/24/13

To begin class, I showed students a quick video on how to locate the main idea in a paragraph.

Video-Locating the main idea

Next, I placed students into small groups.  Students worked with their groups to find the main ideas in the reading on the Salem Witch Trials from yesterday's lesson.  They compared the main ideas they had identified, and came to a consensus on what the main ideas were. 

They then used these main ideas to write a summary paragraph of the reading.  If students had already wrote a summary paragraph, they edited the paragraph they wrote yesterday.

Next, I introduced the "Question Building Activity" on the French and Indian War.  Students used the rest of class to examine primary and secondary sources.  They wrote down conclusions based on these "inputs" and wrote questions about the French and Indian War.  Students will finish looking at their inputs tomorrow and answer the questions using their textbooks.

Homework is:  If you made changes to your main ideas with your group, make these changes to the summary you wrote about the article.  I will collect the summaries tomorrow.

10/23/13

Today we briefly looked at the Salem Witch Trials.

To begin class we watched a video on the Salem Witch Trials.  As we watched the video, students answered video questions.

Salem Witch Video

Salem Witch Trials Video Questions

Next, we read a short article on the Salem Witch Trials as a class.

Salem Witch Article

After reading the article, students were assigned the following homework assignment:

Homework:  Underline one sentence in each paragraph of the reading that is the "main idea" of that paragraph.  After underlining one sentence, combine those underlined sentences into one summary paragraph.  Do not simply write the underlined sentences word-for-word.  Change the sentences so they fit together, and make sure they accurately summarize the entire article.  Summary paragraphs are due tomorrow.

10/22/13

Today we had a "fishbowl discussion" on slavery.

Students who were absent need to hand me a copy of their fishbowl discussion questions to receive credit for the assignment.

There is no homework for tomorrow.

10/21/13

We began class by reviewing information from the field trip on Friday.  Students participated in a "graffiti activity" where they wrote down information on posters around the room related to the field trip.

Next, students were given the rest of class to prepare for a discussion in class tomorrow.

First, students continued to examine the primary sources they began looking at during last Wednesday's lesson.  See Wednesday's blog for any materials.

Next, students took the information from the primary sources and answered six discussion questions on the Fishbowl Discussion sheet.

Fishbowl Discussion Sheet

For class tomorrow, students must answer all six Fishbowl Discussion Questions to ensure they can participate in the discussion tomorrow.

10/16/13

Today we examined different aspects of slavery including: the capture of slaves, the Middle Passage, and who benefited/was hurt by slavery.

Students were given a graphic organizer.

Slavery Primary Source Graphic Organizer

Slavery Primary Sources

There were three main columns on the organizer: Capture in Africa, Middle Passage, and who benefited/was hurt by slavery.

Students then were given primary sources.  Students read the primary sources, taking notes on the organizer. 

First, students needed to determine which category the primary source fell into.  They recorded the name of the source into the left column.  Next, they recorded the information into the right column.

Students needed to find three sources per category to use for information.  Be sure to choose sources that match your challenge level (Academic, CP, or Honors).

On Monday we will finish examining the primary sources and prepare for a discussion on Tuesday.

Homework is:  If you missed class, please work on reading and recording information on the primary sources for about 30 minutes.

10/15/13

To start class, I collected all field trip forms and money.  Student who have yet to hand in these items need to do so ASAP.

We began a quick look at slavery today.  As a class we read about the background to slavery.

Reading: The Slave Trade Background

Then, as a class we defined two terms and answered three questions.

Slave Trade Background and Questions

These questions will not be turned in as a homework assignment, but will re-emerge later this quarter on the next test. 

There is no homework tonight.

10/11/13

Today was the final day of presentations.  Any student who did not present must be sure they upload their projects to Edmodo.

Homeowork:

Field trip permission slips are overdue!!!  Please return a signed permission slip and the $12 fee to Mr. Pope ASAP. 

Field Trip Permission Slip

10/9/13

I was out today due to a cold.  Students watched a video on slavery.

Presentations will begin tomorrow.

Homework is: 

1-  finish all presentations for Thursday.

2- Field trip forms and $ due ASAP

3- Each student must upload their project to Edmodo

10/8/13

Students had the entire class period today to practice their presentations.

To start class I gave students pointers on giving presentations.  I kept this list of tips on the projector. Students used Ipads to access their projects and practice their presentations.

Presentation Tips

Homework is:

1- On Friday 10/18 we are taking a field trip to Strawbery Banke.  Students need to complete the field trip form and return it, along with $12, to me by this Friday.

2- Finish the 13 Colonies presentation by tomorrow (Wednesday).

3- Each student must submit their project to me through Edmodo. First, visit my Edmodo page.  Then, share the Google presentation with me by clicking the "Share" button and inserting my email address.  Then copy the link you are given and paste this into Edmodo.

10/7/13

This is the final day for students to work on their projects in class.  Tomorrow will be devoted to practicing their presentations.

Homework is:  Finish your Google Presentation.  Finish all the information on your slides and include all visuals.  This should be finished by the beginning of class on Tuesday.

10/4/13

Classes were shortened today due to the early release schedule.

Students worked on finalizing the research for their projects and began constructing their Google Presentations.

Please refer to the following rules when constructing your presentation:

• Break information down into notes→ no paragraphs!!!
• No more than 5 notes/slide
• One picture per slide
• 28 point font→ any smaller is difficult to read

Homework: You need to have completed all your research by the time you arrive to class on Monday.  We will finish constructing projects on Monday, practice our presentations on Tuesday, and present on Wednesday.

10/3/13

Students had the entire class to research information on their colony for the 13 Colonies project.

Please see Tuesday's blog for information about the project.

Homework is to work on research for at least 15 minutes outside of class.  Students should be finished, or almost completely finished with their research when they enter class tomorrow.

10/2/13

Students were given the entire class today to research for their projects.

Students used the project instruction sheet to guide their research.  See yesterday's lesson for the instructions.

Students used the websites provided on IKeepbookmarks, books from the book cart, their textbook, and other reliable websites found on their own.

Students used easybib.com to document any sources used.  They saved this information onto their note sheet.

Students wrote their notes onto a Google Drive document that all students in the group have access to.

Homework: Period 5 should work for 30 minutes outside of class because they missed class yesterday due to the assembly.

Other classes have no homework.

10/1/13

Today I introduced the "13 Colonies Project" to students.

I reviewed all procedures and rules of the project. 

13 Colonies Project

Students had time to get into groups and being research on the project at the end of class.

Fifth period missed class today due to the assembly.  They need to read over the instructions for homework.

Homework is:

p. 1,2,6,7- None
p. 5- Read over the project instructions on the blog for homework.