9th Grade History

February 1st to February 10th

2012-02-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

Students are working in the library one day on the Titanic, and its symbolism of a lost age.

By Friday, February 3rd, we will have covered the events leading up to the 2nd World War.

On Monday, February 6th, students will begin their maps of World War I

On Tuesday, they will learn about the role of Propaganda in World War I.

On Wednesday, they will begin the movie, "All Quiet on the Western Front."

This will continue until Tuesday, February 14th.

We will then learn about America entering the war.

Imperialism, Geography and the Final Exam

2012-01-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Starting January 3rd, students were working in class on various imperialism assignments. Most of these are already recorded in the gradebook (in touch).

Students have also been handed out a FINAL EXAM guide. It has the page numbers and questions that closely match what will be asked on the exam. The final exam will consist of the following:

15 point visual exam (they cannot prepare for this, but can look at pictures in their book...I have tied this to images they should be readily familiar with)

50 point multiple choice exam. For this section they have received a detailed study guide. You can help your student by going through the book and writing down the answers to the questions.

20 point Primary Document exam. For this exam, there will be questions that are tied to a student's reading level and their ability to assess the meaning of various primary documents. Students cannot prepare for this, BUT they will be helped by reviewing the completed work they have in their binder.

As we wrap up the next few weeks, students will be turning in their imperialism poster. We will also have various mini lessons on geography. All this work is done in class. If it is missing in touch, students may be absent during that time or not making good use of class time.

Week of December 5th-9th

2011-12-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

This week will be spent reviewing for the large Progressivism Exam on Friday, December 9th.

We have put off the writing assignment until December 13th, but some students chose to turn it in early for extra credit.

We are doing quiz cards and teacher review. Everyone study the large sheet so you are well prepared for this major exam of the semester.

We are also starting the Imperialism Unit. Students will be doing a variety of in class activities to gain a better understanding of America's role in expanding outside its borders. We will learn about the Spanish American War, the Panama Canal, and the annexation of Hawaii.

November 28-Dec 2nd

2011-11-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today we continued to work on our notes about the three progressive presidents.

Tuesday: We'll finish notes, work on the large notes

Wednesday: We'll discuss the Suffrage movement and begin film.

Thursday-Friday. We'll be watching the film Iron Jawed Angels with viewing guide.

Weeks of November 1-18th

2011-11-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Wow--all parents should know that their students have only ONE homework assignment and that is writing assignment #2 which is due on December 6th. Ask to see the yellow sheet in your student's binder. It is a "short story" that they can write about a variety of fascinating choices.

Other then that, there is no homework if students are attending regularly, except, of course, for the writing assignment and the extra credit reading novels. We are working our way through the Progressive movement and I pay particular attention to what are the essential things students need to know. Ask your students about what they are learning in class. We have covered some fascinating topics.

Weeks of October 17th-28th

2011-10-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

Freshman History students should all have their presidential interview done by Tuesday, October 18th. They can start working on the second written assignment.

October 17th-21st, students will be learning about the Settling of the West. We have just finished learning about immigration, so they will now learn about how those who were already on the continent suffered under the westward expansion.

They will view a slide show with an accompanying quiz, then, they will watch the wonderful film "Where the Spirit Lives."

Next week, October 24-28th, We will be spending time learning about Politics during the Gilded Age. Students will learn about corruption in the political organizations that existed in the large cities.

Week of October 3-14th

2011-10-04T07:41:00.001-07:00

Freshman students are just finishing up their group of worksheets from the introductory unit on the Industrial Revolution.

Thanks to many students who have kept the sheets organized in their binder, filled out, and quickly stapled them together and turned them in.

However, other students are still organizationally challenged. I have binders available to students who need more room for their papers. I also have dividers.

For the next two weeks, we will be doing the following:

1. I will hand out the large outline sheet.
2. Students will complete a worksheet on Big Business, Mass production, and they will learn about unfair practices to limit competition.
3. Students will watch a slideshow on the Great Strikes of the late 1800s and take a quiz.
4. They will read the book, the Arrival and the book Immigrant Kids.
5. Next Wednesday (October 12th) they will be in the library visiting the Ellis Island Web site, and also the website on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

Week of September 12-23rd

2011-09-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Students in 9th grade history need to turn in their signed syllabus and blue novel list by this Friday, September 16th.

Parents should also be aware of the three major writing assignments. We have already set the up the due dates for the semester. Our first assignment is the interview with the president.

This week students will watch the movie Lyddie, about a girl in the industrial revolution. They will also be reading a book about a boy who lived in New York City--The Diary of Finn Reardon. Both of these books are excellent background. We will be doing most of this work in class...but students do have homework. They can work on their Presidential Interview, or they can be reading any of the extra credit books off the list.

Study guide for Final Exams June 14th and 15th

2011-06-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Study Guide for Common Assessment Final

Here is a brief guide that will help you study for the final exam. The first part of the exam will be 50 questions covering topics from World War I to the attack on Pearl Harbor: These questions will directly apply to your text book. The second part of the exam will be questions on primary documents. You will be handed a reading and will answer questions on the reading before you. Another part of the exam (which will be administered first) will be a 15 question visual exam on topics we have referred to throughout this semester.

Here are the prompts for the textbook questions. These are specifically geared to the test.

What was the event that triggered the start of World War I? page 414.
What country used false propaganda to influence American opinion about the war? P. 418.
Know what a convoy system was. P. 426.
What was one of the first steps that Lenin, leader of Russia, took? P. 427.
Why did many of the senators oppose the U.S. entry into the League of Nations? P. 438.
Why was most of Europe drawn into the war? P. 416.
Where did minorities and women find employment? P. 436.
What was Wilson’s goal for the League of Nations? P. 438.
What were the terms for the Germans under the Treaty of Versailles? P. 439.
How did life change for women in the 1920’s? p. 453.
Why were Americans interested in heroes in the 1920’s? p. 456-457.
What was a long term effect of Prohibition? P. 467-468.
What was the importance of the Scopes Trial? P. 470-471.
Who were the targets of the Ku Klux Klan? P. 472.
What group did not participate in the BOOM of the 1920’s? p. 497.
Why did some women not exercise their right to vote? P. 453-454.
Why did African Americans move to the North? P. 455.
The economy grew in the 1920’s because many people did this? P. 492.
Many Americans believed that Sacco and Vanzetti were executed because….p. 483.
Know about what it was to buy on margin. P. 500.
What was the mood of most Americans until the end of the 1920s? p. 498.
What was the major environmental crisis of the 1930’s? p. 514.
What was the impact of the depression on the world? P. 511.
Please read the caption about the photographs on p. 516 and also American biography, p. 517.
What was the attitude of the depression generation? P. 517-518.
What did president Hoover believe was the best way to end the crisis? P. 525.
What was President Roosevelt’s attitude toward the future? P. 529.
What was first lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s role? P. 541-542.
What did many republicans criticize about the New Deal? P. 547.
Know what programs have survived from the New Deal to this day. P. 540-544,
What did movies do for people during the Great Depression? P. 557.
How did Stalin lead the Soviet Union? P. 569-570.
Who made a pact together in 1939? P. 576.
What did the term Lebensraum mean? P. 572.
What was the blitzkrieg? P. 576.
Hitler launched his great air assault during this battle—p. 578-579
What group was evacuated from the West coast of the U.S.? p. 626-627.
What did the United States do to punish Japan for their Far East aggression? P. 588

May 4th through the 11th

2011-05-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

PARENTS and STUDENTS: Make sure you have your writing assignment in on May 11th. Here are the topics:

You live in Dayton, Tennessee where the Scopes monkey trial is occurring. You will need to describe why this trial was so controversial. You can also place yourself on one side (either pro evolution or pro creationist). (page 470-471)
You are a woman who is under pressure to join the woman’s organization of the Ku Klux Klan. Please describe why and how the Klan gained members in the 1920’s. (page 472).
You are helping to build the Model T and work at the River Rouge plant. Describe what life is like working at the plant, and also describe your buying a Model T and what it means to you to have a car. (pages 494-495)
You are traveling along America’s new highway, Route 66. Describe some of the sights along the route, and how restaurants, motels and gas stations are being built to address the need for this new form of tourism (page 505)
You are a stockbroker who sells stocks on margins. You have amassed a fortune. However, on Black Thursday, October 24, a sell off begins. Describe your anxiety. You must include some of your friends who jump out the window when they lose all their money and their clients’ funds (pages 509-510)
You are traveling with your family out west to California to escape the Dust Bowl. Describe the difficult conditions. (pages 514-515).
You are a homeless person—and that means you could be a teenager, a man, a woman, or even an entire family—writing the rails trying to find work during the Great Depression pages 513-518.
You are helping to build the Empire State Building which was finished during the first few years of the Great Depression. Describe what it was like to work on such a monumental project. (page 523)
You are helping to build Hoover Dam. This huge project was authorized by President Hoover. As in number 8, describe what it was like to work on such a monumental project. Include details about the Great Depression (page 525).
In 1932, the toddler son of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh was kidnapped and murdered. You can be any one of these characters: a reporter, an investigator, the person who discovered the link between the kidnapper and the marked bills, or you can be a witness to the electrocution of Hauptmann. Make sure that whomever you chose to be that you include details about the case. (page 523)

April 11th through the 28th

2011-04-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Wow--we are zooming through the 1920's.

On Monday, April 11th, students did just a straight question sheet out of the book on Politics during the 1920's.

On Wednesday, we will look at some pictures from the 1920's and then take a JIGSAW quiz. We will also begin the book WITNESS. All students need to check out a copy of the book by Wednesday. It is a fascinating book about the Ku Klux Klan coming in and trying to take over the town of Vermont.

On Monday, April 18th, students will continue to read Witness and we will do our 20s centers. They will also view the slideshow on Leopold and Loeb. We should finish Witness by the end of the week (April 22nd.) I will post the questions for the 20's test on the blogspot later on in the week.

Let's aim for the 20's test on April 28th. Next stop---the Great Depression!

April 1st through April 8th

2011-03-31T14:47:00.000-07:00

Wow--it was great to see everyone back from Spring Break.
SOME students did NOT turn in their writing assignment. Sorry guys--not a good move, as your grade is going to go down. YOU can make up the grade by reading EXTRA CREDIT novels off your blue list. ITS up to YOU. REMIND your parents that it is their responsibility to check in on this BLOG and to check your grades on INTOUCH. I have called and am calling parents and I am not surprised to hear that some students have not communicated with parents about the WONDERFUL tools we have to help them to help you keep on top of your grade.

The next WRITING ASSIGNMENT is due on MAY 11th. NO LATES!

On Friday, April 1st we will finish reading The Wild Children, and take a quiz on the book, and turn in the questions.

Thanks students, for being so attentive during the reading!

On Tuesday, we will return to the United States to learn more about America after the war. Students will view a slide show and do some questions. We'll be learning about life in America during the 1920's on Thursday, and the following Monday (April 11th) we'll do our Twenties Centers.

REMINDER about MAJOR WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE on the 30th!

2011-03-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

Students here is a reminder about your first writing assignment. Choose one--due March 30th

You are on a German U-boat in World War I. You need to describe the sinking of the Lusitania from your point of view. You will also need to describe living conditions in the U boat. (pages 421-423)
You are a soldier on the Western front. Describe battle conditions. Make sure you include details about trench warfare, modern weapons, what over the top means. Place yourself in a specific battle of World War I. (pages 417-418)
You are an African American soldier in 368 Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hell Fighters. Describe why you are fighting, and your feelings toward discrimination. You will need to research more of this on internet (page 426-427)
You are pilot in World War I engaging in the dogfights over France. Or, you may place yourself on a Zeppelin that is going to bomb London. You will need to carefully research all the details about these two topics. (pages 428-429)
You are a nurse in the Influenza Epidemic of 1918. You will describe the symptoms and the impact it is having on the world in general. This was the world’s most deadly epidemic in modern times. (page 430)
You are a German-American in the United States during World War I. Describe the anti-German hysteria that is occurring and how it will affect your family. (Pages 435). Describe the re-naming of many things and how this anti-German feeling played out in average life.
You are a young woman who goes to the city to become a flapper. You must include negative things that happen to you as a result of your new found freedom. (page 453-454)
You are a person living in Paris who witnesses the landing of Charles Lindberg and his plane Spirit of St. Louis. Include details about his flight, what happened, and the response of people to the success of the flight (page 457)

You are the assistant to one of these heroes from the 1920’s: Amelia Earhart, Jim Thorpe or Gertrude Ederle. You will need to write eye-witness details about their triumphs/failures and difficulties in achieving their accomplishments. Include lots of detail. Pages 457-458.
You are trying to break into films in Hollywood during the 20’s. Finally you get a role in the film “The Gold Rush” with Charlie Chaplin. You need to describe, in detail, the difficulties and amusing parts of participating in this famous silent film. (Page 460)

March 2nd through March 18th

2011-03-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Students have a lot to do before Spring Break. I hope we get through it all...

Parents: Your student has 2 major writing assignments. The first assignment is due March 30th after Spring Break. They have been given a blue sheet with the specific assignments from which to choose. Parents, again, I need your help to remind your student to have their assignment done and in on time.

On Wednesday March 2nd, students will be reading the Treaty of Versailles Play. They will take the pre-test on World War I and take the test on Monday, March 7th.

We will be learning about the Russian Revolution and other revolutions during the two weeks before Spring Break. Here are the assignments they will be doing:

Rasputin Viewing notes
Peaceful vs. Violent resistance questions (play on Martin Luther King)
Russian Revolution Guided Notes
Questions on the Wild Children

I am posting grades online regularly--please check you student's grades.

World War I Test Questions

2011-02-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

As I promised, here are the vocab words and questions you will need to know for the World War I test coming up next week. We will take the test on Friday, March 4rth!

Vocab. words: Matching

Sussex pledge
Versailles Treaty
Allies
Fourteen points
Reparations
League of Nations
Mobilization
Genocide
sedition
armistice
Central Powers

What even sparked World War I?
What is it called when both sides could not succeed in winning?
What country encouraged anti-German feeling in the U.S.?
What was a convoy system?
How were African Americans treated during the war?
How did the federal government support the war?
What was the Great Migration that occurred during World War I?
How did some senators feel about the Versailles Treaty?

Week of February 22-25th

2011-02-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

Students will be viewing the film "All Quiet on the Western Front"

These assignments are currently due:

MaP
Poster
Questions on America Enters the war.

Next week, March 2 and 4th--students will finish notes on World War I. They will be taking an open book test on World War I. They will also be checking out the book Wild Children as we begin to learn about Revolutions--especially the Russian Revolution.

Second Semester begins...Feb 1st until Feb. 11th.

2011-02-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Second Semester is now beginning for Freshman. Though I have most of the same students, I have some new students coming over from Mr. Tomlin and Mr. Temple. Welcome to class guys!

On Tuesday, all students were in the library working on a one day class exploration of the event of the Titanic sinking. The sinking of the Titanic has close links to Imperial hubris (pride) and the foreshadowing of the tragic events of World War I.

On Thursday, students will begin our World War I unit.
They will start the class notes, and they will watch the brief documentary "The Shot that Started the Great War." They will also receive a class syllabus and instructions for second semester writing project.

On Monday, we will continue with the War notes, view the slide show on War propaganda posters, and start the War posters.

On Wednesday, students will finish the War noteos and then work on their war posters.

On Friday, February 11th, students will start the war maps and work on their war posters.

On Monday, February 14th, students will have centers. These centers include death medals and gas masks, and even foot powder from the World War I era.

On Wednesday, students will work on their questions "America enters the War"

Week of January 18 through 28th

2011-01-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

This is a short week and students have their final assignments due next week.

They have all been given a hard copy study guide for the test. They also will have the next three days to finish maps: including, a U.S. map, a World hot spots map, and a World landforms map.

Students who finish early will be allowed to work on their review guides.

I took in the last writing assignment today. Period 8 had the best turnout, congrats, guys. For many of the students they failed to turn in the assignment. I will not be taking lates for this assignment as I already extended one week. This will impact the grades for many. You were warned, and I had the actual assignment on the blogspot for the past two weeks.

Study hard for the final!

Weeks of January 3-7th and January 10th-14th

2011-01-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

We are reviewing Geography for the next two weeks. Students will also be continuing to study Imperialism issues.

The big assignment that parents and students need to be watching is the 3rd writing assignment due the 14th. They are to choose ONE topic. Here are the topics:

1. You are preparing a recommendation that Crater Lake become a National Park. Describe your meeting with President Teddy Roosevelt and describe why it is a unique site of exceptional beauty. P. 395.

2. The Galveston, Texas hurricane killed thousands of people. It also expose the weaknesses of city governments everywhere. Describe the hurricane as if you were in it and the chaos in the city after the hurricane hit (most of the city was underwater). P. 391.

3. You work in a factory similar to that described by Upton Sinclair in his book, The Jungle. Describe the unsanitary things you see. It can be a meat or poultry factory. P. 382.

4. You are on the ship with Admiral Dewey at Manila Bay when the United States launched its attack on Spanish ships. Describe the events. P. 360.

5. You are Queen Liliuokalani, the last queen of Hawaii. Describe the events that led to your removal from the throne and captivity. Express you support for Hawaiian independence. P. 363.

6. You are a present day citizen of Hawaii who wants Hawaii to return to independence. Give your reasons behind this. P. 363.

7. You were one of the workers on the Panama Canal. Describe the harsh working conditions and difficulties of building the canal. P. 367.

8. You are a soldier under General Pershing and you are looking for Pancho Villa. Describe your fruitless expedition in the mountains and deserts of Mexico. P. 371.

9. You are Pancho Villa—describe the reasons for your forming an army to fight the government of Mexico. Tell why you attacked the town of Columbus New Mexico. Tell about your hopes for Mexico. P. 371.

10. Describe your life working on a sugarcane plantation in Cuba. Tell about what it was like to live under the Spanish, and the brutalities of Valeriano Weyler. P. 358.

4. Y

Week of December 13-17th

2010-12-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

On Monday, students viewing the slideshow on Pancho Villa and General Pershing's quest to hunt down Villa in Mexico and Carranza's request. They did not catch Pancho Villa....

On Wednesday, students will continue to fill in their Imperialism Chart and work on their poster. We will also be learning about how the idea of the frontier influenced the scouting movement.

On Friday, we may be viewing a Christmas film about World War II.

New Unit, Imperialism

2010-11-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome back from Thanksgiving.

This week, students will need to turn in their Creative Writing assignment #2.

Also, we will begin the Imperialism Unit. We will learn about Imperialism in other parts of the world. On Monday, students will start the Imperialism Map.

On Wednesday, they will learn about Imperialism in Africa and India.

On Friday, they will learn about Imperialism in Indonesia and the effects of imperialism on other the local peoples.

Some test questions for Thursday

2010-11-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

As promised, for those of you looking at the blogspot, I have put a few questions from the upcoming test for you to study:

A major reform of the Progressive Era was that if a politician was corrupt, they would be sent home and kicked out of office. This was called a) Referendum b) initiative c) recall
During his administration, Teddy Roosevelt established this a) Federal Reserve System b) Income Tax c) over 200 million acres set aside as national forests.
In the 1912 election, who was responsible for returning to politics—and as a result he split the vote? A) Wilson b) Taft c) Roosevelt
The suffragists in England were known for their peaceful, non-violent ways a) True b) False
The last state to vote for suffrage, tipped the balance and created the amendment to the constitution. This state was a) Oregon b) California c) New York d) Tennessee
Silent films were shown without musical accompaniment a) true b) false
The 17^th amendment change the way that this political office was chosen a) senators—they would now be elected by the people b) senators—they would still be chosen by the state governments.

Week of November 15th-19th

2010-11-14T21:13:00.000-08:00

Massive Exam Alert! This Thursday....
Tuesday and Wednesday nights I will be posting some of the test questions as freebees for those who visit this blog.

Tuesday, all students will be actively involved in a review session!

Good luck! We can now say goodby to the Progressive Movement...

Week of November 7th-12th

2010-11-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

This is a short week and students will only be meeting twice. I canceled the film and we are reviewing for the MASSIVE test that will be on material from the large sheet. This test will be at least 80 pts. and because it is the first major test of the semester, students should start studying now. The date is next Thursday, November 18th. Be prepared!

Just a reminder--your second major assignment (a creative assignment and you have ten choices) is due on December 3rd. No lates! If you have not started working on this, do so immediately.

The extra credit opportunity is available for reading. Why am I not getting in more extra credit reading slips. Show your parents the list and pick out a book and start reading.

Week of November 1-5th

2010-11-02T15:11:00.001-07:00

We are now finishing up the first side of the large sheet entitled Challenges for America.

On Wednesday, students will be taking a reading test on Upton's Sinclair The Jungle. They will read a section and answer questions.

Students always have home work...their next assignment is a choice from a list of 10 on a yellow sheet tucked in their binders. They also can be reading extra credit novels from the blue list in their binder.

Week of 25th-39th

2010-10-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

BIG THANKS to all students for turning in their presidential interviews. Now, you can start writing on the next assignment that will be due on December 3rd. You have ten options and they are all interesting...choose the one best for you. It is, or course, the yellow sheet in your binder.

This week we are going to continue to learn about groups or people, or other living beings (including animals) who were mistreated during the industrial era. We are learning about the following:

The segregated South--Jim Crow laws
The Native Americans
Women
and Animals

We will be doing most of the work in class. This week includes a wonderful film, called Where the Spirit Lives about a brother and sister who were forced to go and live at school. It was filmed on location in beautiful Southern Alberta.

Week of October 18-22

2010-10-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Has your student told you about Extra Credit reading opportunities--ask them. The list is in their binder.

Presidential interview is DUE on FRIDAY--this Friday, October 22. Instructions are on yellow sheet in student binder...but should be "done" by now.

This week, on Monday we will be in the library learning about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and Ellis Island.

On Wednesday, they will be learning about Hull House, Segregation, and starting a review of the final settling of the West....they will also prepare for their film, Where the Spirit Lives, which they will watch next week.

Should be a great week! Your child does have homework--reading and writing.

The rise of Big Business

2010-10-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

This week students will be turning in:

Finn Reardon Questions
Rise of Big Business with Vertical and Horizontal Integration graph on the back.

Here's a reminder:

Presidential Interview are due the next week on October 22nd.

I have also given all students a novel list for extra credit. The novels are in our Sprague Library, but many are also available at the Salem Public Library.

September 20-25th into following week.

2010-09-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Wow....students are getting a nice little stack of work that will be turned in with a table of contents probably next week. For our Industrial Revolution unit there are always a number of day assignments that accumulate. I like to take them in all at the same time. Here's what we've done so far:

Lyddie film notes + questions from book
Images from the Industrial Revolution notes
Graph of major I. R. countries.
Personal response to I.R. quotes
Ideology sheet
Finn Reardon questions.

This coming week, September 27-30th, we will be finishing up the book Finn Reardon. We'll start the progressive Era in October.

September 13-17th

2010-09-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

This week students will be writing down responses to primary documents.
They will be seeing the Industrial Revolution powerpoint and taking notes.
They will view the move Lyddie about a young girl who worked in the mills during the Industrial Revolution. They will evaluate and judge how Lyddie coped with economic and social challenges. Students will be working on a number of sheets over the next few weeks and will turn them in all together in two or three weeks.

Back to School

2010-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

September 8th--
Students will be checking out their books, taking a Geography assessment and getting their syllabus signed by parents.
We will start learning about the industrial revolution in the next day or so.