April 13th, The Beginning of Distance Learning

Hi all 9th graders:

This week is the first week of our distance learning from Sprague High School.  My office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2.  You can connect with me then.  This first week is going to be rough as I figure this out---so be prepared for an email (or two) about how I will navigate this.

For you, there are 5 assignments this week---but don't worry, only two are written and the two written ones are personal responses.

You need to watch the first three powerpoints.  They are not boring and pretty interesting.  After you have read this content, you can begin the two assignments.

One assignment includes many mini stories (paragraph) that you will just for yourself whether they are high stress, middle stress or low stress.

The second assignment is looking at some primary documents about prohibition---which was an era when the sale of alcohol was banned throughout the United States.  You just need to look at each document or picture and tell me whether the document if for or against prohibition.   I tell you exactly what to do in Google classroom.

Don't hesitate to email me directly about your classes and if you have questions.  I'll try to answer them as best I can.

Hang in there kids!  I miss you. 

Mrs. Olsen

Supplemental Materials for Grade 9

Students,

When I last saw you, we were ending World War I and had just completed the War Horse Essay.   Please note that we are to start posting lessons on April 13th, but here are some supplemental materials for you to view.  When I say supplemental, it means optional, but I strongly encourage you.....as in if you were my child and I was home with you I would INSIST that you watch some of these.

If you had been in class if me during the last few weeks, we would have been learning about the Russian Revolution.  When I teach about this subject, I have students learn about the Russian Royal family, why some communists murdered them, and what happened during the Russian Revolution.

They even learn about the tremendous wealth of the Russian Royal families and how resentment and anger over unequal living conditions led to this revolution which was bloody and violent.

Here are some supplemental videos on Youtube about this time. 

Rasputin:  Dark Servant of Destiny (1996)

This is an excellent film that received many Emmy awards.  I usually show this in class, but I edit some parts.  Rasputin was quite a character, and though this film is exceptionally accurate, be warned that there are questionable parts which I edit out meticulously.  If you watch this with your student you will be able to mute or fast foward---though there is no nudity, there are some crude phrases and one "sex scene" that is fairly mild by today's standards.   This film was made shortly after the fall of communism, so the makers were able to film on location in Russia at the places the Russian Royal family lived.  This is a riveting film to watch for both parents and students.

Romanovs:  The Missing Bodies /  National Geographic

This is an excellent documentary about the murder of the Russian Royal Family.  Again, this would be of interest to both parents and students.

Here's another video to watch---

"Lost" $20 million Faberge Egg on Show for the First Time in 112 years.

In fact--you might like to read more about the Faberge Eggs---just type in Faberge Eggs into Youtube, or even into Google search.  There are many many articles about these objects, and also many videos.

Education for 9th grade social studies during the COVID 19 crisis.

Dear students:

The past two weeks we have received a  lot of updates from the district about how we are going to move forward with helping you obtain some learning during this epidemic.

Who would have thought that this sort of thing would happen?   You are living through a very difficult time that will soon be over.  The important thing is to keep everyone as safe as possible.  I hope that you are managing ok.  

We will start communicating with you tomorrow on March 30th.   We are going to be having a phone call from our superintendent and then another conference with our principal.   We will receive news about how to update our sites and what "platforms" to use to get supplemental learning to you.

It probably won't be perfect, but it will be something to get you through the next weeks and help your education a long.    

Mrs. Olsen has been thinking about how all her students are coping.  I am hoping OK.   I know this is a time of economic turmoil and many of you must be feeling isolated.   It really is a unique experience in American History.  We all will know a lot more about disease and prevention.  Some of you may even use this event to inspire you to learn more. 

I am thinking of all of you and hoping to get caught up and "teaching"---whatever that looks like---in the next few days!

Mrs. Olsen

Checkpoint Quizzes for World War I

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Checkpoint Quizzes for World War I

Check Point Quizzes

Information for the Checkpoint Quizzes

Socials Studies 9 students are studying World War I.  They will have two checkpoint quizzes.  The first checkpoint quiz will include this information that you will need to know.  The quiz is multiple choice.  Each quiz is 15 questions.

The first checkpoint quiz will be given on Monday, February 24th.   The next check point quiz will be March 2nd. STUDY these questions (which are mostly from your notes) AND YOU WILL DO WELL.  I will be double weighting the exams.

Checkpoint quiz 1:

1.  Was the assassination of the archduke unexpected?
2.  Why were the Serbian anarchists angry?
3.  Know these alliances:  France+Russia+England  Germany+Austria-Hungary+Italy   England+Belgium
4.  The invasion of this country brought England into the war?
5.  What is the lesson from the rapid start of World War I that should be remembered for future world history?
6.  Were most propaganda posters fair and balanced?
7.  Did the "Pals "battalions continue through the war?
8.  What country instituted the first gas attack?
9.  Did the type of gas remain the same through the war?
10.  What was the number one mistaken belief about what would end the war?
11.  Why were they not able to end the war after the first few months?
12.  How did Germans find out about what cargo was put onto enemy ships?
13.  What does the term "Loose Lips Sink Ships" which was a saying written on posters mean?
 14.  What is the correct word for the massive killing and bloodshed in World War I?

Checkpoint quiz 2

1.  What war weapon killed the most men in World War I?
2.  What group led the peace movement and went overseas to put pressure to end the war?
3.  What country usually had their soldiers depicted in war posters as abusive beasts or apes who raped or hurt women and children?
4.  What country was blamed for the sinking of the Lusitatinia?
5.  What is the area called No Man's Land?
6.  What battle still holds the world record for most men kiledl in one day of battle for one side?
7  Did the Germans continue to honor the Sussex Pledge about U boat attacks?
8. What was the American attittude toward the Zimmerman telegram which encouraged Mexico to attack America and gain parts of Texas back?
9. Did all Americans agree with going to war for Europe?
10.  What were the main reasons for the United States going to war?
11.  What did Alvin York do to win the Medal of Honor (just have a general idea)
12.  Out of the Selective Service Act, how many were selected for service?

February 3 through 7th

1.  We are finishing our Titanic Essay in class.  The Titanic essay focuses on primary documents from three main areas.

2.  We are starting our World War I guided notes.  We will be looking at dozens of primary source materials from the World War I years.

Extra Credit Western Film through December 2nd

Students learned about the settling of the West during the week of November 4th though the 15th.  I  told them I would post some extra-credit opportunities. Here are the movies, and they are allowed to write up and submit for extra credit but for only up to two films. 

Here's the list:

• True Grit 2010 or earlier version
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969
• High Noon 1952
• Dances with Wolves 1990
• The Searchers 1958
• Magnificent Seven---earlier version or later are acceptable.

I had to make a choice---there were so many great Westerns out there.   These are classis. For each film, you will need to write a paragraph answering the following questions if applicable.

What is the main conflict or main conflicts?

What is the main mission of the main characters?

How is the conflict resolved?

What examples of violence are in the film?

What are some things in the film that show life in the old west? (horses, wagons, sod houses, food)

Weeks of September 15th through the 28th.

1.  Students are continuing the read the novel Finn Reardon about a newspaper boy in New York City in 1899.

2.  Students are almost done working on their packet, except for the Finn Reardon questions.  We will finish the novel next week and turn in the packet then.

3.  Students have learned about how governments evolved, and have done a questionnaire about where they may be on the political spectrum:  Left, Moderate, Right.

4.  Students also learned about how two countries in Europe unified during the Industrial Era: Italy and Germany.   They even learned that Garibaldi on the Oregon Coast is named after the leader of Italian unification.

5.  They will be looking at some documents in a gallery walk that refer to our lecture on how governments evolved.

6.  Students have looked at some primary documents about child labor and written a one sentence response to what they are reading.