8th Grade Social Studies-Civics/American History through the Reconstruction

“The Statesman who yeilds to war fever is no longer the master of policy, but the slave of unforeseeble and uncontrollable events.” – Winston Churchill

Week of Aug. 22nd- We will begin the year with Exploration and Colonization 1492-1675. On Mon. we will go over the course expectations, pass out books, and assignments (Pg. 72, 1-7 Due Weds.) Then tackle the Map of the World. Tuesday, I will go over an Era of Exploration and then we will look at sequencing. Weds. We will turn our section 1 questions and quiz over it. Then it’s off to Spain Builds an Empire. You will need to complete 1-8 on page 80 by next Mon.

Week of Aug. 29th- We will take our quiz over Spain  builds an Empire after turning in the work. Then I will return last weeks workn and review it before launching into Colonizing North America HW for Tuesday is 1-7, pg 86. We will conclude the section on Tuesday and take a quiz at the end of the hour. Weds. will see us brainstorming how to establish an colony and then looking into how the English tackled the problem in . HW. pg 91, 1-7 due Thursday expect a quiz.Next Tuesday will be pg. 97, 1-7

Week of Sept 6th- On Tuesday we will collect your HW and take a quiz over section 5 Afterwards we will return all other work and review before tackeling the Review and Assessment on pg 98, 1-18 due Weds. Weds will be a got-a-clue review day and Thursday will be our Exam over Chapter 3. HW over the weekend will be Section 1, Chpt. 4 Pg. 107, 1-8.

Week of Sept. 12th- On Mon. after going over the results of last weeks test, we will begin with the New England Colonies ( The New England Colonies), Complete the HW on pg. 107, 1-8 for Tuesday. We will have a Quiz to start off Tuesday followed by a look at the Middle Colonies. We will be involved in some activities Tuesday and be wrapping them up in class on Weds. HW over the weekend will be your Flags, Seals, or Coins illustrations on the Middle Colonies.  Thursday is our 1st set of CURRENT EVENTS. BE READY!

Week of Sept. 19th- We will start off the week with a quiz over the middle colonies using your Flags,Seals and Coins of the Middle Colonies. Then it’s time to go South. We will look at  The Southern Colonies. HW 1-8, pg. 119 due Tuesday. After turning in your HW and taking a quiz we will look at the Roots of Self-Government together in a GRP format. A quiz will follow on Weds. Then a closer look at the Magna Carta before getting into Life in the Colonies. Thursday will be a review Day ( Be hitting the Chpt. Rev. over the weekend)and our Exam will be next Mon.

Week of Sept. 26th- Exam on Mon. H.W. 1-7, pg. 145. Then Tuesday we will take a closer look at the French Indian War including a video “When the Forest ran Red”.Weds. night you will complete 1-8, pg. 153. Thursday we will discuss the turmoil over taxes and take a quiz over it. Over the weekend, you will work on your “Give them the Slip” pieces on the various acts from section 2.

Week of Oct. 3rd.- We will start out with the “Give them the slip” project then take a quiz over section two. A look at the Boston massacre  and HW over Section 3 , 1-7, pg 160. On Tuesday, we will discuss the transistion from protest to revolution and take a quiz over it at the end of the period. Weds. we will tackle the Chapter review together (try the on-line self-test that night). Thursday will be our Exam over Chat. 5.

Week of Oct. 10th- On Mon. we will be begin with a look at the Revolution war in the North. You will complete 1-7, pg. 171. A quiz over this section will follow. Then we will begin with 1776,   (1776) and see the issues and people behind the Declaration of Independence, Thursday will be Current Events.

Week of Oct. 17th- On Mon. we will continue with 1776. We should conclude on Tuesday and have our 6 paragraphs due Weds. That day we will complete Section 2 in class together along with a closer examination of the Declaration of Independence, a Quiz will followand HW will beSection 3 Rev. 1-7, pg 185. . Thursday will see us looking at the struggles in the middle colonies as we will be involved in some News stories. (1st Period-has a take home open book quiz due Mon.)

Week of Oct. 24th- Collect any work from the weekend then it’s off to “Fighting for Liberty on many Fronts” , 1-6, pg 189 then we will look at John Paul Jones’ role in the the War at Sea. Tuesday will have us looking at a quiz over Mon. material and “Winning the war in the South” We will complete 1-8, pg 195 in class and then discuss it followed by a quiz. Weds. will be our Review day and Thursday our Exam.

Week of Oct. 31st- We will look at creating a republic. On Mon. we will start off with a look at a Loose Confederation: Complete Sec. 1 Rev. 1-8, Pg. 204. This will be followed with a cause and effect excerise, then a quiz. Then it’s off to the Constitutional Convention. A Number of Activities are planned and you will need to complete1-7, pg 210 as well. we will quiz over this material on Weds.Thursday we will look at the ideas behind the Constitution and research them for a presentation on Monday.

Week of Nov. 7th- On Monday we will recreate the Constitutional Convention and represent the views of the Delegates to the convention. ( Look at the Link on the Constitutional Convention, then also look at the founders Blog link at the bottom of that page) Afterwards we will look at the Ideas behind the Revolution HW will be 1-7, pg 214. Tuesday , after a quick review, will see a quiz , then it’s off to the ratification and the Bill of Rights HW will be 1-7, pg 218. Weds. we will take our quiz over this section after discussing Patrick Henry’s position. Then complete the Chpter Review in class 1-22, pgs 220-221. Thursday is Current Event Day. Our Exam will be next Tuesday after a day of Review on Mon.

Week of Nov. 14th.- On Mon. we will review Chpt 7 together in class and prepare for our exam on Tuesday. Then it’s off to the Constitution at Work ,The Constitution at Work we will be working this out through Dec. 1st. We will discuss how you might want to proceed. (Due Date on this is Dec. 5th)

Week of Nov. 21st- On Mon. we will be doing our Geo-Bee, the back to the oral tests and Constitution project on Tuesday.

Week of Nov. 28th- We will be completing our Oral quizes each day and turning in projects as you complete them. ( Remember if you want to see me before school or after make arangements-that goes for Friday morning as well) Everything needs to be completed by next Mon. Dec. 5th.

Week of Dec. 5th- Mon. will conclude the Constitution Project. Tuesday we will take the naturalization Exam and (if you pass) take the  Oath of Allegiance. Afterwards we will begin the video “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” Current Events are due Thursday.

Week of Dec. 12th- On Mon. and Tuesday we will conclude with our look at the Legislative branch through the video-”Mr. Smith goes to Washington”, then examine the office of the Presidency with the 60 minutes special on the Nixon White House. Here we will see how role of checks and balances prevented the abuse of power.

Week of Jan. 2nd- On Mon. we will get back to the historical element by examing when Washington took office. We will be creating a outline of section one ( pg. 278-282) in class and discussing it. HW Mon. night will be Sec. Rev. 1-7 pg 282. Tuesday, we will work in small groups creating dialogues between contrasting points of view during that time. A Quiz will follow. Weds. will be a day of Foreign Policy with an excerise in summarizing main points. HW that night will be 1-7, pg 286. Thursday, will see another small group activity with taking positions, then after a whole class concept web-a quiz  over the section.

Week of Jan. 9th- On Mon. we will look at the Political Parties. You will break out into small groups and work out the objectives after an introduction on the party system. HW will be 1-8, pg. 290. Tuesday we will draft editorials  on the parties, and take a quiz over the section. Weds. we will again break out into small groups and complete the objectives to discuss. HW that night will be 1-8, pg 294. Thursday we will break out into small groups for a sentence completion activity that will be followed by generalization whole class summary and a quiz for each of us. Lastly, we will look at inferences (time permitting) Our Exam will be next Tuesday.

Week of Jan. 16th- Mon will be a day of review and catching up. Tuesday will be our Exam. Weds. we will look over the results and move onto Jefferson’s Presidency. Three Objectives will be be met by Thursday and a quiz over section 1, Chpt. 10 after some group work.

Week of Jan. 23rd- On Mon. we will conclude with the journals of Lewis and Clark before examining the importance of the Louisiana Purchase. Objectives need to be completed then a quiz on Tuesday. This will be followed “New Threats from Overseas”. We will work over the objectives again and some Role Playing before taking a quiz on Weds. Thursday is Current Events.

Week of Jan. 30th- On Mon. we will get into “The Road to War” with Hawks and Doves and everything. Expect some group work on Objectives and a quiz to follow. Tuesday, will see us embroiled in “The War of 1812″ with a quiz at the beginning of the hour on Weds. The rest of the hour will be a review session and Thursday are Exam on Chpt. 10. HW is Section 1 Objectives Chapter 11.

Week of Feb. 6th- On Mon. we will go over the objectives together, then recreate a town meeting before taking a quiz over the material. HW will be Section 2 objectives. Tuesday, we will look those over then we will take on roles to get a project approved in a state. A Quiz will follow. HW will be the objectives in Section 3. Weds. we will cover that and role play the Tarriff of 1816 before taking a quiz. HW is  the Section 4 Objectives. Thursday we will go over these and take an assessment over it then return all work at that time. Our Exam over Chapter 11 will be next Tuesday.

Week of Feb. 13th- Mon. will be a day of Review. Tuesday will be our Exam followed by an examination of Early American Culture with the video showing of the Great American Novel-”Moby Dick”. MobyDickvideoguide

Week of Feb. 20th- Mon and Tuesday will conclude Moby Dick. Tuesday night complete the objectives on pg 360. Weds. we will discuss the New Era in Politics and look a t a session of Fact or Fiction before taking our quiz. Weds. night complete the objectives on pg. 365 for Mon.  Thursday is Current Events. Next Mon. we will look closer at Anderew Jackson (The good and the bad) along with the spoils system in a debate format followed with a quiz.

Week of Feb. 27th- On Mon. we will look at Jackson in the White House. After discussions and Debates we will take a quiz over the section. HW will be the Objectives on pg. 370. Tuesday will look at those objectives and grade Jackson and work out some budgets before taking a quiz over the section. HW will be 1-21, pg 376-377. Weds will be a review day. Thursday we will take our Exam over Chpt. 12.

Week of March 5th- We begin the week with Oregon Country. You will complete the objectives in class followed by some discussion and assessment.  On Tuesday, It’s off to the Republic of Texas. We will knock out the Objectives and create a timeline before taking a quiz. Weds. we will hit California and the SouthWest. After the Objectives have been completed, we will reach consensus on the important ideas before quizing. Thursday will see us looking at the Mexican War. We will do some predicitions and results as we knock out the objectives before taking the assessment.

Week of March 12th- On Mon. we will be looking at the Mexican War. We will do some predicitions and results as we knock out the objectives before taking the assessment. Tues. we will go over how “Americans Rush West” After Comparing California and Utah we will design some board games to review the material. A Full blown review will take place on Weds. and our Chapter Test will follow on Thursday. Next Week is TSAPs.

Week of March 19th- TSAPS and a little introduction to the causes of the Civil War. Thursday is Enrichment Day.

Week of April 2nd- Mon. will see us tackle the objectives for “The Reforming Spirit”, pg. 434. Afterwards we will Chart and rank the reform movements. We will assess your understanding at the end of class. Tues. will see us looking at the American Classroom and  ”Opposing Slavery” . After knocking out the objectives, we will get into panels to discuss the three approaches. This will be followed with a quiz. Weds. will look at “A call for Woman’s Rights” After answering the Objectives we will create a timeline on the board before taking the assesment. Thursday is Current Events.

Week of April 10th- On Tuesday, we will look at “American Art and Literature” after some research , discussion, and charting we will take a quiz over the material. Weds. will be a review day and Thursday we will take an Exam over Chapter 15.

Week of April 16th- We begin the week with “Slavery in the Territories”. After a warm-up on the arguments for-we will knock out the objectives and renact the Senate Debate. Tuesday will have a quiz over Mon’s. material-then- look at “The Compromise of 1850″ We will debate some before taking a quiz over the material. Weds. you will complete the objectives on “The Crisis Deepens” then design 4-5 questions to ask others for a game of draw down. Thursday I will give you a quiz over the material. Afterwards, we will tackle the objectives on “The Republican Party Emerges”.

Week of April 23rd- On Mon. We will have a quick rev. and then a Quiz over the Republican Party followed by “A Nation Divides”. Obj., Quiz. Tuesday will be a rev of the Chapter and Weds. the Chapter Test. This will be followed with “The Conflict takes shape”, complete the objective for Thursday. We will break down strengths and weaknesses on Thursday and get into some activities before a quiz at the end of the hour. (Next Thursday is your last Current Event of the Year.

Week of April 30th-We start out with a quiz over “The Conflict takes Shape”, then after a discussion on offensive and defensive strategy we will complete the objectives on “No Easy Victory” Tuesday will see a quiz and then “A Promise of Freedom” a quiz will follow as well. Weds. we will knock out the onjectives on “Hardships of War” and look at the suspension of civil liberties. Thursday is our last Current Event.

Week of May 7th-Mon. we will conclude with the Civil War and Rev. the period. Tuesday will be our Exam, followed by “Amazing Grace”, a look at the Slavery issue in Great Britain.

Week of May 14-22nd We will being involved in service learning over the rest of the semester. I will be looking at Animal Protection and Care with you through this time.

Everything after this Red Break is from last year. So while we may be doing these things, the dates won’t match up. Please look above for current information.

Week of Aug. 23rd.- We begin this year by a session with the Inner Outer Circle, “Taking a Stand” and a session on Active listening. We will conclude Weds. with Scavenger Hunt.

Week of Aug. 30th- We begin the week with silent classification and working out class goals. This will be followed by answering the question “Why study government?” We will then take our first look at the Constitution.  The Essay will be due Thursday and shared with the class at that time, Writing about Government Essay.

Week of Sept. 7th- We begin the week with a Look at what a Citizen should be. We will look at a PPT (  duties ) and discuss these. We will work together on some Citizenship Vocabulary on Weds. Then on Thursday, we will find out the process required to become a Citizen.  Want to see if you could immigrate here and pass the Test? Look at the Links scroll on immigration exam.

Week of Sept. 13th- Start the week with the Naturalization game. ( )Review on Tuesday. Exam on Weds. A look at Constitution Day afterwards and Current Events ( CURRENT EVENTS ) on Thursday.

Week of Sept. 20th-On Monday, students will be looking at a list of vocabulary words about Forms of Government. Tuesday we we play a game of “I have…Who has?” On Weds. we will have a power-point on Principles of Government. Thursday “Vocabulary Act it Outs” See attachments: Principles of Government,

Week of Sept. 27th- On Mon. We will do our Act-it-Outs Skits. This will be followed by Diagraming the 3 possible Government Types. Then A look at Political Cartoons and their importance. You will have a chance to try your hand at this and turn them in by Thursday.  We will work on them Tuesday. Rev. Weds. and Test on Thursday, followed by your Declaration of Independence.

Week of Oct. 4th- On Mon. turn in your Declaration of Independence paragraphs. We will then begin 1776 ( 1776 )and complete the questions that go along with it in paragraph form for Mon.

Week of Oct. 11th- Turn in your 1776 paragraphs on Mon. Then in small groups tackle the vocabulary on Foundations of Government through Tuesday. This will be followed with a Project on creating a Revolutionary Newspaper. Thursday is Current Events.

Week of Oct. 18th- On Mon. we will begin researching in class on our Revolutionary Newspaper Topics. (  Revolutionary Newspaper Project ) Tuesday will be a library Day. Weds and Thursday it’s back to the class room to put everything together. Your Final Project will be due on Monday Oct. 25th.

Week of Oct. 25th- Your Newspaper Projects are Due Mon. We will then head back to the vocabulary in a team challenge. Tuesday will see a Bingo Challenge over the Vocabulary. Weds. will be your Exam. We will then finish up the week with team flow charts and presentations.

Week of Nov. 1st- On Mon. We will conclude with our Flow Charts and see how they are connected. Tuesday will start a more perfect Union. We will conclude this by Thursday.

Week of Nov. 8th- Turn in your More Perfect Union Questions. Then we will give back all work and compare the articles with the Constitution (WS). We will take our Exam on this Tuesday. Weds. is Current Event Day. Thursday will be a special Veterns Day Presentation with Guests.

Week of Nov. 15th- On Monday we will hold our Geography Bee in class to find the 8th grade representative for the Dec. 14th event. This will be followed with a look at the Federal System, Got Power. The week will finish with the structure of American Government. (  Structure of American Government ) . We will conclude with a a power-point presentation on  the structure and a Big Box review Sheet for next Tuesday’s Exam.

Week of Nov. 22nd-On Monday we will review the past week’s material using Numbered Heads Together and then take our Exam on Tuesday before break.

Week of Nov. 29th-Which Branch is most powerful? We begin with this question and then create a flow chart to understand checks and balances. Then the second half of the week, will begin a Simulation. Here are a few links that might help: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/speech/libraries/topic.aspx?topic=patriot_act,  http://epic.org/free_speech/cda/ Lastly, You will create your own Flow Chart over the weekend on the Checks and Balances of the Three Branches of Gov’t.  We will be taking our exam over checks and balances on Weds., Dec. 8th.

Week of Dec. 6th- On Mon. you will turn in your Flow Charts and we will Divide up and using Pictionary-cover the Checks and Balances found in our 3 Branches. After a Review Day on Tuesday we will Test on Weds. Thursday is Current Event Day.

Bonus Video: 1984-music by Spirit. A nod to George Orwell and his predictions of putting Safety ahead of Liberty in the future. (Ben Franklin would appreciate it). Related to Wiki-Leaks ( http://wikileaks.ch/ )founder Julian Assange and his crusade to get the truth out about the World’s leaders activities. A controversial Figure on the same level as Daniel Ellsburg and his release of the Pentagon Papers. The most interesting person of the century to Date.

Week of Dec. 13th- We will look at the workings of the Parlimentary system and the fight to end Slavery in the British Empire through the Video presentation of Amazing Grace this week.

Week of Jan. 3rd-It’s time to beat the expert on the Bill of Rights. Weds. will see us taking a closer look at the Bill of Rights and You. You will then take home a vocabulary list of terms to identify for Mon. On Thursday we will conclude the week with Current Events.

Week of Jan. 10th- Conclude the Vocabulary Terms and check for understanding with a matching quiz. This will be followed by outlining and interpreting the Bill of Rights (DueWeds.) Then It’s off to Beyond the Bill of Rights and a look at who is effected on Thursday.

Week of Jan. 17th- We will begin the week by reviewing the Vocabulary you completed last week. Then you will create Flash Cards on the amendments. These need to be done by Weds. That will be followed with a flow chart describing how amendments can be added to the Constitution. On Thursday, I will present a PPT(  http://cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/staff/ppt/civrts/index_files/frame.htm ) on Civil Rights. HW over the weekend, is your 1 page essay on one of the 7 choices on Civil Rights.(  Civil Rights Essays )

Week of Jan.24th- On Mon. we will go over the essays that you completed and then take a quiz over Civil Rights. Tuesday is a review of all 27 amendments, and Weds. is your Exam. We will then look at the Jury system and the responsiblity of that position in the Video showing-12 Angry Men.

Week of Jan. 31st- We will conclude with the Jury System and our look at 12 Angry Men on Monday. Turn in your questionaires on Tuesday. We will discuss these and go over the results from the exam on the amendments. This will be followed by a Session of “What do you know about Congress” Then it’s off to the Legislative vocabulary. Thursday is current event day.

Week of Feb. 7th- All week, we will be looking at the customs and cultural traditions of the people of the Middle Ages/Renaissance Europe. We will focus on festivals and other ways of life for people living during that time. Expect some Power-point lecture, Video presentation and Role-playing. When all is said and done you will have an appreciation for folks back then and for your own lot in life today.

Week of Feb. 14th- We will conclude with our look back at the marriage customs of the Renaissance (fitting with Valentines Day), then at the end of the week we will see what we can find out about our Congress.

Week of Feb. 21st- On Mon., we will check on the Vocabulary terms that were assigned over the weekend, and then look at a PPT on the Legislative branch. On Tuesday, You will use the Link on my homepage to create a puzzle using the vocabulary and information we have learned about Congress. Then we will exchange these and challenge the others in the room to complete them. On Thursday, you will be finding out about our Local Congressional Leaders and begin short Biographies on them that will be due next Mon.  See the Links on my Blog Roll to gather your Information. This needs to be 1 to 2 pages in length and informative. Don’t Plagerize!

Week of Feb. 28th- We will start off the week with another trip to the Lab in the Library and get our puzzles finishedon Monday. Tuesday You will have the chance to research our Congressional leaders and turn them in on Weds. We will begin Mr. Smith goes to Washington on Weds. Thursday is current events.

Week of March 7th- Turn in any work from last week on Monday. We will conclude with Mr. Smith ( Mr Smith ) goes to Washington . We will then take a look at how a bill becomes a law, how_a_bill_becomes_a_law[1]. Then after some review we will take our Exam on Thursday.

Week of March 14th-You will have a chance to beat the expert before launching into the Vocabulary for the Executive branch. We will conclude with the vocabulary on Tuesday. As an added bonus, and a chance to improve your grade as we start the new quarter, you will pick 3 presidents to research and create trading cards for Thursday. Open this attachment and get started early-Presidential Trading Cards. Then it’s time for dueling Presidents! We will be in small groups matching up Presidents against each other to determine winners.

Week of March 21st- We start the week with the Presidential Trading Cards completed. We will then play the game that allows you to use them. This will be followed by a close look at the Lessons of Watergate. Thursday will be Enrichment Day.

Week of April 4th- We will conclude with Watergate on Monday and then it’s time for dueling Presidents! We will be in small groups matching up Presidents against each other to determine winners. Tuesday, We will play some Executive branch Bingo-so bring your Vocabulary terms. This will be followed with a discussion on what makes a Great President.  We will then launch into the Roles of the President,  president . Thursday is Current Event Day. Next Tuesday will be an Exam.

Week of April 11th- We will conclude with the roles of the President ( president  ) on Mon. Tuesday will be our Exam on the Executive Branch, then ”Ill see you in Court”  followed by a powerpoint (    The_Federal_Court_System ). Thursday, you will attack the vocabulary for this unit.

Week of April 18th- On Monday, we will attack the rest of the vocabulary and complete it. It will be due on Tuesday for a grade. This will be followed by a look at some Supreme court decissions before we take a matching excerise. After collecting your Matching WS, we will begin a look at the “Rodney King” case or what the jury saw in  California v. Powell.

Week of April 26th- We will conclude with the “Rodney King” case on Tuesday and then Review for our Exam on the Judicial Branch on Thursday.

Week of May 2nd-We will begin the week with a look at “Which Party is which” on Mon. The_Political_Spectrum[1] Tuesday will cover the Vocabulary for this unit, politics_vocab[1] . Weds. will look at the development of the Political parties in our country, dev_pol_part[1] . Thursday is Current Events.

Week of May 9th-We will conclude with the development of the Political Parties on Mon. Then, we will review the vocabulary before taking on some assignment to test our understanding. By the end of the week we should be ready for our exam on the parties.

Week of May 16th- Foreign Policy Week. Know your Vocabulary. Exam next Mon.

Week of-Why it’s the Last WEEK!, We will take our last exam on Foreign Policy Mon. Followed by a look at the Kissinger Interview as he looks back on his impact in F.P. Tuesday will see the results and a look at Emotional Intelligence before you head out.

 

 
Everything after this Red Break is from last year. So while we may be doing these things, the dates won’t match up. Please look above for current information.