18 & 19 December

We started work on the Revolutionary War Theme Park Today.  This will be your test on the Revolutionary War.

I graded your Revolutionary War Packet and your Test Review, but you kept them to use on the test.  If you did not have them today, please bring them back after the break.

Have a good Christmas Break and be safe!

14 & 17 December

Today's starter was to get you ready for your test next time - How is a theme park different from an amusement park?

Your test will be to create a them park with rides and activities that are themed around the American Revolutionary War.

Today we filled in a review sheet to help you to prepare for the test.

12 & 13 December

Today's starter had three parts:  1.  What are the three unalienable rights spoken of in the Declaration of Independence?  2.  Why do governments exist?  3.  Where do governments get their power?

After discussing the starter we finished up the chart on the British and Continental Army strengths and weaknesses.

We played Jeopardy and then began the test review.

10 & 11 December

Today's starter was:  Thomas Jefferson said that people are born with 3 rights - what do you think they are?

We conducted a thought experiment where I asked the class to consider the following scenarios:

• What would Vista Heights be like if there were no school rules?  What would happen?
• What would happen if there were no laws at Vista Heights?
• What would happen if there were no laws in the United States?

We used these three scenarios to begin a discussion about rights and what happens to those rights in a "state of nature."  We then discussed how people would most like likely organize together to protect their rights from being taken away.  In organizing together we give up some of our rights to protect the majority of our rights.  This led to a discussion about the purpose of government.

We then read a large portion of the Declaration of Independence.  We discussed the "unalienable rights" and the purpose of government. 

We answered some questions on the Declaration.

We then looked at the strengths and weaknesses of the British and Continental Armies.

6 & 7 December

Today's starter: What is the purpose of our government?  What does it do?  This is the first of a new set of starters.

We began class with an Encyclopedia Brown mystery - today's was a difficult one.

We discussed the starter - we will look at the main idea of this starter next week when we look at the Declaration of Independence in depth.

We finished watching Johnny Tremain and we corrected and handed in the questions (at least in the A day classes - B day will turn these in next week).

We also recognized Pearl Harbor Day and briefly reviewed the events of December 7, 1941.

4 & 5 December

There was no starter today due to CCRs.

Today we met with the Vista Heights Middle School counselors in the Media Center.  Each student sat down with a counselor or an administrator to discuss their plans for classes at Westlake and options available for college.

Parents, if you were unable to attend, or if you would like more information, please feel free to call the counseling office or visit their webpage.

Because of the CCRs, there was no in-class work that the students are responsible for.  We did watch a video on the contributions of Benjamin Franklin, but there was no graded class work.

30 November & 3 December

Our last starter for this set was: Why are liberty and freedom such powerful motivators?  Why are people willing to die to get them and to keep them?

We turned in our starters.

We filled in information in our cause and effect chart on the intolerable acts.

We handed out a new packet on the Revolutionary War and we took two notes in the packet - on the purpose and actions of the Continental Congress.

We continued watching Johnny Tremain.

28 & 29 November

Today's starter: How did the colonists go from being loyal British subjects to being traitors to the King?  Why did they rebel?

With Mr. Peterson completing his student teaching experience, I am now teaching the class again full-time.  I began class by reviewing my expectations for the rest of the year.

We discussed the starter and related the events of colonial America to the events currently occurring in Egypt as the Egyptian people are rising up in opposition to the power-grab being made by President Mossi.

We also looked at the causes and effects of the following events: The French and Indian War, The Proclamation of 1763, The Sugar Act, The Stamp Act, and the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts.

We then began viewing Johnny Tremain, a 1957 Walt Disney film based on Ester Forbes' historical fiction novel, Johnny Tremain and the Sons of Liberty.  This movie chronicles the events that led up to the Revolutionary War.

26 & 27 November

Today was Mr. Peterson's last day student teaching with us.  We wish him well in his teaching career and are glad that we were able to have him here with us at Vista Heights.

The starter for today was: Are there any rules or guidelines here at school you would like to change?

Mr. Peterson taught you about the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress.  He also introduced the Declaration of Independence.

19 & 20 November

Today's starter:  Who do you think was the most influential person of the Revolutionary War?  Why?

Mr. Peterson discussed the starter with you and then read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.  After the Blow the Roof off class activity he had you complete a Revolutionary War Crossword Puzzle.

15 & 16 November

Today's starter:  Imagine you are a leader of a small country.  You are forced to go to battle with the U.S.  What are your chances of winning?

After discussing the starter, Mr. Peterson reviewed the taxation issue with you.  He then introduced you to the Sons and Daughters of Liberty and the First Continental Congress.

He then reviewed the advantages of the Patriots and the British - and he introduced you to the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

13 & 14 November

There was no starter today.

Today you finished presenting your Revolutionary War Battle slideshows.

9 & 12 November

Today's starter: Tell me what part of your battle you found most interesting.

After discussing the starter, Mr. Peterson had you discuss what you learned about the Boston Massacre.

Your groups then began your Revolutionary War Battle presentations.

7 & 8 November

Today's starter: What are some resources that you can use to investigate a crime?

Today we broke into groups to investigate the events of the Boston Massacre.  If you would like to visit this WebQuest at home, follow this link.

5 & 6 November

Election Day!  Encourage your parents to vote if they have not already done so.

Today's starter: Now that you know a little about your battle, tell me what aspect or part you would like to know more about.

After discussing the starter you had time to finish your research and your project.

1 & 2 November

There was no starter today.

Mr. Peterson introduced you to your school Google email.  This will allow us to work on common documents together.  We divided into groups and began researching a Revolutionary War Battle.  We  then began creating a Google Presentation in these groups that we will show to the class.

30 & 31 October

Happy Halloween!

The starter for today was: How do people today resolve their differences?

Mr. Peterson discussed British Laws in the colonies and why the colonists began to smuggle goods.  He also taught you about the powers that the Writs of Assistance gave to British Customs Officers.

He took you through a cause and effect discussion with British Taxes and Colonial responses.

HE discussed the events of the Boston Tea Party.

He finished the class with an assignment that looked at both sides of the issue - British and the Colonists.

26 & 29 October

It is the end of Term 1!  I hope that you had a good first term of school and are ready for a successful second term.  For those of you who need a review of my class policies or my grading scale, here is a copy of my disclosure document.Mr. Peterson had you write a short story using these words: river, Washington, spy, French, colonel, fort, union, Indian, Pontiac, proclamation.  The story can be about anything that you want, fact or fiction, but it must use all of those words

Here is today's starter:  What would you do if the police or military came to your home and told you to get out?

We will be handing in this set of starters next class time.

Mr. Peterson discussed the starter with you.


Mr. Peterson introduced the rivalry between France and Great Britain and how this led to the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War.  He also introduced George Washington's involvement in the war.

Now, on the other side of the paper that you wrote your original story on, re-tell the account that Mr. Peterson shared with you about George Washington and the French and Indian War.  Use all of the words and use them correctly.

24 & 25 October

Today's starter was: Can science and religion work together?  Why or why not?

Mr. Peterson played "Fact or Fiction" with you on statements about the Revolutionary War.  We then discussed the starter.

Mr. Peterson discussed the Enlightenment and Benjamin Franklin.

22 & 23 October

Today's starter:  Tell me what you know about the Revolutionary War.

Today you turned in your Colonies Packet and took the Colonization Test.

18 & 19 October

Today's starter was: We have learned about several colonies here in America.  Give me a brief summary about one of the colonies we have learned about.

After discussing the starter, Mr. Peterson read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery with you.

Mr. Peterson led the class in a Jeopardy review of the things he has studies with you - this is to help prepare you for next week's test.

16 & 17 October

 

Welcome back from Fall Break!

Today's starter: What do you think your life would be like if you were a racial minority 300 years ago?  What job would you have?  What part of America would you live in?  Why?


Mr. Peterson had you fill in the locations of the 13 Colonies on your map - this is in preparation for your test on the 22/23 of October.
He then discussed the idea of triangular trade with you

Class ended today with a look at the conditions found on the slave ships during the Middle Passage.

9 & 10 October

Before class started, I took a few minutes to explain The Spirit of the Blackhawk.  This is an award that is given to students in U.S. History that go above and beyond the regular classwork in U.S. History.  Those students who achieve the award will be recognized at the Vista Heights Awards Assembly at the end of the year.  I explained the program and handed out a packet with the requirements - here is an overview of the program and a copy of the complete requirements.

Today's starter: Tell me what you know about the Salem Witch Trials.


Mr. Peterson read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery with the class.  He then reviewed the events behind the hysteria that led to the Salem Witch Trials.  He ended class with a game that helped you visualize the accusations that spread in Salem.