26 & 27 February

Today's starter was -  What do you know about the history of our National Anthem?

We briefly discussed grades and then moved into working on our Lewis & Clark Booklet and the blue Jefferson Era Packet.  These are due on March 4th for A Days and March 5th for B Days.  You can find a copy of the PBS booklet here.

We began looking at the causes of The War of 1812.

22 & 25 February

Today's Starter: The Lewis and Clark Expedition made many great discoveries.  Are Americans still having great adventures and making great discoveries?  Explain.

This was the first in a new set of starters.

We discussed Jefferson's presidency a little.  Afterwards we finished the Lewis & Clark Video and corrected and handed in the video questions. 

We then began working on the Jefferson assignment - including the Lewis & Clark Video.

February 20 & 21

Thank you to all of you who attended Vista Heights' first school-wide Student-led Conference.  It was good to visit with you and your student.

Today's starter was a review: Why did Lewis & Clark go on their expedition?

After discussing the starter, we handed these in.  There were 8 possible starters, we graded it out of 7.

We spent the next little while preparing for the conference.  We handed back these assignments which were placed in your portfolio:

• The Revolutionary War Theme Park
•  The Bill of Rights Assignment, with the drawings
• The Constitution and Federal Government Test

We also corrected and handed in the yellow Washington and the Federalists Packet, as well as the white George Washington accomplishment page.

We continued watching the National Geographic Lewis & Clark video that we began last time.

15 & 19 February

The starter today was: Describe your greatest adventure

After discussing the starter we handed in the Bill of Rights assignment.

We then took the test on the Constitution and the Federal Government.

We began the Lewis and Clark Adventure.

13 & 14 February

Today's starter was: How do you feel when your friends are fighting and you are stuck in the middle?  What do you do?  How do you handle it?  How do you feel?

We practiced for our Student-led Conferences today.  Student-led Conferences (Parent Teacher Conferences) will be help next Thursday, February 21st, from 3:30 until 7:00.   Please come with your student to the upstairs "B" hall where your student will lead a conference with you where he or she will show off their work from their classes and share with you their goals for the remainder of the year.  While your student will be leading this conference, I will be nearby to answer any questions.  After visiting with your student, please feel free to go to the cafeteria to visit with all of your student's non-core teachers.

Today we gave you the study guide for the test on the Constitution and the Federal Government.  It would be good for you to understand the following:

• The purpose of constitutions
• What "separation of powers" means
• The Articles of Confederation
• The Virginia Plan
• The New Jersey Plan
• The Great Compromise
• What the three branches are and what they do
• The Checks and Balances that the three branches have on each other
• The first amendment and a general understanding of the rest of The Bill of Rights
• Your duties as a citizen
• George Washington's accomplishments

This test will be next class time.

We then looked at Washington's presidency.

11 & 12 February

Today's starter had three parts:

• What are political parties?
• Why do they exist?
• Why do they disagree with each other?

After discussing the starter we finished up our discussion of The Bill of Rights.  Your test on The Bill of Rights is to create a sketch depicting each of the amendments.  This is due next time.

We began looking at George Washington's presidency - we will finish this next time.

7 & 8 February

Today's starter:  In America, when you are accused of a crime, you are considered to be innocent until you are proven guilty.  Why is this important?

After discussing the starter, we conducted a mock trial to get a feel for the way the courts work.  It was a civil trial with B.B. Wolf suing Curly Pig.

5 & 6 February

The starter today was: Think of the rights we have studied so far in The Bill of Rights - which right do you think is the most important?  Explain why

We finished watching the video on George Washington and we handed in the questions that went along with the video.

We then finished reviewing The Bill of Rights.

30 & 31 January

Today's starter: What is the Bill of Rights?  What is the role of the Bill of Rights?  Who ultimately decides what each of the Bill of Rights mean?

We read an Encyclopedia Brown Mystery and then corrected and handed in the Constitution and Federal Government Packet.

We finished our picture tour of Washington D.C.

We began our study of the Bill of Rights.