24 & 28 May

We talked about two big questions today - the first was Do you think that laws, and the threat of punishment, are the only things that keep people from doing bad things?  The second question was - What are your responsibilities in our community?

We used these questions as a place to begin our look at what it means to be an American.  We looked at some video clips of people from all over America and looked at what America means to them.

It has been wonderful having you in class this year.  I wish you the very best as you begin your Freshman year, whether it is here, at Frontier, or whatever adventure awaits you.

22 & 23 May

There was no starter today-

We discussed the end of the Civil War and Lincoln's Assassination.  We also looked at the nation moving west after the Civil War.

20 & 21 May

Things are starting to wind down.  Today is your last starter for the year: In your opinion, what are the elements of a really great speech?

We handed in the starters today.

We read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery and then looked at a short video clip on how photographs were made during the Civil War.  If you are interested in viewing this clip, follow this link.

We reviewed the Emancipation Proclamation.  I then gave you time to wrap up the Civil War assignment - we turned these in today.

We finished the day by looking at the Battle of Gettysburg and reading Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

16 & 17 May

Our starter today was - What makes people change their minds once they have made a decision?

We read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery and then finished looking at the Civil War overview.  I gave time to get into the Civil War assignments - hopefully you are to the battle summary page.

We then looked at the change Lincoln went through in regards to slavery.  We have discussed that he was always opposed to slavery and thought that it was a moral wrong.  Today, we discussed how he decided that he had the authority to free the slaves and how he went about converting the Civil War from a war to re-unite the country into a war to re-unite the country and end slavery.

We began looking at the battle of Gettysburg.  This will be the only battle that we will look at in depth.

14 & 15 May

We started our last set of starters today - Explain one way that technology influenced the Civil War.

We read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery today and then played the Impossible Test game.  The questions that you created are worth 16 points.

We then looked at the strengths and weaknesses of the north and of the south.  We also looked at the North's plan to win the war, and the South's plan.

Two interesting videos in the news today - the first shows the repairs that are currently being made to the Washington Monument.  The second shows the topping-off of the new World Trade Center building.

10 & 13 May

Today's starter was: Was slavery the only cause of the Civil War?  Can you think of any others?

We turned in our starters today.  We also corrected, and turned in, "The Road to the Civil War," and the "Civil War Tech" video questions.  Please keep up on your grades!

We watched a short video clip showing Lincoln's election and the secession of the southern states.  We took some notes on the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and the Confederacy.  We finished up the questions for the Impossible Test - we will play this game next class time.

8 & 9 May

Today's starter was: What motivates nations to develop better weapons technology for fighting wars?  What could happen to the military that does not modernize?

We created a chart of what we know about the Civil War and what we think we know.

We then watched a video on Civil War technology.  This video had questions that go along with it - we will correct these next time.

We then created questions fro the "Impossible Test."  This is a game that we play.  You need to create questions and answers of your own choice, using the textbook as a guide.  Here are where the questions should come from:

• 1 question and answer from pages 474-479
• 2 Q&A from 480-487
• 2 Q&A from 490-497
• 2 Q&A from 498-505
• 1 Q&A from 506-512

6 & 7 May

Today's starter was a review of our discussion from last time - What were the four parts of the Compromise of 1850?

After discussing the starter, we watched a short video clip on the Lincoln Douglass debates - we then discussed the points and arguments that each made in regards to slavery.

We then took a moment to look at photographs of Lincoln from age 48 until his death at 54.

Afterwards, we worked on The Road to the Civil War packet.  This will be due on Friday for A days and Monday for B days.

2 & 3 May

Our starter today was: What is the purpose of having a debate?  Why do politicians debate?

After discussing the starter we read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.  We then reviewed the "wedges" that were forcing the South and the North apart.  We discussed the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, the Dred Scott decision, and the creation of the Republican Party.

We worked on The Road to the Civil War assignment.

30 April & 1 May

Today's starter: What are the benefits of compromise?  What are some potential negatives to compromise?

After discussing the starter we corrected "The Spirit of Reform" and "The Age of Reform Crossword Puzzle."  We then spent some time discussing slavery.  We then wrote a short response based on our discussion.

We looked at the effects of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Missouri Compromise.