29 May

Thank you for a great year in U.S. History!  I have enjoyed having you in class this year!

-Mr. Smith

22 & 23 May

Today we read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.  We then briefly discussed reformers.  We finished watching a video on Abraham Lincoln's assassination.

We then introduced Reconstruction in the South.

We finished our day with a discussion about America and what we can do to make it better.

20 & 21 May

There was no starter today.

Today we read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.  We then corrected, and handed in, the Civil War Packet and the Civil War test.  These are the last 2 assignments on your 4th Term Grade.  Please make sure you get caught up by next week!

We spent some time discussing the Gettysburg Address.

We ended today by watching a video clip from the Civil War series about the surrender of the south and Lincoln's assassination.

16 & 19 May

Today's starter was: Think of any of the really wrong things that are going on in the world today.  Which one would you change if you could?  Explain-

We turned in the starters - this is the last set that we will turn in this year.

We took the Civil War test today - we then started an assignment on the Gettysburg Address.  It is due next time.  Those who finished the Gettysburg Address assignment moved on to the Reformers Crossword Puzzle.

14 & 15 May

Today's starter was: What do you know (or think that you know) about the Battle of Gettysburg or the Gettysburg Address?

After discussing the starter and reading an Encyclopedia Brown mystery, we reviewed for the test which will be next time.  We then watched an episode of American Ride that discussed the three day battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address.  We then finished the blue Civil War packets - these will be due the class period after the test.

12 & 13 May

Today's starter was: Before the Civil War began, what is one reason the South was angry with the North?  What is one reason the North was angry with the South?

After discussing the starter we read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery - we will read a mystery each day (except for Mondays) until the end of school.

We then played the Impossible Test game.  We finished off the day by working on our Civil War packets - the test will be this Friday for A Days and next Monday for B Days.

8 & 9 May

 
Today's starter was: Without looking at your notes, list the three parts of the Anaconda Plan.

We discussed the starter and then read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.

We took a minute to review some of the Ironclads made by the North and the South during the Civil War.

We finished the video we started last time on Civil War technology - we graded the video questions and turned those in.

Our assignments for today were to create an "Impossible Test," or questions of your own choice from the book.  You were to come up with one question and one answer from each of these sections: 1 from 475-479, 1 from 480-487, 1 from 490-497, 1 from 498-505, and 1 from 506-512.  We will use these for a game next week.  We also finished up the map on page 2 and began the chart on page 4.

6 & 7 May

 
Today's starter was: What motivates a country to develop new weapons technology?  What happens to countries that don't?

We watched a short introduction video to the Civil War and then discussed the North's plan for victory and the South's plan for victory.

We then took some time to work on the map assignment on page 2 of the Civil War packet - this shows the states in the North and the states in the South and the territories.

We then watched a video about Civil War technology - there are questions that go along with this.

2 & 5 May

Today's starter was: What were the names of the two sides during the Civil War?

After discussing the starter we watched a video clip that reviewed some of the major events that we have studied that led up to the Civil War.

We corrected and handed in The North and The South - this packet is the review for the first half of our Civil War test.

We then took some notes on the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and the Confederacy and started a map activity.

30 April & 1 May

 
Today's starters was: Tell me what you know about Abraham Lincoln

After discussing the starter we watched half an episode of American Ride.  This episode looked into the divisions that were caused by Harriet Beecher Stowe's book Uncle Tom's Cabin, as well as John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry.

We then discussed the Lincoln/Douglas debates and the beginning of the Republican Party.

We handed in the Strangers on a Train assignment and began correcting The North and The South packet - this will be due next time.