25 & 26 September

Today's starter was: What do you like in a good mystery story? or What makes a good mystery?

We read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.

We then reviewed what we have learned about colonization so far.  Then we told the account of the mystery of the Roanoke Colony.  We watched a video outlining some of the possible explanations.  Next time we will write a short story attempting to explain what might have happened.

23 & 24 September

Today's starter: What do you think a new colony might struggle with?

After discussing the starter we turned them in.

We then corrected and turned in the Exploration Packet, as well as the Colonization pre-test.  This pre-test is graded purely on participation.

We read a short story from the graphic novel to review and then we took the American Indians and Explorers test.

With the time that we had left we began Colonization.

19 & 22 September

Today's starter was: What is a colony?

Today we gave you some time to finish the  Exploration packet - these will be due first thing next class period.

We then reviewed for the American Indian and Exploration test which will be next time.

We took a pre-test for our next unit of study - colonization.  It doesn't matter how many you missed as it was a pre-test - you get full points for taking it.  This shows you what we will be learning and what information you will need to learn for the real test.

We then began our study of colonization.

17 & 18 September

Today's starter was: What makes a Conquistador different from an explorer?

We passed back the American Indians assignment - this will be very valuable for you as you prepare to take the test.  Be sure to pay attention to the essential standards at the top of the first page.  Make sure that you know three specific things about the Maya, Aztec, Inca, and Mound Builder cultures.

We then finished our discussion on the explorers and then worked on the Explorers assignment.  To be on schedule you should have finished pages 1 & 2 in class.

The test on the American Indians and the Explorers will be on:

A Day - 23rd
B Day - 24th

15 & 16 September

Today's starter was: We have talked about explorers and we have talked about motivation.  What do you think motivates explorers?

We finished correcting the "American Indians" packet - we turned it in.

We then began our investigation of explorers - we looked at the factors that led to exploration and we focused on the motivations of Prince Henry of Portugal.

11 and 12 Spetember

Today's starter was: Who are the explorers of today?

After discussing the starter we read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.  We then corrected pages 1-3 of the American Indian Packets - we will finish correcting these, and turn them in, next week.

We then began looking at explorers.

 

9 & 10 September

Today's starter was: What do you think were the long-term effects of Cortez' contact with the Aztecs?  How did the Americas change?  How did Europe change?

After discussing the starter we took some time to look at the Inuit, Hopi and Iroquois cultures.  We then worked on the blue packets.

5 & 8 September

Today's starter was: What do you think of Hernan Cortez?  What qualities do you admire? What do you dislike?

We started off today by showing you how to read the grade report.

We passed back the geography test and talked about re-takes - if you got lower than an 18 out of 22 you should come in and retake the test.

We finished our story of Hernan Cortez and the Aztecs - we turned in the video questions.

3 & 4 September

Today's starter was: What is motivation?  What motivates people?

We turned in this set of starters today - there were six of them possible.  Remember, if you missed a starter and you would like to make it up, get them here at my blog.

We then took 5 minutes to study for the geography test.  These were turned in and graded today.  If you were absent, please come in to take this test before or after school or get me to stamp your planner for TEAL.

We then read a short excerpt from our history graphic novel about the Aztecs.  We started a video about the Conquistadors and the fall of the Aztec empire.  There are video questions that go along with this and we will finish the video next time.

29 August & 2 September

Today's starter was: What does "culture" mean?  Give me one example of culture.

We will turn in this set of starters next time.

After the starter, we corrected page 4 in the yellow Geography packet.  We turned these packets in - they are the first assignment for first term.

We then took a practice geography test - this was ro get you ready for our test next time.

We finished our discussion on the Maya, Aztec, Inca, and Mound Builders.  We started work on the American Indian packet.