5 & 8 October

Today's starter was:  In what way is everyday life today different and the same from everyday life 300 years ago?

Mr. Peterson reviewed the results of the quiz with you.  He discussed the correct answers and showed you where you could have done better.  You are welcome to come in and retake this quiz.

We spent much of the class in a cooperative learning activity that taught us more about life in the American colonies in the 1700s.

3 & 4 October

To make up today's starter, list anything that you know about about dictatorships, or governments where the people have no choice.

Mr. Peterson started off today with a starter where he created an authoritarian-type government in the classroom - he then asked you how you felt about that type of classroom.

We then took the colony quiz.

Mr. Peterson talked about the three types of colonial governments: Proprietary, Royal, and Charter.

We also read the Mayflower Compact together, and Mr. Peterson helped you through the process of figuring out what it meant.

27 & 28 September

Our last school days of September!

Today's starter: What makes one colony different from another?

We discussed the starter then Mr. Peterson had an activity for you where you used clues to discover the differences between the colonies.

Each griup created a hypothesis of what their colony was.

He showed how the scientific method could be used in History as well.

25 & 26 September

 

Today's starter was: We have discussed aspects of Roanoke and Jamestown Colonies.  Looking at these two colonies, what does it take for a colony to succeed?

Mr. Peterson finished showing the "Nightmare at Jamestown" video and we handed the questions in - if you missed the video, Mr. Peterson has some makeup work for you.

Mr. Peterson then discussed the starter with you.

We then did a jigsaw learning activity with the Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims (the Separatists).  We shared what what we learned and then created a dramatic version to present to the class.  Hilarity ensued.

19 & 20 September

 

The starter for today was: List a few things that people fight or argue about today.

This starter led into Mr. Peterson's discussion about European nations fighting for power in the Americas, and for the discussion of  King Henry's disagreement with the Roman Catholic Church.

The class took notes in this packet.

The class looked at the lost British colony of Roanoke.  Mr. Peterson explained the history behind the colony and its disappearance.  After the discussion, Mr. Peterson assigned a one-page short story assignment.  The class was expected to write their own version of the disappearance of the colonists.  This can be based on fact or on your own opinion of what might have happened.

Mr. Peterson finished class by illustrating where the 13 original British colonies were located.  You will need to know these for the test.

14 & 15 November

Today's starter was: How would you describe a hero?  What characteristics do they have?

Mrs. Lindorf discussed the starter with the class.

The vocabulary words for today were: "encounter," and "inflation."

The class looked at the Ohio River Valley and the clash between British and French military forces there.

10 & 11 November

The starter for today was: How does "balance" make life easier?

Mrs. Lindorf had volunteers come and try to balance a marble on a certain part of a racquetball  racquet.  The trick was that the racqet had to be kept between the participant's knees.

This activity was to help the students understand the importance of balance.

This was used as a segue into The French and Indian War and the rivalries between Britain, France, and other European nations.

The vocabulary words for today were: surveyor, rivalry, militia, and alliance.

We also read an Encyclopedia Brown mystery.

8 & 9 November

Mrs. Lindorf's starter for today was: Who is a modern day inventor you admire?  What did he or she invent that you like?

 Mrs. Lindorf showed a video on inventions created by Benjamin Franklin.  After the video there was a discussion on the questions that went along with the video.

4 & 7 November

Our starter today was: What does "revolution" mean to you?  Name one revolution you know of.

The vocabulary words for today were: enlightenment, great awakening, design, and coverted.

Mrs. Lindorf handed back last term's work - you don't need it, it is just if you want it.

Mrs. Lindorf also reviewed the test that was taken last week  If you would like to re-take the test you are more than welcome to.  Please study beforehand and come in before or after school or during T.E.A.L. time.

We completed a worksheet on ways that the culture of the colonies was changing and then discussed the changes.

25 & 26 October

The starter for today:  Name two economic activities that the Middle Colonies were involved in.  What was their soil like?

Mrs. Lindorf discussed the starter with the class.
We prepared for the test by labeling the Southern and Middle Colonies.

We also discussed the colonies.

We handed in the British Colonies Packet.

Discussion on the Middle Passage and Middle Passage reenactment.

19 & 24 October

Today's starter was:  Name two economic activities that the New England Colonies were involved in.  What was there soil like?

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

Mrs. Lindorf talked about the New England colonies and also the Quakers.

We finished off class by reading some primary sources on the Quakers.

11 & 12 October

Our starter for today was: What does "representative" government mean to you?  Give me one example of it in your life.

Today Mrs Lindorf began by discussing the starter with you.  We then looked at the vocabulary words for today: Mayflower Compact and Proprietary Colony.

We then looked at a short video on Plymouth Colony and Mrs Lindorf showed pictures from her trip to Plymoth Plantation.

The class then looked at the Mayflower Compact.

6 & 7 October

Today's starter: What motivates you to help others in a group situation?

Mrs. Lindorf then reviewed Jamestown and the conditions that the Jamestown settlers faced.  We read a primary document written by John Smith that shows what things were like in Jamestown.

Mrs. Lindorf then helped us categorize some of the Jamestown artifacts - helping us to see connections between the conditions at Jamestown and the objects used by the colonists.

We finished the day by looking at a video that showed how archaeologists and historians of today are trying to physically reconstruct life at Jamestown.

4 & 5 October

Today's starter was: What two crops did you plant at Jamestown and why?

Our vocabulary words for today were: 

• Charters
• Joint-stock company
• Separatists
• Puritan
• Pilgrims

Mrs. Lindorf then explored the mystery of Jamestown with the class.

30 September & 3 October

There was no starter for today.

Mrs. Lindorf took us into the library to use the computers.  We looked at two websites that you can access here.  The first was a simulation to help us better understand the issues facing the Jamestown colonists.  The second was an in-depth exploration of Jamestown, including the Jamestown Fort.

28 & 29 September

The starter for today was: What things are important enough to you that you would be willing to move to a place you've never been?

Mrs. Lindorf began with a discussion of the starter.  She then handed back the Explorers tests from last class period.  The grades from this test are now posted on Skyward.

The vocabulary word for today was "burgesses."

We briefly discussed the Protestant Reformation and its affect on religion in Europe.

We began a new packet of assignments dealing with the American colonies (we will be working on this for the several class periods.

We began looking at the French Trappers, the coureurs de bois.