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.

11 & 14 January

Today's starter was: Have you ever had a really good idea - I mean a really good idea - and when you shared this idea with other people they either didn't like it or they may have even put your idea down.  Tell me about it -

Today we watched a little bit more of A More Perfect Union.  As we watched it we also paused to take notes on the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, as well as the Great Compromise.  We then looked at the early influences of the Constitution.

9 & 10 January

Today's starter was: Was the Federal Government under the Articles of Confederation weak or strong?  Why did they make it that way?

After discussing the starter we reviewed the important points from our last class session:

• Constitutions limit the powers of governments and list the rights of the citizens
• The first government of the United States was the Articles of Confederation
• This government was intentionally weak - the states had most of the power
• The states feared the return of a king or a government that would take away their rights

Today we looked at the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, as well as its strengths.

We began watching A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation.  This movie was made by Brigham Young University and it does a good job of outlining the events leading to the Constitutional Convention, as well as showing the creation of the Constitution.

7 & 8 January

Our starter for today was:  What is the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?  

We collected the starters today - these will be the last set of starters that will be counted on term 2.

Please take a look at your grades on Skyward - there will not be any new assignments added to this term so your grade can not go down.  If you would like to have a higher grade for Term 2, please turn in any missing assignments or complete any re-dos by Monday at 2:00 at the very latest.  I would prefer all late work/re-dos turned in Monday morning.

I gave each class 20 minutes to work on the Revolutionary War Theme Park (test).  This will be due next Tuesday (for A days) or Wednesday (for B days).  It will be the first grade on Term 3.

Today we began our study of the U.S. Constitution.  We began with a very brief overview of different political systems that are used throughout the world.  We briefly discussed what a constitution is and how it is different from simply being a collection of laws.  We then looked at the Articles of Confederation and some of their weaknesses.  We will go into more depth on the Articles next time.

12 & 13 December

Today's starter had three parts:  1.  What are the three unalienable rights spoken of in the Declaration of Independence?  2.  Why do governments exist?  3.  Where do governments get their power?

After discussing the starter we finished up the chart on the British and Continental Army strengths and weaknesses.

We played Jeopardy and then began the test review.

10 & 11 December

Today's starter was:  Thomas Jefferson said that people are born with 3 rights - what do you think they are?

We conducted a thought experiment where I asked the class to consider the following scenarios:

• What would Vista Heights be like if there were no school rules?  What would happen?
• What would happen if there were no laws at Vista Heights?
• What would happen if there were no laws in the United States?

We used these three scenarios to begin a discussion about rights and what happens to those rights in a "state of nature."  We then discussed how people would most like likely organize together to protect their rights from being taken away.  In organizing together we give up some of our rights to protect the majority of our rights.  This led to a discussion about the purpose of government.

We then read a large portion of the Declaration of Independence.  We discussed the "unalienable rights" and the purpose of government. 

We answered some questions on the Declaration.

We then looked at the strengths and weaknesses of the British and Continental Armies.

6 & 7 December

Today's starter: What is the purpose of our government?  What does it do?  This is the first of a new set of starters.

We began class with an Encyclopedia Brown mystery - today's was a difficult one.

We discussed the starter - we will look at the main idea of this starter next week when we look at the Declaration of Independence in depth.

We finished watching Johnny Tremain and we corrected and handed in the questions (at least in the A day classes - B day will turn these in next week).

We also recognized Pearl Harbor Day and briefly reviewed the events of December 7, 1941.

30 November & 3 December

Our last starter for this set was: Why are liberty and freedom such powerful motivators?  Why are people willing to die to get them and to keep them?

We turned in our starters.

We filled in information in our cause and effect chart on the intolerable acts.

We handed out a new packet on the Revolutionary War and we took two notes in the packet - on the purpose and actions of the Continental Congress.

We continued watching Johnny Tremain.

30 & 31 October

Happy Halloween!

The starter for today was: How do people today resolve their differences?

Mr. Peterson discussed British Laws in the colonies and why the colonists began to smuggle goods.  He also taught you about the powers that the Writs of Assistance gave to British Customs Officers.

He took you through a cause and effect discussion with British Taxes and Colonial responses.

HE discussed the events of the Boston Tea Party.

He finished the class with an assignment that looked at both sides of the issue - British and the Colonists.

26 & 29 October

It is the end of Term 1!  I hope that you had a good first term of school and are ready for a successful second term.  For those of you who need a review of my class policies or my grading scale, here is a copy of my disclosure document.Mr. Peterson had you write a short story using these words: river, Washington, spy, French, colonel, fort, union, Indian, Pontiac, proclamation.  The story can be about anything that you want, fact or fiction, but it must use all of those words

Here is today's starter:  What would you do if the police or military came to your home and told you to get out?

We will be handing in this set of starters next class time.

Mr. Peterson discussed the starter with you.


Mr. Peterson introduced the rivalry between France and Great Britain and how this led to the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War.  He also introduced George Washington's involvement in the war.

Now, on the other side of the paper that you wrote your original story on, re-tell the account that Mr. Peterson shared with you about George Washington and the French and Indian War.  Use all of the words and use them correctly.

16 & 17 October

 

Welcome back from Fall Break!

Today's starter: What do you think your life would be like if you were a racial minority 300 years ago?  What job would you have?  What part of America would you live in?  Why?


Mr. Peterson had you fill in the locations of the 13 Colonies on your map - this is in preparation for your test on the 22/23 of October.
He then discussed the idea of triangular trade with you

Class ended today with a look at the conditions found on the slave ships during the Middle Passage.

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.

21 & 24 September

It was good to see those of you who were able to come to Parent Teacher Conferences this past week - for those of you were unable to come, but who would still like to talk with me, please feel free to email or visit with me before or after school.

Today's starter:  Describe your worst camping trip.

The starter was to get the students prepared to visualize the struggles that the Jamestown settlers were having here in America.

We turned in our Roanoke theories today.

Mr. Peterson talked about the Virginia Company and its decision to establish Jamestown.  He also talked about the real Pocahontas v. the mythical Pocahontas.

We finished today by viewing a video on the dangers of Jamestown - there were some video questions with the video.

17 & 18 September

The 17th marked the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America.
 

The starter for today was: What information can you find in a constitution?

We took the test on Explorers.  If you missed the test, or would like to re-take the test, come in before or after school or during TEAL Time.

We created our own constitutions in small groups and then looked at the structure of the government under the Constitution.  We also looked at the Bill of Rights.

13 & 14 September

Today's starter was: What do you think is the difference between an explorer and a Conquistador?

Mr. Peterson reviewed how to read the grade printouts that are located on the bulletin board near the door.  Your grades will be updated and posted at least twice a week so that you can keep up-to-date on your grades and continue to be successful in History.

Mr. Peterson then led the class in a discussion of the starter.

We looked at Conquistadors - where they went and what their motivations were.

We then reviewed for the test that will be given next time.

We finished off the day with an Encyclopedia Brown.

7 & 10 September

The starter for today was: What do you think of when you hear the word Conquistador?

Mr. Peterson discussed the starter.  We then turned in the first set of starters and The First Americans Packet.  These have been graded and the scores have been recorded in Skyward.  These assignments will receive a "0" grade if they are not turned in by next time.  You can still turn them in for full points up until the last day of the term.  Also, if you would like to redo the parts of the assignment you did not do well on, you are welcome to.  You could get 100% if you would like.

Mr. Peterson finished modern explorers with you and then he had you write a letter to your family as though you were about to embark on a great journey.  These are due next time. 

Mr. Peterson then discussed Columbus and we read a biographical sketch of Columbus.

We started working on creating a cartoon strip of Columbus' voyages.  This will be due the time after next.

5 & 6 September

We are excited to have Mr. Peterson here with us in our class.  Mr. Peterson is a student teacher from Utah Valley University who will be teaching in our class until the end of November.  Today was his first day teaching.

The starter for today: If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?  Why would you go there?

Mr. Peterson gave each class 15 minutes to work on The First Americans assignment.  This is due next class time.

He then introduced the idea of explorers - including reasons for exploration and some of the early European explorers.  We read a historical account of Portugal's Prince Henry's reasons for exploration and compared how his reasons were the same or different from reasons that we might have for exploring.

31 August & 4 September

Today's starter was: Tell me everything that you know about the Aztecs, the Inca, and the Maya.

We discussed emergency procedures for this side of the building - what to do and where to go in case of a fire or other emergency.

We finished discussing the physical regions of the United States - this was a very brief overview of the geography of the country.  We handed this assignment in and it is now graded.  Remember, with this assignment and all other assignments, if you have not turned this in it can still be turned in for full points.

We briefly looked at the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca cultures.  We are going to begin looking at the European explorers soon and I wanted the students to see that there were cultures here in the Americas before the Europeans arrived.

We then looked at North American Indian dwellings and what they can tell us about the Indians that built them.  For example: more permanent dwellings, such as pueblos, generally meant that those Indians relied on farming for their food source - while temporary buildings, such as teepees, indicate a hunting society.

I gave them an assignment to practice this new skill - we worked on it for awhile.  I will give them time next class period, then it will be assigned as homework.

29 & 30 August

Today's starter:  We often learn about the past by reading a book, going to a class, or watching a documentary.  How do the people who write or teach about the past learn what happened?

We discussed the starter and that led to a discussion of primary and secondary sources.

We looked at my website and then read an Encyclopedia Brown together.  We then briefly discussed the physical regions of the United States.  This is an assignment and A Day classes have turned it in - B Day classes will turn this is on Friday.  If you were absent, let me know, and we can find a way for you to make up the assignment.