Final Academic Day of 2015-2016: Congratulations + Looking Back & Forward + Obama Presidency + Imperialism Debate with 6th & 7th Graders

On the last day of regular classes, the First 8th Grade Class in CCS History:

• Received congratulations and thanks for their hard work and cooperation the past two years
• Discussed their plans for next year
• Looked back on some of the highlights of the past school year
• Viewed a short video, Obama Presidency in 2 Minutes
• Were alerted to a longer video called Obama's First Term - PBS Frontline - 45:05
• Participated in the Grade 6/7 debate over U. S. Overseas Imperialism

Assignment for Wednesday: Enjoy the final academic night of 2015-2016 despite having no assignments to work on!

1990s, cont'd: Presidents G. H. W. Bush & Bill Clinton + 2000s: Presidents George W. Bush & Barack Obama

Today the lone 8th Grader in attendance:

• Watched the rest of the segment of the American Presidents video on President G. H. W. Bush, plus the sections on Presidents Bill Clinton & G. W. Bush

G.H.W. Bush: 23:07 --- Bill Clinton: 30:01 --- G.W. Bush: 37:32
• Read the Chart-Presidencies of George W. Bush & Barack Obama.

Assignment for Tuesday: Finish reading the above chart and be prepared for an informal debate over the question, "Who was the better president: George W. Bush or Barack Obama?

Field Trip to Killeen

Today the 8th Graders went on a field trip to Killeen.

Field Trip Postponed

Today the 8th Graders were going to go on a field trip to Killeen but got rained out & watched the movie National Treasure instead.

Wednesday - 18may16

Assignment for Friday: Read the rest of the columns on the Chart - Online Textbook - 1990s

Operation Desert Storm + Presidents GHW Bush & B Clinton

Today the mighty Eighths:

• Watched & discussed this Video-Operation Desert Storm
• Read on Presidents Bush & Clinton in the Chart-Online Textbook-1990s - 60, 60a, 60b, 60c

Assignment for Wednesday - Finish the reading on Bush I & Clinton.

Debate: Reagan & the Cold War + President G. H. W. Bush

Today the Men of the 8th:

• Did an excellent job of debating the question, "Did President Reagan end the Cold War?"
• Compiled a chronology of the presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush
• Began reading a summary of their choice of the Bush I Presidency

Assignment for Tuesday

1. Finish the Chronology of Bush I's Presidency
2. Finish reading the summary of Bush I's Presidency - Send me the link you read.

Video on Reagan + Prep for Deb over Reagan & the Cold War

Today the 8ths:

• Viewed the rest of the video begun yesterday on President Reagan
• Chose sides and began preparing for a debate over the question, "Did President Reagan end the Cold War? They began reading the first of the following articles and were given access to additional information in the second.
• Yes/No Article - Did President Reagan End the Cold War?
• 5 Articles - Did President Reagan End the Cold War?

Assignment for Monday - Debate over Reagan & the Cold War (See above.)

President Reagan: Discussion of Article + Video Summary

Today the 8th Graders:

• Discussed the article they read last night on President Ronald Reagan
• Viewed part of the Reagan portion of a video on U. S. Presidents from 1977-2008

Assignment for Thursday: None

Video on The Eighties + Review Article on President Reagan

Today the 8ths:

• Viewed, pausing to discuss, the above video on the Eighties
• Read and highlighted key points in an article reviewing several full-length books on the Reagan Presidency.

Assignment for Wednesday: Finish reading and highlighting the article on President Reagan.

Review of the 1970s + Overview of 1980s + Reaganomics + Budget Deficits/Surpluses

Today the 8th Graders:

• Welcomed back national traveler Wingboy
• Discussed some of the concepts he missed last week
• Discussed some of the key developments of the 1980s
• Analyzed basic aspects of Reaganomics
• Analyzed a graph showing budget deficits/surpluses from Carter to Reagan
• Began an online quiz over the 1970s, found at the bottom of this page: The Seventies - CNN Series

Assignments for Tuesday

• Finish the Online Quiz over The Seventies - CNN Series
• Read items 4-6 on the 1980s found in the Online Textbook:

1. The Reagan Years
2. "Morning in America"
3. Reaganomics
4. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements
5. Life in the 1980s
6. The End of the Cold War

The Seventies - CNN Series - Web Page
The Eighties - CNN Series - Web Page
The Eighties - NBC News Special - 50:24

The New Right: Discussion & Crash Course Vid

Today the 8:

• Discussed last night's reading on The New Right
• Viewed a Crash Course Video on The Rise of Conservatism during the 1960s/1970s (See above.)

Assignment for Monday (no class Friday) - Read the first 3 pages below on President Ronald Reagan (clicky clicky).

1. The Reagan Years
2. "Morning in America"
3. Reaganomics
4. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements
5. Life in the 1980s
6. The End of the Cold War

1970s: President Carter + Graph Analysis + The New Right

Today the 8th:

• Finished the Crash Course Video on Ford, Carter, Malaise
• Examined the handout showing approval ratings, economic growth, inflation, and other factors during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton.
• Began rereading for clarification the Online Textbook pages on Finding Oneself & The New Right during the 1970s

Assignments for Thursday: Reread the Online Textbook pages from last night. (See links above.)

Presidents Ford & Carter + Economic Terminology + Crash Course Video on Ford & Carter + Articles on Carter & Other Presidents

Today the 8th Grader:

• Discussed key economic points (especially inflation & real wages) found on these Graphs-Carter-Reagan-Bush I-Clinton
• Viewed & discussed a Crash Course Video on Ford, Carter, & Malaise (See above.)
• Began reading 3 articles, two of them on President Jimmy Carter & one on U. S. Presidents from FDR to Reagan

Assignment for Wednesday: Finish reading the 3 articles begun in class.

1970s, cont'd: President Jimmy Carter + The Me Decade + The New Right

Today the 8th Grader:

• Read part of the Chart-1970s-Part 2-ForPol After Nixon/Finding Oneself/The New Right
• Viewed the segment on President Jimmy Carter in this video.

Assignment for Tuesday: Finish reading the second and third columns on Chart-1970s-Part 2-ForPol After Nixon/Finding Oneself/The New Right

Watergate Scandal: Video & Essay or Debate Prep

Today the 8th Graders:

• Viewed a 46-minute video on the Watergate Scandal
• Chose between an essay and an online debate over the question, "Should President Richard M. Nixon have been impeached and removed from office for his role in the Watergate Scandal?" 
• Were to use the following as evidence:
• Online Textbook Information
• The video we watched (See above.)
• Other online sources of their choice

Assignment for Monday:

1. Gather additional information about the Watergate Scandal 
2. Use that information plus the other materials we have examined to complete your essay or online debate, as described above.

Thursday - 28apr16

Assignments for Friday

1. Read twice the Watergate page at the Online History Textbok.

2. Write an essay or do a debate or construct a Greaser/Soc dialogue, etc. for The Outsiders. Here are some Possible Ideas for Essay on The Outsiders

Picture ID-The Outsiders + Discussion of Ch. 9 & 10 of The Outsiders

Today the lads of the 8th:

• Applied what they have been reading by doing a Picture ID-The Outsiders
• Discussed Ch. 9 & 10 of The Outsiders

Assignments for Thursday
1. Finish Picture ID-The Outsiders
2. Read the final two chapters of The Outsiders

Field Trip to Historic Village in Waco

Today the 8th Graders took a field trip to the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village near Baylor University in Waco.

Assignments for Wednesday

1. Read Ch. 9 & 10 of The Outsiders.
2. Read these sections on the 1970s from the Online History Textbook (Clicky clicky.)

• Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China
• Undoing a President
• The Sickened Economy

Overview of 1970s + Arab-Israeli Conflict + The Outsiders

See enlarged views here & here.

Today the 8th Graders:

• During an overview of the 1970s, students expressed an interest in the 1978 Camp David Accords and consequently explored background information on the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.
• Discussed Ch. 8 of The Outsiders.

Assignments for Wednesday

1. Read Ch. 9 & 10 of The Outsiders.
2. Read these sections on the 1970s from the Online History Textbook (Clicky clicky.)

• Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China
• Undoing a President
• The Sickened Economy

Making Sense of the Sixties - Final Episode + Essay on MSotS + Ch. 8 of the Outsiders

Today the 8th Graders:

• Watched and discussed the final episode of Making Sense of the Sixties
• Began writing an essay on the series - Suggestions for Essay
• Participated, if they wanted, with the 6th/7th Graders in the Last Frontier Role Play
• Began reading Ch. 8 of The Outsiders

Assignments for Monday

1. Finish reading Ch. 8 of The Outsiders
2. Finish your Essay on Making Sense of the Sixties

Making Sense of the Sixties - 1969/70 + The Outsiders

Today the Grade 8s: Viewed and discussed Ep. 9 of Making Sense of the Sixties, focusing on 1969 & 1970

Assignment for Friday: Read Ch. 7 of The Outsiders.

Making Sense of the Sixties: 1968 + Discussion of Ch. 5 of The Outsiders

On this day, the 8th Graders:

• Watched Episode 9 of Making Sense of the Sixties, focusing on the year 1968
• Held an insightful discussion of Ch. 5 of The Outsiders

Assignment for Thursday: Read Ch. 6 of The Outsiders.

Making Sense of the Sixties - Vietnam + The Outsiders-Ch. 5

Today the 8th Graders:

• Viewed and discussed the episode from Making Sense of the Sixties called Vietnam Touched Off a Firestorm
• Began reading Ch. 5 of S. E. Hinton - The Outsiders

Assignment for Wednesday - Finish reading Ch. 5 of The Outsiders.

Grandparents Day Celebration + Outsiders Ch. 3

Today the 8th Graders:

• Celebrated Grandparents Day
• Began reading Ch. 3 of The Outsiders

Assignment for Monday: Finish reading Ch. 3 of The Outsiders

Discussion of Ch. 1 of The Outsiders + Primary Sources from The Vietnam War

Today the 8th Graders:

• Discussed Ch. 1 of The Outsiders
• Viewed a student's grandfather's primary sources from the Vietnam War
• Began reading Ch. 2 of The Outsiders

Assignment for Friday: Finish reading Ch. 2 of The Outsiders

Basic Info on Vietnam War + Discussion of Online Textbook Pages + Began The Outsiders

Today the 8th Graders:

• Finished taking notes on basic information about the Vietnam War
• Discussed various aspects of last night's reading of Vietnam War pages at the Online American History site
• Began reading Ch. 1 of S. E. Hinton - The Outsiders

Assignment for Thursday: Finish reading Ch. 1 of S. E. Hinton - The Outsiders

Making Sense of the Sixties
6. How the Sixties Changed America
7. Vietnam Touched Off a Firestorm
8. Americans Were Furious in 1968
9. How Vietnam Affected America in 1968
10. They Never Forgot the 1960s

Correctives + Vietnam: Overview, cont'd + Timeline + Online Textbook

Today the 8ths:

• Did correctives on their JFK/LBJ Quiz
• Continued their overview of the Vietnam War
• Viewed Vietnam War-5 min. summary-From America in 20th Century Series

• Began reading the following pages of the Online History Textbook:
• The Vietnam War
• Early Involvement
• Years of Escalation: 1965-68
• The Tet Offensive
• The Antiwar Movement
• Years of Withdrawal

Assignment for Wednesday: Finish reading the Vietnam pages listed above.

For Future Reference:

• Vietnam: Chronicle of a War - 1981CBS News Documentary-1:28:15
• The Vietnam War - An American Experience - 11-part PBS Series--Outstanding In-Depth Series

Discussion of A Separate Peace + Vietnam War Overview

Today the 8ths:

• Had perhaps our final discussion of A Separate Peace; the students shared excellent insights; the character diagram below is interesting, despite the misspelling of the novel's title; I was going to show it to you earlier, but it would have spoiled a couple of key plot developments.
• Began taking notes on basic information about the Vietnam War
• Began reading a packet of timelines, summaries, and clashing points of view about the Vietnam War

Assignment for Tuesday: Finish reading (a couple of times each) the two timelines, the summary, and the maps of the Vietnam War. We will continue our overview of the war tomorrow.

Quiz over JFK/LBJ + A Separate Peace

Today the 8th Graders:

• Took their Quiz over JFK & LBJ
• Began reading Ch. 11-13 of A Separate Peace
• Were given a heads-up on the current week, which will revolve around standardized testing, during which there will be no or abbreviated regular class sessions. On Friday students will be taking a field trip to Peaceable Kingdom.

Assignment for Monday, 4/11/16 - Finish reading Ch. 11-12-13 of A Separate Peace.

Google Slides Illustrating JFK & LBJ + Prep for Monday's Quiz over JFK & LBJ

Today the Grade 8's:

• Worked collaboratively making Google Slides on Presidents Kennedy & Johnson, using the Online Textbook Chart on the 1960s
• Prepared for Monday's Quiz over Parts 56b, 56c, & 56e of the Online Textbook Chart on the 1960s

Assignment for Monday: Quiz over Parts 56b, 56c, & 56e of the Online Textbook Chart on the 1960s: JFK & LBJ



Video - From Truman to Ford
18:38-JFK
27:11-LBJ

Making Sense of the Sixties + JFK & LBJ + A Separate Peace

Today the Grade 8ers:

• Viewed & discussed Making Sense of the Sixties - Part 5 on the Counterculture
• Began reading Ch. 9 & 10 of A Separate Peace

Assignments

For Friday - Finish reading Ch. 9 & 10 of A Separate Peace

For Monday - Quiz over Online Textbook Chart on the 1960s -  Parts 56b, 56c, & 56e on JFK & LBJ

Making Sense of the Sixties-Part 4 + A Separate Peace-Ch. 6 & 7

Today the 8th Graders:

• Watched & discussed Making Sense of the Sixties-Part 4

• Began reading Ch. 6 & 7 of John Knowles's A Separate Peace

Assignment for Thursday: Finish reading Ch. 6 & 7 of ASP and come prepared to discuss it.

A Separate Peace: Discussion of Ch. 4 & 5 + Reading Ch. 6

Today the 8th Graders:

• Had an excellent discussion of Ch. 4 & 5 of A Separate Peace
• Did silent reading of Ch. 6 of A Separate Peace

Assignment for Wednesday: Finish reading Ch. 6 of ASP.

A Separate Peace Discussion + Reading A Separate Peace, Ch. 4 & 5

Today the Gr8s:

• Held an in-depth discussion of Ch. 1-3 of John Knowles' A Separate Peace
• Began reading Ch. 4 & 5 of ASP

Assignments for Tuesday

1. Finish reading Ch. 4 & 5 of A Separate Peace
2. Happy Easter & enjoy your 4-day weekend!

Overview of 1960s + Making Sense of the Sixties: Early 60s + A Separate Peace

Today the Eighths:

• Did a quick overview of and later began reading this Chart-Online Textbook-1960s Politics-Ike-JFK-LBJ-Nixon
• Viewed, pausing to discuss the first part of Episode 2 of Making Sense of the Sixties:The Early 60s - A Time of Innocence




• Briefly discussed Ch. 2 of John Knowles's A Separate Peace
• Began reading Ch. 3 of ASP

Assignments for Thursday

1. Finish reading Chart-Online Textbook-1960s Politics-Ike-JFK-LBJ-Nixon.
2. Finish reading Ch. 3 of A Separate Peace

Conformity in the 1950s & Today + Civil Rights Movement + Ch. 1 & 2 of A Separate Peace

Today the 8ths:

• Discussed the pros & cons of conformity: in the 1950s & generally
• Listened to & discussed Malvina Reynolds' 1962 song, "Little Boxes"
• Discussed the civil rights movement of the 1950s
• Discussed Ch. 1 of Knowles, A Separate Peace
• Began reading Ch. 2 of ASP

Assignment for Wednesday - Read & be prepared to discuss Ch. 2 of ASP.

Today the Eighths:

• Filled out & discussed a "Conformity Survey" based on personal insights and insights derived from the video Making Sense of the Sixties-Seeds of the Sixties.
• Began reading Ch. 1 of John Knowles, A Separate Peace.

Assignments for Tuesday

1. Finish the Conformity Survey. Use The 1950s-Online U.S. Textbook Pages-Part 1 and the Seeds of the Sixties video to job your memory.
2. Finish reading Ch. 1 of John Knowles, A Separate Peace.

Seeds of the Sixties + Civil Rights Movement + Hiroshima

Today the Eighth Graders:

• Watched the rest of the second installment of Making Sense of the Sixties-Seeds of the Sixties (which were planted in the 1950s)
• Began reading The 1950s-Pt. 2-Civil Rights Movement-Online US History Textbook
• Read some from Ch. IV of John Hersey's Hiroshima

Assignment for Friday

1. Read The 1950s-Pt. 2-Civil Rights Movement-Online US History Textbook.
2. Finish reading Ch. IV of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Discussion + Seeds of the Sixties, Pt. 2

Today the Eighths:

• Discussed Ch. II of John Hersey's Hiroshima
• Viewed, pausing periodically to discuss the second installment of Making Sense of the Sixties-Seeds of the Sixties (were planted in the 1950s)
• Began reading Ch. III of Hiroshima

Assignment for Thursday: Read and be ready to discuss Ch. III of Hiroshima

Seeds of the Sixties + Hiroshima Discussion

Today the 8th Graders:

• Finished viewing the first half of Making Sense of the Sixties: Seeds of the Sixties (were sown in the 1950s)
• Discussed Ch. 1 of John Hersey's Hiroshima

Assignment for Wednesday: Read Ch. 2 of Hiroshima.

Vocab Quiz Br. Summ. CW 2 + Making Sense + Hersey's Hiroshima

Today the 8ths:

• Did some last-minute studying for the Vocab Quiz
• Took the Vocab Quiz-Brief Summary of the Cold War - Part 2
• Watched some more of Part 1 of the PBS series, Making Sense of the Sixties: Seeds of the Sixties (were sown in the 1950s)
• Did an activity called Speculating on Chapter Titles in John Hersey's Hiroshima
• Began reading John Hersey's 1946 book, Hiroshima

Assignment for Tuesday: Finish Chapter 1 of Hiroshima - "A Noiseless Flash"

Seeds of the Sixties (planted in the 1950s) + Collage of the 1950s + Vocabulary Quiz Prep

Todays the 8ths:

• Watched part of Episode 1 of the PBS series, Making Sense of the Sixties: Seeds of the Sixties (1950s)
• Analyzed a collage of the 1950s, following these directions:
• Find a collage or two of the 1950s.
• Identify everything on the collage that was mentioned in The1950s-Pt. 1-Online U. S. History Textbook. If something is already identified, tell a little bit more about it as described in the chart.
• Then find pictures of at least 5-7 things found in the chart that are not found in the collage.

Assignments for Monday

1. Finish the Collage of the 1950s
2. Quiz over Words #14-26 in Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

Vocab Quiz Prep + 1950s-What Comes to Mind? + Eisenhower Presidency Overview + Reading Online Text on 1950s

Today the men of the Eighth:

• Discussed definitions and usages of the words for Monday's Quiz over Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War - Words #14-26
• Brainstormed "What comes to mind when you hear of the 1950s?"
• Watched the Eisenhower segment of the video on U. S. Presidents from Truman through Ford.
• Began reading The 1950s-Online U.S. Textbook Pages-Part 1

Assignments

For Friday - Finish reading The 1950s-Online U.S. Textbook Pages-Part 1

For Monday- Quiz over next 13 words in Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

1984 Newspeak Analysis + Truman Documentary + Evaluation of Truman's Presidency

Today the Eighthies:

• Discussed Newsspeak, as seen in Ch. 1-4 of Orwell's 1984.
• Supplemented the students' analysis with the online Newspeak Dictionary (Thanks, JB!)
• Watched some more of the Truman Documentary: The American Experience we began in class yesterday

Assignments

For Thursday
1. Finish the video Truman Documentary The American Experience.
2. Make a chart evaluating Truman's presidency: 2 columns, one for The Good and one for The Bad.

For Monday- Quiz over next 13 words in Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

For Future Reference
PBS-The American Experience - Truman

President Harry S Truman + The Orwellian Dystopia of 1984

Today the Gr8s:

• Did some oral drill of the pictures of U. S. Presidents from Truman through Ford
• Watched, pausing to discuss, parts of two videos on President Harry S Truman:
• Truman Film Clip - 1st 10:32
• Truman Documentary - The American Experience - 2:17:12 - @1:27:42 - FDR-->Truman
• Analyzed highlighted items in 1984 - Teacher's Annotated Text, most of which are key aspects of the Orwellian dystopia. Students are asked to explain what each of the yellow highlighted terms is.

Assignments

For Wednesday - Finish explaining the yellow highlighted terms in 1984 - Teacher's Annotated Text.

For Monday- Quiz over next 13 words in Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

For Future Reference:
Presidential Lost Archives: Harry S Truman - 42:29

1984 Discussion + McCarthyism Documentary, cont'd + Reading 1984

Today the 8th Graders:

• Discussed how political parties in the early Cold War Period might have used Orwell's 1984 and McCarthyism to advance their political goals
• Viewed more of the documentary on McCarthyism we began watching on Friday
• Read some of Ch. 4 of 1984

Assignments 

For Tuesday: Read and come prepared to discuss Ch. 4 of Orwell's 1984.

For Friday - Quiz over next 20 words in Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

Ch. Summaries of 1984 + Documentary on McCarthyism + Reading 1984

Today the 8th Graders:

• Wrote summaries from memory of Ch. 1 & 2 of Orwell's 1984
• Discussed McCarthyism
• Viewed the first 17+ minutes of Enemies Within: Joseph McCarthy - 1:32:07
• Began reading Ch. 3 of 1984

Assignment for Monday - Finish reading Ch. 3 of 1984

Vision/Hearing Screening + Time Line + 1984 + Truman Domestic Policy + McCarthyism

Today the 8th Graders:

• Had their vision & hearing screened
• Examined a Time Line of U. S. History Since World War II, focusing on:
• The Cold War
• The interplay between the Cold War and domestic politics
• McCarthyism
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• Briefly discussed 1984
• Began reading the pages on the online U. S. history textbook on Truman's Domestic Policy ("Domestic Challenges") & McCarthyism

Assignments for Friday

1. Finish reading "Domestic Challenges" & "McCarthyism."
2. Review Ch. 1 & 2 in 1984 discussion and possible pop quiz.

Korean War Documentary + Orwell's 1984

Today the 8th Graders:

• Watched, pausing to discuss, this Korean War Documentary
• Began reading Ch. 2 of Orwell's 1984
• 
  

Assignment for Thursday

1. Finish watching the Korean War Documentary
2. Finish reading Ch. 2 of Orwell's 1984 and come prepared to discuss it.

Korean War Videos

• Korean War in Colour (Documentary) - 1:25:05
• History Channel Documentaries HD Korean War Documentary BBC 2015 - 1:21:58
• Korean War: Fire and Ice - Part 1 of 4 - 44:21

Korean War + Orwell's 1984

Today the 8th Graders:

• Shared analyses of the 4-map sequence on the Korean War
• Supplemented the color 4-map sequence with information from another sequence. Both are found on this PPT, Two 4-Map Korean War Sequences.
• Read a summary and began reading a 1997 Newsweek article on the Korean War
• Began reading Chapter 1 of George Orwell - 1984

Assignments for Wednesday

1. Finish reading the packet on the Korean War including the 1997 Newsweek article.
2. Read and come prepared to discuss Chapter 1 of 1984.

Sp/Vocab Quiz + Korean War

Today the 8ths:

• Took their Spelling/Vocab Quiz over A Brief Summar of the Cold War
• After the Quiz they did the 4-Map Sequence on the Korean War. - Due Tuesday (tomorrow).

Assignment for Tuesday - Finish the 4-Map Sequence on the Korean War

Vocab QuizPrep + Cold War Begins + Online US History Textook on Cold War + Evaluation of Truman's Cold War Policies

Today the 8th Graders:

• Discussed the words for Monday's Quiz over Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War
• Began focusing on the first of a series of key Cold War topics
• Focused today on The Cold War Begins (the first 5 years of the CW): Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift, NATO, Point Four, & Korean War
• After reading and discussing a chronological descriptions of the events, students read the following pages from the Online US History Textbook: (clicky clicky)

1. The Cold War Erupts
2. The United Nations
3. Containment and the Marshall Plan
4. The Berlin Airlift and NATO
5. The Korean War

• Wrote an evaluation of President Harry S Truman's handling of the first five years of the Cold War

Assignments

For Monday 

1. Turn in the evaluation of Truman's handling of the Cold War beginnings
2. Quiz over Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

Cold War Quiz Celebration + Chronology of the Cold War + Where Historians Disagree About the Cold War

Today the 8th Graders:

• Got back their graded Quiz: A Brief Summary of the Cold War
• Worked on the Chronology of the Cold War assignment they were supposed to have done before they arrived to class today.
• Built on a Quiz question assessing who was more responsible for the Cold War by reading and discussing an essay in the Where Historians Disagree series called Origins of the Cold War

Assignments

For Friday - Finish reading Origins of the Cold War, writing notes in the margin on various historians' arguments as to who was more responsible for the Cold War.

For Monday - Quiz over Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

Cold War Quiz + Chronology of the Cold War

Click here for enlargeable view.

On this very day the 8ths:

• Took the Quiz over a Brief Summary of the Cold War
• Began working on a Chronology of the Cold War

Assignments

For Thursday - Finish the Chronology of the Cold War

For Monday - Quiz over Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War

Crash Course Video on Cold War + Brief Summary of the Cold War + Quiz Prep on Cold War

                                              Click here for enlargeable view.

On this day, the Gr8s:

• Viewed, pausing to discuss, a Crash Course Video on the Cold War
• Finished reading & discussing Brief Summary of the Cold War
• Collaboratively studied for tomorrow's Quiz over Brief Summary of the Cold War

Assignments

For Wednesday - Quiz over Brief Summary of the Cold War

For Monday- Quiz over Vocabulary - Brief Summary of the Cold War


For Future Reference

America in the 20th Century: The Cold War - 2:11:55 - YouTube

Overview of the Cold War, cont'd + Illustrating the Cold War

                                        Click here for enlargeable view.

Today the 8th Graders:

• Continued reading & discussing the Brief Summary of the Cold War
• Continued adding pictures to illustrate key Cold War people, events, & topics mentioned in the Brief Summary.

Assignments

For Saturday, Sunday, Monday: Enjoy your 3-day weekend! Happy Presidents Day!

For Tuesday
1. Finish reading Brief Summary of the Cold War.
2. Add pictures illustrating various aspects of the Cold War mentioned in the Brief Summary.

For Wednesday - Quiz over Brief Summary of the Cold War

For Future Reference
The Cold War - Crash Course World History
The Cold War - Crash Course US History
The Cold War in Asia - Crash Course US History
The American Experience: The Cold War - 2:11:55

Cold War Overview, cont'd + Illustrations of the Cold War

Today the Grade 8s:

• Continued reading and analyzing the Brief Summary of the Cold War.
• Used the maps and online photos to emphasize various points made in the Brief Summary
• Began finding and pasting into the Brief Summary pictures illustrating the various people, concepts, and events.

Assignments

For Friday - Finish finding and pasting pictures into the Brief Summary of the Cold War, as begun in class today.
You only have to do the first two sections by tomorrow (Introduction & The Iron Curtain & Containment).

For Tuesday - Quiz over Brief Summary of the Cold War

Code Talker Battle PPT, cont'd + Cold War Overview

Today the 8ths:

• Continued making their PowerPoints of a battle described in the book Code Talker; see the instructions in yesterday's blog post
• Began reading a Brief Summary of the Cold War

Assignment for Thursday - Finish the Code Talker Battle PPT

Tuesday, 9feb16 - Code Talkers Video(s) + Mapping a Battle from Code Talker

Please cooperate with our substitute today, students.

• Our focus will be on the Navajo Code Talkers.
• You will do two main activities:

Video-Navajo Code Talkers

• Go to the Navajo Code Talkers Website. (Clicky clicky.)
• Look the site over and then chose one of the Code Talkers Videos to watch.
• Open Notes During Code Talkers Video document & follow the directions.
• Please complete this by tomorrow (Wednesday).

PPT of a Code Talker Battle
1. Choose any one of the following battles described in Code Talker. (Each student should take a different battle.)

• Bougainville - Ch. 18
• Guam - Ch. 21
• Iwo Jima - Ch. 24, 25, 26
• Okinawa - Ch. 27

2. Make a PowerPoint to illustrate what is described:

• Map of the Battle - from departure from the ship to the beach landing to the battle to their leaving the island
• Pictures of the Battle - Look especially for things mentioned in the book.
• Approximate route taken by the book's story teller
• Approximate location of anything he describes.
• Anything else you could include that would be appropriate

3. Get as much done on this today as you can.

• It will not be due tomorrow.
• I will check with you on Wednesday to see how far you have gotten and decide on a due date then.

Assignments

For Wednesday - Video Notes on Navajo Code Talkers

For Thursday or Friday - PowerPoint on Code Talker Battle

Patton Speech(es) + Results of WW II + Code Talker

Today the 8ths:

• Watched an excerpt of the famous opening speech in the movie Patton
• Compared this with an excerpt from an actual speech by General George S. Patton
• Finished taking notes on Results of World War II
• Read some of the final chapters from Code Talker

Assignment for Tuesday: Finish reading Code Talker through p. 224. (Ch. 27, 28, 29, & Author's Note)

Results of WW II + Code Talker

See other useful Cold War maps here.

Today the 8ths:

• Took notes and examined maps and pictures on Results of World War II
• Read as much as they could of Ch. 23-26 in Code Talker

Assignment for Monday: Read and come to class prepared to discuss Ch. 23-26 in Code Talker.

Saving Private Ryan + Code Talker List & Discussion

Today the 8th Graders:

• Watched the D-Day sequence of Saving Private Ryan in order to get an idea of what it was like to participate in an amphibious assault in a Higgins boat
• Listed the most memorable and interesting parts thus far of Joseph Bruchac's Code Talker
• Discussed Ch. 15-18 of Code Talker

Assignments for Friday
1. Finish your list of Code Talker highlights & post it to the Google Document.
2. Read Code Talker, Ch. 19-22 and come prepared to discuss them.

Finished the WW II Video + Read More Code Talker

Today the 8th Graders:

• Finally finished the long color video surveying World War II
• Read Ch. 15-18 in Code Talker

Assignment for Thursday: Finish reading Ch. 15-18 in Code Talker and come prepared to discuss it.

WW II Video, cont'd + A-Bomb Debate

Today the 8ths:

• Watched the WW II in Color video from right after D-Day to Okinawa
• Continued the Atomic Bomb Debate, today doing it online

Assignment for Wednesday -

1. Finish the A-Bomb Online Debate by the time you arrive for class
2. Read and come prepared to discuss Ch. 12-14 in Code Talker

Organizational Matters + WW II Video, cont'd + A-Bomb Debate

Today the 8th Graders:

• Spent a while making sure all required assignments were available for grading
• Watched the D-Day portion of the World War II in Color video
• Debated, without being fully prepared, "Should the United States have dropped the atomic bombs?"

Assignments for Tuesday
1. Continue the a-bomb debate. Read back over the a-bomb packet and come fully prepared.
2. Read Ch. 7-11 in Code Talker. Come prepared to discuss these chapters.

WW II Video, cont'd + Thinglink Assistance

Today the 8th Graders:

• Continued watching, pausing, and discussing the World War II in Color Video, making it to the cusp of D-Day, June 6, 1944
• Helped the 6th & 7th Graders learn to use the Thinglink online app

Assignment for Monday: Be prepared to discuss/impromptu debate the question, "Should the United States have dropped the atomic bombs?" Underline, highlight, color code the arguments for and against in the A-Bomb Packet given you in class yesterday.

Quiz over WW II in Pacific +Atomic Bomb Packet

Today the 8th Graders:

• Took the Quiz over WW II in the Pacific
• Began reading a packet of opinions on the question, "Should the United States have dropped the atomic bombs?"

Assignment for Friday

1. Finish reading the atomic bomb packet.
2. Come prepared to discuss and informally debate the propriety of dropping the a-bombs.

World War II in the Pacific + Discussion of Code Talkers

Today the Gr8s:

• Got back yesterday's graded WW II Quiz over Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa
• Used a map to trace the steps in the Allied Victory in the Pacific
• Did some drill in preparation for tomorrow's Quiz over the Pacific Theater
• Discussed Ch. 1-6 of Joseph Bruchac's Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Assignment for Thursday: Quiz over the Pacific Theater in WW II

Today the 8th Graders:

• Took the Quiz over World War II: Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa
• Began studying the chronological map on Allied Victory in the Pacific.
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Assignments

For Wednesday - Read & come to class prepared to discuss Ch. 3-6 in Code Talkers.

For Thursday or Friday - Quiz over map/info over Allied Victory in the Pacific

World War II Video, cont'd + Quiz Prep

Today the 8ths:

• Watched the conclusion of the Pearl Harbor video begun last Tuesday
• Continued watching the World War II in Color video begun Thursday, 1/14/16
• Studied collaboratively in preparing for tomorrow's Quiz over Allied Victory in Europe/North Africa

Assignment for Tuesday: Quiz over Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa

Review of Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa + Quiz Prep

Today the 8th Graders:

• Shared key facts about World War II with their former classmate visiting from out of town.
• Studied for Tuesday's Quiz over the Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa

Assignment for Tuesday: Quiz over the Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa

1. Learn the numbered chronology of the battles.
2. Learn the brief descriptions of the battles running down the right side of the page.

For Future Reference

D-Day Animated Maps

BBC - History - World Wars: Animated Map: Operation ...

D DAY, Normandy beaches map - YouTube

The Normandy Landings - War Times Journal

D-Day interactive charts and maps - Britannica

WW II: Allied Victory in Europe & North Africa + Readings in Ambrose's The Good Fight

Today the 8th Graders:

• Studied, color coded, & annotated a step-by-step map of the Allies' defeat of the Axis Powers in Europe & North Africa
• Read relevant chapters in Stephen Ambrose's WW II book, The Good Fight

Assignment for Friday: Finish reading these chapters in Ambrose:

• p. 22 - Battle of the Atlantic
• 27 - 28 - Operation Torch (N. Africa)
• 32  - Operation Husky (Sicily)
• 34-36 - Campaign in Italy
• 44 - The Air War Over Europe
• 48 & 52 - D-Day

Click here to enlarge.

Other useful maps:
Here, here, here, here, here, here, here.