"12 Years a Slave" Responses

If you attended the field trip and saw the film, click here and complete the instructions.

If you did not attend the field trip please click here and follow the instructions.

Instructions for Monday 11/4

Greetings U.S. History Scholars,
Sorry I am not there today.  A bad bout of the flu is preventing my attendance.  However, you should be able to use my absence to your benefit.  Please read and follow the instructions below:
1) In preparation for our field trip on Monday, please read this review of the film from Rolling Stone Magazine.  It's important for you to have some context about what you are going to see in the film, so read carefully.
2) You may continue to REVISE your Preamble paragraphs.  Consider what you brought in for today a draft.  I encourage you to (or even better, have someone else) read them over and ask the following questions:

• Did I follow the format for each paragraph including the first sentence (assertion), the definition of the Preamble section, and using details to prove the assertion?
• Do I have enough SPECIFIC details to support my assertion?
• Did I link the details back to my assertion so my readers know WHY they prove it?

If the answer to any of the questions is "no" then you have the opportunity to revise.  The final version of your paragraphs will be due at your next class period.

3) If you've answered yes to each of the questions in #2 above, then you may work on the creative portion of your project.  This may include planning it out (creating a sketch or a plan), or finding or drawing images to use.

Don't forget to turn in your field trip permissions and $.  Please be in the front lobby on Wednesday at 11:25 AM.

Indian Removal

Greetings U.S. History Scholars,
Today and tomorrow we will be exploring the American Government's Native American Policy that existed in the first half of the 19th Century.  To do so, click on this webquest.  Make a copy of the document for yourself and then fill it in as you follow the instructions.  You will be looking at excerpts from several primary source documents, maps, and images.  Please be detailed in your descriptions.

The War of 1812 and The Star Spangled Banner

Greetings U.S. History scholars,
Today we will be exploring your knowledge about the War of 1812 and examining the significance of the Star Spangled Banner.
To do so, you will complete the following tasks while you work.

Gathering Knowledge

• First, go to the War of 1812 site presented by the National Museum of American History.
• Next, read the introduction then click on to get started.  
• Then read the information and explore the page. Be sure that you notice the images on the left and click on them to see what other information they can provide.   Before you move on to the "next" page, answer the "Collect Stars" question.  Note-as you work through these you may need to explore the entire page to find the answer.  
• Try to make your way through the entire site.

 Using Knowledge

• As you consider the importance of the Star Spangled Banner (the flag itself and the National Anthem)  identify significant, facts, details, images as you gather your knowledge above.  When you find something that is meaningful to your understanding of the events surrounding the War of 1812 or the flag itself, use this google document and copy and paste that detail or image next to (or underneath) the line of the Star Spangled Banner that is most closely associated with your chosen detail or image.  Note-there will be several people editing this document at once.  Be careful, do not delete anyone else's work.  More than one person may add something to any line of the song.  Continue this process as you work through the website.  You should add at least 4 things by the time you are done with the "gathering knowledge" phase above.

Unit 2: Assignment 1

Please read Ch. 6 Sec. 1 in your online textbook.  You should browse and explore as you read.  Please follow these steps:

1. Browse through the section and look at all of the pictures.
2. Click on the Audio tab and using your headphones (if you have some), listen to the section summary.
3. Browse through the section and note the subject headings and key terms.
4. Read through the entire section and take notes on the guided reading sheet as you work.

Anything you don't finish in class is homework that is due tomorrow.

Dear Parents and Guardians

Dear Parents and Guardians of U.S. History Students,
Welcome to the class blog for U.S. History.  This is the place for your students (and you) to find out information about the class, get assignment sheets, handouts, as well as helpful links to use throughout the course of the year.  Navigate using the tabs underneath the title of the page above.  I look forward to teaching your students and am expecting to have an outstanding year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kramer