It is close to the time of state testing so you can test you knowledge of the content by taking the quiz below. Report to me on your results. Any 8th grader from anywhere is welcome to take the test.
We are now starting our well-deserved Spring Break. I would like to add some comments on the year so far. First of all I am impressed with my students efforts in writing and technology. I made the big leap into allowing my students to create their own blogs of which a few did and relinquish control of their wikispaces. So far the students have done quite well with a few glitches as to be expected. They enjoy publishing their own work and are quite adept at it. I also have been able to collaborate via video with Terry Parent at St. Patrick’s School in North Hollywood as our classes have discussed topics such as factory life and slavery. Terry’s class worked with my 6th period US History class twice during the last two months and I have benefited from observing how he prepares his class. I hope to add some clips from our video conference within the next couple of weeks. I would like to extend thanks to the many teachers whose ideas from their blogs, wikis, and other technologies have inspired me. In addition, a thanks to my immediate colleagues onsite and to those at UCI who have assisted in the Academic Literacy project. This project has greatly increased my student’s ability to write in the content and all of my students have made siginificant progress. I hope to post some of their work also.
I encourage any teacher who is considering to take the step into utilizing blogs, wikis or other media to go for it. It is challenging, but rewarding as a teacher can readily observe how savy our students are. Moreover, students become engaged when they are allowed to create and publish.
More review opportunities for those of who would like to improve their common assessment scores.
Read the passage below about the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Then read the passage on page 547 on “Bleeding Kansas”. Create a three paneled illustration which includes the following: 1] Kansas-Nebraska Act in the first panel, 2]the events which followed the passage of the act in the second panel, 3]and events known as “Bleeding Kansas” in the third panel. See the example below as a reference.
In another attempt to resolve the slavery crisis Illinois senator Stephen Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act which once passed would allow for the people to decide on the issue of slavery in the new organized territories. This allowing of people to decide would be known as popular sovereignty. His purpose for this was to allow for the free northern states and the slave states to expand. However, this proposal did more to create violence than any other legislation proposed in the 1800’s. Since both Kansas and Nebraska were located above the 36°30° line which prohibited slavery north of this boundary, slavery could then expand anywhere in the newly organized territories. In 1854 Congress passed the act and President Pierce who supported the legislation signed it which then created even deeper divisions between the North and South. Soon after the act was passed both pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces streamed into Kansas in an effort to establish the state as free or slave. Pro-slavery forces known as the border ruffians came from Missouri to cast votes in the upcoming election. The election brought about more chaos as a pro-slavery legislature was chosen including restricting office holders to those who supported slavery. Anti-slavery forces refused to acknowledge the election and held their own election of which the results were the creation on a government that opposed slavery. Even the President and the Senate supported the pro-slavery government, but the House of Representatives sided with the anti-slavery forces. It was clear that the nation was headed on a collision course on the issue of slavery.
For those who are seeking to improve on their common assessment scores, here is a chance to review.
Many people, students included are familiar with Google Earth. They can find addresses and locations of friends and venues. However, Google Earth can enhance students geographic knowledge also. The lesson below gives an introduction on how to use the basics of the application. Moreover, as students you will be using it to plot the Trail of Tears, a sad chapter in the US governments treatment of Native Americans. Below, you will find the link on how to use the application. We will be utilizing some advanced features in class.
Below are some links that provide accounts of the Cherokee Removal
Family Stories from the Trail of Tears
http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/TWHP/wwwlps/lessons/118trail/118facts3.htm
In the early part of the 19th century the United States began to stretch its wings in attempt to expand. Some people known as War Hawks even wanted the United States to invade Canada and remove the British presence in North America. It was during this time that the Americans were involved in numerous disputes with Native Americans on the western frontier of the country. Because of these conflicts with the United States government, the Native Americans seek help from the British who never left the territory of the United States after the Revolutionary War. Concurrently, American sailors were being impressed or taken captive by the British in order to fill the need for sailors on British ships. Without going into extensive detail the War of 1812 broke out. In order to get a better picture of this topic and the concept of the Monroe Doctrine click on the link below. The PowerPoint presentation is the work of Mr. Banh.
So you think you can lead an expedition just as Lewis and Clark did. Click on the link below to access the PBS site which simulates the various trials and tribulations that the expedition encountered. Report to me if you can successfully navigate to the Pacific Ocean.
There are many people of my generation and older who never thought that an African-American would be elected during their lifetime. On November 4th that all changed with the election of Barak Obama. The following commentary is from people of all ages regarding the inauguration of President Obama and the historical importance of the moment.
Mr. Diaz
R Lopez 8th Grade
Later on I will interview our Counselor Ms. Shelby about the historical significance of President Obama’s inauguration. Ms. Shelby was lucky enough to attend the inauguration and was able to pick up not only memorabilia but priceless memories from here interactions with the many people who were in Washington D. C. over the last week.
Since the beginning of the year we utilized the use of blogs so that I could review content responses in a quick fashion. Yes, I have promised that you students would be producing videos and podcasts, which some of you have done quite well. We are now moving forward so that you as students have a more active role in producing web-based content. Each class now will be producing a wiki - a piece of software that allows users to freely edit and produce pages. You might be saying, isn’t this like Wikipedia? Yes, it is. I have relinquished control to you the students to freely create material on your class wiki (the eye in sky will be monitoring for content). My hope is that while I facilitate the learning, you as students will produce in whatever mode suits you, the content itself.
Below I have provided the link to the main wiki.
http://mendezushistory.wikispaces.com/
You wll be using the password I provide you to log in and begin the process of editing and creating. Look at the example I provided as a sample entry. It is simple as writing you thoughts on a particular content area as assigned. You will also be asked to provide links to outside web pages to reference your work.
