October 31, 2007 - Happy Halloween!

Today in History: Work on the massive sculpture on Mount Rushmore was completed on this day in 1941.

• In AP US History: we will begin our mini-debates over 1) universal male suffrage, 2) universal public education, 3) right to form unions, and 4) tariff and nullification. Objective: AP #7: students will understnad federal authority and its opponents, the bank war, states' rights, Jacksonian democracy, and AP #9: Indian removal.
• In AP Government: we may a have a district judge discussing the court system today. If so, we will push back our Chapters 14, 18, and 19 quiz to Monday.

October 30, 2007

Today in History: John Adams, our second president, was born on this date in 1735. His son, John Quincy, was our sixth president.

• In AP US History: we are working in groups to put together our arguments for our mini-debates over Jackson and the Transformation of Politics in Antebellum Society. The first four mini-debates will be conducted on Wednesday. Objectives include: AP #7 - understand federal authority and its opponents, the bank war, states' rights, and Jacksonian democracy and AP #9 - Indian removal.
• In AP Government: we are continuing our discussion on civil rights and civil liberties, including due process. Objectives include: AP # 6 - understand development of individual rights and liberties and their impact on citizens, understand Fourteenth Amendment and how the doctrine of selective incorporation have been used to extend protection of liberties and rights.

Have a GREAT Tuesday!

October 29 - November 2

Today in History: The stock market crashed on October 29, 1929. This day, known as Black Tuesday, signaled the beginning of the Great Depression.

Today is the beginning of the second nine-weeks grading period. Students received a detailed progress report to very all grades. Any discussions regarding grades should be completed before the end of day Tuesday.

• In AP US History: This week we will complete our discussion of Jacksonian Democracy. Today, we are conducting a jigsaw activity over the Bank War and Second Pary System, pages 296-305 in the Divine textbook. On Tuesday, we will be divided into small groups and given a debate topic to work on while in class. Wednesday through Friday, we will conduct mini-debates on the following topics: 1) universal male suffrage, 2) univeral public education, 3) right to form unions, 4) tariff and nullification, 5) the bank veto, and 6) Indian removal. After completing the debates and analyzing the two sides to Jackson, students will complete a DBQ: King Andrew or Old Hickory.
• In AP Government: This week we will be discussin Chapters 18-19, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. Today, we will discuss what are civil rights and civil liberties, the Fourteenth Amendment, and due process. Tuesday, we will complete an activity over the material. Wednesday, we will continue our discussion, talking about the purpose and effects of civil rights and the forms of civil liberties. Thursday, we will complete an activity regarding our rights. Friday, we will wrap up the unit with a quiz over Chapter 14, 18, and 19.
• Other Important Information: 1) Thursday is Photo Retake Day for Grades 9-11, in the Cafetorium. 2) Friday we will be on Pep Rally schedule - Go Tigers, Beat Burnet!

October 26, 2007

Today in History: The Erie Canal opened on this date in 1825.

• In AP US History: students are completing a learning station activity over pages 289-296 from the Divine textbook. Students should understand Jacksonian democracy and its successes and limitations, as well as, the bank war and forced removal of American Indians to trans-Mississippi West. Students will also understand the importance of efective leadership (19A) and analyze information and explain and apply different mothods historians use to interpret the past. Assignments Due by Monday: Jigsaw Activity Handout and Jackson's Learning Stations Handout.
• In AP Government: students will participate in a discussion over "The Power of Federal Courts" and "Checks on Judicial Power," describing the dimensions of power exercised today by the Supreme Court and the opposing viewpoints on the desirability of activism by that court.

Please email Mrs. Jennings for an electronic version of available handouts.

October 25, 2007

Today in History: Pablo Picassa, one of hte world's greatest painters, was born in Spain on this date in 1881.

• In AP US History: we will complete a jigsaw activity over the Divine: Chapter 10, pp. 281-289 reading. Please email me if you will be out and need an electronic version of the handout. Tomorrow, we will conduct a learning station activity over pages 289-296.
• In AP Government: we will be playing a "board game" using the material from Chapter 14, pages 403-422.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a GREAT Thursday!

October 24, 2007

Today in History: The first transcontinental telegram was sent on this date in 1861. It traveled from San Francisco, California, to New York City, New York.

In AP US History and AP Government we will be taking our 3 Week Exams.

• In AP US History, students should begin reading pages 281-289 in the Divine textbook and work on the terms for Chapter 10.
• In AP Government, students should be reading Chapter 14: The Judiciary and defining the terms in their packet.

I anticipate posting the Government test scores this evening, but will need until Friday or Saturday to complete AP History.

Textbook Websites

Students may find resources located on their textbook website a helpful study tool:

• Divine's America, Past and Present: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_divine_appap_7/0,9455,1517172-,00.html
• Wilson's American Government: http://college.hmco.com/polisci/wilson/am_gov/8e/students/index.html

October 23, 2006

Today in History: Blanche Scott became the first woman to fly solo in an airplane on this date in 1910.

In AP US History, we are reviewing Chapters 7-9 for our 3 Week Exam scheduled for tomorrow.

In AP Government, we will complete our review from yesterday and begin our discussion of the judicial system (Chapter 14).

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a GREAT day!

Missing Work and Corrections.

All students have until 4:05 pm Friday, October 26, to turn in any missing work or corrections.

How to do corrections:
1. Daily Work: make correction or complete question then resubmit work.

2. Essay: rewrite essay. If you have questions regarding feedback, please see me during tutorials.

3. Quiz: on a separate sheet of paper, (a) write out the entire question, (b) write out the entire correct answer, and (c) write the page number(s) from your textbook in which the information is located.

4. Test. In AP US History, students will need to schedule a retest of the material. Retests will take 50 minutes, before school. In AP Government, for half credit, on a separate sheet of paper, (a) write out the entire question, (b) write out the entire correct answer, and (c) write the page number(s) from your textbook in which the information is located.

The Week of October 22-26, 2007

In A.P. US History: Today we are taking a quiz over Chapter 9 - Nation Building and Nationalism, 1815-1825. Please make sure you have read all of Chapter 9.

Tomorrow we will review Chapters 7-9 in anticipation for the 3 Week Exam on Wednesday. Thursday, we will discuss pages 281-289 in the Divine textbook. On Friday, we will conduct a learning station activity using information from Divine, pages 289-296.

In A.P. Government: Today we are reviewing Chapters 11-13 in the Wilson textbook. Students will be working in a small group to answer various free response essay prompts.

Tomorrow we will begin our discussion of the judicial system with Chapter 14. We will continue the discussion on Thursday (Going to Court and the Supreme Court in Action) and Friday (The Power of the Federal Courts and Checks on Judicial Power). The 3 Week Exam will be Wednesday, covering Chapters 11-13.