Thursday, March 17th!

1. Discussed the reading from the night before - Rethinking Roanoke. Students did well identifying Sir Francis Walsingham as the person behind the Roanoke tragedy. We discussed reasons why and talked about the link to the pilot of the expedition, Simon Fernandez.

2. Jamestown!!! The first permanent English settlement in North America. Mr. M showed where the site is and talked a little about the fort. Today, we focused on the site and its importance as an archaeological gem for us. Mr. M spoke about what archaeology is and got us ready for our dig tomorrow.  We watched the first 10 minutes of Raiders of the Lost Ark just to show what archaeology is not (even though that looks fun!)

Wednesday, March 16th

The English come to North America - Roanoke Island!

Tuesday, March 15th

Field Trip - Redline and Museum

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Reviewed the Age of Exploration in North America quiz.
Began our 2nd to last unit of the year: Colonial America - the Foundation of E Pluribus Unum

• Translated and defined E Pluribus Unum (and gave 2 meanings for it)
• Looked at dates of Destiny - where the world changed after the event
• Introduced August 1588 - The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
• Learned about the "Northwest Passage" and English "meddling" in North America

Wednesday, March 9th

Began class reviewing Cabeza de Vaca's chapter on "Indian Warfare". Students did a good job understanding what de Vaca wrote so long ago about the way the indios fought and conducted warfare.

Main focus - Cortes and the destruction of the Aztec empire!  Good stuff!

Tuesday, March 8th

Focus today - continue the Legacy of the Conquistadors!

Story of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
Story of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Cabeza de Vaca's route back to Mexico City!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Finished more of the Christobal Colon For/Against arguments.

Began a look at some real bad guys - Spanish Conquistadores!

• Mr. M explained what happened in the years after Columbus "opens" up the Americas.
• Spain conquers much - but how? An honest look at atrocities and genocide committed at that time.
• Bartolome de Las Casas - a voice for the native peoples.
• Read de Las Casas's account of the conquering of Cuba c. 1513.

Wednesday, March 2nd

Christoforo Columbo - Hero or Villain

 

Today we did something a little different - formulated arguments on whether the students think Columbus is an important/great figure in history or the opposite.

 

• Video clips to gather some info for either side
• A reading which presents both sides of the argument
• Explanation from Mr. M about writing an argument/opinion - must have solid, supporting statements.
• Time to write their opinion

 

Using the soap box - students stood to deliver their opinion and Mr. M acted as rebuttal for each side.

 

Tuesday, March 1st

Yay, it is March 1st.

Topic of today - Tiny Portugal gets it all started! (The Age of Exploration that is).

• Play - Life of Dom Henrique
• Video clip and discussion about Prince Henry
• Notes on the importance of Prince Henry and his school

Prince Henry's Nautical school at Sagres, Portugal