May 31st - June 2nd, 2011

Well, the test on the American Revolution closed the last chapter for 7th grade social studies this year!

The next three days will be filled with mysteries, taking care of end-of-year things, cleaning, and having fun.

Enjoy the last few days and have a great summer!


See you in the fall for Economics! Go to Mr. M's Economics blog! (link to the right)

The British Surrender at Yorktown!

May 23rd - May 27th, 2011

American Revolution Week.

Students are learning about the overall strategies of the war used by both sides, as well as, what the Revolution is really all about. Looking at Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence, we are beginning to grasp that this is more than just a protest against taxes. It really is about the rights of the people - and what those rights are.

Test is on Friday, May 27th - the study guide is on the homework page.

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Bunker's and Breed's Hill  (The First Major Battle of the American Revolution)

Mr. M explained the situation around Boston after Lexington and Concord. We talked about what the war is really going to be about using the homework from the night before. Then, we learned about the first real battle of the war. Next, we went back outside and reenacted it!  This is the "Lesson on the importance of holding the high ground."  On the berm out back students learned 1. why it is important to hold the high ground - great vision and mobility, and 2. how hard it is to attack uphill (like the British did). It was a slaughter with gatorskin balls!

Thursday, May 19th

"The Shot Heard Around the World"

We learned about the situation in Boston in early 1775 and the decision to send British Regular troops to Concord resulting in the fighting that begins the American Revolution!

We went outside and marched our "twenty miles" out and back through the gauntlet of Provincial musketfire.

Wednesday, May 18th

The Road to Revolution - the final day

Topics today:

• The British response to the Tea Party
• The Coercive Acts
• The Meeting of the First Continental Congress

Tuesday, May 17th

The Road to Revolution!

Today we looked at the Declaratory Act, the Townshend Acts, and reenacted the Boston Massacre!

Paul Revere's inaccurate depiction of the "massacre".

Monday, May 16th

The Road to Revolution!

For the next few days we will be looking at the different events leading up to the American Revolution. This period of time is generally regarded as being between 1763 and 1775. Today we learned about the horrible Stamp Act! Mr. M is using the Liberty DVD series while teaching about these important events.

Friday, May 13th

GRADUATION - War College of the French and Indian War

Cadets received their new ranks as officers in the British Army (circa 18th century), as well as their insignia. Some cadets received higher ranks in the army due to points earned at the War College.

Then we had some fun picking our fates. Now that they graduated, what happened to them in life? Mr. M created about 50 different fates. Here is an example of one: 

Of all the cadets in the French and Indian War College, you will have the most successful military career. You serve in the French and Indian war, the American Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars. In fact, you were there at Waterloo when Napoleon was defeated. Your division was responsible for crushing Napoleon’s left flank. You retire a full Field Marshall. Your name will be in the history books.

Thursday, May 12th

Okay, so now that blogger is alright, I will put my blog entries back online. They erased our other ones...

Today we finished re-fighting the battle of Quebec 1759. Students were awarded points based on who won according to the victory conditions. Overall, they did a nice job. Students have almost completed their final exams online. Tomorrow will be our graduation from War College.

Wednesday, May 11th

War College of the French and Indian War - Final Exams!!!!

Part one of the Finals is to take command of an army and defeat other cadets in the room. Cadets are re-fighting the Battle of Quebec. There were lots of interesting moves made by the cadet commanders today.

Part two - go to the Homework Page and you will find the link to the Final Exam at the classmarker site. Good luck!

Tuesday, May 10th

War College of the French and Indian War:

Lesson #5 - The British Fight Back and Win!

Mr. M outlined British strategy and victories from the years 1758-1760. Made mention of the change in trading practices with the Indian peoples that led to great hardship for them. Ended with a closer look at the Battle of Quebec 1759. This will lead us into the Final Exams of the War College.

• Exam #1 - Assume command of an army and re-fight the Battle of Quebec against another War College cadet.

• Exam #2 - How well did you learn your lessons? Online War College quiz.

Monday, May 9th

War College of the French and Indian War

Lesson #4 - THE hero of the French and Indian War - Robert Rogers (The British Answer to "La Petite Guerre)

A brief look at the life of Robert Rogers, his successes on "impossible" missions, his contributions to guerrilla warfare (Rules on Ranging), a look at the Battle on Snowshoes and his mysterious escape off of Roger's Rock!

Friday, May 6th

French and Indian War College:

Today was Lesson #3 - "The French win in the beginning"

Students learned about early French victories. Two case studies were used to support the lesson.

Case Study #1  Fort Carillon - Beginning in 1755/1756, the French began to construct a massive timber and stone fort on the Ticonderoga peninsula on the southern end of Lake Champlain. It was made in the Vauban style. We learned about Sebastien Vauban. Mr. M explained that Fort Carillon/Ticonderoga is a gem of American History and we are lucky to have it!


Case Study #2 - The attack on Fort William Henry in 1757. A discussion was held first on the story of this battle and the people involved. Using one of the best movies out there to show what this time period was like (Last of the Mohicans), Although there are inaccuracies in the movie, like any movie dealing with a historical subject, it really does a great job showing the vast wilderness of the North American continent and the beauty and brutality of life in the mid-1700s. Mr. M showed four scenes:

• The ambush on the way to Fort William Henry (Ex. La Petite Guerre )
• The siege of Fort William Henry by the French (European siege tactic - digging to get close for mortars/howitzers)
• The demonstration of mortars/howitzers to force forts surrender (European siege tactic)
• The massacre after the surrender (Ex. La Petite Guerre)

Thursday, May 5th

Today, the cadets had lesson #2 - "La Petite Guerre".

Cadets learned about the difference between the ways of Europeans in warfare to those of the Native Americans in North America. The European way of fighting in large, organized armies in rows and ranks spread out over large areas will not work well in North America. North America was a wilderness. The Indian way, or as the French called it - "La Petite Guerre" focused on surprise attacks and ambushes, while hiding behind trees, rocks, and other cover. Sometimes the attack was quick and then the Indians dispersed, only to launch another surprise attack later.

Case study for today was Braddock's Defeat. Cadets examined the Battle of Monongahela and the resulting disaster on the part of the British and Major General Edward Braddock. We also reenacted the battle in class. Complete chaos and the British were routed again!

We began our class with an activity to determine if the cadets had learned their British Army officer ranks of the 18th century.
 "La Petite Guerre"

Wednesday, May 4th

French and Indian War College - Day 2

Lesson #1 - Understanding geography and how to make effective you of it.

Cadets learned about the importance of geography in the French and Indian War. There were no paved roads at that time. The "highways" were the rivers and lakes. You could move more stuff faster and farther by water. Thus, the need to protect and defend the waterways.

Cadets received a map of North America circa 1755. Using the map, the cadets completed a geography exercise. Next, the cadets took on the role of French officers and placed seven forts on the maps in the areas they thought were important. Mr. M then showed them where the real forts are actually located. It was fun to see if there choices matched up with what the French really did during the war.

Tuesday, May 3rd

WAR COLLEGE 2011

The students are now officer cadets in our fictional War College about the French and Indian War. This is the beginning of our final unit of the year. Students received their buzz cuts, personal identification numbers, and signed their initials to become official cadets of the War College.

Our first lesson: Background on the conflict known as the French and Indian War.

Monday, May 2nd

Colonial America Test!

Friday, April 29th

Binder check day and review for the test day!

Thursday, April 28th

Plantation building day. While we were continuing our look at the colonial South, the students learned a little about plantation life. Next, Mr. M supplied each group (in each class) with a pre-painted landscape, certain supplies, and a time limit. Students had to recreate a plantation based on what they had learned.  It was fun and they did a nice job.