Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Tuesday, May 28th-Thursday, May 30th

This is our final week of classes! Exams follow and our last day is Wednesday, June 5th! Woo hoo!

This week we finished our Freedom Trail Projects!

Friday, May 24th, 2013

American History Final!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Monday, May 20th, 2013 - Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

The next four days the students will "Refight" the American Revolution.  While we are learning about what really happened (homework at night), students have been organized into opposing sides and are refighting the revolution in class using Mr. M's original game. History is already changing and its fun!
Results of the 1st Day:
First Period - Washington is crushed at Long Island. He is replaced by General Lee
Second Period - The Americans take Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario. The British divide their troops and take Norfolk, VA and Dover, DE.....interesting.
Third Period - The Americans lose Ticonderoga to a British force out of Canda, but have a big victory by taking Quebec! Sir Guy Carleton and 1,000 troops are captured!
Sixth Period - The British land troops at Baltimore, MD and New Brunswick, NJ. Continental Congress is forced to flee from Philadelphia!
Seventh Period - The British opt for taking Charleston, SC, which they do. The American army in the south is crushed....

Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday, May 17th, 2013

Filming for the Freedom Trail scenes!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Today our agenda was:

  • To discuss the homework from the night before - learning about the Declaration of Independence. 
  • Students shared what they wrote down to simply the language of the DOI.
  • Mr. M explained how the Declaration is organized - how it is laid out. 
  • We watched the vote for Independence and the first public reading. Cool stuff. Watch if for yourself here.
  • Students worked on their Freedom Trail project...
Presenting the Declaration of Independence to Congress

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Our focus today was on the:

  • Olive Branch Petition
  • Thomas Paine's Common Sense
  • The Declaration of Independence
  • Watched part of the John Adam's series on the Declaration of Independence. Specifically the scene with Dickinson and Adams making final arguments for and against independence. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Today we:

  • Learned what the American Revolution was all about...not taxes or trade, but something much, much more!
  • Mr. M talked about the real issues - popular sovereignty, equality before the law, and constitutional rights. 
  • Next, we went outside to re-enact the Battle of Bunker Hill!  Student's learned the important lesson of why you always try to take the high ground!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Thursday, May 9th and Friday, May 10th

USM Freedom Trail Work Days!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Today our agenda was:

  • Reviewed the lesson from the night before. Students were focusing on learning about:
    • The Tea Act of 1773
    • The Boston Tea Party 1773
    • The Coercive Acts 1774
    • The First Continental Congress 1774
  • This lead into learning about the events of April 18/19 1775 - Lexington and Concord!
  • Went outside to reenact the British march to Lexington and Concord. Mr. M chased the students all the way back to Boston!



Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

USM Freedom Trail project!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Monday, May 6th, 2013

The USM Freedom Trail Project!

Students were given time today to research their topic for the USM Freedom Trail! They are focusing on these five important questions for each event.

  • What precipitated the event?
  • What happened - a description of the event.
  • What people were involved in this event?
  • What were some of the viewpoints or eyewitness accounts of this event?
  • What resulted from this event - was their a consequence, good or bad?



Friday, May 3, 2013

Thursday, May 2nd and Friday, May 3rd

Here was our agenda these two days:

The Road to Revolution continued...We discussed these important events and acts:

  • The Proclamation of 1763
  • The Sugar Act 1764
  • The Stamp Act 1765
  • The Declaratory Act 1766
  • The Townshend Acts 1767
  • The Sending of British Troops to Boston 1768
  • The Bloody Massacre 1770
  • In class we re-enacted the Boston Massacre. The students were led by Mr M through the events on March 5, 1770 (and some of the other causes for tension just before this)
  • We viewed parts of HBO's John Adams mini-series - specifically the trial of the British Soldiers
  • Mr. M also introduced the USM Freedom Trail Project!




Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wednesday, May 1st!

Today, we:

  • Began with a review of the test. Students checked their work and asked questions. We also had the opportunity to look at grades.
  • We did some organization to help get ready for our final unit of the year - The American Revolution!
  • Introduced and laid the foundation for understanding why there will be an American Revolution.
    • Explained the policy of Salutary (Benign) Neglect
    • Discussed the two big problems remaining after the French and Indian War!