Wed March 12

Japanese Internment readings

Tuesday March 10th

Today student's looked at one of the most famous pictures of not just the war but history. The flag raising over Iwo Jima represented so much of what made this war historic. Students analyzed the picture and then watched a quick clip about it. After that they began an assignment on taking a "snapshot" of other battles of the war.

Notes from monday and tuesday's quickwrite and assignment

Monday March 9th

The war in the Pacific had now begun. We took some notes on America's early struggles in the war. We also read a short reading on the Bataan Death March and watched a clip of how things turned around at the Battle of Midway. Notes will be included in tomorrow's post

Bataan Death March Reading

Friday March 6th

Students saw how the Japanese attacked America at Pearl Harbor and what began WWII. We watched part of a clip from the movie Pearl Harbor and looked at America's response following the event. We were now at war and would shortly thereafter be at war with Germany as well.

Thursday March 5th

As America continues to step closer and closer to war we looked at the Lend Lease Act and what it meant for America. Roosevelt's analogy of "giving a neighbor a hose" was a bit funny, but also a bit misleading. Was he leading America to War? Should congress pass such legislation? If we passed it should we risk our ships by delivering cargo? All of these big questions would influence America's involvement leading up to Pearl Harbor.

Lend Lease Reading and Questions(we skipped question 2)

Wed March 4

Today we continued on from last friday looking at America's neutrality. The Dr Suess cartoons discussed America going to war and made fun of the AFC (America First Committee) which wanted America to remain neutral for our sake. Today we looked at the AFC's side of the story and why they didn't think it was in America's best interest to enter the war.

America First Committee

Tuesday March 3rd

We finished the World Wars film about the beginning of the War and briefly discussed the situation America was put into.

Monday March 2nd

I was out today, the class began watching part of the History Channel's World Wars leading up to the beginning of WWII. It goes through Hitler and Japan's military buildup and what led to the beginning of the war.

Thursday 2/26

In class we began to look at America's slow steps toward entering the war. We desire Isolation from the rest of Europe, at least from a military perspective. On the other hand each neutrality act passed slowly creeps us closer to conflict. Many Americans are opposed to war but many think it is necessary. We looked at the neutrality acts the leaders and some cartoons from Dr Suess.
Students did the chart from chapter 16, the questions on neutrality and for each dr suess question what the point of the cartoon was trying to say. (all his cartoons are pretty sarcastic as he wants Americans to go to war before it is too late)
dictators/neutrality acts/cartoons

Friday Feb 27

Students turned in their notebooks. Below is what went into the notebook.

Notebook Organizer

Wed 2/25

In class we began unit 6 titled WWII and It's Aftermath. We read an article from Newsweek this week comparing ISIS to the Nazi's. It is a pretty good tie in for how two groups which America warred with both are similar and different. It is easy for us to say how we should have gone to war against Hitler from the beginning but it is a little bit harder when you were living through it. In similar fashion we can come up with many reasons today we should not put troops in battle against ISIS even through they are a terror group doing unthinkable things currently. Going to war is a tough decision and America would hold out as long as they could.

ISIS to Nazi's

Tuesday Nov 24

Students took their unit 5 exam

Monday 2/23

We looked at two other groups who were impacted by the New Deal, blacks and Native Americans. We finished class reviewing the Unit in preparation for the Test Tomorrow. 

New Deal Groups

Friday Feb 20

These are the documents to use with questions. Wed and Thursday will be updated soon.

New Deal Documents for if it was effective

Thurs Feb 19

Students began looking at documents looking at how effective the New Deal actually was. The handouts are on tomorrow's post.

Wed Feb 18

Students finished watching the Cinderella Man about the Depression.

Tuesday Feb 17

On Tuesday we continued looking at the New Deal. We looked specifically at the AAA and how it is great example of the good and bad of the New Deal. On one side it did help farmers raise prices and lower overproduction. On the negative side though it left hungry people with even less food and also showed how the government can control lives. Telling people what they can and can't grow on their own property. Students finished class by looking at what 11 new deal projects did and finding a New Deal project that still is around America today. 

New Deal Chart

Thursday Feb 12

In class we looked at the start of the New Deal and how FDR tried to fix the ship of America's sinking economy. The fashion committee from King High Remembers also came by to show what appropriate dress was for the project. Notes and Quickwrite can be found below.

New Deal

Wed Feb 11

In class today we looked at the Dust Bowl and how it impacted the Agricultural of America. We watched a clip from PBS Dust Bowl as well.
Dust Bowl

Tuesday feb 10

Today we looked at a few songs and individuals that went through the depression. They experienced different things and faced various issues as they struggled to make it during America's hardest time.
Stories of the Depression

Monday Feb 9

We reviewed our quiz and the homework that was returned. Students can look over a quiz if they want to compare their answers. We continued watching the Cinderlla man for the last half of class.

Friday Feb 6

(I was out for medical reasons)
The students began watching the beginning of The Cinderella Man. It is a story of a man who went through the Great Depression and fought for his family to survive. Students had some questions to do in reflection of the film.

Thursday Feb 5

We continued looking at the presidents of the great depression. In particular Hoover, and why he choose to do little to try to help Americans. We also looked at FDR's inaugural address where he told America the only thing they have to fear is fear itself.

Wed Feb 4

We reviewed in class the Storm of the Great depression. We reviewed how all the boxes played a small part in the story. After that we began to look at how Herbert Hoover was blamed for the continued problems in America despite it not really being his fault.

Extra Documents that relate to depression causes

Tuesday Feb 3rd

Today we primarily focused on how the banking failures ruined many Americans, even if they had tried to be safe with their money. We finished up by completing the storm of the depression handout. There were so many factors that played a small role in the story of the depression. Students in each box were writing how the each factor helped cause the great depression. It can be found starting on page 464 in the book.

Storm of the Depression

Monday Feb 2nd.

We started off the week looking at the business cycle in America and how it fluctuates up and down. We then began to look at the causes of the depression. We started class with a quickwrite. The question was,

"What do you know about what caused the Great Depression or why it got so bad? Why do you think it has never happened again"

We then begun to look at the stock market crash and why people's debt from buying on credit impacted the great depression

Causes of the Depression

Friday Jan 30

Students took a quiz on the 1920's, we then began discussing the start of the 1930's .

Thursday Jan 29

Today we finished up looking at the 1920's. Students starting by answering the questions posted on  yesterday's post. We then covered notes to the end of the 1920's. Tomorrow there will be a quiz covering everything since the start of the semester.

End of 1920's slides

Wed Jan 28

We continued watching the Al Capone video. Students will have a writing assignment on it tomorrow.

Writing Assignment Question:

An interesting figure in American history, despite a short time at the top.

–Please answer the following two questions each in a paragraph.

•1. How does Al Capone reflect this time period called the “Roaring 20’s”?

•2. Why do you think Capone is so famous in American history despite his relatively small time as a crime boss?  

Tuesday Jan 27

We reviewed the King High Remembers information for March. King High Remembers is a huge project the juniors do second semester where they will be interviewing a veteran that comes to King. There are several rules and expectations to participate. We also began looking at organized crime through America's most famous mobster Al Capone

Monday Jan 26

Today we looked at the Presidents of the 1920's. They were a much more conservative group of individuals who for the most part tried to keep taxes low and government policies small. Notes will be posted later.

Presidents Notes

Friday Jan 23

We finished off the week by looking at literature of the time as well as the Harlem Renaissance. This boom in African American culture started in New York and spread throughout the United States.

Harlem Renaissance Handout

Thurs Jan 22

In class we looked at the Scopes trial and its impact on America. It represented these two ways of life in America, the old and new. The traditions and values of America ran into conflict with an emerging new way of life. It was reflected by the trial of Scopes, and teacher from Tennessee who mentioned evolution in a science class.
Scopes Trial reading of old and new America

Students finished class looking at 435 and 436 in their text. They compared the New Urban Scene with the Small town of America. How did City dwellers differ from those in the country. Give examples. 

Wed Jan 21

In class we continued looking at the 1920's and how the Red Scare put fear in America. We looked at specifically the Sacco and Vanzetti trial and how they both were accused of robbery and murder thanks to their ethnicity and political views.

The question students answered was on Page 413 and 414 you needed to read the Sacco and Vanzetti case and trial. using the book or research argue as the defense or prosecution for or against Sacco and Vanzetti. In a paragraph why should they be set free or convicted of murder and robbery charges? Use the info and evidence given to argue your side. 

Tues Jan 20

The start of second semester has us in the beginning of the 1920's and the passing of the 18th amendment. We looked at reasons for it and the reasons it eventually couldn't last. Handouts will be posted later.

 Prohibition handouts

Tuesday Jan 6

We continued lecture from yesterday and looked at the results of the war.

Versailles Treaty

Monday Jan 5th

Welcome back. We returned by looking at WWI mostly on the home front and America putting in place the espionage and sedition act to try to get all Americans on board with the war effort.
Notes and Quickwrite