JA 8 A Civics: Oct. 3-7

This week we will begin our investigation of the Legislative Branch of our Federal Government. We will discuss the many roles of the Legislative Branch, along with how checks & balances affect it as well. We will investigate how members of Congress are elected, & what the men & women of Congress actually do when they go to work! Emphasis will be placed on how a bill becomes a law. We will discuss how bills move through Congress, are voted upon, & can eventually become law in our nation. We will also investigate the similarities & differences between the House of Representatives & the Senate this week as well!

World History: Oct. 3-7

This week we will begin our investigation of the European Middle Ages. The beginning of the Middle Ages is known as the "Dark Ages," due to a sharp cultural decline after the fall of the Roman Empire. We will discuss the growing power of the Catholic Church during this time period as well as the role of Charlemagne (below). Charlemagne was able to unite several small germanic kingdoms into a vast empire, known as the "Holy Roman Empire" that would lead to the development of Western Europe. We will also discuss medieval society & how the system of feudalism impacted people. Towards the end of the week we will focus on the Black Death- The Plague- which wiped out over 30% of the population of Europe. We will also investigate the causes & effects of the Hundred Years' War- which would set the stage for conflict between England & France for years to come.

American Govt./ Econ. Oct. 3-7

This week we will continue our investigation of the Legislative Branch with an in-class Congressional Simulation in the beginning of the week. Students will be divided up into either House or Senate committees with the responsibility of writing up bills, debating them, and attempting to pass them into law. This simulation is a project grade based on participation, so all students must make a point of being involved in the process. Towards the end of the week we will shift our focus to the Executive Branch of our national government.

JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 26-30

This week we will finish up our investigation of the Bill of Rights & begin our discussion of citizenship & the role that citizens play in the political process. We will investigate the rights & responsibilities of people as well as the importance of citizens being actively involved in our democratic process. We will focus on many of the major rights & responsibilities, but our main focus will be the right to vote and to be an active participant in our government.

World History: Sep. 26-30

This week we will investigate the rise of Islam & its expansion through the Middle East. As Christianity began to dominate most of Europe, Islam spread to the Middle East. We will discuss the effects that Islam had on culture & politics as well. We will also discuss the Byzantine Empire, which was the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire that lasted long after the Western Roman Empire fell. We will discuss the contributions of the Eastern Empire, as well as the mixture of Eastern culture that made it unique & different from the Western Empire.

American Govt./ Econ. Sep. 26-30

This week we will continue our investigation of the Legislative Branch of our Federal Government. We will discuss the many roles of the Legislative Branch, along with how checks & balances affect it as well. We will investigate how members of Congress are elected, & what the men & women of Congress actually do when they go to work! Emphasis will be placed on how a bill becomes a law. We will discuss how bills move through Congress, are voted upon, & can eventually become law in our nation. We will also investigate the similarities & differences between the House of Representatives & the Senate and how the committee system works as well!

JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 19-23

This week we will begin looking at the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments give Americans some of their most basic freedoms and we will spend some time looking at each one in detail. We will discuss each of them and how they affect our lives on a daily basis. We fill focus on the importance of the First Amendment, as it ensures many of out personal freedoms that we hold dear to our hearts. We will also investigate how the Bill of Rights did not originally apply to everyone; including women, African American, and Native Americans. We will also investigate how people struggled to earn their civil rights, and how the Constitution has been amended to include them over the years.

World History: Sep. 19-23

This week we will continue our investigation of the empires of the East, in India and China. We will examine the development of them and the influence they had on the culture, religion, and government of their peoples. We will focus on how trade played such a vital part in the transmission of religion and culture. Towards the end of the week will also examine the civilizations of Africa, especially the Aksum Empire, before shifting our focus to the Middle East and the beginnings of the religion of Islam and its impact on the Middle East & the globe.

American Govt./ Econ. Sep. 19-23

This week we will begin our study of American Federalism. We will investigate how our national government works with the state governments spread across the country. We will study the types of powers and laws that are granted to the federal and state governments, as well as those powers that are shared.. We will discuss the evolving relationship between the state and national governments, and the conflicts that can arise. We will discuss the issues of the tenth amendment, which focuses on state rights. We will also look at some landmark Supreme Court cases like McCulloch v. Maryland, that have set the precedent that actions of individual states may not impede valid constitutional exercises of power by the Federal government.

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JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 12-16

This week we will continue our investigation of the principles underlying the US Constitution. We will discuss the concepts of checks & balances, as well as the separation of powers between the different branches of government. Students will take the Ch. 3 Test late this week as well. After testing, we will begin our discussion of the Bill of Rights, which are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights are the basic individual freedoms that most of us take for granted, & they were not part of the original Constitution. The anti-federalists argued to get these amendments put into the Constitution. Emphasis for this week will be on the 1st amendment!

World History: Sep. 12-16

This week we will continue our investigation of Ancient Rome. We will emphasize on the transition from republic to empire & our focus will be on the leadership of Julius Caesar. We will discuss how Caesar gained popularity & power in Rome through his military conquests. As the week progresses we will look at the formation of the Roman Empire & the role of Augustus (Octavian) after Caesar's murder, at the hands of members of the Roman senate on the Ides (15th) of March! We will also discuss the lasting impact the Romans left for future generations. We will also examine the emergence of Christianity in the Roman Empire & investigate the impact that Christianity had in the empire. Towards the end of the week we will examine how the Roman empire began to decay, & eventually fall at the hands of European tribes.

American Govt./ Econ. Sep. 12-16

This week we will continue our examination of the Constitution by looking at how power is distributed between the three branches of government. We will discuss why there was an emphasis on the separation of powers & the idea of checks & balances. We will look closely at the qualifications, powers, & checks placed on the different branches. We will also continue to look at how early American history shaped the Constitution, as well as the inclusion of a Bill of Rights that was added to satisfy the Anti-Federalists as well as smaller states within the union.

JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 6-9

This week we will begin our investigation of the American government under the Articles of Confederation after the revolutionary war. We will discuss the problems that existed in the Articles & the reasons why they needed to be changed. As we look at the debates between the framers, we will investigate the reasons why the Articles constrained the national government's power; which basically made it inoperable. As the week progresses, we will discuss the arguments between the Federalists & the Anti-Federalists.

World History: Sep. 6-9

This week we will finish our exploration of Ancient Greece and then we will begin our investigation of Ancient Rome. Like the Greeks, the Romans had a major impact on the civilizations that followed. We will discuss the cultural, political, and several other advancements of Ancient Rome. We will begin by looking at the formation of the Roman Republic, & its eventual collapse into the Roman Empire.

American Govt./Econ: Sep. 6-9

This week we will begin our investigation of the U.S. Constitution & why it replaced the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution is the foundation on which American government & society are based, and it effects our lives everyday. As the week progresses, we will break down each part of the document & examine the structure of our government within the three branches.