American Govt./ Econ: Sep. 20-24

This week we will continue our investigation of the Constitution by looking more closely at the qualifications, powers, and checks placed upon the branches of our government. Students will also begin a Constitution project this week; details to come on Monday! Students should also work on completing their Ch. 3 Packets & Section Reviews as they are due on this Friday. Don't forget we have shorter classes due to conferences!

JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 13-17

This week we will continue our investigation of the Constitution by looking at the three different branches within our government & the powers granted to them. We will discuss the reasoning behind the separation of powers & the limits placed on the government. We will investigate the duties that each branch performs & how the branches must work together in order for our government to run smoothly.

US History: Sep. 13-17

This week we will continue researching the American Revolution by looking at some of the important battles & the people involved in them. We will focus on the leadership of George Washington of the revolutionary army & how he was able to bring poor farmers with little military skill together to defeat the strongest army in the entire world. As the week progresses we will also investigate the conditions that the troops had to deal with, including malnutrition, harsh winters, and poor weapons.

American Govt./ Econ: Sep. 13-17

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 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 some of the smaller states within the union.

JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 7-10

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.

*Click on the image to the right for a great breakdown of the debate!

US History: Sep. 7-10

This week we will continue investigating the causes of the American Revolution by discussing the events that led up to it. Aside from the numerous taxes that were being placed on the colonists, there were also large number of British troops within the major cities that were restricting basic liberties. One of the major events we will discuss is the Boston Massacre, which became a turning point in the call for independence for the colonists. Later in the week we will begin to investigate the early battles of the revolution.

American Govt./ Econ: Sep. 7-10

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.

JA 8 A Civics: Aug 30-Sep 3

This week we continue our discussion of the English roots of American democracy & then we will examine some of the major events that played a role in the development of the American system of government. We will look at the causes & effects of the American Revolution, and we will look closely at the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration is one of the most important documents in history; and we will examine why.

US History: Aug. 30-Sep. 3

This week we will continue our discussion of English dominance in the American colonies & we will begin to see limits on the freedoms of those who lived there. We will examine the causes & effects of the legislation, as well as the actions by some of the colonists that created the "need" for independence from England. It must be made known that not all colonists wanted independence; many were known as "loyalists." We will examine the arguements of both sides this week as we look at some of the limits on freedom; such as the Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, and the Stamp Act.

American Govt./ Econ: Aug. 30-Sep. 3

This week we will continue examining the people & events that helped shape the government of the United States. We will look closely at why such emphasis was placed on limited & representative government. We will then discuss the Articles of Confederation; which was our first constitution. We will break down its highlights and examine why it was ultimately unsuccessful.

JA 8 A Civics: Aug. 23-27

This week we will continue examining the roots of American democracy. We will discuss the significance of our English heritage in the development of American government as well as the major historical figures & events that played a role in the creation of the United States.

US History: Aug. 23-27

This week we will continue examining the European empires of the Americas & we will see how the British began to dominate the New World as the Spanish began to falter. We will discuss how the English colonies developed on the Atlantic coast of the United States & the major impact this would have on the creation of the United States & the influence of British culture in America.

American Govt./ Econ: Aug. 23-27

This week we will continue examining the role of government in our lives before moving on to the origins of the American system of government. We will examine the people & events that influenced what our government looks like to this day. Emphasis will be placed on the events surrounding the American Revolution; as well as the key figures involved in the major historical event.

Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year!

Welcome back to returning & new students as we head into an exciting year! Be sure to check my blog for class updates & other information throughout the school year! Remember, you can also leave comments if you have questions about due dates or other concerns at any time. There are also several links to important websites like Mygradebook & Renaissance (AR Reading). Let's work together & make this our best year yet!