Welcome to the 2nd Semester of the 2010-2011 School Year!

Welcome Back! I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend. For the first week of the first semester in all of my classes we will begin by going over class policies & expectations. Book assignments & Mygradebook.com log-in information will be given out as well. Students will also take Pre-Tests in all classes. As for specific class information; see below! :)

World History: We will begin by discussing the importance of studying the past & how current events are linked to history. We will begin our investigation of world history by looking at the early civilizations in Mesopotamia & Egypt. We will also focus on the significance of geography & its role in history.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: We will begin by discussing the importance of studying global conflicts as well as the causes & consequences of conflict. We will discuss how conflicts have shaped the world we live in today, & how they will shape the future. A major theme in this course will be what can be done ( or could have been done) to prevent conflicts. We will begin by looking at the state of the world at the turn of the 20th century, & how a long chain of events led to the First World War.

JA 8 B Civics: We will begin by discussing the importance of good citizenship, why we have laws, & where our laws come from. We will discuss the diversity of America & the roots of our Democratic government. Some of this should be review from your history classes!

JA 8 A Civics: Jan. 10-14

This is the last week of the first semester. Students will present their product proposal projects on Monday & then we will begin our discussion of personal finance & what is financial success. We will investigate how to create a budget for our needs & wants, as well as how to create a savings plan for those "unexpected" expenses we all will have at some point in our lives. Students will also take the Post-Test towards the end of the week.

US History: Jan. 10-14

This is the last week of the first semester. In the beginning of the week we will discuss the causes & consequences of the Vietnam War. We will look at how it helped shift the American conscience during the 1960's, & helped create the counter-culture movement. Students will also take the Post-Test & Final Exam.

American Govt./ Econ: Jan. 10-14

This is the last week of the first semester. This week we will continue our Personal Finance unit and students will be working on their personal budgets. We will discuss some of the tools of financial success, as well as the pros and cons of credit cards and loans. Students will also take the Post-Test towards the end of the week.

JA 8 A Civics: Jan. 3-7

Welcome Back! This week we will continue our introduction to the American Economic System with a discussion of how capitalism works in the United States. We will discuss the concepts of free enterprise & the free market & how our economic freedoms are linked to our personal freedoms that are outlined in the Constitution.

US History: Jan. 3-7

Welcome Back! We will continue our investigation of the Cold War era by discussing how the United States & the USSR faced off for global dominance & influence. We will investigate the causes & consequences of the Korean War, as well as President Kennedy's policies that affected Cuba & Vietnam. We will discuss the Bay of Pigs incident and the Cuban Missile Crisis in detail. We will also discuss the "fears" of communism that affected the homefront of the Cold War, with a look at the influence of Senator Joseph McCarthy during the early 1950's & the real fears of possible all-out nuclear war.

American Govt./ Econ: Jan. 3-7

Welcome Back! We will start by continuing our study of personal finance. We will discuss budgeting for short-term & long-term financial goals. We will discuss taxes, & the effects on our financial well-being. We will also investigate other types of saving & investing, as well as the use of credit, through loans or credit cards. We will discuss the pros & cons of the use of credit as well.

WINTER BREAK: DEC. 20-Jan. 2

I wish all of you a wonderful and safe Winter Break! Classes resume on Monday January 3rd.

JA 8 A Civics: Dec. 13-17

This week students will be introduced to some of the fundamental concepts in Economics. First, we will discuss why economics are such a huge part of our daily lives, and how government and economics are tied together. We will investigate the different types of economic systems, along with how we make economic decisions every day! We will discuss wants vs. needs & the concept of scarcity as well.

US History: Dec. 13-17

This week we will look at some of the turning points in WWII for the Allies. We will discuss the D-Day invasion to liberate Europe from the Nazis, the Soviet invasion of Berlin from the East, & we will discuss the brutal Pacific theatre that looked like it had no end in sight, until the most secret weapon of the war was used not once, but twice. We will discuss the "causes & consequences" of the use of atomic bombs on Japan. Although it put an end to the war, it also created an entire new age: The Cold War.

American Govt./ Econ: Dec. 13-17

This week we will continue our investigation of the American Free Enterprise System of Economics. We will discuss the key concepts of this system, as well as how it grants all of us economic freedom. Students will also be working on their business & product proposal projects. We will be in the computer lab this week for research, price comparisons, & to develop a market strategy for the product.

Click on the link below to go directly to the SAS Project Website!

Username- away9details - no password required!

http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/ProductEntrance/Launch/launch.jsp?unit=413

JA 8 A Civics: Dec. 6-10

This week we will continue our investigation of the US legal system by discussing the similarities and differences between the adult and juvenile courts. We will break down the process from arrest to sentencing. Also, this week the class will get the chance to play jury after we watch some interactive court case films.

US History: Dec. 6-10

This week we will investigate the causes of WWII in Europe through the rise of dictators (Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tojo), a worldwide depression, and a shift in poltical ideologies. We will look at how the United States, still dealing with the Great Depression, tried to remain neutral in another European conflict. We will then look at the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (at right), the event that brought the United States into WWII.

American Govt./ Econ: Dec. 6-10

This week we will begin to investigate the American Free Enterprise System. We will discuss how the capitalist system creates the most freedom for consumers and producers and gives them choices with little government intervention. We will break down the advantages and disadvantages of this system and talk about the force that encourages people to play a role in it; PROFIT MOTIVE! We will also discuss how our economic freedoms are aligned to our political freedoms in the United States as well.