Conflicts of the 20th Century: Feb. 21-25

This week we will continue our investigation of the Great War. We will discuss the reason why Russia left the war-due to the 1917 Russian Revolution at the hands of Vladimir Lenin & the Bolsheviks. This being one of the most important political moments of the 20th century. This communist revolution in Russia (USSR) would forever change the world & will be an issue that played a role in future conflicts. We will also investigate the reasons why the United States decided to join the Allied forces late in the war, after trying to remain neutral in the "European conflict."

Click the link below for our Webquest on the US involvement of WWI!

Remember, the student username for SAS is: away9details

http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/ProductEntrance/Launch/launch.jsp?unit=611

World History: Feb. 21-25

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! This week we will also be in the computer lab for a webquest on some of the more influential Roman rulers. The link to the SAS website is below!

Remember, the student username is away9details !

http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/ProductEntrance/Launch/launch.jsp?unit=584

JA 8 B Civics: Feb. 14-18

This week we will continue looking at the events of the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787. We will discuss the Virginia & New Jersey plans, along with the many compromises made during the convention. We will investigate the two groups that formed, the Federalists & the Anti-Federalists. These groups had very different visions for what the new government would look like, & both had good reasons for their opinions. We will discuss these in detail, as they are important philosphical viewpoints about the role of government in a society. We will also discuss the importance of the roles of George Washington & James Madison at the convention as well.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Feb. 14-18

The week will start off with students presenting their Trench Warfare projects. All students are required to read their Creative Writing Prompts to the rest of the group! After this, we will continue to look at some of the major battles on the Western Front, including Ypres, Verdun, & the Battle of the Somme. This battle included the debut of the tank in warfare & was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought. Towards the end of the week we will discuss the impact of the war on the Middle East, & the impact of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire & creation of new nations in the Middle East.

World History: Feb. 14-18

This week we will start off with students presenting their Ancient Greece projects. After this, 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.

JA 8 B Civics: Feb. 7-11

This week we will begin by taking our test on the Roots of American Democracy. Then we will examine the Articles of Confederation. This was the first form of government created after the American Revolution. We will discuss why there were some problems with the Articles, & how they created tensions within the new country. We will investigate the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were indeed a "weak" form of national government, & why there was a need to revise them.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Feb. 7-11

This week we will continue our investigation of the Western Front of WWI. We will discuss the brutality of the trenches that soldiers had to endure. Students will read primary source documents from WWI troops that describe the horrible conditions. We will examine how trench warfare create a stalemate on the Western Front that endured for most of the war. Students will also begin a Trench Warfare creative writing & collage project this week as well!

World History: Feb. 7-11

This week we will continue our investigation of Ancient Greece, the birthplace of Western Civilization. We will discuss the influence the Greeks have had on the world we live in today. We will focus on the contributions made by the Greeks in politics (the creation of Democracy!), philosophy, culture, art, architecture, mathematics, science, & more! We will also be in the lab this week for a Athens vs. Sparta Webquest & then students will begin their Ancient Greece projects!

JA 8 B Civics: Jan/ 31-Feb. 4

This week we will continue investigating the roots of American Democracy. This week we will focus on the unrest that existed in the English colonies & how it created the call for independence from the British. We will investigate how the colonists took "old" ideas from political thinkers such as Locke & Montesquieu to create what would become the foundations of American government. Later in the week we will focus on Thomas Paine's Common Sense (at left), & the Declaration of Independence, chiefly written by Thomas Jefferson (at right)!

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Jan. 31-Feb. 4

This week we will investigate how nations began to declare war on eachother after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. We will investigate how the alliance system made what could have been a "small" war into the Great War. The map at left shows Germany's war plan to invade France. We will begin to discuss the first battles of WWI, including the Battle of Liege, the Battle of Lorraine, & the First Battle of the Marne. We will also be in the computer lab this week so that students can complete a Weapons of WWI Webquest!

The link below will take you to the main website for the Webquest:

http://firstworldwar.com/weaponry/index.htm

World History: Jan. 31-Feb. 4

This week we will continue our investigation of the seafaring traders, and then we will begin to look at the origins of Hinduism, Buddhism, & Judaism. We will be watching video clips on these relgions & there will be questions to respond to as well. Later in the week we will focus on the ancient empires in Persia & China.

JA 8 B Civics: Jan. 24-28

This week we will begin our investigation of the roots of American Democracy. We will examine our English heritage & how it has influenced our form of government. We will also discuss some of the history of the English colonies & the unrest that errupted into the American Revolution. We will discuss how the founders looked to the past for ideas about how to govern. Much of this material should be review from prior Social Studies classes.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Jan. 24-28

This week we will continue to investigate the long-term causes of WWI. Students will be assigned an extensive reading assignment with questions to respond to. We will discuss the "Long Fuse" reading as a group as well. We will break down the MAIN causes of WWI:

-Militarism- A strong build-up of military/arms

-Alliances- Friendships between nations for mutual benefit & promises to defend one another

-Imperialism- The desire to create empires & expand

-Nationalism- Strong to extreme patriotism/pride in your country.

Towards the end of the week we will investigate the "spark" that ignited the First World War:

The assassination of Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914 at the hands of Gavrilo Princip & the Black Hand Gang.

World History: Jan. 24-28

This week we will continue our investigation of Egypt by focusing on its culture, religion, & achievements. We will then shift our focus to the Indo-Europeans & seafaring traders. We will examine how geography & trade played a role in the transmission of culture throughout the ancient world. We will also be in the computer lab to complete an Ancient Civilizations webquest!