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!

ALL CLASSES- June 1-3

The Final Week! This week we will finish up with a discussion of current events and how they have come to be. We will link past events to current situations for a better understanding of world affairs. It has been a fun and exciting year. Students will also be accountable for completing a course survey as well. PLEASE BRING YOU BOOKS ON TUESDAY IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!

JA 8 B Civics: May 24-28

This week we will continue looking at the role of economics in our lives. We will investigate how economic systems work, along with how we should make economic decisions. We will discuss wants & needs, scarcity, & opportunity costs. We will discuss the issue of non-renewable resources & what we can do to conserve them. We will also examine renewable resources & discuss how we can re-use items to conserve resources & energy to make the world a better place.

Street Law: May 24-28

This week we will be concluding our final unit by investigating discrimination & the impact of some legal decisions that have changed the law. We will discuss racial, sexual, consumer, & housing discrimination. We will also discuss how disabled & elderly have fought for rights that they were entitled to. Finally, we will discuss rights & responsibilities in the workplace.

World History: May 24-28

Almost there! This week we will continue looking at the post-WWII world by looking at some of the major events of the Cold War era, including the rise of communism in China, Korea, & Vietnam. We will look at the role the United States played in trying to contain communism, & the eventual wars that erupted. We will discuss the decolonization of former empires & the problems that were created by this. We will discuss the fall of the Berlin Wall & the reunification of Germany as well. Finally, we will investigate the rise of terrorism & its effects on global politics.

JA 8 B Civics: May 17-21

This week we will continue our investigation of Citizenship & the Internet. We will discuss the challenges that the Internet has created in our democracy, including First Amendment issues and the right to privacy. Then we will discuss how attempts have been made to regulate activity on the Internet. If time allows, we will begin our final unit, The Economy & the individual; which we will continue through the end of the year.

Street Law: May 17-21

This week we will continue our final unit; Individual Rights & Liberties. We will continue to investigate & debate First Amendment issues, including expression in special places & how our rights may be limited in them. We will also begin to discuss Due Process, & its importance in our legal system, as well as some Supreme Court cases that have had an impact on our Constitutional laws & individual rights.

Texas v. Johnson WEBQUEST WEBSITE:

http://www.streetlaw.org//en/Page.Landmark.Johnson.activities.webquest.aspx

World History: May 17-21

This week we will finish our investigation of WWII & the Holocaust, then we will begin discussing the post-war world. We will investigate the Yalta Conference and the division of Germany; a major event leading to the beginning of the Cold War. We will discuss the early years of the Cold War as well as the anxiety created by the possible use of atomic and nuclear bombs. We will discuss the emergence of the United States & the Soviet Union as superpowers, and how their influence shaped global politics for years to come.