Friday, December 20
Happy Holidays!!

US History
1. Students handed in a notebook packet from the unit on the emergence of the US as a world power.
2. I handed back lots of papers and new grades were posted.
3. No holiday homework.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped the textbook assignment entitled "War Consumes Europe." Students will take an open-note homework quiz on this assignment shortly after we return from break.
2. No holiday homework (unless you didn't do the above mentioned assignment, in which case you should certainly do it, in order to prepare for the quiz)!

Thursday, December 19

US History
1. The third period class took the unit test on the emergence of the US as a world power, including a 3-step analysis of a political cartoon about US foreign policy in Iraq.
2. The fourth period class participated in the second Project 540 dialog.
3. Students in both classes should bring their notebooks to class on Friday; I will collect a notebook packet!
4. No homework.

World Civilizations
1. Students took a final sheet of notes on the MAIN causes of WWI.
2. We watched a video on the Schlieffen Plan and the start of WWI.
3. The textbook assignment "War Consumes Europe" is due tomorrow (Friday).

Block Periods: Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18

US History
1. Fourth Period: We reviewed our materials on the major foreign policy decision currently facing the US -- whether to invade Iraq. We also played Bingo to review for the test. During the latter part of the period, students took the unit test on the emergence of the US as a world power, including a political cartoon writeup on the Iraqi situation. Students need to bring their notebooks on Friday; I will collect a notebook packet at that time. This class has its second Project 540 dialog on Thursday, December 19.
2. Third Period: We will wrap up our unit with a discussion of Wilson's Fourteen Points. We will also review the study guides students created for the reading "American Enters the War." During the latter part of the period, we will review our materials on Iraq, and we'll play Bingo to review for the test. Third period will take the unit test on Thursday, December 19.

World Civilizations
1. We continued the lecture on the MAIN causes of WWI.
2. I stamped and we reviewed the map of Europe in 1914, and the homeword assignment entitled "The Stage is Set for War."
3. Students took a practice quiz political terms and German nationalism.
4. I handed out a chart showing the nations of Europe in 1914. We reviewed and annotated this, paying special attention to the alliances that each nation had joined and the types of governments they had.
5. Students received a textbook assignment entitled "War Consumes Europe." This is due on Friday, December 20.

Monday, December 16

US History
1. The 3rd period class had its second dialog for Project 540.
2. In 4th period, we talked a bit about the upcoming test, then had a short lecture on Wilson's Fourteen Points and the aftermath of the war. Students then exchanged their study guides on "American Enters the War." These were scored by students and turned in to me.
3. Reminder: 3rd period will have the unit test on Thursday, December 19. Fourth period will have the test on Tuesday, December 17 -- That's tomorrow!! We'll review for the first part of the block period, then take the test and turn in a notebook packet.

World Civilizations
1. Students worked on two assignments in class: A map of Europe in 1914, and a textbook assignment entitled "Setting the Stage for War." Both are due at the block period (Tuesday or Wednesday).

Friday, December 13

US History
1. We reviewed the map worksheet on the causes of WWI. Students highlighted important terms.
2. Students paired up to create a fill-in-the-blank study guide for an article entitled "America Enters the War." These are due on Monday, December 16 (4th period) or Wednesday, December 18 (3rd period). We will have a brief time in class to finish.
3. On Monday, December 16, the 3rd period class will participate in the second Project 540 dialog. This dialog will take place on Thursday, December 19 for the 4th period class.

World Civilizations
1. We finished the WWI simulation game. Results were interesting! History was changed!
2. Students took lecture notes on the causes of WWI.
3. We started a map assignment entitled "Europe Before the Great War."
4. Please bring your books on Monday, December 16.

Thursday, December 12

US History
1. We had our first Project 540 dialog.
2. If you didn't finish the reading/map activity, please have this finished for Friday.

World Civilizations
1. We continued the WWI simulation. By Friday, we'll know whether we will have peace or war!
2. No homework.

Block Periods: Tuesday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 11

US History
1. We started class with a political cartoon on American expansionism.
2. We reviewed the foreign policy crossword puzzle.
3. I stamped and we reviewed the textbook assignment entitled "WWI There and Here."
4. Students worked in class on a map activity designed to refresh their memories about the causes of World War I. If you didn't finish this in class, it's due on Friday, December 13.
5. I started a lecture on US foreign policy during WWI.
6. On Thursday, December 12, we will be participating in Project 540 for the full period. In addition, there will be another Project 540 dialog during one class period next week. This means we really have only a few days left until the winter break. We will finish our current unit and take the unit test before the break! Once I'm certain when the Project 540 dialog is scheduled, I will be able to announce the test date.

World Civilizations
1. Students took an open-note homework quiz on the textbook section entitled "Nationalization and the Unification of Germany." We haven't done many of these quizzes this year, but we will do more as the year progresses. The quiz questions are based directly on questions about the text or on an outline students have made from the text. Students may use their homework answers or outline when taking the quiz.
2. We reviewed the handout on political terms that students were given on Monday. We will continue to come back to these terms as the year unfolds.
3. I handed out notes on Bismarck and the unification of Germany. Students are responsible for the material on this sheet.
4. We started a simulation on the political and military situation on the eve of WWI. We will continue this on Thursday.
5. No homework!

Monday, December 9

US History
1. Students took an open note homework quiz on the textbook assignment entitled "Becoming a World Power."
2. We discussed American imperialism in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Students were given a handout listing some foreign policy actions of the US during this period.
3. Students worked in class to complete a crossword puzzle review of US foreign policy. If you didn't finish this in class, it's due during the block period.
4. I handed out a textbook assignment entitled "WWI, Here and There." Answers are due during the block period -- Tuesday or Wednesday.

World Civilizations
1. Students took the unit test on imperialism and the emergence of modern India.
2. I collected a packet of materials from students' notebooks.
3. Students began working on a handout reviewing political terms we have studied during the course of the semester. We'll review this in class during the block period.
4. I handed out a textbook assignment entitled "Bismarck and the Unification of Germany." Answers are due during the block period -- Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thursday, December 5

US History
1. I handed out notes on the Spanish American War, and we reviewed these together.
2. Students were given a textbook assignemnt entitled "Becoming a World Power." The open-note quiz on this section will take place on Monday, December 9.
2. We started a debate project. Our topic was whether the US should annex the Philippine Islands. Some students volunteered to be debaters; others worked on a Yellow Journalism newspaper.

World Civilizations
1. We read and highlighted a news article on the conflict between India and Pakistan. Students were asked to outline this article; the outline will be used as a resource for future assignments. The outline is due Friday, December 6.
2. We watched a final segment of Gandhi.
3. The test for this unit (Imperialism and the Emergence of Modern India) will take place on Monday, December 9!

Friday, December 6

US History
1. Student debaters spent the first part of the class period preparing for the debate. Everyone else worked on the Yellow Journalism project, or on the textbook assignment.
2. During the last part of the period, we held the debate on US imperialism in the Philippines. Those who didn't debate took notes on a chart provided for this purpose. Students who were not debaters should hand in their Yellow Journalism newspaper and their notes on the debate on Monday, December 9. On the back of the notes, please briefly state which side you think won the debate and explain why you thought they had the strongest arguments.
3. Don't forget the open-note reading quiz on Monday!

World Civilizations
1. I stamped students' outlines on the India-Pakistan conflict.
2. We interpreted two political cartoons on the current conflict between these two nations. Please review the instructions for political cartoons if you are still unclear on the format. The instruction sheet should be in your current event section (Making Sense of Political Cartoons). Students wrote a 3-step analysis of one cartoon, and I read a sample full-credit answer. There will be a political cartoon on this same subject on the unit test on Monday. You may use your outline when writing your analysis (you may not use the article or any other notes).
3. We played Imperialism Bingo for extra credit points.
4. I collected three assignments from students' notebooks; I will try to get the scores for these mini-packets entered into the gradebook before I turn in progress reports.
5. Don't forget the test on Monday!

Block Periods -- Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3

US History
Remember to come to tutorial if you need to make up the test we took on Tuesday, November 26 (Industrialization, Immigration, Progressives).
1. Students took an open-note homework quiz on the assignment entitled "Reaching for Empire."
2. Students got into groups to complete a project on US foreign policy. Each group discussed a series of US foreign policy actions and decided where to place each action on our "foreign policy spectrum."
3. I assigned a 200-word essay on US foreign policy. Review your lecture notes and think about the foreign policy actions you discussed with your group. How would you describe US foreign policy? Do you see any patterns in US foreign policy? This essay should be typed. If you do not have a computer at home, you should use one here at school -- you may use the one in my room, or the ones in the computer lab. The essay is due on Friday.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped and we reviewed the homework on the life and ideas of Gandhi.
2. Students took a page of lecture notes on the Indian independence movement.
3. We watched more of the movie Gandhi.
4. Our test for this unit will take place early next week -- possibly as early as Monday!

Monday, December 2
Please note that the 2nd quarter progress report period ends Friday, December 6. See me about any missing work.

US History
If you missed the test we took last Tuesday (Industrialization, Immigration and the Progressives), you must make this up by tutorial on Wednesday, December 4. Please turn in your notebook packet when you make up the test.
1. We started a new unit, on the emergence of the US as a world power.
2. Students wrote a 3-step analysis of a political cartoon about US foreign policy toward Iraq.
3. Students took lecture notes on foreign policy and instruments of foreign policy.
4. I handed out a textbook assignment entitled "Reaching for Empire." The answers are due during the block period -- Tuesday, December 3 or Wednesday, December 4.

World Civilizations
1. I handed out a reading on the life and teachings of Gandhi. I also assigned a set of questions entitled "Gandhi Reading." The answers are due at the block period -- Tuesday, December 3 or Wednesday, December 4.
2. I handed out a chronology of the life of Gandhi, to help students understand the movie.
3. We reviewed Gandhi's actions in South Africa. Students are taking notes on the positive and negative aspects of British imperialism in India; we briefly reviewed our notes. Students also copied a list of the main characters in the movie.
4. We continued watching the movie.