Ms. Cox's Classes

Daily log for Ms. Cox's social studies classes.

Friday, February 28, 2003

Friday, February 28

US History
1. We had a short vocabulary quiz on important WWII terms. If you scored less than 7 on this 12-point quiz, you may retake it. Maximum score on the retake is 11.
2. Students took a sheet of lecture notes on the WWII homefront, and I showed some WWII posters.
3. Reminder: outline for the text section entitled "The War and Civil Rights" is due on Monday, March 3.

World Civilizations
1. First journal entry was due.
2. We watched the movie and discusse the motives of the main character.
3. Journal entry #2 is due on Monday, March 3.

Thursday, February 27

US History
1. We finished the map of WWII in the Pacific.
2. We finished the review of the timeline of WWII events.
3. I handed out a sheet with important WWII vocabulary terms, most of which should be review of material from last year. We'll take a short quiz on these terms on Friday.

World Civilizations
1. I displayed a political cartoon on the recent space shuttle tragedy, and students wrote a 3-step analysis.
2. Students finished their presentations on the stages of the Holocaust.
3. I handed out the "Shindler Journal" assignment. I will stamp students' entries each day. The whole journal will be due on March 10.

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Block Periods: Tuesday, February 25 and Wednesday, February 26

US History
1. I stamped students' outlines for "Mobilizing the Homefront" and briefly displayed my outline for comparison.
2. We reviewed the WWII timeline up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the map of Europe in 1939.
3. We watched and took notes on a video describing the reasons for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and began labeling a map of the Pacific theater.
4. Students were assigned to outline the text section entitled "The War and Civil Rights." This is due on Monday, March 3.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped the textbook assignment on the Holocaust.
2. We discussed the "Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor," and looked at some samples of anti-Jewish propaganda.
3. Students started a group project on the stages of the Holocaust.

Monday, February 24, 2003

Monday, February 24

US History
1. Today was programming day; students spent the period looking over the course offerings for next year and meeting with counselors.
2. Reminder: students' outlines on the textbook section entitled "Mobilizing the Homefront" are due at the block period.

World Civilizations
1. We started our unit on the Holocaust and genocides. I showed a short video clip on the liberation of the concentration camps at Dachau and Buchenwald.
2. We reviewed a handout defining some essential terms for the study of the Holocaust.
3. We read and discussed a short selection on Nazi racial philosophy.
4. Students must return their permission slips in order to watch "Schindler's List." We may begin watching the movie as early as Thursday.
5. Reminder: the textbook reading guide on the Holocaust is due at the block period.

Friday, February 21, 2003

Friday, February 21

US History
1. Students completed the WWII timelime activity in class.
2. We also worked on a map of Europe in 1939, showing the areas occupied by the Germans and Italians.
3. Most students had time to work on the text outline ("Mobilizing the Homefront"), which is due at the block period next week.

World Civilizations
1. Students took the unit test on WWII.
2. I collected a packet of work from students' notebooks.
3. I handed out a textbook assignment, "The Holocaust," which is due at the block period next week.

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Thursday, February 20

US History
1. Students started working on a timeline reviewing the major events of WWII.

World Civilizations
1. I handed out two review sheets for the test -- a map and a crossword. Students were given time in class to complete these and to work in the extra credit study guide.
2. The unit test on WWII is tomorrow, February 21. Be sure to bring your notebook, so you can hand in a packet of work.

Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Block Periods: Tuesday, February 18 and Wednesday, February 19

US History
1. Students took the unit test on the Great Depression and the New Deal.
2. I collected a notebook packet.
3. Students took a page of lecture notes introducing WWII.
4. We watched a short video clip on the Battle of Stalingrad.
5. Textbook assignment: read and outline pages 524 - 531 (Mobilizing the Homefront). Your outline is due on Monday, February 24.
6. Please bring your books on Thursday and Friday.

World Civilizations
1. We discussed the upcoming district writing assessment.
2. I stamped and reviewed the homework assignment entitled "The Allies are Victorious." We used our maps of Europe to clarify the Allied strategy for defeating Germany.
3. We read aloud and discussed a reading on the decision to drop the atomic bomb.
4. I handed out the study guide for the unit test on WWII. I also handed out a timeline of important WWII events, and we went over this together.
5. Please bring your books on Thursday, February 20.
6. The unit test on WWII will take place on Friday, February 21.

Sunday, February 16, 2003

Friday, February 14

US History
1. Students wrote a 3-step analysis of a political cartoon entitled "The Hands of Dictatorship."
2. I handed out two review sheets to aid students in studying for the upcoming unit test.
3. I stamped and we reviewed the textbook assignment entitled "The Impact of the New Deal."
4. The unit test will take place at the block period; I will also collect a notebook packet at that time.

World Civilizations
1. We finished the map of WWII in the Pacific.
2. I handed out the resource materials for the district writing assessment, which will take place on Thursday, February 20. Students were assigned to read and highlight/annotate the materials over the weekend. We'll review them briefly during the block period next week.
3. I handed out a permission slip for the movie "Schindler's List." This is an excellent film about the Holocaust. Students will receive 5 points for returning the slip at the block period next week.
4. We watched and took notes on a video about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler's declaration of war on the United States.
5. Reminder: answers to "The Allies are Victorious" are due at the block period.

Thursday, February 13, 2003

Thursday, February 13

US History
1. I collected the short essay on the impact of the Great Depression.
2. Students had a little additional time to complete the chart on New Deal programs, and to finish writing a 3-step analysis of the cartoon entitled 'Fast Worker."
3. We reviewed the chart together.
4. Students took a page of lecture notes on the Second New Deal.
5. We'll wrap up this unit tomorrow, and take the unit test at the block period next week!

World Civilizations
1. Students took a practice quiz on WWII up to the point of US entry into the war.
2. We reviewed the homework assignment entitled "Japan Strikes in the Pacific."
3. I handed out a textbook assignemnt entitled "The Allies are Victorious." Answers are due at the block period. I also handed back the "Global Depression" quiz.
4. We worked together to complete a map of WWII in the Pacific.

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Block Periods: Tuesday and Wednesday, February 11 & 12

US History
1. Students took a page of lecture notes on the First New Deal.
2. We analyzed a political cartoon from the Depression era entitled "Fast Worker."
3. Students worked on a chart showing various New Deal programs. Since most students did not finish the chart, we'll have a few minutes in class on Thursday to finish up and review it.
4. Don't forget the mini-essay (policy suggestions for FDR), due on Thursday.

World Civilizations
1. We reviewed the assignment entitled "Battle for France and Great Britain." Students then took an open-note quiz on this assignment.
2. We read aloud a series of excerpts from Hitler's book Mein Kampf, and discussed Nazi philosophy.
3. Students took a page of lecture notes on US policy during the early years of the war.
4. I handed out a textbook assignment entitled "Japan Strikes in the Pacific." Answers are due on Thursday.

Monday, February 10, 2003

Monday, February 10

US History
1. Students worked in groups to complete a chart on the impact of the Great Depression on various social groups in the Unites States. This chart, and the "Economic Briefings" we completed last week are intended to provide students with resources for a short essay.
2. Mini-essay: use the information you gathered during today's activity ("Impact of GD on Social Groups") and the "Economic Briefings" as resources for your essay. Write a memo or letter to newly-elected President Franklin Roosevelt telling him what laws or programs you propose for solving the problems of the Great Depression. You must address three of the problems or social groups we covered. You suggestions must be specific and detailed...what problem or group of people are you addressing? What specific actions should be taken? Your essay should be at least 300 words long. Please type your essay and attach your chart showing the impact of the GD on social groups in the US.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped the textbook assignment entitled "Battle for France and Great Britain." Students will take an open-note reading quiz on this assignment during the block period this week.
2. We discussed ways to improve the quality of students' homework answers.
3. Students took a page of lecture notes on the causes of WWII.
4. We all filled in a chart reviewing political and economic systems of the major combatant nations in WWII.

Friday, February 07, 2003

Friday, February 7

US History
1. We discussed the "Economic Briefings" activity students completed on Thursday.
2. Students watched a great video on the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.

World Civilizations
1. I brought students up to date (as far as I know at present) about the upcoming District Writing Assessment.
2. I returned the vocabulary quiz and we reviewed it. Students who did not score well should consider retaking this quiz during tutorial next week.
3. We referred to the map of Europe in 1939 to reinforce some important terms and events at the start of WWII.
4. Students analyzed and took notes on several political cartoons from the WWII era.
5. We watched a short segment from the series "WWII in Color," about the German occupation of Eastern Europe.
6. Reminder: "Battle for France and Great Britain" is due on Monday, February 10.

Thursday, February 06, 2003

Thursday, February 6

US History
1. We reviewed the conservative, liberal and radical proposals for responding to the Great Depression.
2. Students worked in groups to read a series of economic briefings and decide on the best responses to the problems described in the briefings.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped and we reviewed the map totalitarian expansion in Europe.
2. Students checked their responsed to "Review Sheet Parts I and II." Save this sheet! It provides a good review for test items concerning the beginnings of WWII.
3. I stamped and we reviewed the homework assignment entitled "Agressors on the March."
4. Students took a brief vocabulary quiz covering terms important to our study of WWII.
5. I handed out a textbook assignment entitled "The Battle for France and Great Britain." Answers are due on Monday, February 10.

Tuesday, February 04, 2003

Monday, February 3

US History
1. We completed a page of lecture notes on the causes of the Great Depression.
2. We were privileged to hear Bob Wilson sing songs from the Depression.
3. The open-note quiz was postponed so we could attend Bob's session.

World Civilizations
1. I introduced the term "totalitarianism," and we considered the reasons for Europe's turn toward totalitarian government during the interwar period.
2. We watched a video entitled "Hitler's Germany."
3. We reviewed the quiz that students took last Friday ("A Global Depression").
4. Answers to "Rise of Fascism Part II" are due at block period.

Block Periods: Tuesday, February 4 and Wednesday, February 5

US History
1. Students took the open-note quiz on the beginnings of the Great Depression.
2. We read together a selection on the failure of conservative economic policy under Herbert Hoover.
3. We analyzed two cartoons from the Depression era.
4. We reviewed some political terms: radical, liberal, moderate, conservative, reactionary. I started a short review of the liberal, conservative and radical responses to the Great Depression.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped and we reviewed "Rise of Fascism Part II."
2. I handed out a sheet showing important terms for our study of WWII. Students will take a short quiz on these terms on Thursday, February 6.
3. Students had time in class to complete two assignemnts: Map of Totalitarian Expansion and Review Sheet Parts I and II. Both are due on Thursday.
4. I handed out a textbook assignment entitled "Aggressors on the March." Answers are due on Thursday.