Marbury vs. Madison Cartoon Analysis

1. Make a list of everything you see in the cartoon. Include all people and objects.

2. Which items in question 1 are symbols? What does each of the symbols stand for?

3. What is happening in the cartoon?

4. What is the cartoonist's message?

5. Do you agree or disagree with the message? Explain your answer.

(Lesson from www.landmarkcases.org)

Sedition Act

1) In your own words, explain why three of the Congressmen were in favor of the Sedition Act, and three were against it; 2) Who was right, the proponents of the Sedition Act or the opponents? Explain your answer; 3) Which political party seemed to support the Sedition Act? Which political party opposed it? 

Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's Farewell Address contains his advice to the citizens of the newly independent United States when he retired in 1797. For each of the four quotes below, put each piece of advice in your own words, and explain whether you feel that the advice would still hold true for us in 2008, and explain why, or why not 

1. "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is.... to have with them as little political connection as possible. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances [friendships] with any portion of the foreign world"

2. "As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense."

3. "Let me now .... warn you .... against the baneful [troubling] effects of the spirit of party. This spirit, unfortunately, is truly our worst enemy. The domination of one faction [political party] over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, is frightful. It leads to .... the ruin of public liberty."

4. ".... religion and morality [good behavior] are essential ... morality [can not] be maintained without religion .... It is true that virtue [goodness] and morality are a necessary part of [good] government."

Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

For each of the rules your group is assigned, write (1) the rule number and rule; (2) what it means in your own words; and (3) how Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior might be useful today in getting along with others.

Political Cartoon Analysis

1. Make a list of all people, objects, and any characteristics that seem to be exagerated
2. Which on the list of question 1 are symbols? Which does each stand for?
3. What is happening in the cartoon?
4. What is the cartoonist's message? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Allensworth SHP Video Conference

1. What did you learn from the video conference that you didn't learn in the classroom lesson?

2. What would you like the people at the California State Parks to know about your video conference experience with Allensworth SHP? Would you recommend the video conference to other students and teachers? Why, or why not? Please be as specific as you can with your answers!

For more information about bringing video conference lessons to a classroom, contact the California State Parks

Allensworth State Historical Park

What are the four most important things students and visitors should know about Allensworth State Historical Park? Why are those things important?

Personal History

1. Write a one paragraph story about something that happened in your family history. Be sure to give as many details as you can.

2. Identify a primary source document (document, letter, diary, autobiography, photograph, etc., or an artifact, that would help you and others understand more about your story

Declaration of Independence

Put at least 5 of the grievances against the king
that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence in your own words

The Great Awakening

After taking your "tour" of the Joseph Bellamy Home in Bethlehem, Conn., answer the following questions from reading 1:

1. What problems with the Congregational Church troubled Jonathan Edwards? What actions did he take to solve those problems?

2. Who was George Whitefield? How did he inspire a religious revival in the American colonies?

3. What was the Great Awakening? How did it appeal to common people?

Extra Credit (see picture above):

1. What can we learn about Bethlehem in 1836 (40 years after Bellamy's death) from the picture above ?

2. What elements dominate the drawing?

3. Bellamy's home is the one to the right of the two trees in the center of the drawing. Based on its location, what does that tell you about Bellamy's status in the community?

(Questions and image are taken from "Teaching with Historic Places" -- NPS)

Magna Carta & the English Bill of Rights

What are four important rights that Americans inherited from the English? Be sure to name the rights, and explain in your own words how they protect citizens.

Andersonville Prisoner of War Camp

Why did so many Union prisoners die at Andersonville. Who do you think was responsible? Why? Captain Henry Wirz is often called "the last casualty of Andersonville." Do you agree or disagree? Was Wirz a victim of Andersonville, or the person responsible for so many deaths? What does it mean to be responsible?

Caring for Civil War Casualties

After learning about the way in which medical care developed during the Civil War, read the excerpts from the diary of M.W. Bates, and answer these questions:

1. How did the ambulance driver and Dr. Avery behave under fire? Do you think they behaved responsibly? Why or why not?

2. What response did Dr. Goodale give when asked about Lt. Bates's condition? Why do you think surgeons did not attempt to operate on severely wounded patients?

3. Why does Bates believe he survived his wounds? What further challenge did Bates face on his trip home?

Lincoln's Early Speeches

Read the excerpts from Lincoln's "House Divided," Cooper Union, and First Inaugural Address. Write a paragraph that answers these three questions: 

1. What connections can you make between the three speeches?

2. What is Lincoln's position on slavery?

3. How did Lincoln appeal to the southern states in his First Inaugural Address?

Letters from First Manassas:

Sullivan Ballou's Letter:

1. Why did Sullivan Ballou volunteer for the Union Army?

2. As her husband foreshadowed, Sarah Ballou was widowed and forced to raise her children alone. Do you think that this affected her feelings about continuing the war? If you were in her place, would you have favored ending the war? Why?

J.W. Reid's Letter:

1. Private Reid tells how terrifying a battlefield was for the men who fought in the Civil War.How do you think soldiers mustered the courage to stay and fight in the Civil War? Do the letters of Reid and Ballou give any clues to what they were relying on to protect them?

2. Which of the two letters do you feel more accurately represents the feelings of a common soldier in the Civil War? Why? How could the other letter be changed to make it more realistic?

Earthquake Safety Podcast

Did you do a better job on this podcast campared to your first effort? What did you do better? Do you think that your podcast could help someone who heard it? Why or why not?

SGMS Podcast

What did your group do well in your podcast? What would you do differently next time?

Middle School 2015

How will a middle school classroom in 2015 be different than a classroom in 2008? How will technology help students learn?

Poetry Project

What did you enjoy most about the Emily Dickinson video project? If you had the chance to change something about your video, what would it be?