TECH! SLC

Who really invented the cotton gin?

2012-01-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

Most history books say that Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. But is that really true? Your assignment is to read the Smithsonian article, and in a well written paragraph, complete the following task:

Briefly summarize the four claims for the invention of the gin, and tell who has the best claim, and (most importantly) why that claim was best.

Global Classrooms November-December 2011

2011-11-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here is an opportunity to share with students from California, Ohio, and Morocco. Please share the following:
1. Your name
2. Your school and the city where you live
3. Your favorite activity or hobby
4. Something interesting about where you live
5. A question for the other students about where they live

Washington's Farewell Address

2011-11-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

1. In your own words, what are the three main ideas from Washington's Farewell Address?

2. Do you think that Washington's advice would be appropriate in today's world? Why or why not?

Gideon v. Wainwright

2011-10-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

The case of Gideon v. Wainwright established the right of indigent defendants to have a lawyer in criminal trials. This political cartoon gives an opinion about what has happened since the decision was made.

"P_" (class period) and your first name and last initials

1. Who does the man represent?

2. Who does the woman represent?

3. What do you think is the message of the political cartoon?

4. Should indigent defendants be provided with an attorney at the public's expense? Why or why not?

(adapted from www.landmarkcases.org)

September 11th Terrorist Attacks

2011-09-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Work with your partner to respond to the following prompts, in paragraph format:

Don't forget to enter your class period, and your first name and last initial at the start of the prompt.

What is the best way that we can remember and honor those people that lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks? Explain why you think that way. What is important for students to know about the 9/11 attacks? Why are those things important? What lessons can we learn from what happened on September 11, 2001?

Andersonville

2011-05-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Andersonville was built in 1864 to hold 10,000 Union prisoners of war. By the time the camp was closed over 14 months later, over 45,000 prisoners were living there in squalid conditions, without enough food,water, shelter, or medical attention. Over 13,000 Union prisoners of war died at Andersonville. Captain Henry Wirz, the commandant at Andersonville, was held responsible and hanged as a war criminal. Andersonville is now a memorial that honors prisoners of war from all U.S. wars.

Although Captain Wirz was punished for what happened at Andersonville, there are those who believe that he was a victim as well as the prisoners of war who suffered and died. So now it's your turn. Think about what it means to be responsible for something. Who was really responsible for what happened at Andersonville?

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

2011-05-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

With your partner, answer the following questions about the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863:
1. A score equals 20. To what year does Lincoln take us back? Why?

2. To what is Lincoln referring when he says the United States was born "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal"?

3. According to Lincoln, what was the Civil War testing?

4. What advice does Lincoln give? What does he want them to realize about the purpose of the Civil War?

5. According to Lincoln, what might happen if the North loses the Civil War?

Global Classrooms Dialogue April

2011-04-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our diaglogue between the students at Hassan II Secondary School in Beni Mellal, Morocco, and South Gate Middle School in South Gate, California, USA.

U.S. Students: Click on "comments" and write the following information:

1. your first name

2. something you like to do outside of school for fun

3. tell where in the US international visitors should travel to

4. a question for your Moroccan friends in Beni Mellal.

Moroccan Students: Click on "comments" and read what the US students wrote, then add your own comments to the blog:

1.your first (given) name

2.what you like to do outside of school for fun,

3. where in Morocco should international visitors travel to

4. a question for your American friends in South Gate

5. and finally, if you would like to answer any of the questions of the US students, that would be great!

Back from Morocco

2011-03-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

So now that I'm back from Morocco, and settled once again in my daily routine, what do I take away from the trip? As a historian, I know that over time, the lessons from Morocco will become clearer as time passes. But I also know that it's important to record my impressions as they occur, so here are a few, in no particular order:

-- The hospitality that we were shown throughout the country, in schools, and in homes throughout Morocco was amazing. One of the joys of our trip was being able to spend so much time in private homes, and away from the hotels and tourist spots (although being a tourist was fun, too). However, the food was amazing, and trying to find mint tea that tastes like what we had in Morocco is proving to be a challenge. I also loved the fact that people wanted to discuss politics with us. We had gotten the advice to avoid politics and religion, and it was a delight that the second question we were asked (after, "How do you like Morocco?") was, "Will President Obama be re-elected?" It allowed us to share our ideas openly, and to ask questions that helped us understand their view of the US and its policies. While I didn't agree with everything I heard, I understand their perspective in a way atha I hadn't before. Hospitality is an ancient custom, but what can we all learn to be more hospitable?

-- Tolerance is something that we often talk about in our class, but I don't think that I realized the impact that some of the dialogue in the US had on the students in Morocco. The Moroccan students knew about the Qur'an burning in Florida, the Islamic center in Manhattan, and the Congressional hearings on Islamic radicalization, and they were hurt and even offended by many of those comments. I think that the one lesson that I would like to bring back to my US students is that scapegoating people is never justified. The one lesson that I hope that the students in Morocco understand is that the vast majority of Americans do not share those prejudices. It makes me think of my own prejudices and biases, and what can I do to change them?

-- The visit to Bayt Bahia, the orphanage for abandoned special needs children, was also a difficult experience that I will never forget. I'm not really a "baby person," but when I held and rocked those children and played with them, I realized that all of us need to do more to prevent children from being neglected, and need to do more to help those that are neglected. If you and I don't help, who will? My goal is to have our church make Bayt Bahia a mission project, and take up a collection at least once per year to help benefit the children. It's hard enough for special needs children under the best circumstances, but these little ones have been dealt a difficult hand. Bayt Bahia reminds me of the power of service -- I hope that many of the students in Beni Mellal take up Madame Massaq's challenge, and volunateer there.

-- Most of the time, it is difficult to know what events will be historically significant until they are over, and we have the chance to see that event with the benefit of hindsight. I believe that the revolutions that occured in the Arab world in the spring of 2011 will be seen as historical. What started in Tunisia and Egypt, and expanded to Libya, Syria, and other places has the potential to bring changes to people on the same scale as the fall of communism did in the 1990s. It was exciting to speak to students who are in the midst of history, and to see their reactions. I was also thrilled that King Mohammed VI addressed the Moroccan people during our stay, and promised to set up a commission with the charge to limit the constitution power of the monarchy in Morocco. As a historian, I am naturally reluctant to make predictions, since it is hard to understand what has already happened, but even harder to understand things that are happening now. However, I believe that the events across the "Middle East" and in Morocco in particular are historic. I think that Thomas Jefferson, wherever he is, is happy to see that more people are choosing independence, and self-government, as he knew that they would.

-- Overall, going to Morocco reminded me that of the value of travel and dialogue. I've been fortunate to travel to many places in the US, Canada and Mexico, but this was my first experience traveling beyond North America. Just being in Morocco and being able to talk to people, visit places like Chellah in Rabat (the Roman ruins) that pre-date anything in the US, and understand a society that functions much like our own, but with unique differences, was something that helped me grow and learn, and that was a good feeling.

So, that is all for now. Please check the blog archives for March 2011 for my entries while I was traveling in Morocco, and on Flickr, look for "Morocco 2011" to see the pictures I took during my trip. This is a good time to mention that the opinions that I expressed in these blog posts are my own, and do not represent the opinions of the US Department of State, IREX, Teaching Excellence Awards, International Leaders in Education Program, or the Global Classrooms program. I am also grateful to those entities for their support in my travels and experiences. Au revoir!

On the Road in Morocco -- March 16th - 17th (Part II)

2011-03-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Our last two days were working with teachers and students back in Beni Mellal and nearby schools. Ms. Skarsten and I presented workshops for teachers of English on Professional Learning Communities and Service Learning. Professional Learning Communities are an idea that means that teachers work together to plan activities, rather than just working independently. It also means that teachers work together to have a plan when students are not learning. During the workshop, the teachers were able to create a plan to help students who were having trouble with writing essays. We also asked the teachers to think about obstacles that they faced if they decided to have PLCs in their school. The biggest problem that they could foresee was a lack of time. Our advice was to try to set up PLCs in small steps, in other words, to solve one little problem at a time, rather than trying to solve big problems right away. Hopefully, that is good advice to solve any problem.

The next presentation was a lesson that Ms. Skarsten prepared for the students about climate change. Students and teachers from the school participated together the lesson, and then the teachers stayed when students went to their next class. Then I presented a workshop on Service Learning. The idea is that if students are studying a problem in class, there might be a chance to actually do a service project related to what is being studied. So for example, if students are studying climate change, what kind of service could they do to actually help reduce global warming?

We also had the opportunity to visit more classes during our last two days. We saw a literature class, a Spanish class, and spent more time with Ms. Massaq's English class. We were very impressed that the literature class was answering difficult questions regarding a novel that they were reading, and that almost all of the students were participating. Since the class was taught in French, I was fortunate that one of the students was whispering the answers in my ear (in English). The Spanish class was also impressive. It was taught completely in Spanish, rather than translating things from Arabic or French, which were the languages that the students knew. However, the teacher was also putting English and Italian on the board, just to show how all those languages were connected. It was definitely a stretch to keep up for me, but the students seemed to expect it.

One of the more interesting things that we were able to see was on our visit to a private school. While the teaching in the public school classes we saw was excellent, there was no way getting around the fact that the classrooms were very spartan, classes were crowded with 40 students crammed into a class, and students often had to share books. There was no technology in classrooms, no heat or air conditioning, and often broken windows. The computer lab was not state-of-the-art. Yet, teachers were teaching and students were learning. The private K-12 school was very different. In fact, they looked like a U.S. classroom. They were bright, had bulletin boards on the walls, nice desks, and were definitely less crowded. The technology center was more up-to-date with computers and internet access, and there was also art instruction going on, which was not available in the public school. Equity in schools is an issue in the U.S. as well as Morocco. Even though learning does not require all kinds of fancy buildings and equipment, it's important to think about whether it's fair that some children have more advantages then others? What do you think? And what is the solution? Would you take things away from schools that have more or better facilities? is that fair? If our country spent more on education, who would have to pay for it?

We had the opportunity to have one more dinner at a restaurant in Beni Mellal, which was nice since the rain finally stopped (it had been raining since Saturday). Our final dinner was a delicious couscous with sweet raisins on top, at Ms. Massaq's home. Several relatives were there, and it was a nice ending to the last full day of our trip. After our goodbyes, the only thing left was the trip the following morning to the airport in Casablanca for our flight back home. So that is all I have for now. These notes were actually typed back in California, since I was unable to get online before leaving Morocco. I will also post some final thoughts in a day or two, and add some pictures to the blog posts. So for now, thanks for reading!

On the Road in Morocco -- March 15th - 17th

2011-03-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

Monday, we spent the day in the capital city, Rabat. We meet two American teachers who are beginning their exchange in Morocco, and also American students who are studying in Morocco. Morocco has a very different school system than the US in some ways, and they are alike in other ways. They have elementary, middle and high schools (they call high schools "secondary schools"), and they have to pass a test to move on. They have 12 grades just like we do. But in Morocco, all public schools are run by the central government in Rabat. The individual regions (like states) or local governments do not have a say in the schools. They also have private schools that are paid for by familiies that don't want a public education. What do you think about the idea of private schools? Would you like to attend one? Do you think it would be different than the public school you attend now?

We took a tour of the Chellah, which are ruins from the times that the Romans occupied North Africa. It is amazing to see buildings that were constructed so long ago. In Los Angeles, anything over 100 years old is considered historic. These ruins are almost 2000 years old, and you can still see most of the original construction. We also visited the Oudaya, which was a pirate fort. You might remember that we talked about the Barbary pirates of the early 19th century, but this fort was built before then, in the 17th century. We wanted to visit the Mausoleum where King Mohammed V is buried (he was the first king of modern Morocco when they gained independence from France in 1957), but couldn't get in because we found out that the current king was coming to make a speech, so the mausoleum was closed. I would have been fun to see the king! By the way, one of the interesting things that I learned from the pirate era is that the area right on the beach was considered the worst place to live. Now people want to live near the beach, but during the 17th and 18th century that was a place to put the graveyard, right next to the pirate fort. That way, if they were attacked, there would be a buffer zone between the ocean where the attack was coming from, and the people on land.

Tuesday was a day to drive back to Beni Mellal, and Wednesday and Thursday will be our last days in Morocco before we fly out Friday. I'm going to end my post for now, but I'll continue in my next posts to tell about our conversations with the teachers and students. So for now, au revoir

On the Road in Morocco -- March 11th - 14th

2011-03-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Friday, we drove to the city of Marrakesh. Marrakesh is city that is well known as a trading center throughout history. The first place that we went to was the city square, where there is a huge open air market. We found out that the square was once known as the "square of death," since at one time public executions were held there and up to 45 people a day might be beheaded and their heads would be displayed on the city gates to deter anyone else that was thinking of committing a crime. Fortunately, those days are long gone, and the market had merchants welling everything from fresh vegetables, meat and spices to souvenirs. We also saw the city wall, which protected the city. If you see a picture of the wall, you will notice holes in the wall. Can you guess the purpose of the holes? We wondered, too, and found out that they were there to allow the wall to contract and expand without cracking. It was raining, so we went to the home we were staying at for the night. There was no internet, so I am posting this a few days late.

One of the most interesting things about shopping in Morocco is that some of the shops will allow their customers to bargain. We were all looking for great deals, and the merchants were trying to make money, so it is really a game of strategy between buyer and seller. I was looking for a bowl to bring home to my wife, and traditional Moroccan clothing for my daughter. One thing that was really important was to get things that were traditional Moroccan items, not just keychains or I love Morocco t-shirts (although I have nothing against those things). Let's just say that I found what I was looking for, and a lot more. I thought I got a great deal, and the merchants all seemed to be smiling, too. It was fun, and now I have to figure out how to get it all home!

One of the things that is most interesting about Morocco is the importance of hospitality. Our hosts will not let us do anything! We are served first at meals, and instead of staying at hotels we have been invited into peoples' homes. Everyone is interested in what we think about Morocco, and they always tell us how open and accepting the Moroccan people are. We certainly agree! Hospitality is something that we can do even if there are no guests in our homes. Are you hospitable to new students transfering to our school, or new neighbors who move near you? How about subsitute teachers, who are guests at our school? Being a good host is an ancient custom, when travelers had to trust their lives to their hosts, and not only makes the guest feel good, but the host as well. Ms. Skarsten and I are thinking of a way to thank our hosts for this hospitality. How do you think that we can be as good a guest as our hosts have been good hosts? If you have been reading, maybe you would like to post an idea.

Marrakesh is more than an ancient city. There are modern shopping malls, and the city has a film festival and other art activities. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Do you know other world heritage sites? How could you find them? Have you ever been to one?

More posts coming soon about our day in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. Stay tuned!

On the Road in Morocco March 10th (part II)

2011-03-10T02:50:00.000-08:00

March 8th was International Women's Day, and it was celebrated by giving all of the women at our hotel and at school a flower. The principal called a special meeting in the teacher's lounge, and told the teachers that they needed to give lessons about womens' rights and making women equal members of society. Morocco is a very traditional society, and many men and women think that there are mens' jobs and womens's jobs. When we spoke to the students, they told us that women were expected to do all the cooking and cleaning in the house. Ms. Skarsten asked them if they were going to go to the university, and almost everyone said, "yes." Then she asked them if their mother was going to go with them, and when they said, "no," she asked who was going to do their laundry? Would they bring it all home? How about cooking? McDonalds every day? (Yes, there are McDonalds in Morocco). Ms. Skarsten said that the boys needed to learn how to cook and clean, and that girls needed to know how to change a tire and fix things in the house when they are broken. I added that when the US was founded, women, Native Americans, and African-Americans did not have equal rights. I told them that as each group achieved the rights that they are entitled to, the US became a better country. Now there are women as leaders of companies, governors of states and members of Congress, and several women have been Secretary of State of the United States. And of course, an African-American, Barack Obama, is President of the United States.

So at the end of the day, we left our hotel and went out to eat. It is unusual for Moroccans to eat out, as most meals are eaten at home. However, there are many cafes where people can sit, drink tea, talk and watch as people walk around the city streets. Even in a smaller place like Beni Mellal, the streets are busy at night with people and families out.

Speaking of food, breakfast and lunch are the big meals of the day, and dinner is a smaller meal, like a snack. We are eating breakfast as the hotel, and usually it is breads, sliced tomatoes, yogart, cheese, and fresh orange juice. Moroccan meals are served on bowls in the center of the table, and everyone just takes what they want. There are usually salads, with fresh fruit at the beginning of the meal, also lots of dates, olives, and breads. Then comes the main course. Yesterday for lunch, we had couscous, which is a kind of pasta that looks like rice. It was delicious! It was served with vegetables, and we ate serveral servings. Then we had a dessert of huge, juicy oranges, bananas (which are smaller than we have in California), and apples. We were served tea, and thanked our host for a wonderful meal before heading back to school for the afternoon classes.

Tomorrow, we will tour a farm, teach more classes, and see a movie (in French), and listen to a discussion (also in French). Now, I am going to check on a speech that King Mohammed VI of Morocco made last night on TV. I heard he was proposing to makeimportant changes to help the Moroccan people gain more democracy. Morocco elects their leaders, but people want even more power to make changes in the government, and even kings need to listen to their people. How could you find out about the government of Morocco? How could you find the news about King Mohammed VI's speech?

Post your responses for extra credit if you can find out answers to my questions.

On the Road in Morocco -- March 9th - 10th

2011-03-10T00:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was unable to post due to internet problems at the hotel. They have internet in the lobby and first floor only, and my room is on the third floor, so I have to come down to the lobby every morning to post before breakfast. But yesterday, the man who was supposed to turn on the internet was late, so I was unable to post before breakfast. They other thing that I am doing each morning is talking to my wife and daughter via Skype. This is a free internet service, and I am calling them at 6:30 AM, and it is 10:30 PM the previous day in LA. So it is already Thursday morning in Morocco for me when I am talking to my family Wednesday night in California.

We've spoken to many students during the past two days. When I asked them how they found out about the US, they always tell me about the movies they've seen. That is how they think that Americans are all rich and the we have lots of crime and murders in our cities. I explained that this was not the case most of the time, that while murders and violent crime do happen, most days go by with students just going to school and parents just going to work, and everyone just living their lives.

Most of the students ask about US students. I tell them that they wear the same tennis shoes, and clothing as US students. They have cell phones and text, and play video games. They watch soccer on TV (except they call it "football" -- the game that we call "football," they call "American football") and watch movies, The Simpsons, Oprah and Dr. Phil. Apparently the big news this week in entertainment is that Justin Beiber got a haircut.

I was more concerned with other questions that many of the students asked. That question was, "Why do Americans hate Muslims?" "Why do Americans think that all Muslims are terrorists?" I explained to the Moroccan students that just like they had stereotypes of Americans, many Americans had stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs. Do you know what a stereotype is? A stereotype is when you think of people as a group, not as individuals. So if someone says, "People in Los Angeles are laid back," or "Kids are not responsible," they are using stereotypes. Maybe some people in LA are laid back, and maybe some kids are irresponsible, not not everyone is that way because that is a stereotype.

Each of us answered in a different way. I told them that some people in the US were afraid, and that when people are afraid, they often did not make good decisions. I told them that in US history, many different groups have come to our country, and that many people were afraid then, too. I said that Germans came in the late 1700s, Irish Catholics and Chinese came in the 1800s, and Italians, East European Jews, and others came in the early 1900s, people were afraid that they would ruin America. But that didn't happen, and each group that came to the US brought culture and new ideas, and adapted to American society. And the people who were fearful began to accept the newcomers, and become less fearful. Now we have immigration from Latin America and there are more Muslims in the US, and that I have no doubt that those Americans who are fearful will eventually become more accepting and tolorent, but that sometimes it is a slow process. Ms. Skarsten pointed out that one of the ways that people become more inderstanding is by getting to know each other, and that international exchanges like this one are one way that things will get better, and misunderstandings and stereotypes. I wish that some of the political leaders in the US could have heard the questions that the students are asking. If they had, they would know about the hurt that they are causing, and how wrong they are to think that Muslims are bad people. As I told one student, there are Muslim terrorists, Christian terrorists, Jewish terrorists, and terrorists who are non-believers. The one thing that they have in common is that they are murderers, not heroes. I said that a hero would die for his country, but would rather live and help his country. I terrorist is just a murderer.

On the Road in Morocco-- March 8th

2011-03-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we went to visit the children at Bayt Bahia, which means "Bahia's House" in Arabic. Bayt Bahia is a home for abandoned children who are also disabled. There were about 10 children there, and some had physical disabilities, and others had developmental disabilities, and most probably had both. They were abandoned when their mothers could not take care of them. Our host teacher in Morocco, Ms. Massaq, is the head of the organization that raises money to help these children. The children live there, and are taken care of with a nurse and other helpers. They also receive physical therapy and other services. Would you be interested in helping these children?

We also went to the medina, which is the open air market. I have to admit that there were very few local items for sale. Most of the things were from China. Have you ever heard of the "pleasant goat"? It is a cartoon character, and it looks like "Hello Kitty," but it's a goat. We also went to a sky-diving competition at the Beni Mellal Airport. There were skydivers from Germany, France and Morocco parachuting. I think that the idea is to hit a target as close as you can, and they were all pretty good.

We also learned about Islam. The mineret at the mosque is the tallest building in town, and their broadcast a call to prayer 5 times per day. The first call is at 5 am, and they continue throughout the day. We saw some people had to the mosque, and others just kept doing what they were doing, just like the US.

Finally, I made a Skype call this morning (Tuesday) to my wife and daughter at home (it is Monday night in Los Angeles). It is cool to speak to them, I wish there was a camera on my iPad, and then I could see them, too. I am keeping up on the news online, since all of the TV is in French and Arabic here.

We are all following the news in Libya. You should check it out, too.

On the Road in Morocco -- March 7th

2011-03-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

This was our first day at Hassan II Secondary School. Debbie Skarsten, my partner teacher from Ohio, and I met Mme. Fatimezzahara Massaq at the front of the hotel just in time for 8:00 period 1 class. The students take 3 one hour classes in the morning, then go to lunch until 2 PM, and then have to go back to school for 3 hours in the late afternoon. How would you like to be on that schedule? Another big difference is that instead of the students moving each period, the teachers move from class to class, and the students stay in class. One thing that I liked was that when the teacher enters or exits class, all students stand in respect.

Today the students were able to just ask questions about the United States. Some of the questions were "What are girls like in the US?" and others were serious questions about Muslims in the US and the Palastinian-Israeli issue. Most of the questions were about what kind of food we ate, whether we knew anything about Morocco, and what were students like in the US. What questions should I ask students in Morocco.

This afternoon, we are going to a school for abandoned children with specifal needs, and then we are going to the medina, which is a traditional open air market.
I word about the hotel rooms. They are pretty much like a US Hotel, except that they have smoking allowed (yuk!). The biggest differences are the plugs and the electicity, and also that bathrooms all have bidets, which is part of the French influence on Morocco. Do you know the purpose of a bidet? I didn't until I watched a Youtube video on how to use them.

Ok, it's back to school. I'm still having trouble posting the pictures, but there are plenty, so keep reading!

On the Road to Morocco March 4th-6th

2011-03-06T15:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Beni Mellal, Morocco!
I hope that everyone is doing well, and that you are doing a good job while I'm gone. My plane left Friday morning at 6:30 am, landed in New York City where I met my partner, Debbie Skarsten, a math teacher from Ohio, and we left for Morocco about 3 hours later. We arrived in Casablanca, the biggest city in Morocco, the next morning at 6:45 am, and met Ms. Fatimezzahara Massaq, who teaches high school here in Beni Mellal. Saturday, we toured Casablanca, and visited the King Hassan II mosque in Casablanca. It is one of the largest mosques in the world, and it is one of the few that allow non-Muslims to visit in the sanctuary.
Today, Sunday, we took the 3 hour drive to Beni Mellal, and toured the city here. We visited parks and the soule, which is a tradional market. We also met Ms. Massaq's family, which is her husband, who is a local political leader, her 17 year old daughter, who is preparing to take her exams to enter college here, and her 10 year old son, who loves soccer and is taking tennis lessons.

On Monday, Ms. Skarsten and I will meet Ms. Massaq's class for the first time. They are high school students who are learning English as their foreign language. What questions do you have for them? What would you like to learn about growing up in Morocco? Please post with your first name, last initial, and class period, and I will ask your questions to the students here -- then I will post the responses in the blog.

See you soon on my next blog post from Morocco

Tomorrow, Ms. Skarsten and I will be meeting with the

Different Perspectives on Slavery

2011-02-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Slavery was a complicted issue for Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some people saw it as a absolute evil, others as a positive good. Some saw it as an economic nessessity, and others saw slavery as holding the nation back economically. People's views on African-Americans ranged from racism to colonization to advocating full equality. Today, you will get a chance to read some of those opinions, and share your reactions. You will need to click on the link to see the readings:

1. In reading 1, what did Thomas Jefferson mean when he said, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just"?

2. In readings 2 and 3, the authors have two very different views of slavery. How did Solomon Northrup view slavery in reading 2? How did Sir Charles Lyell view slavery in reading 3? Who do you think had the more realistic view of slavery? Why?

3. In reading 4, George Fitzhugh gives his view that slavery was actually good for the slaves. What are two reasons he gives for feeling that way? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

How democratic was Andrew Jackson?

2011-02-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Andrew Jackson was one of the most controversial people in the history of the United States. He was the hero of the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, a slaveowner, an orphan who went from very poor beginnings to gain great wealth, a supporter of Indian Removal and expanding the vote to many more average Americans. He was twice elected President of the United States, and many historians say that he strengthened the office of the Presidency.

But how democratic was he? Was he more of an autocrat or democrat? Should we celebrate him, or be embarrassed by him?

Who really invented the cotton gin?

2011-01-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

Almost every history book says that Eli Whitney "invented" the cotton gin. But should he really get credit for that important invention?

Your assignment is to summarize the Whitney's claim in a well written paragraph, as well as the three other claims from the Smithsonian lesson. Then explain who has the best claim to be the "real" inventor, and explain your reasons.

Constitution Center Webcast

2010-11-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

1. Why is learning about the Founders, and studying the Constitution and Bill of Rights important?

2. What did you like about participating in a webcast?

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

2010-11-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Who had better ideas, the Federalists or the Anti-Federalists? Write a well written paragraph expressing your opinion, and have at least 3 supporting reasons.

Reflection: Articles of Confederation

2010-10-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

1. Write down 3 things you learned about the Articles of Confederation

2. Why did it fail?

3. How could it have been changed to make it more successful?

4. If you made it easier to pass laws, how would you protect against a law taking away people's liberties?

Revolutionary Women

2010-10-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Women played a key role in helping America win the Revolutionary War. Women boycotted British goods, made bullets and uniforms for the army, became spies for General Washington, and even fought in battles, besides keeping farms and homes running.

Four of the most famous revolutionary women are Abigail Adams, Deborah Sampson, Mercy Otis Warren, and Phyllis Wheatly.

Your assignment is to write a persuasive paragraph about the woman assigned to you and your partner, telling:
1. What contributions did she make to the cause of American independence?
2. Why is it important that 8th graders study her? What can they learn from her life and deeds?

What do Americans believe in?

2010-09-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

Among all the nations of the world, the United States is unique. Americans have many different skins colors, worship many different religions, and speak many different languages. Thinking of it another way, if you or I moved to China or France, we would probably not become Chinese or French, but if someone moved from China or France to the US, they would become an American.

So, talk to your partner, and list 4 things that you think Americans believe in, and explain your answers (tell why you think that).

Happy 223rd Birthday, Constitution!

2010-09-16T15:29:00.001-07:00

Today, the Constitution is 223 years old. It is the oldest Constitution in the world. Think about two of the rights we studied today: habeas corpus and trial by jury.

What might things be like in the United States if we didn't have those rights?

Lowell Mills

2010-05-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Was working at Lowell Mills a positive or negative experience for the "mills girls" of the 1840s? Be sure to cite at least 3 primary sources in your answer.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural

2010-05-03T07:40:00.001-07:00

For each of the three quotes from Lincoln's Second Inaugural, do the following:

1. Copy the quote

2. Put the quote in your own words

3. Give an example of how following Lincoln's advice might still be a good idea today in your own life

a. People were "wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces"

b. "Let us judge not, that we be not judged"

c. "With malice toward none, with charity for all"

Andersonville

2010-04-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

Andersonville was built in 1864 to hold 10,000 Union prisoners of war. By the time the camp was closed 14 months later, over 45,000 prisoners were living there in squalid conditions, without enough food, water, shelter or medical attention. Over 13,000 Union prisoners died at Andersonville. Captain Henry Wirz, the commander at Andersonville, was hanged as a war criminal. The site is now a memorial to all prisoners of war from all US wars.

Although Captain Wirz was punished for what happened, there are those who think that he was a victim as well. So now it's your turn. Think about what it means to take responsibility. Who was really responsible for what happened at Andersonville?

Gettysburg Cemetery: Paying Honor to Fallen Soldiers

2010-04-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

After the battle, the people of Gettysburg were left with the task of burying thousands of war dead. Eventually, over 3500 Union soldiers were buried at the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Paying honor to fallen soldiers is an ancient tradition, and many rules and procedures govern military funerals. Go to the link Union Soldiers and Burial Practices to learn more about how these procedures developed during and after the Civil War. Use these primary source materials from the National Park Service to answer these three prompts:

1. In General Order No. 75, "headboards" are provided for each soldier. What do you think a headboard is? What problem does Capt. Moore find with the headboards?

2. What change does Secretary of War Stanton suggest in 1866?

3. Why do you think that the US government felt the need to bury soldiers' remains in centralized national cemeteries instead of allowing them to be scattered around the country?

Civil War Letters

2010-04-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons that we know so much about the Civil War is due to the letters, diaries and journals that soldiers on both sides wrote and kept. More common people than ever before were educated, and they wrote about their experiences and feelings, hopes and fears.

The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) was fought on July 21, 1861. Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island, a major in the Union army wrote this letter to his wife one week before the fighting. He died in the first few minutes of the battle. J.W. Reid was a Confederate soldier from South Carolina. He survived the war.

1. What was Sullivan Ballou's motivation to volunteer and fight from the Union? Cite two quotes from the letter to back up your response.

2. After Ballou's death, his widow, Sarah, was left to raise two sons by herself. If you were in her position, would you support or oppose continuing the war? Why or why not?

3. In your opinion, which of the two letters was closer to that of a typical Civil War soldier? Why?

Using Math in History class?

2010-04-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Use your resource page to answer these questions about the Civil War:

1. What was the difference in the free population of the North and the South in 1860? Why do you think that the enslaved population was not included in this count?

2. Of the four categories, in which one did the Union have the biggest advantage? How do you think the South could make up for their disadvantage in that category?

3. Which of these categories do you think would have the biggest effect on the war? Why?

4. Despite the overwhelming Northern economic advantages, Southerners were generally optimistic about their chances of achieving their war goals. Explain why you think that was true.

Border States: Which side would you choose?

2010-04-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

Kentucky was one of the border states that had divided loyalties for both the Union and Confederate causes. Although Kentucky eventually sided with the Union, many Kentuckians fought on the Rebel side.

What follows are proclamations made by the commanders of the Union and Confederate forces in Kentucky. Read both quotes, and then summarize at least two main ideas from each quote. Which one do you think is more persuasive, and why?

[The flag of the United States] has streamed in triumph at the mast-head of our ships, and in many a bloody field has cheered the American armies on to victory. It has waved in every breeze on land and upon the sea, and in the strong hands of our fathers who bore it aloft, it has never, lo, never dishonored. Around it have clustered the dearest hopes of every friend of human liberty in every clime, and who doubts the last shriek of freedom will rend the skies, if it shall fall forever....[t]hough others may hate and curse the land that gave them birth, the brave and loyal sons of Kentucky will never strike with parricidal hands the State that has nutured them.
--Colonel Curren Pope, Commander, 7th Kentucky Infantry

To the People of Southeastern Kentucky:
The brigade I have the honor to command is here for no purpose of war upon Kentuckians, but to repel those Northern hordes who, with arms in their hands, are attempting the subjugation of a sister Southern State.... Their government has laid heavy taxes on you to carry on this unnatural war, one object of which is openly avowed to be to set at liberty your slaves, and the ensuing steps in which will be to put arms in their hands and give them political and social equality with yourselves.
The honor of your wives and daughters, your past renown, and the fair name of your posterity forbid that you should strike for Lincoln and the abolition of slavery against those struggling for the rights and independence of your kindred race.
Strike with us for independence and the preservation of your property, and those Northern invaders of your soil will soon be driven across the Ohio.
--General Felix Zollicoffer, Confederate Army

Lincoln-Douglas Debates and the Senate Campaign

2010-04-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

Lincoln campaigned against Stephen Douglas for the US Senate seat from Illinois in 1858. Although he lost the election, Lincoln became a national figure in the fight against slavery. Here are three of his most famous quotes from that campaign. Put the quotes in your own words:

1. "Slavery is found in the selfishness of man's nature -- opposition to it, in his love of justice."

2. "The doctrine [idea] of self government is right -- [However,] when the white man governs himself, that is self-government. When he governs himself and also governs another man .... that is despotism."

3. "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe that this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be desolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect that it will cease [to end] to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other."

4. "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."

(Special Note: The old Illinois state Capitol building, pictured to the right, is where Lincoln made his "house divided" speech in 1858. It is also where Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President, 149 years later in 2007)

Horace Mann and American Education

2010-03-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

1. Why is Horace Mann sometimes called the "Father of American Education"?

2. If Mann were alive today, what three things (and why) would he change about our schools to make them better?

Soldier Letter from the Mexico-USA War

2010-02-26T07:07:00.000-08:00

Click on the link to a letter from a soldier in the Mexico-USA War published in the periodical "Yankee Doodle." As you read the letter, respond to these 4 questions:

1. In the first paragraph, what did the writer expect from going to war?

2. In the second paragraph, what did the writer find instead?

3. In the third paragraph, what advice would the writer expect from his mother, and what did he think of that advice?

4. In the forth paragraph, what was going to happen next?

5. What was in the letter that surprised you? Was anything missing from the letter that you expected to be there?

Health and Illness in Early Factories

2010-02-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

According to the text, many workers in the mills got sick and were injured on the job or in inadequate housing provided by the mill owners. Was that true? We can use a primary source document, a page from the hospital log at Lowell, Massachusetts, to find out. Click on a transcript of the hospital log to answer the question:

1. What were the diseases and illnesses that afflicted the workers on the hospital log? In simple terms, what kind of disease or illness was it? How many people were suffering from each disease or illness? Were the diseases or illnesses related to work or life at the mill? Why or why not?

Slavery in America

2010-01-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Click on the link to see four readings on slavery in the United States. Work with your partners to answer the following questions:

1. For the first reading, paraphrase Thomas Jefferson's comments about slavery.

2. Read the second and third readings. Which do you think is a more accurate description of slave life? Explain your answer with specific examples from the texts.
3. In the forth reading, the author says slavery is actually good for the slave. What are two reasons the author gives?

Extra Credit: In the forth reading, the author says that slaves are better off than people working for wages. In your own words, what are the author's reasons?

Trail of Tears

2010-01-19T18:58:00.001-08:00

Read the account of the Trail of Tears from the National Park Service website. Answer these questions:

1. What happened to the Cherokees in the period of May to October 1838? What was life like for the Cherokees during that time?

2. What do you think was the worst part of the relocation? Why?

3. Andrew Jackson believed that "the majority rules." It is true that Indian removal was a very popular policy with voters over many years in the 1830s. Should the majority of voters be able to do anything they want? Why or why not? Should a minority of voters be able to stop the will of the majority? Why or why not?

4. Reread Professor Thomas' story? Do you think it is really happened that way? Was the woman really Professor Thomas' grandmother? Is it important if she is not really his grandmother? Do you think the story was intended as factual history, or had another purpose? Explain (tell why or why not) your answers.

War of 1812 -- Fort McHenry

2009-12-07T07:07:00.000-08:00

The Battle for Fort McHenry is the basis for the "Star Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States. Use the links to answer these questions:

1. Baltimore was an important site for shipping. Look at the map and give at least two reasons why Baltimore was a good location for merchants and shipping.

2. Why do you think Fort McHenry was located where it was?

3. Find "Lazaretto Battery." A battery is a term used for a group of big, long range cannons. Why do you think Lazaretto Battery was located where it was?

4. Fort McHenry was known as a "star fort." Closely look at the diagram of the fort. What advantages would a fort shaped like Fort McHenry have?

(Lesson adapted from the Teaching with Historic Places Website)

Barbary Pirates

2009-11-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

As you have learned, one of the most important issues facing President Jefferson was how to handle the issue of the Barbary pirates. To help you see one of the U.S. government's responses, let's examine a primary source document. You'll need to click on page 1 and page 2 of the document, and work with your partner to complete the "Written Document Analysis Worksheet."

For extra credit, click on the "comment" link and explain how the issue that President Jefferson faced with the Barbary pirates in the early 19th century is still a current issue in 2009.

The Sedition Acts

2009-11-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

Thomas Cooper was a lawyer and newspaper editor in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, was charged with violating the Sedition Act. He went on trial in 1800, convicted, and fined. To learn more about the case, view the arrest warrant that was issued in the case. To see a transcript of the warrant, click here, and select "sedition_acts_cooper" from Mr. Albert's web page. Use these documents and what you know about the Sedition Act to answer the questions below:

1. In your own words, describe what Mr. Cooper was charged with based on the arrest warrant. Use your online dictionary for unfamiliar words.

2. As you know, James Madison wrote the Virginia resolutions, and Thomas Jefferson wrote the Kentucky resolutions. These resolutions said the states could declare a federal law "unconstitutional," and not follow that law. What would happen if states actually refused to follow laws that the states feel do not follow the Constitution?

Washington's Farewell Address

2009-11-16T07:24:00.001-08:00

As George Washington retired from the Presidency in 1796 after serving two terms in office, he wrote a "farewell address" to the American people. Although many people today think that the Farewell Address was a speech, it was actually published in newspapers. Alexander Hamilton, who had been the Secretary of the Treasury, wrote the first draft, and Washington made changes.

Washington made three main points. First, he said that while the newly independent United States should trade with other countries, the US should not make military alliances (agreements) with any foreign country since that could pull us into a war that did not affect us directly. He also warned against having political parties. Washington felt that if there were political parties, voters would follow who the party said to vote for, rather than being informed and voting for the best candidate. Finally, he felt that religion was an important "pillar" for American morals. In others words, if people went to church regularly, they would know the difference between right and wrong, and make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Now it's your turn. Do you believe that Washington's advice in the farewell address is still good advice for the United States in 2009? Write a well written paragraph, and address Washington's three major points:

The US should avoid foreign military treaties
Political parties are bad for the country
Belonging to a church helps make people better citizens since they know right from wrong

Be sure to explain your answers and give reasons to back up your ideas

Washington's Rules of Civility

2009-11-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

George Washington wrote his "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior" when he was a teenager as an assignment in school, probably to practice his handwriting. Although he didn't invent these rules, respect and proper behavior were important to him, and he tried to live by these rules throughout his life and career as a general of the army and President of the United States.

Your assignment is to put 3 of the rules into your own words, and explain why following them might have helped Washington as a military and political leader. Be sure to "copy-paste" the text of the rule to your response.

Federalist Paper No. 10

2009-10-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

In November 1787, Number 10 in a series called the "Federalist Papers" was written in support of the Constitution. James Madison describes the way federalism will overcome disagreements within society:
"A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile [trading] interest, a money interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divides into different classes, moved by different views. The regulation of these interests is the principal task of modern government.

The federal Constitution forms a happy combination; the great interests, being referred to the national [central] government, and the local interests to the state governments. The influence of local leaders may start a flame within their own states, but will be unable to spread through the other states"

Questions:
1. In your own words, what was the problem facing the government?
2. How does Madison think federalism will prevent disagreements?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Madison, and why?

Thomas Jefferson on Slavery

2009-10-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

"The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the...most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.....Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever."

--Thomas Jefferson, "Notes on the State of Virginia, 1782
1. In your own words, what are the two points that Jefferson is making about slavery?
2. Do you agree or disagree with his two ideas? Why?

Pioneer Travel Tips

2009-09-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Captain Randolph Marcy was a cavalry officer in the US Army who wrote "The Prairie Traveler" in 1859 to help settlers make it safely to the West.

Your assignment:

1. Find 5 bits of advice that Captain Marcy gives travelers, put them into your own words so that a modern traveler could understand them.

2. Would any of the advice given by Captain Marcy in 1859 apply for travelers today? Why or why not?

Be sure to post your class period and first names/last initial so that you get credit. Example: "P5 Jack A & Jill B"

p.s. Follow the link to see the actual text of Captain Marcy's book, "The Prairie Traveler"

Reconstruction Vocabulary

2009-05-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

In your own words, explain how these terms and people relate to the Reconstruction era in the United States, 1866-1876:

1. Reconstruction 2. sharecropper 3. scalawag 4. Charles Sumner 5. Andrew Jackson 6. Presidential Reconstruction 7. Congressional Reconstruction 8. Radical Republican 9. carpetbagger 10. "40 acres and a mule" 11. Freedman's Bureau 12. impeachment 13. Black codes 14. Hiram Revels

Black Codes

2009-05-19T15:19:00.001-07:00

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Southern states passed a series of "Black Codes" that restricted the rights and opportunities for the freed slaves. With you partner, review the handout containing excerpts from the 1865 Mississippi Black Codes. For each of the sections, put the main idea of the law into your own words.

Andersonville

2009-04-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

For soldiers that became prisoners of war, life was harsh. Confederate prisoners in the North suffered because supplies were often deliberately withheld as revenge for the South's actions in causing the Civil War. For Union prisoners in Southern camps, food, shelter and medical care was in short supply for them as well as the citizens of the Confederacy.

Start this assignment by reading the link to "Life as a Prisoner."

After you have learned about being a prisoner, click on the link to Andersonville, the most notorious prison camp of the Civil War, and work with your team to answer the following questions:

1. Why was Andersonville chosen to the the site of a prison camp?

2. Why did the prison have such a high mortality rate?

3. Who was responsible for the conditions and deaths at Andersonville?

4. "Wirz" was the last casualty of Andersonville." Should Captain Wirz, the officer in charge of the prison, have been hanged for the deaths that occurred under his administration? Why or why not?

Gettysburg Address

2009-04-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

1. A score equals 20. To what year does Lincoln take us back? Why?

2. To what was Lincoln referring to when he says the United States was born "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal?"

3. According to Lincoln, what is the Civil War testing?

4. What advice does Lincoln give?

5. According to Lincoln, what might happen if the North loses the Civil War?

Civil War Soldiers

2009-04-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Although historians, teachers, and students concentrate mostly on the major battles of the Civil War, we can learn a great deal by studying smaller battles as well. The Battle of Rivers Bridge was fought in South Carolina on February 2-3, 1865.

First, read the Surviving on the Battlefield (Reading 1) to find out about Civil War tactics and specifically the Rivers Bridge. Then continue on to letters and reports about the battle and respond to the following questions:

Reading 2:

1. Compare the 2 casualty reports. Why do you think the number of Union casualties was twice the number of Confederate casualties?

2. Compare the number of Confederate casualties estimated by the Union commander compared to the number reported by the Confederate commander. Why do you think accounted for the discrepancy?

Reading 3:

1. Read the memoirs of Sgt. Moore and Captain Wilson. Both reported about the medical treatment received by wounded soldiers during the battle. Describe the medical services given to the Union and Confederate wounded as reported in the two accounts.

2. Read Mrs. Cherry's letter. What was her purpose in writing it?

John Brown's Raid

2009-03-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

1. Follow the link to the newspaper headline reporting John Brown's seizure of the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Was the newspaper biased toward either the North or the South? What words or phrases support your idea?

2. There were 5 African-Americans among the 21 men that accompanied John Brown. One of the five, Dangerfield Newby, who died in the raid, wrote about the reason that he participated? Why did Newby join John Brown's group?

3. Click on the link to the drawing of John Brown holding hostages at Harpers Ferry. Do you think the artist admired John Brown or not, based on the drawing? Why or why not?

4. Click on the link to the painting of John Brown being led to his execution. Do you think that the artist admired John Brown or not, based on the drawing? Why or why not?

5. Read the letters submitted by Majala Doyle, Francis Watkins, and Henry David Thoreau. Did they support or oppose John Brown? What is the main idea of each letter?

"A Man Kidnapped"

2009-03-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

1. Based on the poster, answer "who, what, when, where," and speculate on "why"

2. What do you think that this poster is about?

3. Where is Faneuil Hall? Is it still there?

Dred Scott: How difficult is it to become a naturalized US citizen?

2009-03-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

As you have read, in the 1857 Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Scott, as an African-American, did not have the right to sue (called standing) in a federal court because African-American slaves were not US citizens. Nine years after Dred Scott, the 14th amendment defined citizenship to include everyone born or naturalized in the United States.

How difficult is it to become a naturalized US citizen? Visit the link to read about the steps to citizenship. Then respond to these two questions:

1. What are the two steps in the process that you consider most essential? Why are they important?

2. What are the two steps that are least important? Why are they not important?

Seneca Falls Declaration

2009-03-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

By basing the Seneca Falls Declaration (also known as the Declaration of Sentiments) on Thomas' Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her fellow reformers challenged the Nation to live up to its original creed.

1. Only 1/3 of the three hundred people at the convention signed the Declaration. Why do you think that the other 200 didn't sign? If you had been there, would you have signed? Why or Why not?

2. Re-read the next to last paragraph. What is the plan to gain equal rights? Is it a good plan? Why or why not?

Click on the link to the political cartoon drawn by Elizabeth M'Clintock, a supporter of women's suffrage.

1. What do you notice about the figures in the cartoon?

2. What do you think is the cartoonist's message? Explain your answer.

Women's Rights Movement

2009-03-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

Read about the early women's rights movement by going to the National Park Service website for the M'Clintock House, where many of the women and men who fought for equal rights met. In which aspects of life in the early 19th century were women's rights restricted? How did people justify those restrictions?

Oregon Trail

2009-02-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

What are the three most important things that students should know about the Oregon Trail?Why are those things important?

Two Views of the Alamo

2009-02-14T17:48:00.000-08:00

The Battle of the Alamo was took place between February 23 and March 6, 1836. It became the most famous battle of the Texas Revolution. Eyewitnesses report that between 182 - 252 Texans were killed, there were no survivors among the defenders, except for Joe, who had been a slave of one of the Texans. The women and children of the Texans were released. Estimates of the killed and wounded in the Mexican army are estimated at 400-600.

Who was to blame for all of this bloodshed? You have read primary source documents written by Colonel Travis, the commander of the Texans, and General Santa Anna, commander of the Mexican army. Answer the questions below:

1. Summarize the main ideas of Colonel Travis' letter.

2. Summarize the main idea of General Santa Anna's letter.

3. Was Travis or Santa Anna more to blame for the deaths that occurred? Why?

4. Look at the dates on the two letters. Colonel Travis' letter was written during the battle, while General Santa Anna's letter was written many years later. Do you think that makes one source more believable or reliable than the other? Why or why not?

(General Santa Anna's letter, above, right)

John Locke & E-mail

2009-02-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

1. What did you learn about John Locke's ideas?

2. What did you learn to do today with email?

Railroads: Good or Evil?

2009-02-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

While railroads helped the United States become more prosperous in the first half of the 19th century, there are two sides to every story. Study the poster from the National Archives, and answer the following questions:

1. What is happening in the picture? Describe all the people, things and actions taking place

2. Who is the intended audience for the poster? What makes you think that?

3. What is the message that the poster is trying to tell to the viewer?

Netiquette

2009-02-03T18:56:00.000-08:00

Go to the link about netiquette, and post your responses to these three questions:
1. Where there any rules of netiquette that you did not know about? If so, which one(s)?
2. Which rule of netiquette do you think is the most important? Why?
3. If you had to add one rule to this list, what rule would it be and why?
4. Based on what you know, write a dictionary definition of netiquette.

Cherokee Nation in the 1820s

2009-01-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

John Ross (pictured to the right) and Major Ridge were Cherokee leaders who felt that the best way for the Cherokee nation to remain independent and strong was to adopt parts of white culture. Click on the link to find out more about these leaders, and respond to the following two prompts:

1. Why do you think that many of the Cherokee opposed the ideas of Ross and Ridge. If you had been a Cherokee in the 1820s, which side would you have been on, and why?

2. Why do you think John Ross, who was only one-eighth Cherokee and raised and educated in the white community, might have felt so strongly about his Indian heritage?

Who really invented the cotton gin?

2009-01-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

As you know, every history book says that Eli Whitney "invented" the cotton gin. And while it is true that Whitney received the patent for the cotton gin, your research from the Smithsonian Institution showed the real story about the cotton gin's invention might not be so simple. So, who really invented the cotton gin?

Nat Turner's Rebellion

2009-01-12T23:00:00.001-08:00

1. Explain what is happening in the picture. Are there religious connections in the picture? What are they?

Document 1 -- The Richmond Enquirer, August 30, 1831:

We cannot say how long they were organizing themselves, but they turned out on last Monday morning early (the 22nd) upon their nefarious [sinful] expedition. They were mounted to the number of 40 or 50, and with knives and axes, knocking on the heads or cutting the throats of their victims. They had few firearms among them, scarcely one, if one, was fit for use. But as they went from house to house, they drank ardent spirits [alcohol] and it is supposed, that in consequence of their being intoxicated, or from mere fatigue, they paused in their murderous career about 12 o'clock on Monday.

2. How many slaves took part in the rebellion?

3. The census of 1830 shows that there were 7,756 slaves in Southampton County where the rebellion occurred. Why do you think such a small percentage of slaves participated in the rebellion?

4. Do you think that the author of this article was biased in favor or against the slaves? Why?

Document 2 -- Harriet Ann Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself:

Not far from this time Nat Turner's insurrection [rebellion] broke out, and the news threw our town into great commotion..... By sunrise, people were pouring in from every quarter within twenty miles of the town. I knew the houses were to be searched, and I expected it would be done by country bullies and poor whites. I knew that nothing annoyed them so much as to see colored people living in comfort and respectability. Those who never witnessed such scenes can hardly believe what I know was inflicted at this time on innocent men, women and children, against whom there was not the slightest ground for suspicion. Colored people and slaves who lived in remote parts of the town suffered in an especial manner. In some cases the searchers scattered powder and shot among their clothes, and then sent other parties to find them, and bring them forward as proof that they were plotting insurrection. Everywhere men, women and children were whipped till the blood stood in puddles at their feet. Some received five hundred lashes.

5. Why do you think that the "country bullies and poor whites" were allowed to harass the Africans?

Marbury vs. Madison Cartoon Analysis

2008-12-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T13:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-03T18:02:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

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

Personal History

2008-09-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

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:

2008-04-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-25T13:56:00.001-08:00

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

Middle School 2015

2008-01-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

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

Poetry Project

2008-01-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

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?

Video Public Service Announcements

2007-12-03T18:59:00.000-08:00

Now that you have completed your first video, it is time to reflect on your work. Please respond to the following questions:

1. What is the best think about your PSA? What makes you most proud?

2. If you had to do it over, what would you do differently? What advice would you give to other students working on PSAs?