Welcome WJPS Class of 2013

Greetings, Class of 2013!

Thanks for visiting the blog. I've set this up as a way for us to communicate with each other, and share ideas about Social Studies, school, the world, etc. I'd like to use this a way for us to even complete our homework assignments; saves paper, time, trees, etc.

As 9th graders, you and the other members of our Freshman Learning Community (FLC) will be engaged in a rigorous course of study in US History and Government. It is an extremely challenging course. Some members of our learning community will be taking Advanced Placement (AP) US History. This is a college-level course, with a demanding exam that is taken in the beginning of May; students who are successful on this exam can earn up to six (6) college credits for their efforts!

In an effort to be prepared for the challenges that will face us next year, incoming 9th graders will successfully complete the following assignment, which is due on THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10th, 2009. Please note that this assignment will be graded, and there will be an exam shortly after the first day of school based on the information in this assignment.

Here is the assignment. There are FIVE things you need to do

1. Purchase a copy of A Quick Review of US History and Government. You can order the book by clicking here. The cost of the book is approximately Eight (8) dollars. It is the BEST review book for US History that I have seen published!

2. Purchase the supplies for this class. CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF SUPPLIES

3. Click HERE to set up your account with POWER MEDIA PLUS. You will need this account, as sometimes you will be asked to watch videos for this class at home. DON'T WORRY! IT'S FREE! Enter the following passcode (copy and paste works best) yPNvYtchCh

4. READ, and OUTLINE chapters 4 and 5 in the Review Book. It's approximately 25 pages worth of reading. Spread out over 10 weeks of summer, it's about 2 pages a week.

5. COMPLETE the "Checklist of Important Terms and Concepts" listed on p. 127 of the review book. Please complete the terms and concepts on index cards. CLICK HERE FOR THE CHECKLIST!!!

6. CLICK HERE and Choose ONE (only one) of the four projects to complete over the summer. I think you will find them to be both interesting and FUN!

If you do a little bit of the assignment each week, it will not take you very long at all. Again, US History is a very tough, and demanding course, that requires a tremendous amount of work. Therefore, it is very important that this assignment is completed. It is my advice NOT TO WAIT TO THE LAST MINUTE!

Thank you very much in advance for your hard work this summer. Looking forward to seeing you in September!

Summer Research Projects

REMEMBER, you are only responsible for completing ONE of the following assignments. It is entirely up to YOU, which assignment you complete. You can do this assignment whenever you want, and hand it in as early as you like, as long as it is completed by the first day of school. Assignments can be handed in either in person (you can bring it to school), or you can email it to me at mtesler@wjps.org.

OPTION #1
Compile a list of the TEN most influential Americans (in your opinion, of course). For each individual include a brief justification as to why you included those individuals. Your justification should explain at least ONE action taken by that person that led to some sort of change in America, as well as changes that came about as result of their actions.

You may use any important person from your study of United States history. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include:

• Frederick Douglass
  (slavery),
• Andrew Carnegie (industrialization)
• Jacob Riis (urban life)
• Upton Sinclair (consumer protection)
• Henry Ford (automobile industry)
• Margaret Sanger
  (reproductive rights)
• Martin Luther King Jr.(civil rights),
• Cesar Chavez (migrant
  farmworkers)
• Bill Gates (software industry).

YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE CHOICES!

FORMAT - Typed (Times New Roman 12 Font)

Support links for option #1

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200612/influentials;

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200701u/influentials-comments

OPTION #2 The Decades Project
You are responsible for creating a presentation on a chosen decade between 1950 and 1990.
Different formats that may be used (but are not limited to): Graphic collage, scrapbook, display boards powerpoint, photostory, Windows Movie Maker, VoVux)

Focus your decade analysis on areas such as: film, T.V., pop culture,
fads, fashion, food, music, technology etc. This project should provide the audience with an overall idea of what happened during
that decade and what it would be like to live during that time period

FORMAT - Digital

Support links for option #2

http://www.authentichistory.com/

http://www.pomperaug.com/departments/social_studies/ushistory/ush-dp.htm

OPTION #3 The Interview
Your task for this option is to interview a member of your family, a neighbor, or teacher who can provide a first person account of their experiences
as they relate to a significant event or events in U.S. History

The following is a list of sample questions and historic events. Feel free to create your own questions, and to discover your own important dates.

You might want to give an advance copy of these questions to your interviewee. Have her/him choose questions s/he would like to answer.

Ideally you and your interviewee would collaborate to select the most appropriate questions. Be certain to get the most basic information
(e.g., full name, date of birth, etc.). You will need it for your introduction and timeline.


1. What is your full name and why were you named it? (Maiden name for females)
2. When and where were you born?
3. Were there any fads during your youth that you remember vividly?
4. Where did you attend grade school? high school?
5. Do you have a college degree? If so what was your field of study?
6. How did you decide on a career?
7. If you served in the military, when and where did you serve and what were your duties?
8. What would you consider the most important inventions made during your lifetime?
9. How is the world now different from what it was like when you were a child?
10. What US. President have you admired the most and why?
11. Ask a question (or questions) about a particular historical event.
12. Are there other important events (local, national, international) that have affected you?
13. Was there a person that really changed the course of your life by something s/he did?
14. Was the most stressful experience that you ever lived through? What helped you get through it?
15. Have you ever met any famous people? Describe what happened.

OPTION #4:
Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task below, and a conclusion.

Theme: Change — Turning Points

Background: Major historical events are often referred to as turning points because they have led to important political, social, and economic changes.

Your task: Identify two major events in United States history that were important turning points and for each:

• Describe the historical circumstances that led to the event
• Discuss the political, social, and/or economic changes that resulted from the event.

You may use any major event from your study of United States history. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776), end of Reconstruction (1877), Henry Ford’s use of the assembly line (1913), United States entry into World War I (1917), Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964), and the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989).

REMEMBER, you only have to complete ONE, and it is due no later than the first day of school!

US History And Government Terms and Names

Tonight's HW - 06/02/09

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are in the home stretch!

One week to go.

Here's the assignment:

1 . Finish all terms and concepts on pp. 127
2. Complete outlines through chapter 11 in the BLUE BOOK!

Summer Regents Review '09

Hello, All.

Listed below are the links that you can use in order to help you study for the exam. In addition to these links, I will be posting multiple choice questions, as well as essays, and tips to help you as we go forward. At any time, please feel free to email me at mtesler@wjps.org, or post questions on this link, or any others.

Anyway, here's your study material.

REGENTS REVIEW INFORMATION:

Listed below are links to files that will be very helpful to review for the Regents Exam. Time is passing. If you study, you will be, too! Click the links, and print out the information below.

Brain Pop - Tim and Moby ROCK!!! Sign up with your email address for a FREE 14-Day Trial. Invite your study group over for a Brain Pop party! If you need a password, please email me and I will get you one.

Regents Review Sheet A thorough list of the topics, and information most commonly used for questions, and essays on the Regents exam. Know it. Live it. Learn it!

The Big Review A list of almost 100 multiple choice questions, based on Regents Review sheet.

Supreme Court Cases A summary of the Supreme Court cases that show up on almost every Regents Exam. The Regents Review Sheet lists the most common ones, but the other ones do pop up pretty often.

A complete list of the Thematic and DBQ Essays Lists all of the Thematic and DBQ Essays since 2001. Also has links to the essays, DBQ's and Answer Pages. Compare your work to the Level 5's. How do you match up? In addition, click here for an updated list of links to essays given since 2007

Multiple Choice Questions By Topic. Just about every question that has been asked, about every topic since 2001. There's only so many ways they can ask the same question.

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/studymaterials/US11Rchecklist/index.htm

- a checklist of things you need to know for the regents. Anyone who knows this stuff deserves a 100!

http://fdmurphy.com - a great website to help with you the essays. click on the links for downloads of documents to help you write your essays.

Links for multiple choice questions, old exams, etc.

http://jmap.org/JMAP/IJMAP/USHistory/IJMAP-USH_ExamsPDF.zip
Every USH regents exam given since 1998.

http://edusolution.org/regentsquiz/ushistorypackage/index.htm - a link for regents review questions by topic.

http://regentsprep.org - if you haven't been here yet, go there now!

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/ushisgov.cfm - a link to specific topics in US History

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/core/questions/topics.cfm?Course=USHG - interactive multiple choice questions. Check yourself!

Links to Topic Outlines

Hello, Again!

Here is a review presentation that I've put together. It covers everything except the Great Depression and The Cold War.

HW - 6/02 and 6/03/09

FOR 6/02

READ, and OUTLINE CHAPTER 7 in the BLUE BOOK

COMPLETE THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF CHAPTER 7

REMINDER - You must have ALL OF THE INDEX CARDS completed by MONDAY. We will have a surprise multiple choice quiz based on the index cards sometime next week!

WATCH THE VIDEO on Progressivism

For 6/03

Complete an outline, and the following thematic essay from the June 2007 Regents Exam:


June 2007:
Thematic Essay: Change — Industrialization

During the 19th century, the United States experienced tremendous industrial
growth. This industrial growth resulted in many changes in American life.

Task:
Identify two changes in American life that resulted from industrial growth in the

United States and for each change
• Explain how industrialization contributed to this change
• Discuss one positive or one negative effect of this change on American life

You may use any appropriate change in American life that resulted from industrial growth.
Some suggestions you might wish to consider include increased immigration, new inventions
or technologies, growth of labor unions, growth of monopolies, growth of reform movements,
and increased urbanization.

Regents Review Lesson 5 - Industrialization

Additional Sources of Information

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/economic/ind. - Excellent Overview

Practice Multiple Choice Questions

Regents Prep - Industrial Growth.

Tonight's HW June 1

DBQ Assignment:

1. CLICK HERE . Download, and print the documents. Bring the COMPLETED documents with you to class tomorrow.

2. After completing the documents, complete the DBQ Analysis Sheet.

3. Complete the DBQ OUTLINE.

While you do not have to complete the essay, if you wish to "go the extra mile (GEM)" for extra credit you may do so.