Dialect

If you are like the 7th graders and want to find out how your language usage compares to other parts of the country, you can take the Dialect Survey from Harvard/The New York Times.  Happy speaking!

Reconstruction

If you still need access to the terms for your Reconstruction Review, click here.

American Journey Textbook

Naturally, after showing 7th and 8th graders a way to read a different textbook, the link is now broken.  Until Google Apps is up and running, click on Forms and Docs at the left.  You can find the current chapters on that page.

Cuba

Cuba has been in the news a bit recently.  Cuba was in the news quite a bit when President Kennedy was around.  We will cover the Bay of Pigs a different day.  Today's goal is go understand the Cuban Missile Crisis.

First, learn more about the Cold War and the events in Berlin by watching these two videos.


Then, do the activity on the paper labeled "Simulation 1."  Then go here.  Read the advice given by the cabinet members and choose which of the five choices you would have made if you were President Kennedy.  Explain why you would choose that option.  Then find out which option he did go with and explain why he chose that plan.  Write those on the back of your Eisenhower worksheet.

Then watch this video about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Red Scare in the Cold War

Review the main differences between the US and the USSR.  Think back to reasons why many Americans were afraid of communists.  Read this summary of the Rosenbergs.  Next, watch this YouTube video on Hiss and the Rosenbergs.

Then read this summary of McCarthyism.  In the comments, discuss what you think the best way to handle respond to communism would have been in the United States.

Truman and the Cold War

After briefly discussing the domestic issues and responding to the previous blog on the Iron Curtain and the Truman Doctrine, 8th graders should watch these clips/read these documents and respond.

But first, enjoy this fun video review of the Marshall Plan.  Because who doesn't love an energetic history teacher with a green screen and a lot of free time on his hands?

The only question for this post is: What do you think of the actions of the US and the Soviet Union in this event?  It is a rather vague question.  Once again, it is your responsibility to post at least 1-2 comments.  In order to receive full credit, you must submit "8th grade answers" to the question.  Once again, be sure to sign with your number and discussion is encouraged.

First, read this page from the History Channel about the Berlin Airlift.  (The accompanying video clip, Deconstructing History: The Berlin Wall is fascinating, but fits better for you to watch later on.)  Read this partial mini article to perhaps brighten your mood.  If you don't believe me, you can watch this YouTube video (even though it's for a different book).  If you want to read a picture book about it, look at the library for Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot.  You may also wish to watch this video.

After all that excitement, don't forget to post your comments demonstrating you learned something about the Berlin Blockade/Berlin Airlift.

Truman and the Cold War

After ever so briefly discussing domestic issues after World War II, 8th graders should read/watch the following primary sources/documents and respond in the comments section.  You need to post a minimum of 2-3 comments.

Watch this video clip to understand what Churchill meant when he referred to an Iron Curtain.

Since the US and the Soviets did not get along, Truman wanted to stop the spread of communism.  You can either read the full content of Truman's speech (The Truman Doctrine) or listen to a clip of it here.


After that, you may respond in the comment section.  Feel free to respond to individual's comments and make this an actual discussion.  The more (and better quality) posts you make, the more credit you will receive.  Thoughts to get you started include:

1. What problems was Greece facing?
2. Why did Truman believe the United States should help?
3. How did he suggest helping?
4. Was that necessary for the US to do?  Why/why not?

If you do not think the US should have done that, you may want to read this letter written to Truman advocating an alternative.  Feel free to reference some of Wallace's points in your comments.

Another way the US hoped to maintain peace, gain allies, increase prosperity, and prevent the spread of communism was through the Marshall Plan.  Read this page to understand more about the Marshall Plan. A 5th question you can choose to answer in your comments is whether or not you think this was a good idea for the US.

As for your comments, don't feel as though you need to answer every question as a worksheet.  Rather, express your thoughts in a polite, civilized, well thought out, and supported way.  It is perfectly acceptable to disagree with one another and debate these topics.  Remember to "sign" your comment with your number.

Major US Cities

When Ben Sheets was drafted by the Brewers, he didn't know where Milwaukee was.  Even if you don't go pro, you should know where the major cities in the US are.  After all, you may want to travel to some of them some day.  Or at the very least, pass a map quiz.  Perhaps you'll want to travel to these cities to see new sites and watch your favorite team play in a new stadium.  With that, we offer you these (potentially) helpful maps that show you where various franchises are from.  If you know the logos, it will help you visually see where in the United States the city is.

Stock Market Game

It's time to start another game!  But only if you are in 8th grade.  The 1920s were the Roaring Twenties, partly because of the economic boom.  On the flip side, the start of the Great Depression was marked by the stock market crash.  To give us some real world experience and have a little fun at the same time, the 8th graders will compete (in groups) to invest in the stock market to try and make as much profit as possible.  Three things to remember:
1) The stock market is not for short-term investing
2) You pay commission on every trade (all the more reason not to worry about small variations in prices)
3) Buy low, sell high!

Happy trading!

Fantasy Geopolitics

A new year often leads to new starts.  Perhaps you feel like one of those people from the NFL commercial whose fantasy football team under performed.

Maybe you're wishing for a fresh fantasy start, but just can't get excited for playoff fantasy football.  You need not worry!  Fantasy GeoPolitics is here to save the day!

We will be starting right after Christmas.  This game will be a fun way to increase our knowledge of what is happening in the world around us, learn some geography, and maybe even enjoy some cutthroat competition as well!  :)

For some background information, head on over to Fantasy Geopolitics and look around.  Particularly helpful will be the Resources page and especially Draft Central.  On Tuesday, we will be holding our draft, so come prepared with countries you want to draft.

Remember, being a bigger class means more countries will be chosen - be ready to go even when your top 25 countries have all been taken!  Scores are determined by how often the country is in the news and whether it is for a positive or negative reason.

We will also be doing a few other related activities with this that will require you to pay attention to your country, so please do not plan on drafting a country and then forgetting about it.  It will be part of your job to inform us about your country.

Happy drafting!