Accelerated US History Assignments for August 31 ~ September 18:

OBJECTIVE:  Gain overview of US History course.  Examine the historic method.  Consider the geography of North America and its influence on settlement. 

GUIDING QUESTIONS:  What is the historic method?  What effect did geography and landforms have on the peopling of America and on European claims in North America?

Monday, August 31st: Welcome!  Seating chart. Overview Pioneer Expectations and US History Expectations.  Signatures due Friday, BOP.

Tuesday, September 1:  Practice historic method.   Due EOP.

Wednesday, September 2: What Do You Know exercise. Who are historians and how do they work?  Consider the Question-->Evidence-->Account-->Question cycle.

Thursday, September 3:  Review North American geography to understand its influence on settlement patterns.  Map due, in color pencil, Tuesday BOP. 

Friday, September 4: Turn in signed "Expectations" sheets.   Complete physical map of North America.  Due Tuesday BOP.

US History Assignments for September 7 ~11:

OBJECTIVES:  Evaluate the motives of early European explorers.  Determine the effect of the clash of three worlds in the Americas.  Consider the effect of the Columbian Exchange on Africa, Europe and the Americas. 

PROBLEM:  How did European nations' desire for power transform the world?

Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Select explorer for research.  Postcard from the Edge due Thursday, BOP.  Reading like a historian, consider Columbus's journal.  Read Columbus letter and compare with Columbus journal, writing observations in the margin.  Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept. 9: Age of Exploration and Discovery notes. Complete informational chart on explorers.

Thursday, Sept. 10: Turn in Postcard from the Edge.  Read article by Charles Mann on 1491 and discuss Native American context of European exploration.

Friday, Sept. 11: Analyze the clash of three worlds and the resulting Columbian Exchange.  Complete quiz on explorers and Columbian Exchange, using notes.

Accelerated US History Assignments for September 14~18

OBJECTIVE:  Evaluate the motives of early settlements in North America.  Consider why some settlements failed and some succeeded.

PROBLEM:  What European countries gained power through creating successful settlements in North America?

Monday, Sept. 14: Exchange essays and look for history transitions. Take open note quiz.

Tuesday, Sept. 15:  Folder cover Early Settlements.  Notes and readings (Isabella, Hispaniola, Fort Caroline, Ajacan, Roanoke) on failed settlements. 

Wednesday, Sept. 16:  Notes on Jamestown's successful settlement. Starving Time reading.

Thursday, Sept. 17:  Constitution Day!  BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT FOR PARENTS 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18:  Introduction to Jamestown and Pocahontas.  Read chapter from Kurlansky's Cod ("The Rock and the Cod") and answer related questions.  Due Monday BOP.