Homework while riding the sugar high on Monday

For homework over the day off, read in Digitalhistory.uh.edu.  Go to Early National Period, click the textbook tab.  Then read in The Critical Period the Introduction through the section on Economic and Foreign Policy Problems. We talked about this in class, so brush up on whatever you found confusing!

Homework for October 30

For tonight, take what we discussed today about the Articles of Confederation, and what we did in the game (which, if you like is linked up here for you to play at home!) and fill out the New Government Report Card, which was handed out in class and is linked up here.  Give each subject area a grade, A-F and explain why you gave it that mark!

Homework for October 28

For tonight, read over the summary of the Articles of Confederation that are posted here.  Tomorrow we will be going over the A of C to see how it worked or didn't work, so if you prefer to work with paper documents, then please print out a copy at home and bring it to school.

Homework for October 27

For tonight, go back into your google classroom folder and look at the feedback for your submissions for the three big questions to see what you needed to do better.  We are going to talk about the third question as a group in class tomorrow.

An extra credit assignment for any student interested

Oddly enough, for such a seminal event in American history, Hollywood has done a consistently poor job of using the American Revolution as a setting for films.  And the films that have been made...well...let's just say that they are "unique." Or perhaps "special" is a better word...Below are a list of films that have been about the American Revolution. (There's even a musical!)

For students who are interested in film and film studies, you may watch a movie and write a review of the film as an extra paper mark. (This should not keep you from doing the regular work for the unit!  It is an extra!)  In your review, you must do the following things:
1) Summarize the plot of the film.
2) Identify the actors and the characters they play
3) Critique the actors' performances--were they believable as the character?
4) Critique the plot of the film for historical accuracy--how much does the film appear to get right?
5) Offer a recommendation for the film--should people see it or not and why?

Film reviews will be due at the same time as the rest of the work for the projects are due, which is by the end of the class on October 20th. They should be typed and double spaced and submitted via google docs.  No paper submissions will be accepted!

Films:
1776 (released in 1972) a musical about the Declaration of Independence
Guns Along the Mohawk (released in 1939) about a couple living in upstate New York who must contend with Native American raids instigated by the British
The Howards of Virginia (1940) A couple with different views on the question of revolution
The Patriot (2000) Mel Gibson goes berserk on the British in South Carolina
Revolution (1985) a trapper drafted into the Continental army and a Loyalist girl who is rebellious
Sweet Liberty (1965) a comedy about a movie company's attempt to adapt a history professor's novel about the revolution.

Due dates for the Revolutionary Unit

We've embarked on an inquiry based exploration of the American Revolution that is attempting to answer three big questions:
1) Was the Revolutionary War inevitable?
2) How did the colonists manage to win the war?
3) What were the consequences of winning for America?

To do that we are completing a number of tasks.  The official list of activities that each student must complete is listed on the document linked up here.

Students are encouraged to input the due dates into their Notifications app on their iPads and set up reminders for themselves to make sure that they keep track of what is due and when!

Homework for October 2

Today in class you did a group activity where you tried to solve the problems Britain faced at the end of the French and Indian War. Having heard about Britain's actual choices in the matter, your task tonight is to think about what the colonists would have thought of each of these decisions.  Journal Entry #4 asks that you put yourself in the colonists' shoes to respond to British actions.  The Journal Entry #4 sheet is linked up here, and is in your Classroom folder as well.  Please complete and submit the entry through Classroom.