Mr. McKain's Blog

Welcome to the class blog. This page will serve as a way for me to communicate with my students and their parents and provide students with the opportunity to ask questions and make comments about assignments. Please check out the full class website as well!

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Location: Seaford, Delaware, United States

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Thursday, November 30th Agenda

1. Warm-up: Who's fault was it that war began? Explain.
2. Group Work: p. 160 #6 and p. 162 #16
3. Review Group Work
4. Video: Seeds of Liberty (Causes of the American Revolution)
5. HW: Prepare index card; test tomorrow
---> You will be allowed to use a 3x5 index card for tomorrow's test. You may write on it whatever you want and may use both sides of the card.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Field Trip Info

If you are still undecided about the field trip, Mrs. White has more information available through her website:

http://www.seaford.k12.de.us/es/cwhite/ImportantLinks/FieldTrip/KingTut/KingTut.htm

Just click on the link to find out more!

Wednesday, November 29th Agenda

1. Warm-up: Have you ever taken a stand against something or someone even if it was not in your best interest? In other words, have you done something you know would not help you in any way just for principle? Explain.
2. Collect HW
3. Notes: The Road to Revoution Part II
4. Primary Source: Patrick Henry's Speech
---Grade Reports! Get them signed!
5. HW: p. 160 #'s 1, 3-5

Period 1: Look at yesterday's agenda. You are still one day behind.
Period 3: You are more or less caught up. We are just doing things a little differently to stay on top of things.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Tuesday, November 28th Agenda

1. Warm-up: Pick two events from yesterday's chart and explain how one event lead to or caused the other.
2. Notes: The Road to Revolution Part I
3. Comparing View Points: The Boston Massacre (worksheet)
4. HW: Pretend you are a member of the Sons or Daughters of Liberty living in Boston. Write a letter to someone in another colony telling them why you are opposing British policies and describing the current situation (1770). Include specific details. This should be at least two paragraphs.

Period 1: You will be a day behind until further notice.
Period 3: You may have to finish the worksheet for homework instead because of the shortened class.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Monday, November 27th Agenda

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now, its back to work for the next four weeks until an even longer break. In that time, we will be studying the American Revolution, a critical and exciting time in our nation's history. After we all found our way back to school through the fog, here is what we did today:

1. Warm-up: How do you react when your parents or guardians try to crack down on you and the things you do? Explain, using a specific situation if possible.
2. Field trip info.
3. Review French and Indian War and results
4. Notes: Setting the scene
5. Group Work: Chart of main events (pp. 147-153)
6. Review Chart
7. HW: Write a paragraph describing the goals of the Proclamation of 1763.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Tuesday, November 21st Agenda

1. Warm-up: Why do we study economics? How is it part of social studies?
2. Determining price using supply and demand: Shortages and surpluses
3. Video: Production
4. Production worksheets
5. Review Worksheets
6. Video: Intro. to Revolutionary War Era
7. HW: Eat, sleep, watch football

Monday, November 20, 2006

Monday, November 20th Agenda

Sorry for the lack of a post on Friday. We took an open-notebook quiz, did a current event, and watched a review video. At any rate, here is today's agenda:

1. Warm-up: If you found $10 on the floor one day, what would you spend it on? Would this item cost you anything (would you be giving something up)? Explain.
2. Introduce mini-unit on economics.
3. Video: Introduction to Economics
4. Key Terms worksheet from video
5. Discussion: Supply, Demand, and Prices
6. HW: Pick any good or service. List 3 things that would change the demand for this product and 2 things that would change the supply for this product.

We are doing a mini-unit on economics. With the break a day away, I couldn't see starting the Revolution, only to have you forget it over the 5 days you are gone. Economics is part of the state curriculum and will make up 1/4 of the social studies DSTP in May. It is important you pay attention in class as this is not in your textbook.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Thursday, November 16th Agenda

1. Warm-up: What modern-day lessons can be learned from the French and Indian War?
2. Check off and go over homework.
3. Project
4. Open notebook quiz tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Wednesday, November 15th Agenda

1. Warm-up: How did the French and Indian War begin? What role did George Washington play?
2. PowerPoint Notes: The Course of the War
3. Read Outloud p. 143 "The Albany Congress"
3. Worksheet: Map Mystery
4. Review Map Mystery
5. Classwork: Write a paragraph describing the Treaty of Paris and its effects on North America
6. HW: Finish Guided Reading Worksheet

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Tuesday, November 14th Agenda

1. Warm-up: Which European nation do you think had an advantage in North America in 1750? Explain.
2. Video Segment: George Washington
3. Read: p. 142-143 outloud
4. Notes: The Conflict Begins
5. Create a timeline of the French and Indian War (Major Events)
6. Review Timeline
7. HW: “Primary Source” question p. 143

Monday, November 13, 2006

Monday, November 13th Agenda

I apologize for being out today. I will be back tomorrow! In the meantime, here is the agenda - better late than never.

1. Warm-up: Map Worksheet: America in 1750.
2. Discuss map of America in 1750.
3. Collect p. 145 Question # 1
4. Group Work: European Rivals
Instructions: In your group, read p. 140-141 “European Rivals”
-Identify the groups competing in North America
-Explain each group’s goals and expectations.
5. Review Results of group work.
6. HW: Write a paragraph demonstrating knowledge of objective #2

Friday, November 10, 2006

Friday, November 11th Agenda

1. Test: Life in the Colonies.
2. Read pp. 140-145.
3. Answer question #1 p. 145. Use complete sentences and make sure you explain your answers. (Due Monday)
4. Discuss Marking Period Grades

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Thursday, November 9th Agenda

1. Review Game
2. Test tomorrow!! Study!!!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Wednesday, November 8th Agenda

1. Warm-up: What were the results of yesterday's election? Were there any suprises?
2. Discuss: Education in the colonies
3. Primary Source Activity: New England Primer
4. Read: The Spread of New Ideas (p. 128-130) outloud
5. Answer Questions about the reading
6. Homework: Begin reivewing for Friday's test; we will be doing an activity tomorrow where the more you study, the better you will do!

Monday, November 06, 2006

Monday, November 6th Agenda

1. Warm-up: Read p. 127 "The Great Awakening" and describe, in your notes, what it was.
2. Discuss: The Great Awakening
3. Quiz and Test Make ups
4. PowerPoint Presentation: Election 2006
5. Classwork/Homework: p. 130 #'s 1-6 (due Wednesday)
6. TEST FRIDAY

We spent a large portion of the day discussing tomorrow's election and its significance. This ties in with a unit we will do later on American government, but will serve as a good introduction. In the meantime, we continue our study of colonial life.

Friday, November 3rd Agenda

Sorry this is late getting posted.

1. Warm-up: How can this class work better for you? In other words, what improvements could be made?
2. Go over Guided Reading and Vocab Builder Chapter 4
3. Discuss colonial society (group work)
4. "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God" worksheet
5. Discuss Worksheet and Great Awakening
6. HW: None - Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Thursday, November 2 Agenda

1. Warm-up: What are "rights"? What rights do you have as students? As Americans?
2. Read "The Rights of Englishmen" p. 46-49 in Hakim's From Colonies to Country text
3. Reading Questions
4. Guided Reading and Vocab. Builder
5. Discuss Colonial Society
6. HW: Read p. 127 "The Great Awakening" - Mini-quiz tomorrow to see if you read!
--Finish worksheet if not already done

Today's discussion centered on rights and their origins in English history. In class, we also discussed some modern issues involving prisoner rights and the War on Terrorism and Iraq.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Wednesday, November 1st Agenda

1. Warm-up: Begin working on triangular trade sheet
2. Review Sheet
3. "Election" about end of the week quiz
4. Discuss systems of voting / colonial government
5. Government Activism: Pick an issue and write a letter to a legislator about how you feel and why it is important. If there is nothing you currently feel strongly about, pretend you are a colonist and choose an issue affecting them.
6. Discuss topics of writing.
7. HW: Finish letter

Today we wrapped up our discussion of colonial trade from yesterday and transitioned to a discussion of colonial government. We worked on letters as a way of practicing political activism because decisions made by lawmakers effect people of all ages. Therefore, as future voters, you should have a say in what they do as well. Writing a member of government is perhaps the best way to have your voice and perspective heard.