January 27, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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Students stayed in character as their Constitutional Convention delegate characters created their own radio shows to inform the 1787 American public about the new government and encourage states to ratify.
Here are some excellent examples:
1. Gouverneur Morris and George Mason (Owen and Parker)
2.
January 25, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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Learn about the 3 branches of government by playing iCivics games. Log in to earn badges and points you can spend on the nonprofit organization of your choice.
January 25, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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The Constitution specifies that the President will give a report to Congress once a year on the current “state of the union.” President Obama spoke to Congress on Tuesday. You can watch video clips from the hour-long speech here, as well as read a transcript of each section and fact-checker commentary.
It’s also fun to cut and paste the entire speech into wordle to get a quick picture of what topics Obama addressed most often.
Remember, you can turn in your State of the Union BINGO by Friday for extra credit!
January 23, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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Last week, we reenacted the Constitutional Convention. Does this Peanuts video remind you of our class?
Here’s a new project for this week. Can you inform the American public and persuade them to ratify the Constitution? I bet the framers would have loved to have a radio show to spread the news!
Constitutional Convention Radio Show
January 18, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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As we study the creation of a brand-new American nation in the 18th Century, it is interesting to consider that there are nations undergoing a similar process today.
Here is a video from the New York Times reporting the news of South Sudanese independence last summer.
January 12, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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Find out more about your delegate using Wikipedia or the World Book Online Encyclopedia.
Learn as much as you can so that you can portray your delegate realistically at the Constitutional Convention on Thursday and Friday!
January 3, 2012
by Mrs. Gehle
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Please take a moment or two to review all of the key facts we have learned this year.
You have a study packet, fact sheet, and lots of flashcards in your homework folder. Use them!
Also, visit the “Let’s Review” page of this blog to find online review tools and games.
Don’t stress about the midterm, just be prepared. We’ll use this test to find out what we need to study more and what you’ve mastered. 
December 15, 2011
by Mrs. Gehle
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Have you heard of TED Talks? Here’s a countdown of 18 great ideas that will shape 2012.
Watch a few of these and be the smartest and most interesting one at the dinner table. 
Have a safe and happy break!
–Mrs. Gehle
December 14, 2011
by Mrs. Gehle
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How does the Occupy Movement relate to the history we have been learning about in class?
Does the Occupy Movement relate to the current unrest in the Arab world?
Explain it to Me: The Occupy Movement
Occupy Movement articles on the New York Times.
Occupy Movement Interactives from the Associated Press
Following the Occupy Wall Street Movement on the Wall Street Journal.
Video: Occupiers Occupy the Streets of Charlottesville
December 13, 2011
by Mrs. Gehle
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**After you finishing reading and researching, go to moodle to join our discussion.
In Libya, after months of fighting, rebels have ousted longtime ruler Muammar el-Qaddafi. In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad is attacking demonstrators to crush a protest movement. In Egypt, a mostly peaceful revolution forced the resignation of President Hosni Mubarek last February. In Yemen, protests are endangering this already-unstable nation.
It all began last December, when a 26-year-old fruit vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire to protest his mistreatment by police. Within a month, Tunisians had forced President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali from office. Overnight, it seemed, protests swept Arab countries across the Middle East and North Africa. Ten months later, the region is still in a state of turmoil.
Read these articles to learn more. Then, visit moodle and join the discussion comparing these revolts to the American Revolution.
“In Tunisia, act of one fruit vendor unleashes wave of revolution through the Arab world. By Marc Fisher, The Washington Post, March 26, 2011. This article gives a good account of the origins of the Arab spring in Tunisia and how the movement spread throughout the region.
Country by country map of Middle East protests.
Arab Spring: An interactive timeline of Middle East protests By Gary Blight and Sheila Pulham, The Guardian, June 8, 2011. This interactive timeline provides information on protests, government responses, international responses, regime changes and more, for 17 different Middle East countries. Bonus: each point on the timeline is linked to a relevant news stories.
How Revolutions Happen – A comparison of the unrest in Egypt and other revolutions since 1979.
“After the hope of the Arab Spring, the chill of the Arab Winter An article published this weekend taking a look at the current situation. What will happen next? How will it affect people in the Middle East? How could it affect Americans?
Updated to add:
Hacking for Democracy (published in The Washington Post on Wednesday, December 7) — How American computer hackers are helping Arab revolutionaries. So interesting!
