Which candidate is right for you? - January 30, 2008

CHECK OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG FOR A COOL GEOGRAPHY GAME! ENJOY!
Agenda:
1. Mrs. Burns - Preparing for high school
2. Presidential Candidate Analysis (turn in FIRST, then pg 14)
HW: "The Alamo" permission slip - download here:
http://staff.hartdistrict.org/rvi/alamo.pdf

The California Primary (on "Super Tuesday") is just days away! Today in class, students logged onto http://www.selectsmart.com to express their views on important national issues, and then see how closely their views matched the major party candidates' views. Invite your parents, siblings, and other family and friends to check out the site to see how they match up, too.

Make sure to vote next Monday or Tuesday, February 4-5, at http://www.RioNorteVote.com to cast your ballot in Rio Norte's first ever Mock Primary! Then hear the results Wednesday morning during homeroom. Rock the Vote, Team Yukon!!!

RVI

Two PowerPoints that may help you

Need to make up a PowerPoint presentation you may have missed in class? Here are "Pioneers' Experience on the Oregon Trail" and "The War for Texan Independence."

http://staff.hartdistrict.org/rvi/oregontrail.ppt
http://staff.hartdistrict.org/rvi/texas.ppt

Enjoy!
Mr. Ippolito

Help with your national issues "Presidential Candidate Forum"

Having trouble figuring out all the issues? Mr. Ippolito prepared a PowerPoint with Team Yukon students' most commonly asked questions. You can check it out HERE.

E-mail Mr. Ippolito at rvi@hartdistrict.org, ask your teammates, ask your parents, or post a question to this post if I can help you further (if you post a question to this blog, then your question could help others, too)! Good luck!

RVI

The Alamo permission slip

Need an extra copy of The Alamo permission slip? You can download it HERE.

RVI

Does anyone have . . . ?

Does anyone on Team Yukon have the postcard we sent you over the holidays? If you're not using it, and you don't wish to keep it, Mr. Ippolito would love to get it from you (I have no extra copies). Thanks!!

RVI

Creating Your Ideal Presidential Candidate - January 28, 2008

Agenda:
1. Journal - My Ideal President (pg 13)
"What would your ideal President of the United States be like? If you could "custom build" our nation's leader, what qualities would he or she possess?"
2. Presidential Candidate Forum (not in INB)
HW: Presidential Candidate Survey (not in INB)

The California primary election is next Tuesday, and the Republican and Democratic parties are deciding which candidate each would like to send to the General Election in November. Think of this process like the football playoffs. The NFC and AFC both had their divisional playoffs to decide which team to send to the "big game." That's what the parties are doing now.

Once we reach the party conventions this summer, both the Democrats and Republicans (and of course the "third parties" as well) will each choose their "finalist" to send to the political Super Bowl: the November general election. After all Americans have voted, on the night of November 4, 2008, we will know who the next President of the United States will be. This kind of thing only happens once every four years, so for a history teacher, this is a very exciting time!

RVI

Important People of Manifest Destiny - January 25, 2008

Lost your homework sheet? Download it HERE.

Also, you may not find Davy Crockett in your textbook, but you can definitely find LOTS of information about him. Here's a good, easy-to-read biography HERE.

Have fun with your homework!

RVI

Texas War for Independence - January 24, 2008

Agenda:
1. Texan War for Independence PPT (pg 11)
HW: Important People in Manifest Destiny (pg 12)

Today we took a step closer toward the Civil War in our study of the Texan War for Independence. It may not seem clear now, but this important conflict between the Texians and Mexico will set the stage for further sectional conflict.

Were the Texians law-defying illegal immigrants or freedom-fighting pioneers? Think about this as you enter the weekend. Next week, after our mini-election unit, we'll watch the Disney film, "The Alamo," and talk more about whether the Texans were justified in breaking Mexican law and ultimately forming their own nation.

RVI

Oregon Trail PPT - January 23, 2008

Were you absent when we did the Oregon Trail PowerPoint presentation? Did you miss something? Don't worry! You can download the PowerPoint HERE. Good luck!

RVI

Team Yukon Operation US - January 23, 2008

Just a reminder to all Operation US students that we are heading to Bridgeport Elementary tomorrow (Thursday, 1/24) to present our program to seven classes of 3rd graders.

If you need a copy of the script, you can download one here:
http://staff.hartdistrict.org/rvi/OpUSscript.pdf

Finally, please remember your Operation US shirt, and make arrangements to get picked up at 3:30 p.m. here at Rio Norte.

RVI

Pioneers' Experience on the Oregon Trail - January 22, 2008

Agenda:
1. Lewis and Clark video/journal (pg 7)
2. Pioneers' Experience on the Oregon Trail (pgs 8-9)
3. Share your Appleton family stories
HW: Pioneer Do's and Don'ts flyer (pg 10)

Today we started with a video and discussion on Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery as they trekked across North America in search of the Pacific Ocean. Their 28 month journey was amazing, and they were hailed as heroes when they returned to St. Louis. What happened to these brave men and the rest of their group? Which one of them was the "original American working mom?" Which of them went on to become Governor of Missouri Territory? Which one shot himself and is buried next to a tavern in Tennessee? You can read biographies of all these amazing individuals on the PBS website here:
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/idx_corp.html

We also learned more about the pioneers as they traveled west to Oregon. We learned of eight different parts of the dangerous journey to the West. Your homework for tonight is to prepare a list of "Do's" and "Don'ts" for those traveling west. What advice would you give to a family getting ready to make this 2,400 mile journey?

Do you have suggestions to make this blog more useful for you? E-mail Mr. Ippolito at rvi@hartdistrict.org, or just leave a comment here on the blog!

RVI

One Family's Journey The Final Chapter - January 18, 2008

Need help on "One Family's Journey - The Final Chapter" homework? You can check out the original script we read in class by downloading it HERE.

Good luck, and enjoy your three-day weekend!

RVI

Heading West to Oregon - January 17, 2008

Agenda
1. Read textbook pages 322-325
2. Journal - Oregon (page 5 in INB)
"Why did the Mountain Men go to Oregon? Why did families go to Oregon along the Oregon Trail?"
3. "One Family's Journey" play reading
HW: The Appleton Family - the next chapter (page 6 in INB)

Today in Yukon history, we began by reading about the two main reasons why Americans moved west to Oregon: gold and God. We learned that families headed west to seek their fortune, that mountain men went out to sell beaver furs back to the East Coast, and that missionaries went west looking to convert the local natives to Christianity.

We then read "One Family's Journey," the story of the Appleton family (Ma, Pa, Jem, Caddie, and Baby Sarah) as they trek west on the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. The family must leave Grammy behind in Missouri and set out with their wagon train led by trail guide, Justin Lester. Along the way, they meet many challenges, hardships, and disease. They are helped by a group of Sioux, led by Tall Grass Waving. Finally, they make it up and over the Cascade Mountains into the Willamette River valley.

What will happen in the "next chapter" of the Appleton family's story? Your homework for tonight is to continue the story in 1/2 to 3/4 of a page. We'll share the best stories the next time we meet!

RVI

Homework help on Territorial Expansion Map - January 16, 2008

Want to see the map I put up on the screen today to help with your homework? You can find it here:Good luck and have fun!

RVI

Mapping Manifest Destiny - January 15, 2008

Agenda:
1. Push/Pull Factors (pg 4)
2. animatedatlas.com presentation
3. Territorial Expansion Map (pg 3)
HW: Finish map

Today in Team Yukon history, we began by discussing where we had come from as a nation. We began with just the land of the 13 original colonies, but by 1783 had quickly expanded west to the Mississippi River. Later, with the Louisiana Purchase, the Texas annexation, the Mexican War, and a few other treaties and purchases, by 1853, the continental United States was complete.

We looked at the mean center of population for the US, and saw how that center point has shifted west and south since our nation's first census in 1790.

Today's in-class assignment was the Territorial Expansion Map. The homework was to finish the map. Make sure to follow all instructions, especially when drawing and labeling the rivers. To help you with the rivers, check out these sites:
http://graphicmaps.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/artwork/rivers/uslayout.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/rivers/

A really cool downloadable, printable map of Westward Expansion is available here:
http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/territory/pagetacq3.pdf

If you want to show your parents some of what we did in class today, you can check out the Animated Atlas at:
http://animatedatlas.com/movie2.html

Happy Learning!
RVI

Welcome Back from Winter Break! - January 14, 2008

Welcome to an exciting Quarter Three in Yukon history! During this quarter we will study all about westward expansion (or Manifest Destiny, as it is also called), the Texan War for Independence, the Mexican-American War, reform movements of the mid-nineteenth century, California missions, slavery, the Northern and Southern ways of life in the 1800s, and the path leading up to the Civil War. There's a lot happening this quarter!

Our day began with a presentation called "Rachel's Challenge." This program, inspired by Columbine High School shooting victim Rachel Scott, is a challenge to all members of our school's community to be kind to others, to combat prejudice, and to start a chain reaction of good deeds that can be passed on.

The five parts of Rachel's Challenge are:
1. Eliminate prejudice
2. Dare to dream
3. Choose positive influences
4. Use kind words
5. Start a chain reaction

Parents, if you would like to find out more about Rachel's Challenge, there will be a special presentation this evening at 7:00 p.m. here at Rio Norte. Also, you can find out more by logging onto http://www.rachelschallenge.com.

We had really shortened periods today because of the special assembly schedule, but the homework for tonight is to create a unit cover page. The title of the unit is "Manifest Destiny," and just like every other cover page, you need the title, five symbols, and four colors. This goes on PAGE ONE of your brand new INB, and is due the next time we meet. Have a great quarter!

Some websites you can check out now to begin our new Manifest Destiny unit are listed below. Enjoy!

http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/westward.html
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/lewisandclark.html
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/Pioneers.html

RVI

Ippolito Family Visits Boston - January 8-10, 2008

Mr. Ippolito and his family are now in Boston--birthplace of the American Revolution. We walked a short portion of the Freedom Trail and saw lots of cool stuff, including the site where the Boston Massacre took place. Check out this Paul Revere engraving of the massacre:
Notice the building in the background, center. That's the old state house. Now, take a look at this photo with my daughter and my wife:

Although now it's surrounded by modern high-rise buildings, it's still the same building it was over 200 years ago. That circle on the ground below the stroller marks the spot where the Boston Massacre took place in 1770.

Mr. Ippolito and his family visit New York City - January 5-6, 2008

Well I had to wait until I was 30 years old to see New York City (back in 2005), but my 11-month old daughter got to see it before her first birthday! New York was very fun. We arrived in the late afternoon on Sunday, but we still had the chance to see Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Broadway.

The next day, my family and I went to Chelsea Market and got a personal behind-the-scenes tour of the Food Network. We got to see the Food Network kitchens, the studios, and post-production rooms. We also got to meet the Executive Chef for Food Network, Robert Bleifer. It was a ton of fun!

Samantha, I hope that helps answer your question! I wish we had more time to spend in the Big Apple, but our next stop is Boston. Mr. Ippolito will be visiting with his family in the Boston area, and then we're hitting the Freedom Trail to see the sights.

RVI

Ippolito Family in Philadelphia - January 4, 2008

Hey Team Yukon,

The Ippolito family is in Philadelphia! This is the city where American history began (well, maybe Boston will fight for that title, too--we'll be there on Monday). The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution were all signed here in this city.

This was my daughter's first trip to Philly, and you can see her and daddy in the photo above visiting the Liberty Bell.


We had lunch today at Reading Terminal Market. You may remember the market from the chase scene in the first National Treasure movie (the fish market where Abigail was hiding from the bad guys). It was just as busy and crowded today as it was in the film.

Tomorrow we're spending the day with my wife's family, and then on Sunday we're off to New York City! You'll hear from me again in the Big Apple!

RVI

Ippolito Family Prepares for the East Coast - January 2, 2008

Hey Yukon students,

Mr. Ippolito and his family are preparing to depart on a 7-day adventure to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. Our flight departs tomorrow morning at 8:40 a.m., and it's our baby's first time on a airplane.

Check this blog in the coming days for stories and photos of the Ippolito family's travels!

RVI