Unit Exam and INB Grading - January 30-February 2, 2009

Today we took our Manifest Destiny unit exam and graded the interactive notebook.  In our next class, we will go over the exam and begin our next unit:  Antebellum America!

Homework:  Show a parent (or your parents) how much you appreciate them!

Getting Ready for the Manifest Destiny Unit Exam

Agenda:
1.  Finish "Conflict with Mexico" jigsaw
2.  Construct Your Own Learning (pg 15) - Using the page numbers and topics on the board, take quick notes on each of the four topics presented.
HW:  Manifest Destiny Exam Review - Download here:  http://staff.hartdistrict.org/rvi/mdreview.pdf
INB Grade Sheet - Download here:  http://staff.hartdistrict.org/rvi/mdinb.pdf

And of course, what you've all been waiting for . . . the PODCAST!!  Download the PODCAST HERE.

(Right-click the link to save the podcast to your computer)

We have the Manifest Destiny Unit Exam on Friday, January 30 (A-Day) and Monday, February 2 (B-Day).  Also, make sure you have your INB complete and ready to be graded that day too!  I've posted a photo of the Table of Contents in a previous post (see below).  Good luck!  If you need anything else on the blog, just give me a holler at rippolito@gmail.com.

RVI

Table of Contents

The Mexican-American War - January 26-27, 2009

Agenda:

1.  Journal - "Sacrifice"

2.  Mexican War Jigsaw (pg 11-12)

HW:  Comparing Two Manifest Destiny Wars Bubble Map - DOWNLOAD HERE

Today we transitioned from one war and right into the next. The Texans won their war for independence against Mexico in 1836, but the US government wasn't quite ready to invite Texas into the Union. Northern Congressman were concerned that bringing a new slave state into the Union would upset the balance between slave and free states in the Senate.

President James K. Polk made a campaign promise to bring both Oregon and Texas into the Union. President John Tyler beat Polk to it as he signed an agreement to peacefully settle the Oregon dividing line with Britain at the 49th parallel.

Polk set his eyes on Texas, and the US annexed the Lone Star State in 1845. The Texas matter wasn't settled with Santa Anna, and the new American maps claiming the Rio Grande as Texas' southern border infuriated the Mexican leader. Mexico insisted that Texas' southern border was the Nueces River.

Polk sent General Zachary Taylor across the Nueces River to show Santa Anna that we intended to protect our territory and our boundaries, and the Mexican-American War began.

The homework is important because it asks students to compare and contrast the two wars we've just learned about using a bubble map.

RVI

Remember the Alamo! - January 22-23, 2009

Agenda:
1. Texas War for Independence PPT (pg 9)
2. "The Alamo" movie
HW: "Remember the Alamo!" (pg 10)

Today we learned about the Texas War for Independence, also called the Texas Revolution. This is part of our continued study of Manifest Destiny, as Americans moved West and America expanded her territorial holdings.

We learned about the history of Texas and the Texans, and then watched the last 50 minutes of Disney's "The Alamo" starring Billy-Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid. Here's tonight's homework assignment:

Read about the events of the Texas Revolution that led to the battle at the Alamo on pgs. 328-329 in the textbook. Then, create a historical marker for the Alamo. The marker should include:

*A drawing of the Alamo
*A summary of the events that transpired there in 1836
*A brief explanation of its significance in the history of the southwestern United States

What is a "historical marker"? It is a plaque, statue, sign, or other structure that indicates what happened on that site, and when. There is a great article on historical markers here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_marker

Good luck!
RVI

Operation US at the William S Hart Board meeting - January 21, 2009

Are you a part of Mr. Ippolito's Operation US team?  We would love for you and your family to join us at the board meeting on Wednesday evening, January 21, at 7:00 p.m.

We are in the first third of the agenda, which means we will hopefully be up no later than 8:00 p.m.  We may leave once our presentation has finished.

I would love for students to wear their black Operation US t-shirts, but please feel free to come join us even if you can't find your shirt!

If you have any further questions, feel free to e-mail Mr. Ippolito at rippolito@gmail.com.

RVI

Finishing Oregon - January 15-16, 2009

Agenda:

1.  Share "One Family's Journey" The Next Chapter homework

2.  Watch "Lewis and Clark" video

3.  Journal - "Lewis and Clark Video Notes" (pg 7)

HW:  Vocabulary - DOWNLOAD HERE

Today in history, we followed up on "One Family's Journey," the story of the Appleton family that traveled to Oregon along the Oregon Trail.  We then watched a short video on Lewis and Clark and answered four questions (get those questions from Mr Ippolito if you were absent).

Finally, I'm very excited to announce the beginning of Mr. Ippolito's ONLINE GLOSSARY!  You can always find the definitions to the vocab terms in the textbook, but you can also find them in Mr. Ippolito's custom-made glossary.  If you want help with your homework, check it out by clicking the link at the right, or just click HERE.

Stay tuned ...

I'm on my way home to properly blog, so stay tuned for (1) the vocab
assignment sheet for homework and (2) the new vocab glossary I've
prepared for you! Should be online around 4:00pm today.

RVI

Sent from my iPhone

Heading West to Oregon - January 13-14, 2009

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!

Need the original text of the play? Download it here: "One Family's Journey"

RVI

Mapping Manifest Destiny - January 12, 2009

Agenda:
1.  Welcome Back!
2.  animatedatlas.com presentation
3.  Journal "Push/Pull Factors" (pg 4)
4.  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.

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

Territorial Expansion Map HW

Here is a much clearer version of the Territorial Expansion Map to help you with your homework. Good luck!

Sample map

I won't have a chance to properly blog since I'm on my way to a
meeting, but if you're looking for help with the map homework, this is
at least a start. I will have a proper scan later this evening.

Mr I

Constitutional fight looms over Senate seat

Are you checking out Mr Ippolito's blog over Winter Break? Good for
you! Hey, there is a Constitutional battle brewing over the man
chosen to fill Barack Obama's seat in the Senate. It's the
Constitution in action! Read the article below from CNN.

http://m.cnn.com/cnn/lt_ne/lt_ne/detail/221414/full

Happy New Year!
RVI