Class Summary 12/19/12 - 12/20/12

Yesterday during almost all of class, we took notes on the time period between the Civil War up to 1862. Though it was quite a boring class I like to have notes that tie everything together and help me understand how it all connects. We finished learning about Emancipation Proclamation which was an attempt by Abraham Lincoln to gain control over the states in rebellion. After we were done talking about the Emancipation Proclamation we were given a couple of sheets to read and answer questions about for homework. Today we were to create a billboard that displayed information about the battle we were assigned. I was assigned the Battle of Gettysburg. We answered questions on a sheet we were given and then incorporated them into our billboard. We also drew some pretty terrible stick drawings of people fighting. Overall we learned a lot about the Battle of Gettysburg although I am pretty sure our billboard was one of the ugliest things I have ever seen. One takeaway I had from that class is that no matter how hard they try boys CANNOT be artistic and their handwriting will look like a three year olds. Oh and don't trust Andrew with writing your title because he will forget the "h" in the.  

Classroom Summary 12/17/12 - 12/18/12

Yesterday in history class we had a fun activity. We were given a sheet and were told to use a phone with a QR coder and go around the school scanning codes which gave us information on different battles during the civil war. We then used the information to find out what battle it described. It turned into race with everyone trying to finish first. It was a fun and exciting way to learn and it got us up and moving. Today in history class we were given a piece of paper called "to suspend or not suspend" which was all about, Habeas Corpus. We read situations peopel were in and where or not we thought they should be granted Habeas Corpus. Many people disagreed and we realized how tricky it is to deal with situations like these. We then read another article on Habeas Corpus which told Clement L. Vallandugham's story. We discussed whether  Lincoln was justified in taking it on himself to ban Habeas Corpus.

Class Summary 12/13/12 - 12/14/12

On Thursday we started class by finishing our discussion about Lincoln and why he wanted the United States to stay a Union. We were then given a document to read with corresponding questions on Lincolns speech. After, we discussed what we read and learned a little more about Lincoln, and how he wouldn't call the seceded south the Confederate States of America because that would mean they were their own country. On Friday we went to the Computer Lab. As we walked into class we were handed a paper that divided us into groups. We were told to go to Mr. Boyle's Wiki, where we came to a blank slide show, each person given a slide which had a question pertaining to their groups subject. They all had the same basic structure, North vs. The South. We were then told this would help give us background information for the essay we have to write by Friday. I personally love going to the computer lab because while we learn we also have a little fun with the group chat and pictures we would put on other peoples slides. (hehehe)

Class Summary 12/10/12 - 12/11/12

Yesterday in history class, we were given two pieces of paper as we walked in, one was a speech by Abraham Lincoln and there were questions to go with it. We read the paper and answered the questions by analyzing the speech. We were then given another paper similar to the first, a reading excerpt and questions to go along. Today in class we were given more paper with questions on it (my binder = 100000 trees). Depending on the passage you got you sat with a group. The papers discussed whether or not South Carolina should have a right to leave the union. We filled out both of these sheets and then had a class discussion about our personal opinion and the points the Southerners had. 

Class Summary 12/4/12 - 12/5/12

Yesterday in class we looked at the different candidates for president in the 1860 election. We started class by looking at a picture with the four candidates, who were presented in a way that described their ideas of slavery metaphorically. Lincoln, Breckinridge, and Douglass were tearing down the picture of the map of the US while Bell was trying to glue it back together. I believe that this was propaganda and trying to persuade you to vote for Bell. We then went into further depth about all of the canidates.
Today we had an Ed Cafe on the people that we talked about in our voice threads. I had Daniel Webster and although he was important I didn't have much to argue on the slavery front. I like talking to people about what we are going to be tested on the next day because it sticks in my brain I just wish we did the voice thread more recently.

Summary Blog for 11/29/12

On Thursday in class we learned about John Brown and Harpers Ferry.  We took notes starting at October 16th 1859 when John Brown led about twenty other people that were supporting him in an effort to free the slaves. He expected the slaves to rebel when given the chance and since this never happened his plan did not work and John Brown was caught and hung for murder and treason against Virginia. Then in the second half of class we looked at different testimonies and got to see how they viewed the event. We then discussed our own opinions. Friday we missed class.