7th Grade: Journals 11-20

Journal 11 - What is history and why is it important? Describe the two different types of sources historians use to learn about history?

Journal 12 - How do you think the first Americans arrived here?

Journal 13 - What is history and why is it important to learn it?

Journal 14 - Now that you have read V1.3, explain how the Native Americans arrived in North America.

Journal 15 - Choose one Native American civilization mentioned in class and describe it in your journal.

Journal 16 - Choose another Native American civilization mentioned in class and describe it.

Journal 17 - How do you think Native Americans kept warm during the winter?

Journal 18 - Why did Columbus call the Native Americans 'Indians'?

Journal 19 - Draw a map of the world as the Europeans saw it before they discovered America?

Journal 20 - How do we know the Vikings were here before Columbus? (Use V1.13-14)

8th Grade Journals 1-10

Journal 1 - Describe one event that you learned about American History last year.

Journal 2 - Hunter-gatherer societies are nomadic. what does that mean?

Journal 3 - How was Spain able to conquer large parts of the New World? In you response include the following terms: Indians, weapons, conquistador, Aztec, Inca, diseae, enslave, 1521, 1532.

Journal 4 - Describe how the four middle colonies were formed? (NY, NJ, PA, DE)

Journal 5 - Read "What's In a Word?" and list the different types of governments and their characteristics.

Journal 6 - What type of government may be prone to take the rights of citizens away?

Journal 7 - Why is Bacon's Rebellion so significant in Colonial history?

Journal 8 - Describe how or why your designated colony was established.

Journal 9 - Describe a royal, charter, proprietary colony. Which one may have granted its citizens more freedom?

Journal 10 - How is the relationship between church and state today different than how it was in Colonial times?

7th Grade Journals 1-10

Journal 1 - Draw a map of your neighborhood. Include the 5 parts of a map.

Journal 2 - What is the difference between a political and physical map? What is the difference between a globe and map projection?

Journal 3 - Draw a map of the world that shows all 7 continents and 4 oceans.

Journal 4 - Look at your homework and explain why we need lines of latitude and longitude on a map.

Journal 5 - Choose any 3 landforms and describe them in your own words.

Journal 6 - Choose any 3 bodies of water and describe them in your own words.

Journal 7 - Describe all the landforms and bodies of water you have seen in person.

Journal 8 - List as many states as you can without looking at a map.

Journal 9 - Describe the physical features of the U.S. using yesterday's notes. Use your own words.

Journal 10 - Describe the physical features of the U.S. from west to east using your U.S. Physical Regions map.

8th Grade: Just the Facts - Part Two (Questions 7-17)

The answers to the questions below will vary, depending on what state was assigned to you. This is due on Monday, June 10, 2013

7. What are the names and political parties of the real life senators who currently represent your state?

8. During your work as a U.S. Senator you may need to get in touch with your governor. Who is the governor of your state and what is his or her politlca party?

9. What are some important historical events that have happened in your state?

10. Who are some famous people who lived there (that is besides you!)?

11. What are the major geographic features of your state?

12. What are the important industries or economic activities?

13. Name the two largest cities and their populations.

14. Do people in your state live mostly in rural areas or in large urban centers?

15. List some other important information you think your fellow senators sould know about your state?

16. Now that you know your state a little better, what big issues do you thikn people in your state have on their minds?

17. List the reference source(s) you used to answer these questions. Include the title, year of publication and volume number, if there is one.

7th Grade - Journals 21-30

Journal 21 - Why did cargographers depend on exploreres to help them make maps?

Journal 22 - Why did Europeans migrate to and settle in North America?

Journal 23- Write a letter to an explorer who searched for a Northwest passage. Explain why this discovery is important to your nation.

Journal 24 - Describe the first two attempts of English colonizations in North America.

Journal 25 - How were Indian and European ideas of land ownership different?

Journal 26 - Free Write

Journal 27 - Free Write

Journal 28 - Who were the Puritans? Who were the Pilgrims?

Journal 29 - Why was the Mayflower Companct an important document?

Journal 30 - Describe the history of New York using the following words: New Amsterdam, New Netherland, New York, King Charles II, England, proprietary colony, 1664.

8th Grade - Journals 41-50

Journal 41 - What should a country do to ensure that its trade routes and political influence are secured?

Journal 42 - A reason often given for taking territory was that the backward people who lived there needed the blessings of civilization. Would you agree with that attitude? Why?

Journal 43 - How would you convince a group of friends to play a game by your rules?

Journal 44 - Knowing about how the Panama Canal was built, and how the U.S. got Hawaii, describe how the U.S. was behaving towards other contries. (provide 2 pieces of evidence)

Journal 45 - Describe how the Panama Canal was built.

Journal 46 - What were the causes of the Spanish American War? What were the outcomes and effects of the Spanish American War?

Journal 47 - What do you do when you need food and clothes in 2013? How about in 1813?

Journal 48 - Why were railroads so important to the future of a town in the 19th Century? What would be the modern equivalent of the railroad?

Journal 49 - Describe and give examples of horizontal and vertical integration.

Journal 50 - Which invention discussed in class fascinates you? Why?

Journals 41-50 due: Thursday, May 9, 2013.

Overseas Exploration Quiz - short/answer response.

Hello 8th graders,

The following questions will be on Tuesday's quiz. There are three questions, and you only have to answer two! Choose whichever two you like:

1. What were the causes of the Spanish-American War? What were the outcomes and effects of the Spanish-American War on the United States? What choice would you have made if you were president of the United States in 1898 and the S.S. Maine blew up and the press exaggerated the stories of that event?

2. There are three reasons why Americans supported Colonial Expansion. Identify and describe the three reasons and finally state your opinion on the three reasons. Do you agree with all of them? If not, which one do you not agree with?

3. Describe the political cartoon below. Identify the policy which it represents and state if you agree with it or not. What choice would you have made if you were the president after the president below and the U.S. was viewed as a bully by other countries?