Timeline Quiz

For Thur, 9/10: Timeline Quiz
1. Be able to fill out the Time Periods of Texas History through the Civil War, as indicated in class today.
2. Know the names and dates of the time periods through the Civil War.
3. You may learn everything else for Extra Credit on the timeline quiz.
4. The quiz will count as 3 daily grades.
5. Here is a copy of the timeline, in case you need it.
6. Click here for a blank copy, in case you want to take some practice quizzes. Here's another blank one, in case the first one doesn't open for you. You can click on the one above to make it larger.

Friday, 9/4/09

For Tuesday: Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Today's Classroom Learning Activities

1. We graded the "Shipwrecked" SMERFCAPS classification assignment.

2. We finished arguing as to how to rank the choices in "Shipwrecked," including what should be done last.

Thursday, 9/3/09

For Fri., 9/4: Have the classification part of "Shipwrecked in Outer Space" ready to turn in when you arrive in class. Remember to write which SMERFCAPS each of the 16 items is and to explain why you classified it as you did. Your explanation should include part of the simple definition of the SMERFCAPS found in the "What is History" packet.

Today's Classroom Learning Activities

You did a superb job of discussing "Shipwrecked in Outer Space"!!! That flapping sound you heard? Just yours truly ascending into Teacher Heaven. Wow!

Wednesday, 9/2/09

For Thur., 9/3: Finish the Lamar Middle School Social Groups/Culture table (chart) we worked on in class yesterday and today.

Today's Classroom Learning Activities:

1. Group Work on the Lamar Social Groups/Culture table

2. Textbook pictures illustrating Aspects of Human Development in Texas history (i.e., pics of SMERFCAPS)

Table of Contents - 1st Six Weeks

The following is a working Table of Contents for your First Six Weeks Folder. I will keep adding to it as we proceed through the six weeks. This will help you stay organized and get your papers ready to turn in for the folder grade at the end of the First Six Weeks. Remember: Throw nothing away.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HISTORY
_____Circle Map: "Me"
_____Six Pics: Student Table
_____Six Pictures Supposedly Depicting William Barrett Travis
_____Circle Map: "Texas"
_____What is History? packet
_____The Interrelationship Between Social Groups & Culture (here at Lamar Middle School)
_____Shipwrecked in Outer Space

_____The 10 Most Important Events in My Life Thus Far

_____Timeline of Texas History (w/ words & dates)

_____Timeline of Texas History (blank)
_____CHART: Time Periods of Texas History
_____A Short History of America (sequence puzzle)

TEXAS GEOGRAPHY
_____Texas Geography and I
_____Chapter 1 Summary: Land of Contrasts
_____Rivers of Texas (two-sided page of study maps)
_____Chapter 2 Summary: Regions of Texas
_____Regions Debate Notes: My Region
_____Opposition Notes for Regions Debate
_____6 Maps for Regions Debate
_____Group Planning for Regions Debate

_____Opening Speech for Regions Debate

_____Chapter Summaries for Chapters 1-6 - Chapters 1-5 to be learned for CBA (Curriculum-Based Assessment, 9/30/09)

Tuesday, 9/1/09

Happy September, Students!

For Wed: No Assignment.

Today's Classroom Learning Activities:

1. Warmup: Read the rest of the "What is History?" packet. - You can download a copy of the packet by clicking here.

2. Drew symbols for each of the Aspects of Human Development (SMERFCAPS).

3. Quiet study of the SMERFCAPS. Memorized the definitions and explanations for each of the 9 Aspects of Human Development.

4. Oral Drill: SMERFCAPS

5. The History of History: One of the Aspects of Human Development/SMERFCAPS is Culture. One subject you can study in cultural history is history. You can actually study "the history of history." For example, you can study the "history of the history of slavery," the "history of the history of Texas," and the "history of the history of the United States." Many historians 100 years ago were saying that slavery was a good system, that the slaves were treated well by their masters, were given plenty to eat, good housing and clothing, and were basically happy to be slaves. Later historians began to describe slavery as a harsh, evil system in which slaves were treated brutally, were fed, clothed, and housed poorly, and were basically very unhappy to be slaves. You can read more about the history of the history of slavery here.

6. The Relationship between Social Groups & Culture: Sociology and culture are often closely interrelated. Different social groups often have unique ways of entertaining, educating, and expressing themselves through their own music, art, dance, movies, language, etc. We brainstormed various groups of students here at Lamar and then split into six groups. Each group was responsible for identifying the music, dress and grooming, movies, t.v. shows, lingo, dance, etc., favored by each of the Lamar groups (emos, goths, nerds, IDS, band, etc.).

Impromptu Question on the Indians

Impromptu Student Question: How could we prove/know that Indians had been right here on this space that is now Lamar Middle School?

Students suggested the following.

**Someone old enough to remember Indians here could be a primary source.

**A journal written down about and passed down by the Indians telling they had gone through this space and possibly killed some mighty animals.

**You could actually study the Indians who had been around this area…you could ask your family about stories about Temple.

**Ask an Indian.

**Look underneath the building for footprints.

**You could prove it with any artifacts you could find on the site…e.g. arrowheads, pottery, their daily tools they used to survive.

I wonder if you have any further thoughts about this, students? Please answer in an anonymous comment.

Thur, 27aug09

Becker's Definition of "History"

For Thursday, 8/27: Here are the instructions I gave in class for this assignment.

Becker’s Definition of “History”

history: the study of the development of human societies in time and in space – Carl Becker, American historian

Directions: Write 3 paragraphs explaining what Becker MIGHT have meant when he defined history in this way. Each paragraph should have four or more sentences discussing the following.

1. Write one paragraph about what Becker might have meant by “the development of human societies.”

2. Write one paragraph about what he might have meant by “in time.”

3. Write one paragraph about what he might have meant by “in space.”

Remember, there are not specific "right" and "wrong" answers to this. I want to see evidence that you are thinking and trying to figure out what Becker MIGHT have meant.

Image Source: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/73/6373-003-91ACED5E.gif

Six Pics Activity: Good Job, Students!

You did excellent work analyzing the Six Pics of You Know Who! Here is a Slideboom presentation of the Six Pics. Click here to link to the table I compiled as you shared your analysis.

Six Pics - Slideboom

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Welcome to IDS 7

Welcome, students, to Interdisciplinary Seminar (IDS) 7. We are delighted you have chosen this class and look forward to learning together this year. Our primary focus will be the coordinated study of English/Language Arts and Texas history, geography, and government in depth and complexity. We hope that through this course you will grow intellectually and discover how events in Texas and beyond have helped shape you into the person you are and will become.

Texids blog is set up to assist your learning activities in the course, particularly with the social studies component. You hopefully should be able to access Texids from home and/or with other computers connected to the Internet. We will also be using computer labs here at LMS on a regular basis. If you don't have home access to computers, please come see me, and I'll make arrangements to help you be able to check the blog on a regular basis.

Now I want you to copy something into the front of your notebook:

1. Bring all supplies and learning materials to IDS 7 every class day.

2. Throw away nothing from this course unless told to do so. We will organize your papers into a folder at the end of each six weeks. The folder will count as multiple grades.

And now, here's your first assignment. Happily it's a fairly easy one.

For Tuesday, 8/25: Bring the following supplies to class. You will receive a grade for bringing the supplies. Remember to bring them with you each day of class.

***Looseleaf binder and notebook paper

***Subject dividers

***Bic (or some other brand) 4-color pen

***Highlighter pens (4 or 5)--light colors: yellow, orange, light blue, light green, pink

***Colored markers (package of 8-10 thick-nibbed ones)

***Small stapler

***Hole punch

***Post-its--2 or 3 different small pads

***Small bag to hold pens, stapler, etc.--Not necessary if you can bring them in a backpack or some such carrier

Note: If you have any difficulty in getting the supplies or if you need more time, just bring a note from home signed by a parent or guardian, and you will be given more time.

I also plan to post links to some of the learning activities we do in class. Feel free to download them to your own computers for future use. I strongly encourage you to fool around with them and improve them. I will give you Extra Credit for doing so. Get creative, people!

Summer Assignment

Due All Summer Long: An Enjoyable and Rewarding Vacation!

Once again, students, it was an honor and a pleasure learning with you in IDS 7 this year. Thank you for your hard work, participation, insights, and cooperation. All best wishes to you now and always.

Study Tips: Second Semester Final Exam

Your Second Semester Final Exam will be from 7:55-9:50 A.M., Thursday, 6/4/09. Carefully study the following.

1. Units 6, 7, & 8 Chapter Summaries. .

2. CHART: Time Periods of Texas History - You can get a copy here.

3. . Maps & Chart
p. 399 - The West Texas Wars (final defeat of the Indians)
415 - Texas Cattle Trails (Gilded Age; notice that the cattle were rounded up in South Texas and "driven" overland to the railroad lines in Kansas, Missouri, etc.)
439 - Major Railroads in Texas, c. 1900 (After there were more railroads in Texas, the cattle didn't have to be driven up the trails to the North. The train rides were much more comfortable even though the final result was still unpleasant--for the bovines, at least.)
461 - Major Petroleum Discoveries in Texas, 1901-1929 (Spindletop wasn't the first oil discovery in Texas but it set off an oil "boom" that eventually made Texas the #1 petroleum state in the USA.)
501 - Dust Bowl during the Great Depression (1929-40)
519 - Texas in World War II (WW II greatly increased industrial production in TX.)
537 - Effects of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994) on the TX economy
597 - Chart: Ethnic Distribution, 2000 Census

For Monday: Folder Due & Study for Final Exam

For Mon., 6/1

1. Folder (Binder) Due for Semester 2: Have it ready to turn in Monday when you reach class. You can get an extra copy of the Table of Contents and Instructions here.

2. Be studying for Thursday's Second Semester Final Exam. Study these papers to which we attached Post-Its.

• CHART: Time Periods of Texas History
• Unit 6 Chapter Summaries: Gilded Age
• Unit 7 Chapter Summaries: 1900-1950
• Unit 8 Chapter Summaries: 1950-Present

Thank goodness this does not apply to any of YOU!! :D

Today's Debate:

The Question: Which time period from 1865-the present was best for Texas?

1. Have the following on your desk. Use them during planning and the debate.

***Textbook: Texas and Texans

***Debate Notes fromYour Chapter

***Unit 6, 7, & 8 Summaries

***Any other materials you might use

2. Plan strategy with your partner(s).--10 minutes

***What are your time period's 3 strongest points?--You will present these, along with supporting arguments & evidence, in a 3-minute opening statement. Plan with your partner who will say what during the 3-minute opening statement.

***What are your time period's weak points?--Decide how you will defend these during the debate.

3. Debate!

Book Review Instructions

Write a title for your book review.

Write the bibliographical information: Author, Title, City of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication, number of pages.

Write and complete the following sentence: "I read ___ pages of this ___-page book.

Paragraph 1: State and discuss the author's thesis (main argument) and at least three (3) supporting arguments.

Paragraph 2: Discuss the first supporting argument and give the evidence the author presents to support her/his argument.

Paragraph 3: Discuss the second supporting argument and give the evidence the author presents to support her/his argument.

Paragraph 4: Discuss the third supporting argument and give the evidence the author presents to support her/his argument.

Paragraph 5: Tell some of the interesting facts and concepts you learned from the book.

Paragraph 6: Discuss the book's strengths and weaknesses.

Paragraph 7 (and more, if you need them): Apply what you've learned in an original and creative way.

Updated Due Date: Thursday, 5/28

If you write your review on paper, turn it in to me at the beginning of class on Thursday.

If you write your review on the computer, send me what you finished in class as a Gaggle email and upload it to your Gaggle Digital Locker. You may finish at home and send me the entire finished project no later than the beginning of class on Thursday. Be sure also to upload your entire finished product to your Gaggle Digital Locker.

I will grade your entire finished product on Thursday.

Book Reviews to Be Written in Class on Tuesday, 5/26

For Tue, 5/26: Book Reviews to be written in class

Be able to do the following:

1. State and discuss the author's thesis (main argument), supporting arguments, and evidence used to back up the supporting arguments.

2. Tell some of the interesting facts and concepts you learned from the book.

3. Discuss the book's strengths and weaknesses.

4. Apply what you've learned in an original and creative way.

practice post

Map Analysis: Texas Oil & Gas Fields

Analyze the above map.

Dipity Do, Part 2 (Rhymin' Simon Strikes Again)

Due Tue, 5/19/09: The following assignment is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday.

Excellent job on the Dipity timelines, students! Now let's learn from them. I've copied and pasted the urls to the various timelines for each chapter. In order to maintain online anonymity, I've only included your initials. You may refer to the person by initials or by the cute 'n clever nicks they chose. BTW, if yours isn't listed, tell me your Dipity username, and I'll add your url to the appropriate chapter below.

The guiding questions in your analysis are:

1. How did Texas change between the years 1900-1950? ("Between the years 1900-1950, Texas changed from ___ to ___.") What were various categories of change, what were the major events and developments that brought about the change, and how are the events and developments interrelated?

2. Which students' timelines best present the changes that took place? Base your analysis strictly on the evidence you see and read, not on personal opinions of the person her/himself.

Study at least two timelines per chapter. (You may certainly do more.) Please indicate which students' timelines you are using as evidence. Write your analysis on notebook paper, and hand it in at the beginning of class on Tuesday. If you would rather do the analysis on the computer, send it to me as an email or email attachment.

If you need ideas as to additional methods of analysis you could use, click here.

Ch. 20: Progressive Era

http://www.dipity.com/omg7 - RB

http://www.dipity.com/sman140803 - SM

http://www.dipity.com/LittleOldTeapot - HG

http://www.dipity.com/demon149700 - TA

Ch. 21: WW I & Roaring 20s
http://www.dipity.com/DTrain/ - DR

http://www.dipity.com/cheese_and_crackers2/ - CB

http://www.dipity.com/donuts_rock/ - CM

http://www.dipity.com/starzcatcher - MoC

http://www.dipity.com/paco88 - MaC

Ch. 22: Great Depression & New Deal
http://www.dipity.com/muscrat/ - AM

http://www.dipity.com/cheese_and_crackers1 - JS

http://www.dipity.com/navydude45 - RS

http://www.dipity.com/awsomness/ - JC

Ch. 23: WW II & Early Cold War
http://www.dipity.com/ll44/ - KM

http://www.dipity.com/jellybeanluvr - CD

http://www.dipity.com/kite - BC

http://www.dipity.com/socks20 - BW

http://www.dipity.com/kittydancer55 - AH

I meant to point this out in class today but forgot. Today is the 103rd anniversary of the landmark U. S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. In this case the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was constitutional. This paved the way for an increase in Jim Crow laws all over the South and further discrimination against African Americans nation-wide.

texids t. on Dipity.

Finish Hyperlink Pics-->Dipity Do-->Surprise Activity You're Gonna Dig

1. Finish copying and pasting pictures illustrating each chapter in Unit 7, Early Twentieth Century Texas, into the hyperlinked Word table we made. Have at least 2 pics for each chapter.
2. Click on Dipity over there in the left-hand column under "Creative Online Tools." Use information from the Unit 7 Table, plus your textbook chapter to make a Timeline of ___insert name of chapter/time period____. I will have demonstrated the basics of how to do it, but feel free to ask me and/or classmates for assistance. When looking in your chapter in the textbook, use the Timeline at the beginning of each chapter, the Chronology at the end of each chapter, and anything in the body of the chapter that needs to be included.

3. If we finish these two activities, we'll do a surprise activity I think you'll, um, what's the word I'm looking for? Oh, yeh, dig.