Computer Lab: Reconstruction Role Play

Objective: To defend your group's point of view and policies in a chatted Role Play.

1. The assigned person in each subgroup will click on the following: http://www.tinychat.com/ .
2. That person will then "Click to Create a Chatroom."
3. That person will then give the teacher the URL to the assigned chatroom. The teacher will type it onto a document so all members of the subgroup can do Step #4.
4. All members in the subgroup will then log on to their assigned chatroom.
5. Each member will change to her/his first name & your group's Role in the role play.
6. Follow directions and discuss each question as the teacher brings it up. Argue from the POV of your person in the Role Play. (For example: Mike Freedman, Janey Sue Lincolnite, etc.)
7. At the end of the period, the ASSIGNED PERSON in each group will save the subgroup's chat according to instructions given by the teacher. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT because it will provide me the document I will use to grade you in the CHAT/ROLE PLAY.

2-Map Analysis: Immigration & the Secession Vote

For Fri, 3/27/09: Finish analyzing the maps on immigration into Texas and the vote on secession, 1861.


1. Write at least five sentences for each map. At least two sentences for each map should be "genius level."


2. Write at least three sentences pointing out how the two maps are interrelated (i.e., how something you see on one map relates to something you see on the other map.)

3. You may of course write more for Extra Credit.

Finish Reading Ch. 15 on Civil War/Extra Credit for Discussion Statements

For Thur., 3/26:

1. Finish reading Chapter 15 on the Civil War. Possible pop quiz over Ch. 15.

2. Extra Credit: You may respond in writing to one or more of the statements on the handout we discussed in class, "The Black Box: Do You Agree with These Statements?"

Computer Lab: The Civil War at 3 Points

1. Fill out the analysis section of The Civil War at 3 Key Points map assignment. You can find it here. Put your completed analysis into your Gaggle Digital Locker and Gaggle email it to my Gaggle email account.

Finish Black Box Chart/Study for Ch. 15 Summary Quiz

For Fri, 3/13:

1. Have your CHART over The Black Box ready to turn in. Be sure to color code it by Northern and Southern points of view.

2. QUIZ - Chapter 15 Summary: The Civil War

*Learn the textual material on the handout (words & paragraphs). Be sure to notice superlatives.
**Map: Know the 11 Confederate states & 4 Border slave states.
***Pictures: Be able to identify the two pictures.
****Extra Credit: Learn the bottom map showing the Civil War battles in Texas.

Document Analysis - Causes of Texas Secession

For Mon., 3/9: Write at least 10 sentences analyzing the document given you in class on Wednesday: "A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union." You can download a copy of the secession document here.

1. Be sure you first highlight every mention of the word slave, slavery, etc. We began this in class Wednesday.

2. At least 5 of your sentences of analysis should be "genius" level, i.e., show deep insight.

3. You may of course write more than 10 for Extra Credit.

Dividing Texas into Five Equal States - Due Friday

For Fri, 3/6/09 - Have the Dividing Texas into Five Equal States assignment ready to turn in when you arrive in class on Friday. You can grab a copy of the instructions here. Add the most famous Texas history event that occurred on March 6 for 10 points of Extra Credit. :D

CBA Thursday!--MAJOR TEST GRADE

For Thur, 2/26/09: Curriculum-Based Assessment (CBA) over the Chapter 12, 13, & 14 Summaries.
1. Review all the written and pictorial information in these chapter summaries.
2. Remember: This CBA will count as a MAJOR TEST GRADE.
3. You can get the Chapter 12, 13, & 14 at the Texas and Texans website. Click on link in column to the left.

Quiz Fri over Ch. 14 Summary: Early Statehood

For Fri, 2/20: Quiz over Ch. 14 Summary: Early Statehood (Why do I feel I already said that???)

Quiz Friday: Ch. 12 Summary--The Republic of Texas

For Fri, 2/13: QUIZ over Ch. 12 Summary: The Lone Star Republic

You can find a copy of the Chapter 12 Summary at the Texas and Texans website in the column to the left.

Finish Document Analysis: Houston vs. Santa Anna

For Mon., 2/9: Finish the Document Analysis we began in class on Friday.

2nd Semester Working Table of Contents

TEXAS REVOLUTION (1835-1836)

• What I Already Know about the Texas Revolution
• Heroes: Short Essay
• Inquiry Based on Sound Patterns in the PowerPoint of Battles of TxRev
• Timeline of the Texas Revolution (w/o maps)
• Timeline of the Texas Revolution (w/ two maps: 1835 & 1836)
• Recognizing Bias - Travis: Two Opinions
• Hello, General! - Instructions
• Hello, General! - Finished Product
• Plan of the Alamo, March 6, 1836
• Three Movie Versions of the Battle of the Alamo
• Review of the 2004 movie, The Alamo
• Refighting the Alamo: Mythmaking and the Texas Revolution
• Quiz: Refighting the Alamo. . . (chart)
• Texas Independence Day Handout - Ben Sargent cartoon, TDT article
• Map-Based Story: The Battle of San Jacinto
• Discrepancies in Primary Sources: Houston vs. Santa Anna
• Document Analysis: Houston vs. Santa Anna
• Silent Debate: Whose version of the Battle of San Jacinto was more accurate: Houston's or Santa Anna's?

REPUBLIC OF TEXAS (1836-1845)

• Maps: The Republic of Texas, 1836/Indian Battles in Texas, 1836-45
• Chart: Problems of Any New Country/Problems Specific to the New Republic of Texas
• Chart/Timeline: Presidents of the Republic of Texas
• Chapter Summaries - Unit 4: The Republic of Texas
• The Republic of Texas: Problems & Policies
• Indian Policy During the Republic: Houston vs. Lamar
• Annexation Packet: Map & Primary Sources (Houston, abolitionist, Mexican politician, etc.)
• Map: Conflicts of the Republic, 1837-1842

EARLY STATEHOOD (1845-1861)

• Ch. 14 Summary: The Young State (Early Statehood)
• Dividing Texas into Five Equal States - Instructions
• Dividing Texas into Five Equal States - Finished Product
• Battles of the Mexican-American War
• Causes of the Mexican War 1846-1848
• James K. Polk - song lyrics
• The War President - Austin American-Statesman article on Pres. James K. Polk
• The African American Population in Texas, 1860

CIVIL WAR (1861-65)

• Diagram of Causes of the Civil War
• A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union (Feb. 2, 1861 primary source document)
• 10-Statement Analysis of "A Declaration of the Causes. . ."
• 2 Maps: Settlers Move to Texas/Texas Counties Vote on Secession, 1861
• Rereading, not rewriting (Op-Ed essay by Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson)
• All men being equal just didn't work for Texas (Op-Ed essay by Bruce Hight)
• The Black Box: A Play with a Mystery (play on causes of Civil War)
• The Black Box - Classifying the Causes of the Civil War
• Analysis of The Black Box
• The Black Box: Do You Agree with These Statements?
• Perry Stands By Secession Idea (Austin American-Statesman article)
• Chapter 15 Summary: The Civil War 1861-65
• 3-Maps: The Civil at 3 Key Points
• Pop Quiz--Chapter 15 Summary: The Civil War

RECONSTRUCTION 1865-77 (Texas 1865-74)

• A Brief Summary of Reconstruction 1865-1877
• Chapter 16 Summary: Reconstruction in Texas
• Reconstruction Role Play
• Reconstruction Tiny Chat Role Play Discussion
• White Violence in Reconstruction Texas
• Student-Written Freedperson's Story

OVERVIEW OF U.S. HISTORY 1861-Present

• Timeline of American History 1861-Present
• Blank Practice Timeline 1861-Present
• TestorQuiz: Timeline 1861-Present
• Overview of the Time Periods of U.S. History from 1865 to the Present (packet)
• Annotated Timeline 1861-Present - Info from Overview packet & Texas History textbook on your chosen time period
• Your glog on your chosen time period (printout)

THE GILDED AGE 1865-1900

• A Brief Summary of the Gilded Age 1865-1900
• Unit 6 Summaries: The Gilded Age 1865-1900
• Growth of Railroads in the Gilded Age
  

EARLY 20TH-CENTURY TEXAS 1900-1920

• Unit 7 Chapter Summaries: Early 20th-Century Texas (Chapters 20-23)
• Dipity-Done Timeline of Your Appointed Chapter (Ch 20, 21, 22, or 23)
• Analysis of Other Students' Dipity Timelines
• License Plate Analysis
• License Plate Creation

THE MODERN ERA 1950-Present

• Unit 8 Chapter Summaries: The Modern Era (Chapters 24-27)
  
• Debate Prep: Which time period from 1865-Present was best for Texas?
  
• Book Review
  

Map-Based Story: Battle of San Jacinto

For Thur, 2/5: Map-Based Story Telling the Battle of San Jacinto

Complete the story we began in class today. Here are the instructions, in case you don't have them to hand.

Directions: Write the story of the Battle of San Jacinto, based on what is shown on the map. Follow these steps.

1. Study the map carefully.
a. Color code the opposing sides, troop movements, etc.
b. Notice the geographical setting: bodies of water, natural features, directions, etc.
c. Notice the names and ranks of the military commanders, what branch of the army they commanded, etc.
d. Notice everything that happened in the battle.

2. Write the story of the battle, using all available information shown on the map.

3. For extra credit, you may also include anything you already know about the battle: battles that preceded it, troop movements, the Runaway Scrape, what the soldiers yelled during the battle, results, importance, etc.

Read "Mythmaking" Article/Quiz

For Tue, 2/3: Finish reading the "Mythmaking" article we began and discussed in class today.
1. You will take a QUIZ over the article. The quiz won't be nit-picky, but it will cover the entire article.
2. Highlight/write "Q" or "?" beside anything in the article you don't understand or that you find interesting and would like to discuss.
3. Be looking for the author's thesis (main argument), his supporting arguments, and the evidence he uses to back up his arguments.

Remember the Alamo!!!! (Literally)

For Wed., 1/28: Read Ch.10/Secs. 1 & 2 on The Battle of the Alamo.
1. Read the two sections carefully.
2. A Daily Grade Test will be given over Ch. 10/Secs. 1 & 2, so come prepared.

Hello, General.

For Mon., 1/26/09: "Hello, General."

Pretend you are the commanding general of the Mexican army at the siege of the Alamo, February 23-March 6, 1836. (HOTO says Santa Anna had 1,800 assault troops.) Approximately 150 Texans are defending the mission-turned-fort. (It "might" grow to 180-200 by the time of the final assault.) You have been handed the diagram given you in class today. How will you carry out the siege and attack on the mission-turned-fortress? Write your battle plans and orders directly onto the handout, including the following.

***Strengths & Weaknesses of the Alamo as a fort - Color code these directly onto the diagram. Use appropriate colors. (I used "red light/green light" but it's your call.)
***Wearing the Texans down prior to the final assault
***Artillery fire (cannon, etc.) - Hardin in Texian Iliad, says Santa had 10 light fieldpieces (cannon)
***Preventing Texan messengers, reinforcements, supplies, etc. from leaving or arriving
***Probing assaults to feel out the enemy
***The final assault: Where is the fort the most vulnerable? How will you divide up your troops? Where will each unit attack and to what purpose?
***Anything else you need to consider and do

Here are links to more diagrams, drawings, etc., that might help you with your plans.
http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~hyde/SanAntonio/AlamoView1214.JPG
http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~hyde/SanAntonio/images.html - The second, third, and fourth drawings are particularly helpful. One of them is the previous url.
http://members.cox.net/worthingtongames/images/FinalAlamoMap.jpg - Once you get there, click to enlarge. (It might be enlarged once you get there. Hard to say, really. :-) )
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/mcardle/paintings/alamo.html - Click to enlarge.
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/news/images/alamo2.jpg
http://www.sdsoldiers.com/Mvc-SOTA1.jpg
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/17300/17363/alamo_17363_lg.gif
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/spb/gallery/HisArt/Images/250s/dawnalamo%20250.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_qyCBdJ1bqFQ/SIO0FoKlGxI/AAAAAAAAA7U/bBP82o2PFrw/IMG_1370.JPG

For Fri: Read and Write

For Fri, 1/23
1. Finish reading Ch. 9/Secs. 1 & 2 on The Texas Revolution: 1835
2. Finish writing your 5-6-sentence (or more) paragraph answering the question about "heroes."

Folder Due Friday

For Fri, 1/16: First Semester Folder is Due

1. You can get another copy of the Table of Contents & Instructions here.

2. And just so you'll have them handy, here are the Instructions, copied and pasted for your foldering pleasure. (I wasn't able to recreate the Title and Section Page format, but you can get these by clicking here.)


Instructions for First Semester Folder (Yes, it also includes the first few days of the Second Semester.)
1. The folder will be due Friday, 1/16/09.
2. It will count as four (4) daily grades.
3. You will place your papers in order in an expandable folder with long brads like the one shown you in class. Use the Table of Contents to place the papers in their correct order.
4. You will put a Title Page in the front of the folder. You may appropriately decorate the Title Page for Extra Credit.
5. You will have a Section Page for each section. (The sections are indicated by the Roman numerals on the Table of Contents: I. An Introduction to the Study of History. II. Geography of Texas, etc. You may appropriately decorate each Section Page for Extra Credit.
6. You will neatly fasten the papers for each section in order.
7. Have the folder ready to turn in when you arrive in class on Friday.

Why Do the Folder?

In case you are wondering—and I might have mentioned this earlier in the year—here are reasons for doing the folder project.
1. It helps you improve your organizational skills.
2. It documents your work in the course. Keeping your papers lets you correct mistakes I might make in recording grades. (It's never happened before, but, hey, there's always a first time. And if you believe that last sentence, I've got a Bridge to Nowhere I'd like to sell you.)
3. It serves as a review of what we have studied and done in the class.
4. From time to time we refer back to and use papers we used earlier.
5. It provides a useful collection of information on Texas and American history. Quite a number of students and parents down through the years have told me the folder was useful in college coursework.
6. It indicates there is value to the work we do in this class. We are learning important facts and concepts.
7. It’s an easy four daily grades, and it’s rich in Extra Credit opportunity.
8. Students have told me the finished project at the end of the year makes an excellent paperweight, doorstop, or weapon.

P.S.: Unless instructed differently, please hang on to any papers from the course you still might have. Ask me about specific papers if you like. I will give Extra Credit if you help identify a paper I left out that needs to go in the folder.

Bring All Papers - First Semester Folder

For Tue, 1/13: You're supposed to do this every day, but be sure and bring all your papers from the course so far. You will have some class time to work on your First Semester folder, which will be due this Friday. A final Table of Contents and instructions will be given you in class on Tuesday. The Working Table of Contents is still here. (Clicky clicky.)

Debate Tomorrow: Causes of the Texas Revolution

For Fri, 1/9: Prepare for debate: "Did the Anglos have the right and good excuses to revolt against and seek independence from Mexico?"

1. Finish the debprep notes you began today in class from Ch. 8/Sec. 3: "Increased Tensions, 1833-1835."

2. Click here. Look at the pictures and read the captions of various people, places, and events that helped cause the Texas Revolution. This will help you gain a mental image of the issues, people, and events we will be debating on Friday.