Tensions Mount

Our government is based on the democratic beliefs of our Founders who had to fight a long and difficult revolution. As we begin our study of The American Revolution think about what these people risked so that we may live in freedom and change our leadership through a peaceful voting process. Think about what freedom means and your obligations to defend this way of life. The need to defend our liberties, sometimes even at the risk of our own lives, takes us to Veteran’s Day, a time when we remember, thank and celebrate all those men and women who served in our armed forces. As you enjoy your three day weekend, take a moment to say thank you to the many men and women who serve in our armed services.

Tensions Mount

This week we lived through the major events leading up to the American Revolution. Working with a partner, you designed a timeline to highlight those events that led to war. This activity gave you the opportunity to look at events, debate their significance and make a judgment as to which events are crucial to understanding why the colonists went to war against the British Empire. Our skit/dialogue activity allowed us to explore the British and Colonial perspective. The British government desperately needed money to finance the French and Indian War debt and the Colonists were frustrated with what they saw as restraints on their rights as British citizens.

Tensions mounted as taxes were imposed and boycotts conducted. Each side felt its actions were right and justified. British troops arrived in Boston to impose order but the sight of the brightly uniformed soldiers infuriated the colonists. We again started to think and act as historians as we looked at the Boston Massacre using multiple primary and secondary sources. We will have to think about bias, reliability, accuracy, and intent as we sort through the accounts and try to come to an understanding of what happened that cold and snowy March evening in Boston.

The End Can Also Be A Beginning

As you figured out your grade at the end of the quarter, some of you celebrated the results of your hard work, some of you were disappointed, and some of you were struggling with a failing grade. Now is the time to think about what steps you need to take for the second quarter to maintain your good standing or improve your grades. Do you need to use your class time more wisely? Do you need to take a more serious approach to the assignments? Do you need to work on maintaining an organized and up to date portfolio? Do you need to check the blog more frequently? Do you need to ask questions to clarify your thinking? Do you need to stay after school for additional help? It is up to you to decide on the right course of action.

A Word About Homework

The most important homework is the assignments you give yourself. In addition to teacher directed tasks, you have to ask yourself what you need to do to understand the material in order to meet standard. Do you need to spend more time taking active reading notes? Do you need to review the links on the blog to better understand key events? Do you need to make lists or graphic organizers to help you with the content? Do you need to review study skills and time management techniques? If you missed a class, please take the time to come by room 209 in the morning to pick up papers and review the content.

Let's Beat Portsmouth

MHS has challenged PHS to a food drive competition. The Leo Club of MHS has organized this event to build school spirit and provide much needed food to our community. Did you know that over 35 million people in the United States are classified as hungry? So look in your pantry, talk to your parents, and start bringing in cans of soup, tuna, beans, pasta sauce, vegetables, and other non-perishables for our competition. Food items may be left in the Main Office or room 209. There's no better feeling than the feeling that comes from helping others in need - let's see if we can score 100 percent!