Tuesday - 10/31/2017

What We Did Today

Mr. L                                    Mr. L

We went over yesterday's assessment, then learned about our end-of-the-marking-period project.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How'd you do on your assessments? What was different about Mr. L/Mr. L today?

Monday - 10/30/2017

What We Did Today
We took an assessment.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How'd the assessment go?

Friday - 10/27/2017

What We Did Today
We reviewed and studied for our assessment on Monday.

Homework
Study for Monday's assessment.  You can download the study guide for the assessment by clicking on this sentence.

Discussion Starters
Federalists/Antifederalists; ratification of the Constitution; Bill of Rights; Social Contract; John Locke; Common Sense.

Thursday - 10/26/2017

John Locke

What We Did Today
We reviewed GLCEs 7 and 8 in preparation for Monday's assessment.  Our scores from last week's assessment are now in the gradebook (so we can check them on Skyward).  Anything less than a 70% requires further learning and reassessment.

Homework
None, though you may start studying for Monday's assessment.

Discussion Starters
Social contract/compact.

Wednesday - 10/25/2017

What We Did Today
We explored core values embodied in the Constitution, as well as examined the philosophical origins of the Constitution.

Homework
Finish note-takers 7 and 8 for tomorrow.

Discussion Starters
Values embodied in the Constitution; John Locke; Common Sense.

Tuesday - 10/24/2017

What We Did Today
We continued taking notes on Federalists/Antifederalists, as well as notes on the first ten amendments to the Constitution (a.k.a., the Bill of Rights).

Homework
Finish up notes on notetakers 5 & 6; they will be checked-in tomorrow.

Discussion Starters
How do the perspectives of Federalists and Antifederalists differ regarding the Constitution?  What are some basic freedoms protected in the Bill of Rights?  How is a fear of a strong central government reflected in the Bill of Rights?

Monday - 10/23/2017

What We Did Today
We began exploring the process of ratifying the Constitution, including the perspectives of Federalists and Antifederalists.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Federalists; Antifederalists; ratification.

Friday - 10/20/2017

What We Did Today
We go back our written essays from last week, watched CNN10, discussed current events, and watched some America: the Story of Us.  We also had the Fun Run (6th hr).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How'd you do on your essay questions?  Are you going to study to bring up your grade?

Tuesday - 10/17/2017

What We Did Today
We studied for tomorrow's assessment.

Homework
Get ready for tomorrow's assessment.

Discussion Starters
Tomorrow's assessment.

Monday - 10/16/2017

What We Did Today
We checked-in homework, then went over answers that should be in the note-taking guide.  We ended class by studying for Wednesday's assessment.

Homework
Begin studying for Wednesday's assessment, using this study guide for issues and resolutions at the Constitutional Convention.

Discussion Starters
Issues debated at the Constitutional Convention; how did they resolve those issues?

Friday - 10/13/2017

What We Did Today
We continued taking notes on the Constitutional Convention; we also continued watching some of America: The Story of Us.

Homework
Make sure you have notetakers 3 and 4 finished by Monday, October 16th.

Discussion Starters
Issues debated and resolved at the Constitutional Convention.

Thursday - 10/12/2017

What We Did Today
We continued exploring issues and resolutions at the Constitutional Convention.  We also watched a portion of America: A History of Us.

Homework
You can work on your notetakers if you like, but you will have time in class tomorrow to work on them.

Discussion Starters
What were some of the key issues debated at the Constitutional Convention?

Wednesday - 10/11/2017

What We Did Today
We started exploring issues and resolutions of the Constitutional Convention.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What issues were debated at the Constitution Convention? How were those issues resolved?

Tuesday - 10/10/2017

What We Did Today
We assessed our work from yesterday to see what we need to do to improve our understanding.  Students will have an opportunity to come in at lunch to work with Mr. L and other students to bring improve their learning (and grade).

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
How did you do on the assessment?  What do you need to do to bring up your score?

Monday - 10/09/2017

What We Did Today
We had an assessment.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Explain the adoption and subsequent failure of the Articles of Confederation. Identify an economic, political, and cultural issue facing the nation under the Articles of Confederation; and explain why the central government was powerless to address each issue.

Friday - 10/06/2017

What We Did Today
We reviewed in preparation for Monday's assessment.  Mr. L provided us a Study Guide and went over it to help us prepare over the weekend.

Homework
Get ready for Monday's assessment questions:

1. Explain the adoption and subsequent failure of the Articles of Confederation.
2. Identify an economic, political, and cultural issue facing the nation under the Articles of Confederation.  Explain why the central government could not resolve each issue.

Download the assessment study guide here.

Discussion Starters

See above assessment questions.

Thursday - 10/05/2017

What We Did Today
The entire 8th grade visited the University of Detroit-Mercy for most of the day.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Dry ice; robotics; small animals; design.

Wednesday - 10/04/2017

What We Did Today
We finished our first two note-takers.  We will have a review on Friday in preparation for an assessment on Monday.  Be on the lookout for a study guide on Friday!

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What were some issues facing the nation under the Articles of Confederation?

Tuesday - 10/03/2017

What We Did Today
We continued our work exploring the reasons for the adoption and failure of the Articles of Confederation; we also began exploring the economic, political, and cultural challenges faced by the nation during the time of the Articles of Confederation.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
What were some issues faced by the nation during the time of the Articles of Confederation?

Monday - 10/02/2017

What We Did Today
Students received their first GLCE notetaker packet and started taking notes on their first expectation.

Homework
None.

Discussion Starters
Reasons for the adoption of the Articles of Confederation; reasons for the failure of the Articles of Confederation.