Week of September 27

9th:  Students will complete their notes on the "Worst Jobs of the Middle Ages"  video Monday.  Tuesday they will complete their Leadership group assignment that they worked on last week.  Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we will be debriefing about the group simulation and studying for a test on Culture and Government, which will be either Friday or the following Monday or Tuesday.  Students should be getting their government definition notecards back by Tuesday for use in studying for the test.  Many students did not complete the notecards as instructed or do all of them.  This will be have a significant impact on students grades, as the notecards count as 2 assingment grades, and the info on them will be about 50% of the first quiz.  If students have not completed their notecards or get a low score, I will allow them to turn them in late or to fix what's broken, but points will be deducted.  Students should arrange to see me if they are having trouble with their notecards.

11th  As with the 9th graders, they should be getting their notecards back by Tuesday of next week, which means that they will then want to study their notecards for an upcoming test during the first week in October.  Additionally, students will be completing a brief simulation that will take about 3 class periods next week. 

Week of September 20

Thanks for checking the blog!  Starting this week, expect to see a quick summary once a week about what we are working on, and any upcoming due dates.   Please remember that due dates may change, so please check with me if there is any confusion.

9th

We will be working this week on our group project to create a government.  Students will be graded both as a group and as individuals for their contribution to the group.  Attendance each day is key, so please try to be here every day.  If students did not turn in their government vocabulary notecards, they must turn them in ASAP.  Late work in this case will be penalized!  Homework this week will mainly consist of working on the group assignment if a group falls behind and is unable to complete each day's task by the end of the period.  Additionally, notecards for the 15 Elements of Culture will be due on Tuesday, September 28th.  Students have already received that handout.

11th

If students did not turn in their government vocabulary notecards, they must turn them in ASAP.  Late work in this case will be penalized!  Students in 11th grade will finish discussing the Government Pre-Test on Monday, and then will participate in an abbreviated version of the simulation the 9th graders are doing, as described above.  No homework should be expected this week, other than reviewing the government notecards after they have been graded and returned sometime in the middle of the week.

Welcome to the 2010-11 School Year

Thanks for visiting the blog. 

I will be using this blog for several purposes.  First and foremost, this blog will be a way for parents and students to keep track of what we are working on in class.  About once a week I will post a quick summary of what assignments we are working on and upcoming due dates.  Additionally, I will post info on things of interest to the class, such as links to interesting articles or suggested TV shows or movies related to history.  Perhaps the coolest thing that this blog can be used for is to hold an online discussion.  I will occasionally create posts on the blog that students can comment on as a way to hold an informal discussion. 

It is my hope that students will regularly check this blog and use it as a tool to help them succeed.

Best of luck for this school year,


Mr. Larsen
KW Social Studies Dept.

World War 2 Extra Credit

Lots of films and documentaries over the three day weekend on the list will be on TV or available online. Here's a listing of programs I could find.

Movies on TV (Channel #'s and times for Comcast)
To Hell and Back, 2:45pm, Mon, AMC- Channel 67
Big Red One, 5:15pm, Mon, AMC- Channel 67
U-571, 4pm, Sun, UHD- Channel 660
Band of Brothers, 9am-all day, Monday, SPIKE- Channel 57/659

Documentaries on TV (For 10 pts)
Several shows, Friday thru Monday on Military Channel 274
Several shows, Saturday, HISTORY- Channel 37/671
Secrets of the Dead:  Airman and Headhunters, 1am, Sunday, PBS- Channel 9/109
The War: The Northwest, 3-5pm, Sunday, PBS- Channel 9/109
Hallowed Grounds, 11pm, Sunday, PBS- Channel 9/109
Marines at Montford Point (About African American Marines), 12am, Sunday, PBS- Channel 9/109

HULU.COM


Hope and Glory
Saints and Soldiers

NETFLIX
The Blue Max
Gallipoli
Paths of Glory
Letters from Iwo Jima
Patton
Midway
Hope and Glory
The Desert Rats
Fat Man and Little Boy
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Triumph of the Spirit
Escape from Sobibor
Miracle at St. Anna
Saints and Soldiers

Week of May 3

9th:   After a bit of delay, we finished the notes on Communism vs. Capitalism, and will be taking the test on Wednesday during the late start day.  The test will be a quick Multiple Choice test.  Honors students will receive their packets for Animal Farm and a book Tuesday, and  a reading schedule will be created on Thursday.  They will be required to read Animal Farm and answer the questions about it prior to Memorial Day weekend (May 28th).  An online test on Animal Farm will be given when they complete the book.  This will be the main way that Honors students will differentiate themselves from general ed students in the class this semester.

11th:  They are watching the film, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.   Questions have been provided to complete during the film.  Afterwards, we will study for one day (probably at the end of the week), and then have a test on the Great Depression/New Deal and on the film.  The idea of the role of ethics and values in America from the film will be a focus as we study World War 2 and the Holocaust in the next  unit.

Week of April 26

It has been a while since I last posted.  Those last few weeks of Freshman Project were so busy, I completely dropped the ball on the blog.  Sorry!   Here's this week's plans.

9th:  Finishing lecture/video on communism and capitalism, with a test review day and then a test on Thursday or Friday.  Honors will receive their books and packets for reading Animal Farm outside of class for their Honors credit.  Next week we should be beginning World War 1.

11th:  Completing last week's assignment on the Great Depression/New Deal on Mon/Tues.  Then, we will be practicing some study skills in preparation for our test on Thursday or Friday. 

Week of March 22nd

9th: This week we will continue working on finding and analyzing primary source quotes using the ACAPS forms, and will also create a skeleton outline of our essay.  By this point, students should be ready to write their essay.  The last research check will be either this Friday or next Monday.  ACAPS forms for bad quotes or with poor analysis will need to be redone until they are correct.  Additionally, we will work on Ch 9 Sec 1 and 2 assignment on the Industrial Revolution.

11th:  This week we will take our test on World War 1 on Tuesday 3/23.  Make up tests must  be completed after school by appointment within one week of the test day.  Additionally, we will be working on defining the causes and effects of the major strikes of the 1920's, as well as make connections between the war and the problems that arose in its aftermath in America, such as the strikes, the Red Scare, etc.

HSPE Week! March 15-19

9th:  We will be working with primary sources this week.  Defining them, explaining how to analyze them using the ACAPS forms, and discussing how to find quotes that connect to the thesis will be our main tasks.  Three primary source quotes for their project must be found and analyzed on the ACAPS forms, due Friday, March 19th.  Also, a grade printout and parent letter was given out to students to take home.  Parent signatures on the grade printout are due Monday.

11th:  We turned in the "Lost Battalion" questions and worked on a handout called, "Aftermath of WW1."  Both are due after the World War 1 test next Monday, March 22nd.  We will review for the test on Friday of this week.

Week of March 8th

9th: This week, we will be focusing on only one cause of the conflict we are studying.  You should research to understand that cause fully.  By the end of the week, you should be well versed about all aspects of that cause, with plenty of notes to show for your efforts.  You will also need to turn in the "Web Page Evaluation Checklist" worksheet after you have reviewed a webpage source you have used.  In addition, the ACAPS worksheet should be used to evaluate a print resource/primary source.  We will review these in class on Monday and Tuesday, and the worksheets will be due Friday.

11th:  We will be finishing The Lost Battalion, and will go back through the movie questions to answer in more detail before we turn them in.  Then we will study the effects of World War I and the Paris Peace Conference, especially focusing on Wilson's 14 Points.  Expect a test on World War I either late this week or early next week.

Week of March 1

9th:  We continue research on the Freshman Project.  Students should be trying to gather information on possible causes of their conflict.  Students who did not have enough research last Friday will be assigned a detention after school with me until they catch up.  By the end of the week, students should have the equivalent of about 4 pages of handwritten notes from various sources.  I would suggest at least 1 hr. of research a night.  Students can also get more info on the Freshman Project here:

11th:  We will be finishing up our group work and notes on Causes of WWI, then will be watching a film on the war and discussing it. 

I'm behind on grading for both classes, but hope to get caught up by next Monday.

Week of Feb 22nd

9th:  Freshman Project is the main focus.  We had Monday to begin working in the library.  We are looking at reference materials such as Encyclopedias to identify keywords such as people, places, events, and ideas related to the conflict.   By the end of the week, we will be turning those keywords into questions that students will use to guide their research.  Students should be researching as much as possible right now, and taking notes.  I would say that for every hour of research they do, they'll need about 30 min with their research notes to make sense of what they find.  Students should see me or their SPED/English teachers if they have questions.  Students should expect to work about 1 hr per night on research.  (Or accumulate that time for a fun 7-8 hrs on the weekend.)  For more info, check out the Freshman Project blog here:  http://kwfreshmanproject.blogspot.com/

11th:   We are working on the causes of WWI.  We will be completing a group activity to determine the causes of the war, and to define which were the most influential in leading America to get involved in the war.  We will then study the war itself, focusing on the role during the war of new immigrants in America's military and of new technology.  Expect 1-2 assignments this week that may need to be completed at home.

Week of Feb 17-19

9th:  Students in periods 1 and 2 will be watching a video on Saddam Hussein and the Iran-Iraq War as part of their Freshman Project.  They will complete a worksheet as they watch.  After the video, they will make a map of the Persian Gulf region.  Students in periods 3 and 5 will be completing a book assignment as an overview of the Vietnam War for their Freshman Project.  They will make a map of the Southeast Asia region.  All 9th grade classes will meet for our first day of research in the library on Monday, February 22nd.  Some students have yet to return their parent signature sheets regarding the change to the grading scale for Sem 1.  Check Skyward to see if your child showed me their signed sheet.

11th:  We will be wrapping up our study of the Progressive Era by watching a biography on Theodore Roosevelt, and answering questions that accompany the video. 

Week of Feb 8th

9th:  Monday students will get back all graded Sem 1 assignments and a grade printout, including a list of missing assignments.  Students will have the period to identify missing assignments and turn them in for partial credit.  Tuesday through Friday we will be giving an overview of the Freshman Project, including the rubric.  We will be introducing the topics for the project, and begin discussing these conflicts and the major people involved.  We will also practice MLA bibliography citations when possible.  On Friday, their Enlightenment One-Pager assignments (given Feb 4th and 5th) are due.

11th:  Monday students will get back all graded Sem 1 assignments and a grade printout, including a list of missing assignments. Students will have the period to identify missing assignments and turn them in for partial credit. Tuesday through Friday we will be talking about Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive era, as well as the causes of WWI. 

Week of Feb 1, 2010

9th Grade:  Students will be taking a final on the Renaissance/Reformation on Monday and Tuesday.  A study sheet was given out last week, and we spent several days in class studying.  Students also were allowed to create a "Cheat Sheet" to help them on the test.  After the test, we will be watching a video on Hernan Cortez and his conquest of the Aztecs and answering corresponding questions.

11th Grade:  We will be finishing viewing the State of The Union address on Monday, and discussing.  Students will have a Socratic Seminar on Friday, with questions and reading given out on Wednesday.

Changes to 9th Grade Semester 1 Grading Rubric

The following letter will be sent home with students on Tuesday, February 2nd, to explain the changes to our course's grading rubric.  This applies only to my 9th grade classes, not to my 11th grade US History class 6th period.   Here's the text of the letter:

TO: Students and Parents/Guardians

FROM: Mr. Larsen
RE: Blended Modern World History 9, Semester 1 Grading Procedures
DATE: January 29, 2010



SUBJECT: Change To Grading Rubric For Semester 1


Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

In previous years, I have required students complete one to two projects during the course of Semester 1. This “Pre-Freshman Project” was created by the 9th Grade Social Studies team to allow 9th grade students to practice selected reading/writing skills. These skills are needed for the much larger Freshman Project that we will be completing during Semester 2. This year, however, the 9th grade Social Studies teachers chose to not require a Pre-Freshman Project. Instead, the team chose to teach the essential research and writing skills in other ways. As the semester progressed, the students and I focused on necessary skills such as reading critically, note taking, and summarization skills. However, I chose not to have the students take on a project to practice these skills. Instead, these skills were demonstrated mainly through daily assignments, participation in the Socratic Seminars, and through studying for several unit tests. I do not believe, therefore, that the absence of a project during Semester 1 will negatively affect their ability to complete the Semester 2 Freshman Project


As a result of not assigning a project for Semester 1, I will have to alter the grading scale for the course from the one in the syllabus published at the beginning of the course. The changes are illustrated in the chart below, and have already been altered in the Skyward system.


Changes To Larsen’s Semester 1 Grading System

Category                                                          Original Value             New Value


Employability (ELSA)                                             10%                          10%


Homework/Classwork                                            60%                           60%


Participation/Socratic Seminars                                 5%                           10%


Project                                                                   15%                             0%


Tests/Quizzes                                                          10%                           20%






If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at thomas.larsen@kent.k12.wa.us . Please know that since this is the end of the semester, it may be difficult to respond as promptly as I may wish. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.



Sincerely,



Thomas Larsen
KW Social Studies Dept.

Reminder: Extra Credit Opportunity

This is a reminder that the Michelangelo Exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum is closing January 30th. If you bring me a ticket to the exhibit and a brochure, and talk to me about it for a few minutes after class, you'll get easy Extra Credit!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Posting online

One of the cool thing about this blog is that I can add posts from my phone if new problems arise.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Welcome To The Blog!

What the heck is a blog, you may ask?

A blog is simply a website that allows someone to post their ideas regularly and for others to share by commenting on the various blog posts.

How will this blog be used in relation to Mr. Larsen's class?

Mr. Larsen will be allowing any of his students to log onto his blog for a variety of reasons. They can add comments about assignments such as questions or ideas, and then exchange ideas and answers with Mr. Larsen and their colleagues. They can also hold online discussions about various issues related to the class. Mr. Larsen will also be able to post information, handouts, useful or interesting links, and a whole lot more on the blog, so that his students can access them anytime they wish.

What are the basic rules for posting on the blog?

Comments on posts should be civil and on topic. Comments that are abusive, excessively negative, etc., will be deleted. Additionally, all comments should conform to all standards of the Kent School District and Kentwood High School, as well as Mr. Larsen's classroom rules. If you couldn't say it or write it at school, it isn't appropriate here! Violators of this policy may be subject to penalties that may include, but not be limited to, reporting to school authorities, blocked access to the blog, etc. In other words, be nice and be good!