History Quiz!

Eighth Grade on The Great Awakening

We have turned in the questions on the Thirteen Colonies (what colonies make up New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies, and their commonalities) and have moved on to the First Great Awakening.

We went over a little background today on this Christian revival and the changes it brought to the colonies—changes that were not just religious, but also political.

Together in class, we looked at an excerpt from 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' by Jonathan Edwards and made note of the sensory images he uses, the emotions he is trying to evoke in his hearers, and the Christian religious beliefs he is connecting those images to. We are using the excerpt and the worksheet found at this page. We did several in class together, you need to find another five (at least!) at home, and turn it in tomorrow.

For those curious to read the rest of this famous sermon, you can find it here.

Working in American History

We are now looking at the thirteen colonies (later to become the first thirteen states of the United States of America) and dividing them into three groups: the Southern colonies, the Middle colonies, and the New England colonies.

In class, you answered the questions of which colonies belong in each group (four in New England and the Middle, five in the Southern) and the more difficult question of what commonalities each group's colonies share.

We will continue to discuss this tomorrow.

What We've Been Doing In Technology

In our technology class, we are now examining search and research skills. Students have learned a little bit about how Google works, and how that knowledge can help us make better searches. We've learned a little about keywords, queries, whether capitalization matters, keyword order matters, and so forth.

Students have also learned criteria to help decide on the reliability of a website. Students even looked at a few websites and judged whether they were reliable or not using those criteria. Our favorite website used and investigated had to be this one on saving the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus.

Chapter Two for Eighth Grade

Here is a link to Chapter Two of the eighth grade textbook. You can use this as a resource while we are studying the American Founding.

Eighth Grade History Chapter Two

Steps Toward...

We are moving on from our general look at European colonization of North America into a more specific look at the English colonies on the East Coast. Today in class you read Section One of Chapter Two. You should be taking note of two things: the move towards religious freedom in those colonies, and the move towards self-government in those colonies. Remember this was not a linear progression, it moved back and forth in different times and places to get us to where we are now.

We will continue working tomorrow in class together on our List of Steps Towards Self-Government and our List of Steps Towards Religious Freedom. You will end by having at least three events on each list. I will collect your lists for credit on Friday.

Current Events Presentation Guide

This activity is designed to introduce and encourage students to become aware of current issues in the community, state, nation, and world. You will search for original current event articles every other week. Some possible topics you may research include: political figures, elections, campaigns, political crises, major court cases, major crime investigations, civil rights issues, famine or natural disasters, developments in science and technology, business and finance, health breakthroughs or disease outbreaks. Stories centered on sports and entertainment are not acceptable for this assignment. You may search newspapers, news magazines, or news-oriented websites.

Once you find an article, you must do the following:

• Clip the article. If your research is from the internet, print out the article. Original articles only. No copies are allowed. (3 points)
• Staple the article to the back of your summary paper. (1 point)
• Please highlight or underline key elements of the article (names, places, facts, figures, etc.) (1 point)
• Include a short summary of the article. Summary must be neatly written or typed. Summary must include (5 points):
• Who and what the article is about
• Where, when, and why
• Implications for the community, state, country, or world
• Whether and how it affects you
• How it relates to any current class discussions
• Include bibliographic citation (on summary page) in the following formats (5 points):
• Newspaper article: Author's last name, first name. "Article Title." Newspaper name Date: page number.
• (example) Brubaker, Bill. "New Health Center Targets County's Uninsured Patients." Washington Post 24 May 2007: LZ01.
• Magazine article: Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages.
• (example) Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70-71.
• Website article: Author's last name, first name. "Article Title." Name of online publication. (Date posted). Date accessed. <Complete URL>.
• (example) Bernstein, Mark. "10 Tips on Writing the Living Web." A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites. (16 Aug. 2002). 4 May 2006 <http://alistapart.com/articles/writeliving>.

Your spoken presentation needs to include the information in your summary. It should only take sixty seconds or less for you to give us the summary. Practice good eye contact and volume to get the best grade.

Fun Video Film Friday Day Video Fun! (Film!)

Here's the video we watched today... "I can smell your peanut-butter lies from here."

Chapter One for Eighth Grade

Here is a link to Chapter One of the eighth grade textbook. You can use this as a resource while we are studying the American Founding.


Chapter One

Questions to Guide American History

Here are the questions you began to copy down in class. Together we discussed and answered the first five. We'll work some more on the rest tomorrow in class, both in discussion and using the textbook. They will be due this Friday.


What is democracy and where did the idea originate?

What is a republic and where did the idea originate?

What is “rule of law” and where did the idea originate?

What is a covenant and where did the idea originate?

What is Natural Law?

How did the Protestant Reformation influence the American founding?

What did Thomas Hobbes think was the ideal government and why?

What did John Locke think was the ideal government and why?

Who was Voltaire and which of his ideas is very influential in the American founding?

What did Baron Montesquieu think was the ideal government and why?

What is the idea of a Social Contract?

How To/Not To Take Care of Your Macbook Story Assignment for Technology

For our Technology class, you need to go to this page on Macbook care and review it. Most of the information is common sense, but some may be new to you.

 Then you need to write me a story about two people, both with new Macbooks. One follows all the directions for taking care of the Macbook, the other does not. Include at least three mistakes that the person not taking care of their Macbook makes.

 Your story does not have a length requirement or limit. Have fun and make it good. You may illustrate your story also!

 Your story is due tomorrow.

History, Why Bother? Paragraph

History - Why Bother from Jess McCulloch

This is the slideshow we watched for today's assignment. You need to pick a quote from the slideshow, and respond to it with a good paragraph (or more). You can tell me whether you agree or disagree with the quote, but be specific as to why.

This paragraph is due tomorrow.

What Have We Been Doing In Technology Class?

So what have we been doing this first week (almost) in Technology class?

We've been—and will continue to be—discussing  policies in the class and subjects we will cover. We have already started with a brief review of the history of technology and the 'Creation of the Computer' (using the Modern Marvels documentary of the same name) and in-class notes. Soon we will start discussing how to take care of our computers, the parts, and Pages.

The only 'assignments' we have had at this point are for students to bring in their composition book or spiral-bound notebook, which will be dedicated to use only in history class, and to write me a 'Dear Mr. Eddy' letter. As an optional extra credit assignment, students could have brought in a note signed by a parent saying that the Welcome Letter has been read. I am still accepting the signed note for extra credit.

I hope you can come to Back to School Night this Wednesday. I look forward to seeing old faces and meeting new ones!

What Have We Been Doing In American History?

So what have we been doing this first week (almost) in American History?

We've been—and will continue to be—discussing  policies in the class and subjects we will cover. We have already started with a brief review of 'America Before Columbus' (using the documentary of the same name) and in-class notes. Soon we will start discussing the English colonies on the East Coast.

The only 'assignments' we have had at this point are for students to bring in their three-ring binder, which will be dedicated to use only in history class and to write me a 'Dear Mr. Eddy' letter. As an optional extra credit assignment, students could have brought in a note signed by a parent saying that the Welcome Letter has been read. I am still accepting the signed note for extra credit.

I hope you can come to Back to School Night this Wednesday. I look forward to seeing old faces and meeting new ones!

Class Dojo Issues?

A few students have had issues logging in to their Class Dojo pages. I have talked with Mr. Loftus and the site has now been added to our list, so that you should be able to access it. You might need to restart your computer for it to take effect. Please leave me a comment if you are able to or not! Thanks!

Fun Video Film Friday Fun Film Day!

Here are the two videos we watched for Fun Video Film Friday Fun Film Day. The first is serious and touching, the second a little silly.


Video of Liu Xiang's fall and rise at the Olympic hurdles event

Assignments already!?!

Only a couple days in and we already have assignments!?!

Yes, we do, but they're easy. They won't always be as easy as these. Eighth grade history students, you need to have your 'Dear Mr. Eddy' letters for me tomorrow. We started those in class and a few of you finished them already. You also need to have your three-ring binder by Monday. Please notify me if you have any issue with getting a binder. We can make arrangements if I know ahead of time. If you do not have your three-ring binder on Monday morning, then you will lose points.

You have an opportunity for a small amount of extra credit. Remember, I only rarely give extra credit. To get the extra credit, read the Welcome Letter for American History. Then have a parent read it. Your parent needs to write a note with a signature (or sign a printout of the Welcome Letter) acknowledging that they read it. Turn it in to me tomorrow for extra credit!

It's just that easy.

Introductory Documents

Here are a few important introductory documents:

 Welcome Letter for American History

 Welcome Letter for Technology

Curiosity has landed!

True or false: Mr. Eddy had tears in his eyes by the end of this video... Put your answer in a comment.

That's more like it!

Classroom empty... but not for long!