Yesterday in class, we focused mainly on the Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857. It was interesting to look at because it shows how much and how quickly slavery evolved in America around the 1850s. Dred Scott sued his master because he tried to enslave Scott again after being freed. After reading about the case and answering questions, our class discussed whether or not slaves are property, and if they were even considered people. It was interesting, because everybody's first answer was yes, because today, the average American has some sense of humanity. Back then, though, it was different. Slaves were not seen as people with rights or things with any similarities to the white Americans. It was a strange conversation, mostly because it was scary to think that slaves were grouped with a pig or a chair or a lamp that was owned by another human.
Today, we looked at the Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858. The debates at that time were different than the debates this year. They were more focused on an actual debate, instead of incessant blathering about on subjects that they do not believe in, like the debates today in politics. Lincoln and Douglas had views that were on opposite ends of the spectrum, which is to be expected if they are from different parties. We watched an exerpt from a movie depicting what the debates would have looked like at the time. Then we read crucial parts of each speech and filled out a graph that compared and contrasted the two men and their views. It was a beneficial class.
My 30 day challenge has been going well, except the mornings that I wake up and find it impossible to remember my dream. I try to write something down every day regardless.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Class Recap 11/26
Today in class, we learned about the Kansas- Nebraska Act of 1854. It was funny because I went to work on my timeline yesterday and one of the events that I added to the timeline was the Kansas- Nebraska Act. It really helped to have a little bit of background information on it before we got to learn about it in class. It almost felt like review today just because I spent 10 minutes on the act for my timeline. I guess that's why we do these timelines, to help us learn history! We learned about the controversy between the two territories, and how the North and the South both wanted to claim them as either pro slavery or anti slavery. It caused so much hatred and tension between the two groups that lives began to end because of it. We spent quite a bit of time reading blurbs about different topics and then answering a few questions about them, following it with a class discussion. It was a beneficial class. I learned a lot
I am excited to report my progress in my dream journal. It is hard most mornings because I simply cannot remember my dreams, so I figure that I will continue to enter in the journal each time that I can until there are 30 entries. This morning I had a dream and I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and I was excited to write it down, and then go back to bed for a few more hours.
I am excited to report my progress in my dream journal. It is hard most mornings because I simply cannot remember my dreams, so I figure that I will continue to enter in the journal each time that I can until there are 30 entries. This morning I had a dream and I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and I was excited to write it down, and then go back to bed for a few more hours.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Class Recap 11/16, 11/17
On Friday in class, we focused on Chapter 8 of Uncle Toms's Cabin. We took nearly the entire class to read the excerpt and try to understand it. The language in the story is nearly impossible to comprehend because it is written with the slang words, and also in old time English, certainly not the easiest thing to do. Friday's class was relaxing and different because I have never spent an entire history class reading before.
Today in class, we turned in our sources sheet for our papers due. We talked about what source sheet is acceptable and which source sheet is not. After the sources were passed in, we talked about Eliza from Uncle Tom's Cabin. We talked about the different ways that people tried to catch slaves and the fugitive laws. It was interesting to know that even though those laws were passed, slaves were still successfully escaping every day. Today's class was dedicated to Eliza.
Today in class, we turned in our sources sheet for our papers due. We talked about what source sheet is acceptable and which source sheet is not. After the sources were passed in, we talked about Eliza from Uncle Tom's Cabin. We talked about the different ways that people tried to catch slaves and the fugitive laws. It was interesting to know that even though those laws were passed, slaves were still successfully escaping every day. Today's class was dedicated to Eliza.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Class Recap 11/9, 11/13
On Friday in class, we focused on the Underground Railroad and how different textbooks can describe the events that took place in different ways. We took notes from a powerpoint first, though. It was funny because a couple of kids thought that the Underground Railroad was actually underground and on a rail. It could not be farther from the truth, which is what they came to learn after we took the notes. Following the slideshow, we recieved different textbooks' descriptions of the Underground Railroad and we were told to answer questions regarding the different entries.
Today in class, we went directly to the library where we sat down at computers and opened up a link which we used to fill out two charts regarding population and land area. It was a relatively easy excercise, and a great way to end the day after donating blood.
My 30 day challenge is going pretty well. My plan is to continue writing entries until the thirty days are up, and then I will read them all and try to look for similarities and hopefully try to draw a conclusion. When I wake up in the morning and I forget my dream, it is extremely disappointing because then I have nothing to write about and I want to complete my challenge. What I usually end up doing is laying in bed for a few minutes and try to think really really hard and drag up some sort of thought or feeling I had during the sleep the night before. It is successfull most of the time. I am excited to see where this challenge goes.
Today in class, we went directly to the library where we sat down at computers and opened up a link which we used to fill out two charts regarding population and land area. It was a relatively easy excercise, and a great way to end the day after donating blood.
My 30 day challenge is going pretty well. My plan is to continue writing entries until the thirty days are up, and then I will read them all and try to look for similarities and hopefully try to draw a conclusion. When I wake up in the morning and I forget my dream, it is extremely disappointing because then I have nothing to write about and I want to complete my challenge. What I usually end up doing is laying in bed for a few minutes and try to think really really hard and drag up some sort of thought or feeling I had during the sleep the night before. It is successfull most of the time. I am excited to see where this challenge goes.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
30 Day Challenge Rerouted
Instead of trying to go to bed early every night, which could prove to be a force, I decided to approach it with a new tactic. I changed my 30 day challenge activity to when I wake up each morning. As soon as I rise from bed, I plan to keep a dream journal for the next 30 days. I will try my best to remember everything I can from my dream the night before, and write it down. I was having a conversation with one of my good friends, and she said that keeping a dream journal will help you figure out what you are really thinking, and to decipher your personality, so I am excited to see what I find out next month as I go through my previous journal entries. Maybe I will even continue it for more than just the 30 days. We will have to see what happens...
Class Recap 11/6, 11/7
Yesterday in class, we were focused on the Constitution. We had to try and figure out whether or not the Constitution supported slavery or opposed it. It was very difficult to differentiate, and to mentally switch arguments quickly. The arguments for and against slavery in the Constitution got me confused, and my group was not of very much help when it came to coming up with valid ideas why the Constitution supported it or why it did not. We were then given each part of the Constitution we were looking at, and it had different arguments to be made supporting each side. It will be a very handy tool when writing the essay at hand that is due next Friday.
Today in class, Mr. Boyle presented a slide show with notes on slavery in early America. We talked about how slavery involved as time went on. When the cotton gin came out, it was supposedly made to help the slaves and to reduce the amount of work. Instead of this, the opposite occurred. It created a higher demand for cotton in America, which pushed the slaves even harder. After we took notes, Mr. Boyle handed each student one of two documents that talked about slavery in different points of view. I read part of Abraham Lincoln's speech, "Address Before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society" in 1859. It talked about work and the difference between owning, being owned, and working on your own terms. It was interesting. At first, it was a bit hard to understand, but the questions at the end targeted what parts I should be focusing on in the document, and it was extremely beneficial. After reading and filling out the questions at the end, we shared our answers with someone who had the opposite document. We ended class that way.
This morning, I started my new 30 day challenge. Since going to bed early proved to be much too difficult (especially if I wanted to stay up late on the weekends), I decided to change tactics and create a dream journal for the next 30 days. This morning, I was almost excited to wake up to record the dream I had last night. I hope that this journal will make getting up a little easier in the mornings.
Today in class, Mr. Boyle presented a slide show with notes on slavery in early America. We talked about how slavery involved as time went on. When the cotton gin came out, it was supposedly made to help the slaves and to reduce the amount of work. Instead of this, the opposite occurred. It created a higher demand for cotton in America, which pushed the slaves even harder. After we took notes, Mr. Boyle handed each student one of two documents that talked about slavery in different points of view. I read part of Abraham Lincoln's speech, "Address Before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society" in 1859. It talked about work and the difference between owning, being owned, and working on your own terms. It was interesting. At first, it was a bit hard to understand, but the questions at the end targeted what parts I should be focusing on in the document, and it was extremely beneficial. After reading and filling out the questions at the end, we shared our answers with someone who had the opposite document. We ended class that way.
This morning, I started my new 30 day challenge. Since going to bed early proved to be much too difficult (especially if I wanted to stay up late on the weekends), I decided to change tactics and create a dream journal for the next 30 days. This morning, I was almost excited to wake up to record the dream I had last night. I hope that this journal will make getting up a little easier in the mornings.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Class Recap 11/3, 11/5
On Friday in class, we were talking about slavery, and we made a lot of connections to Frederick Douglass. After a short class discussion, Mr. Boyle handed out 3 different narratives that explain different views of slavery. My group was assigned the longest reading, so it took a much longer time to read it than normal. It absolutely broke my heart. The hard life that the woman had aboard the ship was so terrible that it hurt my heart. It made me feel like humanity is most definitely not restored, and that treating people like that is so unnecessary that we need to have a serious intervention on how we are leading out lives. Treating real people like the way we treated the slaves gives me great pain. We were to create a storyboard following the reading, which showed in pictures what happened to the slaves. It kind of solidified our understanding for what happened during the horrible slave trade.
Today in class, we simply finished up what we were going over with the storyboards. Mr. Boyle put each on up on the board and then gave each of us a 3 way Venn diagram, which we filled in with the 3 different stories of the slaves. It was interesting to see how slaves were treated in different ways at that time. After we discussed what we had put down for each experience, we got more papers and read about people in history that were either for or against slavery. We filled out a corresponding column in a sheet and then split up into different groups to share our information. We ended class talking about a project due in January.
Today in class, we simply finished up what we were going over with the storyboards. Mr. Boyle put each on up on the board and then gave each of us a 3 way Venn diagram, which we filled in with the 3 different stories of the slaves. It was interesting to see how slaves were treated in different ways at that time. After we discussed what we had put down for each experience, we got more papers and read about people in history that were either for or against slavery. We filled out a corresponding column in a sheet and then split up into different groups to share our information. We ended class talking about a project due in January.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
30 Day Challenge
For 30 days, I will go to bed as early as possible. Lately, I have been staying up too late for my own good and it leaves me tired and desperately wanting sleep during school. Hopefully, early bed means around 10:00, but it depends on what time I finish my homework at night. Since I am in between sports seasons, it should not be too much of a problem. If I can go to bed at 10, I feel as though I will be energized with enough sleep to last me the day. This 30 day challenge will probably help me to get into a healthy sleeping habit. We will have to see how it goes.
Class Recap 10/31, 11/1
Wednesday in class was dedicated solely to working on our integrated projects. In E Period, there are two out of the three girls working in our group, so we just edited our newspaper. We made some changes, and Laurel said that she would fix it when she got home. I am glad that we had the great majority of the project already done, because Wednesday was Halloween. The other girl in our group, Jeanne, has Mr. Richard as a teacher, so she did not have much to work on.
Thursday was when the project was due, so before school, our group put the newspaper on a table in the library. When E Period came, we filled out a questionnaire about how the project went and what improvements could be made, etc. Then we went as a class to the library and spent the class looking at other people's projects and playing the games. There were videos set up on the computers and games, newspapers and scripts on the tables. It was a fun class. I loved seeing all the different variations of the assignment there were. Even though each project was vastly different than all the others, they all presented knowledge of Julius Caesar and the American Revolution, which I thought was really cool.
Thursday was when the project was due, so before school, our group put the newspaper on a table in the library. When E Period came, we filled out a questionnaire about how the project went and what improvements could be made, etc. Then we went as a class to the library and spent the class looking at other people's projects and playing the games. There were videos set up on the computers and games, newspapers and scripts on the tables. It was a fun class. I loved seeing all the different variations of the assignment there were. Even though each project was vastly different than all the others, they all presented knowledge of Julius Caesar and the American Revolution, which I thought was really cool.
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