Witness to History! Today was a day that we will NEVER forget! Mr. Quier (Jake Ledford's Grandpa) visted our classroom and shared his eyewitness account of Pearl Harbor - a day that will live in infamy. He shared exactly where he was and what he was doing on the morning of Sunday, December 7th, 1941. He was in the midst of writing a letter to his girlfriend back home - the woman that would go on to become his wife of 67 cherished years. He told of the attack from 267 Japanese bomber planes and brought handouts to illustrate the U.S. ships and service members that we lost that day. We are honored that he chose to visit our classroom and share his wealth of information and memories. As he said, "What happened in the past is the bridge to our future."
International Trade Day!
Our 2nd Annual International Trade Day was a hit! Students brought in (5) objects to trade from home and got to trade and negotiate with others. It was definitely a lesson in "one person's junk is another person's treasure!" It also illustrated the trading aspect between the settlers and the Native Americans that is about to happen in our next unit.
See all of the magnificent trades that happened below!
See all of the magnificent trades that happened below!
Constitution Time!
Time to study the very foundation ofour democracy. From how the Consitution came about, to the ten amendments of the Bill of Rights, we have explored our rights and responsibilities as American citizens. Each group of students studied a particular amendment and then presented to the class their findings.
Do YOU know your rights???
1st Amendment: Right of religion, free speech, and assembly.
2nd Amendment: Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment: Right to not house soldiers
4th Amendment: Rights to limits on searches
5th Amendment: Right to remain silent
6th Amendment: Right to a speedy trial with a lawyer
7th Amendemnt: Right to a jury with a civil case
8th Amendment: Right to not have cruel or unusual punishment
9th Amendment: Right to have more rights not listed
10th Amendment: Right to have power belong to the states
Do YOU know your rights???
1st Amendment: Right of religion, free speech, and assembly.
2nd Amendment: Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment: Right to not house soldiers
4th Amendment: Rights to limits on searches
5th Amendment: Right to remain silent
6th Amendment: Right to a speedy trial with a lawyer
7th Amendemnt: Right to a jury with a civil case
8th Amendment: Right to not have cruel or unusual punishment
9th Amendment: Right to have more rights not listed
10th Amendment: Right to have power belong to the states
Riley's Farm 2013 Field Trip
How better to show what life was like during Colonial Times and during the Revolutionary War than to visit Riley's Farm in Glen Oaks? Fabulous day whereby the students traveled back in time from the minute they got off the bus. The period costumes, trial by judge/jury all wrapped up in one, weaving and etiquette demonstrations and more brought it all to life. But perhaps the best was saved for last as all 400 students present that day reenacted the Revolutionary War! Even if it turned out that we were on the side of the British that day we still got to live history. There's no better way to bring Social Studies ALIVE!
PS: Plus, nothing beats a trip on a school bus for fun :)
PS: Plus, nothing beats a trip on a school bus for fun :)
One-Pager Colonial Reports
I loved the variety and creativity of every single one-pager colonial report! From the presentations, to the dressing up, to the foods brought in to share, it was a wonderful two days of learning and fun. Thank you for always giving 100% to every single assignment!
Explorer Projects
Wow! The explorer lapbook projects were outstanding! From Columbus to Cortes, we researched and presented our findings on Monday. I was amazed at the creativity shown by all. I also was impressed by how many students aimed for completing all of the required activities to earn an "A." Well done!
Trade Day 2012
As we wrap up our Pre-Columbian unit, and prepare to segue into the Explorers of the New World, we did our very first Trade Day. The children brought up to (5) items from home and bartered and traded away! It was fabulous to sit back and watch the interactions as they played out... from tentative beginnings to hard hitting pleas by the end. As DJ remarked to me shortly after we began, "Hmm... what I thought people would go for - they didn't. What I thought people wouldn't want - they did." I'll post more from their reflective writings next time... but I think all could agree that today taught each of them a valuable lesson: one person's junk is another person's treasure! (or... just bring brownies - EVERYONE wants that!)
Now onto learning about the greatest exchange of ideas, land, and resources ever seen on this great continent. A trade that defines who we were destined to become: America!
Now onto learning about the greatest exchange of ideas, land, and resources ever seen on this great continent. A trade that defines who we were destined to become: America!
Crossing Beringia
How did the first people get here? Where did they come from? One theory (the one we learned!) was that Asia and North America were connected by a large 1,000 mile wide grassy land bridge called "Beringia." The first people came from Asia some 10,000 years ago on the trail of woolly mammoths and crossed over this bridge to present day America. As the continents pulled apart over time this land bridge was buried under water and those first people became our Native American Indians.
We got to reenact this incredible history right in our own classroom!
We got to reenact this incredible history right in our own classroom!
Prepare Your Time Capsule...
to go back in time to 1250 AD to the time of the Anasazi Indians of the American Southwest. The children got to enter into their "time capsules" and travel back in time to learn all about our first American Indian group: the cliff dwellers in Mesa Verde, Colorado. They learned that the cliff dwellers built apartments straight into the sides of the cliffs and lived a tough life in the dry conditions. They learned that they planted corn, squash and beans; that they married while still in their teens, and died when barely 40 years of age. They also learned that within 50 years all the cliff dwellers were gone due to a drought that lasted for 24 years straight. They left an incredible legacy though in their dwellings which still exist today. They also left their ancestors, the Pueblo Indians, and that is where we are headed next in our time capsules!
Windows on History with Ms. Jimenez
This year we will explore six "windows on history" which, when finished, will encompass the history of the United States up to the Civil War as we travel from sea to shining sea! History is one of my passions and I hope it will be one of yours too.
Window #1: Pre-Columbian Natives
Our first window is the Pre-Columbian Natives that lived in what is now the United States of America for thousands of years before Columbus arrived. Come along as we explore how the first americans arrived to this land and join in our study of the great populations of the cliff dwellers and pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River. We'll compare and contrast their ways of life, culture, language, trade, and unique contributions to our land. This unit will end with our First People's Trade Day where we'll trade and barter items.
Window #1: Pre-Columbian Natives
Our first window is the Pre-Columbian Natives that lived in what is now the United States of America for thousands of years before Columbus arrived. Come along as we explore how the first americans arrived to this land and join in our study of the great populations of the cliff dwellers and pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River. We'll compare and contrast their ways of life, culture, language, trade, and unique contributions to our land. This unit will end with our First People's Trade Day where we'll trade and barter items.
Window #2: Explorers
From the time of the Vikings in the first millenium to the early explorers in the sixteenth century, this land has been a beacon for explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. What were they searching for?
Land, gold, inhabitants, spices and more! And while Columbus did not find a westard route to the Indies, he did find a continent that would change the course of our history forevermore. We will end this interesting study with an International Spice Faire to taste exactly why men risked their lives to explore. We'll also do our first Report on the Explorer of your choice.
Land, gold, inhabitants, spices and more! And while Columbus did not find a westard route to the Indies, he did find a continent that would change the course of our history forevermore. We will end this interesting study with an International Spice Faire to taste exactly why men risked their lives to explore. We'll also do our first Report on the Explorer of your choice.
Window #3: Colonial Time
Come back in time as we study the original 13 colonies and their founding by our great leaders: John Smith of Virginia; Roger Williams of Rhode Island; William Penn of Pennsylvania; Lord Baltimore of Maryland; William Bradford of Plymouth and John Winthrop of Massachusetts. We'll do an overview of all 13 colonies and then focus in on Williamsburg, VA. There we'll meet ordinary folks and study their lives and livelihoods, as well as compare and contrast the lives of children in colonial times and nowadays. Most importantly we'll see how the seeds of discontent and freedom were beginning to grow into what would be an historical event of great proportions: the American Revolution. We'lll also study the roots of slavery and the ongoing struggle of slaves for their freeedom. A Colonial Faire will be a hit as we go back in time to our early American ways!
Window #4: Revolution!
It was bound to happen! Our forefathers that were brave enough to pack up all their belongings and travel across the trecherous Atlantic Ocean to search for religious freedom were also brave enough to fight for their freedom against the King of England: King George III. Without their willingness to die for their right to be a free American we would not have the "home of the free and the brave" today. This fight began with a little letter that declared they no longer wanted to belong to the King of England, nor pay him taxes. Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and 52 other brave individuals knew that by signing this letter and sending it to the king, they were indeed taking their own lives in their hands. We'll identify some of the major battles of the Revolution and get inside the head of Washington as he struggled to lead the first Continental Army against the better-equipped Hessians.
Window #5: A New Nation
We'll explore the great debates that occurred over exactly how to run this country after their freedom was gained and study one of the greatest documents ever written: the Constitution of the United States, along with the Articles of Confederation and the Bill of Rights. The phrase "of the people, by the people, and for the people" will become crystal clear and your powers as an American citizen will be understood. We'll wrap up an amazing study with our own performance entitled "America: I Have a Dream!" Each of you will have a part in our historical performance so start thinking about your favorite person from history!
Window #5: A New Nation
We'll explore the great debates that occurred over exactly how to run this country after their freedom was gained and study one of the greatest documents ever written: the Constitution of the United States, along with the Articles of Confederation and the Bill of Rights. The phrase "of the people, by the people, and for the people" will become crystal clear and your powers as an American citizen will be understood. We'll wrap up an amazing study with our own performance entitled "America: I Have a Dream!" Each of you will have a part in our historical performance so start thinking about your favorite person from history!
Window #6: Westward Ho!
This period encompasses 1789 to the mid 1800's and includes the waves of immigrants that traveled to our shores from Europe, as well as the exploration of the land west of the Mississippi by the famed explorers of Lewis and Clark. Everyone was searching for land to settle and live on, as well as the ability to conquer the American frontier. Transportation by all means from wagons and horses to steamboats was utilized. Americans were on the move and this was an exciting time in our history! Life on the move was hard though too, and these pioneers were hearty, strong, and brave as they struggled to explore this great land of ours.
Soon California, Texas, Oregon and other Western lands will become part of the United States and then another war, the Mexican-American war, will be fought. Mosey on up to our first Cowboy Chuckwagon where we'll eat some tasty vittles, learn tricks of the
At the end of our study of American History I hope that you will know what it means to be an American - with all the rights and responsibilities that it entails. I hope you will also understand that each group of immigrants, from the first peoples onwards, has played a vital role in the majestic tapestry of our nation. Most of all, I hope you will understand that history isn't HIS STORY but OUR STORY, and what a magnifcent one it is!
Soon California, Texas, Oregon and other Western lands will become part of the United States and then another war, the Mexican-American war, will be fought. Mosey on up to our first Cowboy Chuckwagon where we'll eat some tasty vittles, learn tricks of the
At the end of our study of American History I hope that you will know what it means to be an American - with all the rights and responsibilities that it entails. I hope you will also understand that each group of immigrants, from the first peoples onwards, has played a vital role in the majestic tapestry of our nation. Most of all, I hope you will understand that history isn't HIS STORY but OUR STORY, and what a magnifcent one it is!