Friday, 9/5 and 1st Quiz on Tues. 9/9

Greetings 8th Graders and Family Members,

Our first week was fantastic. Students were familiarized with classroom procedures, created their own set of classroom behavior guidelines, and began their study of paleo-indians and Ice-Age migrations. You are all such fun and inquisitive students.

*Today, 3-ring binders are due for HW. We will be creating sections and creative designs together in class.

Also: *Today begins our study of the 2008 Presidential Elections -- something that fits into our current events and Constitution curricula. Students will systematically be critiquing the major candidates' web-sites, with an eye for their positions on major issues.

*Tuesday 9/9 - 1st quiz of the quarter. Using vocab introduced this week, which is also posted in the room, students will compose 1-2 paragraphs describing how and when the 1st Americans arrived from other continents. Advanced work will use all of the vocabulary in the writing and also describe more than one theory regarding when/how paleo-indians arrived.

Have a great weekend!

Field Trip on 9/12

There will be an History Field Trip, Friday September 12th to the Indian Arts Museum at Colter Bay. We will be leaving JHMS at 9:00 am and returning to the school at around 2:00pm. Students will need their own lunches and have appropriate clothing for one part of the tour that is outside. This is an excellent tie-in to local archeology, cultures and arts. If you have any questions please contact me using the information provided on this site. -- dwells@teton1.k12.wy.us

Note: Please advise the school if students cannot bring their own lunch and one will be provided for them.

Paleo-Indians

The American Indian Unit will be our first topic in US History. Far from old news, the debate over when and how people came to the Americas still rages in archeological circles today. Five questions will guide students through this unit, which culminates in their first formal research paper. Students will have a high level of individual choice on their research topic. All students will be expected to demonstrate that they have learned the basic research and writing skills needed to write in this important academic genre. Due to many factors, research will begin on the 17th of September.

1. When did the first Americans arrive?
2. Where did they go?
3. How did they live?
4. What happened to their populations?
5. Why is this important?

US History Binder for Friday

By Friday, students will be expected to have a 3 ring binder. We will be organizing them in class on Friday with sections for each of the key units of study and current events. (Seven Sections). Students who cannot obtain a binder via family or guardian will be provided one in school. The binder is required.

The sections will be:

1. Current Events
2. American Indians
3. Colonization/Revolutionary War
4. Immigration – Family Tree
5. US Constitution
6. Westward Expansion/ Invention and Industry
7. The Civil War