9th Grade American History
First and Second Half of a Semester Long Class
1st Half of the Class
Quick Overview: In our 9th grade history class, we will be:
Click Here for a Listing of Current and Past Assignments
Main Units: (100 point projects for each unit)
1. Personal History Project
2. Christopher Columbus Voyage
3. Early European Colonies in America
4. Early American Revolution and Declaration of Independence
2nd Half of the Class
Quick Overview: In our 9th grade history class, we will be:
Click Here for a Listing of Current and Past Assignments
Main Units: (100 point projects for each unit)
2. Slavery
3. Civil War
Smaller Assignments: (Point values range from 5 - 25 points)
1. "Manifest Destiny"
2. Mid 1800's Immigration
3. Journals
4. Foreign Student Contacts Using E-mail
How Students Will Be Graded:
1. Three 100 point projects.
2. Textbook questions and responses, each worth between 15 - 35 points.
3. Video questions and responses, each worth between 15 - 35 points.
4. Approximately 10-15 smaller assignments, ranging between 5-15 points.
5. Each Unexcused Absence: will result in a 3% deduction off of their final grade.
6. After 3 Tardies: Students will lose 1% off of their final grade for each tardy.
Classroom Approach to Learning:
Project Based Approach to Learning: An approach to learning that makes students workers instead of listeners. In addition to demonstrating that they understand the material; students have to learn how to use their time wisely, set goals, work with others, and meet deadlines.
Critical Thinking Skills and Creativity: History is much more than just memorizing dates and events. It involves learning to think and see your world in new and deeper ways. Students will be encouraged to look at ideas and events from more than one perspective. Students will be encouraged to convey their thoughts and ideas in creative ways that show how the topics relate to their lives.
Constructing Their Own Meaning: The focus will be placed on creating questions and learning how to find out the answers to questions.
"Informational literacy": Learning how to use technology and other tools to find information, sort out the useful information from the junk, recognize bias, organizing the information so it makes sense to them, and then be able to present it to someone else in an easily understandable and interesting way.
Computer Programs We Will Be Using in Class:
1. ClarisWorks: A word processing program. Typing, using graphics, etc.
2. Internet: We will be using "Netscape Navigator" to research the internet.
3. E-mail: We will be using Eudora Light to send and receive information and assignments using e-mail.
Teacher's Note: I do not believe that we should learn how to use technology just because it is there. I believe that we should use technology as only one kind of tool to help find out answers to questions.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Typos?
Click Here to E-mail Mr. Voegeli dvoegeli@wshs.luminet.net