Job Well Done

The Kennedys in Newport

 

 

Congratulations to all who handed in their oral history projects!  They have been a delight to read and to view.  And a special tip of the hat to the two students who earned perfect scores…a first for this project! Many of you did a great job asking open ended questions and using follow-up questions to further probe the events and time periods you selected.  Asking rich questions allowed your person being interviewed to explain more than the facts of the event.  Learning to write thank you notes is important as you will need to use this skill as you ask people for college or job references and ultimately interviews.  This project should have given you the sense that stories are the best way to learn history and that you yourself are witnesses.  Sometime in the future you may be interviewed as to what is was like to live during the time of our first African American president…or during an era when social media dominated everyday interactions…or who knows…the election of our first woman president?

This week we had to work around NECAP testing and field trips.  We had our second and last day in the library or computer lab to complete the presidential power point project.  You will have some class time to check in with your group and we will select a day later in the coming week for the presentations.  Keep in mind that you must be knowledgeable about the entire project, not just the slide you built.  

We watched a brief video about President Kennedy.  Many Newporters consider him a local as he was married at St. Mary’s Church to a “local” girl, Jackie Bouvier. While he only served for 1,000 days, it was during his time that we were confronted with the most dangerous crisis of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis.  His assassination and funeral became the first nationally televised event that consumed everyone’s attention.  You had a text based reading and worksheet to complete and we will have one more class activity before we have our quiz.

World History

This past week we focused on events leading up to World War II with your timeline and worksheets that compared the features of communism, fascism and democracy. We also watched a powerful power point that showed how Hitler marched through Europe conquering countries until he finally overreached by marching into Russia.  By opening up two fronts he stretched his forces too thin and this allowed the Allies to turn the tide and start the long and successful march towards Berlin.

We watched a clip about Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics, which are sometimes called the Nazi Olympics.  The video showed you the power that Hitler had over the crowd and the ever present propaganda banners and posters that glorified the Aryan race and militarism.

For home you had a reading and a T chart activity.  You had to list the events from the reading and their significance.  You also had a study guide for the quiz on Monday.

Coming events

Over the next few weeks, along with continued standardized testing and AP exams you will also need to start preparing for final exams, which count for 10 percent of your grade.  You will have a study guide and your portfolio, and of course you can always review your trusty Blog!  But it won’t be all work – next Saturday is the Junior Prom.  Be safe and have fun – I look forward to seeing your photos!