U.S. History Honors Course Calendar: Fall 2008

Quarter #1:

Week 1 [8/18-22]: (4) [Freshman Orientation (M)]; Course requirements & expectations; text distribution (T)

Building Context for America, Liberty & Democracy in the 21^st Century.

View Documentaries: Is America #1? (W); Democracy Crushed: Tiananmen Square (Th.);

The Middle East (F);

[Turnitin.com i.d.’s/passwords/tutorial distributed] (F)

Week 2 [8/25-29]: (5) [Mass 8/27] Development of the Atlantic World Debate: Should we celebrate Columbus Day? (M)

The American Colonies: What Happened to Roanoke? (T-W)

Debate: Salem Witch Trials: Religious Anxiety or Socio-economic tensions? (W/Th.)

Mercantilism or Salutary Neglect? How should the King proceed? (F)

[Reading Due: Ch.1.4; Ch.2.1-4; Ch. 3.1]

Week 3 [9/1-5]: (4) [Labor Day: (M)][Senior Panoramic Photo (W)]

The American Colonies (cont.) From Authority to Individualism: Colonial Transformation. (T/W)

Debate: “Which colonial region was most “American?” (W/Th.)

Conflict & Independence. The French & Indian War and Colonial Discontent (Th./F)

[Reading Due: Ch.3.2-4; Ch.4.1-3]

Week 4 [9/8-12]: (5) [Mass 9/10]

Conflict & Independence (cont.) “The Declaration of Independence” (M)

9/11 Memoriam (T); Fighting the War for Independence (W & Th.)

Exam #1(F)

[Reading Due: Ch.4.4-5]

[Exam #1 Friday]

Week 5 [9/15-19]: (5) The Constitution. The Problems with The Articles of Confederation. (M)

Shay’s Rebellion (T) Compromise and the Constitutional Convention (W)

View Film: A More Perfect Union (Th.-F)

[Reading Due: Ch. 5:1-4]

Week 6 [9/22-26]: (5) The Constitution (continued) The Bill of Rights & Ratification (M)

[Political Cartoon Project Introduction] (T)

Return/Review Exam #1 (T)

Group debate preparation (W-Th.). Group Debate (F)

[Reading Due: Handouts – The Federalist Papers; The Anti-federalist Papers]

[Major Group Debate: Should the states ratify the Constitution? -- Friday]

Week 7 [9/29-10/3]: (5) [Cafetorium Ceremony (W)]

[Documentary/Exhibit Research Projects Introduced] (M)

The Birth of U.S. Politics Student Lesson Preparation (T- Th.)

Student Lessons presented (F)

[Reading Due: Ch.6.1, 2, 3, & 5]

[Student Lessons due -- Friday]

Week 8 [10/6-10]: (5) [Faculty Meeting (M)][Quarter Exams Periods A: (F)]

The Birth of U.S. Politics (cont.) Student Lessons completed: (M-W)

The American Economy & The Growth of Sectionalism.

The Market Revolution (Th.)

The Northern & Southern Sections (F for periods I & J)

Exam #2 (F – for Period A)

[Reading Due: Ch. 8.1-3]

[Exam #2 – Friday (Period A)]

Week 9 [10/13-17]: (3) [Quarter Exams: (M/T)][PSAT: (W)][Teacher Workday: (F)]

The Northern & Southern Sections (M for period A)

Exam #2 (T- for periods I & J)

The Growth of American Nationalism (M for periods I & J)(T for period A)

Jacksonian Era. (Th.)

Debate: Did Andrew Jackson affirm or betray the ideals of limited federal government?”(Th)

[Reading Due: Ch. 8.4 & 5]

[Exam #2 Tuesday (Periods, I & J)]

Quarter #2:

Week 10 [10/20-24]: (5) Political Cartoon Projects presented (M-F)

Review Exam #2 (F)

[Political Cartoon Projects Due – Monday]

Week 11 [10/27-31]: (5) The Growth of Abolitionism.

View Documentary: Africans in America: 1831-1865 “Judgment Day.” (M/T)

The Early Women’s Rights Movement. (W);

Immigration & Sectionalism. (Th.)

Continued Westward Expansion & Conflict

The Plains Indians, Mexican Independence, Texan Independence, and the Mexican War. (F)

[Reading Due: Ch. 9.2 – 4; begin Chapter 10 according to class newspaper assignments)]

Week 12 [11/3-7]: (4) [Homecoming Week]

[Early Release: Faculty Meeting (M)][Field Day (T)][Report Card Night (W)]

Continued Westward Expansion & Conflict (continued)

The Plains Indians, Mexican Independence, Texan Independence, and the Mexican War. (M/W)

Debate: Should Texas be annexed by the United States? (W) (if time allows)

Exam #3 (Thursday)

Antebellum America: Growing Sectional Conflict.

Student Lesson preparation (F)

[Reading Due: 10.1-4 (10.3 will not be covered in class)]

[Reading Due: Ch. 11.1-4 (according to teaching sections assigned)]

[Documentary/Exhibit Project Topics Due – Monday][Exam #3 – Thursday]

Week 13 [11/10-14]: (4) [Veteran’s Day: No Classes (T)][Diakonia Retreat (W-Th.)]

Antebellum America: Growing Sectional Conflict (cont.)

Student Lessons presented (M; W-F)

[Reading Due: Ch.11.1-4]

[Student Lessons Due – Monday]

Week 14 [11/17-21]: (4) [Plan Testing (F): Juniors & Seniors off]

Civil War. Was the South’s a “Lost Cause?” (M)

The Emancipation Proclamation and other War Measures (T)

Turning Point Battles (W)

The Union Prevails (Th.)

[Reading Due: Ch.12.1-4]

Week 15 [11/24-28]: (3) [Thanksgiving Break Th./F (and W if Raffle goal met)]

The Civil War. (continued) (M-W)

View Film: Gettysburg (M-T)

Review Exam #3 (W)

Week 16 [12/1-5]: (5) [Early Release: Faculty Meeting (M)]

The Deciding Factor at Gettysburg; Courage or Leadership? (M)

The Lost Cause: Reconsidered

Reconstruction

News Broadcasts presented (T-W)

Exam #4 (Th.)

Debate: Did Reconstruction Succeed? (F)

[Reading Due: Ch.13.1-4]

[Exam #4 - Thursday][News Broadcasts Due- Tuesday]

Week 17 [12/8-12]: (5) [Christmas Activity Week][Mass (M)]

Documentary/Exhibit Projects Presented (M-W)

Review for Semester Exam (Th./F)

[Documentary/Exhibit Projects Due – Monday]

Week 18 [12/15-19]: (1) [Semester Exams 12/16-18][Teacher Work Day 12/19]

Review for Semester Exam; Review Exam #4 (M)

[Semester Exam]