Thursday, October 30, 2008

6th Grade Head of State and Government Types for West Europe

Andorra
Albert Pintant
Parliamentary Democracy

Austria
Heinz Fischer
Federal Republic

Belgium
Tyves Leterme
Federal Parliamentary Democracy with a Constitutional Monarchy

Denmark
Margrethe II
Constitutional Monarchy

Finland
Tarja Halonen
Republic

France
Nicolas Sarkozy
Republic

Germany
Horst Koehler
Federal Republic

Greece
Karalos Papoulias
Parliamentary Republic

Iceland
Olafur Grimsson
Constitutional Republic

Ireland
Mary McAleese
Republic, Parliamentary Democracy

Italy
Giorgio Napolitano
Republic

Liechtenstein
Otmar Hasler
Constitutional Monarchy

Luxembourg
Grand Duke Henri
Constitutional Monarchy

Malta
Edward Fenech-Adami
Republic

Monaco
Albert II
Constitutional Monarchy

Netherlands
Jan Peter Balkenende
Constitutional Monarchy

Norway
Jens Stoltenberg
Constitutional Monarchy

Portugal
Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva
republic; parliamentary democracy

San Marino
Federico Pedini Amanti
Republic

Spain
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
Parliamentary Monarchy

Sweden
Fredrik Reinfeldt
Constitutional Monarchy

Switzerland
Pascal Couchepin
Confederation turned Federal Republic

United Kingdom
James Gordon Brown
Constitutional Monarchy

Vatican City
Benedict XVI
Pope

6th Grade Europe Map


Friday, October 24, 2008

8th Grade Chapter 8 Terms

Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the constitution, guarantee specific rights to the citizen.
Constitution: a basic set of principles that set the powers and duties of government
republicanism: support for a representative form of government
limited government: all leaders and citizens are subjects to the laws, no one has absolute power
Virgnia Statute of Religious Freedom: drafted by Thomas Jefferson, gave freedom of worship, 1786, by 1833 all other colonies adopt
suffrage: voting rights
Articles of Confederation: failed first version of U.S. government, had no power to raise an army or secure taxes.
ratification: to make official approval, amendments were ratified
Land Ordinance of 1785: Confederation Congress sells land to individuals in order to raise funds
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: created the Northwest Territory, work of the Confederation Congress
Northwest Territories: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
tariff: taxes on imports and exports
interstate commerce: trade between 2 or more states, early U.S. allowed interstate tariffs.
inflation: decrease in value of currency
debtor: a person who owes money
creditor: people who lend money, providing a line of credit
depression: a steep drop in economic activity combined with unemployment rates
Shay's Rebellion: a farmer revolt in Western Massachusettes, shut down the government, led by Daniel Shay.
Constitutional Convention: Philadelphia meeting of colonial delegates to form a Constitution
James Madison: considered to be the father of the Constitution
Virginia Plan: 1787 designed 3 branches with a legislative branch determined by population.
New Jersey Plan: legislative branch with set equal numbers.
The Great Compromise: modern U.S. Congress with 2 houses, one of population and one of guaranteed numbers.
3/5th's Compromise: a slave accounts for 3/5ths of a person in obtained congressional delegates.
Popular Sovereignty: the political authority is derived from the people
Federalism: system of government where power rests in a central authority
leglislative branch: law making body of government, composed of 2 houses.
executive branch: President and all law-enforcement.
judicial branch: interpret the law.
checks and balances: keeps any one branch from assuming too much power.
Federalists: supported the ratification of the Constitution, loose construction
Antifederalists: people who opposed the Constitution, strict construction
Loose vs Strict Construction: rights of the individual or the powers of the government

8th Grade Chapter 7 Terms Defined

First Continental Congress: debated how to respond to the growing problems with Britain, 56 delegates.
Minutemen: Boston colonial militia.
Lexington/Concord: one of the first engagements, resulted when British went to claim the militia’s weapons
Redcoats: the British regulars.
Second Continental Congress: created the Continental Army, but decided not to secede.
Continental Army: to defend against the British, led by Virginian George Washington.
George Washington: led the Continental Army, more failures than success.
Olive Branch Petition: the colonial request for peace sent to King George III, was denied.
Benedict Arnold: was a general at the taking of Ft. Ticonderoga, would eventually betray the Patriots.
Ethan Allen: from Vermont, took part in the taking of Ft. Ticonderoga.
Ft. Ticonderoga/Lake Champlain: a key waterway held by the British, taken by the Colonial Army.
Bunker/Breed's Hill: 1000 British casualties, compared to 400 Colonial casualties, preceded the siege of Boston.
Henry Knox: moved cannons 300 miles in winter to the siege of Boston.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense: appealed to a great population of colonists, in favor of separating from Britain.
Thomas Jefferson: drafted the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence (Unalienable Rights): stating reasons for separating from Britain.
Patriots/Loyalists: Patriots placed their faith in the new government, Loyalists in Great Britain
Mercenaries: soldiers of fortune, in the Revolutionary War they were primarily Hessians for Britain.
Lord Dunmore's Proclamation: provided freedom to African enslaved if they fought for the crown.
Molly Pitcher: nickname for women soldiers, originally a woman who manned the cannons after her husbands injury.
Battle of Trenton: Washington silently crossed the Delaware River and captured the British fort with 5 American casualties.
Battle of Princeton: Washington faked the British out with campfires and attacked them in the morning from the other side.
John Burgoyne: British who planned to recapture Ticonderoga and cut the Continental Army off from its supply.
Battle of Brandywine Creek: Howe crushes Washington, Continental Army loses twice as many as Brits.
Battle of Saratoga: Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold drive out Burgoyne, he surrenders.
Marquis de Lafayette: Frenchman supported the American Revolution financially and morally.
Friedrich von Steuben: worked to train and drill the Continental Army, instructed through fear and respect knowing no English.
John Paul Jones: ferocious Scotsman who sailed on behalf of the Colonies with French support, won many crucial victories.
Battle of Vincennes: George Rogers Clark recaptured this town in after allying with natives to siege Detroit.
Horatio Gates: fed his troops to rich of a meal making them sick, defeated by the British.
Francis Marion: The Swamp Fox, French practitioner of guerilla warfare against the British.
guerilla warfare: hit and run warfare
Comte de Rochambeau: brought the French Army to aid Washington in the Battle of Yorktown.
Battle of Yorktown: Washington forced Cornwallis’ surrender, effectively ending the Revolutionary War.
Treaty of Paris 1783: Great Britain recognized colonial independence with the Great Lakes as the northern boundary.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

7th Grade Ancient Greece Terms Defined

Dori: Spartan spear with a metal counterweight that is also lethal.
Xiphos: Phalanx close quarters sword
Trireme: swift and agile boats, primarily propelled by hundreds of oarsmen.
Immortals: Persian unit using wicker shield, wore tiaras.
Lamellar: armor layered with linen, leather and bronze, ancient Kevlar.
Wicker: the shield material used by the Persian army.
Hoplite: Greek unit carrying the hoplon shield with the Argive grip.
Phalanx: Greek shield wall, composed of sealed shields and two rows of spear.
Agoge: Spartan childhood warrior training.
Helots: the slave that a Spartan must kill in secret in order to become a man.
Acropolis: the high city dedicated to the gods.
aristocracy: government ruled by a land holding nobility.
oligarchy: government ruled by a merchant nobility.
polis: the Greek city state.
democracy: a government ruled by the people.
Archon: the highest Athenian office
legislature: a law making government body
barboroi: all non-Greek speakers
direct democracy: all citizens participating in the government
ostracism: banished from the public.
Homer: created the Iliad and the Odyssey, a blind poet
Solon: great reformer of Athens
Pisistratus: redistributed land in Athens from the haves to the have-nots.
Cleisthenes: created the general assembly and expanded the legislature.
Thucydides: historian in the age of Pericles
Peloponnesian War: ended Athenian domination, Sparta crushed Athens aided by plague.
Xerxes: Persian King at the time of the Battle of Thermopylae.
Themistocles: Athenian naval leader and politicians, won the Persian wars.
Leonidas: one of the Spartan kings, gave his life at Thermopylae.
Dienekes: Leonidas’ lieutenant, “Then we shall have our battle in the shade.”
Herodotus: Greek historian who chronicled the engagement at Thermopylae
Marathon: the Persians were defeated, runner told of the victory, cried “Nike!”, and died.
Ionia: led a rebellion against Persia aided by Athens.
Athens: the birthplace of Western democracy.
Sparta: the premier warrior state of Greece.
Thermopylae: the Hot Gates, 7000 Greeks vs 300,000 Persians.
Delphi: where the Oracle resided that stated the terms of Leonidas’ sacrifice.
Hellespont: the 1 mile stretch of sea west of the Dardanelles that Xerxes crossed.
Artemesium Straight: where Themistocles held the Persian navy to aid Thermopylae
Persia: modern day Iran, led a punitive military engagement against Greece.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

8th Grade Chapter 8 Terms

8.1
Magna Carta
Bill of Rights
John Locke
constitution
republicanism
limited government
Virgnia Statute of Religious Freedom
suffrage
Articles of Confederation
ratification
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Northwest Territories

8.2
Foreign Relations under the Articles of Confederation
Interstate ""
tariff
interstate commerce
inflation
debtor
creditor
depression
Shay's Rebellion

8.3
Constitutional Convention
James Madison
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
The Great Compromise
3/5th's Compromise
Popular Sovereignty
Federalism
leglislative branch
executive ""
judicial ""
checks and balances

8.4
Federalists
Antifederalists
Loose vs Strict Construction
Federalist Papers
amendments
Bill of Rights

Monday, October 20, 2008

Canada Practice Map


7th Grade Chapter 5 Terms

5.1
Minoan
Knossos
Mycenaeans
Homer

5.2
polis
acropolis
monarchy
aristocracy
oligarchy
phalanx
helots
Athens
Sparta
democracy
Solon
archon
Pisistratus
Cleisthenes
legislature
barboroi

5.3
Pericles
direct democracy
stipend
jury
ostracism
Thucydides
Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian League
Delian League

5.4
TBA

7th Grade Persian Wars Film Terms

People:
Cyrus
Darius
Xerxes
Themistocles
Leonidas
Dienekes
Herodotus

Places/Events
Marathon
Ionia
Athens
Sparta
Thermopylae
Delphi
Hellespont
Artemesium Straight
Persia
Salamis
Plateae

Misc.
Dori
Xiphos
Trireme
Immortals
Lamellar
Wicker
Hoplite
Phalanx
Agoge

Friday, October 17, 2008

6th Grade Canada, Chapter 7 Terms

7.1
Canadian Shield
potash
pulp
newsprint

7.2
Erik the Red/Leif Erikson: Norse explorers who came to the America's in 1000 AD *
Vinland: The Norse name for the North American region, roughly Newfoundland
smallpox
Seven Years' War/French and Indian War
provinces
dominion
Metis
federation

7.3
regionalism
maritime
Inuit

8th Grade Homework

All chapter 7 terms will be defined by Tuesday and checked for a full homework grade.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

8th Grade Chapter 7 Terms


7.1

First Continental Congress

Declaration of Rights

minutemen

Thomas Gage

Lexington/Concord

Recoats

Second Continental Congress

Continental Army

George Washington

Olive Branch Petition

Benedict Arnold

Ethan Allen

Ft. Ticonderoga/Lake Champlain

Bunker/Breed's Hill (Battle of)

Henry Knox


7.2

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Thomas Jefferson

Declaration of Independence (Unalienable Rights)

Patriots/Loyalists


7.3

mercenaries

Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

Molly Pitcher

William Howe


7.4

Battle of Trenton

Battle of Princeton

John Burgoyne

Battle of Brandywine Creek

Battle of Saratoga

Bernardo de Galvez

Marquis de Lafayette

Friedrich von Steuben

John Paul Jones


7.5

Battle of Vincennes

Horatio Gates

Francis Marion

guerilla warfare

Comte de Rochambeau

Battle of Yorktown

Treaty of Paris 1783

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

6th Grade Canada Exam Details

There will be 60 specific points on the exam, 10/28/2008
Gridwork (9)
Capital: Ottawa
Currency: Canadian Dollar
Area: 3.9 Million square miles
Population: 31.6 million people
Languages: English and French
Life Expectancy: Male 76, Female 83
Per Capita GDP: $24,800
Prime Minister: Stephen Harper
Government: Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary Democracy forming a Federation

Province and Territory Capitals (13)
Edmonton, Alberta
Victoria, British Columbia
Manitoba, Winnipeg
New Brunswick, Fredericton
St. John's, Newfoundland
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Toronto, Ontario
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Quebec, Quebec
Regina, Saskatchewan
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Physical Map (9)
Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans
Beaufort and Labrador Seas
Baffin and Hudson Bays
Coast and Rocky Mountains

Political Map (14)
All provinces and territories of Canada
Ottawa

Chapter 7 Terms (15)
TBA

Friday, October 10, 2008

Have fun at the school dance!


From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.


Be safe!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

8th Grade Pocahontas Response


You will write using complete sentences in paragraph form. Articulate your ideas in a manner which will convince me that you are worth breathing my air.


Cite specific historical inaccuracies within the film. Do so by addressing character action, your historical knowledge of early 1600's Virginia, and the war politics and relationship between the British settlement and the native Powhatan. (1-2 Paragraphs)


Analyze the character interaction in the film and derive Disney's agenda in its construction of the film. What motivated the films formation, what lessons remain within the story and how does it attempt to achieve the sublime. (1-2 Paragraphs)


Detail the true historical lessons of Pocahontas, John Smith and Jamestown. What did the film leave out that is most critical to humanity's mistakes in 1600's Colonial Virginia. (1-2 Paragraphs)


These will be collected on Friday, and will be accompanied by extensive group discussions.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

6th Grade Chapter 19 Test and Gridwork, Exam 10/14/08

Chapter 19 Terms: (7)
Oasis
landlocked
nomads
caravans
silk road
yurt
mosques

Grid Requirements: (32)
All Capitals
Highest and Lowest: Per Capita GDP, population, area
3 of your Choosing: currency, male/female life expectancy, chiefs of state, languages, and government type (2 of the 3 may be republic)

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Wish me luck!


Thompson vs LSAT is this weekend.

I will know the results by November.

Thanks for all of your good behavior this short week.

Keep it up as I will be on edge waiting for the results!


-Matt