Three-Day Weekend! (for you guys, anyway)

Today Sections 2 and 3 were treated to the beginning of the astonishing video The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization.  Smart students will take what they learned from the video, and use it to update their Study Guide.  For example, you could enter information about the year 508 BC, Homer, and Pisistratus.

Be sure to post a blog for today, enjoy your time off, and don't forget to be awesome!

Transition time

A recap of recent events in our WestCiv classes:

Monday:  While I was in Washington, DC with the seniors at Arlington National Cemetery and the Holocaust Museum, you took a test on Chapter 3.  (BTW, I am looking forward to three years from now, when you guys are seniors, and I can accompany you on this moving and meaningful trip.)

Tuesday: Section 1 meets.  Students who were absent make up the test; students who needed more time to complete the test do so in class.  The rest of you begin work on the Study Guide to Chapter Four, posted on this blog.

Today:  Section 2 and 3 do the same thing that Section 1 did yesterday.  Now everyone has taken the test, and we are all caught up.  I will get the tests graded over the coming weekend.  Section 1 began watching The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization, an astonishing experience. 

deets on tomorrow's test

As you know, the test is on Chapter 3, from barbarians to the M&M's (Mycenaeans and Minoans), through the four kinds of government and Sparta & Athens.

There are 30 multiple choice questions worth 2 points each, 4 fill-in-the-blanks worth 5 points each, and one essay worth 20 points.

Keep track of the clock and allow yourself enough time to write a good essay.  

You are allowed to use your textbook as a resource during the test.  You are NOT allowed to use any other written notes.  Please do the right thing, observe the honor code, and do not abuse the privilege I am granting you.  

Thanks, and good luck!

Critical thinking!

Hooray for great class discussions!  Section 1 wanted to know if the Spartans were brainwashed.  Section 3 wanted to know if the US was the greatest country in the world.  And Section 2 recreated the Greek agora, debating whether to allow international students to use their translators on Monday's test.  (The white pebbles won.)  Terrific work, everybody!

Reminder:   Open book test Monday, on Chapter 3.  Be ready!

Have a great weekend!

Open book test

I have decided that Monday's test on Chapter 3 will be an open BOOK test. I considered allowing you to use your blogs, or your PowerPoints.  But this would put the responsibility of monitoring your computer use on a sub, and that didn't seem fair.  However, I didn't want to leave you out in the cold, either, so I have compromised by letting you use your textbook.  Please plan accordingly, and prep yourself and your book for Monday!

Greece - the early days

Today all three sections covered the information (available in the outline) having to do with the events leading up to the establishment of Greece as a genuine civilization.  Special thanks to Ben for lending his enthusiasm to the class.

Don't forget: test Monday!

turning the tables

It's nice to see you guys rise to the occasion!  I asked all three of my sections to teach the class today, based on the material you read and the PowerPoints you prepared.  And, for the most part, you met the challenge!

I'll be back in front of the room tomorrow, where we will continue with our studies of the lead-in to Greece.  Nice work, you guys!

Random notes.

Takin' care of business on a day off.

• I'm trying to keep on top of grades more than I have in the past.  Right now, everything is up-to-date - check your PowerGrade to see your current grade.
• If you didn't do the LO-1 assignment from last week (see my posting from Feb. 9 for details) you have a zero.  Even though it's a week late, I will give you half-credit if you get it done.  If you decide to do it, email me to let me know you have posted it.
• John Green has another (slightly silly yet still informative) Crash Course video, which I have posted.  He spends more time on the Persians than we do, but it is great background information on what an amazing empire the Persians had, and why it was so astonishing that the Greeks simply did not allow themselves to be defeated by them. There is also some food for thought about historical bias.
• I have posted a very thorough outline of Chapter 3.  It's called (cleverly enough) "Chapter 3 outline - The Greeks, 2200-400 BC").  It covers the entire chapter, which you have also covered in your PowerPoints.

nice work, Camren!

Camren has pointed out one plausible explanation for how Stonehenge might have been constructed.  It makes more sense to me than the "aliens" theory.  Thanks, Camren, for going the extra mile and doing a little extra research!

Your presentations

I've been looking over your Google presentations on LO-1 and LO-2, and they look great!  You have a three-day weekend ahead of you, and your assignment is to finish up with LO-3.  It is a big section, so I suggest dividing up the work like this:

• types of government
• Sparta
• Athens
• Persian Wars

We will be going over your Chapter One tests in class today.  It's a very short class, but if we have time, you can get started on your presentations in class.

Have a great weekend, and watch out for meteors!

Classwork for today

I'm sorry I won't be with you today.  Here is what you will be doing in class.

Groups 01 and 03: you have already started working on your Google PowerPoint-type presentation.  You started with section LO-1 in the text; now you continue with section LO-2 on the same PowerPoint.

 

Group 02 needs to start on the same project.  You need to form groups of four people and make a Google Presentation.  The “veterans” of my previous classes know how to do this, so you can assist the kids who are new to my class.  You all need to “invite” me to this presentation – I’m at bobschick13@gmail.com .  You should include both LO-1 and LO-2 in your presentation.  Since classes are a little shorter today, you probably won't complete the LO-2 portion, but you should be able to get a good start.  

Note to all groups:  you will be graded on what you accomplish in class today.

Be nice to your sub, and I will see you soon!  Thanks for being awesome.

Barbarians! And Stonehenge!

Today's class revolved around the origins of the Greeks, the barbarian Indo-European nomadic tribes who migrated around Europe.  But the real question that came up in every class - the question I could not answer - was this:

How in the world was Stonehenge built, anyway?

Year of the Snake

Happy Chinese New Year to all!  If you are interested in learning about this tradition, click here and here.  
新年好!

On to Greece!

Hopefully you all aced today's test on Prehistory, Mesopotamia, and ancient Egypt.  I will let you know when I have posted the grades.


Don't forget to blog with your thoughts about today's test - due before midnight Saturday night.

Assignment for the weekend: Read the intro to Chapter 3 (p.45), and LO-1: The European Barbarians (p. 46-49) in the text. In at least 300 words, summarize the important points in this section.  Be sure to define or describe terms such as barbarian, megalith, tribe, Indo-European, and Western, as they apply to this reading.  If you think pictures or maps would be helpful to you later, go ahead and include them, too.

This assignment is worth 10 points.  Post it to your blog before Monday's class.

test tomorrow

Don't forget to check out all the resources I have supplied to help you study for tomorrow's test.

Be ready, and good luck!

more virtual pyramid building

The angst and the frustration, leading to the shout of ultimate triumph.  

Such is the glory of successfully completing the Pyramid Challenge.

Reminder:  the 100-point test on Chapter One, covering Prehistory, Mesopotamia, and ancient Egypt, will be given on Friday.  The helpful Links Inc. section is filled with material to help you prepare for the test.

Another reminder:  if you did not complete the Pyramid Challenge in class, or if you were not in class to take the Challenge, you still have to do this assignment.  Click on this link to get to the Challenge.  After you successfully build your virtual pyramid, take a screenshot of it and post it to your blog.  This assignment is due before Friday's class.

Build like an Egyptian

I love it when my students have a feeling of accomplishment.  When they really feel like they have truly achieved something, and attained a level of expertise to which they had never even dared to aspire - that's a good day.

Today was a good day.

Congratulations Ravens Nation!

Great game, and a great victory for Baltimore!

And, a quick note: under Links, Inc. I have just posted a schedule for the rest of the school year.  It is subject to change as things like snow days come up, but we will try to stick to this schedule the best we can.