8th Grade

Here are the changes to the 4th Week syllabus...

WEEK 4 Imperial Reorganization & Philosophy of American Revolution
16- LECTURE: Results of The French & Indian War (1763) VIDEO: Proud To Be British
Homework: Magna Carta questions & READ Ch. 3.5 Conflict in The Colonies
17- LECTURE/VIDEO: Stamp Act (1765)
Homework: HippoCampus Lesson 10 Primary Source “Boston Massacre”
18- VIDEO: Liberty! Day 2 Homework: HippoCampus Lesson 10 Read: “The Townshend Duties”
19- LECTURE: Boston Tea Party (1773) Homework: Hippo Campus Lesson 10 Read: “Boston Tea Party”
20- ASSESSMENT #1 The French & Indian War

8th Grade: French & Indian War in Tennessee?

http://fortloudoun.com/

Yup

8th Grade Syllabus Change

WEEK 9 Lesson 6: Middle Colonies
12- VIDEO: Impact of Freedom of Religion (4:30)
GROUP: What’s a Colony? Silvernails & Big Tub, West to Jersey, William The Wise (day 1)
Homework: READ Ch. 3.3 The Middle Colonies

13- GROUP: What’s a Colony? Silvernails & Big Tub, West to Jersey, William The Wise (day 2)
Homework: READ Ch. 3.4 Life in English Colonies

14- VIDEOS: The Middle, Chesapeake, and Southern Colonies
Practice Assessment- New England & Middle/Southern Colonies

15- PORTFOLIOS DUE ASSESSMENT #2 European Colonies Help Develop America

16- NO SCHOOL

REMINDER!

ALL CHEAT SHEETS, CURRENT EVENTS, and C-SPAN (8th) National Geographic (7th) are due this FRIDAY, October 9! This counts as 25% of the NINE WEEKS GRADE so make sure you have them all turned in by Friday.

7th and 8th Practice Assessments ONLINE

All the practice assessments are online.

If you need a copy you can print them from there.

Linked below

Oct 3, 2009 is the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival, also called Moon Festival!!
Chinese Moon Festival falls on Lunar Calendar Aug 15, 2009. It is said that the moon will be fullest, and brightest on this day.

It symbolizes completeness and abundance!

Happy Moon Festival!
中秋節快樂！

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

You should be watching this.

Know How To GO

http://knowhow2go.org/middle.php

It is never too seen to create your GAME PLAN for the FUTURE!

Looks Familiar

Since the first time we sat down with Michelle Rhee in August 2007 to talk about her new job as chancellor of Washington DC’s failing school system, we’ve watched her celebrity status grow - and grow. In just over a year, she’s appeared in dozens of newspapers, magazines and television programs and has even landed on the cover of Time magazine. For someone who expected to have a low profile when she started this job, a lot has changed. In our 10th interview—and 7th podcast–with Rhee, John Merrow asked her if she thinks she’s made any mistakes in her first two years as chancellor.

http://learningmatters.tv/blog/podcasts/michelle-rhee-in-dc-podcast-snowball-effect/2510/

Internet Activities

Just a reminder when you have assignments that require the internet, you can find the links here http://guest.portaportal.com/beaverssocialstudies

Central Asia: Afghanistan & Pakistan

U.S. Eyes Signs of Progress

Arriving in Islamabad on Saturday, Richard Holbrooke, the president's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, praised the increased security efforts of the Pakistan military along its border with Afghanistan. The envoy said the fact that he is able to focus on economic and social issues during his visit is a sign of the success that the Pakistan military is having in the Swat and Burner valleys. "If you compare the situation in Pakistan today to what it was in March and April, there's been a dramatic change," Holbrooke said. Perhaps the biggest sign of that change came recently with the apparent killing of Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban's leader in Pakistan. The greatest gains may be a result of convincing Pakistan to change its focus from its neighbor India to the Taliban threat within its own borders.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLF4216920090815

LATIN AMERICA

U.S. to Use Colombia Army Base

After some half-hearted attempts to ease the worries of its South American neighbors, Colombia has reached an agreement that will allow U.S. forces to use its military bases. Colombia has said that the accord is only meant to provide the U.S. with a base of operations in its war on terrorism and drug trafficking, but President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela said the move suggests U.S. forces are preparing to invade his country. He said "the winds of war were beginning to blow" in the region. The presidents of Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina have expressed concern about the plan and the rising tensions it's causing. Last year, Ecuador gave the boot to U.S. forces stationed at one of its military bases, which is why they are seeking a new home in the region.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8202724.stm

Welcome Back Everyone!

This year, I'll attempt to share some of the CURRENT EVENTS going on in the world that catch MY eye. I'll post them here.

Cancer Breakthrough at MIT

It took them 16,000 tries, but MIT scientists have finally identified a chemical that selectively targets cancer cells, a possible breakthrough in creating new treatments. “We now have a method that researchers anywhere in the world can use to find agents that can kill cancer stem cells and potentially treat cancer,” Piyush Gupta, a researcher at the Broad Institute and co-author of the study told Bloomberg. The chemical compound, salinomycin, works like a smart bomb, picking out stem cells that turn into cancer and destroying them. Next up is further testing on animals.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aQCyVkyA3AIA

Europe Bounces Back

First! France and Germany have beat the U.S. in the recovery race, officially pulling out of the global recession with modest 0.3 percent growth in each country for the last quarter. The good news isn't limited to Western Europe, though, as analysts cite positive economic signs in the U.S., China, and Japan as evidence that aggressive stimulus spending is successfully boosting the global economy. "They are good signs, but not yet conclusive," the chief European economist for HSBC told The Washington Post. "We still have to wait and see." Still, some countries do lag behind: Britain, Italy, and Spain have yet to turn around their economies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081300504.html?hpid=topnews

History Happens all the time

Wow...talk about a great discovery! Check this out!

A new discovery of MUSIC by MOZART that has not been played or heard in over 200 years.

Click the pic to hear it...it is more music from him as a boy.

Wordle: The Declaration of Independence

Getting Ready for 2010

As we hit the 1/2 mark of summer and we have one month left, I want to post a link to some things we will be talking about at the beginning of this next school year. Take a look and give some feedback if you get a chance!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!http://www.mnps.org/Page55729.aspx

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln 1865

"The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" A terrible way for a terrible war to end.

Ford's Theatre

AMAZING RACE Internet Link

Here is the LINK that will get you to the page that will help you do the internet activities that follow the AMAZING RACE...

7th Grade: Christopher Columbus

http://www.columbusnavigation.com/

8th Grade: The Gettysburg Address

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gadd/

TCAP PREP

As we get ready to take the TCAP tests next week, I wanted to post a link to the standards for Social Studies. Look through them and see use them as a review prior to the test next week. The Social Studies test will be on Thursday of next week, and there are usually around 60 questions for the Social Studies portion of the test.

7th GRADE STANDARDS

8th GRADE STANDARDS

7th Grade The Renaissance

And the family who more than anyone else, was responsible for bringing about the Renaissance in Europe..particularly in Florence...the Medici.

4:30 a.m. April 12, 1861

The attack on Fort Sumter, off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina was the start of the Civil War. Found out more about this historical landmark here.

8th Grade & The Civil War

All that we have been studying this year in American history, in many ways culminates in the war that ripped our nation apart.

As part of our study this quarter, we will be viewing segments of the Ken Burn's Civil War series. You may want to checkout some of the images from the war and other information about the war at the video's website.

A war like this is what happens when people get to a point when they believe they can't compromise and work out disagreements.

The CIVIL WAR site.

7th Grade Follow up

Here is a follow up story from our study of the AIDS Crisis in Africa.

VIDEO MARCH 25, 2009
Children Orphaned by AIDS Face Uncertain Future With so many South Africans struck down by AIDS during their prime work and child-rearing years, a generation of children are watching parents die and being forced to form new family units.

8th Grade & Civil War

When we return after Spring Break we will begin our study of the Civil War.
We will start with the decade prior to the war, and
the various events that brought the nation to Civil War. 1850-1860

7th Grade & Islam

When we return from Spring Break we will continue our study of the EAST by looking at the SILK ROAD and paying attention to the various religious faiths that traveled along this route.
We will began with continuing our look at ISLAM.

We will be viewing part II of the ISLAM: Empire of Faith video series.

Beijing Fire

Fire consumed a building in Beijing that formed part of Central China Television's new headquarters as residents set off fireworks throughout the city to celebrate the Lantern Festival on Monday evening. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/world/asia/10beijing.html

Keep Up With China

Stay Current with CHINA by following

BBC NEWS.

UP THE YANGTZE Follow Up

Interested in what happened to the family and others from the film?

Go HERE to see a follow up since the film was made.

If you are interested in making a donation to help the Yu family (the poor family seen in the film) you may visit http://www.givemeaning.com/project/yufam .

You can also see what has been happening with the THREE GORGES project by checking out The.

Up The Yangtze

Here is a link to the documentary Up The Yangtze. This film deals with the the people being displaced by the flooding caused by the new (world's largest) dam. I saw this documentary this summer at the theatre about a week before I went to China. I caught some of it tonight on PBS. It was amazing to see it after having been there myself (and on one of those boats riding down the river for a weekend). Unbelievable. Well worth watching. The weekend on the boat (4 star boat, not the typical western tourist boat which is 5 star) was our most MISERABLE time on the whole trip. I think that was the case for everyone. It is where I think I caught whatever made me sick when we returned back to Hubei University. It was hot, miserable, people smoking EVERYWHERE (including the dining area) there were some wonderful moments, but over all it was the worst part of the whole trip. Of course now there's a little bit of being able to look back with some distance and appreciate what it was and the experience it afforded me. I look happy enough in the photographs! ha ha

CLICK HERE for my photographs of the weekend on the Yangtze and the Three Gorges Dam.

See a trailer for the film click here

7th Grade: Who Do We Owe?

As a follow up to what we looked at today in class in regard to how much of the US debt China owns.... It is A LOT!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS...

7th Grade: CHINA RISES

Before we watch the video CHINA RISES: Party Games, take a look at the five people who will be profiled in the video. Do this before Monday.

8th Grade & Frontier House

As we finish our study of The West, we will be viewing the PBS series (from 2001) FRONTIER HOUSE. A series that shares what happens when 3 families go out to Montana to try and live like it is 1883 on the frontier. Could you do it? Baking on a stove or fire, chopping wood all the time, feeding and caring for the animals...milking the cow, feeding the chickens, slaughtering the chickens...etc. Some things that people in our current time don't have to think about, because it is readily available in the grocery store. Here is the website that goes along with the series.

China Media Study

Here is a link to the various MEDIA we will be using in our study of Modern Day China, and the challenges that the Chinese nation and people face today.

CHINA MEDIA STUDY

7th Grade Discussions

Don't forget to PARTICIPATE in Ms. Kurzrock's WIKI dealing with The Red Scarf Girl.

8th Grade: Remember The Alamo!

America Moves West!



The Texas Independence 1836

The Battle of the Alamo 1835

2010 Census...less than a year away

Keep an Eye on the Census...it means much more than just a number!

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090217/NEWS01/902170354/1001/RSS01

7th Grade JAPAN Internet Activity

LINKS for the JAPAN internet homework activity.

8th Grade & Amistad

The 8th graders are studying the story of The Amistad, and the slaves that rebelled against their captures, to regain their freedom. This story ends up in the Supreme Court of the United States...and is argued befor that court by the former president of the United States...John Quincey Adams. As part of our study we will be watching an edited version of the movie AMISTAD. Click the image for more information about this story of the Amistad.

Chinese New Year: The Year of the OX

Chinese New Year Celebration

Eakin, Julia Green, and J.T. Moore
January 27, 2009

The Night was a HUGE success! Thanks to all of those who participated and who attended our Chinese New Year celebration! We had around 400-450 people in attendance! It was outstanding! Without a doubt some of the hightlights were the Lion Dancers (see the videos below) and the student performances!

Listed here is an outline of the night's entertainment!

LION DANCE/Drum performance

Mrs. Pittman Welcomes the more than 400 guests and entertainers to J.T. Moore, and then gives a New Year Hong Bow to the Lions in the video below.

- J.T. Moore 7th graders will present the ANIMALS of the CHINESE ZODIAC

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac- Julia Green 4th Grade
Happy New Year Song- & The Feng Yang Song- Julia Green 3rd and 4th

INTERMISSION

Enjoy some samples of green tea, and Chinese cookies in the lobby, and take some time to enjoy some of the Chinese art (peasant paintings, Taoist monk painting) and photographs taken by Mr. Beavers this past summer in China. Also work artwork and caligraphy produced by J.T. Moore students.

Helping to serve the Green tea and almond cookies, all donated by Green Hills Kroger! Thanks!

Chinese New Year Rhyme & Song- Eakin 3rd & 4th Grade
- Chinese Dance-

Images & Stories of An American in China- Mr. Beavers, J.T. Moore

Demonstration of the Erhu- Elizabeth Small, J.T. Moore Parent
& Jasmine Flower- performed by the J.T. Moore Band/Strings

Mr. Mcguire (and his amazing crew!) directing the show and keeping things running SMOOTHLY!

*Thanks to Ms. Amy Cate for the photographs & video!