Chapter 7 Test on Friday

Today we wrapped up the Chapter 7 notes. We will be reviewing tomorrow and the the students will take the exam over Chapter 7 on Thursday. Lesson 3 notes are below.

Time is quickly running out on this grading period. Please make sure your student has turned in all late/make-up work and prepares adequately for the Chapter 7 test on Friday and the 9 weeks exam next Tuesday.

Chapter 7 - Lesson 2 Notes, Adams-Onis Treaty Maps Due

Today we covered the failed attempt of the Gutierrez-Magee led Republican Army of the North to overthrow Spanish rule in Texas. We also touched on the pirates that were making a living in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean who were using Galveston Island their hideout. Those notes are attached below. We watched a couple of short videos on these topics as well. They are available for viewing below as well.

*HOMEWORK ALERT*- The maps depicting the terms of the Adams-Onis Treaty are due tomorrow (12/1). This is a major summative grade so please make sure your student has their map ready to turn in on time. They have been working on these maps in class for the last 3 days.

Welcome Back, Chapter 7- Lesson 1 Notes

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break.

Today we got right back into the grind with a few notes and a short video from Chapter 7 - Lesson 1. The notes centered around the 7 Years War and its results, the decision by Spain to close most Texas missions, and the aid the Spanish gave the Americans during the Revolutionary War against England. The notes are below as is a link to the video we watched today (The Louisiana Purchase will be discussed tomorrow).

Chapter 6 Test Returned, Chapter 7 Vocabulary Assigned

The Chapter 6 Tests were returned to the students today. This was a major Summative grade so please check with your student to see how they did. Any student who failed the test make re-take it and get up to a 70.

The Chapter 7 vocabulary was assigned. It is due tomorrow at the beginning of class. Please make sure your student completes this assignment. The terms and instructions are below.

Chapter 6 - Lesson 3 Notes, Mission Drawing Due, "Letter Home" Started

Below are the notes for Lesson 3 of Chapter 6 over Colonial New Spain. Also, the mission drawings will be due tomorrow at the beginning of the period. Originally, these were due today but because of some internet difficulties I was unable to upload the mission picture (below) I promised the students. Due to this delay, I have chosen to bump back the due date to tomorrow.

We will be starting a "letter home" assignment today. The students will assume the role of Spanish priest at a mission, Spanish soldier at a presidio, or Native American co-existing with the Spanish immigrants. Full instructions are below. The due date for the "letter home" is Thursday 11/9.

Chapter 6 Notes, Mission Project, and 11/3 Grade Check

This week we started work on Chapter 6 which covers the Spanish Colonial Period in Texas. Below are notes for Lessons 1 and 2 of the chapter.

The mission drawing (page 145 in the book) is due next Tuesday 11/7.

Today was a UIL grade check day. I have taken the opportunity to send mini-progress reports home via email or letter to the parents/guardians of any student with a grade below 75 to this point in the 9 weeks. Please check your student's grades online at the Eastern Hills School site.

Chapter 6 Vocabulary Assigned, Failing Grade Emails

The vocabulary assignment for Chapter 6 was assigned today. The assignment is due at the beginning of the period on Monday 11/30. The assignment is attached below.

I will be sending home an email to the parents/guardians of any student who has a grade lower than 70 in my class as of the end of this week. The email should go out today (Friday) or tomorrow. Please make sure you email address in the system is current.

Wrapping up Chapter 5, Test on Thursday

Today we finished up the notes over Chapter 5 - The Early Explorers. I have attached ALL of the notes for the entire chapter below. We are likely going to test over Chapter 5 on Thursday of this week. This will be the first summative grade of the second nine weeks grading period.

Chapter 5 - The Explorers Vocabulary Assigned

The students began work on Chapter 5 - The Early European Explorers today. As with every chapter, we started with a vocabulary assignment. The assignment is due tomorrow (10/11) at the beginning of the period. Full instructions and the terms are below.

Students wishing to get a head start on the material should read Chapter 5 - Lesson 1 in their textbook.

Chapter 4 Test Tomorrow, Mini-Projects Due, and Brochures Due Monday

The students will take the test over Chapter 4 (Native Americans/First Texans) tomorrow. For all regular Texas History classes, the Native American mini-poster will be due. This was assigned yesterday in class.

*TAG/PAP*- The Native American brochure will be due on Monday (10/9) at the beginning of class.

Native American Tribes of the Plains Cultural Region

Below are the full notes for the Plains Cultural Region discussed in class today. Students will need to have this information to study for their test and to complete a mini-project to be assigned tomorrow.

Pueblo Cultural Region, Grade Check

Today we took notes over and discussed the two main tribes that made up the Pueblo Cultural Region here in Texas. The notes from this class discussion are below.

There is a UIL grade check coming up this Friday and we are rapidly approaching the end of the first grading period (it seems impossible but it is true). Please check with your student and make sure they have turned in all of their work. You may check your student's grades in all of their classes by visiting the EHMS home page.

Texas Native American Tribes

Today we started discussing the Native American tribes of Texas. First up on the list were the Caddos. I have attached the full set of notes for the tribes of Texas along with several of the photos I showed the students of what type of homes the Caddo tribe built.

Health Issues, 3 Assignments Due

I apologize for having been out so often the past week or so. I'm having some health issues and have multiple tests being run. I'm afraid I'll be missing some more time in the not too distant future. Because of this, it is taking me a bit to get my feet underneath me and get everything graded. Bear with me as I am making progress.

Now, there are three assignments that I need you to make sure your student has turned in to me. The first - and most important - is the mapping project mentioned in previous blog posts. This is a major summative grade and any student who fails to turn it in will have almost no chance of passing for the nine weeks. This assignment was actually due this past Monday 9/25. Any student that did not turn it in on time may still turn it in late for a grade up to a 70. This is much better than a grade of 0. The second assignment is a worksheet the kids worked on while the sub was with them called the Chapter 4 Vocabulary Builder. This worksheet was due today (9/26). The third assignment is the standard Chapter 4 vocabulary assignment. This assignment and the instructions for it is attached below.

Please make sure your student gets these three assignments completed and turned in ASAP. Also, attached are the notes from today's lesson.

Texas Geography Mini-Project Assigned

The Texas Geography Mini-Project was assigned yesterday. Full instructions and the map needed to complete the assignment are attached below. Basically, the project covers the various aspects of Texas  Geography we have discussed up to this point in chapters 1-3 (Regions, industry, major cities, major rivers, land features, etc.) are all included. This mini-project will count as a major summative grade and is due on Friday 9/22.

*TAG/PAP*- This project was assigned last week and has slightly different instructions. Make sure you follow the instructions previously handed out. The due date for your project is also Friday 9/22.

Extreme Weather in Texas, Mini-Project (Regular) Started, Mock-up Due (TAG/PAP)

Today we discussed the six different types of extreme weather that we see in Texas. No one region of Texas sees each of these  types of weather but Texas is so vast - and it's climate so diverse - that a multitude of weather types manifest in the state. The full notes over the lesson today are attached below.

After discussing the extreme weather that occurs in Texas, I showed a short video that detailed the terrible F5 tornado that struck Jarrell 20 years ago. Jarrell is only 25-30 miles south of us and the video makes quite an impression. I have included a link to the video below (I did show the first 2-3 minutes without the sound on as the filmography uttered a couple of profanities. These words were NOT broadcast to the class).

Finally, the TAG/PAP kids turned in the mock-up of their project that is due this coming Friday 9/22. The students will get a daily grade for this mock-up and the final project will count as a major summative grade. I have attached a photo of a map that is referenced in the original instructions as it should help give the students an idea of how the project should look.

Regions, Major Cities, and Major Rivers of Texas

The students began working on a couple of maps today. They will need to label the regions, major cities, and major rivers of Texas. The textbook should be the only needed resource to complete the assignment. The completed maps are due tomorrow at the beginning of class.


*TAG/PAP ONLY*- I handed out instructions for our first project of the year. The instruction are below.

A mock-up of the project is due next Monday (9/18). The full project is due on Friday (9/22). The full instructions are below. The rubric is simple: 50% on presentation and appearance and 50% on content and following instructions.

9/11 Video, Chapter 2/3 on Texas Geography Started

We started class today by watching a video on the 9/11 attacks 16 years ago. For these students, this event seems like ancient history as the event took place before they were born. We discussed the fallout from the event and how it has deeply affected our Fort Hood community with deployments to Afghanistan.

After the video, we took some brief notes over the geography of Texas and discussed some fun facts regarding the size of the state. Attached below are the notes taken in class. Any student who did not finish the notes in class may print these notes off or fill in any gaps by referring to them.

Vocabulary Due, Map Activity, Loggin on to Online Textbooks

The vocabulary assignment for Chapter 1 was due today at the beginning of class. Any student who was absent today will need to be ready to turn in the assignment upon their return to class next Monday. The assignment can be found below on the post from 9/5.

In class today the students practiced their map interpretation skills and use of latitude/longitude. The students rotated between five maps and answered questions pertaining to each. Any student who was out of the classroom today will need to make arrangements to come after school and make up the assignment.

Online textbooks can be accessed by following the steps listed below:

- Go to the Killeen ISD home page
- Click the "Students & Parents" link at the top of the page
- Click on the "Learning Resources" link in the left hand margin of the page
- Click on the "McGraw Hill Online Textbook" link

These steps should take you to a log in page where a user name and a password are required. The user name is simply the letter "s" followed by your child's six digit student ID # @killeenisd.org. The password consists of the first three letters of your child's last name followed by their six digit student ID #. So, log in information for a mythical student named John Smith, who had ID #123456, would look like this:

User Name: s123456@killeenisd.org
Password: smi123456

Your child may also check out a hard copy of the textbook from the library if online access is a problem.

Welcome Back, Chapter 1 Vocabulary Assigned

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! The first week is now behind us and the classes are beginning to get into the subject matter.

Today, I assigned the vocabulary terms for Chapter 1. The assignment and instructions can be found below. Please make sure your student gets this assignment completed and turned in by Friday of this week.

Open Notes Test on Monday and the Final Assignment of the Year

The students will be taking their test over Chapter 16 - The Civil War on Monday. The test will be an open notes exam so please make sure your student has everything they need in order to be fully prepared for this final summative grade of the year.

The students were also given their final formative assignment today. The "Recreating Texas" assignment is usually one they enjoy. Full instructions for this assignment can be found below along with the due date.

Lesson 3 Notes

We picked up where we left off prior to the STAAR Test today. Notes over Chapter 16 - Lesson 3 were given during class. The students should have the first half complete. We will cover the second half of the notes tomorrow. The Lesson 3 notes are attached below. Students may feel free to copy or print them for class tomorrow.

Open Notes Quiz and Lesson 2 Notes

The students took a quiz today over the material from Lesson 1 and beginning of Lesson 2. Students who brought their notes to class were allowed to use them for the quiz.

After the quiz, we continued with the Lesson 2 notes. The notes for Lesson 2 are below. Students may print or copy them from this site if they do not wish to hand write them tomorrow in class.

Vocabulary Builder Worksheet Due, Chapter 16 - Lesson 1 Notes

*HOMEWORK ALERT*- The Chapter 16 Vocabulary Builder worksheet, which I assigned last Friday, is due tomorrow at the beginning of class.

We will be starting the notes over Chapter 16 - The Civil War tomorrow. Any student who does not want to hand write the notes can print them out below. They will need to have these tomorrow in class. If they do not have a printed copy of the notes, they will write the notes in class (note - students with write and trade accommodations for notes will receive their copy as usual)

Chapter 16 Vocabulary Assigned

Today we started work on Chapter 16 which covers the Civil War. Below is the vocabulary assignment the kids worked on today. It is due tomorrow (4/28/17) at the beginning of class.