16% Badge

I just checked my Smithsonian Quest Profile and I have completed my badge! The badge I chose (under the username 16percent) was Time Traveler. I had to look at ancient and modern day ocean predators. The quests I  had to complete included one designing my own ocean predator, one where I had use modern day comparisons to explain sizes of extinct ocean predators, and one where I had to write a story from the point of view of a right whale. I'm not exactly sure how to show my badge but here are two links and hopefully one will work and show that I have received the badge.

http://shout.smithsonianquests.org/badges/timetraveler/?journey_id=8525

http://shout.smithsonianquests.org/players/16percent/badges

What it Means to be an American

Bibliography for What it Means to be an American

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1960. Print.

Cather, Willa. My Antonia / Willa Cather ;. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1949. Print.

"Thomas Jefferson." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013

"Abraham Lincoln." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013

Class Update: 6-7-13 and 6-10-13

On Friday in class we worked on our brochures. These are guides to the West for immigrants moving to the American plains. My group is creating a guide for German immigrants and providing tips for life on the prairie. Today we gave presentations on our 16% badges. The badge I chose was Time Traveler, on that was very popular. I have submitted all of my quests but have only been confirmed for one of them so far. The H2O Hero badge seemed very interesting while the Dirt Detective seemed like a lot of work as it involved four quests. I was surprised to learn from some "Heros" that it takes about ten gallons of water to make one slice of bread! Hopefully I will be able to post my own badge soon.

Game

Here it is! http://scratch.mit.edu/users/alliemac

The War of 1812

We have officially gone back in time from the 1960s to 1812. But I suppose that history is all about going back in time, isn't it? Hmmmm. Anyway, today we talked about the four main reasons that caused war to break out again between England and America. Here they are:

1. The English were arming and instigating the Amerindians, thus causing them to attack the Americans that were expanding South and West. These were literally acts of war, caused indirectly by the British
2. The English were forcing people without proper paperwork to join their navy. Basically, they were putting Americans into slavery saying that they were "Once a British citizen, always a British citizen.". This greatly irritated the Americans because they had just fought and won a war over Independence.
3. The British were attacking American ships and killing sailors.
4. The British decreed that the Americans could not trade with the French even though, again, we were our own nation and could make our own decisions.

Overall, I think the most significant event was number four. For one thing, it showed the British trying to control the American despite our Independence, something sure upset many. Also, France was one of the largest nations in the world and I'm sure that their trade was huge for us, especially since we were an emerging nation.

Civil Rights Book

It occurred to me that one must blog about their book so one's history teacher can grade it. Here's the link:
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=201692

Lewis and Clark: Into the Unknown

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1McvUo3PMS0IsyD88ZH0BrqJrSfUBd02f1QlqS0d8kF4/edit?usp=sharing

Medgar Evers

Hello History fans! Here it is; my mini documentary on Medgar Evers, civil rights activist.

http://youtu.be/Q-E_gD1R2t0

Class Update: 2-4-13 and 2-5-13

Yesterday we took notes on the end of the civil war and ways that civil rights issues were handled. It's extremely sad to see the way that amendments and laws were passed in an attempt to give equal rights to all, but they were either ignored or eliminated. Today we talked about what it really means to be equal, and if "Separate but Equal" can really exist. It seems that in certain situations equal can mean different things, even though the definition seems clear.

Class Update: 1-30-13 and 1-31-13

Yesterday we looked at three different plans for Reconstruction of the South. Lincoln and Johnson's plans were very similar, though Johnson had decided to be even more forgiving to the south, possibly because of his Democratic roots. On the other end, the Radical Republicans wished to completely punish the south for what occurred during the war. Today, we read Andrew Johnson's obituary. It was amazing how much he had done in his life and how long it was. Sadly, he will mostly be known as the first president to be impeached.

Class Update: 1-28-13 and 1-29-13

Yesterday, we went to the computer lab and looked at maps showing the effects of Sherman's march. It revealed the way the South suffered after loosing the Civil War. Today we talked about the 14th Amendment, which attempted to solve the civil rights issue. It gave people of all races equal rights. We made magazine covers showing the benefits of such an amendment.

Class Update: 1-24-13 and 1-25-13

Yesterday in class we talked about the difference between between Reconstruction and Restoration. The Radical Republicans believed in Reconstruction, based meaning that they wanted everything about the South changed. Today we talked about the assassination of President Lincoln. The whole thing seems almost like a movie plot- from the fact that the assassin was a well known actor to the fact that he was shot right as the crowd was roaring with laughter.

Timeline

Winnie the Pooh

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Class Update to bring you a very special blog about, you guessed it, Winnie the Pooh!
So apparently Saturday was Winnie the Pooh Day! If I was a Winnie the Pooh character I think that I would probably be piglet. He is a very loyal and kind friend to Winnie the Pooh and I hope that I am like that. Also Piglet is just so cute!

The Results Are In:

Which Winnie the Pooh Character Are You?

You are Winnie the Pooh. Oh, bother. You are sweet, simple, and popular for your honesty and goodwill. Though you may be the biggest personality in the woods, you sometimes need the help of others in the brains department!

I love that I got Winnie the Pooh, and it's a big honor! I don't really know why I got him, but he and Piglet are both alike. Piglet is a little more nervous which I don't really think I am. I definitely love Pooh, he is so cute and sweet with all the best intentions in the world.

Class Update: 1-9-13 and 1-10-13

Yesterday in class we had our test on the Civil War. Today our Commitment to a Cause projects were due and we set them up in the library. In class we received our review sheets for the midterm.

Class Update: 1-7-13 and 1-8-13

Yesterday in class we took a quiz on memorizing part of the Gettysburg Address. I think this memorization was harder than the other two that we had to do! Lately we've been taking  a lot of notes on battles of the war and the General Lee's surrender to General Grant to end the war. I couldn't believe what happened when Sherman went on his "march to the sea". Everything in his path was completely destroyed. It's although Sherman and his men completely forgot that these people were innocent and that they were still Americans. I'm interested to find out how these town were rebuilt after the war.

Class Update: 1-3-13 and 1-4-13

Yesterday in class we discussed the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address, both of which will be celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. We talked about the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation, how in reality it did little to free slaves but was used as more of a military measure. The next day we took notes on the 54th Massachusetts Regiment  which was the first all African-American Regiment ever in the United States. We looked at a sculpture in Boston which showed this Regiment marching off to battle, being guarded by an angel.