Papers+and+Projects

Reflection Paper #1
Your first reflection paper will be on the Mayflower Compact. Please review the requirements in the file below- a copy of this handout will also be given in class.





In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.

Thirteen Colonies Project
This project contains two parts: an individual writing and research project and a group presentation. After each group selects a colony, each person in the group is responsible for researching and writing on a various component of the colony. Then the group will come back together and plan a presentation of their research about the colony in the form of an advertisement commercial. The written component will be due to turnitin.com and the presentations will be done in class. More specific details and dates are found in the project syllabus below.



If you fail to contribute to the individual component, it will also negatively affect your participation in the group presentation. Working in groups is a learning experience in itself- we will discuss this more in class. Regardless of who is in your group, work to cooperate and collaborate with everyone involved.

media type="custom" key="23882644"

media type="custom" key="23882654"

media type="custom" key="23882656"

The videos above are some samples of real MVRCS students and their presentations. Enjoy!

Presentation Time!
We will discuss in class specific expectations about your thirteen colonies group presentations. Remember your presentations need to be educational and informative while still engaging the audience. Below you will find the rubric your classmates will use to evaluate your presentation.



Reflection Paper #2
Your second reflection paper of the year is on the Declaration of Independence. Please review the requirements in the handout below. You will also receive a paper copy in class.





The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
 * The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,**

Government Project
Your quarter two project requires you to examine the nature and function of government. Here are some helpful links to get you started on the project or to find out more information on the many different kinds of governments and the many different nations of the world.

The CIA World Factbook is a phenomenal resource of information and also includes great information about the flags of each nation.

This resource on FindTheData allows you to compare and contrast different countries.

The 2013 Index of Economic Freedom is an impressive collection of data and information detailing how committed nations are to protecting the rights and civil liberties o the people.

Similar to the above link, this interactive map includes ratings of personal freedom for all the countries.

Reflection Paper #3
Your reflection paper this quarter requires you to write on the Farewell Address of George Washington. Although this document is difficult, we will discuss thoroughly in class how to respond to the prompt. It is important to read and study the document carefully and work to understand the questions using a dictionary if necessary to help with the reading. You have been taught the skills throughout this year to answer document based questions so work to apply them on this paper.







George Washington, delivering his Farewell Address, in 1797

Civil War Source Assignment
Over the next few weeks we will be working on a Civil War Source Assignment. Please find relevant handouts below.







A major component of this project will be using the OPVL method for analyzing primary sources. You will use this method extensively if you one day choose to take IB history in high school.

We will practice OPVL on the picture below in history class to give you an idea of how to apply to other primary sources.



Electoral College Map


media type="custom" key="25726092"

In class we will learn how the electoral college works. To demonstrate your understanding, you will choose a presidential election from a previous election, fill in the map with the appropriate colors and then list the total vote count including which candidate won what states.

This link is helpful to understand how the votes are calculated as well as showing some past presidential elections.

Civil War Battle Map Assignment


To select your battle for this assignment, please review this link first to gain some background information and resources. I would strongly recommend using Civil War Battlefields to find both the information for your paper and a battle map although there are other available resources online.

Reflection Paper #4- The Gettysburg Address
Your final reflection paper of the year will require you to examine the Gettysburg Address. Note the difference in directions on the prompt. I am hoping to see some of your finest written work of the year in this paper.



// Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. // // Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. // // But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. // // Abraham Lincoln //

// November 19, 1863 //

**Jewish Immigration Project**
This project will be completed primarily in class and will focus on the topic of immigration.

The actual lesson plan for the project can be found by clicking on this webpage.

Your project will be graded with these requirements:
 * 3 points** for participation each day **(9 total)**. You will be given 1 point for cooperation with your group, 1 point for contributing, and 1 point for presenting and sharing your findings with the rest of your class.
 * 6 points** for audio recording worksheet
 * 5 points** for focus question on assimilation
 * 10 points** for the facebook page (group)
 * 10 points** for day 2 immigration worksheet
 * 10 points** for day 3 immigration worksheet
 * 50 point**s total= 1 project grade

My work with this project is part of a much larger assignment I completed as part of a history teacher grant program. I also used this project in the form of a presentation to other Mystic Valley teachers regarding using primary sources in the classroom.