December

Tuesday, Dec. 3
  • Reading: Norton 369-374
  • Discussion: Mexican-American War
  • Workshop: presentation planning & preparation
  • NOTE: Research Paper due next class
Monday, Dec. 9
  • Reading: Norton 374-385 (read "effectively")
  • Discussion: Slave States & Free States
  • Presentations
    •  Diana
  • Due: Research Paper
Wednesday, Dec. 11
  • Reading: Norton 385-391
  • Discussion: Rising Tensions in the 1850s
  • Presentations
    • Anna & Emerson
Friday, Dec. 13
  • Reading: Norton 397-403
  • Topic: Civil War I
  • Presentations
    •  Alex, Lexi, Matt & Adam
  • Due: 6 id terms
    • Compromise of 1850
    • Kansas-Nebraska Act
    • Dred Scott Case
    • Assault on Harper's Ferry
    • 2 of your choice
      • each supported by at least 1 primary source
Tuesday, Dec. 17
  • Reading: Norton 411-415, 417-419
  • Topic: Civil War II
  • Presentations
    •  Mat, Tristan & Kaylee
Thursday, Dec. 19
  • Reading: Norton 424-430
  • Topic: Civil War III
  • Presentations
    •  Angelica, Grace, TJ & Tyler
**Essay Question:
  • In what ways did 19th century tensions between North and South represent competing notions of Progress? Discuss the issues of slavery, states' rights and economics.

Mid-November

Tuesday, Nov. 12
  • Homework: Read Norton 287-292
  • Discussion: "Shuffle off to Buffalo" - The Erie Canal & Northern Cities
  • Activity: Erie Canal video
  • Due: list of sources for research paper
Thursday, Nov. 14
  • Homework: Watch this Video
  • Suggested Reading: Norton 313-319
  • Discussion: Burned-Over District - Revival & Reform
  • Activity: In-class essay
    • How and why did the North and South develop more distinct regional differences in the period 1812-1849?
Monday, Nov. 18
  • Homework: Southern Society Lecture
  • Suggested Reading: Norton 273-278
  • Discussion: Slave Culture in the South
  • Activity: Thematic Connections
  • Due: detailed outline of research paper
Wednesday, Nov. 20
  • Homework: Watch 1 of these 7 videos
  • Suggested Reading: Norton 357-361 
  • Discussion: The West in the American Imagination
  • Activity: lead class conversation on the video you watched
Friday, Nov. 22
  • Homework: email notes of your video segment (email to Stegeman by Thursday 5pm)
  • Suggested Viewing: Other 6 video segments
  • Discussion: bring discussion questions
*Note - research paper will be due December 3rd

Late-October - Early-November

Great job during the first quarter! I really feel like we are now finding our stride together in US History. As we move forward into the second quarter I am looking forward to trying out some new methods and activities with you all.

Monday, Oct. 28
  • Homework: War of 1812 Timeline
  • Discussion: comparison of timelines
  • Activity: Constructing Class Timeline
  • Due: Timeline
Wednesday, Oct. 30
  • Homework: Watch this Video
  • Discussion: Role of Slavery in War of 1812
  • Activity: Walk & Talk
Friday, Nov. 1
  • Homework: Read Norton, 238-244
  • Discussion: American System
  • Activity: TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 5
  • Homework: none
  • Discussion: The Distinctive South
  • Activity: Comparing North & South
    • Read: Norton 251-256
Thursday, Nov. 7
  • Homework: Read Norton 285-287; Scan rest of chapter 11
  • Discussion: The Distinctive North
  • Activity: Growth and Change-over-Time
  • Due: Comparative Chart 
    • using 3 columns, show how the North & South were alike and unlike
    • also, select topic for research paper

Mid-October

Here is the plan for the next two weeks or so. This brings us close to the end of the first quarter.

Monday, Oct. 7
  • Reading: Norton 171-176; 179-183
  • Presentation: Shortcomings of the Confederation
    • Adam, Grace
  • Discussion/Workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 9
  • Reading: Norton 186-194
  • Presentation: Framing the Constitution
    • Drew, Tyler
  • Discussion/Workshop
  • Reading Quiz (last two readings)
Friday, Oct. 11
  • Reading: Norton 205-209; 230-234
  • Presentation: The New Nation and European Diplomacy
  • Workshop: Multiple Choice Strategies
Wednesday, Oct. 16
  • Reading: Norton 149-150; 183-186; 212-215; 226-230
  • Presentation: Looking Westward
    • Kaylee, Angelica
  • Workshop: Exam Prep
Friday, Oct. 18
  • Reading: Norton 234-238
  • Presentation: The War of 1812
  • Workshop: Review Session
  • Due: Review Sheet & Notebook Check
Tuesday, Oct. 22
  • Exam 1 
Thursday, Oct. 24
  • Homework: Watch this Video 
  • Optional Reading: Norton 234-238
  • Workshop: War of 1812 activity 
    • please bring textbooks to class 
  • Presentations: Anna & T.J.

Week of September 29th

Note - You will undoubtedly notice that the readings for this week are a little long. Please do your best to get through them, but know that it is fine to skim these pages this week. I think you will be able to move through a little faster because we already had presentations on some of the major events last week. Try to build a solid understanding of the terms listed below each reading so you can fully identify them, rather than taking extensive notes on everything in the text.

Tuesday, Oct.1
  • Reading: Norton 130-142
    • Stamp Act, Sons of Liberty, Townshend Acts, Boston Massacre, Coercive Acts
  • Presentation: Crisis in the Colonies
  • Workshop: in-class essay prep
  • Due: Comparative Chart 
    • Columns for Southern, New England & Middle Colonies
    • List of potential analytic categories
Thursday, Oct.3
  • Reading: Norton 154-167
    • Battle of Bunker Hill, Battle of Saratoga, Battle of Yorktown
  • Presentation: Revolutionary War
  • Workshop: in-class essay
    • Comparative essay question covering the Southern, New England & Middle Colonies

Week of September 22nd

Monday, Sept. 23
  • Reading: John Winthrop
  • Presentation: Middle Colonies
    • Diana
    • Mat
  • Workshop: Summer Essay
  • Due: draft of summer essay
Wednesday, Sept. 25
  • Reading: Norton 73-82
  • Presentation: Atlantic Economy & Slave Trade
    • Lexi
    • Matt
  • Workshop: Comparative essay
  • Due: Summer Essay
Friday, Sept. 27
  • Class Trips

Week of September 15th

Tuesday, Sept. 17
  • Reading: Norton 41-49
  • Presentation: Southern Colonies
  • Workshop: Comparing English Colonies
  • Due: Summer assignment, phase 1
Thursday, Sept. 19
  • Reading: Norton 49-57
  • Presentation: New England Colonies
    • Emerson - Explorers
    • Tristan - Puritans
  • Workshop: Comparative Essay Planning
  • Assignment: Comparative Chart
    • Create a chart to compare one of the following:
      • the basic differences between Southern, New England & Middle Colonies
      • three colonies within one of the above regions

Week of September 8

Monday, Sept. 9
  • Reading: Norton, et al, pp 3-10
  • Presentation: Pre-Columbian North America
  • Discussion: The American Dream
  • Workshop: notebooks & note-taking
  • Assignment: summer reading (due in stages)
Wednesday, Sept. 11
  • Reading: Norton 13-22
  • Presentation: Distribution of European Settlements
  • Discussion: The Pequot War (review of 10 Days)
  • Workshop: Mapping Native & European Settlements
Friday, Sept. 13

Back to School Post

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fun, relaxing and/or adventurous summer, suited to your tastes. I have a lot that I can't wait to tell you about. For now, here is a basic plan for our first week of school.

Tuesday, 9/3
  • Presentation - Stegeman's Summer Slideshow
  • Assigned - distribute syllabus and 1st homework questions
    • Identify at least one broad question posed in the course description. Based on your current understanding of U.S. history, attempt to answer that question in one substantial paragraph.
Wednesday, 9/4
  • Review - course description
    • Due: guided reading questions
  • Activity - "How History is Like Broken Dishware"
  • Discuss - plans, expectations & how to be successful in US History 11