Mitt Romney Acceptance Speech

In addition to our regular Social Studies curriculum this year, we will also be spending a lot of time learning about the Presidential election.  In Media classes, we have been watching parts of the major polotical conventions.  We watched each candidates introductory video, and now we are watching parts of their acceptance speeches.  Below is the full video of each candidate's speech:

The Boston Massacre

Below are two very different depictions of what took place at the scene of the Boston Massacre. they are written from two very different points of view. One of them is from a Patriot's point of view, the other is more likely from a British, or neutral, point of view.

Doing the Charleston

In our 8th grade classes we compared the two songs Charleston Party (which characterized the mood of the 1920's) and Brother Can You Spare a Dime (which characterized the mood of the 1930's).






The instructional videos below explain how to do the Charleston, the most popular dance of the 1920's. You can also search for other videos online that give instruction on how to do this dance. Learn how to do this dance and we will perform it in class later next week. Anyone who participates in the dance (no matter how good you are at it) will earn extra credit.





 

Welcome Back!

The new school year will bring many changes to North Prairie. Classes will be about 30 minutes each and will be very different from your traditional Social Studies class. I look forward to a very FUN and exciting year!!




Here are some first day of school videos to get you in the right frame of mind:

Overview of 8th Grade Social Studies 2011 - 2012

The focus of 8th Grade Social Studies this year will be on the Making of Modern America.  We will examine major events and issues of the 20th Century, as well as other topics that affect the way we live, in order to better understand the our community and the world around us.

Specific topics of study will include:  Illinois State history and government, economics, the "Roaring" Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and Contemporary American Society (American culture and events during 1950's - present day).

Time Capsules for the '50s, '60s', '70s, '80s, and 90's

The Battles of Midway and Iwo Jima