April 19, ‘04

Seventh Grade

The seventh graders are currently studying the Progressive Era in Washington State history – this includes a study of Teddy Roosevelt and some of the American muckrakers who had an affect on Washington State. We finished watching “The Wind and the Lion” today – a movie that features Brian Keith as Teddy Roosevelt. The truth was stretched a bit in this movie regarding a kidnapped American named Pericardis and I challenge the students to do some research regarding this. The students will have a test on the Progressive Era this Friday. Our next unit will be on World War I.

The seventh graders will be taking the WASL on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. There will be more WASL-testing next week, as well.

Eight Grade

The eighth graders are currently studying the Civil War. Topics: Slavery, Sectionalism, Advantages of the North and the South, drummer boys, the life of a soldier, well-known battles (Gettysburg, Vicksburg), the blockade of the southern coast, Sherman’s March, women in the war, well-known Generals (Lee, Grant), the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment (first unit of African-Americans to fight in the war). We saw the movie “Glory” last week and will be watching “Gettysburg” this week. I could probably spend an entire year teaching the Civil War unit, but we’ll try to finish it up in the next couple of weeks. Our next unit will be on the Reconstruction.