Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter's U.S History and Government iBlog

U.S. History

Wednesday 3/25/20

Meal Distribution Program:

Our district will continue to distribute meals (breakfast and lunch) from the following locations: DHS, FHS, EFHS, OL Smith, Woodworth, Salina Inter. & McCollough/Unis from 10:00-12:00 Monday-Friday.

Today’s Article:

For today our article will focus on Senator Joseph McCarthy and how his Communist witch hunts during the 1950’s created an era of fear in the United States.

Article: Joseph McCarthy by History.com Editors

Web Link: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/joseph-mccarthy

Have a great day,

Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter

U.S. History

Meal Distribution Program:

As you might have seen our Governor stated the citizens of Michigan are being asked to stay home starting as often as possible with the exception of shopping for essential needs begining today. This does not affect our meal distribution program being provided by Dearborn Public Schools. Our district will continue to distribute meals (breakfast and lunch) from the following locations: DHS, FHS, EFHS, OL Smith, Woodworth, Salina Inter. & McCollough/Unis from 10:00-12:00 Monday-Friday.

Today’s Article:

Thank you for those who have continued to send in your reflections. If you have not finished your reflection from last week, please feel free to send it to me when you can. For todays article we will be looking at the tenuous relationship that has existed between the United States and China since their conflict in the 1950’s.

Article: The Last Time China and America Went to War by Robert Farley

Web Link: https://nationalinterest.org/feature/deadly-lessons-the-last-time-china-america-went-war-11558

U.S. History

Good morning everyone,

I know the last few days we have seen some comments in the news and on social media regarding statements from the Michigan Department of Education. Mrs. Alcodray wanted us to share this message from the district:

Hello Students,

I just wanted to update you on the fast-moving situation regarding our online classes. This afternoon, Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her “dismay” about the Michigan Department of Education’s statement, releasing her own statement assuring educators and parents that this time could possibly count. The MDE released its original statement because in order for our time to count, the Michigan legislature must change the law; the MDE has no power here. So, what does that mean for us? It is very possible—even likely—that our time online will count. So, keep working. Our state lawmakers do not want to anger parents and educators across the state. So, let’s keep our momentum going.

Heyam Alcodray

Principal

Fordson High School

Today’s Article:

I want to thank each of you who emailed me your reflection over the weekend. They were all so well done, and I really enjoyed reading your comments. For this week we will be switching gears and looking at how the Americans and the Soviet Union began engaging in Cold War conflicts.

Monday

Article: Cold War History by History.com Editors

Web Link: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history

U.S. History

Good afternoon everyone,

Here is our post for today:

Today’s Reflection:

This week we have posted one article each day examining the effects of WWII on the lives of everyday people. For your closing assignment this week we want you to select one of the articles that we posted this week (I’m going to repost them below) and compete the reflection sheet posted in the supplemental materials section. You can save the document as a word document or google doc and type right in the document. Once you have finished and saved your reflection please email it to me at murrayr@dearbornschools.org by Monday March 23^rd, at 9:00 am. Be sure to use the check list I have included to make sure that you don’t skip a step.

Have a great weekend,

Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter

This Week’s Articles:

Monday

Article: At 98, D-Day Veteran Medic Returns to Normandy To Remember A Generation’s Sacrifice by Jay Price

Web Link: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/06/730126155/at-98-d-day-veteran-medic-returns-to-normandy-to-remember-a-generations-sacrific

Tuesday

Article: How Japan and the U.S. Remember World War II by Isaac Chotiner

Web Link: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/05/the-u-s-and-japan-have-very-different-memories-of-world-war-ii.html

Wednesday

Article: Japanese Internment Camps by History.com Editors

Web Link: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation

Thursday

Article: The U.S. Home Front During World War II by History.com Editors

Web Link: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii

Additional Article on How to Write a Quality Reflection:

https://www.myassignmentservices.com/blog/how-to-write-a-reflection-paragraph-in-an-assignment/

http://isthismystory.com/learning/how-do-i-write-a-good-personal-reflection/

Supplemental Materials: Article Reflection Activity-2020 and U.S. History Article Reflection Activity-Rubric-2020

Article Reflection Activity-2020

U.S. History Article Reflection Activity-Rubric-2020

U.S. History

Good afternoon everyone,

Here is our post for today:

Today’s Article:

Here is our article for today titled The U.S. Home Front During World War II by History.com Editors. Please take a few minutes to read the article and ponder how the lives of non-combat American citizens living at home during WWII changed dramatically.

Click on the link below to access the article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii

Tomorrow’s Reflection:

After today you will have read four articles focusing on various historical aspects pertaining to the effect WWII had on the lives of those who lived through is. Tomorrow you will be given a reflection sheet to respond to and a checklist to help guide you through it. If you follow the check list, you will do just fine. The reflection will need to be emailed to me by Monday March 23^rd.

Have a great day and enjoy the article,

Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter

U.S. History

Good afternoon everyone,

Here is our post for today:

Free Meal Pickup Provided by Dearborn Public Schools:

Don’t forget that Dearborn Public Schools will offer free pickup breakfast and lunch to all of our students at any of following six school locations: Fordson High School, Dearborn High, Edsel Ford High School, McCollough/Unis Middle School, Salina Intermediate and Woodworth.

The grab-and-go meals will be available from 10 a.m. to noon from now through April 3^rd. Hopefully they will extend it over spring break (April 6^th through 10^th)

This is a great resource and if it can be useful to your family any child age 18 or younger is invited to receive a meal. Be sure to bring your younger siblings along with you so you can all have enough to eat.

Today’s Article:

Here is our article for today titled Japanese Internment Camps by History.com Editors. Please take a few minutes to read the article and ponder how FDR’s decision to intern Japanese Americans during WWII violated the civil rights of these citizens.

Click on the link below to access the article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation

Have a great day,

Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter

U.S. History

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you’re having a great week so far. I’m sorry for the late post today but here are a few important things for today:

Free Meal Pickup Provided by Dearborn Public Schools:

Starting today (March 17^th), Dearborn Public Schools will offer free pickup breakfast and lunch to all of our students at any of following six school locations: Fordson High School, Dearborn High, Edsel Ford High School, McCollough/Unis Middle School, Salina Intermediate and Woodworth.

The grab-and-go meals will be available from 10 a.m. to noon from now through April 3^rd. Hopefully they will extend it over spring break (April 6^th through 10^th)

This is a great resource and if it can be useful to your family any child age 18 or younger is invited to receive a meal. Be sure to bring your younger siblings along with you so you can all have enough to eat.

Today’s Article:

Here is our article for today titled How Japan and the U.S. Remember World War II by Isaac Chotiner. Please take a few minutes to read the article and ponder the differences in how our two nations view the impact of the war.

Click on the link below to access the article: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/05/the-u-s-and-japan-have-very-different-memories-of-world-war-ii.html

Remind 101 Information:

I’m sure that you have already downloaded the Remind 101 app for your mobile device. In order to receive reminders from Ms. Colter and myself please text the following message @769a2g to 81010.

Have a great day,

Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter

U.S. History

Good morning everyone,

I hope the weekend has treated you well and that you found the article on Pandemics throughout History an interesting read. I wanted to touch on a few things that you might be wondering about:

First, regarding school closing here is what our district website is saying:

School Closing Information-UPDATE

District Public Hotline for questions and support from 9-4pm (Monday to Friday) is  313-827-3006 or email is communications@dearbornschools.org

All Dearborn Public Schools will be closed for students effective immediately, March 13, 2020. This is a result of Governor Whitmer’s order to close all K-12 school buildings, public, private, and boarding, starting Monday, March 16 until Sunday, April 5.

Dearborn Public Schools spring break will take place from Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 10. Students will return to school on Monday, April 13, 2020.

Second, Remind 101 Access Code:

I’m sure that you have already downloaded the Remind 101 app for your mobile device. In order to receive reminders from Ms. Colter and myself please text the following message @769a2g to 81010.

Third, classroom expectations for remote learning:

Over the next few weeks until we can attend school again, I will be posting assignments in accordance with the district’s expectations for remote learning which means that I will be posting daily articles this week relating to various aspects of our WWII legacy. I am asking that you take a few minutes out of your day to read the article and ponder its significance. On Friday I will post a small reflection assignment that you can email to me by Monday. As a social studies class Ms. Colter and I want to support you in your goal of having an SRI score of 1200 (roughly the reading level of an 11^th grader during the last half of their junior year) and providing you with relevant articles is a great way to support you. Now, as the next few weeks provide us with clarity to the state and district’s plans, we might offer alternative assignments or a more rigorous curriculum but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

Our article for today is titled: At 98, D-Day Veteran Medic Returns to Normandy To Remember A Generation’s Sacrifice by Jay Price.

Click on the link below to access the article: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/06/730126155/at-98-d-day-veteran-medic-returns-to-normandy-to-remember-a-generations-sacrific

Finally, take care of what is important:

This should go without saying but during the next few weeks make sure that you are not only taking care of those around you but that you are taking care of yourself. Set goals for yourself that will help you be a better person and develop a sense of pride in the young man or woman that you’re becoming. Focus on staying healthy but come back to school in a few weeks a better version of you than I have met before who is ready to work and close this year out right. But most importantly get plenty of rest, wash your hands after touching your face and don’t cough on anyone!

Have a great day,

Mr. Murray and Ms. Colter

Good morning everyone!

With Dearborn schools closed until April 13^th,  it is important that you stay active reading and working on PSAT/SAT prep. Over the next few weeks I will be posting reading links as well as SAT prep links. Please check the blog every few days for resources. Be safe, rest and take care of those you love!

Warmest regards,

Mr. Murray

Reading Link: Pandemics That Changed History

U.S. History

Monday-3/09/20:

• Bell Work-1. What is Geraldine Snyder’s (the speakers) job at the beginning of the passage and why was it important? 2. Imagine that you were one of Geraldine’s nieces or nephews and you just learned about your aunt’s experience during WWII. What might be two or three questions that you would ask her? 3. How would you have handled the pressure of the feverish pace of the work days during WWII? Do you think you would have been able to keep up with the demands of war?  
• Attendance-While Class is Doing Bell Work
• Presentation-How to Write a Claim-Thesis Statement-Supplemental Power Point-2020
• Writing Activity-Should we have dropped the atomic bomb? (Day 2)

• Primary Source Notes (Part I) and Argumentative Writing Piece (Part II)

• Daily Objective-

• Content Objective:
  • SWD evaluation of the justifiable reason and criticisms behind the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb by explaining why they feel it was the right or wrong decision to drop the bomb in an argumentative essay guided by a set of Cornell notes
• Language Objective:
  • Students will read and state their opinion on the justifiable reason in addition to the criticisms behind the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb by creating a set of structured Cornell notes and using that to help them write an argumentative essay defending one of the two positions

Supplemental Materials: Presentation-How to Write a Claim-Thesis Statement-Supplemental Power Point-2020 and Writing Activity-Should we have dropped the atomic bomb?

Presentation-How to Write a Claim-Thesis Statement-Supplemental Power Point-2020

Writing Activity-Should we have dropped the atomic bomb?

Example of a solid opening paragraph for your essay:

• Following the defeat of Germany President Truman was faced with the difficult decision on how to end the war with Japan. After learning about the Manhattan Project Truman realized that he had the power of the atomic bomb at his disposal. The United States decision to use the atomic bomb was …(insert claim here)