Friday, February 27th

Advanced American Studies

Last NHD work day--projects are due Mon. March 2nd. You must turn in a process paper, bibliography, and project on Monday!


American Studies

We continue our discussion of the early cold war period with a close look at some key events in the late 1940's struggle with the Soviets. Topics discussed today are:

1. Containment
2. Truman Doctrine
3. Marshall Plan
4. Berlin Airlift
5. NATO
6. 1949 -- Red China and Soviets get the A-bomb

Thursday, February 26th

Advanced American Studies

1. Roaring Twenties Quiz #2
2. In class discussion of the politics of the 1920's (rooted in Ch.11.2). Policies of Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge are discussed.

Assignment: Read Ch. 11.4 (p. 343-51) "A New Mass Culture"


American Studies

In class, we discussed life in America right after WWII (GI Bill, Suburbs, Baby Boom, etc.).

Assignment: Ch 16.1 handout and map

Wednesday, February 25th

Advanced American Studies

NHD Work Day


American Studies

Today we begin the Cold War unit of study. Class notes consist of some Cold War era basics, (who, when, comparing philosophies, etc)

Assignment: Complete Communist Manifesto reading and questions

Tuesday, February 24th

Advanced American Studies

We are viewing the documentary 10 Days that Unexpectedly Change America: The Scopes Trial. Keep in mind the discussion we have had of the social and cultural tensions of the 1920's as you view this episode.

Assignment: Read "The War Against Demon Rum" and answer questions for Thursday


American Studies

Today we finish our study of the Holocaust with a discussion of the film Schindler's List (handout).

Assignment: Complete reading on Marx and the Communist Manifesto as into to Cold War unit.

Monday, February 23rd

Advanced American History

Reminders: NHD work days -- Mon/Wed/Fri. Badger State applications due this Wednesday. For tomorrow, complete assignment for Chapter 11.3.

Friday, February 20th

Advanced American Studies

Picture on left of Clarence Darrow courtesy of University of Wisconsin History Department

1. Twenties Quiz #1 -- (if missed, make up within 3 class days)
2. Our discussion of the 1920's continues with an analysis of the social and cultural tensions that defined the era. A good ancillary resource to view for this discussion is the History 102 lecture notes from UW Madison.

Assignment: Read Chapter 11.3 (pages 335-342). Develop short explanations of the issues of the twenties on which Americans were divided and summarize what the differing beliefs were.

Wednesday, February 18th

Shipwreck Kelly photo above courtesy of corbis.com

Advanced American Studies

We pick back up with our discussion of the 1920's today by beginning to examine the Roaring Twenties as an era of contrasts; an era of prosperity and frustration. Based on a reading of Ch. 11.1, we are examining some of the economic changes of the era through in class notes.

Reminder: 20's Quiz #1 Friday


American Studies

1. Finish Holocaust discussion
2. Holocaust Quiz

Missed quizzes must be made up in 3 days!

Tuesday, February 17th

Advanced American Studies

NHD Work Day

American Studies

Today we pulled together the assignments of the last few days to discuss events of the Holocaust, specifically the process that led to the "Final Solution".  

Reminder:  Holocaust Quiz Wednesday

Monday, February 16th

(image above courtesy cap.gov)
Advanced American Studies

Today, we begin our study of the 1920's. To introduce the unit, we are doing a number of activities in class, from viewing artifacts, looking at a few readings and clips of the Charleston and Steamboat Willie.

Assignment: Read Chapter 11.1 (p. 324-29)


American Studies

Complete the Holocaust webquest (handout) by using the website for the US Holocaust Museum.

Friday, February 13th

American Studies

To begin our mini-unit on the Holocaust, we conducted a jigsaw reading activity on the process of the Holocaust. Students were divided into small groups and instructed to complete a short reading and a component of a more lengthy outline (handout).

Thursday, February 12th

American Studies

Today we finished our examination of Flags of our Fathers. Complete discussion questions (handout) if you were absent for the class discussion of the film.

Monday, February 9th

American Studies

As a culmination to your study of WWII, we will be viewing the film "Flags of our Fathers" for the next few days. Based on the book by the same name by James Bradley, it highlights the experiences of three of the flag raisers from the iconic Rosenthal photo from the Battle of Iwo Jima. One of these soldiers was John Bradley of Antigo.

Monday - Thursday, February 9-12

Advanced American Studies
National History Day Work/Meetings will be conducted. The following components are necessary for these meetings:

1. Typed Bibliography--divided between Primary and Secondary sources
2. Finalized Thesis
3. System of Organization
4. Project progress -- (documentary -script / essay - outline / exhibit or website - detailed drawing or outline to reflect what will be displayed and how your argument will be made.

Total points assessed for this meeting will be 25.

*Be sure to consult your NHD guidebook for information on creating your bibliography, rules requirements for construction of projects, checklists and rubric assessments for final projects, etc.

Thursday, February 5th

Advanced American Studies / American Studies

World War II Unit Exam (Based on text chapters 14/15)

Wednesday, February 4th

Advanced American Studies / American Studies

After discussing the decision to drop the Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we spent some time reviewing for the WWII Exam.

For Thursday: WWII Exam

Tuesday, February 3rd

Advanced American History

1. WWII Quiz #2
2. Discussion of the end of WWII -- Firebombing of Japan and the use of Atomic Weapons. To raise questions, we will view selected scenes from the documentary "The Fog of War"


American Studies

1. Finish discussion of turning points -- War in the Pacific
2. Video Clip -- Civilians at War

Assignment: Complete Civilians at war sheet using Chapter 15.5 and complete scrapbook by Wednesday.

Monday, February 2nd

Advanced American Studies

Today we culminate our study of the turning points of WWII by finishing student presentations.

Reminders: WWII Quiz #2 Tuesday / WWII Exam Thursday


American Studies

Using sections 15.1 and 15.3 in your text, identify some of the key turning points in WWII on a map of Europe and the Pacific. Scrapbook deadline has been moved to Wednesday.

Reminder: WWII exam Thursday