Happy Halloween

Lots of great costumes and disguises today. I swear I saw Michael Jackson in the D-Wing. See some fun and historical links below about Halloween!!!

Back to Business!

Today we are shifting focus from the West and back to the Eastern United States. The next chapter is about our Industrial Revolution in the late 1800's. Webegin by looking at the importance of 3 specific items to help with our growth, The Steel Industry, Oil Development and Inventions. The 2nd half of our lesson was devoted to the Wright brother's and the first gas powered flight in history at Kitty Hawk, NC.

Homework: Students are recieving new packets and are to complete the first section quiz assignment for homework.

Cool Links:
Wright Brothers (Official Site)
The 1903 Wright Flyer "Interactve Site"
The Smithsonian Museum's Exhibit

Important Announcements

Field Trip Money: "Amelia" Movie on November 6th
If it is not turned in by Thursday 10/29 you may still be able to go, but we will have to purchase a ticket for you the day of the show. I will hold your money, BUT can not take personal checks after 10/29.

West Test: Cancelled
This week we have had too many absences!!! To be fair we have had several quizzes on the Unit already. I feel we need to move on!

Class Today: We participated in a simulation where 4 Groups (Farmers, Ranchers, Miners and Ex-Slaves) all developed proposals for their local representatives to congress. The proposals were to come up with ideas on how to allocate 100,000 acres of Federal Land and 500,000 dollars of Federal money toward Western development. The groups had some heated discussions as to which groups "deserved" the funds and also which of the groups contributions were most important to the growth of America.

Great Job Classes!!!

Amelia Earhart Links of Interest:
The Offical Site
Official Movie Site
Remembering Amelia

The Oklahoma Land Rush

Today we are studying on of the last major events in Western Settlement, The Oklahoma Land Rush. By looking at photographs and maps of the event we see how the contest was set up. Americans seem to love competitions like American Idol, The World Series and Even The Biggest Loser. This contest is basically a race for land, kinda like TV's Amazing Race. Its first come first serve, so the competitors are looking for the edge. Some even cheat and sneak into the restricted boundaries of the competition ahead of time. Better not get caught by the Army! It could be very bad for your health!

Clip: Far and Away (Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman)

Summary Test Thursday: We will review past quizzes and have a review session in class Wednesday.

REMINDER: Permission Slips and Money ($%8.00) due Wednesday for Amelia

Field Trips, Fall, and Finishing,Farmers Frantically!

The 8th Grade social studies teachers are pleased to announce the field trip to Amelia on Friday Nov 6th at Shoppingtown Theater. Cost is 8 dollars and both money and signed permission slips are due by this Wednesday at the very latest. Though we are still the in the late 1800's in class, this look toward where we are going is a great opportunity we didn't want to pass up.

Plains Farmers

Today we are discussing the farmers of the Great Plains during the late 1800's. Reasons for farmers heading west were very much influenced by the growth of railroads and the Homestead Act. This act gave farmers a chance to earn free land up to 160 if they could successfully farm it for 5 years.

We also looked the the early dwellings of the Plains farmers, "The Soddie". As Eskimos used snow and Sioux used tipis the farmers used the resources around them which was sod.

Film Clip Constructing a Sod House:from the History Channel

By Request: Follow the links!
City Slickers
City Slickers II "The Legend of Curly's Gold"
Tombstone
Wyatt Earp

The Myth of the West

TOMBSTONE

Tonight's lesson will be to preview the section on Plains farmers in the Textbook. Complete Sect 4 Quiz Worksheet as your homework assignment.

Cool Link:
Haunted Tombstone Videos