1940's Internet Scavenger Hunt

Today you will be searching the internet for the answers to 10 different questions. Use these links to help you...

World War II

Antibiotics Save Lives

Jackie Robinson

President Harry S. Truman

TV Entertains America

Abstract Expressionism

The Big Band Sound

Postwar Baby Boom

Slinky

Women Support the War Effort

1940's

This week is all about the 1940's. We've been talking about inventions such as the polaroid camera and the first computer (which was HUGE) and World War II. Today the kids reviewed the information they know by creating 20 questions with answers. Tomorrow we will turn those into a crossword puzzle.

Congratulations to our gymnasts and good luck at state!

Great Depression

This week we have been focusing on the 1930's. Specifically the causes of the Great Depression and the New Deal of President Roosevelt. We were even able to find references to the Great Depression in "Song if the South" by Alabama.

There has also been discussion almost daily about the Olympics. (If I fall asleep the night before, the kids keep me informed!)

Just a reminder that the history interview is due Monday for 2nd and 3rd hour.

Have a good weekend!!

The Great Depression

Today we wrapped up the 1920's. Tomorrow we will move into the great depression and the 1930's. We have also been discussing the Olympics and some Olympic history.

In second grade I was sitting in the library at St. Mary's School in Sister Joseph Marie's reading class when Mr. Doyle came into the library and turned on the TV. On it was the news report about the Challenger space shuttle exploding. I can also remember seeing Mary Lou Retton stick the landing on her final vault to win a gold medal in the Olympics. The most recent historical event ingrained in my mind is the day 9/11 happened. I was teaching 5th grade and my students were at gym, a colleague came over and told me to turn on the TV. Each of these events are something I will never forget and I am hoping to help the students in my class see how history really does affect all of our lives.

In order to do this I am asking each student to interview someone over 40 years old (not their parents) about what they remember from history. They have a list of possible questions to use and a worksheet to complete after the interview. My hope is that these interviews will get them talking with someone other than you about what history is and what it really means.

For 2nd and 3rd hour this assignment is due Feb 22.

For 5th and 6th hour this assignment is due March 1.

Roaring Twenties

This week we are focusing on the Roaring 20's! So far we have gone over some basic information about events and people of the decade. Things like, prohibition, the stock market crash, jazz music, Amelia Earhart, Louis Armstrong, Babe Ruth, and Charles Lindbergh. Tomorrow and Friday we will go more in depth on prohibition as well as the stock market crash.

Snow day...

He's still got it...

It seems that Mr. Bergquist can still do a cart wheel...ask you kids about it!

US History

Our next unit is US History. We cover A LOT of history in a short period of time. The way it works is that we talk in terms of decades. We started last week with 1900-1910 and are continuing this week with 1910-1920. For each decade we discuss what happened overall, then we go in depth on a few major events. (Last week it was immigration and the Model T.)

I have hopes of the kids doing a family history, but right now it's only in my head...I'll try to get it out and on paper sometime this week! (But, I'm not making any promises.)

If your child is in my 5th or 6th hour they will be having Mr. Quirk Becker (or Mr. QB) for the next few weeks. I'm excited to have someone with fresh, new ideas working in my classroom!

PS - I will be serving my civic duty the next two weeks...yep, jury duty! So, if your child mentions that I'm gone for a few days, that's probably why.