February Vacation!!!

Hi parents and guardians,
Please take a moment to check PowerSchool soon.  I am updating grades regularly and should have all makeup work and current assignments done and entered by the end of vacation week.

When we return from break, we are going to be starting a summative assessment where students write a letter to encourage action on a subject of their choice.  Students will be doing research on their topics and drafting a formal letter.  I do not limit topics, but parents have final say over their student's topic.  Please feel free to check with your student about his or her choice of topic to make sure you are comfortable with it.

Thank you, and happy vacation!
Mrs. Siecke

Letter Resources

How to send a letter to House/Senate
(You are better off sending a letter to the district office than Washington, DC.)

Contacting a NH Senator/Representative

Contact Info - Town of Exeter

State legislators - NH

You Have the Right: February 21, 2017

Hi everyone,
In class today, we got through most of the Bill of Rights and discussed what they include.  If you missed class today, I have attached the presentation below.

HOMEWORK:  We are starting to prepare for a summative that we will write after the break.  For this assignment, you need to identify a cause you care about. You will be exercising your First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and petition, by writing to someone who can take action on the issue you choose.

This prep sheet will help you identify your cause and the party you're going to write to. I have included a blank copy of the handouts and a sample of a completed handout so you can see what you should be aiming for.  If you are unsure what to do or to whom you should write, please let me know ahead of time.

The prep sheet is due Friday, but I will start collecting it on Thursday.  We will not have regular classes on Friday, so you will need to remember to turn it into me if you don't have it done for Thursday.

Bill of Rights presentation

Issues Letter Prep Sheet

Possible issues list

Sample of completed Issues Letter Prep assignment

In Your Own Words: February 20, 2017

Hi everyone,
We are continuing our work with the Bill of Rights today.  If you were not in class today, or if you missed something, I have attached the presentation below. We got through Amendments 1 - 4 in all our classes today, although some classes still need to wrap up our discussion of #4.

HOMEWORK:  Tonight, please conduct an interview with someone not on our team. Use the questions on the handout given in class - I've attached it below.  Do NOT fill out the "Amendment Number" column; we will do that in class.  This assignment falls into the "Habits of Learning" category, which means if it is not on time, you will not get credit for it.

Bill of Rights interview form

Bill of Rights presentation

Fun Friday Formative, Coming Up!!! February 16, 2017

Hi everyone,
Another late start to the day...sigh.  Oh well, we will keep moving forward.

TOMORROW, you have a formative assessment on the information we've been covering about the Constitution and our government.  This will include material from the vocabulary and the Principles of the Constitution packet.

You will need to be able to:

• Match vocab to definitions
• Correctly describe what bicameralism is
• Identify descriptions of how the branches check and balance one another
• Identify which actions reflect designated powers, concurrent powers, and reserved powers

Look at blog posts for 2/14 and 2/8 for resources to help you study.  There is also a review of checks and balances linked below.  Have fun and good luck!

Checks and Balances Review

Bicameralism:

Checkmate (and Balances): February 15, 2017

Hi everyone,
Today in class, you had a chance to check the powers of different government branches using the Constitution.  Everyone seemed to have a pretty good time!

HOMEWORK:  Please finish your Constitutional Superhero assignment.  Info in the previous post.

If we do not have school tomorrow, you do NOT have a Fun Friday Formative.  You will have a Monday Funday Formative instead!!!!

Here is a visual of the checks and balances system in our government:

It's a Bird, It's a Plane! February 14, 2017

Hi everyone,
Today in class, we reviewed the unit vocabulary and started reviewing the major principles of the Constitution.

Your homework is intended to help you show how well you understand one of the branches of government.  You should understand what each branch does, based on the work we have done so far (Constitution Scavenger Hunt, Principles of the Constitution handout). If that does not give you enough information, I have additional info for you to use:

Here is a reading to help you with the three branches.

Here is a copy of the assignment.

Here is a presentation on the three branches.

If these are not enough, please drop me an email or see me in school!

While You Were Out: February 10, 2017

Hi everyone,
Today in class, we reviewed who still needs to pass in work for the Making of the Constitution unit.  If that includes you, please get that done for MONDAY.  If you were on the NYC trip, I will check in with you on Monday and your work is due Wednesday.  Remember to come in with your Constitution Scavenger Hunt and your worksheet packet done!

Yep, It Snowed: February 9, 2017

If you're really bored and need something to do, you can check your understanding of US government by playing some games here.

Let It Snow? Oh, No! February 8, 2017

Hi everyone,
Here is a reminder of what you need to have done:

CONSTITUTION SCAVENGER HUNT - this should have been done by the end of class on Wednesday. If it's not done, finish it for our next class meeting.  There are links in my previous blog post to Constitution resources.

PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION PACKET - this is DUE on Thursday (or the next time we meet), finished, at the start of class.  You got one on Monday or in class today.  If you do not have one, you will need to get one from me next time you see me.

CONSTITUTION VOCABULARY  - if we do NOT have school on THURSDAY, please review these terms for a surprise check in on Friday.  If you are going away, bring this with you and run through the terms to get familiar with them.

Quizlet #1

Quizlet #2

Unit Vocabulary List

The Constitution: February 6, 2017

Hi everyone,
If you need to finish up your Constitution handout, here are two resources you can use to do that:

http://constitutionus.com/ This has the text of the Constitution, a little simplified.

http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/a-guide-to-the-united-states-constitution This breaks down the Constitution, article by article, and then explains what each article means.  Be sure you are looking at the right article!

HOMEWORK:  Today, you got a packet in class called "Principles of the Constitution".  The three worksheets in it are due on Thursday.  You can decide how to pace out these assignments.  If you need a new packet, please let me know ASAP.