Sunday, December 18, 2011

GOVERNMENT CONTINUED

Parents and Students,
We have just celebrated Freedom Week and will now continue to learn about Government.  There is a lot to cover, so I will divide the activities up into groups so that you will be able to identify how the activities relate to our lessons in class.  The TEKS for this lesson require that a student be able to identify how the Texas Constitution supports principles such as checks and balances, federalism, limited government, etc.  The TEKS for this lesson also require that a student be able describe the structure and functions of government at municipal, county, and state levels.

BUDGETING:
Counties Work
This game deals with Budgeting.  If you have ever wanted to make your community a better place to live, play this game to make decisions about the programs and services that affect the people in your community.

JUDICIAL BRANCH:
The games below are games that will further your understanding of the constitution and the Bill of Rights while focusing on the Judicial Branch of Government.  

Argument Wars
Argument Wars is a great simulation game that allows students to pick a real court case, argue that case, and whoever has the best argument, wins.  Have fun with this one!!

Do I Have A Right?

Court Quest

Supreme Decision

SEPERATION of POWERS:
Branches of Power
This is a simulation game that relates to separation of powers.  Play this game to learn about and control all three branches of government.  I think students learn a lot about the different branches of government through the use of this game.    

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:

Law Craft
Have fun making your own laws in Law Craft!

Represent Me
Work as a Legislature trying to meet the needs of the constituents.  You must listen to all the different needs of them and then decide which laws you should take to Congress!  Enjoy Legislatures!

EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
Executive Command
In this exciting game YOU get to be President of the United States.  Follow the link to begin your 4 years term of presidency!

Win the White House
In this simulation game you are trying to become president.  Click above to begin your journey of managing your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

FREEDOM WEEK


Dear Parents and Students,


This week in 7th grade Texas History we will be celebrating Freedom Week.  The TEKS for this week are concerning freedom week and they require that students have instruction that is based on the importance and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.  Students will also be reminded of some of the key events and sacrifices that allowed our country to claim its freedom.  This is a week to be thankful and proud that we live in America.  Below are links to different fun activities that can be explored to get a deeper understanding of this week’s concepts.  Students this is a fun way to learn, so try these links and enjoy! 
The Declaration Clarification Game

Click on the link above in order to enjoy a game that will help students be able to better identify the Declaration of Independence from other important documents.  When you get to the game click Go.  Next, the instructions to the game should have automatically popped-up, read the instructions, and close the instructions window.  Use the puzzle pieces at the bottom of the screen and fit them in the appropriate spot.  Play this game a few times and students you will be surprised how easily you might be able to identify the Declaration of Independence in the future!


Students you will enjoy this activity.  Just click on the link above and you be directly redirected to the flash activity.  Once you arrive at this website, you will be able to uncheck certain items that protect us under the Bill of Rights.  Once you uncheck it, things in the picture disappear.  For instance, when free speech is taken away campaign voting signs among several other things disappear from the picture. 

Classroom Jeopardy for Freedom Week

This is a fun Jeopardy game that is very appropriate for Freedom Week.  Students learn lots of interesting American History facts that deal with America and its freedom.  Follow the link above to play Jeopardy, close out the Camcordia pop-up, select how many teams by clicking on the up and down arrows, select rather or not it is a final Jeopardy game, and rather or not you want a timer.  Then click Go Play, select a category, answer the question, and then hit Answer to see if the question was answered correctly.  Click on Adjust scores and do so if needed and then click Home to go back to categories.  Enjoy several rounds of Jeopardy with your friends and family!

Animation Station

Watch this animated video that will further teach students about the Constitution.  By watching this video students will develop a deeper understanding of events and people that dealt with the U. S. Constitution. 

Animation Station
Watch this short informative video that talks about some of our individual rights that are protected under the U. S. Constitution.  To watch the video click on the link above and the video will automatically begin playing. 

Friday, November 11, 2011

LET'S LEARN ABOUT GOVERNMENT

Parents-
This week students in my Texas History course are learning about Texas and American Government.  The TEKS for this lesson require that a student be able to identify how the Texas Constitution supports principles such as checks and balances, federalism, limited government, etc.  The TEKS also require that a student be able to compare and contrast the principles and concepts of the Texas Bill of Rights and Constitution to the U.S. Bill of Rights and Constitution.   The links below that I have provided are different activities that your child can enjoy that align with the TEKS your child is covering this week. 

Kids-
Follow the links below to have an interesting learning experience.  Earn extra credit points in my class for playing these games.  Write a couple sentences over what the game was about and write the web address of the game.


This a simulation activity that teaches kids how bills in Texas become laws.  Follow the link above, click Let’s Go, click Lets Start the Simulation, click Let’s Write a Bill, and then Click Let’s Start the Simulation.  Read the information as you go, and choose the best choice.


Race the clock in the Constitution Relay Game that quizzes students on their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution.  Follow the link above and Draw a card, if an answer is unknown click on Buy Answer; if you know the answer type in the answer, and hit Answer.  Answer all thirty questions and beat the clock.  When the game is over, print the certificate, and bring it to me to receive the extra credit points for this particular game. 


This game will teach and quiz students on their knowledge over the U.S. Bill of Rights.  This game has two levels of play: Elementary and Secondary.  I suggest starting out with the Elementary level and progress onto the Secondary level.  Choose the level you wish to play.  The instructions for the game pop-up, when you are ready to play click on the Close to Start Game on the top right-hand corner of the instructions.  The game will ask you situational questions and you have to click on the button Yes or No.  At the end of the game print your certificate to receive the extra-credit points for playing the Bill of Rights Match Game. 


This is an educational game that teaches and quizzes students over their knowledge of the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches of government.  Students can follow the link above, click on the big arrow, then click on the arrow that says Play, and drag and drop answer choices into the correct blanks.  Have fun and enjoy. 
Thank You,
Ms. Graham

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Learning about the Texas Revolution

Dear Parents and Students,

Students in my 7th grade History class are beginning to learn about the Texas Revolution.  The TEKS require that students in the 7th grade be able to understand how significant events of the Texas Revolution shaped the history of Texas.  I have provided some links to some different activities over the Texas Revolution that your child can enjoy while learning about the Texas Revolution. 


Tank Attack is a game that is won by answering questions about the Texas Revolution.  To play the game click on the link above and select whether you want to play a one player or two player game.  Questions will be asked about the Texas Revolution and you must type in the answer in the “answer” space provided.  This game is very helpful for learning some of the key events of the American Revolution and aligns with the TEKS your student will be learning for the next couple of weeks. 


If your child enjoys working on word searches this Alamo word search is a fun way for your child to get familiar with words and names that are included in some of the lessons your child will cover as they learn about key events of the Texas Revolution.  To go to the word search click on the link above, when the new page opens, scroll down, and wait for Java to load.  Once Java has loaded the word search will appear.  Hold down the left mouse button to highlight a word.  Kids can play this word search several times because they can hit new game and it scrambles the words.


This is a link to a video that I have provided because it is a brief; informative video for kids and because it outlines key events and situations that lead up to Texas’s Independence.  For a brief video, students can learn some important facts surrounding the Texas Revolution- leading up to Texas’s Independence.   Take a look!  Follow the link above and click on “Start Movie.”


Alamo Jeopardy is a fun interactive game that your child and you or even the whole family can play to learn about significant dates, events, and individuals in the Battle of the Alamo.   To play this Jeopardy game click on the link above, select the number of players (up to 5) and select the timer and final jeopardy options, and click on “Go Play.”  Then select a category click on number of choice.  Whose ever turn it is guesses the answer to the question, then clicks answer, then click on “adjust scores.”  Select rather or not player 1, 2, etc. guessed the correct answer or guessed the wrong answer, then click on “Home” and answer the next question following the same process.  This jeopardy aligns with the TEKS that your will be learning about.  This jeopardy game is realistic and fun game that your child will enjoy engaging in.   


This is another fun Jeopardy game that covers important information over the Battle of San Jacinto.  This Jeopardy game is somewhat advanced and I recommend introducing this game after students are somewhat familiar with some of the information of this particular battle.  Since this game is somewhat advanced, I will give a free homework pass to any student who brings in their score, with the games website address, and a parents signature.  To play the game click on the above link, select the number of players, and click start.  Next, click on points, answer the question, select plus or minus at the bottom of the page for if you missed or answered the question correctly, then click continue, and start the process over again until the points run out.  Have fun and remember that this game is a challenge!

Thank You,

Ms. Graham

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Welcome to Ms. Graham's History Halo

Welcome Parents and Students,

History is all around us.  It is important that we know our History because they say History repeats itself.  This blog is a place to explore the many different history topics that have occurred in our world. I hope to have many different fun history activities and worksheets available that run concurrent with the lessons that we are covering in class.    I will try when possible to post video clips of some of our most important dates in history as well.  I hope that through this blog we can show our children the importance of History and help them to master the topics that are required of them to learn by state standards.   

CHARACTERISTICS OF PLACES AND REGIONS OF TEXAS

Dear Parents and Students,


Our 7th grade social studies students are studying the geography of Texas and are learning to identify the different regions in Texas. Here is what we will be covering in class this week.  The TEKS state that students at this grade level should understand the location and characteristics of places and regions of Texas. The student is expected to be able to locate the Mountains and Basins, Great Plains, North Central Plains, and Coastal Plains regions.  Students are also expected to be able to identify major cities, rivers, natural and historic landmarks, political and cultural regions, and local points of interest in Texas. 


I have included a few activities and some informational pages that you as a parent can explore with your child as we move through the lesson this week.  These activities and web sources will help your child master the places and characteristics of Texas and they will have fun while doing it. 


TEXAS REGIONS TIC-TAC-TOE


This would be a great project for your child to do while they learn about Texas.  This project allows for your child to be very creative while being able to incorporate technology as they wish.  When you click on the link above you will find yourself directly at the Tic-Tac-Toe board.  Each box contains an activity over the different regions in Texas that the student will create and produce.  Each box has a different activity allowing for the student to gain a variety of information amongst completion of the project.  This activity will support the TEKS that require our 7th grade students to learn the 4 regions of Texas. 


TEXAS CAPITOL TOUR


Texas Capitol Tour is a great interactive website that allows your children to explore the capitol building.  In order to get to the capitol tour you must click on the link above.  This interactive site allows your children to explore different rooms in the capitol building while displaying factual educational information pertaining to Texas's history.  Check this site out, it is a fun way for your child to see the capitol building; especially, if your child has never been to Austin and actually seen it for themselves.  This activity is matched up to our lesson this week in that as we learn about our state capitol, Austin, we will explore a very important historical building, the Capitol Building. 


TEXAS STATE MEMORY MATCH


This is a fun game that you and your child can play in order to learn about the state symbols such as: the state bird being a Mockingbird.  To play the game click on the link above and click on start game.  This is a fun way for your child to learn about some of the points of interests in Texas. 


FORT WORTH ATTRACTIONS VIDEO


This is a great video.  Have your students watch it.  This video informs students of some of the attractions in Fort Worth, Texas.  Considering the state standards this week state that a student must learn about historical sites of Texas and points of interest in Texas, this video is a great source to view because the child can actually see the places instead of reading about them.  To watch the video click on the link above, push the play button in the center of the video, click the button with four arrows on it to make the video appear in full screen mode. 


TEXAS WORD SEARCH


The Texas Word Search is a fun and educational activity that your child can do in order to learn people, places, and things in Texas.  Each time your child does the word search new words will appear.  They are timed, so they can always try beating their last score.  To get to the word find click on the link above, scroll down, and click to play to begin to word search. 


TEXAS MAP/SYMBOLS QUIZ PRINTOUT


This is a quiz over Texas where the student has to answer questions pertaining to a Texas map.  Having your child do this activity will be beneficial because they will be required to know where and what the capitol of Texas is among other questions pertaining to the state of Texas.  This site will help address some of the information they will need to know about cities and state parks that is required of them by the state of Texas and this quiz matches up to our curriculum in class this week. 


Thank you and have a historic time learning,


Ms. Graham