Mrs. Slaviero's Blog

George Washington wasn't at the battle of Saratoga but the American victory there was still a huge boost for the Continental Army he led. My students are writing a Twitter post (no more than 140 characters!) as if they are Washington and are announcing the victory. This is a great way for students to summarize information and they are having fun doing it. I will be posting some of their "Tweets" on my new Twitter account, @Mrsslaviero.

Tonight's Presidential Debate will allow viewers to see both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama discuss issues that are of importance to voters. This is the first of three debates scheduled in October. The Vice Presidential Candidates, Paul Ryan and Joe Biden, will debate next week. We will discuss the debate tomorrow in class.                        

This post has little to do with US History but everything to do with starting the new school year on a strong note. The link below will take you to an AT & T Commerical that ran during the 2012 Summer Olympics and reminds us all to never stop setting goals. What do you want to accomplish this year? http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/2012/congratulations-rebecca-soni.html

This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, also known as "The Second War of Independence". Michigan played an important role in this war and the US Navy will be commemorating the anniversary with several special events from September 4th-10th on the Detroit River. There will be tours of several ships, including an historic tall ship. I plan on viewing the ships--maybe I'll see you there! Here is a link for more information: http://www.ourflagwasstillthere.org/events/detroit-event/94-public/partners-places-and-events/events/344-citywebsite-detroit.html  Detroit Free Press Photo

Today is the first day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. One of the reasons for the convention is to gather members of the Republican Party together to formally nominate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to represent them in the November Election. The Democratic Party will hold their convention September 3-6 in Charlotte, North Carolina and re-nominate Barack Obama and Joe Biden to represent them. Watching even a few minutes of the conventions is a very good way to see democracy in action!    

Students have been studying the time before the Civil War and analyzing the impact the Fugitive Slave Act had on the institution of slavery. When this law was passed the need for the Underground Railroad increased and so did the need to deliver slaves to Canada because they risked recapture in the North. Michigan became a major stop on the Railroad because of its proximity to Canada. The website below is full of links with more information, including interactive sites and maps: http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/undergroundrailroad.htm

Students will be creating a metaphor poster in class linking Manifest Destiny to either the Internet or the Universe (student group choice). Thinking metaphorically is thinking deeply about the subject matter and this is a great way for students to prove that they understand the concepts related to the growth of the United States. It doesn't hurt that it's a fun activity, as well! I'm very interested in seeing how they create this project and make it their own!