Course Overview: Personal Finance and Post-WWII U.S. History. We will start the course by learning how to handle money. This may sound like common sense, but many young people spend little time thinking about how to make money, grow it, spend it and reach short/long-term financial goals. This information can be life changing if you apply what you learn. Then we will move on to post-WWII U.S. history. This is a 70-year period that has been highlighted by conflict, change and justice. We begin by reviewing different political and economic systems and US/world geography. With that background we can analyze the Cold War (first use of the atomic bomb, space race, arms race, Korean War, and Vietnam War), the search for equal treatment (Civil Rights Movement, women’s rights, etc), difficult challenges (energy consumption/sources and immigration), and current conflicts (Middle East, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, and international terrorism). We will frequently use current events to analyze complex issues in a historical context. This is an exciting time in American history filled with complex challenges and rewarding opportunities.
Essential Questions (designed to stimulate thought, provoke inquiry, and spark more questions):
All units
o What is the influence of geography on world events?
o How has history impacted current events?
o Why do we study history?
o What makes an effective argument?
o What makes an effective explanation?
Unit 1: Personal Finance
o How do you reach your financial goals?
Unit 2: Theories and Ideas
o How do nations govern themselves?
o How do economies work?
Unit 3: Cold War
o Why study the Cold War?
o How should nations try to influence regional and world events?
o How is perspective important in understanding historical events?
Unit 4: Individual Rights
o How can a society ensure equality and fairness for its citizens?
o How can individual citizens influence government policies and laws?
Unit 5: Challenges
o How does access to available and affordable energy influence economic stability and growth (historically and present-day)?
o What are the local, national, and global impacts of immigration?
Unit 6: Conflict
o How has modern terrorism influenced the U.S. and the world?
Your Role:
· Connect historical issues with current issues and your own life.
· Realize that not all problems have solutions.
· Recognize individuals who have made a difference in history whether it was positive or
negative.
· Stay open-minded when looking at other cultures.
· Respect other people’s judgments and opinions about the past.
· Distinguish between what’s important information to know and not to know.
· Understand how things happen and what changes as a result.
· Comprehend history as a cause and effect relationship.
· Connect geography and history when discussing an event in time.
· Read/consider different perspectives to fully understand issues.
Grading: Each reporting period will include a mix of quizzes, projects, presentations and performance based assessments. All assessments are based on unit objectives, which are covered in detail and applied throughout the course. In addition, I will make every effort to provide rapid feedback on all assigned work. I am available before school, at lunch, and after school each day for additional assistance. Also, remember academic assistance on late start Wednesday.
Absences: If you miss class, consult my website (Daily Lesson Plans) to see what you missed and to download any handouts we used in class.
Objectives: I will provide you with specific objectives on the first day of each unit. We will focus our reading, discussions and activities on those objectives. Study the objectives for all assessments!
Projects and presentations: You will complete several projects or presentations. I will provide very detailed instructions for each of these assignments.
Literacy Skills: Writing and speaking skills are vitally important for your future success as a student and beyond. Therefore, I will emphasize both skills throughout the course. You may have a bag full of great ideas, but you need to be able to communicate these great ideas to other people. When this school year ends, you will be a better communicator!
Technology Skills: We will use technology where appropriate to further our understanding of historical events, develop research skills, collaborate with fellow students, and enhance the overall learning experience.
Deep Learning Proficiencies: We will make every effort to learn, practice, and apply a range of skills (citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and systems thinking) that are vital to success in education and the job market.
Self-Regulation and Reflection: A sign of maturity is the ability to develop a growth mindset toward learning and to constantly reflect on our own performance. The journey is more important than the grade or score on a particular product. We will be highlighting a growth mindset throughout the year.
Personal and Social Responsibility (PSR): The three elements of are class participation, work completion and effort, and behavior. These are all important life skills in education and in your chosen career.
Our journey through life is sustained by the power of our knowledge. I look forward to a fabulous year of learning and growing!
Essential Questions (designed to stimulate thought, provoke inquiry, and spark more questions):
All units
o What is the influence of geography on world events?
o How has history impacted current events?
o Why do we study history?
o What makes an effective argument?
o What makes an effective explanation?
Unit 1: Personal Finance
o How do you reach your financial goals?
Unit 2: Theories and Ideas
o How do nations govern themselves?
o How do economies work?
Unit 3: Cold War
o Why study the Cold War?
o How should nations try to influence regional and world events?
o How is perspective important in understanding historical events?
Unit 4: Individual Rights
o How can a society ensure equality and fairness for its citizens?
o How can individual citizens influence government policies and laws?
Unit 5: Challenges
o How does access to available and affordable energy influence economic stability and growth (historically and present-day)?
o What are the local, national, and global impacts of immigration?
Unit 6: Conflict
o How has modern terrorism influenced the U.S. and the world?
Your Role:
· Connect historical issues with current issues and your own life.
· Realize that not all problems have solutions.
· Recognize individuals who have made a difference in history whether it was positive or
negative.
· Stay open-minded when looking at other cultures.
· Respect other people’s judgments and opinions about the past.
· Distinguish between what’s important information to know and not to know.
· Understand how things happen and what changes as a result.
· Comprehend history as a cause and effect relationship.
· Connect geography and history when discussing an event in time.
· Read/consider different perspectives to fully understand issues.
Grading: Each reporting period will include a mix of quizzes, projects, presentations and performance based assessments. All assessments are based on unit objectives, which are covered in detail and applied throughout the course. In addition, I will make every effort to provide rapid feedback on all assigned work. I am available before school, at lunch, and after school each day for additional assistance. Also, remember academic assistance on late start Wednesday.
Absences: If you miss class, consult my website (Daily Lesson Plans) to see what you missed and to download any handouts we used in class.
Objectives: I will provide you with specific objectives on the first day of each unit. We will focus our reading, discussions and activities on those objectives. Study the objectives for all assessments!
Projects and presentations: You will complete several projects or presentations. I will provide very detailed instructions for each of these assignments.
Literacy Skills: Writing and speaking skills are vitally important for your future success as a student and beyond. Therefore, I will emphasize both skills throughout the course. You may have a bag full of great ideas, but you need to be able to communicate these great ideas to other people. When this school year ends, you will be a better communicator!
Technology Skills: We will use technology where appropriate to further our understanding of historical events, develop research skills, collaborate with fellow students, and enhance the overall learning experience.
Deep Learning Proficiencies: We will make every effort to learn, practice, and apply a range of skills (citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and systems thinking) that are vital to success in education and the job market.
Self-Regulation and Reflection: A sign of maturity is the ability to develop a growth mindset toward learning and to constantly reflect on our own performance. The journey is more important than the grade or score on a particular product. We will be highlighting a growth mindset throughout the year.
Personal and Social Responsibility (PSR): The three elements of are class participation, work completion and effort, and behavior. These are all important life skills in education and in your chosen career.
Our journey through life is sustained by the power of our knowledge. I look forward to a fabulous year of learning and growing!