Miss Britt Gorrell ~ Social Studies News
Wow, it’s hard to believe that we are already into the third quarter of the school year. It sure has flown by in room 126! In all of my classes I have been working to implement more technology into each day’s lessons. All classes are utilizing Google Classroom in addition to other tech-related activities.
In 9th Grade US History – we have just finished fighting the American Revolution and have been officially recognized as an independent country. The next step is to explore the drafting of our first government and then examine the changes between the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution.
In 11th Grade World History – we are working through the unit of Ancient Rome. This unit along with the previous unit on Classical Greece has provided students with the fundamental background to form of government. As part of the Ancient Rome unit, students are/will be reporters at the “front-lines” of the Punic Wars, designers and architects creating Roman Villas, and economists trying to reform the collapsing Roman Economy.
In Economics – we are in our third rotation. This group, of students (like the students before), is using an online resource/course (EVERFI) to help us learn about personal finance. I have slightly changed the routine for this course. Instead of discussing the personal finance topics as an entire class, I am using Google Classroom to individual meet the areas of need. This group is very excited about this great opportunity provided to them by the local First National Citizens Bank, here in town. In addition to the personal finance, students in this rotation are also learning about basic economic concepts such as types of economies, supply, demand, competition, and the stock market.
In Introduction to Business – we are working as marketers for our Panther Supply micro-business. We began the unit by using what we knew about marketing to create a proposal for making our products available to the Children’s School students and employees. Then we dove into what a marketer actual does and how they do it. The students are currently applying their new knowledge to designing their own products and making them available to consumers. Once we finish with these projects, the last part of the unit is to revisit our first marketing campaign for the Children’s School. The ways in which to make the campaign greater and more effective should be easily identified and the students will have the necessary skills to make the corrections. This project-based unit is a great way to identify what the students know before starting the material and identify where they need extra help along the way.
Mr. Chad Haskins ~ History News
U.S. History:
In the past month the students have explored the settling of the American
west. Each student was responsible for selecting a historical figure of the
wild west and producing a biography of the chosen person. The students
had the choice of writing a paper or doing an oral presentation. The students
seemed to enjoy learning about these fascinating individuals. The class is
now transitioning to the a unit on the Gilded Age.
American Government:
Political parties and the American electorate has been the focal point of
study for the past month or so in the American Government class. The
students produced a third party brochure recently, outlining the ideology,
platform, political stance on specific issues and election success of
their chosen party. I was pleased with the finished products. It was an
opportunity for me to learn more about some of the third parties chosen
as well. In the near future, the class will be studying the role the media
plays in American politics.
Social Studies News by Miss Britt Gorrell
Wow, it’s hard to believe we are six weeks into the new school year.
In 9th Grade US History – we have spent the last few weeks investigating opening of the new world across the Atlantic. Most recently we started a unit on the 13 original colonies and their formation. Students have a solid understanding of the 3 regions of colonies. We are now working towards determining how and why each colony was created.
In 11th Grade World – we are exploring the very unique ancient civilizations with which the world started. The class has spent the past 3 weeks being introduced to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, China, and India. In studying these groups students have had an opportunity to participate in some very neat activities, including a skit representing Hammurabi’s Code. We are currently investigating ancient Egypt. In this unit the students will have an opportunity to enjoy an Egyptian lunch, mummify a chicken, and create a burial mask.
In Economics – we are a little over halfway through the first rotation. This group of students is using an online resource/course (EVERFI) to help us learn about personal finance. The local First Citizens Community Bank is funding the EVERFI Financial Literacy course for students at Northern Potter. It is an exciting opportunity which the students seem to be enjoying! In addition to the personal finance students in this rotation are also learning about basic economic concepts such as types of economies, supply, demand, and competition.
In Introduction to Business – we are just beginning to explore the parts of a business. So far we have looked at the various types of businesses based on the activities they perform, such as extractors, manufacturers, and marketers. Students will now be working with the various types of ownership. This is the first step to begin revamping our micro business from last year.
Accounting I is a new course, which has not be offered in a few years. I am happy to report that there was an overwhelming interest in the course. The course began with the basic accounting equations: assets = liabilities + owner equity. Students have mastered this equations and we have moved on to an extended equation and analyzing credit and debit transactions.
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Ms. Gorrell (06/01/2015)
Wow! As the year comes to a close, I can’t believe that it is over. It seems like just yesterday we were passing out our syllabi and textbooks. Even with the end of year craziness, some very awesome things have been happening in social studies and business.
Geography
In 7th grade geography, we just finished our study-travels around the globe. We were able to study six of the seven continents. The classes recently finished in-depth units on Europe and Asia. Students had a chance to explore how the people and the environment affect one another on each continent. While studying Europe, we used modified-flipped classroom style lessons. Students were responsible for reading the assigned material and completing guided notes prior to coming to class. Then in class, we explored why the continent was broken down into regions, and students applied their knowledge of the five themes of geography to each region.
US History I
We finished the year out in 9th grade US History by discussing the Jacksonian Era, westward expansion, and the industrial revolution in the North. We created murals depicting Lewis and Clark and Zebulon Pike’s explorations of the Louisiana Purchase. Students had an opportunity to research Jackson as a person as well as a politician to see how his background affected his presidency. The 9th graders also got an opportunity over the past nine weeks to write, create, and present skits detailing the trails that moved settlers into the western territories and the difficulties facing each group that travelled the trails.
World History and Cultures
The 11th grade world history students were very interested in the changes that took place during the Renaissance. Therefore, we spent quite a bit of time exploring the period. Students read about the Italian Renaissance, compared art from the Northern Renaissance, and researched very important people in the Reformation. Our last big project was a webquest. Students were divided into two teams, and both teams were assigned a topic relating to the Reformation. One team researched Henry VIII and his struggles to have an heir and change the English church. The other team explored the lineage and reformers of Protestantism. These projects took us a vast majority of the last few weeks for finals.
However, before the year could end, we had to visit an old friend . . . our chicken mummy from the beginning of the year. Since, the snow finally decided to stop and the ground could thaw, we were finally ready to wrap our mummy for burial. The kids had a blast!! Below are some pictures from the fun!
Economics
This last rotation in economics has gone very smoothly. I structured the course very similarly to the previous rotation. Students worked on two large scale projects alongside the standard economics curriculum. The students used the online resource/course (EVERFI), which is made possible by the local First Citizens Community Bank to help them learn about personal finance. In addition to this online course, I taught students the basics of budgeting with a household budgeting project. As part of this project, students were given a life scenario (family, job, house, car, unexpected expenses, etc.) and had to budget to make their money meet all of their needs. Students also have completed a Stock Market project in which they fictitiously invested $10,000 into the stock market after learning about stocks and bonds.
Introduction to Business
The “Intro to Business” students have been working diligently to get the Panther Supply school spirit shop up and running. We ran into some road blocks and had to push our grand opening back about a month and a half. However, with a lot of hard work on the students’ part, they were able to successfully open the store with a limited inventory. So far it has been a success and the students are looking forward to running the store next year with even more variety!
May 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Mrs. Hamilton (05/04/2015)
The end of the year is quickly approaching, and we have many students who will be graduating Northern Potter with college credit. I have a number of seniors who will be awarded college credit for the course American Political Process, and this will count toward the humanities block of study when they start college. The class has been working through contemporary history including World War I, World War II, the Holocaust, and the Kennedy Assassination. The students recently started studying Vietnam. Students in the class worked in small groups and presented on various topics including the Cold War and Civil Rights.
The students in world history have also been busy with various projects of their own. Students created ancient Mayan masks and wrote about the art designs they chose. The students recently completed a unit of first, second, and third world countries. They finished the unit by working in groups and completed a lesson where they had to distribute goods around the world based on what country they represented. Students had a guest speaker come and talk about traveling to third world countries. His stories and pictures were very interesting to students, and they enjoyed the “virtual tour” of African nations. Students are working on a unit about human trafficking and learned that human trafficking is at an all time high right now in the United States and around the world. This lesson is tied into the unit about the Middle Passage.
April 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Mr. Haskins (04/07/2015)
PA History: The history classes have just concluded a unit on the American Civil War and are now transitioning to the topic of citizenship. Stressing the relevance and practicality to every day life is paramount in this unit. The students will learn about political parties as well as the fundamental differences between liberalism and conservatism. Each student will get the opportunity to react to a series of important political issues in an attempt to determine their own party affiliation. In the past, this has been a well-received activity. This unit precludes the final two units of the year focusing on local and state government.
U.S. History: The Spanish American War was the topic of study in the previous month of March. We concluded the unit by watching the movie Rough Riders and then requiring the students to write a reaction paper to it. The past week, we started a unit on the progressive era. A major project has been assigned in connection to this era. The classes were randomly split into groups of three with each group responsible for writing a historical rewind newspaper on the progressive era. The students will be challenged in many respects while completing this task. They will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the following activities: research, writing, formatting a paper, working cooperatively, and utilizing creativity. I am looking forward to the final products.
March 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Ms. Gorrell (03/02/2015)
As a first year teacher, I can tell you with 100% honesty that college does not prepare you for the craziness that is the third marking period! I can also tell you that I wouldn’t trade a minute of it for all the gold in the Klondike! ☺ All of the awesome stuff that we are doing in Social Studies and Business more than makes up for the craziness.
In 7th Grade Geography – we are continuing to work our way around the globe studying various regions of the world. We recently finished studying Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It was a welcome break to study the region of sun and sand, escaping the dreary cold outside. Throughout the unit the students have had an opportunity to become cartographers, teachers, as well as scholars. Below are some pictures of students teaching lessons as part of our Mexico Jigsaw activity.
In 9th Grade US History, we have spent the past month or so exploring the formation of our nation, from the road to revolution to the development of the Constitution. We took an in depth look at the weaknesses in our country’s first attempt at government – The Articles of Confederation - and how the Constitution addressed many of those weaknesses. Soon we will begin moving into the growth of our nation with the Louisiana Purchase and Louis and Clark
In 11th Grade Honors, these students have had the opportunity to study some very influential periods in history over the past month or so. We have investigated Ancient Rome and its lasting influence on the modern world. The class is currently studying the Middle Ages. We spent the past couple of weeks learning about the feudal system, the influence of the church on many European leaders, as well as knighthood and chivalry. The students looked at the rules that knights live by especially rules about love and found that many of the rules still apply today. The students used the primary source document The Art of Courtly Love to help them write their own poems about the rules. (Pictured in the gallery)
In Economics, we are about half-way through the third rotation. In this rotation, I am combining many large scale projects along with the standard curriculum. The students are using the online resource/course (EVERFI), made possible by the local First Citizens Community Bank, to help them learn about personal finance. To accompany this online resource, the students will soon be starting a household budgeting project. As part of this project, students will be given a life scenario (family, job, house, car, unexpected expenses, etc) and will have to budget to make their money meet all of their needs. Along with these two projects, students are learning about types of economies, supply and demand, pricing, and the stock market.
In Introduction to Business, we are super excited to announce that we are waiting for materials to arrive to open our micro-business, PANTHER SUPPLY. The school spirit store should be open mid-march if not sooner! The students have greatly enjoyed the experience so far and are looking forward to opening the shop.
February 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Mrs. Hamilton (02/03/2015)
It is hard to believe that we have approached the 100th day of school. The first half of the year for the senior class was filled with studies of how our system of government works on the local, state, and national levels.
Students were able to hear from various guest speakers on various levels of government including Judge Leete. Judge Leete talked with students about the Judicial System and how it functions in Potter County. Our second speaker was Representative Causer. He spoke to students about the House of Representatives on the state level. Students received multiple handouts from him that were used in class to ready students for the visit. He complimented the Northern Potter seniors on the caliber of questions they posed. He said that Northern Potter students have asked the best questions he has ever been asked by a group of high school students. Our third guest speaker was Colleen Wilbur from Potter County Human Services. She led students in a discussion about the specialty court system. Students prepared for this lesson by studying the various levels and kinds of local court systems.
We have also been on quite an adventure in world history. Students mapped and learned the countries in Africa. We spent time talking about the various cultures in Africa and how Africa affects the world today. Students wrapped up the semester by creating songs that touched on key components studied in World History during the first half of the year. Song titles included “It’s Getting Smart in Here” and “You Can’t Stop This!”.
The average for all sections of government and world history on the midterm was around a 90%. The senior students took a college level midterm developed through the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The students have done well in meeting and exceeding the expectations of the courses they are taking. We continue to integrate technology into the lessons and use the smart board for studying maps around the world.
January 2015
PA History
The PA history classes are in the middle of the Revolutionary war unit. Unlike previous years, this year the Revolutionary war era was chosen as the unit of focus for the differentiated supervision project. Mr. Burdick, Mrs. Butler and myself are collaboratively tackling this project. We are in the process of creating a portfolio of all teaching strategies and materials used in the unit. Mr Burdick has taken on the responsibility of teaching the medical side of the war. Mrs.Butler will utilize the library for a small research based assignment. I will deliver the bulk of the instruction in my classroom. This unit should be wrapped up in the latter part of January.
U.S. History
The U.S. history class is about to start a unit on Gilded age politics. We will analyze the administrations of several Presidents of this time period.
December 2014
Wow, we are almost to Christmas break already, and soon we will be half-way through the school year! Time really flies while you’re having fun – which is exactly what we have been doing in Social Studies!
In 7th Grade Geography, we are continuing to work on our map skills. We recently finished studying the various themes in Geography and are ready to apply them to a range of regions around the world. We will begin our trek around the globe in North America. Starting with the regions of the United States, we will be practicing finding and mapping key features. We will then evaluate what effect these features have on the cultural, economic, and political characteristics of each region.
In 9th Grade US History, we have spent the last few weeks investigating the 13 original colonies and their formation. Students have a solid understanding of how and why each colony was created. Now we are ready to begin exploring the road to revolution and our nation’s independence.
In 11th Grade Honors, this group has had a chance to study some interesting periods in history and take part in some unique activities since the start of the school year. So far we have explored the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, China, and India, investigated ancient Egypt, and discovered ancient Greek contributions to the world today. The students have had an opportunity to enjoy an Egyptian lunch, mummify a chicken, assume the identity of a Greek god, and participate in a mock ancient Olympic event. We are excited to see what secrets of ancient Rome we can uncover before the holiday break!
In Economics, we are about half-way through the second rotation. This group of students is using a new online resource/course (EVERFI) to help us learn about personal finance. The local First Citizens Community Bank is funding the EVERFI Financial Literacy course for students at Northern Potter. It is an exciting opportunity which the students seem to be enjoying! In keeping with the personal finance part of this course, the students will be starting a household budgeting project. As part of this project, students will be given a life scenario (family, job, house, car, unexpected expenses, etc.) and will have to budget to make their money meet all of their needs.
In Introduction to Business, we have just finished up a chapter on production and marketing. We now have the necessary background to begin making leaps and bounds towards launching our own micro-business. Be on the look-out for Panther Supply products available in mid-January. The class, as a part of the Entrepreneurship Club hosted Mr. Benjamin Olney and Mr. Jason Reiman as guest speakers who shared their personal stories as successful business men. Their stories have encouraged us in our own business adventures.
November 2014
Reflecting back over the course of the first nine weeks is encouraging as a new educator. Our seniors are a fourth of the way through their last year of high school, fall sports are wrapping up, and college visits are starting. High school in the grand scheme of things is such a small portion of one’s life; however, it can be filled with such meaning if we as teachers and students allow it to be. As an educator, I challenge myself everyday to create lessons that are meaningful and teach skills that will be applicable to life outside of high school.
In staying aligned with the Pennsylvania State Standards, I have worked to create an American Government course that is less focused on dates and more focused on creating citizens that have a clear understanding of what it means to be competent and responsible. During the first nine weeks in American Government, students have learned about the culture wars that are going on today in the world around us. Students created posters and took a stand in the culture war. There were a diversity of topics covered including marriage equality, 2nd Amendment Rights, Capital Punishment, Animal Testing, Women’s Rights, Mutual Choice, and texting while driving (to name a few). Students also had time to explore the United States Constitution using a scavenger hunt. Students enrolled in the College in High School Program through the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford were invited to attend Government Outreach Day at the university. While there, the students heard from motivational speakers as well as their Congressman Glenn Thompson. Mr. Thompson answered questions regarding the political affairs of the world today. He spoke of debated topics including marriage equality, gun control, and the education system. Our students were active participates in this forum and asked very intelligent questions.
The second class I teach is 11th grade World History. My goal for each of my World History students is to create lessons that are meaningful while emphasizing the patterns displayed throughout the history of the human race. As a class, we have studied some of the major religions of the world as well as various cultures and ideas that have been presented since the beginning of time. Students completed a two week unit on Egyptian Culture where we studied their beliefs, ideas, and burial traditions. Students made and painted a clay sarcophagus that will be on display for teacher conferences. The students worked hard on the lesson and it shows. Currently we are studying ancient Greece and students are looking forward to completing a project on Greek Gods and Goddesses.
I am excited to see where the next nine weeks takes us! Some plans include Skyping with people from around the world and visits from a member of our House of Representatives.
October 2014
The students in grade 8 have spent a significant amount of time studying the geography of Pennsylvania. Every theme of geography has been touched upon; however, the main focus has been physical and political geography. The students have studied all five of the geographic regions in detail. Included in this endeavor has been the identification of major cities and towns. In addition was the discovery of PA’s diverse and abundant natural resources, as well as the water basins and their tributaries. Within the next couple of weeks, the class will embark upon its annual study of the Native American cultures of Pennsylvania. Included in this chapter will be the much anticipated Native American homes project. Every year, I am surprised by the creativity and time that go into many of these projects.
The students in grade 10 have learned about the American civil war and the era of reconstruction that followed it. The attempt is made to explain and demonstrate the significance of the reconstruction period. Upon completion of this chapter, the class will transition to the chapter on western expansion. A project that features a famous personality of the wild west is the highlight of this chapter.
September 2014
Welcome to another school year! This year has brought on some exciting changes in the Northern Potter social studies department. There are two new staff members, Mrs. Hamilton and myself (Miss Gorrell), along with exciting topics to cover and fun new projects.
In 7th Grade Geography, we are and will be working on our map skills throughout the year. Our goal is to develop a mental map to use in case we end up in a dead zone and the GPS won’t work ☺. We recently finished our first skeleton map of the world, depicting the 7 continents and important lines of latitude and longitude.
In 9th Grade US History, we are studying the world prior to the opening of the Atlantic. We began the year by looking at the various Native American tribes found in the new world. Currently, the students are finishing up blue prints for a fictional tourist website of one of West Africa’s trading kingdoms. Next we will study Europe before transatlantic travel.
In 11th grade Honors, we are working on a jigsaw activity from Chapter 2 – Early River Valley Civilizations. Groups are researching Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Indus, and Ancient China. The groups will be presenting the interesting facts to their peers.
In economics, we are splitting our class-time between economic theory/concepts and personal finance. We are using moneyskill.org to help guide us through the dos and don’ts of money management. In addition to the text and online modules, the students are beginning a six week long stock market simulation project. Students are given a fictitious $10,000 to invest in the market after researching to find the “best” stocks available. After purchasing, students will track their stocks’ progress in hopes of doubling or even tripling their money at the end of the six weeks.
In introduction to business, we are exploring the various aspects of starting a business. As a branch of the new Entrepreneurship Club, the class will be starting a micro-business to run throughout the year. As we are studying the stages of starting a business, it provides the opportunity to apply them. Be on the look-out for a market research survey that we are developing to determine a need/want within our community.
May 2014
Pa History - In the past month, the 8th grade has been active in learning about the Industrial Revolution as well as citizenship and all that it encompasses. Every year, the students are asked to select an invention of their choice that they feel has had a large and positive impact on society as a whole. They are to adopt the role of salesperson and pitch the idea to class in an effort to persuade them to invest in the idea. A few of the posters can be seen hanging in the display windows upstairs.
U.S. History - The 10th grade class spent the last month learning about the Spanish-American War. A pretest was given followed by a posttest (at the end of the unit) in order to reflect overall growth made. It was amazing to see just how much the students learned as a class. We are currently concluding a unit on the progressive era. Each section was broken down into small groups (3 or 4 per group) and directed to write a newspaper reflecting the history of the era. It is designed to read as a historical rewind. They are being read and scored now.
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April News
In the social studies department, the past three months have been filled with interesting weather and
authentic experiences here at NPHS. In February, members of the 5th and 7th grade were invited to the Pennsylvania Educational Technology
Exhibition and Conference (PETE&C) to share their experiences using Minecraft to explore social studies and science concepts.
For the student’s in geography class, a major focus in late February/early March was the 4th Annual 7th Grade Mock Trial. In this authentic, problem-based experience, students received an in-depth look at the theme of human-environment interactions. In the case, a coal-fired power plant attempting to enter a cap and trade pollution program is being compelled by a community/parent group to bring emission levels down to preserve the health of community residents.
The 7th graders approached their roles with determination and worked hard in teams to ensure their March 10 trial date in the NPHS auditorium lobby was a success.
Other activities from the late winter included participation in the American Legion Essay contest and experience within the Google Maps-based simulation, Pursued. The spring will see a focus on the impact of geography on current events (ex: the Crimean annexation and the
search for Flight 370) and preparation for the final exam experience.
March News
This month, the ninth graders in US History I are studying the US Constitution. We began with the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation. Students learned the many weaknesses of the Articles and why it was subsequently replaced by the same US Constitution that govern us today. The Framers faced many challenges while drafting the Constitution. Fighting over issues like representation in the new Congress, slavery and the slave trade, the increased power of the national government, and the taxing of exports all slowed the process. Compromises helped ease these differences with delegate approval of the document in 1787. Students also studied the struggle to get the states to ratify the Constitution and the arguments espoused by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Most importantly, they learned what the Bill of Rights is and what rights it confers to the American people.
Juniors in 11th grade world cultures just finished a unit on ancient Chinese and Indian civilizations and their cultures. Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and the teachings of Confucius were examined. Students learned how each empire developed, expanded and prospered, and eventually collapsed. Art, science, literature, and government of each empire were compared and contrasted. Currently, students are just beginning a new unit about the great civilizations of Meso-America such as the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Chavins, Moche, and Nazcas. We will be doing a special topic when we study the mysterious Nazca Lines of Peru.
Seniors in 12th contemporary American history and politics are studying the Great Depression and the many programs of FDR's New Deal. We watched the Grapes of Wrath, and students saw scenes of the Dust Bowl, the plight of the displaced migrant workers, and the early struggles to organize labor. Students also took a break from the Great Depression to learn about the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Mrs. Wheeler is presently having her senior classes read George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. So her students would understand the theme of the story and the historical characters represented by the animals, a lesson on the Russian Revolution was taught and a handout distributed with character descriptions was given to the seniors. I hope they enjoy the book. It was recently voted one of the thirty most influential novels of the 20th century.
February News
Pennsylvania History
The topic of study since early December has been the Revolutionary War. We concluded the unit during the last week of January. I split the unit up into thirds as follows: 1) pre war activities 2) the war (including the battles, leaders, and strategy) and 3) government formation. The students have demonstrated a genuine interest in the personalities of the leaders on each side. It is important that the students understand the evolution and development of this great nation.
US History
The Gilded Age is being explored in great detail including the influx of immigrants from post civil war to 1900. We are also studying the influence their arrival had on the US and in particular the cities. The political and social dynamic is the focal point of the unit. The students are exposed to both the positive and negative components of this age in American growth.
Economics
This is a rotation class, and as a result, much of the content is condensed. In addition to the fundamental basics of economics, I believe it is important that students know how the American system functions. All four major economic systems are identified as well as compared and contrasted. There are two projects that are squeezed into nine weeks. The first is a version of a household budget that is unique to each student. It is important to impart a practical application of the content where appropriate. The other project pertains to the stock market and how it functions.
January News
The past four months have been full of excitement and engagement for Mr. Bryant and his current (and former) 7th grade social studies students.
In October, two students from last year’s class (Jesse Bliss and Mackenzie Potter) were invited to present at the PSBA Excellence in Education Fair in Hershey, PA. Mack and Jesse did a great job representing our district and describing their experiences in 7th grade geography (see picture).
On November 5, the students served as mentors and coaches to Mrs. Slawson’s 5th grade students as they studied virtual biomes in MinecraftEdu (see picture).
Two weeks later, the class had a visit from David Brooks with www.visitpottercountypa.com to discuss how our area’s natural landforms lead to economic benefits for our citizens. Mr. Brooks also shared some upcoming tourism initiatives in Potter County.
In addition, Mr. Bryant has recently introduced one-day, artifact analysis lessons in which students examine primary sources from our nation’s history. The students’ task is to determine (through close examination, peer discussions, and the use of Internet resources) how these items arrived in Potter County.
Two of the artifacts analyzed so far are 1.) a segment of barbed wire from the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) loaned by the Shinglehouse American Legion and 2.) a Japanese World War II-era officer’s sword sent home from the Pacific theatre by Mr. Bryant’s grandfather (see picture).
Upcoming projects include a mock trial developed by Yale Law School* and a community service-centered collecting of veteran’s oral/video histories for curation in the online archive www.glimpsesintohistory.com.**
*http://envirocenter.yale.edu/uploads/publications/FAIR%20v%20%20PaleoTech.pdf
**If you are (or know) a veteran who would like to be included, please contact Mr. Bryant at 814-848-7506 or [email protected]. Information will also be distributed to local legion posts.
December News
Greetings from Mr. Lander and the rest of the social studies department.
Each year nine Northern Potter senior students are invited to attend the “Government Outreach” program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford campus. This annual event is sponsored by Congressman G.T. Thompson and features guest speakers representing northern tier industries and a keynote motivational speaker. This year’s keynote speaker was nationally syndicated comic strip illustrator Rob Armstrong. He gave a great speech reminding all the students that they are put on this earth for a specific purpose and not to let naysayers or life’s obstacles lead them astray from their appointed destinies. Congressman Thompson was unable to attend this year because of the critical vote on the federal budget, but spoke to the students by video conference.
The seniors recently completed a party identification exercise where they studied the Republican and Democratic party platforms and cited three stands on key issues that caused them to choose their favorite party. The posters of their selections appear outside room 128 of the high school.
The juniors are studying the age of ancient empires in world cultures. They have examined the Mesopotamian, Assyrian,
Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, and Greek empires.
Ninth graders are studying the thirteen English colonies in America and the French and Indian War.
October/November News
PA History
The students recently completed the annual Native American homes project. They worked very hard and seemed to enjoy themselves. The projects garner much attention from other students as well as teachers, helping to bolster a strong work ethic and sense of pride in their work. The finished products are always impressive. Just when it seems there is nothing original left to see, a few students are able to muster up some creativity.
US History
The students are currently studying the western frontier. Each student was asked to choose a famous personality from the west (could be an outlaw, Native American chief, etc.) and complete a biography about that individual. The biography could take the form of a written paper or an oral presentation. This activity will help to spark further interest in that great time period of American history.
Economics
The first rotation is about to end, and the students have learned a great deal in nine weeks’ time. In addition to learning the basic economic concepts, they have completed three projects. The first project required the students to complete a simulated household budget. The second and third projects were connected and pertained to the stock market. There are many practical lessons learned during this course that can be applied to real life situations in both the near and far future.
Wow, it’s hard to believe that we are already into the third quarter of the school year. It sure has flown by in room 126! In all of my classes I have been working to implement more technology into each day’s lessons. All classes are utilizing Google Classroom in addition to other tech-related activities.
In 9th Grade US History – we have just finished fighting the American Revolution and have been officially recognized as an independent country. The next step is to explore the drafting of our first government and then examine the changes between the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution.
In 11th Grade World History – we are working through the unit of Ancient Rome. This unit along with the previous unit on Classical Greece has provided students with the fundamental background to form of government. As part of the Ancient Rome unit, students are/will be reporters at the “front-lines” of the Punic Wars, designers and architects creating Roman Villas, and economists trying to reform the collapsing Roman Economy.
In Economics – we are in our third rotation. This group, of students (like the students before), is using an online resource/course (EVERFI) to help us learn about personal finance. I have slightly changed the routine for this course. Instead of discussing the personal finance topics as an entire class, I am using Google Classroom to individual meet the areas of need. This group is very excited about this great opportunity provided to them by the local First National Citizens Bank, here in town. In addition to the personal finance, students in this rotation are also learning about basic economic concepts such as types of economies, supply, demand, competition, and the stock market.
In Introduction to Business – we are working as marketers for our Panther Supply micro-business. We began the unit by using what we knew about marketing to create a proposal for making our products available to the Children’s School students and employees. Then we dove into what a marketer actual does and how they do it. The students are currently applying their new knowledge to designing their own products and making them available to consumers. Once we finish with these projects, the last part of the unit is to revisit our first marketing campaign for the Children’s School. The ways in which to make the campaign greater and more effective should be easily identified and the students will have the necessary skills to make the corrections. This project-based unit is a great way to identify what the students know before starting the material and identify where they need extra help along the way.
Mr. Chad Haskins ~ History News
U.S. History:
In the past month the students have explored the settling of the American
west. Each student was responsible for selecting a historical figure of the
wild west and producing a biography of the chosen person. The students
had the choice of writing a paper or doing an oral presentation. The students
seemed to enjoy learning about these fascinating individuals. The class is
now transitioning to the a unit on the Gilded Age.
American Government:
Political parties and the American electorate has been the focal point of
study for the past month or so in the American Government class. The
students produced a third party brochure recently, outlining the ideology,
platform, political stance on specific issues and election success of
their chosen party. I was pleased with the finished products. It was an
opportunity for me to learn more about some of the third parties chosen
as well. In the near future, the class will be studying the role the media
plays in American politics.
Social Studies News by Miss Britt Gorrell
Wow, it’s hard to believe we are six weeks into the new school year.
In 9th Grade US History – we have spent the last few weeks investigating opening of the new world across the Atlantic. Most recently we started a unit on the 13 original colonies and their formation. Students have a solid understanding of the 3 regions of colonies. We are now working towards determining how and why each colony was created.
In 11th Grade World – we are exploring the very unique ancient civilizations with which the world started. The class has spent the past 3 weeks being introduced to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, China, and India. In studying these groups students have had an opportunity to participate in some very neat activities, including a skit representing Hammurabi’s Code. We are currently investigating ancient Egypt. In this unit the students will have an opportunity to enjoy an Egyptian lunch, mummify a chicken, and create a burial mask.
In Economics – we are a little over halfway through the first rotation. This group of students is using an online resource/course (EVERFI) to help us learn about personal finance. The local First Citizens Community Bank is funding the EVERFI Financial Literacy course for students at Northern Potter. It is an exciting opportunity which the students seem to be enjoying! In addition to the personal finance students in this rotation are also learning about basic economic concepts such as types of economies, supply, demand, and competition.
In Introduction to Business – we are just beginning to explore the parts of a business. So far we have looked at the various types of businesses based on the activities they perform, such as extractors, manufacturers, and marketers. Students will now be working with the various types of ownership. This is the first step to begin revamping our micro business from last year.
Accounting I is a new course, which has not be offered in a few years. I am happy to report that there was an overwhelming interest in the course. The course began with the basic accounting equations: assets = liabilities + owner equity. Students have mastered this equations and we have moved on to an extended equation and analyzing credit and debit transactions.
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Ms. Gorrell (06/01/2015)
Wow! As the year comes to a close, I can’t believe that it is over. It seems like just yesterday we were passing out our syllabi and textbooks. Even with the end of year craziness, some very awesome things have been happening in social studies and business.
Geography
In 7th grade geography, we just finished our study-travels around the globe. We were able to study six of the seven continents. The classes recently finished in-depth units on Europe and Asia. Students had a chance to explore how the people and the environment affect one another on each continent. While studying Europe, we used modified-flipped classroom style lessons. Students were responsible for reading the assigned material and completing guided notes prior to coming to class. Then in class, we explored why the continent was broken down into regions, and students applied their knowledge of the five themes of geography to each region.
US History I
We finished the year out in 9th grade US History by discussing the Jacksonian Era, westward expansion, and the industrial revolution in the North. We created murals depicting Lewis and Clark and Zebulon Pike’s explorations of the Louisiana Purchase. Students had an opportunity to research Jackson as a person as well as a politician to see how his background affected his presidency. The 9th graders also got an opportunity over the past nine weeks to write, create, and present skits detailing the trails that moved settlers into the western territories and the difficulties facing each group that travelled the trails.
World History and Cultures
The 11th grade world history students were very interested in the changes that took place during the Renaissance. Therefore, we spent quite a bit of time exploring the period. Students read about the Italian Renaissance, compared art from the Northern Renaissance, and researched very important people in the Reformation. Our last big project was a webquest. Students were divided into two teams, and both teams were assigned a topic relating to the Reformation. One team researched Henry VIII and his struggles to have an heir and change the English church. The other team explored the lineage and reformers of Protestantism. These projects took us a vast majority of the last few weeks for finals.
However, before the year could end, we had to visit an old friend . . . our chicken mummy from the beginning of the year. Since, the snow finally decided to stop and the ground could thaw, we were finally ready to wrap our mummy for burial. The kids had a blast!! Below are some pictures from the fun!
Economics
This last rotation in economics has gone very smoothly. I structured the course very similarly to the previous rotation. Students worked on two large scale projects alongside the standard economics curriculum. The students used the online resource/course (EVERFI), which is made possible by the local First Citizens Community Bank to help them learn about personal finance. In addition to this online course, I taught students the basics of budgeting with a household budgeting project. As part of this project, students were given a life scenario (family, job, house, car, unexpected expenses, etc.) and had to budget to make their money meet all of their needs. Students also have completed a Stock Market project in which they fictitiously invested $10,000 into the stock market after learning about stocks and bonds.
Introduction to Business
The “Intro to Business” students have been working diligently to get the Panther Supply school spirit shop up and running. We ran into some road blocks and had to push our grand opening back about a month and a half. However, with a lot of hard work on the students’ part, they were able to successfully open the store with a limited inventory. So far it has been a success and the students are looking forward to running the store next year with even more variety!
May 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Mrs. Hamilton (05/04/2015)
The end of the year is quickly approaching, and we have many students who will be graduating Northern Potter with college credit. I have a number of seniors who will be awarded college credit for the course American Political Process, and this will count toward the humanities block of study when they start college. The class has been working through contemporary history including World War I, World War II, the Holocaust, and the Kennedy Assassination. The students recently started studying Vietnam. Students in the class worked in small groups and presented on various topics including the Cold War and Civil Rights.
The students in world history have also been busy with various projects of their own. Students created ancient Mayan masks and wrote about the art designs they chose. The students recently completed a unit of first, second, and third world countries. They finished the unit by working in groups and completed a lesson where they had to distribute goods around the world based on what country they represented. Students had a guest speaker come and talk about traveling to third world countries. His stories and pictures were very interesting to students, and they enjoyed the “virtual tour” of African nations. Students are working on a unit about human trafficking and learned that human trafficking is at an all time high right now in the United States and around the world. This lesson is tied into the unit about the Middle Passage.
April 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Mr. Haskins (04/07/2015)
PA History: The history classes have just concluded a unit on the American Civil War and are now transitioning to the topic of citizenship. Stressing the relevance and practicality to every day life is paramount in this unit. The students will learn about political parties as well as the fundamental differences between liberalism and conservatism. Each student will get the opportunity to react to a series of important political issues in an attempt to determine their own party affiliation. In the past, this has been a well-received activity. This unit precludes the final two units of the year focusing on local and state government.
U.S. History: The Spanish American War was the topic of study in the previous month of March. We concluded the unit by watching the movie Rough Riders and then requiring the students to write a reaction paper to it. The past week, we started a unit on the progressive era. A major project has been assigned in connection to this era. The classes were randomly split into groups of three with each group responsible for writing a historical rewind newspaper on the progressive era. The students will be challenged in many respects while completing this task. They will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the following activities: research, writing, formatting a paper, working cooperatively, and utilizing creativity. I am looking forward to the final products.
March 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Ms. Gorrell (03/02/2015)
As a first year teacher, I can tell you with 100% honesty that college does not prepare you for the craziness that is the third marking period! I can also tell you that I wouldn’t trade a minute of it for all the gold in the Klondike! ☺ All of the awesome stuff that we are doing in Social Studies and Business more than makes up for the craziness.
In 7th Grade Geography – we are continuing to work our way around the globe studying various regions of the world. We recently finished studying Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It was a welcome break to study the region of sun and sand, escaping the dreary cold outside. Throughout the unit the students have had an opportunity to become cartographers, teachers, as well as scholars. Below are some pictures of students teaching lessons as part of our Mexico Jigsaw activity.
In 9th Grade US History, we have spent the past month or so exploring the formation of our nation, from the road to revolution to the development of the Constitution. We took an in depth look at the weaknesses in our country’s first attempt at government – The Articles of Confederation - and how the Constitution addressed many of those weaknesses. Soon we will begin moving into the growth of our nation with the Louisiana Purchase and Louis and Clark
In 11th Grade Honors, these students have had the opportunity to study some very influential periods in history over the past month or so. We have investigated Ancient Rome and its lasting influence on the modern world. The class is currently studying the Middle Ages. We spent the past couple of weeks learning about the feudal system, the influence of the church on many European leaders, as well as knighthood and chivalry. The students looked at the rules that knights live by especially rules about love and found that many of the rules still apply today. The students used the primary source document The Art of Courtly Love to help them write their own poems about the rules. (Pictured in the gallery)
In Economics, we are about half-way through the third rotation. In this rotation, I am combining many large scale projects along with the standard curriculum. The students are using the online resource/course (EVERFI), made possible by the local First Citizens Community Bank, to help them learn about personal finance. To accompany this online resource, the students will soon be starting a household budgeting project. As part of this project, students will be given a life scenario (family, job, house, car, unexpected expenses, etc) and will have to budget to make their money meet all of their needs. Along with these two projects, students are learning about types of economies, supply and demand, pricing, and the stock market.
In Introduction to Business, we are super excited to announce that we are waiting for materials to arrive to open our micro-business, PANTHER SUPPLY. The school spirit store should be open mid-march if not sooner! The students have greatly enjoyed the experience so far and are looking forward to opening the shop.
February 2015
Social Studies Department
Submitted by Mrs. Hamilton (02/03/2015)
It is hard to believe that we have approached the 100th day of school. The first half of the year for the senior class was filled with studies of how our system of government works on the local, state, and national levels.
Students were able to hear from various guest speakers on various levels of government including Judge Leete. Judge Leete talked with students about the Judicial System and how it functions in Potter County. Our second speaker was Representative Causer. He spoke to students about the House of Representatives on the state level. Students received multiple handouts from him that were used in class to ready students for the visit. He complimented the Northern Potter seniors on the caliber of questions they posed. He said that Northern Potter students have asked the best questions he has ever been asked by a group of high school students. Our third guest speaker was Colleen Wilbur from Potter County Human Services. She led students in a discussion about the specialty court system. Students prepared for this lesson by studying the various levels and kinds of local court systems.
We have also been on quite an adventure in world history. Students mapped and learned the countries in Africa. We spent time talking about the various cultures in Africa and how Africa affects the world today. Students wrapped up the semester by creating songs that touched on key components studied in World History during the first half of the year. Song titles included “It’s Getting Smart in Here” and “You Can’t Stop This!”.
The average for all sections of government and world history on the midterm was around a 90%. The senior students took a college level midterm developed through the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The students have done well in meeting and exceeding the expectations of the courses they are taking. We continue to integrate technology into the lessons and use the smart board for studying maps around the world.
January 2015
PA History
The PA history classes are in the middle of the Revolutionary war unit. Unlike previous years, this year the Revolutionary war era was chosen as the unit of focus for the differentiated supervision project. Mr. Burdick, Mrs. Butler and myself are collaboratively tackling this project. We are in the process of creating a portfolio of all teaching strategies and materials used in the unit. Mr Burdick has taken on the responsibility of teaching the medical side of the war. Mrs.Butler will utilize the library for a small research based assignment. I will deliver the bulk of the instruction in my classroom. This unit should be wrapped up in the latter part of January.
U.S. History
The U.S. history class is about to start a unit on Gilded age politics. We will analyze the administrations of several Presidents of this time period.
December 2014
Wow, we are almost to Christmas break already, and soon we will be half-way through the school year! Time really flies while you’re having fun – which is exactly what we have been doing in Social Studies!
In 7th Grade Geography, we are continuing to work on our map skills. We recently finished studying the various themes in Geography and are ready to apply them to a range of regions around the world. We will begin our trek around the globe in North America. Starting with the regions of the United States, we will be practicing finding and mapping key features. We will then evaluate what effect these features have on the cultural, economic, and political characteristics of each region.
In 9th Grade US History, we have spent the last few weeks investigating the 13 original colonies and their formation. Students have a solid understanding of how and why each colony was created. Now we are ready to begin exploring the road to revolution and our nation’s independence.
In 11th Grade Honors, this group has had a chance to study some interesting periods in history and take part in some unique activities since the start of the school year. So far we have explored the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, China, and India, investigated ancient Egypt, and discovered ancient Greek contributions to the world today. The students have had an opportunity to enjoy an Egyptian lunch, mummify a chicken, assume the identity of a Greek god, and participate in a mock ancient Olympic event. We are excited to see what secrets of ancient Rome we can uncover before the holiday break!
In Economics, we are about half-way through the second rotation. This group of students is using a new online resource/course (EVERFI) to help us learn about personal finance. The local First Citizens Community Bank is funding the EVERFI Financial Literacy course for students at Northern Potter. It is an exciting opportunity which the students seem to be enjoying! In keeping with the personal finance part of this course, the students will be starting a household budgeting project. As part of this project, students will be given a life scenario (family, job, house, car, unexpected expenses, etc.) and will have to budget to make their money meet all of their needs.
In Introduction to Business, we have just finished up a chapter on production and marketing. We now have the necessary background to begin making leaps and bounds towards launching our own micro-business. Be on the look-out for Panther Supply products available in mid-January. The class, as a part of the Entrepreneurship Club hosted Mr. Benjamin Olney and Mr. Jason Reiman as guest speakers who shared their personal stories as successful business men. Their stories have encouraged us in our own business adventures.
November 2014
Reflecting back over the course of the first nine weeks is encouraging as a new educator. Our seniors are a fourth of the way through their last year of high school, fall sports are wrapping up, and college visits are starting. High school in the grand scheme of things is such a small portion of one’s life; however, it can be filled with such meaning if we as teachers and students allow it to be. As an educator, I challenge myself everyday to create lessons that are meaningful and teach skills that will be applicable to life outside of high school.
In staying aligned with the Pennsylvania State Standards, I have worked to create an American Government course that is less focused on dates and more focused on creating citizens that have a clear understanding of what it means to be competent and responsible. During the first nine weeks in American Government, students have learned about the culture wars that are going on today in the world around us. Students created posters and took a stand in the culture war. There were a diversity of topics covered including marriage equality, 2nd Amendment Rights, Capital Punishment, Animal Testing, Women’s Rights, Mutual Choice, and texting while driving (to name a few). Students also had time to explore the United States Constitution using a scavenger hunt. Students enrolled in the College in High School Program through the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford were invited to attend Government Outreach Day at the university. While there, the students heard from motivational speakers as well as their Congressman Glenn Thompson. Mr. Thompson answered questions regarding the political affairs of the world today. He spoke of debated topics including marriage equality, gun control, and the education system. Our students were active participates in this forum and asked very intelligent questions.
The second class I teach is 11th grade World History. My goal for each of my World History students is to create lessons that are meaningful while emphasizing the patterns displayed throughout the history of the human race. As a class, we have studied some of the major religions of the world as well as various cultures and ideas that have been presented since the beginning of time. Students completed a two week unit on Egyptian Culture where we studied their beliefs, ideas, and burial traditions. Students made and painted a clay sarcophagus that will be on display for teacher conferences. The students worked hard on the lesson and it shows. Currently we are studying ancient Greece and students are looking forward to completing a project on Greek Gods and Goddesses.
I am excited to see where the next nine weeks takes us! Some plans include Skyping with people from around the world and visits from a member of our House of Representatives.
October 2014
The students in grade 8 have spent a significant amount of time studying the geography of Pennsylvania. Every theme of geography has been touched upon; however, the main focus has been physical and political geography. The students have studied all five of the geographic regions in detail. Included in this endeavor has been the identification of major cities and towns. In addition was the discovery of PA’s diverse and abundant natural resources, as well as the water basins and their tributaries. Within the next couple of weeks, the class will embark upon its annual study of the Native American cultures of Pennsylvania. Included in this chapter will be the much anticipated Native American homes project. Every year, I am surprised by the creativity and time that go into many of these projects.
The students in grade 10 have learned about the American civil war and the era of reconstruction that followed it. The attempt is made to explain and demonstrate the significance of the reconstruction period. Upon completion of this chapter, the class will transition to the chapter on western expansion. A project that features a famous personality of the wild west is the highlight of this chapter.
September 2014
Welcome to another school year! This year has brought on some exciting changes in the Northern Potter social studies department. There are two new staff members, Mrs. Hamilton and myself (Miss Gorrell), along with exciting topics to cover and fun new projects.
In 7th Grade Geography, we are and will be working on our map skills throughout the year. Our goal is to develop a mental map to use in case we end up in a dead zone and the GPS won’t work ☺. We recently finished our first skeleton map of the world, depicting the 7 continents and important lines of latitude and longitude.
In 9th Grade US History, we are studying the world prior to the opening of the Atlantic. We began the year by looking at the various Native American tribes found in the new world. Currently, the students are finishing up blue prints for a fictional tourist website of one of West Africa’s trading kingdoms. Next we will study Europe before transatlantic travel.
In 11th grade Honors, we are working on a jigsaw activity from Chapter 2 – Early River Valley Civilizations. Groups are researching Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Indus, and Ancient China. The groups will be presenting the interesting facts to their peers.
In economics, we are splitting our class-time between economic theory/concepts and personal finance. We are using moneyskill.org to help guide us through the dos and don’ts of money management. In addition to the text and online modules, the students are beginning a six week long stock market simulation project. Students are given a fictitious $10,000 to invest in the market after researching to find the “best” stocks available. After purchasing, students will track their stocks’ progress in hopes of doubling or even tripling their money at the end of the six weeks.
In introduction to business, we are exploring the various aspects of starting a business. As a branch of the new Entrepreneurship Club, the class will be starting a micro-business to run throughout the year. As we are studying the stages of starting a business, it provides the opportunity to apply them. Be on the look-out for a market research survey that we are developing to determine a need/want within our community.
May 2014
Pa History - In the past month, the 8th grade has been active in learning about the Industrial Revolution as well as citizenship and all that it encompasses. Every year, the students are asked to select an invention of their choice that they feel has had a large and positive impact on society as a whole. They are to adopt the role of salesperson and pitch the idea to class in an effort to persuade them to invest in the idea. A few of the posters can be seen hanging in the display windows upstairs.
U.S. History - The 10th grade class spent the last month learning about the Spanish-American War. A pretest was given followed by a posttest (at the end of the unit) in order to reflect overall growth made. It was amazing to see just how much the students learned as a class. We are currently concluding a unit on the progressive era. Each section was broken down into small groups (3 or 4 per group) and directed to write a newspaper reflecting the history of the era. It is designed to read as a historical rewind. They are being read and scored now.
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April News
In the social studies department, the past three months have been filled with interesting weather and
authentic experiences here at NPHS. In February, members of the 5th and 7th grade were invited to the Pennsylvania Educational Technology
Exhibition and Conference (PETE&C) to share their experiences using Minecraft to explore social studies and science concepts.
For the student’s in geography class, a major focus in late February/early March was the 4th Annual 7th Grade Mock Trial. In this authentic, problem-based experience, students received an in-depth look at the theme of human-environment interactions. In the case, a coal-fired power plant attempting to enter a cap and trade pollution program is being compelled by a community/parent group to bring emission levels down to preserve the health of community residents.
The 7th graders approached their roles with determination and worked hard in teams to ensure their March 10 trial date in the NPHS auditorium lobby was a success.
Other activities from the late winter included participation in the American Legion Essay contest and experience within the Google Maps-based simulation, Pursued. The spring will see a focus on the impact of geography on current events (ex: the Crimean annexation and the
search for Flight 370) and preparation for the final exam experience.
March News
This month, the ninth graders in US History I are studying the US Constitution. We began with the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation. Students learned the many weaknesses of the Articles and why it was subsequently replaced by the same US Constitution that govern us today. The Framers faced many challenges while drafting the Constitution. Fighting over issues like representation in the new Congress, slavery and the slave trade, the increased power of the national government, and the taxing of exports all slowed the process. Compromises helped ease these differences with delegate approval of the document in 1787. Students also studied the struggle to get the states to ratify the Constitution and the arguments espoused by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Most importantly, they learned what the Bill of Rights is and what rights it confers to the American people.
Juniors in 11th grade world cultures just finished a unit on ancient Chinese and Indian civilizations and their cultures. Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and the teachings of Confucius were examined. Students learned how each empire developed, expanded and prospered, and eventually collapsed. Art, science, literature, and government of each empire were compared and contrasted. Currently, students are just beginning a new unit about the great civilizations of Meso-America such as the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Chavins, Moche, and Nazcas. We will be doing a special topic when we study the mysterious Nazca Lines of Peru.
Seniors in 12th contemporary American history and politics are studying the Great Depression and the many programs of FDR's New Deal. We watched the Grapes of Wrath, and students saw scenes of the Dust Bowl, the plight of the displaced migrant workers, and the early struggles to organize labor. Students also took a break from the Great Depression to learn about the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Mrs. Wheeler is presently having her senior classes read George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. So her students would understand the theme of the story and the historical characters represented by the animals, a lesson on the Russian Revolution was taught and a handout distributed with character descriptions was given to the seniors. I hope they enjoy the book. It was recently voted one of the thirty most influential novels of the 20th century.
February News
Pennsylvania History
The topic of study since early December has been the Revolutionary War. We concluded the unit during the last week of January. I split the unit up into thirds as follows: 1) pre war activities 2) the war (including the battles, leaders, and strategy) and 3) government formation. The students have demonstrated a genuine interest in the personalities of the leaders on each side. It is important that the students understand the evolution and development of this great nation.
US History
The Gilded Age is being explored in great detail including the influx of immigrants from post civil war to 1900. We are also studying the influence their arrival had on the US and in particular the cities. The political and social dynamic is the focal point of the unit. The students are exposed to both the positive and negative components of this age in American growth.
Economics
This is a rotation class, and as a result, much of the content is condensed. In addition to the fundamental basics of economics, I believe it is important that students know how the American system functions. All four major economic systems are identified as well as compared and contrasted. There are two projects that are squeezed into nine weeks. The first is a version of a household budget that is unique to each student. It is important to impart a practical application of the content where appropriate. The other project pertains to the stock market and how it functions.
January News
The past four months have been full of excitement and engagement for Mr. Bryant and his current (and former) 7th grade social studies students.
In October, two students from last year’s class (Jesse Bliss and Mackenzie Potter) were invited to present at the PSBA Excellence in Education Fair in Hershey, PA. Mack and Jesse did a great job representing our district and describing their experiences in 7th grade geography (see picture).
On November 5, the students served as mentors and coaches to Mrs. Slawson’s 5th grade students as they studied virtual biomes in MinecraftEdu (see picture).
Two weeks later, the class had a visit from David Brooks with www.visitpottercountypa.com to discuss how our area’s natural landforms lead to economic benefits for our citizens. Mr. Brooks also shared some upcoming tourism initiatives in Potter County.
In addition, Mr. Bryant has recently introduced one-day, artifact analysis lessons in which students examine primary sources from our nation’s history. The students’ task is to determine (through close examination, peer discussions, and the use of Internet resources) how these items arrived in Potter County.
Two of the artifacts analyzed so far are 1.) a segment of barbed wire from the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) loaned by the Shinglehouse American Legion and 2.) a Japanese World War II-era officer’s sword sent home from the Pacific theatre by Mr. Bryant’s grandfather (see picture).
Upcoming projects include a mock trial developed by Yale Law School* and a community service-centered collecting of veteran’s oral/video histories for curation in the online archive www.glimpsesintohistory.com.**
*http://envirocenter.yale.edu/uploads/publications/FAIR%20v%20%20PaleoTech.pdf
**If you are (or know) a veteran who would like to be included, please contact Mr. Bryant at 814-848-7506 or [email protected]. Information will also be distributed to local legion posts.
December News
Greetings from Mr. Lander and the rest of the social studies department.
Each year nine Northern Potter senior students are invited to attend the “Government Outreach” program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford campus. This annual event is sponsored by Congressman G.T. Thompson and features guest speakers representing northern tier industries and a keynote motivational speaker. This year’s keynote speaker was nationally syndicated comic strip illustrator Rob Armstrong. He gave a great speech reminding all the students that they are put on this earth for a specific purpose and not to let naysayers or life’s obstacles lead them astray from their appointed destinies. Congressman Thompson was unable to attend this year because of the critical vote on the federal budget, but spoke to the students by video conference.
The seniors recently completed a party identification exercise where they studied the Republican and Democratic party platforms and cited three stands on key issues that caused them to choose their favorite party. The posters of their selections appear outside room 128 of the high school.
The juniors are studying the age of ancient empires in world cultures. They have examined the Mesopotamian, Assyrian,
Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, and Greek empires.
Ninth graders are studying the thirteen English colonies in America and the French and Indian War.
October/November News
PA History
The students recently completed the annual Native American homes project. They worked very hard and seemed to enjoy themselves. The projects garner much attention from other students as well as teachers, helping to bolster a strong work ethic and sense of pride in their work. The finished products are always impressive. Just when it seems there is nothing original left to see, a few students are able to muster up some creativity.
US History
The students are currently studying the western frontier. Each student was asked to choose a famous personality from the west (could be an outlaw, Native American chief, etc.) and complete a biography about that individual. The biography could take the form of a written paper or an oral presentation. This activity will help to spark further interest in that great time period of American history.
Economics
The first rotation is about to end, and the students have learned a great deal in nine weeks’ time. In addition to learning the basic economic concepts, they have completed three projects. The first project required the students to complete a simulated household budget. The second and third projects were connected and pertained to the stock market. There are many practical lessons learned during this course that can be applied to real life situations in both the near and far future.