Mrs. Sprinkle is curious:
If you could travel back in time, where would you go? What time period would you most like to visit? Who would you see? What would life be like in that time period? Why would you go there? Who would you take with you? What do you think would be the best part of your travel back in time? The first 10 students to post creative comments get 10, yes 10, sixth grade bucks.

Image: time travel by bryce driesenga

Do you LOVE to read and talk about books?

National Geographic Kids is looking for three new bloggers to join their amazing team of kids who love reading and are not afraid to tell everyone if they like or dislike a book and why! Mrs. Sprinkle loves a good contest, and National Geographic Kids wants intertested students to enter theirs- “So You Wanna Be a DogEared Blogger” Contest. Wouldn’t it be really cool to write book reviews for National Geographic Kids!

This Voicethread explains Westward Movement after the Civil War. It is amazing to see how the Great Plains developed and grew.

Check out this Voicethread on Reconstruction. The images really help explain Reconstruction a little better.

Blogging is just plain fantabulous. Blogging is addicting and creative. As a teacher, I was first introduced to blogging when I came across a really neat history blog, “Speaking of History.” I really liked the way Mr. Langhorst combined his love of history, technology, and teaching into his blog. I have created several blogs since then, but my favorite has to be my classroom blog. I love teaching U.S. History, and blogging has giving me a doorway to communication with my students. Last year, it was difficult for me to get students to go to the blog and even leave comments. So, this year, it is my goal to find ways of incorporating the blog into our daily lessons and assignments. Encouraging students to submit their best work and give details has also been a trouble spot. Even staying on topic can be challenging to any middle school student. We all need to remember the fact that this blog has a world-wide audience.
Students:
What do you like about blogging? What have you found hard about blogging? How can I, as the teacher, make the blogging process easier? Parents and students, please give me ideas to help make blogging more a part of our class?

This post has been written on “5 most important tips for educators starting out blogging with students” as part of The Edublogger’s Competition!

I found a video today on teachertube.  It was created as part of a centennial project for the state of Oklahoma.  As you view the video, pay attention to the images and review of the Homestead Act and the Great Plains.  It was interesting to see a sod house or “soddie” close up.  I would not have enjoyed living in a sod house! 

What do you think would have been the best part of being a homesteader?  What would have been the worst part?

Welcome to our classroom history blog! I am excited about blogging this year. I hope you will see blogging as a new and useful way of communicating your thoughts and see the thoughts of other students.  I would like to encourage parents and family members to post comments.  As we participate, there are a few rules and guidelines that will govern our blog. First, remember that I will approve all comments before they make it to the World Wide Web. So, Consider the following as you blog:

Make sure your comment:

• is something you would want everyone to see
• is respectful
• shows that you read and thought about the post
• uses appropriate language and proper grammar and spelling

Comments that are published on our blog might:

• give new information
• give and support your opinion
• ask questions
• cause more people to continue the conversation
• reply to another posted comment

This 50 state song may help some of you remember where your states are located. Enjoy.

This is a review on the Great Depression.  The depression of the 1930 had widespread and severe impact on American life.  Use this podcast to review the depression.  You will enjoy the podcast, and will even hear my son, Ean interupt everyone.  Ha. Ha.  Make sure you are logging your 20 minutes of time and having someone sign to verify you studied.  This log is a test grade, so please make certain you are studying your refrigerator magnet and your “All I Need to Know” booklets.

Great Depression SOL Review

The year was 1945 and the Japanese have not yet surrendered.  What if you had been President Harry Truman?  Just think-his advisors informed him that “forcing the Japanese to surrender through continued fighting may cost as many as one million American lives.”  There was another option though: dropping the newly developed atomic bomb on Japan, thereby killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese.  Which option would you have chosen?  Explain your answer.