Easter vacation is here!

Although it doesn't look too good for Caesar in this picture (he's about to be stabbed to death in the Senate), we have a nice break coming our way. Here are some notes for the next eleven days.

By popular demand, I have posted my recording of Rome (by Chi Cago) to the left. Feel free to play it any time you need a laugh, if you want to "study" ancient Rome, or if you're having a dance party over the break and you need some fly beats.

I promised no homework over the break. However, on April 14 (our third day back) there will be an assignment due. So, IF you would like to get a jump on this over the break, feel free.

The assignment: Combine your class notes with the notes I have supplied, and make a Prezi or a PowerPoint on the life of Julius Caesar. It's worth 20 points. My notes can be found at the left (or by clicking here), and the Prezi website can be found here. (In my opinion, Prezi is much more fun. With this much time off, it's a good opportunity to take your time and learn how to make a Prezi. Impress your other teachers with your awesome skills.) This is due Wednesday, April 14. We come back to school April 12.

Since we don't have class over the break, you don't need to post to your blog over the break.

I hope you have an incredible vacation that allows you to rest, enjoy some beautiful weather, hang out with your friends and family, and come back rejuvenated. Happy Easter!

more Caesar

Today we watched most of the BBC episode on Julius Caesar. We will finish up tomorrow. Keep in mind that you can watch this anytime (except for Part 3 and Part 6, which are unavailable).

I have also posted some notes, called The Life and Times of Julius Caesar, which can be found to the left. Feel free to use these with your own notes. These notes include the Battle at Alesia in 52 BC, where Caesar defeated Vercingetorix, which is the picture on the right. (Nice mustache, Vercingetorix!)

Julius Caesar

Section 03 started on the Julius Caesar portion of the BBC video series. Sections 01 and 05 begin watching tomorrow. You can click on the link to the left to watch it yourself.

Please note that two of the six chapters are missing.

Reminder: your opinion paper on Tiberius Gracchus must be posted to your blog before 8:00 am tomorrow.

Late penalties will be assessed if it not posted by then.

writing assignment

Tiberius Gracchus was a defender of the rights of Rome's plebeians. Yet, even after becoming tribune of the people, he had great difficulty achieving his goals. If you could give Tiberius Gracchus some advice, what would you tell him?

Many Romans were talented speakers, and they were very good at leading others. In a formal paper of 400-500 words, persuade Tiberius Gracchus to follow your lead. Or, you may choose to defend his actions if you think he had the most effective plan.

A strong paper will show your understanding of the conflicts between plebeians and patricians, the political structure of the republic, and the relationship between Tiberius and the Senators.

Post your essay to your blog before 8:00 AM, Tuesday, March 30. It's worth 100 points.

Just grab some land!

All three sections should finish Revolution,
part of the BBC series Rise and Fall of an Empire,
in class Friday.

If you missed class and did not see
part of this video,
it is available on YouTube.
The link is on the left.
It is in six 10-minute parts.

There will be a writing assignment related to this video for you to do over the weekend.
Details will be posted tomorrow.

BBC - Rome / Revolution

All three classes are watching the BBC docudrama on the rise and fall of Rome, and taking notes as we watch.

Keep in mind that since the series is available on YouTube, and the link is listed on this blog, you can review this material at home. You can even activate the CC button, and you will be able to follow along even better by using closed captioning.

Here is how far each section has gone so far.

Section 01: beginning of part 3.

Section 03: 5:00 into part 5.

Section 05: just finished part 2.

Don't forget to post your notes after every class.

Here is Tiberius Gracchus

as portrayed in the movie,

and as carved by the ancient Romans.

let it rain...

Section 03 began watching BBC/Rome today - good stuff!

Sections 01 and 05 heard and discussed
"Rome" by Chi Cago
(lyrics posted under
"Researching History" to the left).

01 and 05 can make flashcards on
the terms we covered in class today:

Romulus & Remus
Etruscans
Tiber River
Tarquin the Proud
tyrant (original meaning)/tyranny
patrician
plebeian
consul

republic

ancient view of the world

Rome - the Early Years

Ancient legend has it that Rome was founded by... well... two feral children. Twins, to be exact, named Romulus and Remus (pictured here). Here is their story.

Isn't this a great way to begin our studies of Rome?

Here are the terms and concepts we discussed in class today (wouldn't these make great digital flashcards?):

Romulus

Remus

Etruscans

Tiber River

Tarquin the Proud

tyrant (original meaning)/tyranny

patrician

plebeian

consul

republic

What to blog about tonight?

For tonight's posting, you could give me some feedback on the test you just took. Was it fair? Did you do well? Did you write good essays?

Next week we begin looking at ancient Rome. Buckle up.

potential essay questions for Friday

Tomorrow's 100-point test will consist of 20 multiple choice questions, worth two points each, and three essay questions, worth 20 points each. You will need a pencil for the objective part of the test, and pen and paper for the essays. You will not need your computer in class tomorrow, so don't even bring it. This is not an open book or open note test.

The following are general subjects of potential essay questions for this Friday’s test.

I recommend you review these subjects, and draw up brief outlines for each.

This is the first step to writing excellent essays tomorrow!

(Outlining will also help you study for the objective portion of the test.)

• Describe the events of the Peloponnesian War
• Give details on the lives and philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
• Describe the most significant events of the Persian War
• Describe the elements of early Greek theatre
• Describe the high points and the low points of the age of Pericles
  
• Describe the transition from faith in the Greek gods to belief in reason and logic
• Describe how the Greek concept of hubris brought about the downfall of Pericles

Socrates and Mr. Schick say...

Socrates: The unexamined life is not worth living.

Me: The unprepared student will struggle on Friday's test.

We will continue to prepare for Friday's test by using your flashcards to review the material on ancient Greece.

slight change in schedule

All sections will take a quiz on Ancient Greece this Friday, March 19.

We will review tomorrow and Thursday in class.

science, logic, reason

Now Section 03 knows why Socrates is my hero.

Tomorrow Sections 01 and 05 will find out.

Don't forget: all 20 digital flashcards are due tomorrow, Tuesday, March 16.

They are worth 20 points.

They will also help you immensely on the quiz.

Also, tomorrow is an E Day (Friday schedule).

digital flashcards due date

Your twenty flashcards, described in Friday's blog, are due this Tuesday, February 16.

They are worth 20 points.

They will also help you immensely on the quiz.

last of the flashcards

I missed you yesterday, but we had a great Senior retreat!

Please make four more flashcards this weekend - this will bring your total to twenty. I would suggest the following subjects:

age of Pericles
Athenian democracy
Peloponnesian War
Athena Parthenos (statue of Athena in the Parthenon)
Solon
Hellenistic civilization

Previously suggested subjects include:

Cleisthenes
Pheidippides
Themistocles
Darius
Xerxes
aristocracy
democracy
hoplite
trireme
Athens
Sparta
Marathon
Persian Empire
Pericles
Parthenon
Aspasia
Battle of Salamis
Age of Pericles
Delian League
Alexander the Great
Bucephalus
Gaugamela
Darius III
scythed chariot

See you next week.

40,000 Greeks vs. over 100,000 Persians? No problem.

How important was Alexander's victory at Gaugamela? It changed the course of history. This decisive battle helped bring about the end of the mighty Persian Empire, and propelled Alexander's Greeks to yet another in a string of military victories.

Tonight, make flashcards for Alexander the Great, Bucephalus, Gaugamela, Darius III, and scythed chariot.

Check the blog again Thursday evening, as I will update when I return from Senior Retreat.

Digi Flash & Ancient Greeks

Want a sneak peek at tomorrow's JCTV News? Watch and rate...



Sections 01 & 05 polished their Digital Flashcards, while Section 03 got back into watching The Greeks: Crucible of Change.

Tomorrow and Thursday: more DVD viewing, notetaking, and Digital Flashcard making.

Friday: no class

Next Monday and Tuesday: finish the DVD and class discussion

Next Wednesday: Test on the Ancient Greeks

Don't forget to blog!

DigiFlash

Now EVERYONE in section 03 knows how to make digital flashcards and post them to their blog. Tonight, post five more flashcards (see Saturday's blog for details) if you didn't get them done this weekend.

how to create and post digital flashcards

Just click here and watch a presentation on the mechanics of creating and posting digital flashcards.

If you prefer, here is the link: http://screencast.com/t/Mjg1NThhMjEt

There is more information on what to include in your digital flashcards, plus some examples, on Thursday's blog.

ASSIGNMENT:

Sections 01 & 05: post five more flashcards. You may choose from the following:

• Pericles
• Parthenon
• Aspasia
• Battle of Salamis
• Age of Pericles
• Delian League
• War between Athens and Sparta (began in 431 BC)

Section 03: make six flashcards. Choose from the following:

• Important figures such as Cleisthenes, Pheidippides, Themistocles, Darius, and Xerxes.
• Important concepts like aristocracy and democracy.
• Key terms including hoplite and the trireme.
• Key locations like Athens, Sparta, Marathon, and the Persian Empire, as they pertain to the 400s and 500s BC.

here it goes!

digital flashcards

What you see above are some examples of digital flashcards. Most of you have used traditional flashcards - an index card with a subject on one side and a description of the term on the other side. But as with many things digital, we are now able to greatly improve on this concept. We are not limited to words written on paper; we can include pictures, links, and video. In class today we looked at these examples and learned how to make our own flashcards using Google Docs. We also learned how to post these flashcards onto our blogs.

For homework tonight, make 6 more flashcards based on the video Crucible of Civilization:

Important figures such as Cleisthenes, Pheidippides, Themistocles, Darius, and Xerxes.

Important concepts like aristocracy and democracy.

Key terms including hoplite and the trireme.

Key locations like Athens, Sparta, Marathon, and the Persian Empire, as they pertain to the 400s and 500s BC.

Please refer to my flashcards for further guidance.

This assignment only pertains to Sections 01 and 05.

Section 03 will be introduced to digital flashcards tomorrow.

Crucible of Civilization

Today all three sections began watching a great PBS video on the Ancient Greeks. We're going to use this to tie in all of the information YOU provided to your classes when you did your Webquests.

We began in 508 BC: the first time in recorded history that people turned on their rulers and seized power for themselves.

• Important figures (so far) are Cleisthenes, Pheidippides, Themistocles, Darius, and Xerxes.
• Important concepts are aristocracy and, of course, democracy.
• Key terms include hoplites and the trireme.
• Key locations would be Athens, Sparta, Marathon, and the Persian Empire (pictured above).

We left off just as a Persian army rumored at 2,000,000 was bearing down on Athens.

What's next?!

Find out tomorrow in class...

more presentations

Section 03 has nearly finished their webquests. I expect that everyone in every section will have presented by the end of class tomorrow.