Week 13: 12/14/17

I hope you all are enjoying your Christmas break, but don't get too comfortable! As Master Yoda would say, "A [scholar] must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind...Much to learn you still have..."

 

Last week we discussed the surrender of the British army under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, VA. (I'm sure George Washington took some secret pleasure in being able to finally end the war in his home state--Go, Home Team, Woot-woot!--but was too much of a gentleman to gloat about it!) Even though the major fighting had ended with Yorktown, it took a full 2 years to make it official at the Treaty of Paris in 1783. You might be able to imagine why it took so long; hashing out all the details of national borders, timelines for British occupation, trade agreements and debt reconciliation. I'm glad I didn't have to be part of that--ugh!--but I'm grateful for those who were (Ben Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams)!

 

Check out this link to see some of the original document and/or read the full text of the treaty:

 

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=6

 

Watch the videos below for a quick review of the Battle at Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 1783:

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

• Award Requirements: January 11th (the day we come back from break) is your *LAST DAY to pass off award requirements!!!!

 

• Opinion Paper: For those of you who have not already turned in 11 papers this semester, here is your topic: What are you willing to do to pay the price of freedom? Also, check the opinion paper tracking sheet in the email to see if you are missing any papers, and contact me with any questions or concerns.

 

 

• Parent Night: Please make sure you have your part of the skit planned out and written down so we can rehearse during our next class meeting, January 11th. This may involve emailing your classmates, so please contact me if you need help finding an email or putting your part together.

 

• Declaration of Independence Journal: This must be COMPLETED by January 18th so you can join us on the field trip to the capitol followed by going out to lunch!

 

• Reading: Begin reading Freedom Factor by Gerald Lund so that you will have it completed by February 1st, the first day of second semester.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you'ns again next year!

-Mrs. Hellyer