5.29.18
4.6.18
Exciting Summer Learning Opportunity for Middle & High School Government & History Teachers...
4.4.18
On Monday, May 7 2018, 1st SGT Charles Brulle set up camp on the parking lot at
Splash Station to speak to the 5th graders at Peine Ridge Elementary about the
American Civil War. Students walked over to the parking lot and noticed right away
a small tent, wooden chairs, a blanket with accessories and flags from both sides of the war
flying. They sat down on the hill to face Mr. Brulle as he spoke to them about what life
would be like at a Civil War camp. Mr. Brulle brought hardtack, peanuts and hard candy to
give the students an idea of what types of food that would have been available to the soldiers.
He spoke to them about the weapons that were used and answered any questions that were
asked by students or teachers. When students asked a question they were encouraged to
stand and speak loudly. Some students were even able to demonstrate how two soldiers would
share a tent. Students could visually see how crowded the tent would be and what little
protection it actually offered.
What a great learning experience for our children!
Splash Station to speak to the 5th graders at Peine Ridge Elementary about the
American Civil War. Students walked over to the parking lot and noticed right away
a small tent, wooden chairs, a blanket with accessories and flags from both sides of the war
flying. They sat down on the hill to face Mr. Brulle as he spoke to them about what life
would be like at a Civil War camp. Mr. Brulle brought hardtack, peanuts and hard candy to
give the students an idea of what types of food that would have been available to the soldiers.
He spoke to them about the weapons that were used and answered any questions that were
asked by students or teachers. When students asked a question they were encouraged to
stand and speak loudly. Some students were even able to demonstrate how two soldiers would
share a tent. Students could visually see how crowded the tent would be and what little
protection it actually offered.
What a great learning experience for our children!
4.6.18
Exciting Summer Learning Opportunity for Middle & High School Government & History Teachers...
4.4.18
SUMMER 2018...Exciting summer opportunity for our Juniors and Seniors:
Lindenwood University is offering a two week, summer course: Justice
and the Constitution. Juniors and Seniors can earn 3 college credit hours for $300! *This course would not replace the Government course requirement through WSD; rather, it would serve as a social studies elective.
More info to enroll > http://www.lindenwood.
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3.23.18
4th Grade Living Wax Museum at Peine Ridge Elementary
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Famous Missourians, including Tina Turner, Lewis and Clark, Walt Disney, Jesse James, Ulysses S. Grant, Kate Chopin, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Daniel Boone, George Washington Carver, Scott Joplin, and many more!
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3.22.18
On Friday, March 16, 2018 the sophomore class at Holt High School had the honor and
privilege of hearing from a soldier who served during World War II. Mr. Charles Halter is a
resident of St. Charles, graduating from Francis Howell High School in 1943. He was 17
when he graduated and on his 18th birthday he reported to the draft board (or he
would have gone to jail he told the students).
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| Lisa Bopp, Social Studies Department Chair, introducing Mr. Halter |
his unit was shipped to New Jersey to wait for a transport ship to England. The journey
across the Atlantic was long and difficult, with over 1000 soldiers on board. The weather
was rough so the soldiers were not allowed to go above deck for days at a time. The
convoy of 35 ships had to be vigilant for German U-Boats. The voyage took 12 days
(whereas the trip home only took 4 days!).
Sargent Halter arrived in Europe just in time for the Battle of the Bulge, the last major
Sargent Halter arrived in Europe just in time for the Battle of the Bulge, the last major
German offensive on the Western front (December 16, 1944-January 25, 1945).
Sgt. Halter and four other soldiers drove a half-track, a military vehicle with regular
wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle
and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination was to produce a vehicle
with the cross-country capabilities of a tank and the handling of a wheeled vehicle. He was
in charge of the machine gun mounted on top.
What Halter remembers most from his time on the front during the Battle of the Bulge was how bitterly cold it was. His battalion had over 1000 soldiers and he can only recall about 30 killed and 20 men they never did find. However, there were lots and lots injured. Sgt. Halter was lucky enough to not sustain any serious injuries except for a minor concussion. Once the Battle of the Bulge was over, Halter’s unit continued the push through Belgium into Germany. During the arduous journey, he remembers only seeing dead cattle in the fields and battle-scarred landscapes.
What Halter remembers most from his time on the front during the Battle of the Bulge was how bitterly cold it was. His battalion had over 1000 soldiers and he can only recall about 30 killed and 20 men they never did find. However, there were lots and lots injured. Sgt. Halter was lucky enough to not sustain any serious injuries except for a minor concussion. Once the Battle of the Bulge was over, Halter’s unit continued the push through Belgium into Germany. During the arduous journey, he remembers only seeing dead cattle in the fields and battle-scarred landscapes.
Once the war in Europe ended in April 1945, US troops became an occupying force.
All soldiers were responsible for patrolling the German towns. During these patrols,
US soldiers were not allowed to talk to any German citizens. A lot of servicemen collected
souvenirs while overseas. Halter still has a Nazi Rotary flag and a pennant with a swastika.
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| Nazi Rotary Flag |
Sgt. Halter laughingly remembered hearing Axis Sally on the radio. Her messages would be mixed in with the popular big band music of the time. She would tell US soldiers the Germans were clearly winning the war and mockingly tell the US soldiers that they left their wives and girlfriends at home and all the 4Fs (civilians not fit for military duty) were romancing them.
Soldiers were slowly rotated home to the states. This rotation was based on a point system.
For instance, if a soldier was married they got so many points; if they had kids, they got so
many points; and length of service also gave a soldier points. Unfortunately for Halter,
he didn’t have many points. At least until he contracted diphtheria, a contagious bacterial
disease. After a hospital stay of almost two months, Halter earned his points and was able to
ship home.
Once back in St. Charles, Halter returned to his job at Wagner Electric (but not before
celebrating his homecoming for 3 weeks and spending all of his “mustering out” money).
He played minor league baseball and has been inducted into the St. Charles County
Athletic Hall of Fame.
The sophomore students learned a great deal about what the war was like from a first-hand
source, which is very different than just reading about it in a textbook. He brought
history alive! We thank you for your service, Mr. Halter!
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3.5.18
As Dr. Keri Skeeters has pointed out (she is a wee bit Irish)...March is also Irish American Heritage Month! This celebration was proclaimed by Congress in 1991 and every president since has signed a proclamation in support of this time to honor Irish American heritage.
- https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2018/03/irish-american-heritage-month-new-resources/
- https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2018/irish-american-month.html
- http://lessonplanspage.com/stpatricksday.htm/
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3.1.18
Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
March is Women's History Month
Examine the changing cultural perceptions of women in society and honor their contributions.
- The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
https://womenshistorymonth.gov/ - Elementary, Middle and High School Lessons, Activities, Background Reading, and More http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/womens-history-month.html
- Celebrate Women's History Month (March) with one or all of our Top 15 Favorite Women's History Month Activities. There are printables, lesson plans, and more resources for you to enjoy with your class. Learn about suffragists, inventors, scientists, writers, and the history of women's rights in America.
https://www.teachervision.com/womens-history-month/top-15-womens-history-month-activities - Women's History Month Lesson Plans and Activities
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/women_history_lesson_plan.shtml - The Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation tells the powerful stories of Jewish women who persisted in the face of nearly insurmountable odds – women who fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II. Their examples of leadership and courage, serve as excellent role models, and inspire young people to stand up against hatred, and to initiate positive change in the world. JPEF's resources offer in depth insights into the lives of female Jewish partisans who resisted as soldiers, spies, saboteurs, medics and vital support personnel, saving people and helping end the war.
- Women in the Partisans Resource Page: Includes curricula, links to profiles with biographies, primary-source video testimonials and photos, plus a printable poster and other resources
- Short Films: Every Day the Impossible: Jewish Women in the Partisans (15:00) and A Partisan Returns: The Legacy of Two Sisters (21:00) – both narrated by Emmy-winner Tovah Feldshuh
- Curriculum: Women in the Partisans Study Guide
- Video Course: 41-minute training that can be used as lesson prep or shown in class (see FAQ)
For additional information read JPEF's blog articles featuring women partisans.
Here's to recognizing and celebrating the persistence of women!
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2.26.18
Missouri Council for the Social Studies
Annual Conference * February 23 & 24, 2018
National World War I Museum * Kansas City, Missouri
We were able to send a team of teachers:
- Lindsay Burkemper/Kindergarten at Discovery Ridge Elementary
- Holly Harris/1st Grade at Duello Elementary
- Lorin Lasater/3rd Grade at Wabash Elementary
- Megan Merz/6th Grade at Duello Elementary
- Amanda Martin/6th Grade at Boone Trail Elementary
- Elizabeth Perrine/7th Grade at South Middle School
- Nichole Nolan/K-12 Social Studies Content Leader
The conference was held at the National World War I Museum & Memorial. If you haven't had the chance to visit, we definitely recommend it! (WWI Museum & Memorial)
The main keynote was Quinn Rollins, author of Play Like a Pirate. His book focuses on utilizing toys, games, and comics--ways to make your classroom fun again! Quinn shared great ideas teachers can utilize to keep kids connected and engaged.
Other presentations included:
Other presentations included:
- Using Nearpod
- Facilitating PBL
- Grants & Travel Opportunities for Teachers
- Recognizing Fake News
- Plus lots of other great info!
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2.16.18
EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE: 7 Strategies for Teaching With Primary Sources
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2.9.18
February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
February is observed as "Black History Month" in America. Its precursor, "Negro History Week," was created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 and was originally observed on the second week of February. Woodson choose that week in that month to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.
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2.5.18
Resources for Presidents' Day
Discovery Education has some fantastic resources (elementary, middle school, and high school) you may choose to share with your students.
- www.discoveryeducation.com (sign in with Google)
- search Presidents Day
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12.13.17
12.13.17
National Literacy Project (NLP) Civics Collection (K-6)
Dedicated to maximizing student achievement in civics and literacy education, the NLP Civics Collection was developed by the National Literacy Project (NLP) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The collection offers nineteen literacy-rich civics modules for grades K-6. These modules were designed by a coalition of educators representing NLP, eight Florida districts, the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, and the National Literacy Design Collaborative. The collection was written to meet the Florida Standards and Benchmarks for civics in grades K-6, but can easily be adapted to civics standards for other states.
The modules are designed to reinforce the instructional shifts for college and career readiness:
- Building knowledge through content-rich texts
- Reading and writing grounded in evidence from text
- Regular practice with complex text and its academic vocabulary
These modules are open source. You may download, copy, share, or modify them.
*I have created a TABLE that shows alignment of the WSD Social Studies Curriculum to each module.
Please let me know if you are interested in implementing any of the modules in your classroom and would like me to help support you in this work.
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10.19.17
Teaching & Learning has Compasses!
Meghan and I recently acquired small, magnetic compasses for our teachers to use with students to enhance your Science and/or Social Studies curriculum (or any subject, really). If you would like to borrow some or all (we have 4 sets of 30), please send either Meghan or me an email and we will get them checked out to you.
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9.21.17
Historic Missourians!
Missourians of all time periods, races, genders, and occupations have made important contributions to the history of the state. As you read and view the biographies, you’ll see rich images, artifacts, and primary sources from the State Historical Society of Missouri.
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9.14.17
Games in the classroom make learning (and reviewing) fun. Check out these Online Social Studies games (make sure you are logged in to your WSD account for the link to work).
They are sorted by K-12, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Middle School/High School. I definitely had fun vetting them for you! If you have others you use or come across, please share with me so I can add them to the list.
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8.14.17
CONSTITUTION DAY...September 17, 2017...commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. All schools that receive federal funds are required to observe Constitution Day (also known as Citizenship Day). Schools are asked to devote some part of the day to celebrate and help students learn more about the document that guides our nation.
Below are some suggested resources:
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