This site works in conjunction with my 8th grade U.S. history class. We cover 20th Century U.S. history, current events, and the U.S. and Illinois constitutions. Homework can be viewed on the Middle School website.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
WebQuest V: Helping out
Click on the links to check them out.
WebQuest IV: The Golden Age of Radio

Google "1920s radio" or "1930s radio" and see what sites come up. Share ones that you think are good with your neighbors, the class, and me.
Next, find out about these radio people that we will hear from on Friday:
- Baby Snooks
- Lucille Ball (before TV)
- Abbott & Costello (what's there most famous routine?)
- James Cagney
- Groucho Marx (pictured above)
- Mae West
WebQuest III: Classzone.com
WebQuest II: 1920s & 1930s Fashion

20s & 30s Day is just around the corner: Friday, October 26th. You’ve read the handout; now check out some era fashions on the web.
You can use the search terms that we came up with in class. If you find good sites you can post them for us in comment section or let me know in class.
A good site that I found was Fashion Era
These sites are also good as well:
(The first two are actually pages of links to lots of sites. Especially check out the “Chicago Exhibition” listed under history on the 20s site.)
http://www.wtps.org/WTHS/imc/Teacher_Assignment/social_studies/mcfadden%20the%2020s.htm
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/Print/printindex.html
There's also some fun cultural items here:
http://www.crazyfads.com/20s.htm
This activity is from last year so if there are any broken links or new ones that I should use, let me know.
WebQuest I: Website Rundown: Real or fake?
Boilerplate

Fun Phone
GolfCross
The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
20s & 30s Day will be Friday, 10/26
I'm looking forward to a great day of music, activities, learning, and fun.
Since we'll be dressing up, check out my post from last year here to see some examples of fashion to assist you in dressing up.
How to dress up for ’20s &’30s Day…
First, look around the house and/or ask some willing family or friends to let you look in their closets. You’ll be surprised what you might find. A loose fitting dress (for the girls) or a plain suit (for the boys) can work by simply accessorizing!
Here are some suggestions for accessories to make a simple outfit look like the ’20s or ’30s:
WOMEN
· Feather boa
· Headband (worn around the forehead with a feather or covered in sequins)
· Long pearl necklaces
· Cloche or “bowl” hat
· An aviator hat and/or leather jacket (the Amelia Earhart look)
MEN
· Floppy cap
· Fedora
· Newsboy cap
· Suspenders
· Bow tie
· Aviator hat and/or leather jacket (the Charles Lindbergh look)
To buy or rent accessories or whole outfits check out these shops. Call first to check hours.
Ø Fantasy Headquarters (costumes)
773-777-0222
Ø Salvation Army Thrift Store (second-hand clothes)
848-1181
Ø Margie’s II (second-hand vintage clothes)
847-451-9836 (call first; hours vary)
Ø Fashions Anew (second-hand clothes for women)
848-0120
There are numerous other locations in the city of
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Kiva.org Update: Furkat Sultonov
Loan has been disbursed
Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Furkat Sultonov by MLF MicroInvest-Tajikistan in Tajikistan. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 10 - 16 months, MLF MicroInvest-Tajikistan will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.
Posted by Madina Umarova from Khujand, Tajikistan
Sep 6, 2007
Kiva.org Loan Update: SANFO ISSIAKA
Loan has been disbursed
Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to SANFO ISSIAKA by Afrique Emergence & Investissements in Cote D'Ivoire. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 15 - 21 months, Afrique Emergence & Investissements will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur andposting progress updates on the Kiva website.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
How can people believe something that isn’t true?
L
ooking through Google News I found this interesting article from CBS News (9/12/07):Polls, Truth Sometimes At Odds
CBS' Kathy Frankovic: Political Views, Psychology Can Make People Believe In Falsehoods
How can people believe something that isn’t true?
A significant number of Americans say Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. That number rose above 50 percent in the run-up to the war in Iraq in 2003. While that belief has since declined somewhat, for many Americans it still exists. In the latest CBS News/New York Times Poll 33 percent said they believe Saddam was personally involved in the 9/11 attacks. As has been repeated over and over, there was and is no evidence of any such link. So why do so many people believe something that just isn’t true?What do you think?
You can read the rest of the article here.
Kiva.org, "A little goes a long way" Update
More info to come.
In the meantime, here's the rundown on who we've lent money to(click on the pictures to find out more):

SANFO ISSIAKA from
Fukart Sultonov from
Martha Álvarez from
There is also more info about Kiva.org at the PBS's Frontline World site. There is an article, a video link, and more if you click here. Or the video link is here.
Check it out.




