Unit 1 American Revolution & Independence

Unit 1 Big Ideas:

(What I expect my students to tell me, supported with details, when they understand the unit's content and skills.)

• The colonists rights and freedoms were limited by the British Government causing them to declare independence.
• Colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence to convince the world why they should be free.
• The consequences of the American Revolution.

Unit 1 Essential Questions:

(Essential questions are open-ended questions that add depth and detail to support the Big Ideas)

• What ideas, experiences, and interactions influenced some colonists to support independence?
• What grievances did the colonists have against Great Britain?
• What were the consequences of the American Revolution on North America?

Unit 1 Critical Vocabulary Key Concepts:

(Theses are terms and concepts from the unit that students will need to know and understand.)

• colonial ideas , government, limited government, republicanism, individual rights
• grievances, common good, representative government, self government, town meetings
• House of Burgesses, royal government, French & Indian War, Great Britain
• Declaration of Independence, American Revolution, natural rights, militia, patriots
• loyalists, allies, tyranny, repeal, boycott, petition, traitor, mercenaries, guerrillas
• strategy, treaty

The Start of Something Great!

Cheers to the start of the 2009-2010 school year and to the start of Mr. Toole's Classroom Blog! The purpose for this blog is to provide the students, parents and other interested viewers a chance to access what is happening in our Sparta Middle School 8th Grade Social Studies Class and more.



I am very excited for this school year. Welcome all of you! It is great to have so many former students back in my classroom and many other familiar students as well. A special welcome to our new Sparta students and families...you'll find this is a great place to be!



Students and parents are encouraged to post comments and questions on this blog. I would like to see this blog as a valuable resource and tool for communication. If there is an urgent or personal matter, I encourage you to email me at bob.toole@staff.spartaschools.org. I will check my emails regularly, whereas I will probably access this blog less frequently.



This blog will include information on our unit of study, critical vocabulary, content big ideas, and essential questions. And of course, for those of you who already know me, I will also share information about my family and hunting and fishing reports!

Looking Forward to an Awesome Year!

Mr. Bob Toole
"Teach a Worm to Swim....Go Fishing!"