Dear Parents,
We are well on our way to completing our reading of The Crucible. We will also be dovetailing our study of The Crucible with a continued investigation into the McCarthy hearings of the 1950’s. In order to better understand the McCarthy hearings, we will provide some context by exploring the following events:
- The trial and conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
https://www.theguardian.com/world/1953/jun/20/usa.fromthearchive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmsBePZwHY
- Birth of Rock n’ Roll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TsYPVVDEiA
- Korean War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxaegqvl4aE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIobfyaiAUU
- Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway
https://greatlakes-seaway.com/en/resources/for-students-and-educators/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYvBD-rBnUk
- Brown vs. Board of Education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTGHLdr-iak
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka
- McDonald’s opens
https://www.thestreet.com/markets/history-of-mcdonalds-15128096
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygM3DFucj5o
- Murder of Emmitt Till
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjr6XLcCXgU
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/emmett-till-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-0vClQa1Hw
- James Dean is killed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wnxM1qg76Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5k29d9Gcc
- Jonas Salk develops the polio vaccine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tncrBZp0dxM
Our next book will be Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan. Copies of the book have already been donated so there is no need for you to purchase a copy.
In Science, we learned about how overfishing in the Bahamas is threatening the future of conch which is a large part of Bahamian culture.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/conch-decline-overfishing-the-bahamas
In Math, we worked on ratios by studying how Nike has developed a strap-on sneaker for people with disabilities.
We also covered percentage by looking at microscopic quartz crystals.
https://www.minerals.net/mineral/quartz.aspx
Additionally, we looked into why Los Angeles is referred to as the “City of Quartz.”
In the upcoming week, we’ll look at how the following cities received their nicknames:
Chicago – The Windy City
Cincinnati – Queen’s City
New York – Big Apple
New Orleans – The Big Easy
Seattle – Emerald City
Las Vegas – Sin City
Denver – Mile High City
Boston – Beantown
Detroit – Motown
Philadelphia – City of Brotherly Love
Pittsburg – Steel City
Houston – Space City
We are working on a short video that we will be making for the end of the year entitled: Humpty Dumpty: The Real Story. It will feature Humpty Dumpty at Wrigley field and a post crack-up interview.
We are still collecting books for Bernie’s Books. If you would like to donate a book, you can drop it off in the foyer or send it to school with your child.
Dr. Michael