WEDNESDAY: Today you worked on the Battle of Saratoga Interactive Map assignment.  Great job today!  Map and Questions will be due the first of the period Friday.

You may work on it at home...check link on blog! 

Here is a prompt for the Battle of Saratoga Take-home essay:

"To what extent, and in what ways was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in history?"

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30

"The typical life span of a cow: 30 years!"

BATTLE OF SARATOGA

Animated Battle Map Today

CHECK YESTERDAY's BLOG FOR DETAILS FOR ONE-PAGER...DUE NEXT TUESDAY

FRIDAY=CLASS "RISK" GAME

TUESDAY, SEPT. 29

"The highest speed ever recorded of a motorcycle doing a wheelie was 157 mph!"

BATTLE OF SARATOGA

A. Historical Setting
B. The Battle
   Who vs. Whom
C. The Results
D. The Significance

Sources: American Revolution Chapter from  Scholastic
         Battle of Saratoga, Oxford Press
         Battle of Saratoga Webquest
         Link: Greatest U.S. Battles...find 
               Saratoga...check out videos

Your have been assigned the Reading Packet on The American Revolution to place the battle in historical context.  Yesterday, we stood around a map on the floor in an attempt to recognize a strategy for the British.  What is their "OBJECTIVE"?  Who are the Patriots/Rebels? And, what is their military "OBJECTIVE""??

Videos: The American Revolution
       The Story of US

YOU WILL WRITE A "ONE-PAGER"...on the Battle.  Due MONDAY, Oct. 5

DIRECTIONS:

5 Paragraph Essay
Typed...size 12 font, single-spaced. 
Cite your sources (Oxford), (Lecture, etc.

Title Page:
Title..."Battle name and date; with a short "story-line"

10 Images
5 Quotes

Monday, Sept. 28

"Apparently the moon smells a little like exploded firecrackers!"

Friday's Quizzam is graded:(:(:(

Check Powerschool...grades are updated and include BIC!

TODAY we will "start" our first battle

"The Battle of Saratoga!"

HAPPY FRIDAY!

TODAY WE ...

1. TOOK A 25 POINT QUIZZAM ON PRINCIPLES AND MANUEVERS!!!
2. FINISHED THE LAST THREE MANUEVERS...AND ARMSTRONG BURIED CHALFANT 
    IN A SURPRISE MANUEVER!!!! 

MONDAY:  WE START WITH OUR FIRST BATTLE:

SARATOGA, 1777...AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE...A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY!!!

GOOD LUCK TEAMS!  I DOUBLE DOG DARE THE FOOTBALL DUDES TO DRAW UP THE RAINDROPS PLAY IN THE HUDDLE!!!!

HAVE A SAFE AND FUN HOMECOMING WEEKEND!!!

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25

"HAPPY HOMECOMING!"

 

QUIZZAM - NOW

 

FINISH: TUTORIAL

 

MONDAY: BATTLE OF SARATOGA

THURSDAY NIGHT HOMEWORK: 

25 POINT VOCAB QUIZZAM
TOMORROW...THE START OF CLASS

Matching
I give you definition...you give me term
I give you term...you give me the definition

STUDY THE FOLLOWING TERMS/DEFINITIONS:

Total War
Friction
von Clausewitz
Strategy
Tactic
Objective 
Offensive
Mass
Economy of Force
Maneuver
Unity of Command
Security
Suprise
Simplicity
Perseverance
Legitimacy
Restraint
Penetration of the Center
Envelopment of a Single Flank
Envelopment of Both Flanks
Attack in Oblique Order
Feigned Retreat
Attack from Defensive position
Indirect Approach
Offensive Revolutionary/Guerrilla

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24

"The Pentagon spends $8,612 per second; about $271.6 billion a year!"

TACTIC TUTORIAL

"The 7 Classical Maneuvers of War"

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23

"Historians argue that Thomas Jefferson invented the hanger!"

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE TODAY!

TACTICS TUTORIAL TODAY!!!

(will try and sneak us up to library!)

I have a packet with the 7 Classical Tactical Maneuvers...go to the link on the blog and take notes in you packet!!!

I will assign you a "Tactic" and you must demonstrate in class a Tactic...hands on stuff!!!

TUESDAY, SEPT. 22

"Los Angeles reportedly has more lawyers than all of France!

 

CLASS DISCUSSION: 9 Principles of War

 

"Which of the principles of war do you think were violated in the A Shua Valley of Vietnam in 1963? EXPLAIN 

TACTICS TUTORIAL:

http://www.theatreofbattle.com/tactics-tutorial

 

THE 7 Classical Maneuvers

 

 

HANDED BACK UNIT I TESTS...check Powerschool for Sun Tzu Presentation grades 
Grades are up to date 

Homework tonight:  Reading Packet: "Introduction to the Principle of War and Operations"

• Know the History
• The 9 Principles(+ 3 Additional)
• Limitations

BE READY AS A CLASS OF SENIORS TO DISCUSS "THE A SHAU OUTPOST" scenario by Colin Powell  on pp. 180-181...first of class!

CRITICAL THINKING:

"Which of the principles of war do you think were violated in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam in 1963?"

HAPPY FRIDAY...TODAY WE DISCUSSED THE TEST A BIT...A FEW WHO MISSED YESTERDAY TOOK IT WHILE THE REST OF US WATCHED A CLIP ABOUT ISIS IN SYRIA...PRETTY COMPLICATED AND BARBARIC!!

KEEP POSTED ON POWER SCHOOL...I WILL HAVE BOTH THE PRESENTATIONS AND QUIZZAMS GRADED AND ENTERED BY MONDAY.

OUR NEXT UNIT WILL BE LECTURE-BASED ON WESTERN STRATEGY AND TACTICS AND WILL LOOK AT NAPOLEONIC TACTICS...AND VON CLAUSAWITZ!!!

HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND!!

WE TOOK OUR FIRST TEST TODAY!!!!!

IF YOU WERE ABSENT...CHECK PREVIOUS POST FOR DETAILS.  

YOU WILL TAKE THE TEST THE DAY YOU RETURN!

TOMORROW I WILL HAVE YOUR POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS GRADED!

CHECK POWER SCHOOL FOR GRADES THIS WEEKEND!

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17

"A cow spends 18 hours of every day chewing!"

TEST TODAY!

100 Points

50 Points = specifics taken from the History Channel reading materials: Matching, Fill-ins, and True-False (you were warned to get on this!)

50 Points = COWBELL SECTION

Part I: Chapters 1-13 short answers

Part II: ID - 2 paragraphs 

Wednesday, Sept. 16

"It would take 268 Rhode Islands to make one Texas!"

 

BLOCK WEDNESDAY...CHECK PREVIOUS POST FOR SCHEDULE!

 

OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT!

 

TEST TOMORROW

IT IS TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 15. IT IS BLOCK TUESDAY...I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

TEST ON SUN-TZU MATERIALS THURSDAY.  TOMORROW FOR BLOCK WEDNESDAY YOU WILL WORK ON SUN-TZU CHAPTERS 11: "THE 9 SITUATIONS" AND 13: THE USE OF SPIES

YOU WILL TAKE NOTES TO GATHER THE GIST OF EACH...YOU MAY THEN BROWSE AND LOOK AT EACH OF THE POSTERS FOR THE OTHER CHAPTERS.

I will be grading the posters for quality and content and post the 50 Point activity on Powerschool by Friday.

WE WILL DEBRIEF AND DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ART OF WAR THEN AND NOW!

TEST IS 100 POINTS

TEST MATERIALS:

Here is the YouTube address for the Sun Tzu 22 minute History Channel documentary we watched at the start of the unit...I suggest you watch it again for review

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maOFYVR8B40

1. History Channel handout:  SUN TZU and THE ART OF WAR: I am making up a 25 item objective test, Mulitiple-Choice, True-False, and Fill-in...specicify!!! (2 pts. each = 50 Points)

2. Class presentations/Ch. Materials...(25 Points)...short answer

3. Essay: Historical ID...Two paragraphs....Facts + Significance (25 Points)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10

"You swallow and recycle about a quart of mucous a day!"

Presentations: Ch. 1-10???

All posters turned in at start of hour...notebooks open...

"Let's do this....!"

Great job working in the library today!!! Make certain to have your poster ready when you walk into the classroom tomorrow.  Each team is responsible to know the materials in:

A.) Their chapter stuff
B.) The History Channel handout on Sun Tzu and B'ing Fa!!!

We will present...and take notes somehow!  

GIT 'ER DUN!

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9

"The average human body has about 100 milliliters of bowel gas at one time:(!"

LIBRARY CONTINUED:  

PRESENTATIONS TOMORROW:

5 MINUTES...TAKING NOTES....

TUESDAY, 9/8

"The Blue Whale's tongue weighs as much as an adult Elephant!!!"

Library...partners...THE ART OF WAR

TASK: 50 Points

A.Pick a Partner

B.Select a Chapter

C.Distribute copies

D.Read, highlight, annotate

E.Create a Poster Display

         a. Title

         b. 5 Quotes

         c. 10 images

         d. Paragraph explaining gist

         e. provide examples in history

F. Present to class…poster up in

    back of room

Happy Friday! Today we handed out a reading on Sun Tzu and B'ing Fa (The Art of War) and watched a 22 minute History Channel video on this ancient/classic work. Afterwards, you worked with your partners on the Chapter assigned to you yesterday.  Tuesday you are up in the library working on the poster display.

Homework: Read handout, and make certain you understand everything you can about your chapter. You will become the expert and explain it to our class on Wednesday!!

Have a great weekend...GO PACK!

FRIDAY, Sept. 4

"Onions have no flavor, only smell!"

Happy Friday!

Sun Tzu...22 minute video from History Channel

Work on your chapter with partners

TUESDAY: Library...work on poster displays!

Good Thursday!!! Today we looked at 1000 years of warfare in 5 minutes, and then partnered up and see if we can figure out  Sun Tsui's Art of War...all 13 chapters!

You have the handout for your specific chapter, make certain you have it read and understood completely.

Tomorrow we will head up to the library and do a little more historical investigating for the poster/presentation.

I will give you Friday, and Tuesday (no school Monday) to prepare

WED...THURSDAY  Presentations!!!

See you tomorrow!

Mr. Armstrong                             GLACIER HIGH SCHOOL 

MILITARY BATTLES THAT CHANGED HISTORY

 

KALISPELL, AMERICA

http://mrarmstrongsbattles.blogspot.com/

Room E112   758-8672                                                                        armstrongm@sd5.k-12.mt.us

INTRODUCTION: Welcome to Glacier High’s Military Battles that Changed History. It would be presumptuous of me to claim I have selected THE six most important history-changing battles but one must begin somewhere. The selected battles are at least on most historians top one hundred list. We will focus more on the American battles that have changed history!

To be considered a history-changing battle the conflict in question must meet several criteria. The historian Paul K. Davis suggests three; 1) the outcome of the battle brought about a major political or social change, 2) had the outcome of the battle been reversed, major political or social changes would have ensued, 3) the battle marks the introduction of a major change in warfare.  Most importantly it is necessary to recognize that each represents a scenario in which a different outcome would have resulted in a radically changed American/World history.

Each battle will be broken down into five key elements; 1) historical setting, 2) leaders and leadership styles, 3) weapons and weaponry, 4) the battle (tactics), 5) results (historical consequences). Luck is also an element that cannot be overlooked. In almost every case there was also a precursor battle that set the stage for the definitive battle to follow and we will spend time discovering how one battle influenced the other.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the semester each student will be able to describe each battle in general detail as to its five essential elements and assess one element in greater detail for each battle studied. Taken as a whole, each student will be able to assess the legitimacy of the claim that a given battle is truly a history-changing conflict.

BATTLES: We will likely cover three major battles each quarter and its precursor. Depending upon pacing, the number may be augmented or reduced. Selected battles may not be presented in the order listed here.

v  Saratoga

v  Gettysburg

v  Verdun

v  D-Day

v  Midway

v  Dien Bien Phu

v  One of your choice

CLASS PARTICIPATION: Because this is a hands-on, research, and presentation-based class, it is essential that students be present in class every day. A student’s final grade will be largely dependent upon their preparation, participation, and presentation. Every effort will be made to schedule presentations so as to avoid conflicts with school sponsored activities. Some conflicts, however, are unavoidable.

Text: There is no text for this class but I will provide reading assignments from time to time. Check the blog as we add links/sources.  We will work together to locate valuable/reliable sources.

Assessments: In addition to regular assignments, there will be from time to time, tests and quizzes to measure your knowledge of events and consequences.  At the end of the semester there will be a general knowledge assessment which will require you to relate common threads among the battles studied. All students will be required to take this assessment.

Semester Exam:  20% of accumulated points…Comprehensive.

Grading:

                        A=100-90

                        B=89-80

                        C=79-70

                        D=69-60

                        F=59 and below

Grades will be posted to the web. Keep all assignments until you see them posted to the grade book. It is a good idea to keep all assignments until the end of the semester.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: As noted in CLASS PARTICIPATION, this is hands-on and participation based and as a result, late assignments are generally unacceptable when it comes to group participation.  Individual late work will not be accepted.

BIC ASSEMENT: Body In Chair…50 Points per quarter…minus 5 per tardy and absence (SS do not count!) ATTENDANCE MATTERS! If you choose to violate the ZERO TOLERANCE CELL PHONE POLICY you will lose all BIC Points…”I giveth, and I shall taketh away!”

ACADEMIC CATCH-UP: – I accept no late work!...On prescribed Academic Catch-Up days you come to class…work on coursework for entire 50 minutes…I award 3% to your grade to date.

EXTRA CREDIT: Movie Nights = 2% Academic Catch-up = 3% …other possible creative ideas might pop up!!!!!

TOOLS: Tools you’ll need for this class include:

                        Small Spiral Notebook

                        3-Ringed NB (small) for supplementary materials

                        Writing Stick

                    Your brain!!!!

Bring these items to class every day.

DISCIPLINE: The student handbook will be the basis for any disciplinary action. It is my personal philosophy, however, that if we treat each other with courtesy and respect, there should be no need for disciplinary action. It is important to respect our differences. I do expect you to be in your seat and ready for class when the bell rings. I also ask your respect my ZERO TOLERANCE CELL PHONE POLICY!

KEYS TO SUCCESS: If you come to class prepared every day, contribute to your group to the best of your ability, participate in class discussions and complete your assignments to the best of your ability, you will achieve success.

COMMUNICATION: Please feel free to contact me if you or your parents/guardians have any questions about this class, grades, or assignments. I can be reached by phone and/or email.  Of course you can always visit with me before or after school.