Author: Mr. Toliver

Unit 2-Think Like a Historian

| Mr. Toliver

This week we will begin a new unit that covers using primary and secondary sources for research.

Here are our vocabulary words we will be using this week:
constitution – document that outlines the fundamental principles and structures of a government.

unalienable rights – basic rights people are born with, also called natural rights.

preamble – an introductory part of a document.

amendments – additions made to a document.

pledge – a promise.

allegiance – loyalty.

primary source – first-hand accounts of an event created by eyewitnesses or first recorders at the time of the event.

secondary source – accounts of events created at a later date and by someone who was not present at the event.

point of view – an opinion or perspective presented by the author of a document, influenced by the author’s personal circumstances.

historical context – the circumstances of the time in which an event occurred or in which an author lived that may have influenced his/her point of view.

Rubric for Map Group Project

| Mr. Toliver

Here is the grading rubric for the map project. Each part will be worth 10 points max, and 5 points minimum.

1. Each state will have its abbreviation in the map:

40-50 10
35-40 9
30-35 8
25-30 7
Less than 25 5

2. Each state will have a dot and the name of the capital:

40-50 10
35-40 9
30-35 8
25-30 7
Less than 25 5

3. A)Each of the 5 regions will be colored in a different color.
B)The map will have a key indicating each region and its color
All 5 colored 10
4 colored 9
3 colored 8
2 colored 6
Less than 2 colored. 5

4. Key detailing all 5 regions 10
Key detailing 4 regions 9
Key detailing 3 regions 8
Key detailing 2 regions 7
No key or less than 2 5

5 Draw the 10 major rivers on the map, with each river identified and its length also identified:
All 10 rivers identified w/ lengths 10
8-9 rivers identified w/ lengths 9
7-8 rivers identified w/ lengths 8
6-7 rivers identified w/ lengths 7
Less than 6 rivers identified 5

6. Draw and label the Great Lakes:
Draw and label all 5 10
Draw and label 4 9
Draw and label 3 8
Draw and label 2 7
Less than 2 drawn and labeled 5

7. Draw and label the major mountain ranges:
Draw and label all 3 ranges 10
Draw and label 2 ranges 9
Draw and label 1 range 8
No ranges drawn 5

8 Label the oceans on each coast and the Gulf of Mexico:
Label both and the Gulf of Mexico 10
Label one ocean and the Gulf 9
Label the Gulf 6
Label no oceans or the Gulf 5

9. Draw a compass rose and each of the ordinal directions:
Draw and label the compass rose 10
Draw the compass rose only 9
No compass rose 5

10. Neatness and readability of the map: 5-10 points

There will also be an individual grade, based on team participation. Each team member will grade themselves and the other team members.

US map group project begins 9/5/25

| Mr. Toliver

Today we will start our map projects. Here are the rules:

We will break into teams of 3, and your team will compete against other teams to make the most professional looking map of the US that includes the following:

1. Each state will be identified by its abbreviation in the middle of the state(northern states will have to be to the side of the state with a ————— to the side indicating where the state is located).

2. Each state will have a dot in the location of its capital, and the name of the capital.

3. Each of the 5 regions will be highlighted in a different color, to indicate which region the states are in. The group will make a key to indicate the 5 regions and their colors at the bottom of the map.

4. The following rivers will be drawn on the maps, and the name of the river will be written down beside the river. Also include the length of each river.
The Missouri River
Mississippi River
Yukon River
Rio Grande River
Arkansas River
Colorado River
Red River
Columbia River
Snake River
Ohio River

5. Label each of the 5 Great Lakes

6. Draw and name the 3 major mountain ranges in the US.
Appalachian Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Sierra Nevada Mountains

7. Label the oceans on each coast of the US, as well as the Gulf of Mexico.

8. Draw a compass rose at the bottom of the map, and identify each of the ordinal directions.

Group grading-How the maps will be graded:
Completeness of map
All 50 state abbreviations labeled
All regions identified
All 50 state capitals labeled
All rivers labeled
All 5 Great Lakes labeled
All mountains labeled

****Each team member can do no more than 1/3 of the project(or 1/4 if there are 4 members). That mean each team member has to:
1. Write 1/3 of the state abbreviations, regions, state capitals, Great Lakes, and Mountain ranges. This includes all writing, coloring, and labeling in the project. IF ANY TEAM MEMBER IS NOT DOING THEIR PART, I WANT THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS TO COME TELL ME*****

Neatness and readability of map
Make your map as neat as possible(each group needs to choose the member with the best handwriting to label)
Each member needs to have a job,

Grading-individual
In addition, each group member will rate themselves and their team members on their participation in the project. These ratings will be used for half of each member’s grade.