The Westward Expansion Unit will cover important topics of American History from the Social Studies curriculum for Grade 8.

Comparing & Contrasting the Jews from the Holocaust with the Native Americans during the late 1800's.

Bil of Rights for whom?

The Americanization of he Natives Americans

Bill of Rights for Whom?

Thomas Jefferson, the man who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and stated that "all men were equal and had unalienable rights among which were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", was ready to change the lives of others because their culture was different from his.

Aim: Should government have the right to change the lifestyle or culture of a person?

- If you think so, what parts of a culture would be OK to change?

- If not, why do you thinks so. What is being violated? What is wrong with this?

- What parts of the U.S. constitution would be violated in a government engaging in this?

Nearing the End

At the beginning of this unit, many of you presented questions that you had about the Holocaust. As we near the end of the novel, I would like you to research:

1. How and when the Holocaust ended.

2. What happened to Hitler--what was his fate?

3. How did reading this book open your perception (made you aware)
about EVENTS going on in the world - past & present?

Genocide, today?

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political or cultural group.

The holocaust is probably one of the more notorious examples of genocide. By the end of WWII a total of 10 million people were murdered in concentration camps. 6 million were Jews. Unfortunately, this is not the last instance of genocide to happen. In your blog:

• Research other examples of genocide in the world.
• Choose one country and state when the genocide happened.
• Finally, why do you believe it is said that, "History repeats itself"?

Title Night

Explain what you believe were Wiesel's reasons for choosing the title Night for the novel. What does the word Night make you think of? How does it make you feel?

Meaning of Nazi Symbol

Just as the Star of David is a sacred symbol of the Jewish people, the Nazi's also had a "Nazi Symbol" known as a Swastika, that. Research the meaning of this symbol. You can use one of the helpful links to assist your research, but feel free to venture off to other websites. Answer the following questions:

What is it's original meaning?

How and why has the meaning of this symbol changed?

What does the Swastika mean today?

Important People of the Holocaust

Below are listed some names of important people during the Holocaust. Your task is to choose one and research them. Post a photo of them and at least three sentences explaining who they were and their significance.

Adolf Eichman

Heinrich Himmler

Rudolf Franz Hoss

Joseph Goebbels

Hernann Goring

Dr. Josef Mengele

Reinhard Heydrich

Nazis

Adolf Hitler

Humanities assignment 3 - Auschwitz Image Post

Dear readers,

As you know, Elie Wiesel and his family were taken to Auschwitz, the concentration camp. Many photographs were taken documenting the atrocities that occurred at this camp.

1.) Follow the link below to the Auschwitz Album.

2. Review the images and captions

3.) Select an image that you found powerful and repost this image- either in gadgets or on a new post.

4.) Write at least 3 complete sentences explaining why you chose this image.

5.) Comment on at least 3 other classmates' postings.

http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/album_auschwitz/page1.asp

Humanities Assignment 2 - No Escape?

Here is your ELA-related assignment for you to do in Tech today.

The prisoners of the Holocaust were not known to revolt against their captors. Even when they became aware of their probable fate, they did not gather together to start a revolution or try to escape.

What do you believe was their reasoning?
Respond on Your Blog, what you think was behind their non-resistance.

Humanities Assignment - Is History worth Studying?

The first assigned humanities post for 8c2 is to respond to the question above - "Is History worth studying?"

In view of the current topic you are studying, - the Holocaust- many atrocities were committed to a select group of the population - The Jews - under the orders of the German Government and its leader, Adolf Hitler.

Families were separated; men women and children were used as subjects for horrifying scientific experiments, sent to concentration camps, and cruelly treated. Many were put to death in gas ovens.

The Jews were not the first population of humans who were inhumanely treated by another culture; there are many injustices that are still taking place today.

There is a saying:

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana (1863 - 1952), The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905

So, - IS HISTORY WORTH STUDYING?