Thomas Edison High School
2015-2016
U.S. History
Mr. Johnson
Room 303
612-668-1300
kyle.johnson@mpls.k12.mn.us
Course Description
U.S. History is a yearlong course that focuses helping students analyze the past and how it impacts the present
and the future. The study of U.S. History allows students to analyze the past and how it effects the present and
the future. This course is designed to help students understand the birth and development of the United States,
while examining influential people, life-altering events, and inspirational movements. Emphasis will be placed
on selected topics such as Colonial America, the American Revolution, Creation of the Constitution, Origins of
American Politics, Growth and Reform, Manifest Destiny, Western Expansion, and the Civil War. We will also
focus on Reconstruction, Immigration, Industrialization, the Spanish-American War, the Progressive
Movement, World War I, the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, Roosevelt and the New Deal, World War II, Cold
War, Postwar America, the New Frontier, and the beginning of the 21st Century. Students will examine primary
documents, master a significant body of factual information, and write constructed response essays.
Course Overview of Units
Throughout the course of U.S History, you will be covering the following units below:
 Unit 1: Conflicts Amongst Societies and the Global War on Terror
 Unit 2: Pre-Contact to 1800 (American Independence)
 Unit 3: Expansion and Reform (Civil War)
 Unit 4: Industrial Revolution and Immigration
 Unit 5: Great Depression & the World Wars
 Unit 6: Post World War II, the Cold War, and Vietnam
 Unit 7: 10th Grade MYP Projects
Tommie Creed
Team: I will respect myself and others by being open-minded and a good communicator.
Opportunity: I will prepare for college and the career of my choice by being a thinker and becoming
more knowledgeable.
Make a Difference: I will honor myself, my family and my school by being principled.
Make it Right: I will restore my relationships and advocate for myself. I will be caring and try to
understand others by being an inquirer.
Integrity: I will make good decisions. I will stay balanced and be reflective about my choices.
Excellence: I will do my personal best and a positive risk-taker.
MYP Fundamental Concepts
Throughout the year, our curriculum will support the three underlying principles of the I.B. Middle
Years Programme: inquiry, action, and reflection. We will ask questions about math and the world
around us, apply math in our community, and think deeply about what and how we are learning.
MYP Global Contexts
You will be learning U.S. History through six Global Contexts. The Global Contexts give meaning to
what is learned through the exploration of real-world problems. Through inquiry and active learning,
you will use higher-order thinking skills to deepen comprehension and reflection to better understand
yourself as a learner.
Identities and relationships: Explore identity; beliefs and values; personal, and physical, mental, social and
spiritual health. Also, look at human relationships, communities and cultures. Think about what it means to be human.
Orientation in space and time: Explore turning points in humankind from discoveries and explorations to the
relationships between individuals and civilizations. Do this through different perspectives, not just yours, but also others
in Minneapolis, the U.S, and the world.
Personal and cultural expression: Explore the different ways that we discover and express ideas and
feelings on everything from nature to culture. Think about all the different ways that we reflect on and enjoy our human
creativity, and our appreciation of “beauty.”
Scientific and technical innovation: Explore the relationship between people and the natural world and
the impact of scientific/technological advances on communities and environments. Also think about the impact of
environments on human activity; how do we adapt?
Globalization and sustainability: Explore human-made systems and communities; and how our local
experiences at home affect the whole world. Reflect on the positive and negative effects of world “interconnectedness.”
Is it sustainable? Will it last?
Fairness and development: Explore rights and responsibilities, especially the relationship between different
communities around the world. Do we share what we have with other people? With other living things? Can we all
achieve equal opportunities and peace?
Identities and
Relationships
Who am I?
Who are we?
Orientation in
Space and Time
What is the
meaning of
“where” and
“when”?
Personal and
Cultural
Expression
What is the
nature and
purpose of
creative
expression?
Scientific and
Technical
Innovation
How do we
understand the
world in which we
live?
Globalization
and
Sustainability
How is everything
connected?
Fairness and
Development
What are the
consequences
of our
common
humanity?
Resources
Students will need to access MyMPS or Mr. Johnson’s website on Edison’s homepage to look at
assignments, calendars, study guides, and other important information.
What to Bring to Class


Binder with all material (MUST HAVE IT WITH YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY!)
Something to write with
Grading Policy Please refer to the Thomas Edison Student Handbook for our school-wide
assessment policy. Grades will directly reflect achievement of academic standards. 80% of your
grade in this class will be based on your academic achievement on learning targets and MYP
assessment Criteria. 20% will be based on academic practice, such as homework and other
things you do to get ready to show your learning.
Grading Breakdown
80%
Assessments/Learning Targets
Learning targets are based on MN state standards and aligned to MYP assessment criteria. You
will have several opportunities to demonstrate your comprehension of each learning target
throughout the unit. These opportunities will include tests, quizzes, projects, class work, and
additional assessments. Learning targets will be graded using the rubric shown:
Score
MCA Terms
Description
Got it and more!
7-8
EXCEEDS
5-6
MEETS
3-4
PARTIALLY MEETS
1-2
DOES NOT MEET
Excellent, exceptional, extended
Got it!
Consistent, accurate
Kinda got it!
Basic, simple, inconsistent
Don’t get it!
Developing, limited, partial
Didn’t do it!
0
Unacceptable, inaccurate, insufficient evidence
20%
Academic Practice
These activities allow you to become proficient with the learning targets. These activities include
homework, group work, and individual class work. To be successful in this class, completing
homework assignments is a necessity.
Rubric Score
Comparison of Rubric Grading to Grade Scale
Description
Grade Scale
Letter grade
7-8
(87.5%)
Exceeds/Exemplary
91-100 %
A
6
(75%)
Meets
87-90
83-86
AB+
5
(62.5%)
Meets
79-82
75-78
71-74
B
BC+
4
(50%)
Partially meets
67-70
63-66
59-62
C
CD+
3
(37.5%)
2 (25%)
1 (12.5%)
0
Partially meets
55-58
50-54
0-50
D
DF
Attempted/
Does not meet
Not attempted
If you do not complete any of the academic achievement assessments, you will receive
an incomplete (I) for the quarter. You must show evidence of proficiency in order to
get a grade for the course. After mid-quarter of the following quarter, any unresolved
incompletes will become F’s and result in no credit.
Attendance and Tardy Policy: Please refer to the Thomas Edison Student Handbook
Academic Honesty Policy Please refer to the Thomas Edison Student Handbook.
Classroom Conduct Expectations
Behave like a young adult and we won’t have any issues, if not then the proper actions will be taken: one-onone teacher conversations, detentions, deans, phone calls home, etc…