Mater Lakes Academy Middle School
17300 NW 87th Avenue,
Miami, FL 33015
http://www.materlakes.org/
Course Syllabus
Course Title: U.S. History
Term: 1st nine weeks 2013-2014
Reference Number:
Instructor Information
Name: Mr. Moe
E-mail Address: gutierrezmaurice@gmail.com
Telephone: (305) 512-3917
Class Web Site: via http://www.materlakes.org/index.jsp
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The U.S. History course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and
factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S.
History. The course prepares students for intermediate (8th grade level) and advanced skills which
will begin to help students cultivate 11th grade U.S. History EOC aptitudes. Nevertheless, this
course will strive to develop this understanding/knowledge by placing demands upon the student
equivalent to those made by a full-year 8th grade/ introductory 11th grade course. Students should
learn to assess historical materials—their relevance to a given interpretive problem, reliability, and
importance—and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. A
U.S. History course should thus develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions based on an
informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively.
1
SUGGESTED TEXTBOOK:
Notes to student: Suggested for all courses:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(APA) (6th Edition), 2009.
ISBN#: 978-1-4338-0561-5
APA Manual: The APA Manual 6th Edition is a suggested textbook for
all courses. For a sample APA style paper please click here.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Please Note: Instructional time to implement this material/activities described in this syllabus, might vary
according to the ability level of students.
Weeks 1, 2, 3
Key Vocabulary: absolute location, basin, bay, canyon, cape, channel, cliff, continent, cultural
feature, delta, divide, downstream, elevation, Equator, glacier, gulf, harbor, highland, hill, island,
isthmus, lake, latitude, longitude, lowland, map, meridian, mesa, mountain, mountain peak,
mountain range, mouth, ocean, ocean current, parallel, peninsula, physical feature, plain, plateau,
Prime Meridian, relief, river, sea, seacoast, sea level, sound, source, strait, tributary, upstream,
valley, volcano, glacier, Beringia, culture, adobe, pueblo, culture area, igloo, kayak, Hogan, tepee,
travois, kiva, potlatch, long house, sachem
As a result of acquiring the knowledge and skills addressed in this lesson, students will be able to
define key vocabulary terms such as absolute location, basin, bay, there will be Attachment F
which will assist students in diction which will be tested at the end of the lesson. Students should
also be able analyze attachment A and formulate an understanding of North American human
2
geography. Furthermore, students should be able to complete a document-based question and
answer accordingly in regards to what has been assimilated in class.
Additionally, students should be able to complete a research based handout testing there
understanding of the five themes of geography. Students will also demonstrate their acquired
knowledge via a short project, which will have a rubric to facilitate understanding and maximize
grade potential. Finally, students will be able to correctly answer the questions that are part of the
formal assessment included with this lesson as attachment E.
Weeks 4,5,6
Key Vocabulary: Middle Ages, feudalism, manor, Crusades, classical, Renaissance, technology,
magnetic compass, astrolabe, caravel, Mansa Musa, line of demarcation, Queen Isabella,
Christopher Columbus, conquistador, Hernando Cortes, Francisco, Pizarro, Laws of the Indies,
presidio, mission, peninsulare, creoles, mestizo, encomienda, Ferdinand Magellan, strait,
circumnavigate, conquistador, tribute, pueblo, plantation, mercantilism, Columbian Exchange,
Northwest Passage, Henry Hudson, Protestant Reformation, Prince Henry the Navigator, Samuel
de Champlain, Robert de La Salle, John White, Virginia Company, John Smith, John Rolfe.
As a result of acquiring the knowledge and skills addressed in this lesson, students will be able to
define key vocabulary terms such as Middle Ages, feudalism, manor, Crusades, classical,
Renaissance, technology, magnetic compass. Furthermore, studetns will be introduced to the
exploration of the Americas which lead to European Exploration: Middle Ages and Feudalism the
Crusades and Its Effects: Trade with the Middle East, Discoveries and Improvements Renaissance/
Mercantilism: Increase Trade and Travel the Search for New Trade Routes to Asia: which in turn
3
motivated european Rulers to Seek and Improve Wealth (Portuguese, Spanish, French, British).
Examples such as the Portuguese which lead exploration with Prince Henry the Navigator:
Portuguese Explorers; discover African trading states (e.g. Mali); slave trade. Other points which
will be discussed will be the Voyages of Columbus: Spanish Financing of Voyage; Exploration
and Colonization of West Indies. Treaty of Tordesilla of 1493 and 1494: as well as the Portuguese
and Spanish Rivalry. We will end the three weeks with the claiming of the colonies. Other
important topics will be the conquest of the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas by the Spaniards and
Portuguese. Furthermore we will discuss the Spanish Settlement/ Government in the Americas;
Slavery (Native American, African) as a result we will explore the cultural exchange in New
Spain: European and Native American Influences and consequences (e.g. food, crops, plants,
government, technology, medicine, language, disease, slavery) the following bullet points will
also be discussed and assimilated:
 Northwest Passage: England, France and the Netherlands search for route to Asia French
and British Rivalry/Protestant Reformation.
 New France: Explorers, Claims and Settlement
 New Netherland: Explorers, Claims and Settlements
 First English Settlements: Roanoke and Jamestown; Key Individuals: e.g.,
Raleigh, John White, John Smith, Pocahontas, John Rolfe
4
Walter
Weeks 7,8,9
Key Vocabulary: (charter, joint-stock company, burgesses, dissent, persecute, Puritan, Separatist,
Pilgrim, Mayflower Compact, John Winthrop, Great Migration toleration, Roger Williams,
patroon, pacifist, indentured servant, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, constitution, debtor,
tenant farmer, mission, subsistence farming, triangular trade, cash crop, diversity, Tidewater,
backcountry, overseer, mercantilism, export, import, smuggling, charter colony, proprietary
colony, royal colony, Mason – Dixon Line, James Oglethorpe, apprentice, literacy, Iroquois
Confederacy, militia, alliance, speculator)
As a result of acquiring the knowledge and skills addressed in this lesson, students will be able to
define key vocabulary terms such as charter, joint-stock company, burgesses, dissent, persecute,
Puritan, Separatist, Pilgrim, Mayflower Compact, John Winthrop etc... Nevertheless, students will
be covering the following bullet points discussing colonial America specifically the New England
Colonies the following are the topics:

Pilgrims (Separatist) and Puritans Come to America

The Settlement of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire Middle
Colonies

English Take Over New York and New Jersey: Diverse Population

William Penn’s Holy Experiment: Pennsylvania and Delaware

Land of Plenty: Breadbasket Colonies Southern Colonies

Maryland: Haven For Catholics
5

Virginia: Bacon’s Rebellion

The Carolinas

Georgia: Haven for Debtors

Tidewater v. Backcountry

The institution of slavery: Middle Passage

African Cultural Influences Growth and Economic Activity of the Colonies:

New England: Economic Activity; Triangular Trade

Middle Colonies: Economic Activity; Cash Crops, diverse population

Southern Colonies: Economic Activities; Cash Crops, plantation life Governing the
Colonies

England and Mercantilism: Navigation Acts

English Rights: The Glorious Revolution, English Bill of Rights, and self-rule

Colonial Government: Charter, Proprietary, and Royal Colonies; Voting Rights
6
GRADING:
●
●
●
●
●
●
Class Participation in Case Discussions
APA Research Papers
Case Presentations and Moderation
Quizzes
Tests
Homework
10%
15%
15%
25%
25%
10%
100%
GRADE QUALITY POINTS:
[90-100]
[80-90)
[70-79)
=A
=B
=C
[60-69)
Below 59
=D
=F
Course/Departmental Policies

Always raise your hand and wait to be called upon. If you see that I am busy, wait a few
minutes and try again. This is very important if everyone in the class is talking at the
same time, I cannot listen carefully to your question.

Do not get out of your seat without permission.

Keep hands to one self any groping; fondling and or unwarranted touching will result in a
disciplinary action.

All research papers must include a certificate of authorship signed by the student.

Professional quality in the organization, completeness, neatness, and timeliness of any
material submitted is expected.

Late assignments will not be accepted! However, the professor realizes that exceptional
situations (such as justified emergencies or medical situations) do occur. In such cases,
please inform your professor via e-mail to obtain special permission for late submission,
prior to the deadline.
7

A student may not do additional work or repeat an examination to raise a final grade.

Students should be aware that any submitted work for this course may be subjected to
detection of breach of copyright.

Be polite and respectful to everyone. It is fundamental to your ability to learn. Kindness
is one of the best characteristics a person can have. Be kind all the time.

BE ON TIME. If you consistently arrive late to class, you will miss important
information that will affect the learning process of the subject matter. Three unexcused
tardies will result in one lower grade in conduct.

Be prepared. Bring all the required materials to class including the following: pencils
(#2), erasers, highlighters (3 different colors), a pencil sharpener with bin, a binder, lined
paper, and a 6- pack coloring pencils.

Follow directions. You must pay attention in class and follow all directions for each
assignment. This requires you to listen to all instructions carefully. It is important that
you work quietly and talk ONLY when given permission.

Turn in all homework assignments on time. I will lower one letter grade each day the
assignment is late.

Wear proper uniform.

Talking with others, disrupting class and being a class clown will not be tolerated.

Throwing objects in class at others will not be tolerated.

Any electronic devices unless authorized will be confiscated.






Failure to comply with the above rules will result in the following consequences:
Warning
Teacher/ student conference
Parent contact (telephone, letter, etc.)
Team parent/student conference
Referral to counselor
Administrative referral
8
*Acknowledgment*
**Please sign and return the following portion of the Syllabus and keep the previous
pages for your records. **
I have read and completely understand the Syllabus for Mr. Moe’s U.S. History
class. I have reviewed the Syllabus with my parents. I understand what is required of
me. I am going to work hard and I will do my best. I will also participate in class and
turn in all my homework on time.
Student’s Name: ________________________________________________________
Period # _____________________ Date ____________________________________
Student’s Signature _______________________________________________________
Parent’s Signature ______________ Date _____________________________________
9