Extra Credit Opportunities over Spring Break

1. Conduct an interview (make-believe, of course) with any of the members of the Big Four---Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, Charles Crocker, and Collis P. Huntington. Your interview should have at least 15 questions and you can discuss biographical information and their impact on the history of California. In other words, how and what did this person contribute to the history of California?

2. Visit Stanford University in Palo Alto. Write a one-page paper about your experience and include what you saw, your thoughts, what you liked most, questions you might have. Notable places on campus to see are the Rodin Sculpture Garden, Hoover Tower, and the Stanford Memorial Church. Actually, all three of these listed landmarks are a must-see if you visit Stanford!

3. Visit the Harris-Lass Historic Museum, located at 1889 Market Street in Santa Clara. Write a one-page paper about what you saw, what you learned, what you thought was most interesting.

4. Visit the Campbell Historical Museum, located at 51 North Central Avenue in Campbell. Write a one-page paper about what you saw, what you learned, and what you thought was most interesting.

5. Visit the Forbes Mill History Museum, located at 75 Church Street in Los Gatos. Your one-page paper should be formatted as above.

6. Visit the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, located at 21350 Almaden Road in San Jose. Your one-page paper should be formatted as above.

7. Visit Mexican Heritage Plaza, located at 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose. Your one-page paper should be formatted as above.

8. Visit the Peralto Adobe and Fallon House, located at 175 West St. John St. in San Jose. Your one-page paper should be formatted as above.

9. Choose a subject about the history of San Jose and research that subject. Some options include history of sports in San Jose, history of education (schools and colleges) of San Jose, history of employment in San Jose (what did people do here for work long ago), history of recreation in San Jose (what people did in San Jose for fun long ago), or any other topic you feel is noteworthy or interesting. (absolutely no cutting and pasting---must be re-written in your own words!)

10. Write a research paper about San Quentin Prison, Folsom Prison, or Soledad Prison. Include when the prison was built, it's location, it's first prisoners, history and noteworthy/interesting information through the years. (absolutely no cutting and pasting, must be re-written in your own words!)

11. Purchase a California Road Map (about $3) and take a road trip from one end of the state to the other. Trace on the map with a hilighter the route you drove on. Then, write a paper that details your trip. You cannot drive on highway 5 or highway 101. Your paper should include the highways you drove on, the mileage you traveled, cities you stopped in, points of interest you stopped and visited (Disneyland, Yosemite, etc...). You can make this fun and entertaining----take along friends and family members! Drive your favorite car! Tell the reader all about your trip through California!

Have fun and enjoy your spring break!!!

California Government-Extra Credit

Recently we have studied the 8 elected positions of the Executive Branch of California's Government. The positions are as follows:

1. Governor
2. Lt. Governor
3. Secretary of State
4. Treasurer
5. Controller
6. Attorney General
7. Insurance Commisioner
8. Superintendant of Public Instruction

For extra credit, I would like you to research and write the names of the people who currently hold these positions in California's government.

For additional extra credit, research the names of the California State Senators and California Assemblymen who represent the San Jose area.

This extra credit is due no later than Monday, March 21...

Quiz set for Friday, March 18

Quiz on Friday, March 18...students need to be familiar with the following:

1. Notes taken during the powerpoint presentation on California's Executive Branch of Government (8 elected officials)

2. Four questions answered from the textbook about California Legislature.

Homework for Tuesday, March 15

Tonight's homework:

Take your notes from today's presentation-----"The Executive Branch of California's Government".....

and create a flowchart that includes all 8 elective positions that we covered during today's presentation...

Due Wednesday!

Homework for Monday, March 14

Students are to answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think it is important to have a California State Constitution?


2. How might our lives be different if there were no California State Constitution?


Think about these questions for several minutes before you begin writing...remember, these are your own opinions...

Due Tuesday, March 15

California History Test set for Friday, March 11

What is to be covered:

1. Study your map of California. Be familiar with what you have labeled (cities, bodies of water, rivers, mountains, valleys, etc...)

2. Early European explorers notes-Cabrillo, Drake, Vizcaino, Serra, etc...what was their contribution?

3. Counties-What is a county, how many does California have, and name 5 counties in California

4. Presidios notes-What was their purpose, identify some of the Presidio towns

5. Spanish Period notes-Pueblos(What were they, where were they located)-Who were Californios?

6.CA becomes populated notes-How did Mexico get peope to move to California?

7.Tensions with Mexico-Beat Flag Revolt and the Mexican-American War notes from Powerpoint

8. Gold Rush questions, worksheet, and notes from Powerpoint---How did the Gold Rush affect California's population, how did people get to California, effects of the Gold Rush, and important people from the Gold Rush era

9. California becomes a state---Questions about statehood!

Please bring pencils or pens to class on Friday!

Students may use one 8 1/2x11 inch paper, one side only, with notes to use on the test. Your information may be typed.

Review your notes, be familiar with the material, know your map items!

See me if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Homework for Monday, March 7

Students are to answer the following question:

The Gold Rush had lasting effects on California. In other words, it changed California permanently.

How?

There are no right or wrong answers here, just the opinions of the students. We will review the homework question in class.

Due Tuesday, March *

Homework for Tuesday, March 1

Students are to answer this question:

Traveling to California, whether is was from Mexico or from the Midwest of the United States:

Were the risks worth it?

Answer yes or no, and then explain your answer. Give solid reasons!

Due tomorrow!