7th Grade American History Ms. Julia Fahey jfahey@lejardinacademy.com

Textbook: The American Journey (published by Glencoe McGraw-Hill)

Textbook 
World Explorer: Medieval Times to Today (published by Prentice Hall)

Students explore the people who lived in medieval times-the years between ancient and modern times-who made many contributions to world history.  Advances in science, technology, and the arts helped shape our modern world.  Seventh graders look at a number of medieval civilizations including those in the Middle East, Africa, America, Asia, and Europe.  The class is structured around the themes listed below.

Geography
How did physical geography affect the development of societies around the world?

History
How have societies around the world been shaped by their history?

Culture
What were the belief systems and patterns of daily life in those societies?

Government
What types of government were formed in those societies?

Economics
How did each society organize its economic activities?

Grading Policy
Tests and Projects                                       40%
Homework and Class Work                         35%
Quizzes                                                       15%
Responsibility                                              10%

Seventh Graders Reenact the Trial of Simeon Bushnell

Did Simeon Bushnell violate the Fugitive Slave Law when he helped a former slave escape his captors?  Did it matter that the Fugitive Slave Law was unjust?  Simeon Bushnell was just the get-away driver, right?  These are all questions that seventh grade students pondered as they reenacted the trial of Simeon Bushnell.  The roles were played by students: attorneys, witnesses, jurors, court clerks, a bailiff, a defendant, a judge, even a court artist!  Seventh graders put on an authentic case as all students were prepared with their parts in hand.  Costumes and props were effective, and so was the fact that the case was performed in an actual courtroom in downtown Honolulu!  Ultimately, our jurors followed history and found Simeon Bushnell guilty of breaking the Fugitive Slave Law.  These astute student jurors recognized that they were merely responsible for determining whether the defendant was guilty or not guilty.  The job of interpreting the fairness of the Fugitive Slave Law was up to the Supreme Court.

Seventh graders are honored to pose in a Honolulu court room with their host, Supreme Court Justice Duffy.