The 1960s and early 1970s was a period in American history characterized by hope and vigor; frustration and disillusionment. During this time social and political changes at home and overseas made some Americans alter their values and beliefs. Traditional solutions to issues were no longer satisfactory. Abroad, America was faced with Communist expansion and threats to world peace. The domestic scene within America was even more chaotic with the growing calls for more action on social welfare and civil rights. As the 1960s progressed the country's economy began to weaken and the ongoing Vietnam War continued with no end in sight. In response, many young Americans who felt out of touch with the nation's political leadership demanded a greater say in the direction the nation was taking, while others tried to distance themselves from the government and "dropped out" of society. However, America survived a period in its history which included an unpopular war, government scandal which caused the resignation of the president in 1974 and great social changes within society, which resulted in its citizens becoming more aware of their duties and renewed confidence in the nation's democratic system.
The focus of our activities in this unit will be a look at the Kennedy Administration (including the Kennedy family, the election campaign, his policies while in office, and his death), Civil Rights (including the highlights of the movement under Kennedy and Johnson), the Johnson Administration (including the Great Society), the Vietnam War (including a look at how America got involved, how it helped shape the nation, and why America lost), the Social Revolution (the ideals of equality and democracy and how it affected the nations youth), the Nixon Administration (including Détente, Vietnamization of the War, economic difficulties, and Watergate), the Women's Movement for Equal Rights (ERA ratification struggle and a review of the role of women in American history).

Date	In Class Activity	Homework	Due Next Class (or soon)
Wed 5/9	Community Service(last one due to star testing) MLK Jr. Cont. PPT: Civil Rights and song College Selection MLK JR and Freedom Summer/March on Washington	Continue Reading Civil Rights Packet	Thursday NIGHT IS PACK CHECK. ALL STUDENTS PLANNING TO ATTEND CAMPING TRIP MUST HAVE THEIR PACKS CERTIFIED. BRING PACKS WITH ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT AND FOOD TO THE LIFE CLASSROOM BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:30. YOU WILL LEAVE THEM OVERNIGHT AND PICK THEM UP FOR THE BUS RIDE TOMORROW AFTERNOON PRIOR TO BOARDING THE BUS.
Fri 5/11	Civil Rights through 1968 (Song: That's Just the Way it Is and Video:Racial testing two guys in St. Louis)	Continue Reading Civil Rights Packet (due next Friday) For those going backpacking, meet in the LIFE room at 3:55 p.m.. The bus leaves at 4:15. We will return to Saratoga at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday	You should be reading the green booklet pages 1-30 before next Friday. If you haven't done this yet, make-up Backpacking trip instructions can be found here.
Mon 5/14	Pick up Things They Carried: Begin Discussion	Honors students: Come to tutorial NEXT Friday (MAY 25) for final assignment information	If you haven't done this yet, make-up Backpacking trip instructions can be found here. Bring Things They Carried to Star Testing: Read chapters 2-4 Civil Rights Packets due Friday.
Wed 5/16	S*T*A*R Testing		Bring Things They Carried to Star Testing Read chapters entitled "Love," "Spin", and "On the Rainy River" (2-4)
Fri 5/18	Continue 1960s: Kennedy/LBJ/ Lecture/PPT: Vietnam Background Things Discussion	Prepare for next Friday's Trial of Calley	Read, highlight, and write a one page introduction for your segment of Monday's Vietnam debate. Read Newsweek article ”The Vietnam Question” Interactively Highlight (Due Wed.) from the following link. After Reading please view this video by the Evan Thomas on the right side of the page. US History USKT on June 5th Read and do pages 10-16 of blue packet and be prepared to choose a role in the trial. Finish 2nd Green Civil Rights Packet for Monday Read Chapters 5-7 ("Enemies", "Friends" and "How to tell a "True War Story") Don't forget to bring to class on Monday your 1 gallon zip-lock bag with items you would take with you if you had to leave for a year...
Monday 5/21	Split Classes Discuss My Lai Trial Hot Seat Debate: Where to go in Vietnam? English: Discussion on Chapters 5-7 (Bring Blue Packet to class)	Continue Reading Yellow Packet Prepare for Tuesday's Trial of Calley Work on Writing Types for your Things They Carried collection. You should have done by now: Vignettes, Letter; Work on "How to tell a True.... Story" Writing collections will be due with a decorated cover reflective of the novel on Wednesday, May 30. Honors students: Come to tutorial this Friday (MAY 25) for final assignment information	Read chapters 8-9 "The Dentist" and "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" in Things Read Blue Booklet pages 1-9, Which was your favorite quote? Make sure ot do the Map...use the internet your map guide. As you read start prepping and download Calley Trial Procedures
Wednesday 5/23	Film: Platoon PPT: Vietnam post debate	Continue Reading Blue Packet (should be finished with Vietnam material by Monday	Read Ch 10-15 from "Stockings" through and including ""Notes" Prepare for Friday's Trial of Calley: Full Dress is 30% of your grade
Friday 5/25	Classes split: Both Trials first period Trial of Lt. Calley Finish Lt. Calley Trial Video Discuss Parallels between Vietnam and Iraq	For Extra Credit you can watch the film Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam (see the top of the page for style format) Continue Reading the blue booklet (pages 20-22)	Finished the novel The Things They Carried by this Friday
Monday 5/29	Memorial Day (Enjoy your day off)		Things Writing Packets due Wednesday Include: Illustrated/Designed cover, 3 paragraph vignettes (9th-11th grade fictionalized incidents), Letter to someone you haven't seen in a ling time catching them up on your life, How To story (see instructions in writing packet), 4 short poems, war song lyrics that you've composed, study guide questions for the novel.
Wednesday 5/30	Finish Platoon Listen to Tim O Brien lecture Start: Berkeley in the 60s		You should be finished with Things Vocabulary Lessons 25-30 will be on the final. Do the excercises for Lessons 25-27 this week and Lessons 28-30 next week Read Blue packet; highlight 30-33, 41-49; Trial write-ups due Friday
Friday 6/1	Finish Berkeley in the 60s Begin Nixon and Watergate	Make sure you are studying for Wednesday's USKT	Make sure you are studying for Wednesday's USKT
Monday 6/4	Finish Watergate Begin Lecture Carter/Reagan...		Link for Final Review study guide. Read excerpt from Bonfire of the Vanities in your booklet.
Wednesday 6/6	*****USKT****** Presidential/Influential Speeches (Honors students present Our Century: 1980s		Start looking at the Finals Studyguide- in progress Portfolio: Write your self-evaluation essay ( 2 page reflection on your efforts this semester and a justification for the grade you feel you deserve.). Include this essay and two other pieces of writing from this year (you may need to go to Turnitin.com to find some of your writing). Bring Portfolio to class by Friday.
Friday 6/8	WHERE ARE WE NOW? WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? WHO WILL TELL THE STORIES? WHAT WILL THE STORIES BE? Nixon Film		Finals prep: English will be multiple choice Vocabulary Lessons 16-30 (50 questions), multiple choice The Things They Carried exam, and an essay based on one of the seven prompts given to you in class.