Author: litalive

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Assignments for 09/28/2026

Assignments for September 28th, 2026

Welcome Back

American History

Today, we went over Chapters 1 and 2 as well as the Chapter Reviews. I told them exactly what to study for next week’s quiz on Chapters 1 and 2 and the test two weeks from two weeks from today over Chapters 1-3.

For next week, study for the quiz on Chapters 1 and 2. (10 questions) and read Chapter 3. We will go over the Chapter Review on Chapter 3 so that you will know what to study for the test on Chapters 1-3. (50 questions)

Watch this short video about the servant and inventor.

U.S. Government

Today, we went over Lessons 1 and 2. I also passed out a sheet for students to add to their notebooks on the three branches of government. It has the function of each branch and everything you need to know about these branches.

For next week, study for the quiz on Lessons 1 and 2. Know the three branches of government and their function, the 2 parts of Congress, and the length of time a Senator and a Representative serve as well as the two matching sections of Lessons 1 and 2. Also, do Lessons 3 and 4. You were given the answers to pages 9 and 13.

Don’t forget to ask your parents, “Who is the patriot who did some very important things, but you never hear his name?” (Wrote the Preamble to the Constitution and revised and rewrote the whole Constitution)

Watch the video about the Bill of Rights.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We will finish the pages you read in your study guide and then take the introductory quiz on the French Revolution and your reports, (Great job on the reports!) Also, read Book I in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. (Chapters 1-6) Answer the questions on pages 40 and 41.
(on Chapters 1-6)

Listen to the national anthem (La Marseillaise) and the Revolutionary song (La Carmagnole).

Adventures in American Literature

We went over our homework in our text and talked about the contributions of John Smith and William Bradford. We talked about the Native American Woman chief and finished the personal connections with each state.

For next week, read and answer the questions on pages 15-26 in your text. (Remember, anything that is written down became literature for us.)

Watch these videos by Charles Kuralt as he traveled the country and showed them on TV. He tried to capture the mood of Americans.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2026 – 2027:

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Assignments for 09/21/2026

Assignments for September 21st, 2026

Welcome Back

American History

Today, we filled out forms and answered history questions. (Not for a grade but to see how little they knew and what they were going to learn!) On another page, they told me what they wanted to learn about American history that we could work on this year. Also, we practiced the states and capitals. (Micah and Bethany ran away with that, but we won’t have a test until April or May.)

For next week, read Chapters 1 and 2 in your text. We won’t do this on a regular basis, but we are reading two chapters this week. You don’t need to answer any questions. After we have gone over important material in the chapters, I will go through the Chapter Review and tell you what you need to know for the test.

Watch this short video about the settling of Jamestown.

U.S. Government

We filled out information forms and introduced the class. Then we gave the answers to page 1 and page 5. I will do this every week, although not always in class. We also played a game on our government and a variety of things we will be learning. We will do the same game the next to the last day of class for the first semester. I will be amazed at how much they know, and so will they!

For next week, complete Lessons 1 and 2 in the workbook you were given. (pages 1-8) We will go over each page as well as go over what our first quiz will cover. We will not have the quiz until we go over the material.

Watch these videos about Constitution Day which is coming up this Thursday.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We filled out information forms and introduced the class. For next week, read pages 2-36 in your study guide for information about the French Revolution un your purple study guide. Also, prepare the report you were assigned in class for the benefit of all the students. We will go over what you read, and I will tell you what you should know for the introductory quiz on the revolution.

Watch this video that gives a summary of The French Revolution.

Adventures in American Literature

We went over the structure of the class and played a game of the order of events in American history. Literature does reflect the times of what is going on in history even if it is not written as historical fiction. We did several pages in class together as well as giving the assignment for next week. Complete pages 6-14, answering the questions on page 14. The Native American legends were our first form of American literature. Also complete your personal associations with each state I gave you on pages 3 and 4, whether you used to live in the state, drove through, visited, lived there at one time, or have relatives there. We will finish page 5 next week together.

Watch this short video about a Native American gene passed down orally.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2026 – 2027:

  • None at this time
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Assignments for 05/18/2026

Assignments for May 18th, 2026

Purple flowers

Explorations in British Literature

Today, we went over the study guide for the final exam. We filled in lots of information and went over what they should know and what would be matching on the test. We also went over the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (study guide) and took the quiz on his life.

Next week, we will have a game review and end with our final exam. We will also take a quiz on “The Red-Headed League” before we do the game review for the exam.

American History

Today, we went over the Presidents’ reports of those missing and took the test. We played a U.S. History game to review what we had studied this year. Use your study guide to review for the final exam next week. We will have a competitive game review before the the test.

Watch this video for a review of all the U.S. Presidents.

No-Spin Economics

Today, we reviewed the material and took the test on Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?. (Chapters 1-13)

Next week, we will have our final exam on Penny Candy Chapters 1-13 and Crash Course Economics 1-7 and 9-12. (You have already studied for half of this!) We will have another competitive review before we take the test.

Just study the sheets you were given for both the Penny Candy book and the Crash Course videos.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We took the final test on To Kill a Mockingbird, which we reviewed last week. Then we looked at pictures of different types of fish and things mentioned in The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. We discussed the first half of the book and took the quiz. We also discussed the religious symbolism in this book.

Next week, we will have our final exam. I’m always amazed at all they know! We will have a competitive review before we take the test. We went over what students should study for the exam. First, we will take the final quiz on The Old Man and the Sea.

Debate

The team who won the game debate today was the team arguing for the prosecution of Goldilocks. (The judges agreed that she probably would not have been found guilty!)

You were given a list of facts for next week’s debate. Also, you were given points to argue for your side. Please consider adding these points to your presentation. The person doing the Final Focus should consider adding a personal example to persuade the judges. This debate will be your final exam. Please be sure to do your best and apply all the things you have learned. Next week, you will receive your past debate evaluations.and grades. I will remind you of certain things to remember. Make this your best debate yet! Remember, you are arguing this debate based on Michigan’s laws for property taxes. Discuss things with your team online this week. Practice your debate out loud in front of someone who could evaluate you!! Have fun with it too!

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 05/11/2026

Assignments for May 11th, 2026

Purple flowers

Explorations in British Literature

Today, we played a Jeopardy game review and took the final standardized test on Animal Farm.

Next week, we will go over the Final Exam Study Guide so that you know to study for the exam and what you need to know. We will also take the quiz on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and read and discuss one of his short stories.

Read “The Red-Headed League” online.

We will discuss the story and answers to special questions.

Watch this short biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

American History

Today, we had all of our final Presidents” reports and I gave what they should study for our test next week. This test will be over Presidents #25 (McKinley) through the current President today—#47 (Trump). The test will be all multiple choice with 3 0r 4 questions on each President. (You have already done the first of these tests.) Our final exam will have a review game first and then the final on May 18.

Watch these one-minute videos of the Presidents we covered today.

Ronald Reagan

George H.W. Bush

Bill Clinton

Barack Obama

No-Spin Economics

We reviewed the sheets for the quizzes and then took each of the two quizzes. I will pass them back next week so that they have the printed quiz to study from. We went over Crash Course #12 in detail since they just did it last week. I told them specifically what would be on the quiz.

For next week, study Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and be ready for the test next Monday, May 11. The final exam will be the following week and will cover Penny Candy Chapters 1-13 and Crash Courses 1-7 and 9-12. (You will have already studied for the test on the Penny Candy book.) Just review the sheets given and covered in class. There will be a game review before each test.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We had a Jeopardy game review of the entire book by Harper Lee. (To Kill a Mockingbird) It took so long to do the two rounds in addition to a Final Jeopardy question. I think they understand the book quite well.

For next week, finish the rest of The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. We will discuss the section before we take both of the quizzes. (2 quizzes on this book) We will take questions from the study guide as well. (I have pictures to show you, since I’m not a fisherman myself.) There is a much smaller cast of characters and events than you are used to! We will review for our final exam next week as well.

Watch this summary of The Old Man and the Sea.

Debate

Today, the students filled out forms about their team members and last week’s debate. We also talked about the response of last week’s judges.

Our last debate will be on May 18 and of much interest to homeschool families. We will also have a brief practice game debate on the prosecution of Goldilocks in the fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I will announce the winner of that debate next week on the website. Parents, we would love for you to join us on the 18th. Work with your team online as you prepare for these two debates.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 05/04/2026

Assignments for May 4th, 2026

Purple flowers

Explorations in British Literature

We finished the entire study guide for Animal Farm today together. We went over examples of foreshadowing as well in the book. Next week, we will have a game review (Jeopardy) of the book and the final standardized test. You were given in class a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Read the bio and answer the study guide questions. We will go over it and have a quiz on his life.

Watch this video of the “Beasts of England”.

American History

Today, we reviewed the placement of states. They seemed to know all of them very well, so they took the test.

Next week, read the last chapter in our book, Chapter 30. We will have our last Presidential reports next Monday: Lily has George H. W. Bush, Annie G. has Bill Clinton, Jack has George W. Bush, Natalie has Barack Obama, Cohen has Donald Trump (two terms), and Eli has Joe Biden. (Amelia with McKinley, Soffia with Gerald Ford, and Uriah with Carter) I will also give you everything you need to study for the final Presidents’ test on May 11. Today, you were given a study guide for the final on May 18. You don’t need to know everything you studied before, only the things that are listed on the study guide. Start on that as soon as possible.

No-Spin Economics

We went over the Crash Course sheets for #9, #10, and #11. We also covered the sheet you were given to further explain the Federal Reserve Bank. I tried to emphasize things that would be on the final exam. We then covered the sheets on Penny Candy Chapter 13.

For next week, complete the sheet on Crash Course Economics #12. (the last one we will do) We will go over the entire sheet before we take the quiz. We will take two quizzes next week: Penny Candy Chapter 13 and Crash Course #12 and Crash Course #10 and #11 and the sheet I gave you on the Federal Reserve Bank.

Watch Crash Course Economics #12—The 2008 Financial Crisis.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We finished our study guide today, went over the rest of the study guide about the setting of the book, and then we took Quiz #1 on the additional material on the setting. We have discussed the book in detail and covered the Chronolog as well. (events in chronological order)

Next week, we will have a Jeopardy review of the book (with team competition) and take the final standardized test. Also, begin reading our last book by Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea. Since there are no chapters in the book, (it only covers 4 days), read about halfway through the book until Santiago sees the fish he has caught and knows how long it is.

Watch this brief biography of Ernest Hemingway.

Debate

The team debating that it SHOULD NOT be required to serve (or volunteer) for service in the military for one year between the ages of 18-25 won this debate. We will go over and discuss this debate next week.

The last debate will be on May 18. The teams are as follows:

  • Will, Kate, Belle, Grant, and Zach
  • Noah, Braden, Jonah, Daniel, Avalyn, and Ana
  • Leah

The debate will be as follows: Real estate property owners over the age of 65 SHOULD/SHOULD NOT be exempt from the public school portion of the property tax.

Contact your team this week and research BOTH sides of this issue.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 04/27/2026

Assignments for April 27th, 2026

Field of tulips

Explorations in British Literature

We took the Romanticism author’s quiz today and then went over today’s homework. Then we passed out our Animal Farm study guides and did pages 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10 together in class, You also received a sheet of who was represented by each character. (In Russian Revolution)

For next week, read the entire book, Animal Farm by George Orwell. Bring your questions and be prepared for a quiz.

American History

We had a game review of the capitals and states and then took the test. We reviewed Chapter 27 and also went over the Chapter Review.

For next week, you should read Chapters 28 and 29 and study the placement of states on pages 540-41 for the State Placement Test. I will give you a map of the U.S. and number each state. You will fill in the state name with the corresponding number. We also assigned our last set of Presidents for reports. (extra credit) We have Ronald
Reagan left. Reports are due on Monday, May 4.

No-Spin Economics

We reviewed Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Chapters 7-9 and Crash Course Economics #7 and then took the quiz. We then reviewed Penny Candy Chapters 10-12 and Crash Courses #9 and #10. I also passed out and sheet on the Federal Reserve bank and how and why it was formed.

For next week, read Penny Candy Chapter 13 and watch Crash Course Economics #11.

Crash Course Economics #11 — Money and Finance

How Much Is a Trillion

U.S. Debt Clock

Watch on YouTube

Quick Looks at Great Books

We finished answering the questions from the last assignment and answered the questions from Chapter 15. We then took questions on today’s reading and took Quiz #3. We talked about the ending of the book and answered through question 50. We will finish the rest next week.

For next week, review the entire book for a review game and read the following pages in your study guide: 2, and 17-26. We will take Quiz #1 on the Great Depression.
(the setting of this book)

Watch this scene from what you read at the end of the book.

Watch these ending scenes of the book.

Debate

Belle and Zach both got the same number of votes, so I guess they both won the game today in class!! if you need to contact your team this week, please do so. We will have the debate next week from 2:55-3:55. Your goal is to be persuasive to all the judges. Please be on time for class next week, as we will divide the teams and give the subject for the last debate on May 18. Be sure to time your presentation and be ready for the Grand Crossfire! Persuade the judges to vote your way even if that’s not the side they might choose after hearing the topic.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 04/20/2026

Assignments for April 20th, 2026

Field of tulips

Explorations in British Literature

We listened to “The Selfish Giant”, a short story for his children by Oscar Wilde. We also reviewed the Romantic works and authors for our quiz next week. We went over the homework pages by Kipling, H.G. Wells, and T.S. Eliot.

For next week, turn in your limerick, study for the Romantic quiz, answer the four questions about Eliot’s “Hollow Men”, and record your response to George Orwell’s essay “Shooting an Elephant”. (Remember to secure a copy of Animal Farm by Gorge Orwell by next week.)

Watch this biography of George Orwell.

American History

We took our quiz on Chapter 2 on World War II, and then we had our Presidents’ reports and reviewed our States and Capitals for the upcoming test.

For next week, study for the states and capitals test. (page 539 in your text) We will do a game review before the test. Also, read Chapter 27 in your text.

Watch the one minute videos of the Presidents we studied today.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Harry S. Truman

Dwight D. Eisenhower

John F. Kennedy

Lyndon B. Johnson

Richard M. Nixon

No-Spin Economics

We had a game review of Crash Course Economics 1-6 and tiger took the test.

For next week, study for the quiz on Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Chapters 7-9 and Crash Course Economics #7. Also, watch Crash Course Economics #9 and #10.

Crash Course Economics #9 — Deficits and Debt

Crash Course Economics #10 — Monetary Policy

Quick Looks at Great Books

We discussed the questions for Chapter 1, reviewed the characters, and other main points in the book. Then we took questions and took the quiz.

For next week, finish To Kill a Mockingbird and review the questions for Chapters 15-31. Make sure you know all the answers and have no questions. We will then review the whole book.

Watch the following movie clips when Harper Lee picked the cast for this classic move.

Watch To Kill a Mockingbird Miss Dubose scene on YouTube.

Debate

Winner of today’s debate—All U.S. states should NOT be required to accept Michigan’s bottle/can deposit system to encourage recycling and reduce trash and litter.

Two teams for April 27 debate

  • Negative: Will, Braden, Kate, Belle, Grant, Zach
  • Positive: Jonah, Ana Leah, Avalyn, Noah, Daniel

Every U.S. person between the ages of 18-25 SHOULD/SHOULD NOT be required serve one year in the armed forces of the U.S. or a government approved service or charity organization.

Please set up a Google Chat or some way to make contact with your team and decide who will do each speaking part and do research. All of you should do research.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 04/13/2026

Assignments for April 13, 2026

Field of tulips

Explorations in British Literature

We watched the last parts of Oliver Twist and saw how ingeniously Dickens revealed the fate of all the characters we were familiar with. We also saw Simon Callow portray Charles Dickens as he read his books to audiences, using a different voice for every character. Dickens the actor shone through. We then went over what the students had done before Spring Break—Pardon My Pun on page 148 in your notebooks. We talked about the works of Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, and W.S. Gilbert. We went through pages 140 and 150 and learned the meaning of jaberwocky and the portmanteau. We learned about Edward Lear’s limericks and how they are constructed.

For next week, read about Oscar Wilde on page 149, Kipling on pages 153-55. Answer the questions on page 155. Read ET.”s Ancestors? on pages 157-59 and answer the final questions about this portrayal of The War if the Worlds by H.G. Wells. Also, read The Naming of Cats by T.S, Eliot which led to the famous production on stage.

If you dod not watch the Muppet’s version of Jaberwocky on the website, watch it now.

Watch this excerpt of The Pirates of Penance by Gilbert.

American History

We reviewed Chapter 25 and the Chapter Review. We discussed the issues of World War II and prepared for next week’s quiz. Then we reviewed for the test on states and capitals on April 20.

Next week, we will take our quiz on Chapter 25—World War II. Then we will do our reports on the Presidents that were assigned before Spring Break. (Jack, Natalie, Cohen, Annie G., Claire, Annie B., Soffia, and Urijah have reports.) Also, read Chapter 26 in your textbook.

Watch the video of the assassination of JFK.

No-Spin Economics

We passed back and reviewed the graded last quiz we took on Crash Course Economics #3 and #5. We also reviewed CC #6 and had a game review on all six Crash Course Economics videos. We will have a review next week and then take our test.

Also, for next week, read Chapters 10-12 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and watch the video of Crash Course Economics #7 and complete the sheet you were given in class.

Inflation and Bubbles and Tulips

Quick Looks at Great Books

Today, we went over our Literary Terms book, covering Lessons 1-22. We have already done some 0f the lessons after 22 and will finish all of them before the final exam.

In our new book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, bread Chapters 1-14 and answer questions 1-34 in your new study guide. If you have any questions at all, bring them to class before we take the quiz.

Debate

Winner of today’s game—the Super Power of the Serum. Remember, that in the Crossfire, one person must talk at a time with no interruptions at all!

Next week, we will have our first debate with a full audience. The students will be debating on whether or not states should be required to adopt Michigan’s bottle deposit system to encourage recycling and reduce trash. You should be as persuasive as possible and talk directly to your audience. The debate will run from 2:55-3:55 for all parents and judges. We will be set up and ready for you then! Please get with your team this week to make final arrangements and changes.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 04/06/2026

Assignments for April 6, 2026

Happy spring break!

We won’t meet next week since that is our Spring Break. I will see you all back on Monday, April 6. British Literature students should not forget to bring your British Literature notebooks to class. For American History, you have no homework, but remember, you have a quiz on Chapter 25—World War II on April 13, which we will go over on the Monday we come back. In Economics, we will have a game review and test on April 13 on Crash Course Economics 1-6.

For Quick Looks at Great Books, secure a copy of our next book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and bring your Literary Terms notebook to class with you. Lastly, we will have time to prepare for your next debate on April 13 in Debate class. Grant won the game we played today for being the most entertaining and quickest thinker on his feet!!

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

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Assignments for 03/23/2026

Assignments for March 23rd, 2026

St. Patrick's Day shamrocks

Explorations in British Literature

We watched more of our BBC DVD today and saw the Bumbles 3 months into their marriage. Not a pretty sight at all!! Who is Fagin newest employee? We’ll watch more next week or when we come back from Spring Break. We’ll also watch as Simon Callow portrays Dickens as he is on the road with excerpts from his books. We’ll watch Nancy’s murder and what follows. Hopefully, you’ll see a side of Dickens you haven’t yet seen!

Next week, we’ll play a game of Jeopardy to review Oliver Twist along with a Final Jeopardy question. Review the book and listen to all the questions. It will be a great review of characters and events. Also, read and complete pages 148-150 (Pardon My Pun) In your British Literature notebook on Lewis Carroll and a portion of “Jabberwocky,” a poem. We’ll begin right after Spring Break with the nonsense writing of the 1800s, so be sure to bring your British Literature notebook to class then.

Watch this brief reading of “Jabberwocky.”

American History

We listened to and talked about the lives of our next set of Presidents. Next week, we will assign the next eight for extra credit this semester. They will be due on April 20. We will also start reviewing for our States and Capitals test when we return from Spring Break.

Next week, we will have a game review and our final test on Chapters 21-24. We reviewed each of the Chapter Reviews today.

Watch this brief video about the Great Depression.

No-Spin Economics

We took our Coins and Currency Quiz today. There were two matching sections. and the rest was True/False. Then we reviewed for next week’s quiz on Crash Course Economics #3 and #5. We reviewed also for the Crash Course Economics Test on April 13 on Crash Courses 1-6. Next week, we will have our quiz on CC #3 and #5.

Also, read Chapters 7-9 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? I will give you handouts next week.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We made up quizzes and took all that we have. Then we reviewed all of the book with a competitive game. We will have one more review Jeopardy game next week before we take the final test. We will finish all of the questions in your study guide. When we return from Spring Break on April 6, we will begin our next book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Be sure to secure a copy by April 6. Also, complete more terms in your notebook—Denotation and Connotation (pages 1-3), Hyperbole (pages 4-5), Idiom (pages 6-7), Imagery (pages 8-9), Oxymoron and Paradox (pages 13-15), and Assonance and Consonance (pages 25-27). Bring your notebook of Literary Terms to class on April 6.

Debate

Winner of the debate—Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of JFK. We’ll go over comments and suggestions next week. We will also divide into two new teams and have time to start working on our next debate. We will invite all of the parents to the next three debates. No problem if they can’t make it. We’ll play a game before we start work on our next debate.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026: