Location: Rocklin
Day & Time: Tuesday 1:45-2:55
Grade: 7th-12th
Mentor: Frizzle Frizzle
Email: inspiredbyamg@gmail.com
 
History: Medal of Honor
 
Medal of Honor is a rigorous integrated History and English Language Arts course that examines one of the most transformative periods in American and world history, from the end of Reconstruction through World War II. Students will study how industrialization, immigration, reform movements, economic upheaval, technological innovation, global conflict, and ideological struggles shaped the modern world and redefined the meaning of citizenship, leadership, courage, sacrifice, and liberty.
 
This course emphasizes both historical understanding and advanced literacy skills aligned with California History–Social Science and English Language Arts standards. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources, engage in historical inquiry, evaluate arguments, participate in academic discussions, and produce analytical and reflective writing. Through the study of speeches, biographies, literature, historical documents, and accounts of Medal of Honor recipients, students will examine how ordinary individuals respond to extraordinary moments in history.
 
The course challenges students to think critically about moral and philosophical questions that continue to shape society:  What makes a true hero? What responsibilities accompany freedom and power? How do individuals resist tyranny and injustice? What principles are worth defending or sacrificing for? Students will complete weekly writing assignments designed to strengthen reasoning, reflection, and communication skills while encouraging deeper consideration of character, responsibility, and ethical decision-making.
 
Students will complete three formal response-to-literature essays during the year, as well as a historical analysis essay. These assignments will emphasize argumentative writing, textual evidence, historical reasoning, organization, revision, and academic communication appropriate for secondary-level college- and career-readiness.
 
Topics include:
Industrialization and innovation
Immigration and American identity
Urbanization and social change
Labor movements, wealth, poverty, and reform
Imperialism and America’s expanding global role
World War I and the changing modern world
Cultural transformation of the 1920s
The Great Depression
Totalitarianism and the rise of fascism
World War II and the global fight against tyranny
Courage, sacrifice, leadership, and moral responsibility
 
By the end of the course, students will better understand how historical events shape nations, cultures, and individual lives. Students will also strengthen the reading, writing, speaking, research, and analytical skills necessary for success in future educational coursework and informed civic participation.
 
Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Analyze historical events using primary and secondary sources
Evaluate historical arguments and differing perspectives
Participate effectively in collaborative discussions and academic debates
Write argumentative, analytical, reflective, and response-to-literature essays using textual evidence
Complete three formal response-to-literature essays and one major historical analysis essay
Strengthen grammar, organization, citation, revision, and academic writing skills
Develop critical thinking and historical reasoning skills 
Examine the relationship between individual character and historical change
Identify causes and effects of major political, economic, military, and social developments from the Gilded Age through World War II
Interpret literature, speeches, historical documents, and biographies within a historical context
Build research, presentation, and public speaking skills
Reflect on themes of courage, sacrifice, leadership, liberty, justice, and moral responsibility
 
Class Activities:
Students will participate in a variety of academic and interactive learning experiences throughout the year. Instruction will include historical simulations, debates, document-based inquiry, collaborative projects, presentations, research activities, multimedia analysis, and guided discussions. Students will examine speeches, political cartoons, propaganda, letters, photographs, maps, literary excerpts, and historical documents to strengthen analytical and interpretive skills. Weekly writing assignments are used to develop fluency in reflection, argumentation, and evidence-based communication. Students will also engage in close reading activities, independent and group research, and formal presentations on major historical themes and figures.
 
Materials:
Students are expected to bring a notebook or binder dedicated to the course, lined paper, writing utensils, and any assigned reading materials to each class.
Students should have regular access to a laptop or other internet-capable device for research, document analysis, presentations, and classroom activities.
Highlighters, colored pencils, sticky notes, and index cards are strongly recommended for annotation, organization, and document analysis.  
 
Additional course readings and instructional materials will be provided by the Frizzle.
 
“What is memorized is easily forgotten, what is understood is never forgotten.”  ~Dr. Adler
 
We also recommend enrolling in Simulations: History in Action, an immersive companion course that allows students to experience history firsthand through large-scale simulations, role-playing, debates, strategy games, diplomacy, and interactive historical challenges. Students step into the roles of leaders, citizens, explorers, inventors, and revolutionaries as they navigate the major events and civilizations that shaped the world.

All classes are full-year classes. Students enrolled in a Fall Semester class will automatically enroll for the Spring Semester in December to ensure their place in the class. Pricing is per semester.