Welcome parents and students to Mr. Soud's U.S. History Website.  There is nothing of greater value than for American students to understand the dynamic forces and individuals that help shape this great country of ours.  It is important that we examine how and why we have arrived at this point in our history, and it better equips us for the tough decisions necessary to ensure our continued development as a democratic society.   

This year we will have the opportunity to communicate through this web system.  You will be able to access all assignments for my class as well as your grades.  Hopefully this system will keep you and your parents aware of your academic status in my class, also keeping you up-to-date on all assignments that you may miss, and help you plan adequately for long term projects such as History Fair.  You and your parent will be able to communicate with me regarding any problems you may encounter in my class, and this should ensure your passing with good grades.  My email address is soudr@duvalschools.org and my phone number is 538-0825 ext. 156.  Please feel free to contact me.  Thanks--Mr. Soud


Now that we are starting our third week of classes, we have thus far covered the physical geography of the United States having completed our physical map with all landform and waterform features.  We have also completed our primary study of the two theories on how these North and South American Continents became inhabited by early man.  We also read and studied the relationship between these early cultures and their geographic environments.  We have studied the Mesoamerican cultures of the Olmec, Maya, Hohokum, Anasazi, as well as the Hopewell, Adena and the Mississippian civiizations.  We have learned the difference between a culture and a civilization.  This past week we have started to look closely at the diverse Eight Native American Culture Regions of North America and their peoples, how they have adapted to their environments and how adaptations to their diverse geographies have made them very diverse cultures.  This week of September 7th, we will be completing projects that allow us to better understand those adaptations and how they have influenced the great Native American diversity we find in North America. 

This project is extremely improtant and I hope you will encourage your child to do the most complete and professional job possible on this project.  It is due at the end of this week Friday, September 11,2009.  For further project details you can look under the homework link of this website.  It is important for you to be of some assistance and support to your student in this endeavor.  The week of September 14th, we will begin to see how the world of European Exploration affected these Native American Cultures and how European competions for land, wealth and luxury goods affected the rest of the world.   If you have questions please e-mail at the above address.  Hope to hear from all of you soon--Ron Soud