Jessica Kenney - BDCHS Office of Student Services

Advanced Placement US History
Summer Assignment 2015
Instructor: J. Kenney
Email: JKenney@bdchs.org
Class Website: MSKenneyAPUSH.weebly.com
Welcome to APUSH!!! Prior to the start of the school you will need to prepare yourself for the rigor of a college level
course. In order to assist you in strengthening these advanced reading, writing, and time management skills, you will be
required to complete the following assignments before the first day of school. These assignments will be due the first
day of school (unless otherwise noted) and will account for your first project grade for Quarter 1.
Items to be purchased:
1. Purchase and organize a 1 ½ inch 3 ring binder, 5 pack of dividers, and a pack of college notebook paper.
The binder should be organized as follows for the first day of school:
Title: APUSH Binder (name)
Tab 3: Reading Notes
Tab 1: EQ’s
Tab 4: Vocab
Tab 2: DOCS
Tab 5: Return Work
2. (1) Three subject 8 ½ x 11 notebook (Title: APUSH Class NB)
3. KAPLAN AP U.S. History 2015 Study Guide (must be this book and year!)
 Available at Barnes and Noble for $20.00. Order early!!
Assignments/Directions:
1. Introductory blogpost and website/study guide scavenger hunt- DUE AUGUST 1ST
2. Read chapters 1 and 2 of the American Pageant (available in PDF form on our website). Take outline notes and
place in your reading tab.
3. Complete the following assignments located on our website:
 Native American Settlements
 Read Las Casas Journal Entry and answer the questions at the bottom of the document.
 Read Christopher Columbus Journal Entry and answer the questions at the bottom of the document.
 European Colonization
 Columbian Exchange
 Historical Argument- Native Cultures
4. Read and annotate Part I “Basics” of the KAPLAN Study Guide. This information will give you all the background
information you need to have pertaining to the AP US History Exam as well as study tips. *Questions from this
section will be asked on the scavenger hunt.
5. Read and annotate Unit 1 of the KAPLAN Study Guide (pgs. 75-84)
6. Complete Unit 1 Review.
7. Print and bring the following documents to class the first day: Las Casas Journal Entry and Christopher Columbus
journal entry.
During the first week of school we will briefly review the summer assignments. We can discuss any questions that you
may have about these chapters and Essential Questions, but I will not be teaching them. On these days we will also
discuss the format of the AP Exam and the requirements for writing historical essays. You will take the Diagnostic Exam
as well as provide a writing sample. Unit of instruction will start with the establishment of our 13 colonies.
If you have any questions over the summer, please do not hesitate to email!
Have a great summer and see you in August!!
Jessica Kenney
*Website will be updated for the 2015-2016 school year at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.