Social Voice Student Page

Case #1

2010-01-05T03:25:00.000-08:00

You're a single mother of two children. It's the holiday season and you have less than $200 left over after bills, food and other necessities. Your family is really into gift-giving, meaning you need to buy gifts for about 22 different people. Plus, need to worry about gifts for your own children. It is also the month where you are moving into a new apartment and you know that a moving van is expensive.

1. What do you choose to spend your money on?
2. How can you be creative to save money?
3. Why would this be the type of month where someone would get themselves into debt?

Case #2

2010-01-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

You look at your checking account and you have only $120. You have to go to the grocery store, because your family is seriously out of food. You know that you get paid in two weeks and that your car is low on gas. (That will cost you close to $30 to fill it up) All the bills are paid, but money is tight.

1. What do you choose to spend your money on?

2. How can you be creative to save money?

3. Why would this be the type of month where someone would get themselves into debt?

Case #3

2010-01-05T03:15:00.000-08:00

You are single and therefore you don't have to pay to support other people. You just bought a three bedroom house really cheap. The market was right and so now your payments go from a $700 one-bedroom apartment to a mortgage payment of $600 a month. The only problem is this: you don't have a refrigerator, washer or dryer. Each of those will run close to a thousand dollars.

1. What do you choose to spend your money on?

2. How can you be creative to save money?

3. Why would this be the type of month where someone would get themselves into debt?

Case #4

2010-01-05T03:13:00.000-08:00

It is a tradition in your family to go to the State Fair every October. However, you just lost your job and you know that money will be tight this year. You are a parent of four children who are all expecting to go this year.

1. What do you choose to spend your money on?

2. How can you be creative to save money?

3. Why would this be the type of month where someone would get themselves into debt?

Case #5

2010-01-05T03:11:00.000-08:00

You are married with three children. Your oldest one has a soccer tournament that will cost $130. Your middle one has a birthday and wants to have a party. It is also your ten year anniversary. Not only that, but your grandfather in another state is dying and the family wants you to visit him. On this month, your car broke down and if you take it to the mechanic, it will probably cost $400. After bills, you have only $400 left over.

1. What do you choose to spend your money on?
2. How can you be creative to save money?
3. Why would this be the type of month where someone would get themselves into debt?

October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T07:32:00.001-07:00

Individual
Bell Work
Google Document or Word Document
This I Believe #2
In a paragraph, describe something you believe in deeply. Describe why the belief is important to you and where you learned it. (It must be different from your last “This I Believe”)

Individual
Work on the presentation

October 28, 2009

2009-10-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

Individual
Bell Work - Google Document or Word
This I Believe #1
In a paragraph, describe something you believe in deeply. Describe why the belief is important to you and where you learned it.

Partners
Go to the Discussion Zone and answer the discussion questions about visual information versus text-based information.

Individual
Work on the Keynote presentation about your culture

October 27, 2009

2009-10-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

Individually
Bell Work
Google Document - Or if it's not working, you can use Word. Remember, the username is either castrostudent1 or castrostudent2 and the password is castro119.
In a paragraph, describe a powerful memory. It can be happy, sad, exciting, etc. Describe what makes the memory so powerful to you.

Partners
1. Review some of the slideshows on the Social Voice website and make a list of the things they did to make them work well.
2. Brainstorm at least seven elements that make up one’s culture (these will be used in creating a presentation)

Individually
Start working on creating a slideshow about your culture.
It must fit the following criteria:
1. It is all about your culture
2. You must have 7-10 slides
3. Each picture must be documented – In other words, when you copy a picture, you need to highlight the url (web address), press command c and then paste it (command v) into your Google Document in an area called “Sources”

October 26, 2009

2009-10-26T08:14:00.001-07:00

Individually:
Bell Work
Describe, in a paragraph, how technology shapes your life. How do you use it? Why does it exist?
(For this, you will use a Word document. If you can’t figure out how to access it, go to the icon with the magnifying glass and type in word. Scroll down to Microsoft Word)

Partners:
Create a brainstorm of at least ten pros and ten cons of technology

Individually:
Go to docs.google.com (Google Docs) and create a new document. The username for first period is castrostudent1 with the password castro119 and the username for second period is castrostudent2 with the password castro119.
Create a new document and save it as your first and last name. Copy and paste your bell work from Word to your Google Document.

Outline Process

2009-08-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

PART ONE
Thesis Statement:
Bad: I'm going to write about gangs.
Bad: I think gangs are bad.
Bad: Let me tell you about gangs.
Good: Gangs are destroying our community.

PART TWO
Topic Sentences
1. Gangs tag the neighborhoods.
2. Gangs cause violence.
3. Gangs commit crimes.
5
PART THREE
Outline

Thesis Statement

Body Paragraph #1
Topic Sentence
Supporting Detail #1
Supporting Detail #2
Supporting Detail #3
Supporting Detail #4
Supporting Detail #5

Body Paragraph #2
Topic Sentence
Supporting Detail #1
Supporting Detail #2
Supporting Detail #3
Supporting Detail #4
Supporting Detail #5

Body Paragraph #3
Topic Sentence
Supporting Detail #1
Supporting Detail #2
Supporting Detail #3
Supporting Detail #4
Supporting Detail #5

May 6, 2009

2009-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Go to Do I Need This? and post a comment as a group

April 20, 2009

2009-04-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

Part One:

Work on the editing and typing portions of your Social Voice articles.

Part Two:

Make sure that your script is typed up and has been sent to Mr. Spencer

Part Three:

Find all of the pictures that you want for your script.

Part Four:

Write a two paragraph reflection about the process of finding pictures and the way in which visuals tell the story. Mention both the pros and the cons of people learning from pictures. For example, what is the danger of taking a picture out of context?

April 15, 2009

2009-04-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Part One

Individual:

Option 1: What job do you want to do when you grow up?

Option 2: What are the characteristics of a "good job?"

Option 3: What's more important: making more money or enjoying your job?

Part Two

Go through the Career Philosophy chart and, as a group, create two pros and two cons for each philosophy and do one sample job.

Part Three

Option 1: How will college help you with any of the job philosophies?

Option 2: Which job philosophy is best?

Option 3: Is there a job which fits all the philosophies?

The Career Philosophy Chart

2009-04-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Humanitarian Philosophy

Motive: Making a Difference

Core Question: Will I make a difference?

Perfect Job: firefighter, social worker, counselor, police officer

Pros: they have a strong desire to help others, a selfless sense of compassion, a well-developed sense of empathy

Cons: they can work too hard, get too discouraged and sometimes be so compassionate that they fail to speak the hard truth to people

Humanitarian Teacher: This is the teacher who spends long hours on student projects and who knows the class on a deep level. Often, people will assume bad motives, "She's just in it for the ego" or "He just wants to be their friends." Sadly, many Humanitarian Teachers hit a point of burn-out and can fail to take care of themselves.

Recognition Philosophy

Motive: Attaining some type of fame - think outside of just the movie star and athlete. This person wants to be known as an expert at what they do, to be famous within their career's sphere of influence (for example, a scientist who is known for research)

Core Question: Will people notice my contributions?

Perfect Job: conference speaker, politician, actor

Pros: feel important, influential and respected

Cons: it can feel empty, you become personally elusive while maintaining the facade of your image

Recognition Teacher: This is the teacher who is often more than competant at his or her job and who knows how to set boundaries. With the goal of being recognized, this teacher works carefully at PR (not always with a bad motive) toward getting a book published, a story in the newspaper or an idea to become popular.

Vocational Philosophy

Motive: Do something that fits who your identity (a combination of your passions, talent and temperament)

Core Question: Does this job fit who I am?

Perfect Job: artist, writer, singer,

Pros: you feel like you belong, you often enjoy it without the high expectations of constant enjoyment, you can stay with the career for the long haul

Cons: your job can become your life, given the fact that it's such a part of who you are

Vocational Teacher: Often people will assume this is the humanitarian teacher, because this teacher will work long hours and devote extra time to the students. However, unlike the Humanitarian Teacher, the Vocational Teacher is okay walking away and doesn't feel the intense stress of making a difference.

Hedonist Philosophy

Motive: Enjoy your job

Core Question: Is this job fun?

Perfect Job: ski instructor, personal trainer, starving actor

Pros: you get to do what you love doing on a daily basis

Cons: often doesn't pay enough, the enjoyment can diminish as you face the grueling admin tasks connected to the enjoyable job

The Hedonist Teacher: This is the teacher who has a great rapport with staff and students, who smiles often and seems to have a great time, but can sometimes fail to make the work challenging and can fall behind on admin tasks

Economic Philosophy

Motive: Good Pay

Core Question: Does this job pay enough?

Perfect Job: Tax lawyer, salesperson, district office personnel

Pros: You can enjoy your leisure comfortably and you don't have to let your job become your life

Cons: You don't enjoy your job, you can get greedy and you can become resentful

The Economic Teacher: Goes to school on contract hours, takes nothing home and volunteers on certain high-profile committees to move up the coporate latter

April 14, 2009

2009-04-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

Part One
Individual: Write your third body paragraph for your Social Voice article.

Part Two
Class Debate: What are the pros and cons of making information entertaining?

Part Three
Groups: Write your skits

April 13, 2009

2009-04-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Part One
Individually: Outline and write your second body paragraph

Part Two
Discuss the dangers in making a documentary entertaining

Part Three
Finish the script as a group

April 9, 2009

2009-04-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Part One
Individually: You will create body paragraph number one for your Social Voice Article. Please make sure to use transition sentences.

Part Two
Groups: Begin your script. You will have plenty of time to write a script, because the main concern is quality rather than quantity. Keep in mind, this will be recorded and used on the documentary. You need your script to be exciting and descriptive, but not overloaded with details.

April 8, 2009

2009-04-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Part One
Individually: Write your introduction for your social voice article. Remember, your introduction must use the following format:
1. Attention-Getter (It can be a series of thought-provoking questions, a statistic with explanation, a quick story, a description with strong imagery or a quote with an explanation) that is 3-4 sentences long.
2. A transition sentence that leads to the thesis statement
3. Your thesis statement. Remember, this cannot be "I think," "I feel," or "My article is about."

Part Two
Your group will create the initial plan for your section of the Maryvale Voice Documentary. You must have:
1. Your skit idea - use the plot mountain to describe it (even if it is small) and then include any materials you will need
2. Three multiple choice questions regarding your issue. You will ask these questions to members of our community. These will become your Needs Assessment that each person will conduct.
3. An interview idea. See if there is someone knowledgable about this issue who would come in for an interview.
4. Service Project Idea

April 7, 2009

2009-04-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

I will be gone today, so follow the directions that are handed to you. Please be respectful to the substitute teacher.

Directions:
Begin your next Social Voice article. Please do a brainstorm and outline your entire article. When you are finished, you will have some time to work on the various independent projects. Good luck! I'll miss you today!

April 6, 2009

2009-04-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Each class will be taking a day to plan out our various projects. The following is a list of our projects:

Documentary: Maryvale Voice
Secretary's Day Project (initiated by the Social Art Collective)
Paper Border
Holocaust Movie
Final Social Voice Articles
Internet TV Show - The STUPID Games
Short Films
United by Borders
Children's Book
Movie (specific to third hour)

Each group will create a proposal including:

What materials will we need?
What time frame do we have? When will we accomplish it?
What are the roles students can use?
Who is the audience or recipient of this project? How does it allow us to express our social voice?

AIMS Week

2009-03-31T06:12:00.000-07:00

This is the week! It's the time when McGraw Hill attempts to hijack your mind and use it to prove that students cannot learn. Don't let a ridiculous transnational corporation win! Remember a few things. First, the writing prompt is almost always easier than what I have you do for bell work every day. So, you're good. Try to use the writing process I taught you before. In terms of reading, Ms. Farley has done a great job preparing you. I believe you all will do great!

I'll post each part of this week in one post, as if it were one day. I know I have each class in a strange block of time, so this will work best:

Part One

Individual: Is peace possible between the Palestinians and Israelis? What sacrficies would be needed to make it happen?

Part Two

Group Brainstorm: What are the roots of the problem

Part Three

View pictures of the conflict as a class - analyze them

*How does the cycle of violence work?
*Why does the media use the images to manipulate people? What types of loaded language do they use?

*Should cluster bombs be banned?

Part Four

Individual: Write a poem about the effects of war on children.

Part Five

Individual Paragraph: Is it America's job to ensure peace in Israel?

Class Discussion

-Is America doing this out of humble or selfish motives?

-Does it make a difference if the nations ask for our help?

Part Six

After demonstrating the peace process with the personified Quill the Stapler, think through this peace process as a group:

Part 1: Describe the conflict
Part 2: Relate your metaphor to the conflict
Part 3: Summarize the effects of the conflict
Part 4: Create a solution. It must include: political, social and economic answers, what to do with Jerusalem, the sacrifices both sides must make, how to divide it geographically (one state, two state, three states), how it will be enforced
Part 5: Analyze the reasons why this solution should work
Part 6: Analyze the reasons why this soulution might fail

Part Seven

Share Your Solutions

March 26, 2009

2009-03-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

Part One

Create a metaphor of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. Include any use of violence, any of the sides that participate and what role America has played in it.

Part Two

Group Concept Exploration Project

Part 1: Describe, in a paragraph, the causes of the conflict
Part 2: Describe, in a paragraph, a metaphor of the conflict

March 25, 2009

2009-03-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Part One
Individual: Choose two of the following option:

Is world peace possible?
Whose fault is it that so many people in the Middle East hate us?
Could communication fix the conflict in the Middle East?
How do people use culture, religion, politics and money to justify violence?

Part Two

Group Brainstorm: What happens when people have a conflict?
Whole Class Discussion: Analyze the pros and cons of each method of handling conflict

Part Three
Group Reading / Concept Map
Causes of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict - political, culture, economic, religious, social reasons

March 24, 2009

2009-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Part One:
From yesterday: What are at least three positive and three negative things that the U.S. has done in the Middle East?

Part Two:
Listen to Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static" and answer the following questions:

What is the stated and implied theme of the song?
What loaded language does he use to present his points?
Which types of figurative language does he use? Is it effective? Or does he use so much that it makes the song inaccessible to people?
Do you agree or disagree with his main points?

Part Three:
After viewing the slide show "A Middle Eastern Perspective on America" create a persuasive paragraph about what the U.S. could do to change our image in that region of the world. If you'd like, you could also list ways that the Middle East could help change our image of them.

March 23, 2009

2009-03-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

Part One
Individually: Choose two of the following options and write at least a paragraph about each:

What role should America have in determining peace in other countries?
Why does the U.S. get involved in other nations conflicts?
Should America fight wars to help guarantee cheaper oil?
What are the reasons people use for starting war? What is one idea that is justified? What is one idea that is not justified?
At what point does a group of people become a nation?

Part Two
Discussion Questions: As a group, please discuss the five questions as a group

Part Three:

Go through the timeline together as a class

Part Four:
Debrief as a Group:
What should we have done differently? What did we do right?

March 6, 2009

2009-03-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Part One:
After reading 56-71 of The World Is Flat and viewing the general Timeline of the Digital Age,
describe, as a group, how the internet and the personal computer helped lead to globalization

Part Two:
Read this section of a poem and discuss the questions below

The Erasure of Certainty

by Hugh Cook

The erasure of certainty
Was never quite announced
But has arrived.
We start the day in rainbows,
Frogmarching the fractured colors
Into raw cement.
By noon,
We're into transformative commerce,
Renting the Andes,
Mortgaging Japan,
Selling Brazilian sunlight to central Alaska.
Evening.
It's getting hectic.
The temps are dancing upside down.
The boss starts speaking Tibetan.
A disenfranchised stapler turns carnivorous.

Discuss the following as a group
1. What is the theme of this poem?
2. What type of poem is this?
3. What figurative language does the author use to get the point across?
4. What is the author's bias? Do you agree or disagree with him?

Create a Solution

2009-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Role:
You are a member of the Springerfieldville City Council. Springerfieldville is a small town about an hour out of Detroit, Michigan.

Context:
In the past, your town was a part of the automotive industry. In the past, there was a small teacher college, but it went out of business when there was less of a demand for teachers. The two major factories (both connected to the GM supply chain) have gone out of business, leaving two brick factories completely unused. The town unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 14% and they are suffering a housing crisis. With less revenue, their education is becoming underfunded. The town population is a mixture of educated / white color workers (managers, former professors, etc.) and high-school educated blue-collar workers.

Task:
You need to help redefine the town. You need to create an innovative, perhaps even radical, plan for change. Your solution must address the following:

What are the major problems?
What caused the town's problems? How do their causes relate to globalization?
What is your solution? How will your solution relate to micronationalism (regionalism) or transnationalism?
Why will your plan work?
How will you pay for your plan?

February 19, 2009

2009-02-19T05:34:00.000-08:00

Read the following excerpt from Wikipedia:

Whilst it is all too easy to look at the positive aspects of Globalization and the great benefits that are apparent everywhere, there are also several negative occurrences that can only be the result of or major motivating factors that inspire some corporations to globalize.

It can be said that globalization is the door that opens up an otherwise resource poor country to the international market. Where a country or nation has little material or physical product harvested or mined from its own soil, an opportunity is seen by large corporations to take advantage of the “export poverty” of such a nation.

One example used by anti-globalization protestors is the use of “Sweatshops” by manufacturers. According to Global Exchange these “Sweat Shops” are widely used by sports shoe manufacturers and mentions one company in particular – Nike.[21] There are factories set up in the poor countries where employees agree to work for low wages. Then if labour laws alter in those countries and stricter rules govern the manufacturing process the factories are closed down and relocated to other nations with more liberal economic policies.

One powerful source has blown down cultural boundaries around the entire world. What is this influential tool? It is the Internet and its endless margin of discovery. With the Internet people can easily access someone half way across the world. They could converse with someone living a completely different lifestyle yet still have something in common, the Internet. If language is a barrier then a website like Flickr, a photo sharing site, lets people from Singapore and Germany alike communicate without words. The Internet in essence makes the world a smaller place. Someone in America can be eating Japanese noodles for lunch while someone in Sydney Australia is eating classic Italian meatballs. One classic culture aspect is food. India is known for their curry and exotic spices. Paris is known for its smelly cheeses. America is known for its burgers and fries. McDonalds was once an American favorite with its cheery mascot, Ronald, red and yellow theme, and greasy fast food. Now it is a global enterprise with 31,000 locations worldwide with locations in Kuwait, Egypt, and Malta.

With the melding of cultures using another countries language in ones body art is now considered normal. Culture is defined as patterns of human activity and the symbols that give these activities significance. Culture is what people eat, how they dress, beliefs they hold, and activities they practice. Globalization has joined different cultures and made it into something different. As Erla Zwingle, from the National Geographic article titled “Globalization” states, “When cultures receive outside influences, they ignore some and adopt others, and then almost immediately start to transform them.”

INSTRUCTIONS

E-mail your answers to me (or hand-write them)

Step 1: Make a list of at least five words that you did not understand. Try and figure out the words based upon the context.

Step 2: Identify the main point (often called the thesis statement) of this article. Write your answer in your own words.

Step 3: Explain the author's bias. Cite at least two "loaded words" to back up your point.

Step 4: Offer your own opinion on this article's main point. Do you agree or disagree with the idea that globalization is dangerous?

2009-02-07T21:22:00.001-08:00

February 4, 2009

2009-02-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Bell Work:
Paragraph #1: In what ways have women gained more rights than they used to have?
Paragraph #2: What are some areas where women still lack power, rights or equality?

February 3, 2009

2009-02-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

Go to the Native American Art post on our Discussion Zone.

2009-02-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

Our Social Voice Social Network can be found at socialvoice.ning.com

Today's Assignment

2009-01-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

We will be recording the podcasts, so students will need to work independently on the following assignments:

1. One member of your group needs to reformat your museum exhibits so that each one has:
Title
Rationale: Why you have this exhibit
Description: A paragraph describing the exhibit

2. All other group members: Go to our Social Voice Social Network and sign up. After you sign up, post a blog entry on your own ideas about racism. It needs to be at least one paragraph on any topic about racism.

3. If you finish early, post comments on the "forum" section of the Social Voice Social Network.

2009-01-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

Click on the Racism Test. Follow the directions that Mr. Spencer gives you

December 8, 2008

2008-12-08T07:49:00.001-08:00

Group Work:
Read about the Truman Doctrine, NATO, Warsaw Pact, Marshall Plan, United Nations, CIA and fill out the chart that Mr. Spencer shows you.

During the Cold War, the capitalist and communist countries engaged in competition both politically and economically. First, president Truman created the Truman Doctrine, which allowed the United States to spend money in countries that supported our belief system. For example, America spent millions of dollars in countries that were "on the fence" and leaning toward communism, so that they would remain capatalist countries. In addition, we created NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) which was a group of countries unified under the political desire to stay free of communism. The Communist countries created their own political group called the Warsaw Pact. Moreover, America created the Marshall Plan which allowed the U.S. to spend money in Japan and Germany to help guarantee that they would not join the Communist revolution. Finally, the United States created a group called the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) that sent spies to communist countries so that we could fight the Cold War at a political level.

Now that you've read about it, go to your Cold War Website and create a page for political examples of how the Cold War was fought. Also, create a page for the economic ways that the Cold War was fought.

December 5, 2008

2008-12-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

Bell Work
Option 1: What are ways that you would prevent communism from spreading? Describe it in a paragraph.
Option 2: What groups would the government need to look out for if they were worried about a communist revolution in the U.S.?

Group Work:
-Finish Page #3 for the website
-Page #2 - Metaphor:

Describe the existing metaphors
Create a metaphor for the spread of communism

December 4, 2008

2008-12-04T07:42:00.001-08:00

BELLWORK:

Option 1: If you were a poor person which economic system would you prefer? If you were middle class, which one would you prefer? If you were upper class, which one would you prefer?
Option 2: What are elements of capitalism you see in your world? What are elements of socialism you see in your world?
Option 3: Which is the best economic system? Give solid reasons why you think it's the best.

GROUP WORK:
Site: Page 3 - The Two Sides
Part One: Write a short introduction describing how Russia was Communist and the United States was capitalist.
Part Two: Create a list (or chart) of each economic system. Include the goal, how prices are decided, how jobs are decided and a list of at least three pros and three cons for each economic system.

December 4, 2008

2008-12-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Option 1: If you were a poor person which economic system would you prefer? If you were middle class, which one would you prefer? If you were upper class, which one would you prefer?

Option 2: What are elements of capitalism you see in your world? What are elements of socialism you see in your world?

Option 3: Which is the best economic system? Give solid reasons why you think it's the best.

November 25, 2008

2008-11-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

Bell Work:
OPTION 1:
Go to one of the following Social Voice blogs and leave a paragraph comment on one of our works:

OPTION 2:
Go to Thank My Teacher and post a paragraph thanking one of your teachers.

Assignment:
1. Compile all of your journal entries into one Google Document
2. Make sure you have shared your Google Document with Mr. Spencer
3. Edit your work for spelling, grammar, etc. Make sure you have the following:

Proper spelling
A capital letter at the beginning of each sentence and punctuation at the end
At least six sentences for each paragraph
A date at the top of each entry

4. If you finish early, add two visuals to your journal entries

November 17, 2008

2008-11-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

Journal
1945
Roosevelt did nothing to liberate the concentration camps. Describe your thoughts and feelings about this.

Group

Part 1: Research the genocide that is going on in Darfur. Include, in a paragraph describing who is involved, what is happening, where it is happening, why it is happening and what are the effects of it.
Suggested Sites:
Genocide in Darfur
Save Darfur
Africa Action

Part 2: Describe, in your opinion how this relates to the Holocaust. Also include why America is choosing to do nothing.

Part 3: Describe, in a paragraph, what should be done to stop genocide in Darfur. If you don't think anything should be done, explain why.

-Make sure all three are paragraphs are in one Google Document that you share with Mr. Spencer

November 13, 2008

2008-11-13T07:53:00.001-08:00

Bell Work:
1945
Journal Entry
Who do you hold responsible for the Holocaust?

GROUP WORK:
Read the following and create a web using at least four of the Elements of Literature (Plot, Characters, Theme, Setting, Conflict, Climax, Exposition, Resolution, Irony, etc.)

The nook in which we lived in the ghetto was narrow and suffocating. My mother managed to drag in a broken piece of furniture that in its better days had served as an armchair. Now, all that remained of it was a charred wooden skeleton, saved from a fire, and a row of metal springs that the flames could not overcome. That was where my mother would set me, a 3-year-old boy, every time the hobnailed boots were heard outside and immediately afterward the pounding on the door. She would cover me with filthy rags and sit on top. That is how I got used to lying, keeping my mouth shut, immobile. It was explained to me that if I made a sound, and the troopers discovered me, they would rip me to shreds instantly with their bayonets. I went through this experience countless times in mute heroism. One day, my luck gave out. A woman was caught stealing and the sentries' rage knew no bounds. One of them struck my mother with his rife butt and kicked my armchair shelter. It overturned, and I was found out. The soldier cocked his rifle, but his commander stopped him: "It's better to put him in front of a firing squad," he said, smiling. "A baby put to death in front of everyone will certainly have a deterrent effect."

Terror and trembling, fear and dread took hold of my whole body when I looked down the barrel of the machine gun on its stand. There was no place on my body that had not been attacked by uncontrollable shivering. I tried to call up every source of courage, physical and emotional strength, to firm up my poor limbs, but I could not. Every one of my cells, which He who dwells on high had placed in my body to create it in His image, was dancing as if in a frenetic fit. I felt that in a few seconds my limbs would separate from the skeleton that still deigned to hold on to them. My heart was pounding, both from the powerful shaking of my limbs and the fear that they would soon be scattered all around. I looked at the soldier behind the black hole of the weapon; I could not take my eyes off him. The flakes of snow on his helmet reminded me how very cold it was. For a moment our eyes met, and it seemed to me that I saw surprise in his, as if they were saying that a baby was standing before him for the first time. The order to fire came like a scream that split the air. My last memory of the world of the living was the deafening noise of the machine gun.

I do not know how much time passed, but it was certainly night when I heard, from the depths of the netherworld, the voice of my mother, weeping bitterly. I shouted with all the strength I had left. I could not move; frozen bodies covered me on all sides. My mother heard my voice, and began moving aside the dead, who lay atop me like shrouds too heavy to bear. The machine gun stand, which was level with my head, had saved my life. Except for a bleeding scratch left by the grazing bullet that had tossed me into the mass grave, my body was whole. Perhaps, it was so I could to stand up for the children who did not live and be their voice.

November 3, 2008

2008-11-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

1942
Journal Entry #4
Option 1: Is it fair to go to intern the Japanese? What do you think is motivating America to send the Japanese to camps?
Option 2: Is it a good idea to go to war?
Option 3: You will now be going to war. What are your thoughts and feelings? How are you responding to this?

Battles: Summarize the battle. Include who fought, why it was fought, who won and why it was significant to World War II
Group 1: Battle of Berlin
Group 2: Battle of the Bulge
Group 3: Battle of Midway
Group 4: Battle of Okinawa
Group 5: Battle of the Phillippines

October 30, 2008

2008-10-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry #3
December 7, 1941
Japan has now attacked Pearl Harbor. You are in college and you know that America might be going to war. Describe what happened (Pearl Harbor) and how it will affect your own life. What are you thinking? What are you feeling?

Journal Entry #4
December 14, 1941
Roosevelt has decided to send Japanese people to internment camps. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?

October 29

2008-10-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Today's Journal Entries:

Journal Entry #2
1939
You just graduated high school. Japan has invaded China (in 1937) and now Germany invaded Poland. Describe the events that led up to World War II. Include a description of the events and how it might affect you. Are you worried about going to war? Are you scared? Do you think America will get involved?

Yesterday's Journal Entry:
1936
Journal Entry #1
What is happening that might make you think the whole world will be at war?

October 10

2008-10-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Bell Work - In your blog:
Make a list of the five most important rights. Explain, in a paragraph, which is the most important right and why.

Group:
Case #1
Case #2

October 8

2008-10-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
1. Should the death penalty be allowed?
2. What weapons should people be permitted to own?
3. Which right is the most important?

In Groups, read the following and comment on them:

Death Penalty: Electric Chair

Death Penalty: Gas Chamber

Death Penalty: Hanging

Death Penalty: Lethal Injection

October 6 - Free Speech

2008-10-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
Option 1: Paragraph - When is it against the law to speak? Think of specific examples.
Option 2: Paragraph - Why is free speech important?
Option 3: Paragraph - Why do schools limit students' freedom of expression? Is this a good or a bad thing?

Post your comments as a group
Case #1
Case #2
Case #3
Case #4
Case #5
Case #6

Campaign Propaganda

2008-10-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
Search the internet (try images.google.com) for propaganda of John McCain or Barack Obama. Copy the picture to your blog and then write a paragraph describing the propaganda and who it is for or against. Include, whether you think it is persuasive in convincing voters.

Groupwork
After each video, discuss which propaganda techniques are being used and whether or not you think it is effective.

October 1

2008-10-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
Option 1: Make a list of characteristics that a good president should have. Then write a paragraph describing whether you think Obama or McCain has the characteristics of a good president.
Option 2: Paragraph: What matters more, what a candidate accomplishes or who the candidate is as a person?
Option 3: Based upon the issues we covered yesterday, which candidate would you support? Why?

Partner Work
Advanced
Part One
Read the biographies of either John McCain or Barack Obama and make a Google Presentation with the following information about either McCain or Obama's stories:

Plot - what has happened in his life
Setting - where and when key events have taken place
Characters - key people in the story of McCain or Obama - if possible, find a hero (also called protaganist) or villain (also called antagonist)
Theme(s) - main idea (or moral) of the candidate's biography
Point of view - is it a narrarator, first-person, second person, third person, omniscient

Part Two: Embed your presentation inside your blog and then write a paragraph describing why this candidate's story could help him or hurt him in the election. In other words, will people connect with the story?

Beginners:
Read the biographies of either John McCain or Barack Obama and create a new post in your blog with the following information about either McCain or Obama's stories:

Plot - what has happened in his life
Setting - where and when key events have taken place
Characters - key people in the story of McCain or Obama - if possible, find a hero (also called protaganist) or villain (also called antagonist)
Theme(s) - main idea (or moral) of the candidate's biography
Point of view - is it a narrarator, first-person, second person, third person, omniscient

Part Two: Write a paragraph describing why this candidate's story could help him or hurt him in the election. In other words, will people connect with the story?

September 29

2008-09-29T09:06:00.001-07:00

Bell Work
Blog:
Option 1: Make a list of the most important issues in our next election and rank them from 1-5. Then, explain in a paragraph which one is the most important and why.
Option 2: Choose an issue in the election and argue for an against it. Write one paragraph for it and one paragraph against it.

Group Work
Read the following and create a chart showing the difference between Republicans and Democrats:

Democrats and Republicans disagree on many issues. However, it can be hard for some people to keep the sides straight. So, here are a few paragraphs about each political party.

Democrats favor more government regulation. In other words, they believe it is the government’s job to make sure that companies follow the rules, even if it makes it hard to do business. They support labor unions and the right to go on strike. In terms of taxes, Democrats tend to believe that the poor should pay a lower percentage and the rich should pay a higher percentage and that companies should have a moderately high tax rate. They believe in local control of schools and are generally against standardized tests, such as the AIMS. Currently, most Democrats are in favor of immigration, but they support a work visa program, where immigrants must earn the right to stay in America by keeping a job and committing no felonies. Democrats believe in higher taxes to pay for education, free health care and welfare programs for the poor. With regards to social issues, Democrats tend to be liberal. They support the right of gay people to get married. They are pro-choice, which means they believe it is a woman’s right to have an abortion. Democrats also believe that the government should stay out of people’s personal lives.

Republicans differ in many respects. First, Republicans tend to believe that the government’s job to keep a nation safe. So, unlike the Democrats, they support more funding for the military. They believe it is the individual’s job to take care of the poor, so they do not support things like food stamps and welfare. They also don’t think it’s the government’s jobs to take care of the environment or give people free health care. In terms of taxes, many Republicans want to lower taxes, especially among the upper middle class and rich. Republicans tend to vote against immigration, though many of them are in favor of immigration reform. In education, Republicans support No Child Left Behind and believe that schools should be held accountable for low test scores. On social issues, Republicans are more conservative. They are usually pro-life, meaning they are against abortion. They are also against gay marriage. They favor the right to own a gun and fear that the government is too powerful when it tries to take this right away.

September 26

2008-09-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
-Retake the concept map portion of the assessment

Partner Work
1. Copy your three paragraphs (from the last few days) into an e-mail
2. Turn your e-mail into a business letter (For a sample business letter go to Business Letter)
3. Find an address of a congressional representative and put it where it goes in the business letter. For a list of addresses, visit the the Directory)
4. E-mail it to me and I'll edit it before you send it off in the mail. Make sure you have each person's name on it.

September 25

2008-09-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

Bell Work:
Review Game

Partner Work:
Choose an issue in the upcoming election (it can’t be immigration)
1. Describe, in a paragraph, why it is an important issue.
2. Describe, in another paragraph, what is the major causes of the issue
3. Describe, in a paragraph, a solution for this issue. Your solution must include:

What your law would do
Who your law would benefit
How it would be enforced
How it would be funded
Why it will work

Wednesday - September 17th

2008-09-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

You should have finished (as a group):
Blog Post #1
Paragraph: At what point does a group of people become a nation? – Post the answer in the blog you set up as a group

Blog Post #2
Paragraph: When does a group of people have the right to create their own nation?

Blog Post #3-4
Pick two of the five options for a blog:
1. Describe, in a paragraph, when it is okay for a group of people to rebel and go against their government.
2. Describe, in a paragraph, what is freedom and when a person has finally attained freedom.
3. Describe, in a paragraph, whether or not it is America’s responsibility to help other nations gain their independence.
4. Describe, in a paragraph, what type of a revolution you would want to see in the world.
5. Describe, in a paragraph: What is a social contract? What social contract do you have to your government and is the government following it?

Today: Make sure you finish
Blog Post #5
Braintorm ways that a person can protest. You must have a list of at least ten ideas

Blog Posts #6
Describe, in a paragraph why the colonists had good reasons to gain independence

Blog Post #7
Describe, in a paragraph why the colonists had bad reasons to gain independence.

In a group:
Blog Post #9 - Create a metaphor of the American Revolution and describe it in a paragraph.

Blog Post #10 -
Option 1: Was it worth the violence? Was it worth the loss of lives in order to gain indpendence?
Option 2: Who was included in the new nation? Who was excluded?

Classwork: Monday - September 15

2008-09-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
-Creating the portfolio

Groupwork
Go to Google Documents (docs.google.com) and open up a presentation. It's basically like a PowerPoint. You then need to create a presentation for the events of the American Revolution. It will work best if you can share your presentation with other members of your group.

Classwork: Tuesday-Wednesday

2008-09-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

Bell Work:
Day Two of your Learning Centers

Whole Class:
Analyze the political cartoon

Group Work:
Read the following British Laws and do Part One and Part Two

Part One: In your blog, create a Declaration of Independence explaining why you deserve independence. Write your declaration to King George (the king of Great Britain).

Part Two: In your blog, create a list of reasons why the colonists should not have the right to create a new nation.

Classwork: Monday - September 8th

2008-09-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

Bell Work
Look to the right under Learning Centers and click on your learning center (it should say on your computer). We are in Day One.

Group:
In your blog:
Imagine you are a colonist right before the American Revolution. Brainstorm ways that you would protest against the British.

Project: American Revolution Blog

2008-09-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

You must create (as a group) an American Revolution blog. Your blog must have each of the posts that are listed below as well as a picture to go with the posts.

Purpose: To relate the issues of the American Revolution to our contempoary world and to do so in a format that encourages democracy (the internet).

Format: You will compose a blog.

Audience: Your audience is the community. In this case, it is the entire global community.

Role: Students / Historians

Blog Post #1
Paragraph: At what point does a group of people become a nation? – Post the answer in the blog you set up as a group

Blog Post #2
Paragraph: When does a group of people have the right to create their own nation?

Blog Post #3-4
Pick two of the five options for a blog:
1. Describe, in a paragraph, when it is okay for a group of people to rebel and go against their government.
2. Describe, in a paragraph, what is freedom and when a person has finally attained freedom.
3. Describe, in a paragraph, whether or not it is America’s responsibility to help other nations gain their independence.
4. Describe, in a paragraph, what type of a revolution you would want to see in the world.
5. Describe, in a paragraph: What is a social contract? What social contract do you have to your government and is the government following it?

Blog Post #5
Braintorm ways that a person can protest. You must have a list of at least ten ideas

Blog Posts #6
Describe, in a paragraph why the colonists had good reasons to gain independence

Blog Post #7
Describe, in a paragraph why the colonists had bad reasons to gain independence.

Blog Post #8
Tell the story of the American Revolution, using the sequencing created on the Google Presentations. Embed your presentation into your group’s blog.

Blog Post #9 - Create a metaphor of the American Revolution and describe it in a paragraph.

Blog Post #10 -
Option 1: Was it worth the violence? Was it worth the loss of lives in order to gain indpendence?
Option 2: Who was included in the new nation? Who was excluded?

Blog Post #11
Paragraph: How does our government work? What does each branch of government do?

Blog Post #12
Paragraph: How does a bill become a law?

BONUS OPTIONS
1. In a paragraph: Who was the most influential person in the creation of our nation?
2. In a paragraph: What did the Founding Fathers risk in creating the Declaration of Independence?
3. In a paragraph: Why didn’t more of the Founding Fathers actually fight in the American Revolution? Why is it that those who create wars are rarely those who fight in them?
4. In a paragraph: Were the Founding Fathers justified in creating the Declaration of Independence? Did they have any right to do what they did?
5. In a paragraph: What were some of the good and bad qualities of the Founding Fathers?
6. In a paragraph: Was it right for the colonists to use violence? When is violence okay?
7. Relate what happened in the American Revolution to what is happening right now in Georgia. What are the similarities? What are the differences?
8. Choose one of the groups who were not included in the new Constitution. (This could be slaves, Native Americans, women, etc.)
Option 1 – A political cartoon
Option 2 – A poem
Option 3 – A letter

Class Calendar

2008-03-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Events

Weekly Schedule

2008-02-27T18:40:00.000-08:00

Monday

Before School
Lunch: Social Art (Painting the Mural)

Tuesday

Before School: Multimedia Morning (Photography Class)
Lunch (Secretary's Day Project)

Wednesday

Before School: Multimedia Morning (Podcasts)
Lunch: Social Art (Painting the Mural)

Thursday

Before School: Multimedia Morning (Videos)
Lunch: Social Art (Secretary's Day Project)

Friday

Before School: Multimedia Morning (Videos)
Lunch: Leadership Team

Saturday

Occassional Service Projects

Latest Projects

2008-02-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

Social Voice Student Page

Case #1

Case #2

Case #3

Case #4

Case #5

October 29, 2009

October 28, 2009

October 27, 2009

October 26, 2009

Outline Process

May 6, 2009

April 20, 2009

April 15, 2009

The Career Philosophy Chart

April 14, 2009

April 13, 2009

April 9, 2009

April 8, 2009

April 7, 2009

April 6, 2009

AIMS Week

March 26, 2009

March 25, 2009

March 24, 2009

March 23, 2009

March 6, 2009

Create a Solution

February 19, 2009

February 4, 2009

February 3, 2009

Today's Assignment

December 8, 2008

December 5, 2008

December 4, 2008

December 4, 2008

November 25, 2008

November 17, 2008

November 13, 2008

November 3, 2008

October 30, 2008

October 29

October 10

October 8

Death Penalty: Electric Chair Death Penalty: Gas Chamber Death Penalty: Hanging Death Penalty: Lethal Injection

October 6 - Free Speech

Campaign Propaganda

October 1

September 29

September 26

September 25

Wednesday - September 17th

Classwork: Monday - September 15

Classwork: Tuesday-Wednesday

Classwork: Monday - September 8th

Project: American Revolution Blog

Class Calendar

Weekly Schedule

Latest Projects

Death Penalty: Electric Chair

Death Penalty: Gas Chamber

Death Penalty: Hanging

Death Penalty: Lethal Injection