Class Agenda

Memorial Day

2010-05-28T08:02:00.003-04:00

Check out the videos and photo galleries about History of Memorial Day.

Please take this survey to share your experience and ideas about ways to improve Sebasticook Valley Middle School.

Have a safe and restful three day weekend.

2010-05-25T08:01:00.000-04:00

Because of the technical difficulties we've encountered with EduSim and Sketchup, I am going to make the video project extra credit. It needs to be completed and on your web portfolio or Economics blog by Friday 5/28.

You assignment for the week is to partner up and play a full game of Financial Football and post your final score screenshots to your blog. You need to have 2 screenshots on your blog by Friday, May 28.

Historical Fiction 4

2010-05-21T08:02:00.001-04:00

You Historical Fiction project is due today. Be sure to put it on your web portfolio and be sure to publish the document so I can see it.

Progress Reports

2010-05-17T14:15:00.001-04:00

Progress Reports go home with 8th grade students today.

Historical Fiction Project due Friday

2010-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Your Historical Fiction project is due Friday May 21. It must be embedded on your web portfolio by the end of the day. Be sure to publish your project or I won't be able to score your work.

Wish List Video

2010-05-11T07:55:00.000-04:00

Start creating your Edusim "Cribs" video.
Load your 3D models into EduSim.
Go to Screencast-o-Matic and record your world explaining all the stuff you have on your wish list.
Go to ccmixter and find a song to use as background music.
Edit your video with cool effects in iMovie then upload your video to YouTube and embed the video on your web portfolio.

Cinco De Mayo

2010-05-05T07:58:00.000-04:00

Lots of us have heard of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, but not everyone knows what it celebrates. It is not, as some believe, Mexico's Independence Day. The festivities that occur on the fifth day of May commemorate a battle that was fought almost 50 years after Mexico declared its independence from Spain.

Throughout Mexico, as well as in many cities across the United States and any other country where there are people of Mexican descent, the fifth of May means partying in traditional Mexican style; but its significance goes beyond mariachi bands and piñatas. Check out the following links to learn about the roots of Cinco de Mayo and how this holiday is celebrated in North America.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/holidays/cinco-de-mayo.htm#

http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo

3rd Quarter Rank Cards

2010-04-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

3rd Quarter Ranks Cards will go home today with students.

Have a safe, relaxing and restful April Break!

New Auto Assignment

2010-04-13T08:12:00.000-04:00

Create a blog post titled: The true cost of buying a car

Go to a car manufacturer's website and build a 2010 car online.
Take a screenshot of the car and the final price including tax and fees.
Calculate the monthly payment on a 60 month loan.
Calculate the deposit and monthly payment on a 36 month lease with purchase option.
Determine the final cost after leasing or payoff.
Show how much more you pay by taking out a loan or leasing than the actual price of the vehicle.

Personal Reflection Assignment

2010-04-09T08:00:00.012-04:00

On your Economics Blog Create a new post titled The Spin Game and answer the following questions:

What new word or words did you learn during the Spin Game?
Why is it important for your team to work together to decide on a group answer?
What are some examples of school subjects that relate to specific occupations? How do they relate?
What occupations did you learn about that you did not know of before playing the Spin Game?
What occupations are related to the environment? How?

2010-04-08T08:14:00.000-04:00

Be sure to show the Letter to your Parent/Guardian about our Economics Unit.

Also, student led conferences are:
Tuesday 3:30-7:30 for Ms. Doyle and Ms. Fontaine's classes
Wednesday 3:30-7:30 for Mr. Gauthier and Mr. Welch's classes and Mrs. Lamson will be available.

Today's Assignment

2010-04-06T07:56:00.000-04:00

Create a blog post titled: Foundations

A. Find three examples of the following:

job
occupation
career

B. Answer the following questions:

What changes have you noticed recently at school? What changes have you noticed in your neighborhood?
What useful things have you learned outside of school? How?
What surprises have you experienced that turned your life in a direction you weren't expecting?
Who has helped you make an important decision?

Geography Survey

2010-04-05T08:46:00.004-04:00

Please take a few minutes to take this survey.
U.S. Geography Student Survey

End of 3rd Quarter

2010-04-02T10:43:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day of the Third Quarter. You need to have your Historical Fiction 3 project, your Google Map and your Budget Worksheet on your web portfolio by the end of the day or you will get a "0" in the grade book.

U.S. Geography Project Due

2010-03-26T10:20:00.002-04:00

Your Google Map and Budget Worksheet are due today. Please put them on your web portfolio by the end of the day. Grades close at the end of the quarter next Friday, 4/2.

2010-03-19T08:34:00.000-04:00

You should have 15 facts and 10 pictures in all 50 states by the end of the day and it should be embedded on your web portfolio.
Next Friday, you should have your trip to all 50 states and your Budget Worksheet complete and embedded on your web portfolio.
The following Friday, April 3 is the last day of the 3rd quarter and grades close.

2010-03-12T08:00:00.009-05:00

Your Historical Fiction 3 project is due today. Be sure to publish it and embed it on your web portfolio.

You should have 40 states complete with 15 facts and 10 pictures today.

Here is a quick, fun project if you are looking for a way to spice up your web portfolio.
Create a Welcome Monster!
@Grab A Beast

Google Maps Bug

2010-03-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

When you start plotting your trip to all 50 states DO NOT drag and drop a marker onto your state. There is a bug that will delete the information you have saved to your shape. Instead, search for the place you are planning on visiting and "Save it to My Maps." That will include the information from Google and allow BOTH the marker and the shape to have information.

Also, when saving Driving Directions, Google Maps adds START and END markers to your map, so you will have to delete the extra markers each time you add Driving Directions to your map.

On Monday, 3/15 I will go over specific instructions about the Budget Worksheet that you will complete as you plan your trip to all 50 states.

Earth Album - Project Resources

2010-03-08T08:12:00.000-05:00

I am adding this site to our Project Resources page. It is a really cool site that is very similar to your Google Map project. The site uses geo tags from Flickr to show you the areas on the map. It may help you find pictures for each state on your map.
Earth Album

Please Vote Everyday!

2010-03-05T11:34:00.000-05:00

2010-03-05T08:42:00.000-05:00

At this point you should have 30+ states complete with 15 facts and 10 pictures in Google Maps. Here is a look at the upcoming deadlines:

March 12 - Historical Fiction 3 Due & 40 States complete
March 19 - 50 States complete
March 26 - Trip to all 50 states and Budget Worksheet complete
April 2 - Quarter Ends and Grades are closed

New Project Resource for Title Pages

2010-03-03T13:41:00.000-05:00

Here is a neat web tool that I am adding to the Project Resources page that will let you make some interesting designs for your Title Page on a movie or presentation.
http://www.escapemotions.com/experiments/flame/#top

A quick example by MrG

The History of Earthquakes in Chile

2010-03-02T08:42:00.001-05:00

Coastal Chile has a history of very large earthquakes.

Since 1973, there have been 13 events of magnitude 7.0 or greater.

The February 27 shock originated about 100 miles north of the source region of the magnitude 9.5 earthquake of May, 1960 -- the largest earthquake worldwide since the beginning of instrumental seismology at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The giant 1960 earthquake spawned a tsunami that caused destruction on coasts throughout the Pacific Ocean basin. An estimated 1600 lives were lost to the 1960 earthquake and tsunami in Chile, and the 1960 tsunami took another 200 lives among Japan, Hawaii, and the Philippines.

Here is a map of the energy map created by the earthquake on 2/27/10.

Sources:
NOAA
USGS

2010-02-25T07:45:00.004-05:00

I'm sorry that I will be out today. Your expectations remain the same.

Enter and leave the class quietly.
Treat the substitute teacher as a guest in our classroom.
If you need the leave during class, take the pass off the desk and when you return, place it back under the rock.
If you have any immediate questions, please email me.
If you choose to be difficult with the substitute teacher, you will earn an afternoon of detention.

2010-02-22T08:02:00.000-05:00

Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your time off.
A couple of reminders, Historical Fiction Due 3/12 and US Geography Performance Task due 3/19.

2010-02-05T09:43:00.001-05:00

You should be finishing up drawing shapes over all 50 state in Google Maps. If you are falling behind, just use basic shapes (rectangles) for each state to get caught up.
You should be starting to include 15 facts and 10 pictures in each of the state descriptions.
The pictures DO NOT HAVE to be about your 15 facts but they can be.
Be sure to click "Rich Text" in order to paste the url of your picture into the description.
Begin thinking about what you want to visit in all 50 states.

2010-02-04T09:15:00.001-05:00

Carnation orders are due Monday.

2010-02-02T09:37:00.001-05:00

If you have Box Tops, be sure to bring them in for our Box Tops drive.

2010-02-01T08:02:00.001-05:00

You should have all 50 states filled in by Friday. If you don't think you will have that done, you should work on your map during Study Hall or after school.

2010-01-29T08:20:00.000-05:00

2nd Quarter Report Cards go home with students today. Good job on the first half of your 8th grade year!

2010-01-28T09:38:00.003-05:00

Please fill out this survey to reflect on how the second quarter went for you.

2010-01-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

Today begins the 3rd Quarter and our U.S. Geography Unit. Take a look at the Performance Task directions to get started.

A dapper change to the search engine.

2010-01-22T11:20:00.000-05:00

Dress up Jeeves at ask.com. Now your search engine can have the same sense of style as you. Neat!

2010-01-22T08:11:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day of the 2nd Quarter. All work must be on your web portfolio in order to be graded. Any missing work will be made up after school during Make Up Week, next week from 2:30pm - 4:30pm Monday - Friday. Be sure you have everything marked off on the Assignment Checklist on the left hand side of this page.

2010-01-19T08:28:00.002-05:00

Today's assignment is to watch everyone's PSA, rate the video and leave a comment.
Visit the PSA 2010 YouTube Playlist, give each video a star rating and leave the following comments:

Copy & Paste into the Comment window.

Were you persuaded by this video? Why or Why not?
What did you like about the video?
How could the PSA be better?

Student Technology Showcase

2010-01-14T09:57:00.002-05:00

Do you have 10 minutes this Saturday?
Take a virtual tour of our Student Technology Showcase
Sign up here: www.studentshowcase.org

2010-01-14T09:21:00.000-05:00

US Civics & Government Performance Task #2: Public Service Announcement is due today. Please embed it on your 8th Grade Web Portfolio.
All assignments and revisions MUST be on your Web Portfolio before grades close next Friday, 1/22 which is the end of the 2nd Quarter.
Make Up Week will be Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29 from 2:30pm - 4:30pm. Any student who are missing any assignments will be required to stay after until all assignments are complete.

New Image Search Site

2010-01-13T11:49:00.001-05:00

I updated the Project Resources page with an image search tool that I just learned about.
When you search on CompFight, be sure to click "Creative Commons" from "Off" to "Only"

2010-01-13T08:05:00.003-05:00

Be sure to bring in your Box Tops for Education so we get off to a good start this drive which runs until 2/11.

2010-01-11T08:33:00.002-05:00

Performance Task #2: Public Service Announcement (Commercial) is due Thursday.

2010-01-07T08:00:00.018-05:00

Today you should begin writing your Performance Task #2: Public Service Announcement (Commercial).

You can use this template to help you get started. If you want to use it click on "Edit this document." Then click File -> Make a Copy to import it to your Google Docs.

When you are creating your commercial keep these ideas in mind.

Make sure your music matches the tone of your topic.
Important words should be on the screen.
Connect with your audience (use you/your)
Show your website at the end of your commercial

2010-01-05T08:17:00.002-05:00

After you have posted 5 Public Service Announcements on your blog, your assignment is to leave a positive comment about the videos on 5 other student blogs. You can let them know if you found the same PSA or if they found a PSA that you really liked.

To get to another student's blog, follow these steps:
Click on
Web Portfolios 1

Web Portfolios 2

then click on "blog"

Look at their blog and click "0 comments" (there may be a different number if others have commented on the blog.) Then leave your positive comment.

2010-01-04T08:54:00.003-05:00

Welcome Back and Happy New Year!
I hope you had a safe and relaxing break.
Your assignment for today is to embed 5 Public Service Announcements on your Bill of Rights blog. A good place to look is the Ad Council Youtube channel.

Under the video answer these 2 questions.
1. Why did you choose this PSA?
2. What part of this PSA do you think you could use in your PSA?

Your Performance Task #2: Public Service Announcement (Commercial) is due January 14.

2009-12-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Historical Fiction 2 must be embedded on your web portfolio by the end of the day.

2009-12-17T08:11:00.003-05:00

Check out this week's edition of CNN Challenge.

Get Well Wishes for Mr. Johnston

2009-12-15T12:52:00.002-05:00

You can add a Get Well wish for Mr. Johnston at sebasticook.info.

2009-12-14T09:35:00.001-05:00

Historical Fiction 2 must be posted on your web portfolio by Friday 12/18.

2009-12-11T09:04:00.001-05:00

Performance Task #1: Social Issue Website is due today.
Historical Fiction 2 is due one week from today.
CNN Student News has an interview with Education Secretary Duncan about the President's vision of the future of education in the United States.

2009-12-09T08:26:00.001-05:00

Students are being dismissed at 11:45am today.

2009-12-08T14:08:00.001-05:00

Progress Reports were sent home today.

2009-12-07T10:08:00.002-05:00

When researching your Social Issue be sure to include a news search to get the latest information on the debate happening around your issue.

Some examples of news sources are:
http://news.google.com/
http://www.associatedpress.com/
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
http://www.newyorktimes.com/
http://www.bangordailynews.com/

2009-12-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

Your US Civics & Government Performance Task #1: Social Issue Website is due in one week, 12/11. Be sure to review the website checklist and the scoring rubric carefully to be certain your work will meet standard.

Email Pen Pals - Netherlands

2009-12-01T10:31:00.000-05:00

If you are interested in writing to 13-14 year old students in the Netherlands, add a comment to this post.

H1N1 Clinic

2009-12-01T08:04:00.001-05:00

We will be having our next H1N1 clinic tomorrow 12/2. This will be the last chance to get the first dose at school. It will be from 2:00pm-6:00pm at Sebasticook Valley Middle School. Paperwork for FluMist as well as injections are on-site

2009-11-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Be sure to add a link to your Social Issue website on your web portfolio.
Progress reports go home next week. I will mark whether or not you have made progress on your Social Issue website that is due 12/11.

New Google Image Search

2009-11-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

Google unveiled a new way to look at images. Google Image Swirl. It does not have the advanced feature to look for images that are free to reuse yet but hopefully it will in the future.

Supporting our Troops

2009-11-20T14:04:00.002-05:00

Many of you have been involved with supporting our troops and here is a very quick, easy way to send a virtual postcard message to a service person. They require no information so it is appropriate for the students to get involved in. Go to www.letssaythanks.com and follow the simple directions.

Email Pen Pals

2009-11-20T12:22:00.001-05:00

If you are interested in corresponding with a couple of middle school students in the south of France, please send me an email and I will share their email addresses with you.

Social Issue Website Idea

2009-11-20T08:37:00.003-05:00

Submit this form by Monday, November 23.<p><p>Loading...</p></p>

2009-11-18T08:07:00.003-05:00

Take a look at the 9th & 10th Amendments and complete this assignment by 11/20. Please post it to your blog and title it 9th & 10th Amendments.

Your Historical Fiction Project 2 is due exactly one month from today, 12/18. Be sure to finish your book over the Thanksgiving Break so you will have plenty of time to work on your project.

The instructions for Performance Task #1 have been updated. Please let me know if you have any questions.

2009-11-16T08:05:00.003-05:00

Take a look at the 5th through 8th Amendments and complete this assignment by 11/18. Please post it to your blog and title it 5th-8th Amendments.

2009-11-12T08:23:00.003-05:00

Take a look at the 2nd through 4th amendments and complete this assignment by 11/16. Please post it to your blog and title it 2nd-4th Amendments. Your blog should be linked on your web portfolio. See me if you need help doing so.

Skype Pals

2009-11-10T08:40:00.001-05:00

We now have a Skype Pals calendar to show upcoming video conferencing we have scheduled with other schools around the world.

If you are interested in helping manage the calendar, video conference blog and/or Skype Pals map, please send me an email describing in 140 characters or less why I should chose you to be a Skype Pals Project Leader.

The Bill of Rights

2009-11-09T11:13:00.003-05:00

The following assignment must be posted to your blog by the end of the day Thursday, November 12.

Title your post: The First Amendment

2009-11-09T10:31:00.002-05:00

Please take a moment to fill out this survey to share your experience creating your second project for the US History unit from the 1st quarter.

2009-11-06T14:00:00.001-05:00

Test your knowledge at CNN Challenge.

2009-11-05T09:34:00.000-05:00

After watching To Kill A Mockingbird, your assignment is to participate in the discussion.

2009-11-02T07:57:00.000-05:00

Makeup week begins today. If you have any work that you have not turned in, you need to sign up for the late bus and stay after school to get it done.

Today we begin our Civics & Government Unit. We will be studying the Amendments and the rights that they guarantee.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T08:00:00.016-04:00

Have a safe weekend. Today is the last day of the first quarter. Good job so far this year. Get ready to start taking a closer look at the U.S. Government and the Constitution and Amendments to the Constitution.

In the meantime, check out these spooky links:

The History of Halloween
Pictures of some great costumes
Enter Horrorland (Registration Required)
Spooky Halloween Tour Video
Boo-ographies
Incredible Pumpkin Carvings

2009-10-26T08:35:00.004-04:00

After watching a presentation, please fill out this peer review form for US History Performance Task #2.

2009-10-23T08:57:00.001-04:00

Your Performance Task #2 is due today. Be sure to embed it on your web portfolio.

2009-10-22T09:11:00.002-04:00

I will be after school today for an optional study hall. Please sign up for the late bus before lunch if you plan on staying after for extra help.

2009-10-19T09:33:00.001-04:00

Performance Task 2 is due on Friday 10/23. Be sure it is posted to your web portfolio.

2009-10-16T11:05:00.000-04:00

There is a new page on the website that should help you create a project for the class. Click on Project Resources to look at the list of programs you can use to create your project. If anything is missing, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

2009-10-16T08:24:00.002-04:00

Your Historical Fiction project is due today. Please embed it on your web portfolio by the end of the day.

2009-10-13T09:01:00.001-04:00

Historical Fiction projects are due on Friday, October 16. You need to embed your project on your web portfolio by the end of Friday. Take a look at the instructions and suggested project ideas and follow the rubric to meet standard.

Take a look at some Historical Myspace pages from students at Grapevine Middle School in Grapevine, TX.

View Larger Map
While you are there, click on the student blog links and leave a comment if you see something you like!

2009-10-06T10:36:00.000-04:00

Here is a long list of resources to help find copyright free (Creative Commons) images to use in your projects. Remember, you still have to give credit to the owner and it is always a good idea to send them a quick email thanking them for sharing their work.

2009-10-05T13:58:00.000-04:00

Please take a look at the U.S. History Performance Task #1 Survey Results.

2009-10-02T08:55:00.011-04:00

Your Performance Task #2 Idea Form is due today.
Keep in mind the following parameters when selecting your topic.

You should choose a different topic from the four U.S. time periods we are studying. (Westward Expansion, Civil War, Great Depression, World War II)
If you choose to work in a group, your group must include at least one different or one less member from your last group project. (Remember, you can group up with students from other homerooms.)
You need to use a different program from your last project.
Be sure to pay close attention to the rubric to meet standard on your project.

If you are interested, you can see your Performance Task #1 Peer Review Score.
Here are the Performance Task #1 Web Portfolios Part 1, Part 2. I only have about half of you so if you are not on the page fill out the Performance Task #1 Submission Form.

Please fill out this Project Review Survey to share your experience so far this quarter. And update the Social Studies Project wiki with your experience.

Cracking the Essay Question | Activities | Education.com

2009-09-29T11:53:00.001-04:00

Cracking the Essay Question | Activities | Education.com

Posted using ShareThis

2009-09-28T08:09:00.000-04:00

We will be presenting our projects this week. Be prepared to share your project, how it was created and what each person did for the project.
You will be scoring your peers based on this rubric. Use this form to score each project.

2009-09-25T08:07:00.000-04:00

U.S. History Performance Task #1 is due today. Please fill out this Submission Form. Be prepared to present your project to the class next week.

2009-09-24T14:14:00.001-04:00

If you are looking for copyright free images for your project, give PicApp a try.
You have to look around a bit to find something relevant and usually I found "Creative" to be better than "Editorial" but it could be a good resource.

2009-09-24T14:13:00.001-04:00

2009-09-24T14:09:00.001-04:00

2009-09-24T14:08:00.003-04:00

2009-09-24T11:59:00.002-04:00

Strangest Jobs in History.
Enough said.

2009-09-24T08:13:00.003-04:00

Performance Task #1 is due tomorrow. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Extra Credit Assignment

2009-09-24T08:13:00.000-04:00

Jacqueline Mendels Birn: A Holocaust Survivor Remembers

Holocaust survivor Jacqueline Mendels Birn will speak on her experience during WWII in Occupied France on Wednesday, October 7 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at Colby College in the Parker Reed Room in the SSW Alumni Center (located on the Colby campus). The presentation is open to the public.

2009-09-23T10:12:00.000-04:00

Searching for information? Try twurdy for results that are easier to read and understand.

2009-09-23T09:03:00.002-04:00

If you are looking for a new type of project to create, check out vuvox.

2009-09-22T09:11:00.000-04:00

If your parents/guardian want you to get a free flu shot, be sure to bring the Flu Shot Form, with both sides completed, to the office by this Friday, September 25th.

2009-09-21T09:53:00.003-04:00

Performance Task #1 is due Friday, September 25.
Please refer to this Rubric to determine how you will be scored for your project.
Be prepared to present your project to the class next week.

2009-09-16T08:29:00.005-04:00

Check out the list of projects from the 8th grade for Performance Task #1.
If you want to work with someone else but couldn't find someone, look at the list and find someone working on the same topic as you and send them and MrG an email requesting to join their group.

Thanks Google!

2009-07-31T17:01:00.004-04:00

My summer has been busy and lots of fun. One of the highlights came in the mail today. I got a Google Sites T-shirt for submitting our classroom website to Google.

Google also sent a card thanking me for my submission.
I plan to build on this success and continue to improve the use of technology in the classroom!

Amazing Race Google Earth Preview

2009-07-23T10:54:00.003-04:00

Amazing Race Blogs

2009-07-19T09:39:00.001-04:00

Team (Maps)	Doyle (Blogs)	Fontaine (Blogs)	Gauthier (Blogs)	Welch (Blogs)
Bay	daisydooda	blueturtle	summertime	squirt
Beach	bluestar	blacksunshine	bigslugga	superhorse
Canyon	dogluva	cowfarmer	madballer	yellowsponge
Delta	foxrider	snowman	gooper	bballorange
Desert	monkeyeye	magenta	donkey	crumbdonut
Gulf	haseopurple	limegreen	shadowbrain	darkshadow
Island	greenduck	blackcase	musiccrazy1	whitebunny
Jungle	soccerlover	bsktball	bluedog	kawiezrule
Lake	bluepickle	shrimpy	reddog	luvmealways
Mountain	bluejay	frenchfri	orangehair	heavymetal
Peninsula	mightyburrito	nobodys	bluedonkey	skateking
Plain	greenapple	soccerplayer	daydreamer	mudchip
Plateau	firebirds	trainingwheels	beagledog	redmango
Reef	geekman	goalmaker	shorty	fishfins
River	greendog	redcat	pinkdog	soccerrocks
Sandbar	firebirds	basketballer	superslugger	bballmaroon
Sea	bluerock	rockstar	greensquid	fruitloop
Swamp	firebirds	basketballer	skater	redmango
Valley	snowboarder	sasquatch	skatelife	orangeapple
Volcano	greencharger	knockout	sebsoccer	pinkmonkey
Waterfall	greenducky	reddragon	sunnshine	blackrose

World Geography Globe Project

2009-07-19T09:33:00.001-04:00

A. Create and share a Google Spreadsheet (name it World Geography Wiki) with your group that includes:

25 Geographical terms
The definitions of the terms
A picture of an example of each term
Take a look at the example.
Share your group's wiki with
another group and consolidate the answers to create a longer, more
complete list of geographical terms.
Continue to share your wiki until the entire homeroom has one wiki spreadsheet.
Participate in Battle Jeopardy.

B. You have one geographical term
to explore on the seven continents. (Due 5/16)

Topic selection was determined randomly.
You can see your group on this spreadsheet.
Contact your group members to begin researching your trip around the world.
Go to Google Maps and open My Maps to collaborate with your team.
Search for an example of your term on each continent.
Once you have found the example, click Save to My Maps and select your Amazing Race Map.
From there click "Rich Text" to edit the information and add pictures to the pop-up on your map.
Take a look at my Google Map example.
Once each map is finished, the team leader will email the url to Mr. G and he will import the team map into the final Amazing Race map which will be used to create our 7th grade globe.
Each team will create their own "tour" from continent to continent to "fly" the viewer through their locations.
Each student will then upload their podcasts into Google Earth to give an audio element to their team's Amazing Race World Tour.

C. Keep an explorer's blog about your Amazing Race circumnavigating the world. (Due 6/5)

As your team explores the world together, you will keep a personal blog about your experiences.
Answer all of the questions for each blog post as you circumnavigate the world.
Create a podcast or videocast using one of your blog posts as an example. Make sure that your podcast is on a different location from the rest of your group.

Rubric for Deductive Reasoning

Content: Social Studies

Strand: Geography

Thinking Standard: Content Skill: Thinking like a geographer.

Standard: Skills and Tools: Students will know how to construct and interpret maps and globes and other geographic tools to locate and derive information about people, places, regions and environments.

National Geography Standard: Geographic Skills:

Acquire geographic information
Organize geographic information
Analyze geographic information

Performance Task: Using Google Maps, acquire and organize information about a geographical term. Create an informational map displaying that information and a blog to detail your character's trip around the world.

Indicator: I acquire geographical information.

Does not meet	Partially Meets	Standard	Comment
I acquire unimportant or inaccurate geographical information.	I acquire basic geographical information.	I acquire varied geographical information.

Indicator: I organize geographical information.

Does not meet	Partially Meets	Standard	Comment
I have difficulty organizing geographical information.	I organize geographical information.	I organize geographical information in a way that is clear and logical.

Indicator: I analyze geographical information and make observations.

Does not meet	Partially Meets	Standard	Comment
I make observations that are obvious and come directly from geographical information.	I make observations that show thought derived from the geographical information.	I make observations that combine sources and think beyond the geographical information.

2009-06-02T08:00:00.006-04:00

Work on your final Blog Post which is due Friday.
I have updated the Embed your podcast to your blog page.
Check out a view of Africa from National Geographic and Google Earth.
Here is a website about Chocolate created by students 13 to 15 years old.
Here is a website about Biodiversity created by 4th & 5th grade students.
Post your best times on your blog for NatGeo Atlas Puzzles.

2009-06-01T09:16:00.006-04:00

Your final Blog Post is due Friday.
Send Mr. G an email when you are finished with your blog and podcast so you can collaborate with the final Google Earth project.
Embed your podcast to your blog.
Give Microsoft's Bing a shot in your search for your Amazing Race.
Take a look at NYT pictures from Africa including Victoria Falls.