Week of 17-21 November

Hey guys, sorry for the delay in posts, more technical difficulties...

Monday: Today we will be finishing our discussion on alternative energy sources like hydroelectricty, solar power, and biofuel.We will also discuss the importance of alternative, renewable energy sources.We will end class by beginning a discussion on the Amazon Rain Forest. Also, your research paragraph is due today. No homework tonight.

Tuesday: Today will move on to a new lesson on the land use conflict in the Amazon Rain Forest, and how six different groups differ in their opinion of how the Amazon should be used, and how it should be split up between Amazonian tribes, rubber tappers, loggers, settlers, cattle ranchers, and environmentalists.

For homework, write 2-3 sentences in response to the following question: Should the Amazon Rain Forest be preserved or used for its resources, or both? Why or why not? Remember, this question is just an opinion, don't do any research!!! I just want your own thoughts!



Wednesday: Today is a half day, and we will begin looking at the perspectives of these six different groups in the Amazon. We will also talk about Fordlandia, which was Henry Ford's (like the car company) attempt at building his own town in the Amazon Rain Forest. It didn't work out so well...



Thursday: We will dive deeper into our discussion of the Land Use Conflict in the Amazon today, finishing our research of the different interest groups, and clarify any information as well as answer any questions you might have. For homework, you will have to write 4-5 sentences on which group you sympathize the most with. You may sympathize with a number of groups, but you must choose one main group whose point you wish to argue.



Friday: Today we will have a debate in class, splitting up into the six groups according to which group we most sympathize with. We will have an organized argument between all six sides, and see what we learn from the arguments of the other groups. For homework, you will follow up your paragraph from the night before with 4-5 sentences on what you learned from the debate. For example: Have you changed your mind? Did anybody persuade you to sympathize more with another group? Or did you change anybody's mind? Write about anything you took away from the debate, even if you don't think you took much. Both paragraphs will be due on Monday.

Week of 10-14 November

Monday: Today we will be discussing the origins and history of Veteran's Day, which will be tomorrow, 11 November. We'll also spend some class time discussing our own connections with veterans, as well as all of those individuals from Plymouth and other local towns who have served their country and how we can honor and remember them.

While Veteran's Day is a day set aside to remember everyone who has served, it's especially important to remember those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice.



 Tuesday there will be no class due to Veteran's Day.


Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we will do some critical reading on Energy and the Environment in South America. We'll read some articles about the use of ethanol, the technology behind hydroelectricity, and the rapid spread of solar power as a reliable source of energy. The cool part: all of this applies to you guys! Your generation will certainly see a greater importance in alternative energy, and this stuff will only get more and more commonplace as the years go by, so learn about it now!

We will be conducting "close reading", where we read, summarize the main idea of the article, and then take a look at the Guiding Question and read the article more closely, this time annotating as we read.It's a great skill set to learn because it helps us "devour" the stuff the read!!! (Not with peanut butter and jelly.)

For homework, over the weekend you will have to complete Step 5, where you will write a neat, complete paragraph answering the Guiding Question for your article. Remember, rough drafts should be written and edited on a separate piece of paper, and then copied neatly onto your worksheet as a final draft. However, I will only be collecting the worksheet for your homework grade. Be sure that your paragraph consists of: 1 topic sentence (what is your argument or the reason you are writing?), 2-3 detail sentences (evidence to back up your claim), and 1 conclusion sentence (to wrap things up). Due on Monday!

The Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam in Brazil.

Week of 5 - 7 November

Hello, and welcome to the blog!

This will be the temporary site until Ms. Hathaway returns from her civic duties, where you can see an overview of class, as well as the homework every day. When I can, I will post any handouts online so you can print them out in case they are lost, and when I can't, I'll still post what the homework is (if any). Enjoy the blog, and go out there and learn something!

Wednesday: Today we're finishing our map game, and I will post the scores online for all to see. We'll also enjoy a little history behind Bonfire Day (which is today in the UK!), and then move onto a quick "Wordsplash" on South America, writing down everything that comes to mind when we think of South America (this will be #18 in your Table of Contents). We will then begin drawing a Mental Map of the continent of South America (TOC #19), and your homework is to complete the map. It must include the following:

1. A compass rose
2. The equator
3. Any land masses/bodies of water that border South America
4. Hot, humid areas (shaded in green)
5. Cold, arctic areas (shaded in light blue)
6. Areas with a high population (marked in red)

Remember, you are not expected to have a perfect map!!! You will be graded on effort, not accuracy, as this is your first map of South America. So show some effort for a perfect grade!


Happy Bonfire Day!

Thursday: Today we are sharing our mental maps, and then moving onto more accurate map-making. We will begin by making a physical map of South America, and learning how to show all of the natural features of the continent on a map. No homework tonight!

Cerro Roraima, on the border of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil. Also the inspiration for the cliffs in Disney's "Up."

Friday: Today we are continuing our physical maps and completing them (Amazon River, Amazon Basin, and Andes Mountains) before moving onto our Political Maps. If you remember, the difference between the two is that physical maps show the natural terrain of the land, whereas political maps show the politically-decided borders of the map. Sometimes, political features match physical ones, like when a country uses a river to mark its border. For homework, you will need to complete and color in your political map. That means it includes country names, capital cities, borders, and no two countries that share a border can be the same color! Good luck, and have a good weekend all!

South American political map from 1864! Notice how different some of the countries are today.