Virtual Voyager #6 - Military

Empires rise and fall based on their military's ability or inability to expand and protect it. 

Today, many countries maintain militaries for the same reasons.  Go to Yahoo Kids World Factbook (http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook/flags) and find your country. 

Then use the tabs to locate military information and answer the following questions:



1.  What are the military branches maintained by your country?

2.  a. What is the legal age of service for individuals in your country's military? 
     b. Is military service voluntary (by choice) or involuntary (required)? 
     c. Why do you think that is?

3.  a.  What percent of your country's GDP does your country spend on its military? 
     b. What is your countries GDP? [Use the tab to locate economy, find GDP (purchasing power parity)]
     c.  Calculate the price the government pays for the military.  (If you want to use a calculator, you may.  You can also use this percentage calculator (http://www.csgnetwork.com/csgpercent.html). 

8th Grade - Discovering Lewis and Clark

After the United States acquired the Louisiana Territory, President Jefferson commissioned an expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.  Along with an exploration party, the men traveled from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean collecting plant and animal specimens as well as data about the geography and people in the territory.

Today you will travel (virtually) in the footsteps of the expedition party and report back 5 facts you learned along the way.  Please take the time to read the information, study the maps and images, and write thoughtful facts about the people, places, and nature of the Louisiana Purchase.

Discovering Lewis and Clark (http://www.lewis-clark.org/) is managed by the Fort Mandan Foundation in the GREAT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA!  The discovery paths listed in the menu on the left-hand side of the page.  When you click on a topic, another menu opens on the right-hand side of the page.  You might find the amount of information over-whelming...just think what it was like for Lewis and Clark!