Virtual Voyager #8 - News Story v. Feature Story

     Before winter break, all 7th graders participated in Newspapers in Education learning about newspaper format, news stories, feature stories, editorials, photojournalism, sports and entertainment, and classifieds.  (You can review your work in your interactive notebooks.  See your Q2 "Table of Contents" and "December" entries.)
     Your VV #8 task involves your country and current events.  Using one of the news websites, search for your country and select a recent story that made the news.

• ABC News
• BBC News
• CBS News
• Cedar Rapids Gazette
• CNN Student News
• Current Events Link
• NBC News
• Wall Street Journal

First, READ THE STORY.  As you read think about:
1.  a.  WHO it is about.
     b.  WHAT it is about.
     c. WHERE (relative and absolute) it is taking place.
     d.  WHEN (date, time, season, day, night, etc.) it is taking place.
     e. WHY it is being reported.
     f.  HOW it has affected those involved.

2.  a.  Is this a news story or feature story?  Explain.
     b.  Copy and paste the website (for future reference)

HINT:  Dictionary.com defines a news story as a news report of any length, usually presented in a straightforward style and without editorial comment.  A feature story is a newspaper or magazine article or report of a person, event, an aspect of a major event often having a personal slant and written in an individual style. 

Example - Argentina Cunard cruise ship threatened after flying British flag in Bueros Aires
1. a.  WHO: Captain of the Queen Victoria, British Foreign Office, Carnival UK, and Argentine government
b.  WHAT:  The ship had been threatened with a very punitive fine – about 10,000 US dollars – if the captain didn't take down it's red ensign flag while in Argentine waters.
c.  WHERE:  Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, and Buenos Aires
d.  WHEN:  Thursday, February 13, 2014
e.  WHY:  The United Kingdom and Buenos Aires continue to fight over the possession of the Falkland Islands.  Buenos Aires maintains its rule over the islands and the oil reserves there.  The island inhabitants want to remain under UK's protection.
f.  HOW:  The British Foreign Office views this as another example of unacceptable harassment and intimidation by Argentina.

2.  a.  This is a news story because it is presented in a straightforward style and without editorial 
          comment.
     b.  http://www.theguardian.com/global/2014/feb/13/cunard-cruise-ship-british-flag-buenos-aires-argentina

8th grade Dispossessed People Project

 

Indians and Western Expansion

In 1830 the Indian Removal Act authorized the removal of eastern tribes to locations west of the Mississippi.  Then in 1862 Congress passed the Homestead Act, promising farmers free land.  This started a wave of settlers rushing into the West.  These two acts confirmed the right of settlers to move Indians wherever they found them, so as people moved west, Indians were pushed out of their lands.  Some of the tribes resisted invasion, attacking settlers and fighting the cavalry, and some just gave up their land for territory farther west (from which they were often later evicted).  By 1890 no Indian titles to land were left and the Native American population had been largely restricted to reservations on poor land.

Project Requirements:

1.     You will choose one tribe to research.

2.    Then, pretend you are leader of this tribe and it is your responsibility to try to find an amiable agreement with the white settlers that will protect your people’s rights to live and hunt or farm on lands you have occupied for hundreds of years.

3.    Write a letter using Lettrs to the leaders of the white people explaining the following things:

a.     Who you are and where you live using imagery or language that appeals to the senses.  (Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses.)

b.     How your tribe has used the land for hunting, farming, fishing, or trading using similes or a figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words “like” or “as.” 

c.     What problems the western expansion is causing your tribe using metaphors or a figure of speech that involves an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of be.  The comparison is not announced by “like” or “as.”  (Example: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.)

d.     How you feel about the present conditions using alliterations or repeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words.  Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call attention to important words, and point out similarities and contrasts.  (Example: wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken.)

e.     What you feel would be fair compromise and what you want the government to do about it using dependent clauses or AAAWWUBBIS (After, Although, As, When, While, Until, Because, Before, If, Since)

4.    You may include a map showing the territory where you live

5.    Revise and edit your letter to include vocabulary from LA list and write it in a proper letter format.

Native American Cultures
National Museum of the American Indian
List of Native American Tribes and Languages
American Indian Tribes A-Z
National Congress of American Indians
FactMonster - American Indian Tribes
Native American Facts for Kids
Mr. Donn's Native Americans
Mr. Nussbaum's Native American Profiles
Kid Info - Native American Indian Facts

Virtual Voyager #7 - Rank Order

How does your country rank in the world?
     Using CIA Photius Ranking (http://www.photius.com/rankings/), click on LIST OF COUNTRIES tab (top, right-side).  Then, select your country from the alphabetized list.  On your country's fact page, look at the blue column on the left-hand side to find and click on COUNTRY RANKS.  Read through the ranking information and choose 4 different topics to report on (for example telephones, exports, hospital beds, and female literacy).
     Then, record the fields researched, your country's rank, and WHY YOU THINK THAT IS.  (You are going to have to use what you know about your country thus far to make an educated guess.)

FOR EXAMPLE:  ARGENTINA

1.  Internet users in Argentina are estimated 10 million people and ranked 27th in the world.  I think Argentina is ranked 27th because it is geographically remote and establishing internet connections outside of major cities is very difficult.

2. Argentina is ranked 24th in roadways with 229,144 km.  In addition to the geography limiting the amount of roads in Argentina, I think climate might affect the usefulness of a permanent road.  Rain and flooding probably wash out roads.  Additionally, due to the climate, the number of vehicles might be limited (warm weather) and people walk, ride animals, or bikes.

3.  Argentina produces 745,000 barrels per day ranking 26th in world oil production.  The countries producing more oil than Argentina are the typical large oil producers and Argentina would have to have vast oil reserves to keep up with the production of countries like Kuwait.

4.  Argentina is ranked 135th in world infant mortality rate.  That means per there are approximately 14 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births in Argentina.  Other countries ranking higher on the list are undeveloped or developing countries that do not have the resources for supporting infant lives.  Argentina must have hospitals and trained medical staff to keep the infant mortality rate low.

8th grade Ch. 10 Project-Based Learning Resources

Project-based learning is active and engaging learning where students are inspired to obtain deeper knowledge, improve communication and interpersonal/social skills, enhance leadership skills, increase creativity, and improve writing skills.  Confucius and Aristotle were early proponents of learning by doing. Socrates modeled how to learn through questioning, inquiry, and critical thinking.  "One of the major advantages of project work is that it makes school more like real life." --Sylvia Chard, University of Alberta

Once you are divided into groups and are assigned your topics of discovery, you will have one week to prepare a twenty minute lesson to teach the class.  You will be graded using a rubric that will evaluate the explanation of ideas and information, organization, eyes and body, voice, presentation aids, and response to audience questions.  Additionally, you will evaluate your group's participation as a team.

The following resources are available for you to dig deeper into textbook information and inspire you to design a creativity group presentation.   
MrDonn.org-American History
Lowell's Mill
Lowell Mill Girls
Industrial Revolution Video
The Erie Canal
Tariff of 1816
Interchangeable Parts
City Life in the 19th Century
The Second Bank of the US
Rural Life in the 19th Century
Roads 1750 to 1900
Steamboats
The American West
The Era of Good Feelings
The Era of "Good Feelings"
James Monroe
John C. Calhoun
Henry Clay
Daniel Webster
Missouri Compromise
Monroe Doctrine
Adams-Onis Treaty
San Martin meets Bolivar
McCulloch v. Maryland
John Marshall
Rush-Bagot Treaty
Rush-Bagot and Convention of 1818

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 CIA World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/) and find your country.

Then open the tab 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). 

7th Grade Virtual Voyager #5 - Celebrations

As we finish up our study of Ancient Rome, we have learned that traditions and celebrations define one culture from another as well as unite people regionally, ethnically, and/or religiously.  The following sites contain a variety of holidays, celebrations, games, and stories that define people around the world:
Holidays and Observances Around the World
It's International
Celebrations Around the World
Holiday Celebrations
Winter Celebrations
Festivals Around the World
New Year Celebrations Around the World

Scan the list of topics about food, dance, games, customs, traditions, crafts, names, superstitions, proverbs, folktales, and toys.  Look for your assigned country and read about the information available on that chosen topic.  Then, return to the blog and post a reflection using the story pyramid model.

Example:
Topic
Two strong words, defining the topic
Three words, describing the setting of the topic (when/where/how)
Four words, stating the origin/beginning of the topic
Five words, describing an interesting fact
Six words, describing a second interesting fact
Seven words, describing a third interesting fact
Eight words, stating why you chose the topic

Carnival
Brazil's Fame
Saturday through Thursday
Its not about history
Begins 40 days before Easter
The parade tells a different story annually
A time of camaraderie, freedom, no work
After seeing "Rio," I wondered why they partied 

Virtual Voyager #4 - Religion

So far in our study of ancient civilizations we have encountered Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.  We have also experienced Confucianism and Daoism as well as the varied beliefs of Mesopotamia and Egypt.  Regardless of who you are, where you live, or when you live, there are family or cultural ideas that direct the thoughts, actions, and deeds of a society.

Your task is to research the religion or ideals practiced by the people in your assigned country.


1.  Start by finding your country on Geographical Distribution of Major World Religions (http://www.worldreligions.psu.edu/maps-introduction.htm).

2.  Please note your country might have more than one.  Please report on the religion with the largest following.  If you are not familiar with the religion, make sure you visit URI Kids (http://www.uri.org/kids/world_hind.htm) and read about your country's religion.

3.  Lastly, return to the blog and report your findings in one of our Write to Learn strategies such as Think Back, 3-Minute Pause, 3-2-1, Dice, or RAFT.