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!

Virtual Voyager #5 - Let's Celebrate!

As we finish up our study of Ancient Greece, we have learned that traditions and celebrations define one culture from another as well as unite people regionally, ethnically, and/or religiously.  The following link, "It's International" (http://www.topics-mag.com/internatl/center.htm), is a site containing a variety of holidays, celebrations, games, and stories that define people 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 from the DVD "Hercules."

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  

VMS Election Day 2012

It was an exciting Election Day at Vernon Middle School.  Mr. Brase and Mrs. Woerner's 8th grade Social Studies classes organized an all school general election.  Rooms were decorated, ballot boxes were created, and polling booths were constructed.  Both classes conducted exit polls too.

In the end, with over 70% of the popular vote, President Obama won the election.  VMS has accurately predicted previous election results and it appears that our middle schoolers have their finger on the pulse of the nation as they accurately predicted the election results again!  

Congratulations President Obama and Vice President Biden.  Congratulations 8th graders for recreating a memorable voting experience for all of VMS' students and staff!

Excitement at the polls!

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 Yahoo Kids (http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook).  Hint:  They are in alphabetical order!  

2.  Then, click the PEOPLE tab and scroll down to RELIGIONS.  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. 

Virtual Voyager #3 - Government

Whose the boss?  Your country doesn't run by itself and once you understand who is in power and the definition of that power, you will begin to see how a government impacts society and economy.  Your task is to research your country's government type and define it, to identify your country's leader(s) and their titles, and to summarize the length of time that person(s) is in power.

Begin by using Yahoo Kids World Factbook (http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook) to look up your country.  When you open your country, click on the government tab.  READ the headings to locate desired information.  Then, using Kids Net (http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/fo/Form_of_government) find your country's government type to learn more about it.

Reflect on the following questions and post your response on the blog.

3 =  List your country's capital city, the date of elections, and the length of service.

2 = Name 2 official leaders and their titles.

1 = In your opinion, what does that government type mean for your country and its people?

Virtual Voyager #2

Now that you know where in the world to absolutely and relatively find your country, it is time to uncover how your country economically survives year after year.  Your task is three-fold.

First, click on the Fact Monster Link http://sf.factmonster.com/countries.html and find your country in the alphabetical list.   Then, you are required to use the Fact Monster site to look up the United States' economic information (blue column, left-hand side).  You will be looking for your country's Monetary Unit, GDP, Income Per Capita, Inflation, Unemployment, Exports, Imports, and Trading Partners.  Both the data from your country and the United States will be recorded on the Virtual Voyager handout.

Lastly, you are going to "Sum It Up" in $2.00 or less.  Each word costs $.10 therefore a summary sentence for each economic comparison needs to be 20 words or less.  Your sentences will create a paragraph and use proper spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and transitions.  Your paragraph will be 10 sentences long including and introduction and conclusion.
For example, Mrs. Aschbrenner's country is Colombia.  She learns the monetary unit of Colombia is a Colombian Peso.  The GDP is $470.7 billion, the average per capita is $10,100, and inflation is 3.7%.  Colombia's unemployment is 19.8%, it exports $56.5 billion in goods, and it imports $54.7 in goods.  Colombia's trading partners include US, Venezuela, Ecuador, China, Mexico, and Brazil.  Mrs. Aschbrenner researches and records the same data for the US.  Now it is time to "Sum It Up" in $2.00.

Virtual Voyager #1 - Geography

     A few weeks ago, you became a country's newest student ambassador when you drew the country's name and checked out a book/culturegram.  For some students, their countries were familiar and for others, their countries were very foreign.  Regardless, you are now linked to that country and you will be together all year long!  Today, your task will be two-fold.  (That means you have to do two things...)
     First, you will need to summarize your country's absolute location in 20 words or less.  HINT - Absolute location includes an exact "address" in which your country is located.  (Latitude/Longitude, hemisphere(s), continent, capital, etc.)  Then, you will need to summarize your country's relative location in 20 words or less.  HINT - Relative location includes other countries or landforms that can be found in and/or around your country's location.
     For example, image I was assigned the United States of America.  In 20 words or less, I need to summarize the absolute location of the USA.
1.  Located in the Northern and Western Hemispheres, the USA and its capital, Washington D.C., are located at 38°53′N/77°01′W. (19 words)
In 20 words or less, I need to summarize the relative location of the USA.
2. The USA is bordered by Canada (north), Mexico (south), the Pacific Ocean (west), and the Atlantic Ocean (east). (18 words)
     Make sure you proofread and post using your class code (1A, 1W, 2A, 4W, etc) as well as your first and last name. This will be graded.

Welcome to Mrs. Aschbrenner’s & Mrs. Woerner’s 7th Grade Social Studies!

This year, our study will focus on the Eastern Hemisphere from ancient civilizations to the present.  We will be using Social Studies: The World as well as primary sources, activities, projects, videos, and readers’ theater to expand our understanding of history, geography, government, economics, and society.