Week 5, Due 3/6

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for the late post, I've been sick with a bad cold.

We'll have eight persuasive presentations this week, so take time to prepare and practice!  Remember the qualities we admired from last week's presentations and implement them in your own.

Since most everyone is busy prepping for their presentations this week, the only other work consists of doing some or all of the two sheets in your Europe materials that have suggested activities for study and further enrichment (artists, composers and other such figures). I've decided that everyone should do some of those sheets (pick three or four sections of interest to you) and those who want extra credit can do all parts.

I thought the presentations last Friday were excellent.  It's been fun and so encouraging to watch each of you grow in your ability to communicate effectively to a group.  You are also growing in your ability to offer encouraging and helpful feedback to your classmates.

I look forward to this week's round of presentations!  Prep and practice, practice, practice! ; )

Mrs. Price

Snow Week Work For February 2/28

I hope you enjoyed the light snow flurries we had Friday.

In light of the extra week, please complete your Europe sheets this week.  If there are sheets you do understand or are not sure how to finish, ask me about them Friday.

So, work on your sheets and presentations this week.  See you Friday!

Mrs. Price

Week 4, Due 2/21

Your work this week is to prepare for your persuasive presentations which will take place in two rounds according to this schedule:

Choosing a topic and preparing for this presentation per the criteria I introduced in class is your sole work for the week. 

Here it is in brief, but it should also be in your notes/photos

Persuasive Speech MUSTS
*Purpose: to change a person's point of view (POV) or behavior
*Topic: something you care about personally
*Length: 5 minutes (4:30-5:30) STRICT!
*Structure:
                Hook
                Intro speaker and topic  "Hello, my name is..."  "I am talking about..." 
                                                      (use WHY with conditional tense..."why schools should begin
                                                       later for teenagers)
                                                       keep your statement simple and easy to grasp
                Determine/define problem
                Provide solution (or potential solutions)
                Address counterarguments
                Offer a "take away" and thank audience for their time.


Next week expect additional worksheet work as we wrap up our overview of Europe, so whether you present this Friday or next, you need to build in time for that and get started.

If you would like to run your topic by me, feel free to email me. 

Week 3, Semester 2--Due 2/14

Read this chapter about Western Europe from the book Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall.

Save a copy of this guide and complete it as you read.

This reading will give you a better idea of how geography and politics shape each other as well as a better understanding of some of the tensions and issues present in Europe.

Watch this video on the difference between informative and persuasive speeches:
Informative vs. Persuasive
What are the key differences between them? Write them down.

Watch the following persuasive speeches.  What techniques did each use to effectively persuade their audiences? Make a list for each as you watch.

Why should schools start later for teens? (10:00)
Kids need recess (3:30)
The Power and the Importance of Reading (3:00)
Being an Introvert is a Good Thing (5:00)

Next week we'll launch into our next speech---persuasive.

Week 2, Semester 2--Due 2/7

Here are a few things to get you started....more to come.

1. Ask your parents about any European ancestry you may have.  Try to find out the names of as many great-grandparents as you can (you should have 8) and which countries they may have come from.  Write this down.  If your parents don't know that's totally fine, but I want you to inquire. ; )  They may tell you that they don't know but that "so and so" knows.  If that's the case, make note of that too.

2. Learn the countries of Europe on Sheppard Software here:

Geography of Europe

Work through the learning level (L) then work through level 1 trying to identify the countries region by region (notice the drop down region menu to the left).

3. You'll also notice the info bar to the left that has links to information about all the countries.

A. Pick one country from your "list of European countries I'd like to know more about," click on the link for that country and  read about. Write down three interesting or important things you learned from your reading.

B. Pick one country you know absolutely nothing about (maybe never even heard of!) click on the link, read about it and do the same---find and write down three interesting or important things.

More to come, but that should get the early birds started. ; )

Photo ID:
Who can identify the European city that is the backdrop photo on the blog?  I have a small prize and bragging rights to the first one who emails me the correct name.  Tuesday Update--Willa got it!  Florence, Italy.  Great job Willa. : )

NEWLY ADDED WORK:

• Use the internet intelligently to do QUALITY research on the items listed on the following pages in the Europe packet I handed out last week: pp. 134-139

• Correct your Europe pre-quiz---notice what you missed, highlight it with a highlighter.  Be sure you learn these at Shepphard software and/or by studying through repetition.  Here is a link to a blank Europe map exactly like the one in class if you want to practice.

That's it for this week.  See you Friday.  Anticipate a possible Europe country quiz since you've been practicing!

Week 1, Semester 2--Due 1/27

Hello Everyone,

We are back at it this Friday.  I hope you've had a restful winter break, and I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday.

We will launch into the geography of Europe Friday, so please create a Europe tab in your notebook.

Your work for Friday is to watch this video about Europe's geography.  It's about an hour and ten minutes long, but I like it because it covers geography, history, and culture. Take SOME notes while you watch.  It will present a LOT of information, so you won't be able to catch it all, but define terms put on the screen (ex. arable) and jot down a few highlights for each country that is discussed at any length.  These notes will be the first grade of this semester, so be sure to bring them to class Friday.

Week 1, January 31st

Hello Everyone,

We will start back 2nd semester on January 31st when the rest of the non-science classes resume.  I know you'll have some down time in January, and some of you have asked for additional work to keep busy or improve your performance in this class. If you are interested in this type of extra-level work, please read one of the following books over break. Many of them are available at your local library or inexpensively online:

Tim Marshall, Prisoners of Geography

Tim Marshall, The Age of Walls

Great Maps, the World's Masterpieces Explored and Explained

Robert Kaplan, the Revenge of Geography

Jared Diamond--Guns, Germs, and Steel

Do let me know if you would like to pursue this option by shooting me an email and telling me the name of the work you plan to read.  Again, this is not required work, just 1) extra work to improve your performance and/or 2) enrichment work because you are curious and diligent. ; )

In the meanwhile, Happy 2020 and enjoy the quiet of January,

Mrs. Price