Week 7, 3/27

Last minute note---if you have a short video clip of your animal (3 minutes or less, or a section of a longer one) feel free to send a link to me.  If we have time, we can share those clips too. We should be able to meet for the full 1:20 tomorrow. ; )

Hello Everyone,

I apologize for the delayed posting of work, but you know the situation. ; )  I am trying to figure out a lot of things at once.

Let's plan to meet this Friday via Zoom.  Please create a Zoom account and plan for us to meet me on Friday morning 3/27 at 10:00.  We'll only meet for 40 minutes as that's the max a free Zoom meeting can last.  I sent you an invitation in your email, but here's the info too:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/917628758

Meeting ID: 917 628 758

For Friday, please do the following:

*Delay the haiku---just don't know we will have time for that and other things with the limited video.


Review Australian Geography Slideshow
*Review the Australia slideshow I presented in class and finish it (we just had a few more to go)



Australian Animal Research & Mini-Presentation/Guessing Game
*Sign up here for an Australian animal you'd like to learn more about and present on Friday.  I'm creating a list so that we don't duplicate each other.

Here's what you need to do to prepare:

1. Choose an Australian animal no one else has and sign up.
2. Do some research on this animal from at least three different internet sources. Look for quality.
3. Write a well developed paragraph on what you learned.  Name your document this way please:  Australian Animal: [name of animal]
4. Share the document with me via Google Docs.  elizabethjprice@gmail.com
5. Your presentation will include a True/False guessing game.  First you will share a little bit about your animal in a general way (name habitat, whatnot...about 15-30 seconds). Then, you will share five "facts" about your animal.  Four of these facts should be TRUE and one FALSE.  Your classmates will then try to guess which one is false.  Try to use interesting facts..things that are not obvious and everyone does not know. ; )
6. Post a good picture of your animal on this Australian Padlet board.  Create an account on Padlet too so that we can identify you.

Need help finding Australian animals? Here is a place to start or just google "Australian animals" for more.  I'm sure there are many!

Geography of Oceania

Learn the Geography of Oceania on Sheppard Software here.  Please master the countries, landscapes, and oceans of this region. Be sure you go through:

• Learn
• Level 1 and/or Games

Australian Videos to Watch
Watch the following Lonely Planet videos about Australia:

Introducing Australia (2:30 minutes)
Sydney & the Blue Mountains (3 minutes)
The Lighting of the Sails--Sydney Opera House 2019---so beautiful!
The Kimberly (3 minutes)
Great Barrier Reef  (3 minutes)
Kangaroo Island (3 minutes)
Uluru: Australia's Rock of Ages (4 minutes)
Uluru Drone Footage (you don't have to watch the whole thing, but it's interesting to get views)


That's it!  See you Friday on Zoom.

Week 6, Due 3/13

Hello Everyone,

Sorry to not verify the work until now---I was sick last week and between that and the coronavirus crazy, I guess I blipped out.

The work for this week is to complete the Australian sheets and map per the directions that I gave in class.  If you have questions about this, check with a classmate.

Also on Friday, Willa and Caleb will finish up the persuasive presentations.

See you on Friday and then we get to go on "Spring Break"!

Mrs. Price

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!