What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a new idea, inspired by a fellow social studies teacher, Mr. McClung, and his class blog. Here's how it works:

Every Monday (or sooner) students will have the opportunity to go onto the class blog to view a CNN Student News video. On Wednesday, we will be taking the first 5 minutes of class to discuss the videos. (It is important for students to make arrangements to view the video at school if they do not have internet access at home.) Students will be evaluated on discussion participation, and there will also be an occasional assignment. In the case of an assignment, I will show the video in class.


For our first What's Up Wednesday, we will be viewing a video on the Occupy Movement. Be prepared to discuss the following questions:
1) When in history have people protested?
2) Why do people protest?
3) Why are the Occupy protesters protesting?

Affluenza? No, not me!

After all of the Black Friday craziness this past weekend, I thought it would be a good time to hold a class discussion on the "Affluenza" epidemic that is spreading rapidly across America.

Definition of Affluenza:

An extreme form of materialism resulting from the excessive desire for material goods.

The definition that I used with students was taken from the book, Affluenza:The All Consuming Epedemic,

("Affluenza is) a painful, contagious, socially-transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more."

Our pursuit to happiness has led us on a misguided pursuit for more. This pursuit has ironically not brought us happiness, but rather a sense of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with life. This overspending and over-consumption has had other side effects including: wasted time, stress, being overworked, debt, inability to take care of live's "needs," and at times, violence and rage. At a nationwide level, Affluenza has led to the current economic state/financial crisis that the country is currently in. As our individual amount of debt is rising, so is our country's. Check out the following site to see the national debt: National Debt Clock.

Why are people pepper spraying someone else for a $2.00 waffle maker? Probably the same reason you are throwing a huge fit for getting a DSi, instead of a 3DS for Christmas. WE WANT MORE!

The Real Housewives of Plymoth Rock

Here are some videos and links to learn some facts about what really happened on the First Thanksgiving!

The History of Thanksgiving (Video)

Thanksgiving Virtual Tours

Plymoth Plantation YouTube Channel

Deconstructing the Mayflower (Video)

Interactive Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Maps

Climate Project

Before working on Tuesday's activity, finish your climate graph for Iowa with your partner. You can find the data on this link: Climate in Iowa




For Tuesday 11/22:


Go to Google Maps and select a location around the world. Write this location on a yellow tab (I have them) and write your name on the back. (Leave some space on the left side for the pin.)

Find this location on the world map bulletin board in the room. Place your yellow tab on the map with a push pin.


On a sheet of paper, put the name of your location and your name at the top, then answer the following questions about the climate of your location:
#1 Predict; What do you think the average temperatures will be like, and why do you think that?
#2 Predict; What do you think the average precipitation will be like, and why do you think that?
KEEP YOUR PAPER


Now click on the link below:


Weather.com


Enter your locations City, Country, or Zip Code


Click on the "Monthly" Tab, then scroll down to find (and click) the "Averages" Tab.
Use the data of max and min (high and low) temperatures to find the average/mean temperature for each month. Chart this data by creating a line graph for the average monthly temperatures.
Scroll down on the page to find average precipitation. Chart this data by creating a bar graph for the average monthly amount of precipitation.


When finished, get out your sheet of paper from earlier. Complete the following:
#3 Using the data from your graph, describe the average temperatures for your location.
#4 Using the data from your graph, describe the average precipitation for your location.
#5 Were your predictions from #1,#2 correct?