Wow What A Revolution!

The war is over and the Americans have gained their freedom when the Prime Minsiter of England, along with Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams placed their signatures on the Treaty of Paris in 1783. You are back home (or the one who fought for you family) and things are going to be different now, however you still harbor feelings about the war. Using what you learned about the particular battles during the Revolutionary War along with the clips from "The Patriot" to explain how you feel about coming home from the war. In addition to coming home, how has your world changed due to the American victory. In this entry be as detailed as possible to take us through your thoughts about what is going to happen now that the Revolution has been won. Questions to ponder:

1. How will you make money?
2. Will you buy land?
3. How much rebuilding of the cities will need to take place?
4. What will be your role in the rebuilding process?
5. What is going to happen to the land won in the French and Indian War?
6. What are you going to do the next Independence Day (4th of July)?

Here are some links that will help in bringing realism to your blog entry:

American Revolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution

Post Revolution
http://www.harlingen.isd.tenet.edu/coakhist/amrev.html#POST

Happy Blogging!

I'm Off To the War Mom....

You have just been summoned by your colony to go fight in the war against Britain and you just got to the point where your life was where you wanted it. However, you agree with why the war needs to take place. In a blog entry explain your last 3 days that you will spend before you go to war. Please include the following:

* Reflections on your feelings about the events that lead up to the war
* What you will say to your family and friends (it's fine to pretend you are an adult with a family)
* What activities you will participate in considering this may be your last chance to do some of the things you've always wanted to do.
* Explain your emotions about going to war
* Include important people involved in the fight for freedom that either have an impact on you or on your decision to join the continental army.

You may include a any additional information, but make sure you use your background knowledge to make your blog entry as realistic as possible as if you were actually there in the 1700's. You can refer to your notes to provide details for your entry.

Please title your blog: I'm Off To War...

Special Note: For you ladies, considering women were not allowed to fight in the army you may not want to pretend to be a boy going off to war. So, in light of this fact, you can reply from a mother's perspective who's husband or sons are going off to war.

Happy blogging.

If you need some help with background information, you can watch this video about the Road to the Revolution.

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=144117&title=Road_To_The_Revolution&ref=imaginebeingbetter

The Voyage

Pretend you are a West African living in the early 1700's. Write a blog entry describing one day of your life in West Africa; A day in your life during the Middle Passage; and a day of your life after arriving North America.

Your entry should include:

1. An accurate description of what happened to you on that day.
2. An explanation of the dilemma you faced
3. An explanation of how you dealt with the dilemma and why you reacted that way.

Dream Makers vs. Dream Breakers... A program with a REAL Message!

Today you witnessed a truly inspirational presentation about understanding what it took to be a Champion and how to live that life every day. Mr. Lowery, of Commandos! USA presented a notion to us after demonstrating his amazing strength, and that idea was about differentiating between a Dream Maker and a Dream Breaker. In your blog response today, I would like for you to express yourselves openly in regards to this idea. Include these thoughts in your response:

1. What is the difference between a Dream Maker and a Dream Breaker?
2. In which category do you fall?
3. What personal experiences have you had with either Dream Makers and/or Dream Breakers?
4. How can you either change from a Dream Breaker to a Dream Maker or what example can you set, including what things you can do that will encourage yourself while influencing others to hang out with Dream Makers or become one themselves.

Don't hesitate to put yourself in a vulnerable position with this entry. This is our moment to understand who we are and as it was said, you are fearfully and wonderful made. That means, you are a Masterpiece and no outside labels should be able to convince you any differently.

Happy Blogging!

If I Were Astro Boy...

There will not be a reading blog this week. Hold your applause, instead you will concentrate on your creative writing piece regarding Astro Boy. You are to watch the video, (a larger version available on our media website) and then respond by creating an adventure as if you were Astro Boy saving the world. The idea is to be the actual creation and come up with the mechanical devices that would be apart of your framework. Anything from extra strength in some form, rockets on your feet, to super breath; anything goes as long as each item has a purpose in helping defeat all odds in saving the world. The movie clip is to serve as you inspiration as you begin to write. Each story must:

1. Have a beginning, middle, and end.
2. Involve an antagonistic villian that is trying to destroy Earth.
3. Contain two additional characters that aid in the quest.

The adventures will be submitted as a blog entry and must have an illustration of the main character posted as well.

The best story, as voted on by your peers (may include some 5th graders from other classes), will receive two (2) movie passes to see Astro Boy at the AMC Theatres. The best illustration will also be decided by peer vote and the winner will receive the same prize.

Questions to ponder while writing:

What is my main idea?
What is the setting of my adventure?
What adjectives will help the reader visualize my adventure?
Who are the characters involved and in what manner do they affect the story?
What is the conflict?
Why is their conflict?
When does this all happen?



Just a few questions to get your story web started. Have fun with this. You have until Wednesday, October 28 to complete this assignment.

Happy Adventuring!

Here is another clip to inspire you!

Tearing Off The Labels: Assignment #2

I notice that many of you are having a ton of fun being creative with the Tearing Off the Labels lesson. However, it's time to move on, so you need to get serious about finishing your project and getting it posted on your blog. So, here are the directions given on Tuesday to guide you in completing your work.

1. Finish your "Tearing Off The Labels" music.
2. Write lyrics to fit your music that deals with tearing off YOUR labels.
3. Place your music in a blog and write your lyrics as a new post and publish so others can listen to your music and read your song at the same time. (Go to smittieskids.com and click on tutorials if you don't remember how to do this. Title your new post: Tearing Off My Labels Song
4. Read other entries posted by your classmates and make a comment on at least 2 blogs. (make sure your comments are appropriate and positive)

Also, don't forget to add to the sidebar of your blog and "follow" my blog in order for you to make sure you get the assignments when they are posted.

Along with that, for your listening pleasure, I have added the Reality Ride and Defense Mechanism songs to my blog. So enjoy.

Tearing Off The Labels: Assignment #1

This blogging assignment involves the lesson on Tearing Off Labels. Use our discussion and your own personal thoughts to create a blog entry that includes your responses to the following:

Is there a downside to having labels?
What are some things other people like about you?
What are some things that you like about yourself?
What are some labels you have been given (Positive or negative)?
Why do you think you might have been given those labels?
If you live up to your negative labels, where do you think they might get you?
If you live up to your positive labels, where might they get you?

Please be careful and not just list answers to the questions above. Instead create a explanation written in a casual conversational tone that includes your answers to the questions. If you want to listen to the label song while you blog to give you ideas of how to answer these questions, or provide ideas for your song that will eventually go along with this assignment, you can click the media player to your right.

Happy Blogging!

Was That Really Fair? Assignment #1 2nd 6-Week

As you become more comfortable with blogging it is now time to assess your work. Your first assignment for the second six-week grading period is pretty simple. Blog about your day at the Texas State Fair (if you choose to go on Fair Day). Your blog entry should include a complete description using at 25 adjectives that helps the reader, in this case me, gain a better knowledge of your day be involving all of my senses. I need to be able to visualize your day through the adjectives you choose describe each event. If you do not go to the State Fair on Monday, I still need you to give an account of your day's events with the same approach. We talked about adjectives and sequence of events so the blog should be fairly simple.
As you write, don't forget to use your sequencing words:

Next,
Then,
After that,
After (previous subject),
Afterwards,
Following (previous subject),
Finally,
Once that was done,
Once we finished,
When we finished,
When that was over,
At 2:00,
In the car,
During the show,
Upon returning home,

Have some fun with this and happy blogging.

Due by 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Future Quest Lesson 1

FutureQuest Blog - Create a blog entry that discusses what it looks like and sounds like to be a respectful, trustworthy, and thoughtful student both at home and in the classroom. (You can use the FutureQuest graphic organizer as a guide.) Then talk about the characteristics that you hvae and/or need to be a successful student. Try to use the words respectful, responsible, obedient, peaceful, honest, trustworthy, and thoughtful in your entry. Next, talk about how these traits will help you gt to college; your ultimate goal. you can include information regarding what you plan to do in life and how these traits apply. Finally, publish your entry with the title: FutureQuest Lessson 1.

Happy Blogging.

Why Are Plants and Algae Important In An Aquarium

Re-read the information on Duckweed, Elodea, and Algae and answer this question:

Why are plants and algae important in an aquarium?

Write you answer in your science journal and then create a blog entry using the question as your title an type in your answer. Start your entry by explaining to your audience why you are writing this assignment. (i.e. We did an experiment with ecosystems and we used Duckweed, Elodea, and Algae to align our aquarium...)

Happy Blogging

Welcome To The Blog

Here we go... blogging to have our personal views and in-depth ideas expressed in a way that is unique to our own voices. We use blogging in Smittie's class to allow students to talk about what they think and what they learn while they are learning. Smittie's K.I.D.S. will have a plethora of opportunities to blog during experiments, classroom activities, or the blog will be used to submit writing assignments involving all subjects. This blog, Smittie's blog, will serve as the hub for the explanation of the assignments along with my own thoughts about the state of the classroom. Students will receive rss feeds on their personal blogs when instructions are uploaded and anyone will be able to check this "hub" blog to see the completions of those assignments in particular. Anyone will also be able to find links to our other media outlets such as our wiki page, hub website, and media website where all class videos and most podcast will be held.

All blogs will earn a grade and there is a rubric that serves as a guide when completing blogging assignments. You can obtain a copy of the rubric on our hub page. http://smittieskids.com Click on the resource tab and locate Blogging Rubric.

Another issue is the proper use of blogging. Go to the link below and learn about Online "dos and dont's" and watch the video to prepare yourself for discussion and a short online quiz.

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Kids/Fun%20things%20to%20do/Video/Online%20dos%20and%20donts.aspx

Happy Blogging