Nauvoo Field Trip Reflection

Reflect on your field trip to Nauvoo this week.  Write a new blog post, and answer the following:

1. What was your favorite part of the trip, and why?
2. What is something new that you learned about how pioneers lived in the 1840's?  Explain.
3. What is something you learned about why the Mormons moved west in the 1840's?  Explain.
4. If you had to choose one thing you saw or heard in Nauvoo to research and learn more about, what would you choose?  Why?

8th Grade GOAL: Des Moines Trip Reflection

Write a blog post reflecting on our field trip last week to Des Moines to visit the Des Moines Art Center, Drake University, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, and the Science Center of Iowa (Crime Scene Lab, Dream Big IMAX film, Fire and Ice Demonstration, and Independent Museum Exploration).  Answer the following questions.  Include pictures, if you'd like, to illustrate your points.

1.  What was your favorite part of the trip, and why?
2.  At the art museum, you had to find 4 things: your favorite piece, best example of "art," celebrity award, and an example of Why is it "art?"  Give titles and artists, reflect, and include pictures if you'd like.
3.  What was the most educational part of the trip, and why?  What is something specific that you learned?
4.  What was the most fun part of the trip, and why?
5.  How does this trip fit the theme "Images of Greatness?"
6.  If you could improve the trip in any way for the group next year, what would you change?  Explain.

Publish and comment on the posts of others.

Deep Thinking Friday

Check out as many videos from http://thekidshouldseethis.com/ as you can watch.  If you have time, discuss the awesome stuff you watched!

History Day Reflection

Review the judges' form about your project for National History Day.  
On your blogs, complete the following reflection in paragraph form.  

1.  Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the category.   

2.  Do you agree with what the judges said about your project?  Why or why not?

3.  What is the most interesting thing you learned about your topic during your research?  Describe.

4.  What was the hardest part of this project, and why?

5.  How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.

6.  How could you improve your project?  Explain.

7.  What are you most proud of when it comes to the whole experience of this project?  Explain.

8.  If you have any genuine suggestions about how to improve this project or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

You can include a picture of your project or a link to your website or paper as well.

Please post and then comment on the posts of others in your class.

Images of Greatness Resources

As you 8th grade GOAL students are choosing your topics for Images of Greatness this spring, consider the following sites for reference:

Famous Biographies (Many categories)
Influential Americans
Honor Roll of Notable Women
100 Greatest Men of All Time
Time's 100 Most Significant Figures in History
100 Scientists Who Shaped World History
Great Artists in History
Spotlight: Inventors
A&E's 100 Most Influential People of the Millennium
The Most Important Leaders in World History

2018 Images of Greatness Project Requirements

Comparison/Contrast Paper

For your comparison/contrast paper, you may choose from the following topics:

• You may compare the movie to the play of The Diary of Anne Frank.
• You may compare Anne Frank to Elie Wiesel.
• You may compare Anne Frank or Elie Wiesel to any one character from one of your literature circle books.

Once you choose your topic, complete the following outline to organize your thoughts:

1. Introduction with thesis statement
2. 1st similarity
1. 1st Work
2. 2nd Work
3. 2nd smilarity
1.  1st Work
2. 2nd Work
4. 1st difference
1. 1st Work
2. 2nd Work
5. 2nd difference
1. 1st Work
2. 2nd Work
6. Conclusion

Write out your outline, and then you may compose at the keyboard or handwrite your first draft.  Take the paper through the writing process.  

Deep Thinking Friday: Are You a Giver or a Taker?

Are you a giver or a taker?

 

Geography Games

How well do you know your world?  Try some of these games to see!

Free Online Geography Games

World Geography Games

Geography Games for Kids

USA Geography Puzzle Map

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Embed your project into your blog.
• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and submit the link on the Canvas assignment (for GOAL, not for language arts).  After you publish, please comment on the posts of at least three other people.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog.

Anne Frank Introduction

We will start reading the play The Diary of Anne Frank on Wednesday.  As a prequel to this event, please watch the following videos and read the following pages to give you some more background knowledge before we begin.  You do not have to view in order.  Pick and choose according to your interest.

Take some notes on questions, comments, and/or connections you have as you view.

The Story of Anne Frank from the Anne Frank House

The Secret Annex Online (Make sure to read the directions then explore the whole space, all floors.  You might have to enable Adobe Flash to get it to work.)

Video: "Discovered and Arrested"

Video: "Otto Frank Tells His Story"

The Hiding Place

The History Channel: Anne Frank

Biography: Anne Frank

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Holocaust Encyclopedia: Anne Frank

Washington Post: Anne Frank and Her Family Were Also Denied Entry as Refugees to the U.S.

Gale Biography in Context: Anne Frank (Hundreds of hits here... explore and investigate.  You may need to log in to the online databases to see this content.)