March 31 - Japan Seminar Presentation

Today, students learned the rule for their graded seminar test (discussion).  Students were able to research information about food, culture, clothing, people, writing, school, geography, history and other interesting information from Japan.  Students will be able to use their packets during the graded discussion, but they need to study.  I will be asking the students general questions and all students will need to add to the discussion.

Japan - March 27 - 28

Yesterday, students were working with the UNI student teacher Nate Kellogg.  He put students into groups by birthday and students read and answered questions about an article on WWII Code Talkers.  Students also viewed a video about real code talkers and their experience in the war.  

Today, students will be completing their article and beginning to examine the Navajo code.  Students will have the opportunity to translate codes from Navajo to English.  Students worked with the Navajo code alphabet and Navajo code word for everything from advance to zone.  It is Mr. Kellogg's last day working with the students.

Attention!
The Japanese packet must be completed by Monday, March 31st at the beginning of class.

Monday - Students will be studying their packets and using computers to research more information on Japanese culture, geography, people, food, code talkers, clothing, and writing.  Students can also do their own research on Japan to prepare.  Students will use the information they collect to answer questions during a graded Socratic Seminar. 
A Socratic Seminar is a scholarly discussion of an essential 

question in which student opinions are shared, proven, refuted, and 

refined through dialogue with other students.

Here is an example: 
Socratic Seminar

Japan - March 26th

Today, students completed a study guide on Japanese history.  After completing the study guide, students were able to practice using chopsticks in class.  Students tested their ability to pick up pretzels sticks, chow mien noodles and grains of rice.  Most gave their best effort and a few were pretty talented by the end of class.  Students were allowed to bring home their chopsticks to keep, they are not allowed to keep them at school.

Mr. Kellogg (UNI student teachers) will be taking over the class tomorrow and Friday.  He will be teaching students about Code Talkers from World War I and II.  Students will learn about their history and how to crack their codes.

Assignments - 
Put together Japan Packet - Thursday, March 27th
Code Talkers - Friday, March 28th

Congratulations to Double Time Show Choir on an awesome performance for the students and staff!

Don't forget Iowa Assessments start on Tuesday, April 1st!

Japan - March 25th

Today, students presented their Jikoshoukai (self-introduction).  Students were graded over their eye contact, clear voice and audience participation. Most students did very well, they were serious with only a few mistakes.  A few students went above and beyond by translating their introduction into Japanese. Impressive!

Assignments -
Study Guide 528-531 - Due March 27th
Japan packet - Due March 31st

No Questions of the day, Jeopardy or Cultural Lit.

Update of Situation in Ukraine - Russia is removed from the G8

Japan - March 24th

Today, students met the Level III student teacher Nathan Kellogg.  He will be working with us all week.  Students also practiced their Jikoshoukai, (Self-introductions) in class. They will present their Jikoshoukai tomorrow during class.  

Assignments due - 
Jikoshoukai - March 25th
Influenza - March 25th

During our discussion of Influenza, I gave students the homework of keeping track people they have contact with.  This will help explain how fast a flu can spread.

Questions of the day -
1. Why did Influenza spread so fast?
Soldiers in WWI, breathing, coughing, large events

2. What were the symptoms of the flu?
headache, cough, fever, spiting up blood, vomit, bluish color

March 14 - Japan and Spring Break

Students need to complete their Influenza 1918 worksheet and jikoshoukai( Formal Self Introduction) by Monday after break.  There will be a little time in class to finish the introductions on Monday.

A jikoshoukai speech generally contains the following information (Be creative):

Greeting (e.g., Hello/Good afternoon, etc.)

_______________________________________________________________________

Another greeting (e.g., Nice to meet you.)

_______________________________________________________________________

Your name (Last, First)

_______________________________________________________________________

Your Age

_______________________________________________________________________

A interesting fact or two about yourself (I played football in college and I love history)

_______________________________________________________________________

A nicety (e.g., I'm reallly excited to teach this class, etc.)

_______________________________________________________________________

A closing nicety (e.g., Have a great day)

_______________________________________________________________________

If students want to go the extra mile they can translate their introduction into Japanese.

March 12th - Japan

Students had work time to complete their Japan study guide.  It will be due and checked in class tomorrow.  We talked about Blood type discrimination in Japan.  Students are supposed to ask about their blood type at home tonight.  

Assignments due -
Japan Study Guide - Due Thursday

No Cultural Literacy today

Questions of the day -
What is the area of semi-active volcano called?
Pacific Ring of Fire

What did Japan do in 1941?
They bombed Pearl Harbor

Jeopardy
- Women were banned from watching and competing in this Ancient event.

- She wrote her diary in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation.

- She was a nun, won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping poor and sick from Calcutta, India.

Students that will be gone Friday received an assignment for break on Influenza 1918.

March 11th - Japan

Students read articles and answered questions about life, cultural and people of Japan.  The Japanese packet will be due on Thursday, student will work on it tomorrow in class.

Assignments due - 
Japanese Writing - Due Today
Japanese Packet - Due Thursday

Cultural Literacy WOD - Ultimatum

A demand that if rejected will bring about an end of peaceful talks and could lead to forceful action 

Questions of the day - 

What is Japanese writing called?

Hiragana

The Japanese word for spring is Haru,

Write in Japanese characters.

Jeopardy - 

1. She was 17, when she led a French revolt against the English, she was burned at the stake.

2. She was the first female Prime Minister of the U.K.

3. She was first, First Lady to be elected to office.

March 10th - Japan

Students received their graded tests and packets.  It was the best test scores so far this year.  We need to keep striving to get better.  The tests will only get more difficult to prepare students for 8th grade. Ask your student how they did on the test.  

Today, students turned in their Japan maps for grading.  Most students had this assignment completed and ready for grading.  Students had some work time for the Japanese writing assignment.  It will be due on Tuesday.

Assignments due - 
Japan map - Due Today
Japanese Writing - Due tomorrow

Cultural Literacy WOD - Taoism, also known as Daoism, is an indigenous Chinese religion often associated with the Daode jing (Tao Te Ching), a philosophical and political text purportedly written by Laozi 

Taoism is not a religion. Taoism is a philosophy, a way of looking at life and a way of thinking about things. Taoists believe if you look at life and think about things in the right way, you'll be much happier. 

Questions of the day (These questions were written in Japanese and will be on the board tomorrow)

Jeopardy -

1. She was the Queen of Egypt and the last pharaoh.

2. A disease caused her to be blind, deaf and mute, but she learned to write and read.  She became a famous author and lecturer.

3. She was the first American woman to go to space.

March 7th - Japan

Today, students wrote and studied Japanese writing through the Katakana characters. We started a new cultural literacy word of the day, new questions of the day and Jeopardy questions.

Assignments due - 
Map of Japan - due Monday. March 10th
Japanese writing - due Tuesday, March 11th

Cultural Literacy - Sacred Cow

As a slang term, "sacred cow" is derived from the status held by cows in Hindu culture, where the cow is regarded as a sacred animal. In India, where the Hindu faith is widespread, cows are allowed to freely wander the streets, and they must be treated with respect in accordance with their status. During the 1800s, many European visitors to India wrote about the sacred cow, and many people came to believe that cows were sacred in all Asian religions, not just Hinduism.

Question of the Day - 

What is the capital of Japan?

Tokyo

Video: Fire Bombing of Tokyo

Jeopardy - 

Who was the first women to fly solo across the Atlantic?

What year did women get the right to vote?

Who was the first women printed on a U.S. coin?

March 6th - Japan (Pre-World War II)

Students started learning about Japan, which will lead into our unit on World War II.   Most students worked on a map about the cities, islands and bodies of water of Japan. 

Some students were finishing their World War I tests.  The tests will be graded and in Powerschool by Monday at the latest.  So far test scores are very encouraging.

Assignments - 
Map of Japan - Due Monday, March 10th
Japanese writing activity - Due Tuesday, March 11th

This week students will begin a new classroom Jeopardy theme.  The theme for March will be Women's History.  All questions will be related to Women's History, so get studying!
Women's History videos (watch some videos about important women in history.

March 5th - Test Day

Students were tested over their knowledge of World War I and the Russian Revolution. The test will be worth 53 points and the packet will be worth 31 points.  

Some students did not finish today and will finish in iExcel or tomorrow during class.

The grades for the postcards will be finished by tomorrow.

March 4 - World War I Test Tomorrow!

Test Day - Tomorrow
What students need-

1. Complete packet is ready in class
2. Study Guide is complete and ready 
3. Review the following vocabulary words before the test - anarchy, nationalism, colonization, unification, revolution, exile, armistice, dual-monarchy, Austria-Hungary, stalemate
4. A healthy breakfast and a goodnight of sleep the day before.

Today, students watched a video of archaeologists in Belgium uncovering a hidden World War I dugout.  The students are interested about how the dug out was built and the artifacts that were found. We also discussed that situation in Ukraine and how it could provoke problems for the world. 


Special announcements - 

Please sign up for conferences this week

3rd quarter ends the 28th of March