Día de Acción de Gracia

Time to give thanks! This is a reminder to help put a Latin American spin on the Thanksgiving holiday by bringing an authentic main dish, side dish, or dessert to school tomorrow (Tuesday). Please see Thursday's blog post for details.

Some final thoughts:

• Report directly to the Brown Room for class.
• If you don't want to keep your food in your locker, put it on the table in the back of Mr. Fendryk's room (room 127).
• Or, if your dish needs to be refrigerated, put it in the fridge in the Brown Room.
• Bringing your food in a nice dish or piece of Tupperware? Mark it (use an address label or just write on it with a Sharpie) so you can get it back at the end of the day.
• If your dish needs a serving spoon or a spatula and you can bring one in, that would be great. (Label it!)
  
• Don't forget to include a card or sheet of paper that includes your name, the name of the recipe, the ingredients, and the country of origin.

This should be a lot of fun! See you mañana !

review

Today in class, Sections 01 and 05 reviewed the Katrina/Global Warming test. Tomorrow will be 03's turn.

01 and 05 will begin work on their papers tomorrow in class. We will determine who is going to work with whom, and then each group will choose their topic.

REMINDER: Next Tuesday, our last full day of classes before the break, we will have a gustatory extravaganza. We will celebrate an American holiday (Thanksgiving) with a Latin American flavor. Since we are inventing this holiday, we'll call it Día de Acción de Gracias !

In a twenty-point graded homework assignment, each student will prepare an authentic Latin American dish to share with the class next Tuesday. This can be a main dish, a side dish, or a dessert. Recipes are available online, and can be from ANY Latin American country (listed below). Write or type out your recipe, the country of origin, plus what makes it authentic, to earn all 20 points. If you don't bring in a dish, or if you bring in Taco Bell, you receive a zero!

One more rule: NO SALSA.

This should be an eye-opening and mouth-watering experience!

Latin American countries: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Survey Monkey and Research Paper

If you would like to give real feedback on your Human Geography course, please complete the SurveyMonkey (student feedback survey) found here. This survey is completely anonymous, and I will not know how you answer the questions or what comments you choose to make. This link will be live through the end of this week. Thank you in advance!

As promised, here are more details on the research paper.

The length will be at least 1500 words. (That's the equivalent of three typewritten pages.) You have the option of including photos, charts, pictures, graphs - anything that will enhance your paper - but you still have to write at least 1500 words.

The paper is due at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, December 16. It will be posted to your blog. There will be penalties for every day (or portion of a day) it is late.

You will work in pairs, so for the next class please select your workmate.

You will choose your topic by next Tuesday. Here are some suggestions:

• the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest
• Andes mountain dwellers
• Mexico City: an environmental mega-disaster
• the Panama Canal
• the role of the Catholic Church in Latin America
• emigration from Mexico to the US
• the status of women in Latin American society
• Latino "futbol" (soccer)
• Contras and Sandinistas in the 1980's
• indigenous (native) peoples: a forgotten minority?
• Brazil's helpful role in climate change
• history of (pick a country): from colony to democracy
• the growth of Mercosur (a trade organization)
• drug trafficking in Colombia (or Bolivia, or Peru)
• the amazing diversity of the Amazon Basin
• farming (especially soy) in Brazil (or Argentina)
• enviro-tourism in Costa Rica
• the weird relationship between Hugo Chavez's Venezuela and the US
• urbanization and the megacities
• the violent drug cartels of Juarez (a border town near El Paso, Texas)
• how the weather patterns of El Niño affect Latin America - and us
• earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Latin America
• the 2016 Olympics being held in Rio de Janeiro
• how the history of Mexico and Texas are intertwined
• eco-friendly fair trade coffee and biodiversity

If none of these float your boat, feel free to check out the chapter (p. 124 - 177) for more ideas. If you discover something else to write about, please submit it to me for my approval by Tuesday.


Don't forget to take the SurveyMonkey!

Latin America

For the chapter on Latin America, we will write a research paper.

(I will pause here for a moment to let that sink in...)

You guys have already written one research paper this semester, for your English class. This will be a chance to use the same skills and the same research methods, but in the context of Social Studies.

I have a couple dozen suggestions for topics, which we will be discussing in class. If you have another topic you would rather write on, you may submit it to me for approval.

You will be working in pairs on this project. There will be some class time devoted to this paper, but you will be expected to do a significant amount of research and writing outside of class.

You will choose your topic before we go on Thanksgiving break, so you will have the option of working on this over the break. The paper itself will be due in December; I will have an exact date for you soon.

Obviously, there will be a lot more information regarding this paper, which I will be telling you in class and posting on this blog.

Test day

I'll be entering grades tonight. Buckle up!

Our next chapter will cover Latin America. Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, we are considering a class activity that involves celebrating the holiday. Which could mean eating. And cooking. What do you think?

You guys are the greatest!

You guys rock. I heard nothing but good things from all of your subs last Friday. Words like "a real pleasure," "no problems," and "great bunch of students" are always nice to hear. Thanks for being your usual incredible selves!

Final reminder: 100 point test on North America tomorrow. Scantron (so bring a pencil). Not open note, not open book (so bring your brain). It covers the five themes of geography as they apply to North America, so you should be studying your notes, Chapter 3 in the text, and this PowerPoint.

Study hard, and good things will happen!

When the cat's away...

...the mice will study for next Tuesday's test!

For Friday's class, you will break into small groups. Using your text and the PowerPoint I have posted here, each group will prepare at least 12 - 15 questions (with correct answers) that could appear on the test. Make sure your questions cover all five themes of human geography as they apply to the region of North America. When you are finished, one person from each group should post these questions to their blog, along with the names of the people who worked in your group. Finally, whoever posts these questions should email me at rschick@johncarroll.org so I know whose blog to check.

Thank you, and I'll see you next week!

the future...

Thursday 11/12: Section 01 and Section 05 finish PowerPoint
Section 03 has no class

Friday 11/13: All sections work in small groups writing questions for Tuesday's test. You will have a sub, since I will be chaperoning a JC field trip to the Big Apple.

Monday 11/16: Section 03 finishes the PowerPoint
Sections 01 and 05 have no class

Tuesday 11/17: All sections take test on North America!

Please see me before the end of the day Thursday if you have any questions.

MATT RYAN RAPS!

All sections met today, with class time spent reviewing your observations on North America.

But the king of summation
gave his dissertation
on both immigration
and urbanization

He's sweeping the nation
like Tupac-ization

his industrialization
caused a class sensation

A new education
through commercialization

Matt Ryan WAS his name
But now there's a new game

He's doin what he oughta
Call him "Buck&aQuarter"

Everybody toast him
When y'all do your postin

Seriously, when you post tonight, you should be transferring the notes you took in class today. A proper post is NOT "Today we talked about North America in class." You should include your notes on the five themes of human geography, and how they relate to North America. These notes will come in handy when it is time to take your test next Tuesday.

Yo, peace out.

Writing assignment

A few notes about your writing assignment:

You need to decide which of the five themes of geography will be the subject of your paper. So...

First, read the five short paragraphs on p. 73, then read the five bullet points on p. 122.

Decide which of the five themes look interesting to you.

Then find that theme in the chapter. Skim until you find some aspect of that theme that appeals to you.

Using the information in the chapter, write a minimum of 200 words on how this theme applies to North America.

I recommend you write your essay in Word. When you are done with the first draft, reread it slowly, checking for errors. Edit and rewrite as necessary.

When your paper is perfect, copy it to your blog and post it.

This assignment is due before the start of class Tuesday, and is worth 20 points.

Enjoy your three-day weekend!

Welcome to North America!

***IMPORTANT UPDATE!***

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS NOW DUE ON TUESDAY FOR ALL SECTIONS!

SPREAD THE WORD!

(The extra time should enable you to do a really good job on this 20-point assignment.)

*****************************

Read the five short paragraphs on p. 73.

Read the five bullet points on p. 122.

These reflect the five themes of geography we discussed at the beginning of the year. Tonight, pick ONE of these themes, and write approximately 200 words on how this theme applies to the region where you live: North America.

If you need more information to complete your essay, the pages between 74 and 122 will be very helpful.

After you've written (including proofreading and editing) your piece, post it on your blog.

links

1) http://tinyurl.com/ccjqg

2) http://tinyurl.com/ll9w7f

3) http://tinyurl.com/ot2k8

Preparing for tomorrow's test

Preparing for the test on Hurricane Katrina, Global Climates, and Global Warming

Part of the test will cover the video The Storm That Drowned a City: Hurricane Katrina (which can be viewed again here). You should refer to the notes you took while you watched. You may also refer to the accompanying website.

You are also responsible for the material on Global Climates found on p. 53 – 55 in your text. Be familiar with the five processes that influence our global climate.

There will be questions on the test about Global Warming that refer to p. 56 – 61 in your text. Be able to identify causes of Global Warming, and be able to identify the greenhouse gases and their sources. Based on this material, and our class discussions, you should also be able to tell the difference between a true statement, a false statement, and a statement of opinion.

This test will be taken on paper, so remember to bring a pen. Questions will be fill in the blank, multiple choice, and short answer, plus you will write a brief essay. You may refer to your notes, blogs and websites while taking the test. You may not refer to your textbook.

The test is worth 100 points. Study hard and good things will happen!

Challenges

As we have worked our way through this chapter on global warming, a lot of things have surprised me. I’ve been surprised at how strongly some of you feel about this issue. Surprised at how much you discuss this class with your parents. Surprised at how much work you have done in researching this topic. That’s all good. Nice work!

As we near the end of this section, I want to make a few statements that apply not just to global warming, but to your education in general.

When necessary, you should challenge what you are being taught. When I say challenge, I don’t mean reject. Take what your textbook (or your teacher) tells you and research it, to see if it holds up under scrutiny. Do good, academic-based, thorough research, like we have been talking about in class. If what you have been reading can be backed up and verified, you’re good to go.

If you get into the habit of challenging what you are being told, this will serve you well in many aspects of your life. Challenge what commercials tell you, and maybe you won’t be disappointed by unnecessary purchases. Challenge what politicians (from both parties) tell you, and maybe we’ll elect fewer snake-oil salesmen, and more public servants. Challenge what television, newspapers, and the Internet tells you, and you will be able to make up your own mind when it really counts.

If we all exercised our brains as much as we exercise our abs and our biceps, we would be in terrific intellectual shape. When it comes to knowledge, stay thirsty, my friends!

More on this tomorrow in class.