Friday, February 28, 2020

The Great Depression, Day 1 - Class Recap


The New York Stock Exchange. Photo taken in 2009.

Hi everyone,

Welcome to another mini-unit! I enjoyed seeing your 1920s advertising displays in class! We also started learning about the Great Depression and what caused it. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Knowledg ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.
Critical Thinking ALT 5: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

Soundtrack: "Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye. Selected for today because of all of the people feeling blue because of the Great Depression. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/28/20:
News Brief - Reece
Gallery Walk
Great Depression
Picture Activity

Homework: Read the blog! Make sure you have all work from this semester submitted! Next news brief: Sheinella.

News Brief: Reece had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: WashingtonPost.com - Trump says he can bring in coronavirus experts quickly. The experts say it is not that simple.. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Sheinella was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard Law School on February 27, 1872, becoming the first black female lawyer in the United States. Even though our units throughout this month have not focused specifically on Black history, I appreciate that students seemed willing to learn a little bit more each day!

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Gallery Walk: The 1920s advertising assignment was due today in class. Here's a copy of it:


This assignment is based on choosing a product from the last slide from this presentation:

Google Slides - The Business of America in the 1920s PowerPoint

Students were assigned a product in class to create an advertisement for. If you missed class, you can select a product from the last slide to focus on.

In class today, we walked around and "voted" with fake money for what we thought was the best advertisement for a product. I enjoyed this - thanks, everyone!

Great Depression: To continue this unit on the Roaring 20s, we need to see what happened after, so we transitioned to learning about the causes of the Great Depression in class. Here's the PowerPoint presentation that I went through as students took notes:


Please save these notes, as students will be completing a final assessment for this unit using them!

Picture Activity: Next, I had students get up and look around the room to do some primary source analysis of photos from the Great Depression. Here are the photos that I posted around the room:


And here is the assignment that students filled out in class by selecting a few photos to analyze:


Thank you for your effort on this! I know it was a busy day! Let's keep working hard!
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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

The Roaring 20s, Day 6 - Class Recap


The Chicago Institute of Art. Students were encouraged today to use art in their 1920s advertisements!

Hi everyone,

Another strange week, as ACT Day yesterday changed the usual rhythm. As such, I made today a work day to finish the 1920s advertising assignment. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "No Woman, No Cry" by The Fugees. Selected for today due to the focus on women in 1920s advertising and we are continuing to listen to black artists for the soundtrack this month. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/26/20:
News Brief - Yoshi
Advertising Assignment
Work Time

Homework: Read the blog! Continue working on your advertising assignment - due next class! Next news brief: Reece.

News Brief: Yoshi had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: NPR.org - Coronavirus: More New Cases Are Now Reported Outside China Than Inside. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Reece was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that Muhammad Ali won the heavyweight boxing title on February 25th, 1964.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Advertising Activity: The activity that I introduced last class related to the Business of America notes is here:


This assignment is based on choosing a product from the last slide from this presentation:

Google Slides - The Business of America in the 1920s PowerPoint

Students were assigned a product in class to create an advertisement for. If you missed class, you can select a product from the last slide to focus on. Here's the list of what students selected in class:


Work Time: The rest of class was spent working on the advertising assignment, which is due at the start of next class on Friday. Please let me know if you have any questions - I am looking forward to seeing what you can come up with!
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Friday, February 21, 2020

The Roaring 20s, Day 5 - Class Recap


Today in class we looked at the famous "Somewhere West of Laramie" car advertisement. This is a photo I took of some multicolored cars in Bogota, Colombia in 2009 (the cars happen to be the colors as the flag of the country).

Dear class,

It was good to see everyone again in class! We continued looking at the Roaring 20s and how advertising became a major innovation in American business. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "Sinnerman" by Nina Simone. Selected for today because Nina Simone was born on this day in 1933 and we are continuing to listen to black artists for the soundtrack this month. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/21/20:
News Brief - Mr. Fritz
The Business of America
Advertising
Work Time

Homework: Read the blog! Continue working on your advertising assignment - due next Friday! Next news brief: Yoshi.

News Brief: I had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: KGW.com - Jury deliberations underway in MAX stabbing trial. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Yoshi was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that Malcolm X was killed on February 21, 1965, at the age of 39. We learned about Malcolm X during our civil rights unit and he has obviously had a lasting impact on America.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Business of America: To continue our rhythm with this unit of notes then an activity, we looked at how business changed during 1920s America. The presentation we went through in class as students took Cornell Notes is here:


Through this presentation, we learned about the impact of mass advertising and new consumer products.

Advertising: The activity that I introduced in class related to the Business of America notes is here:


This assignment is based on choosing a product from the last slide from this presentation:

Google Slides - The Business of America in the 1920s PowerPoint

Students were assigned a product in class to create an advertisement for. If you missed class, you can select a product from the last slide to focus on. Here's the list of what students selected in class:


Work Time: The rest of class was spent working on the advertising assignment, which is due at the start of class on Friday (there will be a work day on Wednesday). Please let me know if you have any questions - I am looking forward to seeing what you can come up with!
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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

The Roaring 20s, Day 4 - Class Recap

Note: I was out of the building today at an all day 9th Grade Success meeting. This post is what I wanted to have happen with my guest teacher for the day.


This is a photo I took in 2015 at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Hi everyone,

Welcome back from your long Presidents Day weekend! We continued our work in understanding how America was changed in the 1920s. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "I Will Get There" by Boyz II Men. Selected for today because it might seem like a long way left to go in the semester, but you will get there! Also, because this song was made to help advertise a movie: the Prince of Egypt. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/19/19:
News Brief - Brandon
Cartoon Analysis
Business of America
Work Time

Homework: Read the blog! Know your grade (updated on StudentVUE) and how to improve it, if possible! Next news brief: Decided in class.

News Brief: Brandon had the news brief today and selected an article to talk about. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

The next news brief was assigned in class.

Today's Black History Month fact is that on February 19, 1942 the Army Air Corps' all African American 100th Pursuit Squadron, later designated a fighter squadron, was activated at Tuskegee Institute. The squadron later served in England and Europe during WWII.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Cartoon Analysis: Last class, we ended by looking at some political cartoons from the 1920s. We continued to work with them in class today. Here are the cartoons and the assignment that went with it:


We finished going through this analysis in class (if we did not last class). Please keep this to use later in the unit, as with all work with the 1920s!

Business of America: To continue our rhythm with this unit of notes then an activity, we looked at how business changed during 1920s America. The presentation we went through in class as students took Cornell Notes is here:


Through this presentation, we learned about the impact of mass advertising and new consumer products. I will introduce a new assignment related to this, next class! Thanks, everyone!
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Thursday, February 13, 2020

The Roaring 20s, Day 3 - Class Recap


Tomorrow is the State of Oregon's 161th birthday! This is a photo I took at Trillium Lake by Mt. Hood. I have no idea who the boy fishing is, but loved the scene.

Dear class,

We continued our unit on the "Roaring" 1920s in class and celebrated Oregon's birthday! Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "Love Language" by Talib Kweli and Hi Tek. Selected for today because of it being Valentine's Day tomorrow and because of the ongoing Black History Month of black artists as the soundtrack. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/13/20:
News Brief - Henry
Forecasting
Politics in the 1920s
Cartoon Analysis

Homework: Read the blog! Know your grade (updated on StudentVUE) and how to improve it, if possible! Next news brief: Brandon.

News Brief: Henry had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: NYTimes.com - Coronavirus Cases Seemed to Be Leveling Off. Not Anymore.. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Brandon was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that on February 14, 1817 (203 years ago tomorrow), Frederick Douglass (who was a black intellectual and abolitionist, born into slavery and who taught himself to read) was born - or, at least, it's the day he claimed, as there was no record of his birth under slavery.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Forecasting: Because students received their forecasting forms in Community yesterday, I wanted to make sure to take the time in class to go through Social Studies course options for everyone. Here's the presentation I went through (which every Social Studies teacher is doing, as well):


I was happy to take questions and also sign forecasting sheets if students were ready. The forms are not due in Community until February 26th, so there is still plenty of time!

Politics of the 1920s: We started this section by looking at some of the scandals that were a part of President Harding's administration in the early 1920s (including the famous Teapot Dome scandal):



To continue our dive into learning about various aspects of the 1920s, we went through this PowerPoint together as students took Cornell Notes:


We finished the presentation in class, and made a summary of notes (using the Cornell Notes process). As I said in class, you will be using all of your notes from this unit (and the Great Depression) to write a final in class essay, in a Documents Based Question format.

Cartoon Analysis: We did not get the chance to do this in class, due to the forecasting conversation, so you will have the chance to do this with the guest teacher next class, as I will be out at an all day 9th grade success meeting. See you next Friday!
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Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Roaring 20s, Day 2 - Class Recap


Today, we learned about the Roaring 20s and the advance of air travel as a technology. I LOVE flying, and used to work at the airport in Portland! Photo taken at St. Maarten in the Caribbean in 2009.

Dear class,

Hello again! We continued our work with innovation in the United States, specifically during the "Roaring" 1920s. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)" by John Legend. Selected for today in continuation of the recognition of black artists as a part of Black History Month and because of the lack of any accumulating snow this year. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/11/2020:
News Brief - Michael
Roaring 20s
Air Travel
Work Time

Homework: Read the blog! Know your grade (updated on StudentVUE) and how to improve it, if possible! Finish the air travel assignment if you did not in class. Next news brief: Henry.

News Brief: Michael had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: WashingtonPost.com - Nazi flag displayed in high school window prompts anger — and an investigation. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Henry was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that on February 12, 1909 (111 years ago, tomorrow): the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded.

I also passed back grades from the American Dream Revisited unit Socratic Seminar. If you missed class for the day of the seminar, the expectation is that you make up the assignment by writing a reflection (I passed out the prompt for this in class). If you would like to revise your Socratic Seminar preparation packet and resubmit for a better grade, you are welcome to!

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Roaring 20s: Last class, I went through most of this PowerPoint with the class as students took notes:


We finished the presentation in class, and made a summary of notes (using the Cornell Notes process).

Air Travel: Next, I showed students how air travel in the 1920s made many rapid advances and became a mode of transportation for people who could afford it:


As a part of this, I told everyone about my fondness for this invention, while showing my FlightMemory map of places I have visited via air travel. Here was the worksheet that was due in class about the innovation of air travel (especially as it relates to United States geography):


This should have been fairly straightforward for everyone - the advance of air travel made it MUCH quicker to get from place to place in the United States.

Work Time: Finally, at the end of class, I gave students work time and explained some of my favorite websites for finding great airline deals! Here is the presentation that I went through and tried to guide students with:


DISCLAIMER: This information may be out of date - I take no responsibility for any use of this. It is just to help think creatively about air travel (as people in the 1920s were definitely doing)!

Aviation is such an amazing innovation! See you next class!
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Friday, February 7, 2020

The Roaring 20s, Day 1 - Class Recap


A bridge to the next unit today! This is a photo I took in New Zealand in 2014.

Dear class,

Hello again! It was great to be with you all today as we wrapped up our last unit and moved on to the next one. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "Down Hearted Blues” by Bessie Smith. Selected for today because it is a famous 1920s song and Bessie Smith was an African-American woman. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/7/20:
News Brief - Connor
Debrief
Roaring 20s
Air Travel

Homework: Read the blog! Next news brief: Michael.

News Brief: Connor had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: Forbes.com - Alien Life On Jupiter Moon Europa A Sure Bet, Space Scientist Says. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Michael was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that "Negro History Week" (the precursor to Black History Month) was started on February 7th, 1926 (during the "Roaring 20s!").

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Debrief: Last class, we watched a documentary on the poverty line in America. I wanted to get some feedback from students, so I asked for some thoughts from the class about how things went. I thought that the discussion was very interesting! I hope that students found the documentary interesting, as well. I collected the film notes from last class, which will be scored for self-directed learning.

Roaring 20s: For our next unit, we are going to learn a bit more about what happened 100 years ago in the United States, right after World War I. To begin, I went through this PowerPoint with the class as students took Cornell notes (we will review these notes next class to add a summary and questions):


This was a time in America of a lot of changes, and also a lot of growth of the United States in many ways (which is why it's called the "Roaring" 1920s). We will continue to learn about this era in the classes to come!

Today's class ended on slide 17, on the fear of communism during the 1920s.

Air Travel: We did not get to this in class, but I'm eager to talk about it next time, whenever that happens to be! Have a great weekend! :-)
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Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The American Dream: Revisited, Day 4 - Class Recap


Serena Williams in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open tennis tournament in New York City (see today's Black History Month fact). Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

It was a short Wednesday today, as there was Community for forecasting for next year. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Communication LT 1: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Critical Thinking LT 5: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

AGENDA 2/5/20:
News Brief - Kamil
Socratic Seminar Debrief
The Line
Discussion

Homework: Read the blog! Complete and turn in any Socratic Seminar materials if you have not yet. Next news brief: Connor.

News Brief: Kamil had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: ScienceAlert.com - Incredible NASA Simulation Reveals How Earth Would Look if The Oceans Drained Aw. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class. There is also a LOT going on in the news in the United States, so we tried to talk about and understand that.

Connor was assigned to do the next news brief.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):


Today's Black History Month fact is that on February 6th, 1993 (27 years ago tomorrow), Arthur Ashe (the first African-American winner of the Wimbledon tennis tournament) died. He was a pioneer in tennis and the biggest tennis stadium in the world (at the US Open in New York City) is named after him.

Socratic Seminar Debrief: I wanted to check in and see what students thought about how the class discussion on the American Dream went last class. It's usually a bit awkward unless we practice and talk about what could go better, so I was happy to hear the feedback and thoughts for what went well and what could be improved. Thanks for sharing, everyone!

The Line: Next, the class watched a short documentary called "The Line" about the poverty line. As we wrap up our revisiting the American Dream unit, I wanted to show just how difficult it is to rise out of poverty, even with a lot of hard work and determination. Here's the worksheet passed out in class:


Here is the documentary itself:



Discussion: After the film (this will be next class, due to time running out today), we discussed the documentary and our thoughts on it. Next class, we will begin our unit on the Roaring '20s in the United States! Thanks for your work on this first unit, everyone!
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Monday, February 3, 2020

The American Dream: Revisited, Day 3 - Class Recap


This is one of my favorite pieces of art that has been on display in a local gallery in downtown Portland. I love it, but not enough to spend $5,000 on buying it! Photo taken in March 2017.

Dear class,

Most of today was devoted to a discussion about the American Dream and if it is a possible reality for everyone. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Communication LT 1: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Critical Thinking LT 5: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

Soundtrack: "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. Selected for today to start our month of soundtracks from Black artists, as a part of recognizing Black History Month, and because students were in control of the class conversation today. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/3/20:
News Brief - Moises
Black History Month
Socratic Seminar
Debrief

Homework: Read the blog! If you missed class and/or did not participate in the discussion today, I would like you to write a page summary about your thoughts on if the American Dream is attainable for everyone. Next news brief: Kamil.

News Brief: Moises had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: FiveThirtyEight.com - How Iowa’s Three Different Votes Could Affect Who ‘Wins’. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Kamil was assigned to do the next news brief.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):

BBCNews.com - One-minute World News

Black History Month: Because the month of February is designated as Black History Month, I will be seeking to incorporate some ways of recognizing it in class. The soundtrack will be one aspect, and another will be to share a fact or two relating to Black history surrounding the day our class meets. Since today is February 3, the fact is the Negro Baseball League was founded on this day in 1920 - exactly 100 years ago. In the past, I have had students volunteer to share in class about important figures in Black history - let me know if you would be up for doing this!

Socratic Seminar: Next, we had a Socratic Seminar discussion on the question: "Is the American Dream attainable by everyone?" We prepared for this last week, by going through this packet with readings with opinions about the status of the American Dream:


The packet was be turned in and assessed for a Critical Thinking grade, in combination with the Communication grade from the Seminar.

The second page of the packet asks students for their thoughts on if the American Dream is attainable by everyone, and for some higher level questions. This formed the basis of the conversation today in class, as we circled up and had two different groups have a conversation.

Debrief: After the discussion, I asked students to complete this self-assessment form (which was available on Google Classroom as an electronic copy):


Thank you for your participation and the interesting conversation today, everyone! I enjoyed hearing your thoughts! We will wrap up this mini-unit next class, and then move on to the next one.
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