Where in the World - Student Edition!

Hello! Since you guys have gotten so amzingly good at guessing, I've decided to let some of you take a stab at stumping the class and coming up with the Where in the World pictures. So now every week 4 of you, 2 from each section, will be responsible for the week's picture puzzle. I will be guessing, too. This week's 4 picture gurus are: Anna S., Leslie, Alex and James. Please visit their blogs and start guessing! I've taken a look, and the pictures are very tricky!

A Wedding Story

Each wedding is unique and there is usually a good story behind it. That being true I challenge you to be social scientists and report on a wedding.

1. Interview a married person. The person can be a parent, neighbor, friend, teacher, other relative, etc. Think of at least 10 questions you should ask him or her. Bring your questions to the interview and write down his or her answers.

2. Using your interview notes write his or her Wedding Story in paragraph form. See outline below:

✩Editing tips: 

If you think that your paragraph is too long, look for a natural break (a change of idea) to split the paragraph. Use a transitional sentence to link the new paragraph to the one before it. 

Use Word to check your spelling and grammar. It's a good idea to write your story in a word document and save it. You can then copy it into a new blog post after it's been edited.

OUTLINE

I. Section 1 - Introduction

In this section you will be giving an overview or a very general description of the wedding. You will answer questions such as:

• Who got married?
• When did they marry? How long did they know each other before marrying?
• Who came to the wedding? How many people? (Did you attend?)
• Who married them? A priest? A judge? A friend? A tribal elder? etc.
• Where did they get married? Why did they pick that location?
• Describe the location. Indoors? Outdoors? Church? Temple? Mosque? etc.

II. Section 2 - Detailed Description of the Event

In this section you will describe what happened at the wedding and will use excellent details and rich language to set the scene. Be specific. By reading your words the reader should be able to imagine the wedding.

You will answer questions such as:

• What did the bride and groom wear? Were there any special colors used?
• Did anyone else participate in the ceremony? Children? Friends? Flower girls? Ring bearers? The bride's and groom's parents? If so, what did they wear?
• Were there flowers or other decorations? 
• Was there music? If so, what kind?
• Did people dance? Did the bride and groom dance? If so, was it to a special song?
• Was food served? Cake? What kind?
• Were any special traditions observed? For example, breaking a glass, bride being escorted to the groom by her father, bride and groom having a first dance, bride dancing with her father/groom with his mother, cutting the cake together, throwing rice etc. at the bride and groom after the ceremony, bride and groom handing out small gifts to the guests, best man and/or maid of honor making a speech/toast to the couple, bride wearing something white, something borrowed, something new, something blue, bride throwing the bouquet of flowers at the single female guests, etc...
• How long did the ceremony last? And the reception/party?

III. Section 3 - Conclusion and Connection to Self.

In this section you will do two things:

1. You will comment on what the day meant to the person you interviewed: his or her special memories of the day, what he or she most enjoyed/liked, what he or she would change if anything... Feel free to use quotes!

2. You will end your wedding story with your opinion on the wedding you have described (What did you like? What would you have done differently?) and how you would imagine your wedding to be if you were to get married. 

DRAFT PROCESS: email me your draft as a WORD document (msdeusclass@gmail.com) no later than Monday October 31st, if you would like me to give you feedback and help you with your editing.

FINAL DUE DATE: Your wedding story must be posted on YOUR BLOG no later than WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3rd.

Your post should be a minimum of 500 words.
This blog post will count as a TEST.
✩✩✩✩For extra points make your post interesting by adding picture(s) and/or video.
Review the Blogging Rubric in pages (right side of the screen)

Weddings

      Weddings are an important part of every culture. Every society has a different ritual or tradition for recognizing that two people are life partners responsible for each other's well being and in many cases, for also raising a family. Some traditions require a formal ceremony with a religious component. Others require no ceremony at all. Weddings can be religious or secular. Civil weddings in many Western countries now are beginning to equal or even outnumber traditional church weddings.  A wedding can be as simple as two people saying to a tribal elder that they plan on being together or as complex as huge wedding parties complete with bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and ring bearers. In a democratic country such as the United States, it is not unheard of for some people to go off to Las Vegas to elope where you can even be married by an Elvis Presley impersonator!

     Weddings are as varied and diverse as people are. Every day new traditions are added and old ones conserved or reworked. Regional tastes also influence the celebration. In some areas of the world it is expected that the bride wear white, but in other places, red is the color of choice. Flowers are usually included but not required. Some brides are veiled while others are not. In many places rings are exchanged as symbols of the union. In some cultures the bride's family is expected to give a gift or a payment known as a dowry to the groom's family. There is a tribe in Africa where the number of heads of cattle a bride owns determines whether she is good marriage material or not. The settings for weddings are numerous. Some choose outdoor locales. Here in Cyprus you can plan to marry on the beach. More adventurous people have even married while skydiving, scuba diving in the sea or on a mountain top. Other people choose to marry outside in a garden or inside in a church or temple or even in their homes. Most weddings incorporate some form of music and dancing. Sometimes there are special foods that are eaten in celebration of the wedding. Some wedding celebrations last only a few hours while others can last for days and include various costume changes.

     No matter where the celebration occurs or the traditions that are followed, weddings are special occasions for everyone involved. They are a time for families and friends to come together. We may speak different languages and eat different foods. We may pray to a different god or no god at all. We may have a different sense of style and fashion and come from different regions on the globe, but at the end of the day what we all have in common is the importance of family. In all cultures ties that bind are made between people. Relationships are cultivated, nurtured and supported. We are encouraged to bond together and to form connections with other human beings so as to not go through our lives alone. The journey is much more interesting when shared.

11 for 2011

Think about the documentary, Life in a Day, and on your blog answer the following questions:

(Copy or restate the question. Answer in complete sentences.)

• ·      What do you have in your pocket?
• ·      What was the last thing you had to drink?
• ·      What makes you happy?
• ·      What was the last really nice thing you did for someone?
• ·      What scares you?
• ·      What was the last movie you saw?
• ·      What was the last song you sang?
• ·      What was the last thing you bought?
• ·      What couldn’t you live without?
• ·      What do you hope for?
• ·      What could you live without?

Please remember to check your spelling and grammar.

The title of your blog post is: 11 for 2011

Homework: 

DUE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26th

Take your best guess on the Where in the World 5 picture (if you want to research, then do so and post a second comment).

Complete the 11 for 2011 post if you have not finished.

      Visit the two classmates’ blogs you were assigned and post comments about the answer you most liked, as well as give suggestions and discuss anything else that interested you. Remember to begin with a positive and end with a positive, and most importantly EXPLAIN WHY you like or dislike something.

             

Where in the World? 5

Well since I somehow managed to fool a lot of you with the last Where in the World (New York City's Washington Arch in Manhattan's Washington Square Park) I've challenged myself  to find a picture that even tops the last one. I think I may just have found the right one! Let's see how you guys do! Take your best guess first and then feel free to do some research!

My Name

Since Elias asked....


      My name, Elizabeth, is a Hebrew name which means, God is My Oath. My middle name, Ann, is also a Hebrew name meaning Gracious and Merciful. When I was born January 16th, 1972, my parents actually did not have a name picked out for me. They were convinced I was going to be a boy and did not have a backup plan. I was supposed to be James Stephen. So, on my birth certificate the nurses actually wrote in Baby Girl and left it as that! My parents could not agree on a name for me  so for the first almost 2 weeks of my life I had no name. They just referred to me as "the baby." 


      It wasn't until my maternal grandmother who had had enough of this nameless nonsense stepped in that my parents finally got down to the business of naming me. Everyone of course had suggestions. My brother, Tony, wanted to name me Nicodemus Aloysious. I know - horrible but very classical! In his defense he was studying both Greek and Latin in school at the time and was a tad bit obsessed...My father was pretty much hooked on Landry in honor of his favorite American football coach, Tom Landry, coach of the Dallas Cowboys. I was born on the biggest day in American football - the Super Bowl, which in the US is like the World Cup or baseball's World Series. To be specific it was Super Bowl VI and the Dallas Cowboys played the Miami Dolphins. My mother, not a football fan, vetoed that idea. 


      In the end it was a combination of family tradition and a Hollywood actress that got me my name. Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most popular actresses of the era. My mother was a fan. As for family tradition, my parents did not have to look so far. My mother's name is Sara Elizabeth. Her middle name was given to her in honor of her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Christiana. So in the end I was finally named Elizabeth like my great-grandmother and mother and Ann after the first syllables of my maternal grandmother's name as a thank you. Her name was Antonia. Of course my parents couldn't agree on the spelling of either Elizabeth or Ann. My father preferred Elizabeth with an "s" and Ann with no "e" at the end, while my mother favored Elizabeth with a "z" and Ann with an "e". They compromised and I ended up with the "z" my mother preferred and the no "e" my father liked. It was a win for everyone.


     Ironically, considering how much effort went into naming me, when I was younger I didn't like my name at all. I thought it was too boring. When I was learning to spell I hated it because it was so long and had all of those hard letters to remember and write. I wanted something short. My parents always called me Elizabeth, but at school my best friend starting calling me Liz. My parents didn't like Liz or Lizzie so they decided to let me "borrow" my mom's nickname, Elie, and it stuck. It fit because everyone said I look like her. My best friend, though, still calls me Liz. As for my own children, my husband and I couldn't agree on any boys' names, so I guess it's a good thing we had girls. Keeping with the Elizabeth theme, Daniela's middle name is Elisabeth spelled with an "s" because I thought my father would like that and Isabel is actually just a variation of Elizabeth. It'll be interesting to see if in the future I have any granddaughters named Elizabeth. On a final note maybe my story did have some impact. Some years back they changed the laws so now no parent can leave the hospital with a baby without giving he or she a proper name to put on the birth certificate. That's a relief! I'd hate to think there were more "Baby Girls" or "Baby Boys" out there!

The Name Game

Hello class,

 

As part of our study of culture, this week we will be taking a look at our names. In a minimum of 150 words please write about your name.

You should write in paragraph form and follow this outline:

 

I. Paragraph 1: Introduction

   a. What is your name?

   b. What is the origin and meaning of your name?

   c. Does your name have a cultural significance? (For example if you are French, were you given a French name?)

II. What is the story behind your name?

    a. Who chose your name?

    b. Why was that name chosen? (For example: Were you named for someone in your family or for someone else?)

III. Conclusion

    a. How do you feel about your name? Do you like it? Why or why not?

    b. What names do you like for any children you might have in the future?

Good luck! 

• Remember to use spell check and to check your grammar. 
• Remember to follow the outline and to answer the best you can the questions asked. 

This post is DUE TOMORROW - WEDNESDAY!

Where in the World? 4

Let's see if this time I've found a trickier picture! When trying to figure out just where in the world this photo was taken, think about what you know about architecture. As always, post as a comment your best guess for the region (feel free to be more specific if you can) and why.

Death Valley

Just about all of you got the last Where in the World photo. It was a picture of Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. Death Valley National Park is located in the states of California and Nevada in the Western United States. The lowest place in North America, Badwater Basin, can be found here. It is 282 feet below sea level. The lowest place in the world is the Dead Sea at 1371 feel below sea level. Death Valley is also the hottest and driest place in North America.

Want to see more pics? Click below!

More Death Valley Photos

Southern Europe!

Well, you have spoken! The poll votes have revealed that the European region you are most interested in learning about is Southern Europe. Southern Europe is comprised of the countries affectionately known as: PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain). The people from these countries are universally known for their lively characters and good natures. The music, food and dances from these areas are also very popular. The people are often described as being very affectionate and passionate about love, life, family and friends. Many people consider these "latins" to be fun-loving, loud and boisterous but also fiercely loyal with generous, big hearts.

Now, take a moment on vote in this week's poll. Which of the PIGS most interests you?

Extra Help Sessions

If you need extra help with any of your Social Studies work (blogs, eBook, readings), my after school help session schedule is:

Mondays - until 3:30

Tuesdays - until 4:30

Thursdays - until 4:00

Fridays - until 3:30

You can also email me with your questions, problems, comments, etc. at msdeusclass@gmail.com.

For an instant response most evenings from 5 - 8pm I am logged in and online.

Traditions

Valentine's Day candy

Traditions are often defined as actions or beliefs that are handed down over time. They are things that become a part of our customs, or habits. Do you always go to the same place for vacation? If so, then that is a tradition. Traditions are centered around our culture and form part of what makes each one of us who we are. Food, music, dance, religion, even dress can form part of a tradition. Some traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes totally new traditions are made when two people marry and blend their traditions to make something unique.

Many Irish for example wear green clothes on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. In many countries people exchange chocolates, flowers and romantic cards on February 14th, Valentine's Day. In Spain it is tradition to eat a special cake on January 6th called a roscón. In my husband's family it is a tradition to have lunch together every Sunday. Aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are all expected to attend Sunday dinner. A friend of mine likes to go to the same restaurant every year on her birthday. That has become her birthday tradition. For some American families eating turkey on Thanksgiving nad watching American college football games is a yearly tradition. Everyone's traditions can be different. We are all unique and so our traditions can be as well.

In my family we had a tradition about decorating the family Christmas tree. First we had to go and see the big Christmas tree be lit in New York City's Rockefeller Center. That was the sign that we could now start decorating the house for the holidays. We always had an artificial tree. My Dad was afraid a real one would catch on fire and burn down the house! Tree decorating night meant that the tree was brought down from its out of season hideout in the attic. Mom made hot chocolate with marshmallows. We ate sugar cookies and listened to Christmas carols while we decorated the tree always in the same order: lights, ornaments, tinsel, star. The final family tree tradition was that the tree didn't come down and get put away until after my birthday on January 16th.

I have such happy memories of tree decorating that I have tried to continue the tree tradition with my own children. While we don't go to New York City to see the tree lighting, we do drink hot chocolate with whipped cream or marshmallows, eat cookies, listen to Christmas carols and decorate the tree in the same lights, ornaments, tinsel, star order. Our tree, however, is always a real tree! It will be interesting to see if my daughters keep this tradition alive when they are older and have their own families.

Roscón de Reyes (3 Kings Cake)

Your Traditions

So, what are your family traditions? Post on your blog a minimum of 250 words describing a tradition followed in your family. Consider these questions: 

• What is it? 
• When does it occur? 
• What makes it special? 
• Is it a new tradition or an old one?
• Do you think you will continue this tradition when you have a family of your own?                        Why or why not?

Your post should be written in paragraph form and have an introduction and a conclusion.

Feel free to add images. You will be commenting on your classmates' posts, as well.

Don't forget to check your spelling and grammar!

POST DUE DATE: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26th by 8pm.

Poll Results! New Poll!

Well, it's official! The region Grade 7 seems most interested in learning about is.....Europe! 

Please take a moment to take the new poll, and let's see which countries are most popular!

Chikuminuk Lake, Alaska

Just about all of you got that Where in the World 2 was Alaska. Not only did some if you get the photo's relative location, but some of you even got its actual location! 


Chikuminuk Lake is located within the boundaries of the 1.6 million acre Wood-Tikchik State Park. The park is home to many wild animals and is a paradise for hunters and fishermen.

Thank you, Hannah, for the addition information provided in your comment!

Even more information and photos can be found here:

Chikuminuk Lake, Alaska

Where in the World? 3

Ok, class, you guys are getting the hang of this! The last post was too easy! So my mission is to challenge you with a more difficult one. I think I may have found just the picture! I'm ready for your best educated guesses!

So, here we go - same as the last 2 times. Write your location guess and why. Good luck! ☺

Homework Days

Social Studies 7 Homework Days
Please see below to see which days you will be assigned Social Studies homework.

Social Studies 7A:
Week 1: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (Days 1, 3, 4)
Week 2: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (Days 7, 8, 10)

Social Studies 7B:

Week 1: Monday, Thursday, Friday (Days 1, 4, 5)

Week 2: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (Days 7, 8, 10)

Please check the AISC portal and/or class blog for assignment information.

Where in the World? 2

Ok, class - here's the next picture challenge!

So where in the world is this? Just like last time - post as a comment your best guesses! Don't forget to include the region you believe it to be located in and why. Good luck! ☺

The Everglades

The Everglades - America's Wetlands

Congratulations to Alex, Anna Savva and Otis! The correct answer was: the state of Florida in the United States of America in North America! Specifically, this is a picture of the Everglades! Get ready for the next picture and happy guessing!

A favorite spot!

Since the first country we are going to study on our tour around the world in 175 days is the United States of America, and I, myself, am an American citizen, I have chosen a favorite place in the US.

In case you don't recognize it, this picture was taken in North America in the United States. It is a picture of New York City, my hometown. To be more specific this is the view from the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan. In the picture you can see the Brooklyn Bridge in the forefront and the Manhattan Bridge behind it. The yellow boat is a water taxi, which for a small fee takes people from Manhattan island across the East River to the borough of Brooklyn.

This is one of my favorite places mostly because I just really love the view. There is so much to do and see in this part of Manhattan. The South Street Seaport is a big shopping center with lots of restaurants, shops and even a few museums. It's a fabulous place for people watching. There is a place to play miniature golf and even a "beach." It's a lot of fun to get ice cream and sit on the benches and watch the boats go by. If you look to the right, you can even see the Statue of Liberty. Sometimes there are fireworks, and there are always street performers dancing, singing and acting for the large crowds of tourists and native New Yorkers.

Anyone visiting New York City should definitely make it a point to go down to the South Street Seaport and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. It's a special place where all of the beauty and diversity of New York surround you.

Where in the World?

Take a look at this picture:

Now post your best guess as to in which region this location can be found. Is it in North America? South America? Asia? Africa? Europe? What do you think? Why?

Week B

Happy Monday, Grade 7! You made it through Week A and are now ready to tackle Week B! I am confident Week B will be a breeze! Just keep up the good work and being all things "P" - patient, pleasant, polite, punctual, present and prepared! Let's have a great year! ☺

Blogging Comments

Hi, Class!

As you most likely already know, an important part of the blogging experience is the commenting part. While it is a requirement that every week you post comments on different blogs, my sincere hope is that you come to view this less like a "homework assignment" and more like a real chance to interact with your classmates, and yes, me, in a different and hopefully fun way. It's my hope that we all learn a lot more about and from each other. 

That said, I figured it would be a good idea to give you some guidelines/tips on how to be a good, make that, great, poster. I found these tips on a blog I happen to follow and am reposting a slightly modified version for you.

How to Comment on a Blog Post

The purpose of commenting on a blog is to start a conversation based on a blog post.  It is a relationship that is created between the poster and the commenter.  Posting on a fellow classmate’s blog is like having a conversation with them in person.  When commenting on a blog post, you should ask yourself if you would say what you wrote on their blog to them face to face…if the answer to that question is no, you should rethink your comment.

1. Write your comment like a letter by including a greeting, content and a closing. 

2. Always use correct spelling, punctuation, grammar and spacing. 

3. Compliment the writer in a specific way, ask a question or add new information. 

4. Write a relevant comment that is related to the post. 

5. Do not just leave a comment like, “Cool post” or “I like ur blog”.  These comments are not conversation catalysts. 

6. If you have a differing opinion than those of the poster, be positive in your delivery of your comment.  You can say things like, “I appreciate your post, and you made some good points, but I think….” or “I enjoyed reading your post about school uniforms.  I can see why many parents and students would like uniforms, but I like to express myself through my clothing….” 

7. Always read over the comment and edit before submitting. If you make a mistake, correct it as soon as possible. You also reserve the right to edit or even delete your posts and try again. If you think your post has been misinterpreted, post a clarification and attempt to explain your comments more clearly but always remember to be respectful and demonstrate decorum. 

Your words represent you.... 

Happy commenting!!! ☺

Source:

Palevich, Megan, and Kathleen McGeady. "Fostering Thinking, Creativity, and Digital Citizenship Through Blogging." Web log post. Middle School 101. Edublogs.org, 17 Oct. 2010. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://middleschool101.edublogs.org/2010/10/17/fostering-thinking-creativity-and-digital-citizenship-through-blogging/>.