Writing on Desks

One of the first things we work on in this class is learning/relearning the continents and oceans, and understanding how latitude and longitude lines work.

There's something that seems inherently fun about writing on desks.  I don't know if it's because it's generally forbidden, or because dry-erase markers are so much more fun to work with than pencils, but we wrote on the desks themselves today.

I projected this map onto the SmartBoard:

They had to draw it on their desks.

When they were done, they added the Equator and Prime Meridian.  Then they also added 180° E/W without looking it up.  ...Then they added 90°W and 90°E without looking.

We didn't spend a TON of time on it, but the students did a good job:

We took a test over the continents and oceans really early - before we'd studied them.  Students are required to retake that test until they get a 12/12.  If they haven't earned that score yet, they should make sure to see me about retaking the test.

I should add that we also read a little bit of The Hunger Games today.  I keep finding more and more that ties in with this class.

If students read and discussed the blog, they should have the adult they read and discussed it with draw a map of the world.  They aren't allowed to take more than 2 minutes.  If students can get the adult to do this, and they both sign the paper, students will earn 5 extra credit points.  Just make sure you turn in the paper tomorrow.  (Put it in the extra credit tray.  ...Make sure your name is on it.)

Continents and Culture - AND LAT LONG VID!!!

So, Mr. Jerlecki's digital media corp finished editing the video footage from our latitude/longitude activity.  You can check it out at the bottom of the post.  I'll talk about it more later... but I wanted to mention it, since I know that is the reason several of you stopped by.


Today we continued our discussion of culture - and what makes a culture.

But we also spent a lot of time on the continents.  Since the majority of students have aced their continents and oceans test, we can spend some time deconstructing all the ideas they have built up during the course of their education thus-far.

If you want to know exactly what I meant, you'll have to watch this video...  We watched it twice:

If you came here to get extra credit for reading and discussing the blog with an adult, you have to read and discuss it with an adult.  ...If you did that - BAM!  You're in luck.  You just have to prove it by writing two sentences telling me whether the adult that read the blog with you also watched the "What Are Continents?" video.  ...If they did (and I hope they did) ask them what they thought about it, and write another sentence telling me what they thought.  Have them sign it.  Then, put your name, date and hour on it, and turn it in tomorrow.  Five free points!!

P.S.  Now, I know some of you are here to see the video from the activity.  The other day we went around the school using latitude and longitude to guide us.  It went really well.  It gauged how well students knew latitude and longitude, but it also showed them how to follow a map.  Like I said at the top, it was edited by Mr. Jerlecki's Digital Media Corp.  That was nice, because it gave me some free time, and allowed them to have added practice video editing.  Win-win.  Check it out if you have time.  Maybe you're even in it!