Initiative

We're learning about the Japanese invasion/colonization of Manchuria as well as Japanese imperialism in general - but I wanted to take a break from that for a moment.

(Oh, but first - if you weren't here - or didn't finish your map you can download it HERE.  It's due tomorrow.)

Today while we were in the computer lab, I wanted to remind the students of all the extra credit policies I have.  There are quite a few: this blog - you know about it... you're here.  The geography games, watching/ relating the news and current events to what we're studying, etc...

At the beginning of the year I try to hammer in the point that social studies touches everything.  Everything.  It is ubiquitous, yet we often have a hard time connecting our lives to social studies because... you know... who does that?... 

I tell the students, "hey, if you're watching TV or a movie, reading a book or playing a video game and you see something that relates to this class, write me a paragraph telling me about it and I'll give you some points."

I want students to take some initiative - and ultimately I want them to take what they're learning in here and connect it to their lives.

I'm sure many - maybe all - students do this anyway, but I don't often get told about it.

After spring break Anna turned this in:

Not only that, but she wrote a rough draft first and asked Mr. Ogle to look over it - which he did.  (Seriously, this school corporation is fantastic.  It seems like everyone always goes above and beyond the call of duty.)  Check it out:

I thought it'd be worth sharing what she wrote and giving her some kudos for it:

Futurama to Social Studies

     Mr. Habecker, over spring break I watched this show called Futurama.  The whole thing reminded me of Gandhi's act for equality among people.

     At the beginning, the first thing I noticed was a meeting of the rich people who were talking so badly about the mutants.  It's how the priests treated the untouchables.  The priests treated them like dirt.

     Next, the mutants had to carry around passes given out by the mayor that only lasts one day.  They would have to carry it around to go anywhere.  It was like when the Indians had to carry passes around in South Africa.

     A guy named Fry jumped into the lake that turns you into a mutant in order to see what it's like in their shoes - like when Gandhi dresses and acts like a poor person to see their point of view.

     Next, they had civil disobedience because they just sent the sewage back up - not harming anyone, but just to show what they think is wrong.  Gandhi used all kinds of civil disobedience acts like: burning the passes, he wouldn't pay court fines, and all of those freedom walks.  He did this to show that what was going on was wrong.

     Lastly, all the mutants took a march for equality/freedom.  This reminds me of when Gandhi has that march to the Indian Ocean to gather salt.  They both were for freedom.

     That's all the similarities I saw.  If you think you might want to see this, it is season 7 episode 11 or 12.

For an assignment that's supposed to be rather low-key, I thought she did an exceptional job.  There are so, SO many connections to what we've been studying.  Nice job.

To get the extra credit for reading the blog, you're supposed to read it and discuss it with an adult.  If you did this, find a scrap of paper and complete the following: tell me a connection between my social studies class and a show, book, movie, video game (or whatever) that YOU like.  It doesn't have to be a long paper, just a connection or two.  ...Think about everything we've been talking about since the beginning of the year.

When you're done, have the adult you read and discussed the blog with sign the paper.

Turn it in tomorrow.

See you then.

If You're Reading This

If you're reading this blog post, chances are you already found out what today's lesson is about.  Today in class we went over the extra credit policy.  This blog is part of that policy, so obviously your son or daughter (or nephew, niece, foster-child, grandson, friend's kid that you're watching for a while, etc...) was paying attention.

Go ahead and give them a pat on the back for that.  Nice job!  Nice job, friend's kid that you're watching for a while!  Way to do what you're supposed to do!

So, I don't have to tell you that you can get extra credit by reading and discussing my teacher blog every night.  They already told you that - which is why you're here.  So, there's not much to discuss.  I guess you could discuss the extra credit policy in general.  Better yet, play THE GEOGRAPHY GAMES - continents and oceans.  Play at least two times, how about it?  Adult who is invested in the education of a young adult, challenge them.  You each get one turn.  They play level one of the Continents and Oceans (World at the bottom of the link) and then you get a chance to beat their score and time...  Then you'll know two of my three extra credit policies AND help them study for the C & O test that they can retake on Friday.

After you've finished discussing the blog, and playing the games, find a scrap piece of paper and write down who won the challenge.  Remember, the adult has to sign the paper if my student wants credit for it.  Also, it'd be a good idea if said student put his or her name on the paper.

If you want to see my online extra credit procedures, you can download it HERE.  Although, chances are you don't need it since you've made it this far...