good discussions!

This is a good trend.  You're thinking about important issues, learning about how to conduct good, responsible research, and contributing to the class discussion more than usual.  Nice work.

The things I want you to remember about the classes of the last couple days?  We live in complicated times, and there are not always clearcut answers to complex issues.  Should we come to the aid of victims of genocide?  Are we legally obligated to stop genocide?  Can we even afford to help those whose human rights are being violated in plain sight of the world?

Perhaps the most important point about our discussion: seek out answers to these difficult questions yourself.  The mini-research sessions we conducted in class are an example of this.  If you can cultivate the habit of researching on your own, rather than being told (by the media, the government, or even your teachers) what the answer is, you are well on your way to being truly well-informed.

Now blog about that!

New Unit!

We began our unit on geopolitics with a discussion of genocide, discrimination, colonialism, and apartheid, among other things.  Homework for all sections is to fill out the reverse side of the handout.  All groups blog tonight, with Section 03 writing about Nelson Mandela, and Section 01 writing about propaganda.  Section 02 can sum up their notes from today's discussion.

test today

Thanks, Sam for the sensational homemade sausage on Section 01!

I hope you all aced the test today.  Don't forget to blog about today's class (before Saturday night at midnight), and have a great weekend!

test on Culture tomorrow

Tomorrow's test will be cover my PowerPoint and class discussion on Culture, as well as the classwork and presentations you guys did.  You are allowed to use your blog, but you can't just call up the link to my PowerPoint.  I would recommend taking notes on it, and posting those notes in your blog.

Congratulations on reaching the last test of the first quarter.  Study hard, and finish strong.

food today, test on Friday

THANK YOU to those of you who brought in international foods as part of our studies on culture.  Please note the following:

• Check your PowerSchool to make sure you got your 10 points of extra credit.  If I missed you, send me an email and let me know.
• Please pick up any Tupperware, serving dishes, spoons, handle bags, etc., from Room 121 (the TV Studio) ASAP.

The test on the Culture unit is this Friday.  It will cover my lectures, your presentations, and the PowerPoint I have posted.  This is the last test of the first quarter.

Thanks again for making the classrooms smell and taste so good!

multiple choice quiz

What did Section 01 accomplish in class today?
       a.  they wrote their own questions for Friday's test
       b.  they worked on their WikiBooks chapter on culture
       c.  they wished Tatiana a happy birthday
       d.  they ate M&Ms and root beer barrels
       e.  all of the above

The correct answer is e.  Nice work!

why excellence matters

I refuse to believe that some of the presentations I saw in class today are the best you can do.

If you are going to fall into the habit of doing as little work as possible just to get by, then here are a few things you should start getting used to:

• seeing other people get jobs and raises you think you deserve
• watching someone else get the girl (or guy) you had your eye on
• having a job that offers no satisfaction, just a paycheck
• being defeated by teams that aren't as talented as yours

The good news?  You guys are in your early teens, so it's not too late to turn it around.  Here are some thoughts to ponder before your next project/paper/test/whatever:

You can't make a great play unless you do it first in practice.
                                                                      -- Chuck Noll

It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What is tough, is being good every day.
                                                                                                                  -- Willie Mays

So be good.   

         -- Me

let's do something special

Many of you are familiar with the Race For The Cure, which raises funds to try to find a cure for breast cancer.  And a lot of you know Amanda Brannan, one of your classmates in this awesome freshman class.  But some of you may not know that Amanda is this year's biggest single fundraiser!  This is incredible!

If you (through your parents) want to help Amanda raise even more funds in memory of her Mom, click here to go to her donation page.  Every little bit helps, and you'll feel good knowing you have helped to make a positive difference in the world.

Good luck on the PSAT test today, have a great l-o-o-o-o-ng weekend, and thank you for your generosity!

researching culture

The following information is for Section 01 

and their WikiBooks project.

New York Times editorial on why students should go into Cultural Geography:  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/opinion/11brooks.done.html

Fantastic website on culture from a geographic perspective:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/grade3/geograph.html

Wikimedia Commons is THE source for images that are in the public domain, which means you have the right to use these images without seeking anyone's permission.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pictures_and_images

This is an introduction to the online course in Cultural Geography offered by the University of Wisconsin.
http://online.uwc.edu/academics/catalog/course.asp?cid=001776

This info is for Sections 02 and 03.

Thanks to all who brought in food today, including Rachel, Megan, and Merina in Section 02, and ND, Erica, Eleanor, Megan, and both Amandas in Section 03.  (Did I forget anyone?  Let me know!)  Way to add some cultural flavor to the class!

No class tomorrow, or the rest of this week, but we'll be back next Monday.  If you want to bring in an authentic dish from the nation you are studying on Monday, feel free.

Tonight, everybody blogs.

Rubric for presentation

I have posted the rubric for your culture presentation.  You should take a look at this to make sure you know exactly how I am going to grade your presentation to the class.  It's posted under my Links section.

See you Monday!

Culture assignment

Sections 2 & 3:  the culture assignments are due at the start of class on Monday.  We will draw names to determine what order we go in.  Everyone should be ready to present.

Of course, this means that if you didn't finish working on your presentation in class, you need to do it over the weekend.  Since you are all collaborating via Google Docs, you can get this done.

Only the person who actually prepares and brings in food gets the extra credit points.  It is expected that you prepare the food yourself (or with your parents' help).  Do not buy a prepared dish from a restaurant or a grocery store.  We learn by doing.

If your food needs to be refrigerated, please check to see if your advisor has a mini-fridge in your room.  If not, stop by my room (the TV Studio - Room 121) before school.

Put an address label or something else with your name on it on the bottom of the dish or Tupperware so we can get it back to you.

I'm really looking forward to learning about the culture of these countries from you guys.  Should be a tasty class!

Culture project

Today Sections 02 and 03 started their projects on culture around the world.  The details are found in the document Culture Assignment, found in my Links section.

Brendon H, you need to join a group.  Email someone you want to work with, and join their group.

Work continues in class tomorrow, but it would be a good idea to get some of the research done tonight.  Plus, you need to blog tonight.  Any questions about the project - just ask.

culture discussion

Thank you and congratulations to those of you who participated in today's discussion about culture.  This is not a lecture-only class.  You may encounter such a class when you get to college, where there are several hundred students in a large lecture hall listening to a professor talk for two hours.  But in our class, with only a couple dozen of you, I rely on you to participate, to ask questions, to volunteer information, to share your thoughts and opinions.  This is an expectation, spelled out in my syllabus.

Don't forget to blog about today's class!

preview of culture

What did Section 01 learn in class today?  Well, we learned to be prepared for class.  We learned that cutting-and-pasting is not always the most effective way to learn things, unless we can elaborate and explain what we pasted.  We learned that "Ummm..." is not always the best way to start an oral report.  And we learned that you guys can be pretty tough on each other when it comes to grades.

But what did we learn about culture?  You tell me.  In your blog tonight, summarize what you learned about culture during our class discussion today.

(Great class today, by the way.  You guys make Human Geo fun!)

Culture defined

Culture is the shared experience, traits, and activities of a group of people who have a common heritage.  - from Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2011 Edition

Tonight's homework:  find two other definitions of culture, plus the sources where you found them.  Then in a paragraph of at least 100 words, combine these into your own personal definition of what culture means to you.