One Wild, Wacky, Awesome Class

This year's seniors are a fun-loving group that knows how to get down to business when the time comes. Currently they're working on hammering out an essay on Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy, but yesterday they took the time to take this picture that will soon be made into a puzzle and put on my wall. It's a special tradition that allows the students to be remembered long after they're gone.

We have the class of 2009's puzzle framed already, need to get a Class of 2010 picture, and will get this class on the wall soon!

Today is the big day for the World War II Interview Project!! Updates sure to come later today.

Rollin' Along

Can you believe it's November already? Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. Currently, we are rapidly making preparations for the World War II veterans and their arrival on November 18! We plan on using rooms at the Grace Bible Church to interview them. In addition, we may be traveling to the Veterans Home in Quincy to interview more!

US History I is reading Lord of the Flies right now. After 4 chapters, it's apparent that big things are in the works. It's amazing how the writings of Locke and this book are intertwined, and that's what we'll be discussing after we're done with the book.

US History II is making comparisons between the Progressive Era (1900-1916) and today's modern progressive movement. From Teddy Roosevelt to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, this unit is quite the load. World War I starts next week.

World Geography is exploring/debating the usage of ethanol, wind power, and alternative energy in the United States. Along the way, we've toured the United States, learning the states along the way. Tomorrow we design a city!!

Illinois History: We're finishing up the last few weeks of instruction this semester. After that, we are going to get busy with our project in full force! The project will consist of a video, skit, paper, presentation, or model; and will double as a Final Exam grade and History Fair project.

Economics: Stock Market Game update: Both teams are in the top 100 teams out of 365 participating in the state! In addition, we debated the role of government in the economy, just like John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich von Hayek did. The link is listed below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk

What Can $6,000 Buy You?

A whole lot of pizza, a stash of electronic and tech goodies, a day of training for a project, 35 satisfied (and stuffed!) AHS students, and one happy and pumped-up teacher! Yes, this is the World War II Interview Project. Right now!

The World War II Interview Project is a unique opportunity in which very few schools from IL are participating. Astoria is one of about 20 in the state who will be interviewing WWII veterans and home front citizens this year. We have received approximately $6,000 to buy video cameras, wireless microphones, one laptop, a couple scanners, and some external hard drives to store our data.

Using the video cameras, we will try to interview around 40-50 vets and upload their videos onto the Library of Congress website. Students have been arranged into interview teams and received training today on how to interview veterans, types of questions to ask, strategies, etc. We plan on doing the interviews in early November.

But that's not all. Casey, Auston, and Jacob accompanied me to Klide's to grab the grub for lunch. 19 pizzas, 6 cases of soda to be exact. We chowed down like there was no tomorrow and played some Ninja as we waited for the afternoon to start.

All in all, a very productive day with some great students who are truly motivated to make this project golden! Slideshow pictures are available on the right-hand side of the screen, and will be uploaded onto the school website later this week.

Project Home: http://wwii.ltc.k12.il.us/Portal/Default.aspx?alias=wwii.ltc.k12.il.us/portal/wwii

August/September Class of the Month

My 8th Hour US History I class won the "Class of the Month" award for August/September. Now just one clarification before explaining the award; the Class of the Month is extremely hard to pick sometimes because all of my classes have special qualities. However, some really stand out...some for a month, two months, maybe the whole year.

This past month, though, one class was above the rest when it came to homework return rates, participation in class, and a high average on tests and quizzes. The 8th hour history class was very well engaged during class, asking a ton of questions during discussion/lecture days and rising to the challenge in creating creative songs, poems, and other curveballs I have thrown their way.

Congratulations!

How Do You Live? Hopefully, Not in a Tenement

US History I: Revolution is in the air! This week, we take a look at the triggers for the Revolutionary War and develop our very own news show later in the week, 1770s style!

US History II: New York was NOT a good place to be in the late 1800s...as many immigrants found out. After hearing that the streets of the USA were paved with gold, many were shocked to find that they would be living in tenements in tight, dirty living conditions. There were 16,000 tenement buildings for 500,000 immigrants in New York in 1900!

So starting tomorrow, we read part of Jacob Riis' "How the Other Half Lives" and then role-play different families in a talk/news-show format in-class! We'll videotape it all and "interview" families that are only making $1,200/month for $1,300 in living expenses...all while living in tight quarters and disease. Later this week, we watch the hit Disney musical "Newsies" that shows the lives of many NYC boys delivering newspapers as they tried hard to make ends meet.

World Geography: Did you leave your heart in San Francisco? This week, we take a look at the Golden State and then follow it up with a study on Washington, Oregon, and the Pacific NW.

Economics: the Stock Market Game officially gets it start this week!! You can read more about the program at www.stockmarketgame.org. We'll be competing with other teams around the state!

IL History: We're finishing a slideshow on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and then studying more about the Windy City. This includes the Union Stockyards, the Haymarket Tragedy, and many other golden nuggets!

Why We're In A Recession...and more

It's tough to believe that it was two years ago that the Great Recession officially struck, as Wall Street plunged and investors took a huge hit on their earnings. Now it has worked its way through every part of the country, causing layoffs, unemployment and the like. Although the government claims unemployment is holding steady at 9.4%, the real data tends to show a different story: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/learn-how-to-invest/The-real-unemployment-rate.aspx.

My Economics students will be investigating the causes of the current financial crisis. We'll learn about business structures, the stock market, and how they are intertwined. Next week we start the Stock Market Game too, where we'll be competing with other schools all around the state!

World Geography students are in the early stages of planning a road trip from coast to coast through the US. They have to stop at 6 National Parks, document their journey, and figure out hotel/gas costs...should be a good time.

US History I students are starting a new unit after our test last week. We begin examining the causes for Revolution in the United States, as we consider the nature of the colonies and what was driving the colonists' desire for expansion and independence. We'll watch clips from Last of the Mohicans this week as we discuss the French/Indian War.

US History II students are considering the legacy of the American West, complete with the outlaws, Western slang and the like! We also take a look at the forgotten history, that of the Irish and Chinese immigrants that helped write the story as well. Finally, a reflection on the American Indians and the massive land losses they experienced.

IL History- again working on projects and studying the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Should be a great week! Off we go...

Cowboys, Indians, Competition, and...Railroads?

Sounds like a good week to me! As we head into Homecoming Week, students are undoubtedly excited about the 11:30 Spirit Day on Friday...so another big plus!

Illinois History: We're going to keep plugging away on our History Fair projects. Students have been researching potential topics, and I've been impressed with what they've got so far! The next step is important though: doing the research, designing the project, and so on. We've got tons of talent to do the job.

US History I: A Colonial Life Simulation is underway Monday, followed by a video on Tuesday and prep for the test on Thursday. We will play "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire- US History Style to review for the test on Wednesday!

US History II: Farmers, ranchers, cowboys, Indian wars, and railroads- one of the most exciting units of the year! We're planning on a spirited Ranchers vs. Farmers Debate, analysis of the Indian wars, and moving on to daily life in the Gilded Age.

World Geography: A video, "America's Heart and Soul," on Monday-Tuesday; followed by an introduction to mind-boggling statistics about the good ol' US of A. We hit the ground running by starting with the Pacific Northwest (California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho) for our first mini-section.

Economics: Competition abounds this week, as we discuss how competition makes a market economy work! We have a test Thursday, so another round of "Millionaire" will definitely be in order!

Looking forward to a great week, as always. A couple things that are in the works and very much in the "planning" stage:

1) IL Youth and Government Day, spring 2011. I'm looking into the program and thinking of how we could make this work. Students would travel to Springfield and be legislators for a day, taking up a number of projects and bills in the House chamber. It sounds like a great time.

2) Extending History Fair opportunities for juniors/seniors. Trying to figure out what would be the best course of action on this front as well.

3) Stock Market Game. Getting ready to kick off this competition soon for Economics!

4) WWII Interview Project with the senior class, interviewing veterans and uploading these interviews onto the Library of Congress website.

Have a GREAT week!!

-Mr. B

Full Swing

Yes, you know when Open House/Meet the Teacher Night is through and Labor Day has passed, the school year must be in full swing! I have to admit that it took just a little while to get fully in the school swing of things, but now I've dug headlong and am really excited for another GREAT year!!

Of course, it helps that we've got a full load on our plate so far in class! I'm hoping that we can use this blog to stay updated/connected so you always know what's going on in your son or daughter's class!

World Geography: This week's content has been dominated by the current climate change debate taking place worldwide. Between the IPCC, UN, and other various organizations, how do you possibly make sense of it all? We watched a portion of a documentary and analyzed both sides of the CC debate. Some students are convinced that Climate Change will result in catastrophic events, while others are sure it's a scam! A great third week for World Geography.

Economics: This week in ECON has found us analyzing the laws of supply and demand; we went to two other classes in the high school and "sold" a 30 GB iPod! Of course the laws of demand held up...everybody wanted it for a quarter. When it was $300, not so many buyers were still left!

IL History: Exciting times in Illinois History- today I encouraged my students to make a model/project for the Illinois History Fair coming up in March! We have some talented students who enjoy hands-on learning, and I think this will be the ticket! Whether it's a storyboard of Faye Rawley or a skit of the Haymarket Square Riot, these IL History students will be up to the task.

US History I: Who knew that one day could change the course of history? That is exactly what US History I students learned today when we learned about the Massacre at Mystic in 1637 when English Puritan settlers slaughtered Pequot Indians in the middle of the night, setting the stage for waves of Indian attacks in the future.

US History II: Were the big-business giants (Rockefeller, Carnegie, etc.) robber barons or rags-to-riches geniuses? How did labor unions get their start? It's been a fascinating week as we have gotten down to the era of US industrialization in the late 1800s. We finished a Carnegie Steel Empire Simulation last week, where students tried to acquire all 15 parts of the steel production process (open hearth ovens, barges, steel railroads, etc.).

Things are going fast and only speeding up! I'd love to hear your thoughts as we march at full speed into another year.

-Mr. B

Trial and...Error?

The long-awaited trial day came and went for my US History I class. Our mock trial was a case that was straight off the script of Law and Order! And happily I can say, that some of my students' performances falls nothing short of a future Emmy Award!

The trial consisted of a woman, Martha Monroe, who was in an abusive relationship with her husband. After many beatings, she did not want to tell the police due to fears that he would come after her. However, one night she couldn't take it anymore and shot him three times while he lay sleeping in his bed. It's truly a case that could go either way, and we will finish it up on Tuesday! (I have to be gone on Monday)

In other news...

- Was dropping the atomic bombs on Japan to end WWII justified? Was it something that should have been done? US History II students had to consider those questions on Friday as we wrapped up our WWII unit.

- Storming their way through Europe was my World Geography class this week. It was an action-packed week that included plans to build a bridge (or two!) over the Strait of Gibraltar; lessons on the Tour de France, French culture, and the French Revolution; and country studies of Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Students learned that many of the foods they eat on a daily basis have roots in all 4 countries; they "explored" the old vestiges of the Roman Empire at the Forum; and examined the smallest country in the world, Vatican City!

- And in Sociology, students were introduced to the elements of culture. We took a look at how Western values differ greatly from many other culture systems in the world, especially on relationships and individuality. The students also read an article on the sociology of naming and found that high culture tends to filter down to pop culture! Pretty interesting that a name usually starts out small like anything else, then is released to the masses and becomes the latest fad!

Best Field Trip Ever?

The seniors took their big field trip yesterday, and what a wallop of a day it was! After getting up bright and early, we left at 6:30 for a two-hour drive to Gridley, IL. The students visited the home of Clark Stoller, who is an avid World War II buff that has collected many artifacts through the years. Of course, none were as memorable as the Japanese rifle and sword!

After an hour-long talk on the War in the Pacific, where Mr. Stoller brought out stories from his father who had served as a medic, the students took a 1/2 hour drive to Pontiac to visit the Livingston County War Museum. There, they were able to speak with veterans who had served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. They were able to see uniforms, ammunition, artillery, helmets, and many other items of interest.

The next stop was Mario's Pizza, where the veterans treated us to lunch! We had all the pizza we could eat, and the curator of the museum loaded us up with boxes of snacks, chips, cookies, and soda.

Ronald Reagan Museum in Eureka was the next stop on the trip. The students participated in a self-guided tour that included materials from all eras of Reagan's life.

The last stop on the trip was the Rave Theater in Peoria, where the students watched "Invictus." This movie is about Nelson Mandela, rugby, and a desperate attempt to put the old racial caste system of apartheid in the past. Mandela realized that success in rugby was crucial to South Africa's success, and the movie incorporated that theme well.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip and one that will surely be remembered for a long time to come!

Snow Days

Who doesn't love them? There is something mythical and magical about getting a phone call or seeing on the news that we will not have school. Believe it or not, teachers like them too!

Hopefully you all have had a very warm holiday season and are off to a great New Year! I haven't updated this site in quite some time: engaged life will do that to ya!

In Class:

We hit the ground running earlier this week but as you can see, we are at a standstill until Monday. I have been in contact with the Livingston County War Museum regarding our field trip on Thursday 1/14, as well as tying up a few other loose ends. Here's what next week will look like (weather pending):

US History II: Nazism, Pearl Harbor and why it happened, War in the Pacific, and a host of other fascinating topics. Students have enjoyed our WWII unit so far and I hope this keeps up!

US History I: Does the Electoral College accurately represent America's votes for President? Should it be changed? Why or why not? An in-depth study of the EC, as well as continued focus on the Executive Branch, will dominate this week's studies.

World Geography: Leprechauns, luck of the Irish, Stonehenge, Riding of the Bulls, and much more is in store for my World Geography students. It's all part of our unit on Europe; this week focuses on much of Western Europe before making our way east!

Sociology: We will have a live talk show on Monday and invite the founders of Sociology to speak about how they see the social world! Special guests like Max Weber, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer, and Auguste Comte will "appear" and present their views.

Have a great weekend and see you soon!!