tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22019187736094154032024-03-05T20:16:05.935-06:00Mr. Banwart's Classroom BlogThis blog will be a very useful online service that will allow parents, students, and others to stay up to date on what takes place in Mr. Banwart's classroom every day.mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-62462901163071724152010-11-18T05:59:00.003-06:002010-11-18T06:07:39.328-06:00One Wild, Wacky, Awesome Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRUHxXFMN0_CpUbLKV6mB3GCfniLvam_52Y-tq5Gb4T6c90jSGnPLiCs8mk8WLWrKv-vGEc7lNhoP_-YZCqn0ekupP_yhSpNR6Xu-e4IWxdIC9rpRbRhr4k-1VfAz4LkTYtDhtk70Dkw3/s1600/DSCN7464.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRUHxXFMN0_CpUbLKV6mB3GCfniLvam_52Y-tq5Gb4T6c90jSGnPLiCs8mk8WLWrKv-vGEc7lNhoP_-YZCqn0ekupP_yhSpNR6Xu-e4IWxdIC9rpRbRhr4k-1VfAz4LkTYtDhtk70Dkw3/s320/DSCN7464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540860007306065730" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />Today is the big day for the World War II Interview Project!! Updates sure to come later today.mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-76677309003802052982010-11-04T16:53:00.002-05:002010-11-04T17:00:20.824-05:00Rollin' AlongCan 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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Skmr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-43744454240232899182010-10-19T17:25:00.003-05:002010-10-19T17:38:53.474-05:00What Can $6,000 Buy You?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgsGoB5nebzGfL4cp9XnYaFw9DfcTv4JpZTR4u2f-7z-WL8ZfplMmIH_aIHClnyUXcYV3AIpTMJj56meSKxRBpdK9trUVyikTw7hneoPN1jUqLHr39nmvnCnZqByNyGDFyI9iTZY4Bk8W/s1600/DSCN7429.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgsGoB5nebzGfL4cp9XnYaFw9DfcTv4JpZTR4u2f-7z-WL8ZfplMmIH_aIHClnyUXcYV3AIpTMJj56meSKxRBpdK9trUVyikTw7hneoPN1jUqLHr39nmvnCnZqByNyGDFyI9iTZY4Bk8W/s320/DSCN7429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529890150926028706" border="0" /></a><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Project Home: http://wwii.ltc.k12.il.us/Portal/Default.aspx?alias=wwii.ltc.k12.il.us/portal/wwiimr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-29345767790099491482010-10-05T21:19:00.004-05:002010-10-05T21:28:41.396-05:00August/September Class of the Month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_LXRPx54zJiiVEnXFcF_7qZTzXr5Z_6IGY188Z8lrzAzei8yk71uwwq4rk0dBod-TWLpxX2QqwsblfUAmKwIPp9yLVcOO2tWo5YC58ciTG4ySUPetfyzP2vh9xwS2Y29mOBHOZIzUVi6/s1600/DSCN7357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_LXRPx54zJiiVEnXFcF_7qZTzXr5Z_6IGY188Z8lrzAzei8yk71uwwq4rk0dBod-TWLpxX2QqwsblfUAmKwIPp9yLVcOO2tWo5YC58ciTG4ySUPetfyzP2vh9xwS2Y29mOBHOZIzUVi6/s320/DSCN7357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524753282200034018" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Congratulations!mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-88124848551861728522010-10-03T20:58:00.002-05:002010-10-03T21:15:24.761-05:00How Do You Live? Hopefully, Not in a Tenement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnny41PKG0EAI9rR9Q3aYMDgNHySx8ef-ecUxCUROlyc4Inwv-pO8isxPjzlBCNzMwc81lyGEG9EWfNnhUs9YmNGYYVuHt5QYEXCJ8bM67oCqfEC2FSBrVNrLSeR_ShEyxxb3IPZvylC1/s1600/19th13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnny41PKG0EAI9rR9Q3aYMDgNHySx8ef-ecUxCUROlyc4Inwv-pO8isxPjzlBCNzMwc81lyGEG9EWfNnhUs9YmNGYYVuHt5QYEXCJ8bM67oCqfEC2FSBrVNrLSeR_ShEyxxb3IPZvylC1/s320/19th13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524008613114518450" border="0" /></a><br />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!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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!mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-22883960375754260782010-09-27T22:05:00.003-05:002010-09-27T22:19:24.910-05:00Why We're In A Recession...and more<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGzUmveNZMijS6G5MJOwsC1lsEmKIRnUQsuubaD-P0rNQ_JPJoygZKTx9fOzwq-Mo2JVUsWntaydW4Gp6_kMPeeorgivIj8ZqdE4wv8xgKbCFquFDIKIyo2px1t-UKrQyTi3JYRFXpUjJ/s1600/547344-16cfc67a1a695fdc6d1c5cd39fb08e8f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGzUmveNZMijS6G5MJOwsC1lsEmKIRnUQsuubaD-P0rNQ_JPJoygZKTx9fOzwq-Mo2JVUsWntaydW4Gp6_kMPeeorgivIj8ZqdE4wv8xgKbCFquFDIKIyo2px1t-UKrQyTi3JYRFXpUjJ/s320/547344-16cfc67a1a695fdc6d1c5cd39fb08e8f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521798743763182242" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />IL History- again working on projects and studying the Lincoln-Douglas debates.<br /><br />Should be a great week! Off we go...mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-18553312270414995692010-09-19T21:37:00.003-05:002010-09-19T21:58:24.974-05:00Cowboys, 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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />Looking forward to a great week, as always. A couple things that are in the works and very much in the "planning" stage:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />3) Stock Market Game. Getting ready to kick off this competition soon for Economics!<br /><br />4) WWII Interview Project with the senior class, interviewing veterans and uploading these interviews onto the Library of Congress website.<br /><br />Have a GREAT week!!<br /><br />-Mr. Bmr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-78685615676739428002010-09-09T18:14:00.003-05:002010-09-09T18:27:59.550-05:00Full Swing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XGerAnPSEZi-ZrTwm6PRyZkt9Frp2dVwxAZIOWil6whrn724a5VvF5HGhKSIf5UqYsnaA7NK2PUm28rGIh0uMkOY5antIoPfiUEU5TG4EQfUPd_Qh_5HgCAO-G0WOEtA5E5cuqnRIlVo/s1600/andrew_carnegie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XGerAnPSEZi-ZrTwm6PRyZkt9Frp2dVwxAZIOWil6whrn724a5VvF5HGhKSIf5UqYsnaA7NK2PUm28rGIh0uMkOY5antIoPfiUEU5TG4EQfUPd_Qh_5HgCAO-G0WOEtA5E5cuqnRIlVo/s320/andrew_carnegie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515059415648218210" border="0" /></a><br />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!!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.).<br /><br />Things are going fast and only speeding up! I'd love to hear your thoughts as we march at full speed into another year.<br /><br />-Mr. Bmr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-47524306422440957342010-01-30T08:56:00.002-06:002010-01-30T09:04:52.981-06:00Trial 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!<br /><br />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)<br /><br />In other news...<br /><br />- 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.<br /><br />- 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!<br /><br />- 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!mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-84601509538547731702010-01-15T05:47:00.003-06:002010-01-15T06:02:03.209-06:00Best Field Trip Ever?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic54XZfeR8VSrjS1tntKOHy3TP-Fif0tKslsjGvi1XaMKgmhpDTJ4pRRL5s_xU2pJG-J9likfC7Etb7v4hk_KKHiqtWAeLW0tghxbF9_wD64A1ICx7SHTSdFe6MMu5VUzbvkKszBkIzDmZ/s1600-h/DSCN6437.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic54XZfeR8VSrjS1tntKOHy3TP-Fif0tKslsjGvi1XaMKgmhpDTJ4pRRL5s_xU2pJG-J9likfC7Etb7v4hk_KKHiqtWAeLW0tghxbF9_wD64A1ICx7SHTSdFe6MMu5VUzbvkKszBkIzDmZ/s320/DSCN6437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426935634226602194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHWX4BIPzIaozebSk3fMqRxp7VT3zFr3Rk2ICRBnnjlBxS-ScjTziOVwPc4nXKee87G8-gjJ4U6NER1luZbmnUTf-JNibGb6nJeQpfaKWo9homrRqaYEFqGPpUnkjw3td5wtHjgGgEhVe/s1600-h/DSCN6433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHWX4BIPzIaozebSk3fMqRxp7VT3zFr3Rk2ICRBnnjlBxS-ScjTziOVwPc4nXKee87G8-gjJ4U6NER1luZbmnUTf-JNibGb6nJeQpfaKWo9homrRqaYEFqGPpUnkjw3td5wtHjgGgEhVe/s320/DSCN6433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426935094048770258" border="0" /></a><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Overall, it was a fantastic trip and one that will surely be remembered for a long time to come!mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-62113578334321158152010-01-08T13:41:00.003-06:002010-01-08T13:47:24.309-06:00Snow DaysWho 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!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />In Class:<br /><br />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):<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Have a great weekend and see you soon!!mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-26743914678210744542009-12-11T06:58:00.003-06:002009-12-11T07:00:23.903-06:00November Class of the Month!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxMhddU81EDRuue5Qm8SS830ig_JOplXxceC-rSJK9bBK9Nb-1n0d1fCqTZSjZml_MqEE8m0Y9vMvaSl_6syha8ATdNQJAH2_La1JDFGNkTGp-2sewil03gvYiy4KOKNaCbtqUIx50jb6/s1600-h/DSCN6424.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxMhddU81EDRuue5Qm8SS830ig_JOplXxceC-rSJK9bBK9Nb-1n0d1fCqTZSjZml_MqEE8m0Y9vMvaSl_6syha8ATdNQJAH2_La1JDFGNkTGp-2sewil03gvYiy4KOKNaCbtqUIx50jb6/s320/DSCN6424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413962693883364898" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style="Trebuchet MS"font-family:";"><b>Class of the Month – November<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style="Trebuchet MS"font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">For the first time in history, Mr. Banwart’s World Geography 4<sup>th</sup> Hour Class won the Class of the Month Award.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style="Trebuchet MS"font-family:";">Don’t ask these guys to buy a timeshare! Students completed the TimeShare Simulation, the Caribbean Cruise Lines Simulation, and demonstrated fantastic knowledge of North and Central America. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS';">Great Job! It's an awesome mix of freshmen, sophomores, and seniors and we're really starting to have a good time as we continue our trek through the world.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS';">In other news...finals. Yeah. They're next week. Let's study up!</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-15782002230568751622009-11-30T06:17:00.002-06:002009-11-30T06:18:02.163-06:00Happy Thanksgiving!I trust all had a blessed Thanksgiving this year! Although it has been a trying and tough year at times, we must say that we have so much to be thankful for. I thought you would appreciate this address given by George Washington:<div><br /></div><div>Thanksgiving Proclamation</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; "><p>By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.</p><p>Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.</p><p>Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.</p><p>and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.</p><p>Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.</p><p>Go: Washington</p></span></div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-16412360385013191632009-11-20T11:50:00.003-06:002009-11-20T11:59:54.912-06:00Always Expect Excellence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUHC4apA2fE-NwkXg9tBq7cydv7z55JfYxZN-BJpIx5GA8L_zeDxQXDiYsMz0JWkaJgPWpZZ95xEYDTwtOOtegYWdbybFfFJYWutc5T__UOjbdYT3EIeTZOXJlhiP9Xlgzs4vopkoIgEf/s1600/budget_piechart.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUHC4apA2fE-NwkXg9tBq7cydv7z55JfYxZN-BJpIx5GA8L_zeDxQXDiYsMz0JWkaJgPWpZZ95xEYDTwtOOtegYWdbybFfFJYWutc5T__UOjbdYT3EIeTZOXJlhiP9Xlgzs4vopkoIgEf/s320/budget_piechart.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406247063062577138" /></a><br />Always Expect Excellence! The higher your standards and expectations, the greater amount of things you can achieve.<div><br /></div><div>Nowhere was this more true than in my economics class 3rd hour. We're currently in Chapter 13, which deals with government expenditures as a key driver of the economy. Of course, one major area of government expense is that national budget. I prepared a national budget packet for the students, where they took a look at the pie graph (shown in this post) of the government's expenses every year. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was fascinating to hear how some students want to privatize social security, develop an investment plan for it, and gradually eliminate it from the budget. Many more ideas were thrown around and some of them were quite plausible! If you're concerned about the job Congress is currently doing, Economics would certainly offer some bright prospects and hope for the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's not to shortchange my other classes though. World Geography has discovered the traps and dangers of timeshare offers, the water crisis in Haiti, and the wide world of Caribbean Cruise Line negotiations!</div><div><br /></div><div>US History II just wrapped up its 60s-70s unit- fascinating stuff! Excellent test scores too. Great Job!! Today starts our 3-day study of Las Vegas that will take us into Thanksgiving break.</div><div><br /></div><div>And last but certainly not least, US History I's major accomplishment is the creation of a newspaper, 1787 style! In the newspaper, John Locke's and Thomas Hobbes' theories on state of nature are included; Shays' Rebellion is discussed, and of course the Philadelphia Convention dominates the "headlines." The articles are written from a journalist's point of view in 1787. It's great!</div><div><br /></div><div>Countdown to Thanksgiving...3.4 school days away! Have a great weekend!</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-45377430771081341832009-11-09T20:17:00.003-06:002009-11-09T20:21:07.304-06:00Berlin Wall Anniversary and Veterans DayIt's a historic week! Today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Veterans Day is this Wednesday.<br /><br />Rather than just enjoy a day with no work or school, why not take some time to study up on the history of the day?<br /><br />Veterans Day's (Armistice Day in some other countries) origins come from World War I, in which the armistice ending fighting was signed. Turns out that it was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th month of November, 1918. If you're wondering why it falls in the middle of the week sometimes, and we just don't make it a Monday or Friday holiday, this is why. The end to the "War to end all wars" was a monumental moment! Sadly, the armistice was more like the official beginning to a 20-year intermission between the two world wars.<br /><br />Enjoy your day off (if you get one), but please stop and reflect on the importance of Veterans Day, thank a veteran, and appreciate what we have!mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-52516095330427355162009-11-02T15:49:00.002-06:002009-11-02T15:55:45.645-06:00Race to the TopThe World Series is in full swing, and the Yankees hopefully will capture their 27th World Championship later this week. However, a more important piece of good news comes straight from my Economics 3rd period class- they're in 7th and racing to the top of the standings!<div><br /></div><div>What am I talking about? The annual Stock Market Game Capitol Challenge, of course! Our sponsor is Representative Richard Myers from our Illinois House district. Economics has two SuperTeams involved in the Stock Market Game, where they buy and sell stock with $100,000 just as they would in real life! Many congratulations are in order for:</div><div><br /></div><div>SuperTeam 1: Daniel S., John H., Brian D., Dalton H. and Joey S.</div><div>SuperTeam 2: Jacob, Alex, Dalton, Bhrea, and Cassie</div><div><br /></div><div>Congratulations! They are in 7th and 9th place, respectively, and have plenty of time to continue their march to the top. They currently have gained over $1,200 in the Stock Market Game so far this year - great job!</div><div><br /></div><div>http://stockmarketgame.org/<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <div> </div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-66567201976450853662009-10-19T14:23:00.002-05:002009-10-19T14:28:20.020-05:00Vietnam, McDonalds and Wal-Mart, Financial Crisis, and a Whole Lotta Shakin'Welcome to another week!! We've got a ton of our plates, once again, for a 3-day week. Parent/teacher conferences are going to kick students out of school on Friday...too bad huh?!<div><br /></div><div>US History I: Why do we need government? How is society organized, and how do people make decisions? Students had their "Free Classroom Island" last week where they were allowed to make all the decisions. Needless to say, they didn't like it! It reinforced the need for structure, routine, and a leader. To begin our new unit on government, students will read "Lord of the Flies" to analyze society's causes for breakdown, the needs of humans, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>World Geography: Have you gone to a Wal-Mart or McDonald's recently? Are you sure that was such a good idea? Students will take a long, hard look at both of these giants and whether or not they are good for America.</div><div><br /></div><div>US History II: Vietnam, civil rights, the armed resistance movement, and Robert F. Williams. Does it get any better?</div><div><br /></div><div>Economics: Do you know why the financial crisis of 2008 occurred? Ask my ECON class! We watched a documentary on the crisis, analyzed mutual funds/stocks/bonds, and are all set up for another great week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope to see you all at Parent/Teacher Conferences this week!</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-78491666294684215842009-10-15T07:53:00.002-05:002009-10-15T08:00:04.259-05:00California Callin'The past four days in World Geography class have been exciting, enlightening, and of course, always entertaining! Why, you ask? Because students have just completed an all-exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime special four-day study on our great state of California!<div><br /></div><div>Let's see: Did you know that farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, south of Sacramento, are having the exact opposite problem as central Illinois farmers? They can't get water! Environmental groups concerned about the loss of the delta smelt (2-3 inch fish) population have gotten a judge to order the irrigation pumps shut down. </div><div><br /></div><div>From Santa Ana winds, the Redwood Forest, Hearst Castle, Golden Gate Bridge, Camp Pendleton, Hollywood Walk of Fame, to the Sierra Nevadas, my students can now say they <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">know </span>California!</div><div><br /></div><div>US History I is taking a test today on the Revolutionary War. Tomorrow starts an all-new adventure- can't spoil the secret yet!</div><div><br /></div><div>US History II is delving into the 60s, Vietnam War, and JFK assassination. Ask them about the real assassination sometime and what could have happened!</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, Economics is fully into the Stock Market Game. They will be competing with other schools from Illinois to make the best trades, purchases, and sales in the stock market for the next two months. Each team has $100,000 to work with and can spend it any way they like. But they've got to research the stock in which they're investing to make a smart buy! It's great fun.</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-41464016229627916392009-10-06T17:40:00.004-05:002009-10-06T17:48:23.175-05:00September Class of the Month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOoKq8Gl__bswJ5X31j3LioHcTkSs0ajDcKY8OvCWzJ3sUBU80vsx1v05vkO3A-3OxnGwK5XsSFEc5iHLwR-90Pr5jM1iRwvfeCn5WeRsqHau3vZUgVwZKQimI0kcoT3eNsXaocrecqok/s1600-h/DSCN6415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOoKq8Gl__bswJ5X31j3LioHcTkSs0ajDcKY8OvCWzJ3sUBU80vsx1v05vkO3A-3OxnGwK5XsSFEc5iHLwR-90Pr5jM1iRwvfeCn5WeRsqHau3vZUgVwZKQimI0kcoT3eNsXaocrecqok/s320/DSCN6415.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389622588670170386" /></a><br />It is my privilege to present to you the August/September Class of the Month: 3rd Hour Economics!<div><br /></div><div>I can't say how proud I am of these great students. They have shown an incredible ability to analyze and grasp some tough economic concepts. Ask any of them to show you why a minimum wage could be bad for America and they'll do it. Have them show you the difference between a price floor and price ceiling, and they'll graph like crazies trying to get you to see it their way. Who knows, maybe you're one of their victims already :)</div><div><br /></div><div>US History I's next project is a Revolutionary War collage that will be hung in the room; they also just finished a Rev. War puzzle that adds yet another one to the growing collection. In addition, they are thoughtfully deciding who they would be in the war - a loyalist or a patriot.</div><div><br /></div><div>World Geography is racing right along with their National Parks Project. We are thoroughly underway in our study of the United States, and our National Park System is something that is a bit of a mystery for many people. Maybe some of you caught Ken Burns' PBS documentary last week- I've heard great things! The World Geo students will be creating a 3-minute video advertisement of their park, in which they'll give information and sales pitches to come visit!</div><div><br /></div><div>US History II began their long, exciting trek through the 60s and 70s today. Hippies, counter-culture, Vietnam, JFK, MLK...the list goes on and on! We're going to try and tackle it all in the weeks to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fun times at Astoria High...and always a great day to be a Rebel!</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-63835341119506238192009-09-30T20:17:00.003-05:002009-09-30T20:35:25.855-05:00Declaration of Independence Student Teachers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3-AQVjkDlhrcbvunXkUabO2hnBxfC0eSxcFYppC_rul0Tvy-29tivdxyZqMrEdnooa6xPCQ2vnX1DAOVwUNhhWA0DVWG0MFAoFTj4QprBU8mcI5o6Z_yPhgY44wErnNbepF1P1bmcZII/s1600-h/DSCN6410.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3-AQVjkDlhrcbvunXkUabO2hnBxfC0eSxcFYppC_rul0Tvy-29tivdxyZqMrEdnooa6xPCQ2vnX1DAOVwUNhhWA0DVWG0MFAoFTj4QprBU8mcI5o6Z_yPhgY44wErnNbepF1P1bmcZII/s320/DSCN6410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387438761140249874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD1UuTXxLPh3jK-36WBRTtOR2rF1sr5Nk_DfMsJtbf1Q6ay3i8zKJUJWFVsbK8xLdoKF3_pS8_Iw1lCz-crGgGmXpSfuAI3FUpwJ16U0AAoVK9vHsPkte5yvJ0DtHrMeFIThKipNN_q0q/s1600-h/DSCN6409.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD1UuTXxLPh3jK-36WBRTtOR2rF1sr5Nk_DfMsJtbf1Q6ay3i8zKJUJWFVsbK8xLdoKF3_pS8_Iw1lCz-crGgGmXpSfuAI3FUpwJ16U0AAoVK9vHsPkte5yvJ0DtHrMeFIThKipNN_q0q/s320/DSCN6409.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387438751720414114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF4XOtyAGc6YfFcx0Tb9a9IeO1b8hlOE9CxQJpoizAMUWpRSInUZgOBF3EGsabNes2AFW2WUtW61REJwdOR5TyVFKgxNbdZJ7PDY9c3jEMSPE8uhRnjftQB7etlTQW1QHh5iFnvcXlhPz/s1600-h/DSCN6408.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF4XOtyAGc6YfFcx0Tb9a9IeO1b8hlOE9CxQJpoizAMUWpRSInUZgOBF3EGsabNes2AFW2WUtW61REJwdOR5TyVFKgxNbdZJ7PDY9c3jEMSPE8uhRnjftQB7etlTQW1QHh5iFnvcXlhPz/s320/DSCN6408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387438743292760354" /></a><br />Who doesn't enjoy a flashback to the past every now and then? That's exactly what my juniors got to do today, as they took a trip down the hallway (and memory lane) to the elementary and junior high. Their mission: to educate the younger kids (who look up to them very much) about the Declaration of Independence and why it is so important. <div><br /></div><div>Last week and for the early part of this week, the students took on a huge undertaking: to take the old Declaration of Independence and translate it into modern-day 2009 language! They did precisely that, and I wrote their translations onto tea-stained posterboard! The hand cramp was certainly worth it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Economics students have done an amazing job in their analysis of price controls, price ceilings/floors, competition, etc. We're going to play Who Wants to be a Millionaire in class tomorrow to review for the test on Friday!</div><div><br /></div><div>US History II students have been in a conservative frame of mind this week, as we've discussed Ronald Reagan's policies with the economy and "trickle-down" economics!</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, World Geography students just finished a simulation in which they were representatives of Canadian cities trying to lure the Olympics to their city! 'Twas a lot of fun for all involved.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow I'll reveal the August/September Class of the Month! Stay tuned...</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-50507097083619501412009-09-23T08:04:00.001-05:002009-09-23T08:09:41.140-05:00Revolutionary War SongsOne of the assignments for US History I this week was to take some information they learned in class and create a song out of it. You've absolutely got to hear the song Brandy created to the tune of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."<div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“Boston”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">by Brandy Schaeffer<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">To the tune of “Thriller”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">It’s close to midnight<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">And Paul Revere hears a signal by the Brits<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Under the moonlight<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">He jumps on top his horse and rides along.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">He tries to scream<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">But the minutemen already see the lanterns<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">They start to freeze<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">As Britain looks them right between the eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">They’re paralyzed<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">‘Cuz this is Boston! Boston yeah,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">And no one’s gonna save you from the Brits about to strike<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Ya know it’s Boston! Boston, yeah<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">You’re fighting for your life within a minute’s notice<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">You hear the gun shot<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">And you realize the war has just begun<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">You feel your heart beat<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">And wonder if this is really it<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">You close your eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">And hope that this is all imagination<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">But all the while<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A British soldier’s sneaking up behind, you’re out of time </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Chorus<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-13214466752985998812009-09-21T22:40:00.002-05:002009-09-21T22:48:53.850-05:00Happy Fall!Yes, fall is here, but you almost wouldn't know it with the Indian Summer we've been experiencing lately. Football is in full swing, but the harvest and cooler weather will have to wait awhile, apparently!<div><br /></div><div>I did some extra research on Ben Franklin last week, as he made a special appearance in both my US History I classes. In addition to inventing the lightning rod, Franklin also invented the armonica, fire insurance, street lamps, the first library in the colonies, bifocals, and a library chair. And this was only in one phase of his life! </div><div><br /></div><div>And wow, I found some golden quotes that I just had to share. Check these out:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Little strokes fell great oaks"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"<a title="Click for further information about this quotation" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/2245.html" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); text-decoration: underline; ">He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.</a>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you'd like to check out more, here's the website: <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benjamin_franklin.html">http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benjamin_franklin.html</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What's Going On This Week:</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">US History I - Declaration of Independence and Common Sense - it <b>all </b>will make sense by the end of the week! </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">US History II - I love the 80s - do you? Reagan, Challenger, Olympics, and more</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">World Geography - It's "Getting to Know You" week as we study our next-door neighbor Canada. Sounds good, eh?</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Economics - What are the consequences to farm subsidization and how does it affect the supply curve? Sounds dry but my ECON class will tell you....it's NOT! What a great discussion today, and Tuesday we're playing the Economic Hitman Simulation.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fun times indeed! Keep on truckin'!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:180%;color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:180%;color:#454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-17692099674563591202009-09-17T14:44:00.003-05:002009-09-17T14:55:09.972-05:00OJ, Rodney King, Economic Hit Men, and More<div>Burning Question:</div><div><br /></div>Would OJ Simpson have gone free if Rodney King never would have been arrested? It's certainly a fascinating question, and one that my seniors are currently discussing. It's interesting to note that the long history of racial profiling, abuse, mistreatment of minorities by the LAPD had gone unchecked, and the Rodney King riots of 1992 certainly were in the back of the juror's minds as they listened to Johnnie Cochran give his closing arguments.<div><br /></div><div>World Geography has a test tomorrow while US History I has a short quiz on the issues behind the Revolution. Great week so far!</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-30037628259864306672009-09-14T11:26:00.003-05:002009-09-14T11:32:17.036-05:00And The Beat Goes On...Believe it or not, it's already Week 5 of the new school year. It's sure flown fast! It's been exciting and fun and I am truly enjoying the time of my life every day at school. The students never fail to impress me with their ideas and innovation. Keep up the good work!<div><br /></div><div>This past weekend I got the chance to fly to Washington, DC and participate in the Tea Party rallies on the West Lawn of the US Capitol Building. Many citizens are concerned with the increased amount of government control and interaction that is taking place in our lives, and I am one of them. I had never taken part in a political rally before, but it was definitely exciting. No one knew how many people were there, but estimates range from 70,000-2,000,000!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a quick snapshot of the week ahead:</div><div><br /></div><div>US History II - Do you love the 90s? Hate Waco and Ruby Ridge? Students will answer those questions and more in US History II this week.</div><div><br /></div><div>US History I - Ben Franklin will be making a special appearance for my classes on Tuesday. Students will have an opportunity to ask questions about Franklin and the colonies in the pre-Revolutionary War days.</div><div><br /></div><div>World Geography - What's an economic hit man? Why are countries so far ahead of others in terms of development? Definitely an exciting week in Geography.</div><div><br /></div><div>Economics - Supply and Demand Week! Students will get a nice introduction to supply and demand and analyze its impact on the millions of economic decisions consumers make everyday.</div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201918773609415403.post-81260993373989098172009-09-08T06:20:00.003-05:002009-09-08T06:23:09.646-05:00Labor DayI hope everyone's Labor Day was fantastic. For many people it's the official end of summer: the pool shuts down and gets a tarp over it, the closets get changed around to accomodate some fall/winter clothes, and you guessed it - football is back!<div><br /></div><div>As we prepare to start a shortened week, let's take a look at the holiday that we just celebrated.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span class="headersm" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The First Labor Day</span></span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.</span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.</span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.</span></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">From US Department of Labor website</span></p></span></div>mr_banwart23http://www.blogger.com/profile/06394570491912700856noreply@blogger.com0