Thursday, December 15, 2011

Homework for Over Winter Break

Over break...

Interview two or three family members or friends of the family (not from your generation) about why history matters. Use imovie to record you interview.

You can ask other questions but make sure you ask the following three questions:
1) Is it important we study History? (Why?/Why not?)
2) Does history have value? (How?/Why?)
3) What is history?

Create a blog post titled "Does History Matter- Family interviews". Reflect on the interview and what you heard.

In spring we'll be using these clips, and others we collect, for a video project.

 Reminder: The google earth mapping of the crusades is due by the end of school Friday. If you're running into issues the sooner you talk to me the better.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Load up your google earth and be ready for some hands on instruction on how to put your research into your map.

Remember no quiz this week. You'll get about 30 minutes to put the finishing touches on your projects tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Statue of Saladin in Damascus 
The plan today is to finish the video on the crusades (so take out those notes) & work on our projects. Tomorrow you'll get the entire day to work on the project.

Your ticket out of the room today is showing me that you have the project due date, this Thursday (Friday for Core 5), written down either in google task, stickies, or a planner.

*If I didn't check in with you yesterday about your grades and/or the project my goal is to finish that today. If you have pressing questions/issues and want to jump to the head of the line just ask.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Blogosphere

Write this down... the Mapping the Crusades project is due this Thursday (Friday for Core 5). We will be doing something else this week instead of our weekly quiz. 

Two quick to-do items before we start class. First off Create a draft post in blogger labeled, "The Blogosphere". Secondly, download the "Qs a moment in time- Crusades". Today in class we'll spent about 20 minutes looking for inspiration from award winning blogs. Afterwards will watch the first part of a video on the crusades. During that time I'll be checking in with students about their grades and progress on the project.

[links]
Blogs on Media Arts: DesignSponge, Pink Shirts and Car Wrecks,  Carrot RevolutionThe Best PartKissMyBlackAds, JeannieJeannie
Blogs on Music and Movies:PitchforkMusic BlogRoger Ebert's Journal,
Blogs on Fashion and photography: The SatorialistLens,
Gentle Men Standard. Black Girl Long Hair, & afrobella.
Travel Blogs: World Class
Other Blogs Blogs: Arts CeteraState of ArtsDivasCanCookGlobal Voices
Blogs from News Organizations: Star Tribune Blogs, NY Times Blogs (both have a large selection of blogs including sports blogs)

For you "Blogosphere post" make sure to include the following (rewrite the questions as part of your answers):
-What were the two or three most interesting blogs you found today? (You could take a screen shot of them and use the images in your post.)
-What did you notice about these award winning blogs?
-How can you incorporate what you saw into your own world history blog?


Thursday, December 8, 2011

End of the week quiz.

Today we'll be taking our weekly quiz, this week on chapters 9 & 10. If you have a moment before the quizzes are handed out login to school view and check your grades. The final day for makeup work from the first half of this quarter is December 14th. If you are missing anything, make sure you look make a plan for getting it in.

Once we finish with the quiz you'll have time to work on your mapping of the crusades with Google Earth assignment.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Mapping the Middle Ages day 1

First things first turn in your answers to the crusades Star Tribune article to my dropbox. Secondly download the "google earth crusade" file from my dropbox.

Be ready for your quiz tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011


Today we'll start with some announcements & google tasks. Later today you'll be starting a Google Earth assignment on the crusades.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Student Spotlight: A Collection of Great Student Work

*If you are looking for today's directions page down to the other post from December 5th.

About once a week I'll be highlighting some of the great work the students at FAIR School Downtown are doing in our world history class. Normally the post this highlight will focus on one particle student and how they have been contributing to class. 

This week we have a collage of excellent posts on our newly minted student blogs. Many of these posts are from first time bloggers but they all effectually communicate not only what is going on but also the bloggers personality.

Welcome Posts:

Outline why the blog exists, add your personality, and a youtube video and you have a great first post.
Short but sweet the writer's personality come through both through the words and the design of the webpage.
Pretty fun post that makes me want to keep reading more.

It has personality, explains the author, and  what to expect on the blog.

Q2 Goals:
A very honest reflection on school and what needs to be done to be/stay successful.

Feudalism:

Great explanation of feudalism based on our simulation.

I loved the touch of changing font for the keywords.
Very funny I cannot wait to hear how this blogger continues to leave a record for the robots after the humans are dead.






Why the crusades and its legacy still matter today.

Today in class we'll be reading an article from the Star Tribune on how even many centuries later, the word "Crusade" still resonate powerfully in the world. Download the article from my shared folder. We'll be reading the first section together and you are to finish the rest of it. There are questions at the end that mirror the kind of questions the MCA reading test asks (which you'll all be taking this spring). Anything not completed in class is due Wednesday (Thursday for Core 5).

Also as a part of class we'll learn how to stay on-top of our tasks better with google tasks. Lastly, if you skipped the student spotlight page up and look at it now.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Before the quiz you can work on your feudalism blog post and study for the quiz.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Feudalism the Game


If you happened bring your computer out before class put it away. We'll taking the whole hour playing the feudalism simulation.

Below is you 4th blog entire (and homework for tonight). Reflect on the game we played today. You don't have to answer every question but your post should address the majority of them.
-How did the game work/what was the game (since most of your audience was not in our class today)?
-What must you have in feudalism to survive?
-Who has the most to gain when making an agreement, knights or kings?
-Who has more control, knights or kings? Why?
-What were the keys to success in the game? What strategies worked and what didn’t?
-How does a king gain power? Is it guaranteed to work?
-How were the early rounds different from the later rounds?
-What do you think the end result of the game would be if we kept playing?
-How does this game accurately simulate lord-vassal relationships in feudal times? (See Chapter 9 Section 2)
-How is the game inaccurate? What gets missed in this game? Would you change anything? (See Chapter 9 Section 2)

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

After the Fall

Drop your Mad Libs assignment from yesterday if you completed the corrections. It needs to be in my dropbox by 9:41 or you will not be able to get full credit. Whether you finished it or not open it up. We are going to correct the assignment as a class to start today.

During class today I'll be lecturing about what happened to Europe after Rome fell and setting up for our a class game tomorrow Feudalism the Game. You'll need a notes document labeled Middle Ages.

Thus unit is Chapters 9 & 10. The unit quiz will be Friday, December 9th (Thursday, December 8th for core 1) but there still will be a short 5 question quiz this Friday, December 2nd (Thursday, December 8th for core 1).

You are responsible for reading both chapters for the quiz and you'll need to turn in your notes.

If you have time post your funniest line from the Mad Libs (as long as it is school appropriate).

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. Most of the grading is up-to-date with the exception of a couple RAFT assignments (they are marked as just turned in but no grade yet). I could only look at a handful of blogs because almost nobody posted his/her URL last week. I'll be starting to look at them in earnest tonight.

Post a comment on the bottom of the page with two things: your blog's URL (the website) and one thing you are thankful for.

Today we'll be looking at the decline and final collapse of the Roman Empire. Go into my shared folder and download Decline and Fall of Rome MadLibs.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Class of 2014

Turn in your Final RAFT assignment, peer-review draft, and notes with the scored rubric (which is at the very end of the original document. They are due by the end of today (3:30 pm).
WH1.Williams.RAFT Final
WH5.Anderson.RAFT Draft.
WH4.Hannan.RAFT rubric

Today in class Ms. Valek will be explaining some college ideas and how to use our college connection technology Naviance. You won't need the link yet but here it is http://connection.naviance.com/fair.

Lastly, also post a comment with you blog's URL (the website).


Goals for Naviance today. See  the handout to see directions for each goal.

1) Log in
2) Update about me
3) Update careers

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Gone & not...


This post is actually from Friday because the other class was a day ahead of Core 1. Still follow the instructions but I'll be here to help.

Today's work, even though it's textbook notes, will be graded because we are taking class time to complete it. Read Chapter 5.4 on the development of Christianity and use the graphically organized template to take notes. I'd suggest you mirror the image above as how you should structure your notes (6 sections with one note per paragraph). You can work with a partner but each student must complete his/her own notes. Drop your notes by the end of the day core#.lastname. notes 5-4 . If you feel like trying a different way to take notes you can try bubbl.us but since I am not there to help today just be aware you won't get any technical support. Export as a jpg & save the same way as the rest of the class.


Be great for the sub.

Quiz on the Rise of Islamic Empires

Before you read anything else on this page post a comment on the bottom of the page with one thing you are looking forward to this weekend. The time of your post is important. I want to see how long it takes each of you to get into class & check out the blog (you won't see your comment until I review and ok the post). 


Your first quiz of the quarter is today. Core 5 will take the quiz at 10:45, Core 1 will take the quiz at 11:45. With the eight or so minutes before the quiz make sure to drop your notes for each of the four sections of chapter 6 (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4) & . Remember these notes as pure homework don't count for points but do help you do better on the quiz. Also you must have all the notes turned in before you can retake any quizzes.

After you finish work quietly on finishing your first three blog posts and putting the finishing touches on your RAFT assignment. I am going to be grading both over Thanksgiving break. Based on what I've see of the first people first blog posts many of you could benefit from a google search of "first blog post tips".

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Looking at Islamic Art while collaborating with google docs

Log in to google docs with your .wmep.k12.mn.us accout (see directions below). You'll be using it with the class today. If you get to class early work on your first three blog posts until class starts.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Rise of Islamic Empires


Yeni Cami in Istanbul
If you didn't turn in the textbook notes 6.1 & 6.4 yet drop them in my dropbox now (I'll be looking at them during lunch today).

Open a new pages document using the cornell notes template. Title the document Rise of the Islamic Empires and save it as WH(yourcore#).(yourlastname).rise of islam notes [core#.lastname.assignmentname].

If you don't know when the RAFT is due, what to read for the quiz Thursday, or what are your first three post in blogger (you'll get more time for that after the quiz) go back to older posts and find out.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Blogger!

Setup your blogger.


General set-up:
Login:      Firstname_Lastname@wmep.k12.mn.us
Password:     first initial last initial ID

Posts:
1) Welcome post- introduce yourself to your audience
2) Q2 Reflection- looking back at Q1 to set goals for Q2
3) Animoto- Embed you pillars of Islam video and write a review of the program/website.

Reminders/Announcements:
-Turn in your 6.1 & 6.4 notes to my dropbox. 
-This week read 6.2 & 6.3, the notes are due right before our weekly quiz the last day of the week. 
-The RAFT assignment is next Monday (November 21).

Thursday, November 10, 2011

In progress...

Blogger should be good to go by the time class starts today. Load up your animoto to start until Mr. Hannan explains today's plan.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Pillars of Islam


Today we'll be learning about how Islam got it's start. After hearing about its creation you create an animoto about the major components of Islam (the 5 Pillars of Islam).

Here are a couple reminders.
*Reading schedule: 6.1 tonight & 6.4 this weekend (turn in notes first thing next week).
*No quiz this week.
*RAFT finals are due Monday, November 21. You won't get any more class time to complete them so I'd suggest you finish them this week since there is no quiz to study for. (I'll be grading them over Thanksgiving.)

The code for creating an educational animoto is a4ehann4565f7 .

Monday, November 7, 2011

Welcome to Quarter 2!



"Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so."
--Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (said by Ford Prefect)

It's amazing how time flies. We've had 42 days of school (which means about 34 meetings as a world history class). We've covered almost 250,000 years of world history (from from prehistory until about 200 CE). With a variety of topics such as: prehistory, human migration, agricultural revolution, the birth of civilizations, geography's effect on civilizations, philosophies of Asia, ancient China/Greece/Rome. Wow!

Quarter two will see us moving in "the Middle Ages" of the world history. Here are a few of the topics you have to look forward to: rise of Christianly & Islam, five more Chinese dynasties, the Dark Ages, emergences of Latin American, & the rebirth of Rome (Renaissance).

This quarter will also see every student creating a world history blog with blogger.

Today in class we are going to spend the first half of class understand our grades and how to move them to where you want for the final semester grade. For the second half of class look at what we can learn about Arab history from Disney movies (well a Disney movie).

Quizzes in 2nd Quarter
*Less review, and sometimes, no review before quizzes.
*All quizzes must be made up within 2 weeks of the original test date with no exception (no quiz retake on Fridays after-school).
*All reading notes must be completed and turned in before retakes.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Peer Review

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Context


If you have headphones with you (which you should) watch this music video, on gladiators, for fun to start class. You have the entire class period to work. Get started right away.

By the end of today at minimum I need you to turn in all your notes. WH1.name.RAFT part 2 


You rough drafts are due tomorrow. You be graded both on the draft and on your engagement with the peer-review process.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Shortcut!

Go into my shared folder  and make sure you have the shortcut to my shared folder (so you won't have to rely on the FAIR_Downtown_Staff command k to connect). I'm be going over the one-to-one expectation but you will have the rest of the hour to create your first draft of you RAFT. Today is critical to your success on this project so stay on task and talk at a whisper. By the end of day you must drop a document with at least what each part of your RAFT [Role, Audience, Form, & Topic(s)] and what you have for notes.


WH1.name.RAFT part 1


Tomorrow- 1/2 a day to work on draft
Last day of the week- peer review in class (points for having a complete draft & meaningfully engaging in the peer review)

Monday, October 31, 2011

Quarter one finishes Friday. I am extending the window for retakes by one day so Core 1 now has until Tuesday after-school (11/1) and Core 2 has until Wednesday after-school (11/2).

Be sure to check you schoolview as you wait for class to start or during some downtime this morning. Also if you haven't downloaded (from last week) grab them: Ancient Rome 3D - Buildings (.kmz), and  Ancient Rome 3D - Terrain (.kmz), Daily life in Rome (.mov), and RAFT Life in Rome 2.0 (.pages).

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Same deal as yesterday... Put yesterday's notes in my dropbox with the title classcore.name.assignment (for example WH1.Hannan.cornel5.3). Even if they are not complete turn in what you have done. Any time you turn in an assignment into my dropbox use this type of filename.

While you wait for me to start go over your notes or look at the google earth file from yesterday and if you feel comfortable with the information for the quiz... BAM! make your super hero self right here -> http://cpbherofactory.com/

[links] The Art of Clean Up

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Flipped Classroom (a kind of flipped classroom) PART 3

Same deal as yesterday... Put yesterday's notes in my dropbox with the title classcore.name.assignment (for example WH1.Hannan.Graphic Org notes 5.2). Even if they are not complete turn in what you have done. Any time you turn in an assignment into my dropbox use this type of filename.

To start class today go into my shared folder and download the four  (three because the your quicktime movie viewer don't have the correct format) following items: cornel notes (.pages),  Ancient_Rome_Struggle_for_power (.mov),  Ancient Rome 3D - Buildings (.kmz), and  Ancient Rome 3D - Terrain (.kmz). Also save the cornell notes as a template. Lastly, open up your textbook to the start of chapter 5.3  I'll walk you through the rest.

Your homework for tonight is first to visit The Art of Clean Up and see what the artist is doing. (Does it remind you of a comparative essay? If not take a second glance and see if you can make the connection.) Secondly, go open the to .kmz files in google earth and take a look at what rome used to look at.

[REMINDER] By the end of class today login to schoolview and check your grades. The end of the quarter is Nov. 4 and all make/retakes for my class are due by the end of after-school on Oct. 31. Those of you that have started the RAFT assignment good work. I changing my plan for the assignment so if you haven't started or don't know what it is that is don't worry.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Flipped Classroom (a kind of flipped classroom) PART 2

Put yesterday's notes in my dropbox with the title classcore.name.assignment (for example WH1.Hannan.notes section 5.1). Even if they are not complete turn in what you have done. Any time you turn in an assignment into my dropbox use this type of filename.

To start class today go into my shared folder and download the following item: graphic organizer (.pages) & save it as a template. Also open up your textbook to the start of chapter 5.2  I'll walk you through the rest.

Your homework tonight is just to watch the Daily life in Rome (.mov) and jot down the class differences (in ancient Rome) that you notice. (Also finish the notes from 5.2 if you don't have enough time in class to finish.)

REMINDER: The 1st quarter ends on Nov. 4 and all makeup work is do by the end of after-school on Oct. 31.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Flipped Classroom (a kind of flipped classroom)


This week we are flipping our homework into class and our in-class work to homework. We are going to use this model to help us through the reading and teach some valuable note-taking skills.

To start class today go into my shared folder and download the following two items: 7 part notes (.pages) & Daily life in Rome (.mov). Also open up your textbook to the start of chapter 5. I'll walk you through the rest.

Your homework tonight is just to watch the Daily life in Rome (.mov) and jot down the class differences (in ancient Rome) that you notice.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Hello World!


Following both computer program tradition and my own the title of the first post on The World Within World History is Hello World!. Most program language suggest the first output you should attempt to create is just to broadcast "Hello World!". Personally I picked up the habit from a web 2.0 technology training from Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in the summer of 2010. If you want to read more about it follow this link from everyones friends at Wikipedia.


Now down to business. Why create a blog? The intent of this blog is to have dynamic place for students to get information for our World History course at FAIR School Downtown
Students will also be creating their own blog for World History. Students are expected to use this personal blog to reflect on what they are learning, struggling with, and ways that they are growing throughout this course, as well as, turn in some projects and assignments.