Dirty Water...So What?

Understanding all of the different ways that water can cause problems in a society can be a big challenge. The simple jigsaw activity and quiz are based off of the 4 effects components(health, hunger, poverty and education). They are easy to understand but should still give you a glimpse into the complexity of the situation.

Overview

To learn about the effects of the water crisis, we will be utilizing a jigsaw approach. You will get in groups of 4; this group will be their 'home group'. Assign each member of the group one web-page to read to themselves: Health, Hunger, Poverty, and Education (links listed below).


After reading the material, you will form an 'expert group' where you will meet with the students from the other 'home groups' who have read on their same topic. You will discuss with your 'expert group' and determine how best to teach your 'home groups' about the subject. After meeting with your topic groups, you should return to your 'home groups' to teach the other students about your particular sections.

A simple half-page quiz is included to ensure you have actually communicated the critical information to your 'home groups.' In the jigsaw method, the quiz will not be graded but simply be used as a check to ensure that your peers communicated the overall ideas, not necessarily specifics.

In addition to the jigsaw, you will:

Create a public service announcement video using at least 1 fact from each effect.

Craft a 30 second news intro summarizing the effects of bad water.

Host a debate arguing which effect has the greatest impact - or write position papers.

Write a story about a family that experiences the effects of dirty water and predict how their life might be different after a well or other project is built.

The Grammy Awards...Lake House Review (that's us, the aka portable)

I enjoyed watching the Grammy Awards last night, did you see it? I want to know who you thought were the standout artists of the past year. I want you to take a peek at the awards categories that I list below and make your own selections. Here is a list of all of the 2014 Grammy Nominees.

The General Field (also known as the 'Big Four') are four standard awards for musical works which do not restrict nominees by genre or some other criterion:

Record of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a single song.

Album of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a full album.

Song of the Year is awarded to the writer(s)/composer(s) of a single song.

Best New Artist is awarded to an artist without reference to a song or album.

Here is a complete list of all of the categories at the Grammy Awards.

Looking Back at 2013 – A Year in Review Assignment

Part 1: What Will You Remember Most From 2013?

Something to think about – What national, international, cultural and personal events in 2013 stand out for you most? Why?

Take a moment and record the first 10 things/events from 2013 that come to mind when you think about the year as a whole. This can be anything – relating to your life personally, media, global, entertainment, trends, controversy etc.


Here are a few videos about 2013 in review:

Video #1: Google Zeitgeist:



Video #2: 2013 A New in Review: Facebook Stories



Video #3: You Tube Rewind 2013



Video #4: Top 10 Stories of 2013 - Year in Reivew



Video #5: Year in Review: Breaking Down the Numbers



Video #6: Year in Review: Top Sports Stories of 2013



Writing Task - Your Review of 2013 – Ideal length, approximately 1 page.

You may take some time to view some of the other categories on the retrospectives list - - there are lots of interesting “best of” lists that can fit a unique interest of everyone – enjoy!

The Top 10 TV Stories of the Year That Was List
Best of 2013 The Year in Music
The Best of 2013 in Book Releases
The 25 Best Movies of 2013

Tell us about what you’ll remember most from this year, whether it’s a news event, something that’s gone viral on the internet, a new innovation or fad etc. An event in your own life, or something else entirely may even be included - - it’s your choice as this is your reflection of 2013. How would you sum up this year? What are you looking forward to in 2014?



Formatting tips for a well-organized piece of writing:

A catchy title that will grab your reader’s attention

Paragraph 1 - Your introduction should generally discuss 2013 and memorable moments/events

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 - You should have distinct body paragraphs that discuss some of the events that you feel are most memorable. For example, perhaps the passing of Nelson Mandela makes your list. You would have a distinct paragraph for this. You would need to be sure to fully discuss why this was such an important event and touch on how his life influenced so many. I would recommend selecting 3 significant events to focus on (i.e 1 separate idea per paragraph).

Paragraph 5 - Your last paragraph should be a conclusion. How would you sum up this year and what are you looking forward to in 2012. You may even want to put a creative twist on this and predict what 2014 may have in store for us.



Good luck!! I can't wait to read your thoughts and opinions:)



Mrs. Dowker

Montreal Massacre

The Montréal Massacre of December 6, 1989, in which 14 women students at the École Polytechnique were systematically killed and 13 other students wounded by a lone gunman, is indelibly imprinted on the minds of Quebeckers and others who struggled to comprehend the worst single-day massacre in Canadian history.

Since the beginning of Québec's "Quiet Revolution" in the 1960s, women had been making increasing strides in non-traditional occupations and educational programs. In the 1970s and 1980s, growing numbers flocked to the École Polytechnique, the School of Engineering at the University of Montréal. While most men in Québec and elsewhere accepted and even welcomed these transformations, a minority felt themselves disadvantaged by attempts to encourage women's new roles and opportunities.



One of these was Marc Lépine, a 25-year-old Quebecker and child-abuse survivor who, as an adult, was described by acquaintances as a moody loner. Lépine had sought to join the Canadian Armed Forces, but was rejected. He had also studied for admission to the École Polytechnique, but was not accepted -- a decision he apparently blamed on "affirmative action" policies promoted by feminists and their sympathizers. In the suicide note he would leave on his body, Lépine provided some insights into the virulent mindset that fuelled his rage against women and feminists:



Please note that if I am committing suicide today ... it is not for economic reasons ... but for political reasons. For I have decided to send Ad Patres [Latin: "to the fathers"] the feminists who have ruined my life. ... The feminists always have a talent for enraging me. They want to retain the advantages of being women ... while trying to grab those of men. ... They are so opportunistic that they neglect to profit from the knowledge accumulated by men throughout the ages. They always try to misrepresent them every time they can.





Attached to the letter was a list of 19 prominent Québec women in non-traditional occupations, including the province's first woman firefighter and police captain. Beneath the list Lépine wrote: "[These women] nearly died today. The lack of time (because I started too late) has allowed these radical feminists to survive." It was, instead, dozens of ordinary women at the École Polytechnique who would bear the brunt of his fury.



Your Assignment:



Step #1: Visit the CBC Radio and Television Archives for 15 - 20 minutes. Browse, take jot notes to complete this statement -

"I was surprised to discover..."



Step #2: Prepare to write a new blog post. Your post should include:



Paragraph #1 - describe the Montreal Massacre (who, what, when,

why)



Paragraph #2 - incorporate what you were "suprised to

discover..."



Paragraph #3 - Answer these questions within the last paragraph:

Q1: What are the effects of the massacre?

Q2: What steps need to be taken to address the

issue of violence against women?

- I want to hear your thoughts, opinions, comments

here



** Please include several visual images to add visual stimulation for your blog readers. **

Giving is the best communication

Let's watch this 3 minute video spot created by the Thai communications conglomerate True. It is titled "Giving" and it shares the story of a man unexpectedly rewarded for a lifetime of good deeds he performed without expecting anything in return.

This movie believes in the power of giving without expecting anything in return.



When was the last time that you did something for someone, whether they were in need or not, without expecting anything in return? What was it that you did, and how did that act make you feel?

Let's share, please be very detailed in your recount.

Mrs. Dowker

See the Awesome!

This kid is amazing! Take a peek, and hopefully this little video will get you thinking...



Love what this kid has to say? I sure do! Here is a pep talk from the Kid President to you!



How can you not smile?! I challenge you to "see the awesome" in someone today!

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day (in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom) is a day to remember people who fought and died in wars. It is on November 11th to remember the end of World War I on that day in 1918. Remembrance Day was started in 1919 by King George V from the United Kingdom. On the same day, other countries also have days to remember war and soldiers. There is Veteran's Day in the United States, and Armistice Day in France, Belgium, New Zealand and other countries.

Remembrance Day Video - Canada At War

There are some things that people do on Remembrance Day. One is having two minutes of silence at 11:00 AM. It is at 11:00 AM because that is when World War I ended. At a ceremony for Remembrance Day, before the two minutes of silence, a song called "The Last Post" is played on a bugle (or sometimes a trumpet). At the end of the silence, the bugle plays a song called "Reveille."

Here is a version of "The Last Post".



People often bring wreaths made of poppies to Remembrance Day ceremonies. The wreaths honor people who have died in wars.

In many countries, many people wear a fake poppy on Remembrance Day, and for a few days before. The poppy is a symbol to show that they remember the wars, and the soldiers who fought in them. Poppies were chosen to be a symbol because they often grew in battlefields, after the soldiers stopped fighting there.

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae