Archive | April, 2014
3) Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Ancient China Documentaries
30 Aprhttp://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLek0G8q2ciWCIFFvJnEcWII-zk-HvWa8U
These two documentaries are really excellent and give a nice overview of what we have learned in this unit. They will, of course, also feature new information as well. Enjoy!
Legacy of Ancient China
30 AprWe will have a quiz on Lessons 3 and 4 on Friday. Watch some of the video clips on the Silk Roads or clips here. They support what we have learned in class and what you have read in your textbook. I am sure you will find even more information about the Qin, Han, Silk Roads and the legacy of ancient China in the videos. Post a comment and tell me something interesting you learned…maybe a new fact.
Silk Roads Project (Music)
29 AprGreat music! The Silk Road Ensemble has performed in more than 25 countries, in venues ranging from concert halls to stadiums to museum galleries throughout the world, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Shanghai Stadium. The Silk Road Ensemble performs both traditional music and newly commissioned works. Much of the Ensemble’s repertoire reflects the multicultural reality of many contemporary composers’ and musicians’ lives.
The Silk Roads
29 AprOur final lesson in our Ancient China unit focuses on the legacy of ancient China, their inventions, and the Silk Roads. Watch some videos on the playlist to learn more about the Silk Roads. I (Mr. M) went to a fascinating exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City a few years ago. Some of the video clips come from that exhibit.
Here are some other helpful links:
Traveling the Silk Roads – Map
Silk Roads Surprises – AMNH
Essential Questions – AMNH
Silk Road fables
Silk Road Music
Silk Road Radio
Overpopulated (BBC Documentary)
29 Apr
Mr. Phan shared this with us. He said a parent shared it with him. Our current and last unit, China and India, are the two most populous countries in the world today. We have discussed migration a lot this year as well. This is a very interesting documentary. Watch it when you have time and share your opinion of it in the comment section.
India Votes!
24 AprCheck out this awesome Infographic on how India votes. A teacher shared it recently! Enjoy your day off and see you tomorrow (if you are scheduled for a three-way conference). Your student-led conference will now be on Wednesday, April 30th (same times as originally scheduled).
Earth Day – April 22
22 Apr
Source: Edutopia
More than a billion people around the world will celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2014—the 44th anniversary of the annual day of action. Earth Day began in 1970, when 20 million people across the United States—that’s one in ten—rallied for increased protection of the environment. Click HERE to read the rest of this article. The movie “The Lorax” is a classic with a simple, but strong message that appeals to both students and adults. If you have not seen it, watch it!
Post a comment and tell me what you do or what small steps you take to protect our planet.
Out of Eden – A Journey Through Time
21 Apr
National Geographic – Dec. 2013 issue
What is the Out of Eden Project?
From 2013 to 2020, writer Paul Salopek is recreating that epic journey on foot, starting at humankind’s birthplace in Ethiopia and ending at the southern tip of South America, where our forebears ran out of horizon. Along the way he is engaging with the major stories of our time — from climate change to technological innovation, from mass migration to cultural survival — by walking alongside the people who inhabit these headlines every day. Moving at the slow beat of his footsteps, Paul is also seeking the quieter, hidden stories of people who rarely make the news.
Their tales highlight a central truth of our humanity in this globalized age: The most important narratives of our time, once monopolized by the developed world, now increasingly appear at the world’s margins. Click here to learn more about the Out of Eden Project. We have created an RSS feed on the right side of the blog where you can see dispatches or blog posts from Paul Salopek’s journey. The website, map room link, and other information are very interesting, and we believe this will be an interesting journey to follow over the next seven years. You can follow his journey using a variety of social media sites – Twitter, Facebook, and the Dispatches blog to name a few.
Source: Out of Eden
Qin Dynasty, Great Wall of China, Terra Cotta Warriors
21 AprPerhaps the most recognizable symbol of China and its long and vivid history, the Great Wall of China actually consists of numerous walls and fortifications, many running parallel to each other. Originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (c. 259-210 B.C.) in the third century B.C. as a means of preventing incursions from barbarian nomads into the Chinese Empire, the wall is one of the most extensive construction projects ever completed. Watch the videos clips of the Great Wall on the History Channel link! They are very good.
China – Current Affairs
16 AprI am creating a playlist of videos about modern-day China. You will see connections to its history, something your social studies/history teachers are always trying to make. If you find any good videos, please send them to your teacher.
China has also appeared in the news a lot over the past several years, due to their pollution crisis. Here is a new article in The Atlantic magazine are that crisis.
The World’s Most Typical Person
15 AprThese video clips are a great way to remind us that we are anything but typical. Having just completed our India unit, these videos are educational and make us reflect on our current unit and the future.
Words of Wisdom – Confucius
14 AprRead the following quotes from Confucius:
1) Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
2) I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
3) Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
The following playlist of videos includes more quotes. Which one is your favorite? What does it mean to you? The playlist also includes video clips and a documentary on Confucius.
Two Cool Sites!
12 AprStudents, We are sharing two interesting links with you. While not related to our current unit or ancient history, we think you will find them interesting. Check them out!
IfItWereMyHome.com is your gateway to understanding life outside your home. Use our country comparison tool to compare living conditions in your own country to those of another. Start by selecting a region to compare on the map to the right, and begin your exploration.
With the Indian elections approaching, check out this very neat Infographic of how India will form its government. Click HERE. Have a good weekend!
Something Fun: Countries of the World Challenge
9 Apr
I have a great online quiz to challenge you. How many countries can you name? As you name the country, a map will be filled in. You have 12 minutes. Are you ready? Click HERE to start. Post a comment and tell us how many you can name. No cheating!!! :>)
New Month, New Unit – Ancient China
9 Apr
Welcome back from your spring break! We hope it was enjoyable and restful, whether you traveled or stayed in Chennai. April is the start of our new unit – Ancient China. Like previous lessons, we will learn about how geography shaped ancient China (lesson 1). There were many dynasties that ruled China. We will learn about the earliest ones – the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han. Watch this great video (#1 on the playlist) about the dynasties of China. The British Museum has a great link of the geography of China. Read the short, animated story of Nu Gua and try the geography challenge.
Out of Eden Walk
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