Enjoy your long weekend!
Tags: Friday
Ancient China…Isolated?
18 Feb“China is isolated by barriers.”
In class this week, we learned how ancient China was isolated by barrier – deserts, seas, mountain ranges – and how it developed a unique culture. It made the spread of goods or ideas to China (until the Silk Roads) challenging too. In class you learned what barriers and isolated mean, while making a human map to show how China is isolated.
This is a nice video which talks about the upsides (or good things) about being an isolated civilization. It uses Egyptians, the Mayans, and the Japanese civilizations as examples. However, many of the same things can be found in ancient China too.
Bad Break (Excuse the Pun)
17 Feb
Hi students – I broke my ankle after school today while playing indoor soccer. I ran into a “brick wall,” also known as (AKA) Mr. Cristian. That’s a joke, of course. Anyway, I will not be back to school until next week at the soonest. Please be good, work hard, and enjoy your time with Ms. Jaya. I will be in a cast for at least three weeks before changing to an air cast, and will not be able to run for several months. Right now, I am in a lot of pain, but I will heal soon. I have a growth mindset and I am being positive :>)
February Birthdays!
17 Feb
Happy Birthday to Ted and Michelle! Ted (today) and Michelle (26th) are the only students celebrating a birthdays this month. Ted’s birthday is today, so wish a happy birthday and ask him why he doesn’t like chocolate. :>)
Learning Journey 2 Starts Soon!
17 Feb
Screenshot of Pauls’s current location.
This week we are completing Learning Journey 1 for Out of Eden Learn. All students should be finished with Footstep #6, and it should be added to Out of Eden Learn as soon as possible. Please take some time to comment and see what other students in our walking party have done. Learning Journey 2 (with a NEW walking party!) starts soon. More details will be shared soon!
Where is Paul?
Paul Salopek is currently in Azerbaijan and recently updated his Facebook Page and Instragram page with some images. You can also follow his blog and stories HERE and on the RSS feed from my class blog.
First glimpse of the Caspian Sea (Image source: Paul Salopek/Out of Eden Walk)
Near Lahich, Azerbaijan (Image source: Paul Salopek/Out of Eden Walk)
Beautiful scenery and landscape!
Share your photo on National Geographic
12 Feb
Chennai, India (Photo by Rob Martin)
Kashmir, India (Photo by Rob Martin)
Everest Base Camp Trek (Photo by Rob Martin)
Why do we move? Why can’t we sit still? What makes human beings seek out new horizons? Out of Eden Walk wants you to share a photo. The deadline for doing this is February 15th. Please see Paul Salopek’s most recent blog post for information. The assignment is called Built to Walk and you can find out more information here. The hashtag is #Yourshot.
You can upload your photos which show human movement. There are so many things you can share just from Chennai alone. Here are three photos from India and Nepal that I have taken. If you have a photo and want help, save it and come and see me on Monday. I will help you. Have a nice weekend!
Geography of China
9 Feb“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
This week we being our next unit on ancient Asia, China. Over the next few weeks we will learn about many new things about ancient China using our historical themes, or what we often call GRAPES. We begin by learning more about China’s geography. See Do Now #13!
What are the physical features of China? Use your textbook, library books in the classroom, the maps below, and the videos to help create a list of the features and what makes China unique. The British Museum also has an excellent link on geography in China (Story – Explore – Challenge).
Headlines!
8 Feb
Today and tomorrow, students are completing their reflection in their e-portfolio/blog for our India unit. In class, prior to Week Without Walls, you created a ‘Headline’ for our India unit. This is a Visible Thinking Routine.
Why do we do it? This routine helps students capture the core or heart of the matter being studied or discussed. It also can involve them in summing things up and coming to some conclusions. This routine works especially well at the end of a class discussion or session in which students have explored a topic (India!) and gathered a fair amount of new information or opinions about it. (From Visible Thinking @Harvard Project Zero)
My personal favorites:
Ashoka: From Military to Monk
India, a diverse and dynamic country.
Reincarnation – repeating cycles of birth, death, and re-birth
Week Without Walls – Days 3 & 4
7 Feb
Short hike
Masataka and Ryotaro at the viewpoint
More team-building with the cup game
Food chain – Catch me if you can!
Puzzle making
“Mintae, Mintae, Mintae!”
Making s’mores
Last day group photo with our WWW T-shirts
Here are some more photos I took during the last two days. What is your best memory from Week Without Walls, or what is something new you tried or experienced (game, activity, or food, etc.)? – Mr. Martin
Week Without Walls – Days 1 & 2
6 FebStudents – Here are some photos from the first two days of Week Without Walls in Yelagiri. I will continue to add some more photos and will send some photos to students. You can download these photos as well if you click on the photo and save it. Enjoy!
Copy and paste this sentence stem in the comment section. Complete this sentence: My favorite part of Week Without Walls was….because….
On the way to Yelagiri.
Team building
Chapati challenge
Short hike viewpoint
King’s ‘Resort’ group
Mr. Martin’s Bad Hair Day
Lya and Lekhana
More team building
Ziplining!
Get Your Tickets!
28 Jan
I’m going tonight to see “History of the Universe in 77 Minutes” tonight. Get your tickets! You can see it tonight or tomorrow night.
Congrats, Hyeonjoo!
28 Jan
Hello students –
Out of Eden Learn recently chose Hyeonjoo’s neighborhood map picture to feature on their Instagram page. Great job!
Middle School Theatre
23 Jan
The Middle School Theatre Department invites you to attend a unique theatrical event, “A History of the Universe in 77 minutes”. It’s a play that covers the whole of history, from the big bang right up to the present. As the narrative unfolds, the play takes the audience on a thrilling roller coaster ride through some of the most memorable moments in our past, with some serious themes wrapped up in a whole lot of comedy.
Tickets for the play are only 250 rupees and can be bought before and after school at the Main Entrance and the Elementary Gate. A donation of the ticket money will go to Chennai Flood Relief projects. Performance Dates and times are 28th of January at 5:00 p.m. and 29th of January at 6:00 p.m. Suitable for all ages, we hope to see you there!
I enjoyed the sneak peek at the assembly, and it looks great. Many of your classmates have been working hard to prepare for it. Please go and support them!
Are you ready to Kahoot?
21 Jan
Are you ready to play an awesome review game? Get ready for your next class, as we review for our ancient India Test!
India Unit Test
19 Jan
Please find the study guide HERE. Your test will be on Wednesday, January 27 (B/D) and Thursday, January 28 (G/H).
The History of the Earth (Animated Video)
19 JanThe Earth is really, really old. Over four and a half billion years old, in fact. How do we begin to comprehend a number that large? It helps to put it on a more fathomable scale. Watch to see where Earth’s major events would fall on a timeline stretching across the US. I’d like to thank Mrs. Hall for sharing this with Ms. Jaya and me.
Essential question:M.S. Spirit Week
14 Jan
Nice sunglasses and hat, Donovan!
Mrs. Hall and Ms. Jaya always show school spirit.
Celebrate Spirit Week!
We have Spirit Week from January 18 – 22. Please see below for theme for each day.
MONDAY – Crazy Hair/Hat Day
TUESDAY – Pyjama Day
WEDNESDAY – Mismatch Clothes Day
THURSDAY – Multiples Day
FRIDAY – School Color Day (Blue/White)
Multiples Day
Mismatch Day with Sophia
Who has crazier hair?
Multiples Day
Proverb
13 Jan
A proverb is a simple saying, popularly known and repeated, that expresses a truth based on common sense or experience. What does this one mean?
January Birthdays
9 Jan
Welcome back! We start school on Monday and it will be a a 1A Day. This week, we will learn about hinduism and buddhism, how they developed in India and their similarities and differences. We will also begin footstep #5 for Out of Eden Learn. There are two final footsteps for Learning Journey #1.
Happy Birthday to the following people celebrating birthdays this month: Ms. Jaya (8), Charlotte (16), Hyeonjoo (19), Masataka (20) and Gregor (21). If we have forgotten anyone or made any mistakes, let us know. Have a great birthday!
Happy New Year
30 Dec
Mr. Martin in Times Square, New York City.
Happy New Year! I hope you are enjoying your winter break, whether you are in Chennai, your country, or traveling. Comment and let us know what you are doing during the vacation. I am currently in Mexico City, after spending a week in New York State with family. The photo above is of me in Times Square in New York City. Take care, and see you on Monday, January 11th.
Indian Caste System
16 Dec
In lesson 2, you read about the Indian caste system and how it developed. Here are some videos that will teach you more about that system and how it is today in India. Watch one or more of these videos and answer this question: What is the caste system?
Origins of Hinduism and Buddhism
13 Dec
This week you are learning about the origins of Hinduism. We will learn about Buddhism in India and South Asia after winter break. Check out these links to learn more:
Hinduism (British Museum) – read the story, explore and challenge links!
Buddhism (British Museum) – read the story, explore, and challenge links!
BBC Religion has two good links on both Hinduism and Buddhism. PBS has a good link on Buddhism. There are more links on our current unit on the right side of the blog. If you find any good videos or links for our current unit, send them to me.
Buddhism and Hinduism – a comparison and this table.
Out of Eden Walk
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