This quarter in Social Studies we have been studying the Middle Ages and followed into the Renaissance. We first learned basic facts about this time period and then we had to study a specific person. We had to research the person, then we wrote a scrip and made a podcast. My person was Leonardo da Vinci. He was one of the greatest painters of all time and the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. He is known as one of the most diversely talented because he was an artist, sculpture, engineer, inventor and scientist. He was also considered a genius because his ideas were centuries ahead of his time. this podcast is an interview between Trisha Tananka, a local news reporter from MBC (Malaysian Broadcasting Center), and Leonardo da Vinci. They talk all about Leonardo’s life as an artist and scienctist.

leonardo-3.mp3

During this process of the project, i felt successful with my game because the kids enjoyed playing it. They looked like they were trying hard to answer the questions, they looked disgusted with the horrible punishments, but they also laughed. Last, they looked like they were into the game because they were passing the dice along quickly to see the next punishment and the person that won was happy.

I am proud of my model because it took me a long time to make and people seemed to like it. My model took me a long time to make because I had to get all the supplies, paint all the bases, make all the punishment devices from sticks and make the clothes for the dolls. It also took me a long time to find a way to keep everything standing. During the fair, people would come to my “booth” to look at the models, make a comment (and maybe ask me to present) and then leave.

2. What new skills did I value learning?

I learned many skills under different topics, such as things about medieval crime and punishments to how to present something to kids younger than me. I obviously learned about my topic, crime and punishments and about general information about the middle ages. I also learned technical things like how to make a game and model. These two parts took some time but I learned how to an interesting game and model, so it will help me if I ever have to do something like this again. The Last thing I learned was how to make an interesting persentation for any age group. My first oral presentation was meant for people my age and had many facts. When I redid it, it was meant for kids younger than me. It had questions to get them involved and different facts that got them interested. Now I know how to write a presentation for any age group. I valued these skills because they are very useful. I  know I will have to use these skills again, either in another class, in university or when I have a job.

3. What was challenging during the process of completing the project? With what did I struggle?

The only two chalenges during this project were finding good information and making my visuals. I struggled to find information about my topic on the internet. I  tried many different ways (what I write in the search box) to search for my topic but I still couldn’t find enough. In the end, I had to go to the library for more information and had just enough facts. It was challenging to make my visual (model) because I wanted all the kids to like it. It took me a long time to finish them because there were a lot of steps. When I finished I was happy with my work, but I wasn’t sure if they were too scary for the kids. In the end, I got over it because that was the reality of how punishments were in the middle ages and I knew it would be ok, otherwise Ms.Nash wouldn’t have chosen this topic.

4. How could I have improved my process so that I would have been more effective?

I think I could have improved my process by not focusing too much on the art and more on the information. It took me almost a whole day for the game and a couple hours for the visual. For the game I kept wanting to add more details that weren’t very necessary because I thought it wasn’t good enough. I should’ve stopped because it was already fine and worked on my oral longer. I should’ve also tried to look for more information from the internet, while I was at home, because I only had just enough information and sources. Other than that, I thought I was quite effective with my work.

5. Did I effectively create an age-appropriate presentation and game for the elementary students? (please explain how you know it was appropriate or how you could have changed it to be more appropriate)

I think I did create an age-appropriate presentation and game because the students seemed to be enjoying it. My presentation was factual but it was set in an interesting and fun way. I tried to get the students to interact by asking them questions and I knew they were listening tentatively because they answered all my questions and made faces when they heard some of the punishments. I also had a game at the end of my presentation which included them. I also compared some things like “disturbing the kings peace” for them was like talking when their teacher was talking. I thought the game was also appropriate for their age because the questions were easy and suitable, it was like any boardgame that they normally play. The “Fate” cards were fun for them because they each had a little “story” of a criminal and how they would be punished. I think I don’t really have to change anything.

I felt successful while I was researching and typing my encyclopedia article because I found a lot, and useful, information so it was easy putting the article together. I thought I was also successful when my group and I were putting the PowerPoint together because we worked hard and fast, we finished the project in class, so we didn’t have to have any homework. I’m proud that I did good on the project and that I learned so much, about ancient Rome, even about wikispaces, PowerPoint and different search engines.

2. What new skills did I value learning?

I valued learning about different programs on the computer. I learned more about the search engines I had to use for the research, Britannica and SIRS, and new things on the PowerPoint. For example, I now know how to save pages with good information on our workspaces, how to make tables on PowerPoint and how to link words also on PowerPoint. A side from learning technological things, I also learned helpful working skills. I value being able to work well with any group and how to work hard for a “prize” (no homework).

3. What was challenging during the process of completing the project? With what did I struggle?

I don’t think this project was very challenging because I have done research projects before and I have also made PowerPoint presentations. The only thing I struggled with was my wikispace because I was having problems saving my work, so I would post something, press save, but it wouldn’t save. So, I kept trying until it worked and I also used someone else’s computer.

4. How could I have improved my process so that I would have been more effective?

I think I could’ve been faster while I was doing my wikispaces because when it didn’t work, I should’ve asked for help earlier, so I wouldn’t waste so much time reposting it.

1. Q: Think about the presentations and reflect on the projects your classmates presented and the information you listened to. Explain with details and specific information what you learned, what you found interesting, surprising, or shocking about the presentations you heard in class.

A: I thought overall everyone did a good job presenting the information and I learned a lot about some of the issues facing the world.

From the Children’s Rights presentation, I learned that so many kids are being mistreated and so many of them are dieing. A majority of kids are working instead of going to school. I found it shocking how people can be so cruel to small, innocent kids, for example, when children in jails with older people and they don’t take good care of them. I found all of it very depressing and dreadful; I hope everybody understands how important this issue is so they can help make this issue history.

From the Girl Child presentation, I learned that the rights for girls aren’t as fair as those for boys, for example, 110 million children don’t go to school and 60% are girls. A lot of girls are not going to school because of poverty, traditions or because their families need them to stay at home and work. The girls are being discriminated and hurt for no reason. I also found it encouraging how the UN is helping by having the oil-for-schoolgirl-project. I thought that was a good idea because it is a very simple way for us to help. Since oil is cheap for us, we can let all girls have a chance to go to school.

1. Q:  What would you change to improve your project/presentation if you were to do the assignment again?

A: If I was to do the project again I would have less information on each clip so it could be easier to read. I would also try to add narration so people can understand it better. For the presentation, it would have been better if we practiced before in order to have clear who would say what and when. Other than that, I think we did pretty well.

A: I think the U.N. is an ok organization overall because it’s good in some ways and bad in others, but mostly bad. It is good because it succeeded in promoting word peace, bring efficient bureaucracy (means government), and bring a more democratic U.N., at least the U.N. is setting goals to make the world better. The U.N. is not a really successful organization for many reasons. The U.N. has failed to maintain security for people under its protection. They didn’t stop the warlords from taking food that was intended for the starving citizens of Somalia. They failed to responds to the genocide in Rwanda, which killed over 800,000 Hutus and Tutsis. They were also accused of failing to act during the second Congo war. They are also not the best organization for many more causes.

The kids in Rwanda

Picture URL: http://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/news/rwanda.jpghttp://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/news/rwanda.jpg

Title of Article:  Russia bids farewell to Yeltsin

Website Title:  BBC.co.uk

Date Published:  Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Website Address:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6590243.stm

Date I looked at Site:  April 26, 2007

    Map URL: http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/11/16/mir.ditched/russia.moscow.jpg

Picture’s URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6590243.stm

What new information has emerged?                                                 

A lot of new information has emerged. The ceremony will be held in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Within the many people paying their respects were President Vladimir Putin and former President Mikhail Gorbachve. Former Presidents George Bush Senior and Bill Clinton were also there. His legacy will stay controversial for quite some time. Wednesday has been declared as a day for national remembrance. He was the first elected President that led it to independence after the Soviet Union. He is also known for a main reason, he “buried” communism.

What did I find interesting about this topic? I found it very interesting that Yeltsin was such a good President and a lot of the other Presidents went to the funeral. I also learned a great deal about Yeltsin, for example for how long he ruled and that a lot of people liked him. Last, he was known for a main reason.

What did I like about the initial blog posting?

I liked the way Leah Mae presented her current event, she spoke slowly and clearly so it was easy to understand what she was saying and the issue. I also liked the format she used, she had big pictures and it was very easy to understand. Great job Leah Mae!

I would also change a couple of things to improve my speech. First, I would have tried not read from my paper so much and looked at the audience more often. Second, I should have said it with more voice, not just reading off the paper. Last, I should have looked at all the people. I was facing one way and practically presenting it to only a couple of people. Other than that, I hope I did a good job!

Andrea

I am famous in Ancient Egypt for many reasons. I liked trade, so I encouraged it and I sent an exhibition to Punt (on the northeast coast of Africa). I added to the temple of Amun. I also built a great memorial temple for myself, which is now called Deir el-Bahri. I made more monuments and works of art than any Egyptian Queen. I was represented as a man in my statues. Last, I led my army in battles. These were some of my accomplishments as a Pharaoh.

I hope that after I die I will be famous not only for being the only queen that ruled for 22 years but also because I made a good impact on people’s lives. As you know, I enjoyed trade and architecture and I built myself a great memorial temple that has inscriptions about my life, which will help people in later times learn about me.

When I died, Thutmose III wanted to get his throne back, so he led a rebellion! He destroyed my tomb in the Valley of the Kings and my statues. He tried to erase my name from all the kings’ lists. Still, I am the Pharaoh, the ruler of all Egypt, I will always be!

By: Andrea Noguera

Picture’s:

 Statue:

URL: http://www.stanford.edu/~jmanning/images_big/hatshepsut.jpghttp://www.stanford.edu/~jmanning/images_big/hatshepsut.jpg

 Cartoon:

URL: http://www.civfanatics.net/~civrules/Article/Leaders/Hatshepsut.jpghttp://www.civfanatics.net/~civrules/Article/Leaders/Hatshepsut.jpg

Author: BBC

Title of Article: “Oxfam launches £5m Darfur appeal”

Website Title: CBBC newsround/world

Date Published: April 16, 2007

Website Address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6550000/newsid_6558600/6558609.stm

Date you looked at the Site: April 17, 2007

1.    What is the issue?

The issue is that the fighting between the two groups has made the Darfur region of Sudan very dangerous and at least 300,000 people have died. 2 million people have been forced to evacuate there homes and a lot more are counting on the supplies from other countries. Because of that, Oxfam wants to raise £5million to help all the people living in the North African country of Sudan. Oxfam is already providing basic needs, like water, sanitation, soap and blankets to 500,000 people. They say they need more money to make sure the people in Sudan and Chad have all necessities like water and shelter. While they raise the money, the government will try to stop this crisis.

2.    Who is involved?

•·        The people in Sudan who lost people in their family and homes

•·        The two groups that are fighting

•·        Oxfam

•·        The government

3.    Who is affected and how?

The people affected are, the people in Sudan that lost family members because they lost someone they loved and if that person earned the money, they would have to find another way to earn money. The families that had to evacuate there homes are affected because they have to find another place to live and build there house again. The two groups that are fighting are affected because they are the ones that are causing all the deaths and problems in Sudan. Oxfam is affected because they are trying to help all the people in Sudan and they have to raise a lot of money. Last, the government is affected because they have to find a way to stop all the fighting.

4.    What would you do if you were directly involved?

If I was directly involved I would donate money to Oxfam and other things like soap and blankets to them, so they could give it to the people in Sudan. If I had political power, I would help the government find ways to stop all the fighting.

Title:U.S. battered by another winter storm

Website title: World News

Date Published: 26/ 02/ 2007

Website address: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/26022007news.shtml

Date you looked at the site: February 28, 2007 

 Map URL: http://www.americanenergy.com/graphics/AMEN-US-Map-Logo.jpg

Picture URL: http://www.ci.chico.ca.us/Resource_Library/Parks/_Resource_Library_Parks/Snow_in_Bidwell_Park_2.jpg

What new information has emerged? The new information is that small parts of a massive snow storm is now on its way northwards up the eastern seaboards in the U.S. After bringing commotion to many different parts and dumping 60cm (2 feet) of snow on the Mid-West during the weekend. Snow and ice has covered highways and runways and some traffic deaths, 7 in Wisconsin and 1 in Kansas. Hundreds of people have had to stay at home with no electricity. Electricity providers were trying to bring back the power lines. Heavy snow is still falling in New York and Maine but reporters say that it will stop soon.  

What did you find interesting about the topic? To me it was interesting to learn that such a big snow storm could happen. That it could hit so many states for so many days, and it is still strong.  I also found it interesting how it’s so strong, it affected the power lines. I wonder how people survive without electricity to heat their homes. 

What did you like about the initial blog posting? I really liked the way Arfan presented his current event because he explained extra things, so we could understand the information better, that weren’t on the blog. I also liked how he showed were the storm hit on the map and he explained the picture.