Natchitoches in the EB

Information about Natchitoches from the EB.
Natchitoches

Del.icio.us Education

Del.icio.us is a link sharing site. I created an account there to share links with you. As I find sites that relate to our course I will post them on del.icio.us under LouisianaStudies.

Pork: Supply and Demand in China

The law of supply and demand at work in Communist China:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/09/21/pigs.china.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Easy Extra Credit

Get a parent to sign a print-out of this entry for 5 points.

Louisiana's Legal Heritage

Slate.com posted an article just after Hurricane Katrina about Louisiana's legal roots.
http://www.slate.com/id/2126126/

JazzFest

JazzFest is an important cultural event in Louisiana each year.

http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Vote on the Geography Unit Test Format

Since we are about to begin our civics and citizenship unit I am putting democracy to work for our Geography Unit Test. Through 4:00 PM you may vote on the length of the test. You may vote for a longer test (100 questions) with fewer points per question or a shorter (50 questions) test with more points per question. Either way the test will count for 200 points that cannot be dropped. The poll is posted on this blog.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Where was Huey?

Huey Long, the flamboyant former governor of Louisiana, once lived about three miles from Caddo Middle Magnet while practicing law. I will give you the following hints but you must do some research to find the exact address:

• He could have walked to Byrd High School.
• You will know his house when you see it.

If you bring or e-mail a photo of yourself standing on the street in front of his former abode I will give you 10 extra credit points. This offer expires at 2:45 PM on Friday, 28 September 2007.

You must abide by all of the following rules to get the points:

• Do not disturb the current occupants.
• Stay on the sidewalk (public right-of-way).
• Go during daylight hours.
• The house must be in the background.
• No photo editing (someone always asks if they can do this).
• If you find it, you cannot tell anyone else where it is until after the due date.
  

Weekly Preview: 24-28 September 2007

Monday, 24 September 2007
• Bellringer: List 7 important facts about the Bronze Age. Article: Bronze Age
• Review for the Geography Unit Test

Tuesday, 25 September 2007
• Bellringer: How did you prepare for this test?
• The Geography Unit Test (200 points, no drop)

• Study Guide in Acrobat format (answers are in your old study guides, parish charts, and GLE activities)
• Practice Test (look in the upper right corner to check your answer)
  

Wednesday, 26 September 2007
• Bellringer: Bellringer: List 7 important facts about the Iron Age. Article: Iron Age
• Check GLE #17
• GLE #18 Activity
• GLE #19 Activity
• Video Scavenger Hunt (details TBA)

Thursday, 27 September 2007
• Bellringer: List 7 facts (one sentence each) about Mesopotamia (you only have to read the first page of the article). Article: history of Mesopotamia
• GLE #19 Activity, continued
• Video Scavenger Hunt continued

Friday, 28 September 2007
• Bellringer: List 7 facts (one sentence each) about ancient Egypt (you only have to read the first page of the article). Article: Egypt, ancient
• GLE #20 Activity
• Video Scavenger Hunt continued

Friday's Bellringer: The Neolithic Period

List 7 facts (i.e., non-obvious facts that show you did some research) about the Neolithic Period. The entire article is on the link below (you can ignore the sales pitch, you are getting the whole one-page article).
The Britiannica article:
Neolithic Period

Buckwheat Zydeco Plays Istanbul, Turkey

Remember cultural diffusion? You'd better on my next test! Buckwheat Zydeco, a famous Louisiana musician, playing to an enthusiastic crowd in Istanbul, Turkey is a great example of the global diffusion of Louisiana's culture and music. The Internet is a powerful tool for indirect cultural diffusion, but Buckwheat Zydeco performing in Istanbul is direct cultural diffusion.

Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band

The Queen of Zydeco:

How to Dance to Zydeco Music

No, I will not demonstrate this in class.

Sugar Cane Loader

Imagine how long it would take to harvest all this sugar cane by hand. You can see how technology is the resource multiplier in economics:

Catalhoyuk - Neolithic Settlement

An early settlement in Turkey:

DIY Stonehenge

How one man could build Stonehenge (no aliens required):

Ġgantija Neolithic Temples, Gozo, Malta

A neolithic temple older than the pyramids:

Reconstruction of a Neolithic House in Europe

Iroquois Flint Knapping Demonstration

Paleoplanet Photo Montage

Paleolithic hobbyists show off their new creations:

Flint Knapping

Basic flint knapping (a paleolithic skill) on YouTube:

New Rule for Next Set of Point Sheets

I am having a hard time getting some students to return their point sheets with a parent/guardian signature. Returning signed point sheets and other work is an important aspect of participating in my class. I give 50 extra-credit participation points each grading period as a reward for good participation and I deduct from those points when a student does not meet my expectations for participation. One of my class rules is to "follow directions the first time." Starting with the next point sheet (coming soon) I will give my usual five-point grade for turning in the point sheet on time. Students may turn in the sheet for no credit the following day. For every day after that I will deduct five participation points until the point sheet is returned with a parent signature or the participation points are eliminated. At that point I will write a referral for "failure to follow a reasonable request." I will also apply this rule to other forms requiring a signature. I hate to have to be tough about this, and many of you are great about returning point sheets and other forms. However, I must find a way to motivate those students that consistently fail to follow instructions.

Pop Quizzes

I may start giving pop quizzes on the bellringer assignments. I have not required you to read your textbook, but I do want you to read about the world history topics on the bellringers. Most of the articles I have posted are only about a page long. Many were not prepared for today's bellringer on Cro-Magnons. I expect you to read the brief Britannica articles I posted on the Paleolithic (Thursday) and Neolithic (Friday) Periods. We must review world history to prepare for the LEAP Test.

Never Give Up

I encourage you to read this article (from Emory University) about people who overcame failure. You will recognize most of the names. Failure is not final until you give up.
http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/efficacynotgiveup.html

Weekly Preview Redux

If you missed the Weekly Preview last week here is a link. You may also use the index tag that says "Weekly Preview."
http://lastudies.blogspot.com/2007/09/weekly-preview-week-of-10-14-september.html

Gifted Children are Being Left Behind

The San Diego Union-Tribune published a thought-provoking article on the place of gifted students in the No Child Left Behind program:
http://cfx.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070829/news_lz1e29goodkin.html

I'm not promising anything, but...

Your 8th grade Gateway teachers are discussing a possible day trip to Natchitoches on 7 December 2007. Before we go any farther in our planning I need to know if there is interest in the trip and if enough parents are willing to go as chaperones. Last time we visited Natchitoches we toured the Kate Chopin House, Melrose Plantation, Fort St. Jean Baptiste, Lasyone's (for lunch), and shopped on Front Street. The last time we took this trip the cost was around $40/person but gas prices may increase the bus rental fees. I would like to have about one adult for every five students. If you are interested in serving as a chaperone please send a note saying so with your child or e-mail me. The large size of this year's class presents many challenges in planning a trip to Natchitoches because of the small venues involved in the trip but I am hopeful that with some creative scheduling we can make this trip a reality. The size of the group may require us to split into two groups (boys/girls) and visit different locations at different times so that the locations can accommodate us. Are you interested?

GLE #15 Presentation and Chart on Monday

We will cover the GLE #15 presentation and chart on Monday. If you are absent please complete the chart (worksheet) using the presentation. It will be due on Binder Check 1.5 on Tuesday.
http://www.paulblankenship.com/SocialStudies/LaStudies/LaGeography/louisianastudieo.html

Point Sheet 1.2 Reminder

Point Sheet 1.2, signed by a parent or guardian, is due on Monday.

Easy Extra Credit, 2nd Post

If you missed the announcement yesterday, here is a link to the extra credit assignment. One to a customer, please.
http://lastudies.blogspot.com/2007/09/easy-extra-credit.html

A few pointers on the art map

Here are some tips on the art map project:

• Read the rubric very carefully. Follow all directions. (The point of the assignment is to generate a map based on written instructions per GLE #3).
• Use a ruler to make your straight lines very straight.
• Check the number of cities, waterways, etc. against the rubric.
• Include the map scale and the legend/key.
• Do not wait until the last minute to start.
• Turn the project in on time. Late projects get no credit.

I look forward to seeing your creativity expressed through this project.

Do I need parishes on my art map?

Parishes are NOT required on your art map but it is OK if your included them.

Nine Cultural Subregions of Louisiana

You do NOT need this for your art map. I am posting this for those interested.

A more detailed map of Louisiana's cultures may be found here:
http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Maps/creole_maps_subregions.html

Map of Ethnic Groups

I came across a map of Louisiana's ethnic groups:
http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Maps/creole_maps_major_ethnic.html

Question on the Art Map

The rubric refers to the old textbook's chapter 24 for the three cultural regions of Louisiana. Your new book gives five cultural regions. For the sake of simplicity I recommend that you use the regions on this map:
http://www.louisianavoices.org/Unit4/edu_unit4_3subregions.html

However, you may use the five regions from the new book and the overhead if you prefer.

Thanks to the student who spotted this, he gets 5 bonus points.

The Man-of-War Explained

I love old sailing ships, and the man-of-war was a part of Louisiana's history. The following link is to an article explaining these great old ships:
http://www.kipar.org/piratical-resources/british-man-of-war.html