Presidents Test

The test will cover only Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

Open-Notes Presidents Quiz on Friday

I will give an open-notes quiz on the Presidents covered in class this week on Friday.

Removal of Social Studies Projects and the Water Problem

Given the early end of school I will give EVERYONE until Friday to remove projects. All classes meet in G-102 on Friday.

Think "Parade," not "Ballroom"

When assembling your Mardi Gras costume, try to look like a float rider, not a ballroom dancer. The dance is a costume dance, not a formal. See my previous post or the Arthur Hardy Guide (available in my classroom) for ideas.

Mardi Gras Float Rider Interest Form

If you are absent on Thursday or lose your form please print one from this link:
http://www.paulblankenship.com/FloatRiderInterestForm.pdf

Deadline: 1:00 PM on Friday, 11 January 2008.

Mardi Gras Float in the Krewe of Highlands

We will participate in the Krewe of Highlands parade on Sunday, 03 February 2008 (a.k.a. Superbowl Sunday). Participation will be through a drawing held this Friday after school. Each student interested in participating will receive one chance. Participants in the poinsettia Ssale will receive an additional chance for each poinsettia sold. For example, a student that sold 10 flowers will have 11 chances to win. I will send home a form on Thursday that must be returned with a parent signature on Friday. If you will be absent Friday please arrange to have the form brought to the school no later than 1:00 PM.

The top selling student from my classes is guaranteed a place on the float. Four additional spaces are available. The four additional students are asked to make a $45 donation to cover the costs of beads and throws (however, if this is a hardship the suggested donation will be excused upon request).

Mardi Gras Costume Rubric

I have changed the rubric for the Mardi Gras costume. Since I know you have all put in so much work on your Social Studies Fair papers, displays, and monologues I have simplified the requirements for the costume. Rather than using themes from Mardi Gras Krewes we will simply use a Mardi Gras theme. I have a copy of the Arthur Hardy Mardi Gras guide that you may peruse during Stallion Roundup for ideas. The colors are purple, green, and gold. Typical figures include clowns, harlequins, kings, queens, characters from films, Elvis, knights, vampires, pirates, cartoon characters, werewolves, matadors, explorers, foreign costumes (Scottish, Japanese, etc.), mythological figures, and animals. As always, be tasteful and comply with the CMM Dress Code. I know we will have a great time!

Mardi Gras is 5 February 2008. Your costume must be worn to and from school that day. No changing at school! The costume is a 30 point project grade.

The Mardi Gras Costume Rubric

Board Cam #2: The Monologue

The following was on the marker board a week before the break (again, pardon the sideways orientation):

Board Cam #1

The part above the line was posted and discussed before the Christmas break; the part below was on the board today. Pardon the sideways orientation.

Weekly Preview

Monday
Who is your favorite president, and why? (5 sentence paragraph)
Video on Presidents

Tuesday
How is the role of the President like the role of the Governor? (5 sentence paragraph)
Video on Presidents
Social Studies Fair Displays and Monologues Due

Wednesday
Whom do you support for president? Why? (5 sentence paragraph)
Video on Presidents
Social Studies Fair Displays and Monologues: Continuing Presentations

Thursday
How is a president different from a king? (5 sentence paragraph)
Video on Presidents
Social Studies Fair Displays and Monologues: Continuing Presentations

Friday
Who was the worst President? Why? (5 sentence paragraph)
Test on Presidents
GLEs 31 & 32

Mardi Gras Projects

We will NOT do the Mardi Gras Mini-Float or Doubloon this year. The only Mardi Gras project will be a costume. We will discuss this in more detail after the Social Studies Fair projects are presented this week.

Take Your Project to the Cafeteria Gym

As I (repeatedly) mentioned in class, bring your Social Studies Fair Projects to the Cafeteria Gym. Do not leave them in G-Wing.

Reminder: The Rubric Index

I know we have discussed this in class, but in case anyone has forgotten I have a page listing all my rubrics. If you need to view a rubric you can find all my rubrics posted here:

http://paulblankenship.com/SocialStudies/LaStudies/rubricindex.html

Hope this helps!