Hello Everyone,
We have had 13 great interview presentations thus far and have 6 left to do on next Tuesday morning. Thanks for supporting your child on this project ! Our visit from our two legislators went well. I believe between that visit, and the citizenship interviews, the students are getting clear messages on their roles and responsibilities as citizens now and in the future.
Interestingly enough and as a sign of the times, the students have chosen a number of mediums to record their interviews from the traditional paper and pencil person to person, to skype, audio recordings, telephones, e-mails, computers, video cameras and so forth. The interviews have been informative and powerful.
In order to have the interview project count each student must have to me by next Tuesday a written narrative of the interview or a written summary of the interview. This project is an important part of this semester's grade !
Best,
Steve
Ken Burns and Steve's 7th grade history class
Friday, June 8, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Final Major Assignment
Hello All,
The class and I met today and discussed our final major assignment for the school year. They wrote down what I am posting here in their planners and I told them they could check this site as well. The project is due on Friday June 1st which gives them 10 days. The assignment idea came to me during our visit to the Ken Burn's Editing House last week. Which I thought was a good visit.
The assignment is as follows: Choose an elder/older person who is a neighbor, friend, relative to interview (not a parent). This can be done by phone and then photos can be family photos or such. The written interview narrative must be accompanied by either photographs (past or present), an audio CD or tape or a film. These will be shared with classmates the week of June 4th and the week of June June 11th.
The questions to be asked are as follows. I have encouraged the students to be prepared with follow up questions in order to give the interview some depth, to make it more personal etc.... I will give some examples below.
Introduce your self and the interviewee.
#1-"What do you believe are your responsibilities as a citizen?" This could pertain to their responsibilities on the local, regional, state level or national level. A followup up question could be "What have you done personally to perform those responsibilities."
#2"What should a citizen do when he or she thinks a particular law is unjust?" A follow up question could be to ask the interviewee to relate a personal experience or example of what they might have done in regards to a specific event or situation they were involved in.
#3"Does a citizen have a responsibility to work for the common welfare?' The common welfare was defined by the Framers of the Constitution to mean that people with civic virtue put the common welfare-the good of all the people-over their own interests. Therefore, citizens should elect people to public office who will put the common welfare over narrow and local interests. So, a good followup question might be, what have you done personally to promote the common welfare or good of fellow citizens? Of course this could mean volunteerism, public service etc...
So there you go. I look forward to some interesting interviews coming back on June 1st.
Best,
Steve
The class and I met today and discussed our final major assignment for the school year. They wrote down what I am posting here in their planners and I told them they could check this site as well. The project is due on Friday June 1st which gives them 10 days. The assignment idea came to me during our visit to the Ken Burn's Editing House last week. Which I thought was a good visit.
The assignment is as follows: Choose an elder/older person who is a neighbor, friend, relative to interview (not a parent). This can be done by phone and then photos can be family photos or such. The written interview narrative must be accompanied by either photographs (past or present), an audio CD or tape or a film. These will be shared with classmates the week of June 4th and the week of June June 11th.
The questions to be asked are as follows. I have encouraged the students to be prepared with follow up questions in order to give the interview some depth, to make it more personal etc.... I will give some examples below.
Introduce your self and the interviewee.
#1-"What do you believe are your responsibilities as a citizen?" This could pertain to their responsibilities on the local, regional, state level or national level. A followup up question could be "What have you done personally to perform those responsibilities."
#2"What should a citizen do when he or she thinks a particular law is unjust?" A follow up question could be to ask the interviewee to relate a personal experience or example of what they might have done in regards to a specific event or situation they were involved in.
#3"Does a citizen have a responsibility to work for the common welfare?' The common welfare was defined by the Framers of the Constitution to mean that people with civic virtue put the common welfare-the good of all the people-over their own interests. Therefore, citizens should elect people to public office who will put the common welfare over narrow and local interests. So, a good followup question might be, what have you done personally to promote the common welfare or good of fellow citizens? Of course this could mean volunteerism, public service etc...
So there you go. I look forward to some interesting interviews coming back on June 1st.
Best,
Steve
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Hello All,
We are back in the saddle again after a great theater production and I am told a fantastic educational and fun trip to Quebec City. We have finished our "We the People" studies with our last two chapters being about Citizens Rights and Responsibilities. Today we had some very interesting conversations using scenarios and general discussions about "What are my responsibilities as a citizen?", "What should a citizen do when he or she thinks a particular law is unjust?" and "Does a citizen have a responsibility to work for the common welfare?"
As a follow up to this discussion and these questions I am endeavoring to have one NH and one VT Legislator here to visit with us in the next week or so.
Also today, as a culmination of our year long study of the Maasai Culture we had a one hour visit with a Kenyan Maasai warrior, which was quite fascinating.
This Thursday is our trip to Ken Burn's studio for some time with Ken, a tour of his studio and talk about his actual film work. We will leave at 8:45am and return by 11:00am in time for academic classes.
Homework for Friday: Read two short or one long article in this weeks Upfront Magazine and be prepared to share and discuss with your classmates and teacher.
My goal for my American Studies students (which I shared with them today), for the next 5 weeks, is to stay focused and on task and use every minute to continue our studies.
Several students indicated a desire to do some geography work to finish out the year. We will identify what part of the world it is they wish to learn more about and make a go of it.
Best,
Steve
We are back in the saddle again after a great theater production and I am told a fantastic educational and fun trip to Quebec City. We have finished our "We the People" studies with our last two chapters being about Citizens Rights and Responsibilities. Today we had some very interesting conversations using scenarios and general discussions about "What are my responsibilities as a citizen?", "What should a citizen do when he or she thinks a particular law is unjust?" and "Does a citizen have a responsibility to work for the common welfare?"
As a follow up to this discussion and these questions I am endeavoring to have one NH and one VT Legislator here to visit with us in the next week or so.
Also today, as a culmination of our year long study of the Maasai Culture we had a one hour visit with a Kenyan Maasai warrior, which was quite fascinating.
This Thursday is our trip to Ken Burn's studio for some time with Ken, a tour of his studio and talk about his actual film work. We will leave at 8:45am and return by 11:00am in time for academic classes.
Homework for Friday: Read two short or one long article in this weeks Upfront Magazine and be prepared to share and discuss with your classmates and teacher.
My goal for my American Studies students (which I shared with them today), for the next 5 weeks, is to stay focused and on task and use every minute to continue our studies.
Several students indicated a desire to do some geography work to finish out the year. We will identify what part of the world it is they wish to learn more about and make a go of it.
Best,
Steve
Friday, April 13, 2012
Dear Students and Parents,
I seem to have been among the missing the last week or so, but here I am again.
This week we reviewed for and then took the second part of the U.S. Citizenship Test. I hope as parents you enjoyed being quizzed on the test questions. I am told that most of you did very well on the test, congratulations. The student tests will be corrected and returned next week.
Today, we also read two articles from Upfront Magazine and had brief discussions about "Whatever Happened to Global Warming" (why it does not seem to be out in front in the news) and "Can I See Some ID?" (What is behind the new sate voter ID laws).
For the next three weeks, during the "musical" intensive weeks and production week we will have one class a week on Fridays, from 8:30am-9:30am. Looking ahead, we will use these days to finish the last two chapters in "We The People"which deal with , "What are the responsibilities of citizens?".
Best,
Steve
PS Ken Burn's visit last Friday was wonderful, and the students interactions and questions, were terrific. If you know Ken and see him, please thank him as he has been to our class four times this year (amazing) and we will be going to his studio for a tour and visit on May 17th.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Homework Reminder
Homework Reminder for Tomorrow: Friday
Do some further research on either Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Susan B. Anthony and write a one or two paragraph summary of your findings.
Prepare one question about either of these ladies or the Ken Burn's film about these ladies for tomorrow, Friday's class.
Steve
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