Please post your math Haikus and include pictures from HERE

As you know, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President on Tuesday, January 20, 2009  in Washington D.C..  The U.S.A. has had some tough years lately.  It’s time for a change and it’s time for you to speak up about what you want these changes to be.  Your assignment is to use xtraNormal to write a speech for Barack Obama.  Have him talk about 3 things we need less of and 3 things we need more of in this country.

Thanks to Lisa Nielsen

Email Me at Llahana188@gmail.com to add more…

Watch The Meatrix 2 1/2 by clicking HERE.  Now watch a cartoon called Backwards Hamburger by clicking HERE.

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Think about all the Meatrix episodes you’ve seen and the Backwards Hamburger.  Write a blog post beginning with the following sentence:

“The top 5 nasty secrets I learned about the meat and dairy industry…”

**EXTRA CREDIT**

Using ToonDoo, XtraNormal (click HERE for XtraNormal Help) or IMovie tell your readers about your 5 secrets of the meat and dairy industry.

Click HERE to watch a video about where Petland Discounts buys their puppies.

In your blog, write a letter to Petland Discounts about why they should stop supporting puppy mills.  When you’re finished, copy and paste your letter into THIS site, so that your letter gets to Petland’s decision-makers.

Here are examples of two great letters:  APichardo and  MJuan

Watch a movie about pet overpopulation by clicking HERE

Next, watch this short PSA about taking care of pets by clicking HERE

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In your blog answer the following questions:

What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner?

What can pet owners do to help stop pet overpopulation and homelessness?

1. Watch this slideshow about cruelty to dogs by clicking HERE

2. Next watch a PSA (public service announcement) about dogfighting by clicking HERE.

3. Now read this article about why people abuse animals by clicking HERE

4. Finally, in your blog, answer the following question: What is animal cruelty and how can we prevent it?

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** EXTRA CREDIT **

Make a ToonDoo comic, write a poem, or make a xtraNormal movie against animal abuse

For your final assignment on child labor, print out your poster and grab a partner to interview you about it.  Using iMovie, record an interview where you answer at least 5 of the following questions:

1. What is child labor?
2. Where does it happen?
3. Why is it a problem?
4. What do children miss out on when they work?
5. Is their health or safety at risk?
6. Why do some children work?
7. Describe your sign
8. Why did you choose the image you did?
9. What is your signs message?
10. How do you hope people will react to your sign?
11. What should we do about child labor?

–> When you’re done, ask Mr. Lahana how to put your video onto your blog.

As you know, the first African American president EVER has been elected.  Some questions to blog about:

1) Does this mean anything to you? If so, why?  If not, why?

2) What do you hope that Obama does as President?

Click HERE to see letters that students wrote to the next president

For another example, click HERE to watch a music video called In My Name by Will.i.am

Throughout history ordinary people have gotten together to protest against injustices by powerful people. Alone their voice might not have been heard, but together in protest, they have been able to make changes. One of the biggest tools protesters use are signs. Your assignment is to create a sign in Photoshop to protest against child labor in farms. For inspiration, below you will find signs and images that you can use along with your own ideas.

CLICK Here for a Photoshop lesson on making a poster

Now that you’ve made your “What I did this Summer” slideshow, click HERE for directions on how to put it on your blog.

By Laura B

So here we go…it’s a new year and time for a brand new set of activities. Two things have changed since last year:

1. The BIG CHANGE is we are saying GOODBYE to Edublogs.  Unfortunately the service is just too unreliable.  We are switching to Blogspot.com.  Below, you’ll find a quick tutorial on how to register.  All you need is a GMail account.

2. 7th and 8th graders are now experienced bloggers. The new 6th graders, however, have never blogged before. Therefore, most lessons will be divided into either 6th grade assignments or 7th/8th grade assignments. Only do the assignment for your grade.

*The assignments below are from LAST year.

So it’s the end of the year and we put an ENORMOUS amount of work into our blogs.  With the time we have left cruise the blogroll and comment on other students’ posts.  Make sure your comments are helpful and kind.

Here’s some comment starters:

• I wonder why…….
• It’s amazing how this post…
• If I hadn’t read this I would have never known…
• Another thing to consider is…….
• I can relate to this…….
• Wow! This makes me think of…….
• Excellent job! I discovered…….
• I don’t understand……
• I would love to hear more about…

Hello all. It’s WAY too early in the morning (4:34) and I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about a conversation I had with KRahman about her apartment and all her sisters and brothers who live there. It was so neat to hear about what her life was like outside of the Island School. So, I thought I’d show y’all what my apartment is like (or at least the living room and kitchen) and point out a few special things to me. In the video you will see a tired Mr. Lahana and a couple of art pieces his wife made. Special bonus: you will see what is actually INSIDE his refrigerator. Click below to watch the movie:

My Life

Now it’s your turn. Borrow a camera and take us inside your apartment or room and show us something special to you. Post the video on your blog (Mr. Lahana will help you if you don’t know how to do it…)  If you’re too shy to bring show a video of your apartment you can simply write about it in your blog.

Bandwagon- Telling the audience that everyone is buying it, using it, or doing it, so they should join the crowd! For example: “Are you the only one in the neighborhood who doesn’t have a Wii?”

Testimonial- Using a famous person to promote products. For example: Michael Jordan says, “Do you know what helps me win? Two glasses of Yoo Hoo every morning!”

Transfer: Taking your positive feelings about something and transferring it to the product: For example: “If you like Harry Potter, you will love the Harry Potter candy bar.”

Repetition: Saying something again and again so people will remember it. For Example: “It’s hot, hot, hot!” “It’s free! No charges to your credit card.”

Name-calling: Putting down your competition’s product to make your own product seem better. For Example, “Other brands like to pile sugar into their juices, Ocean Spray is different…”

People Just Like You: Using an ordinary person to sell a product or service, implying that you are alike, and if this person would buy or use this you should too. For example, “If you are an allergy sufferer like me, use Afrin nasal spray. Spray it and breathe in. You’ll be back to yourself in no time. If it helps me, it’ll help you.”

Call for Action: Making you feel that you have to do something immediately or the opportunity will be lost forever. For Example, “Friday night only! Better hurry! Only a limited supply is available.”

Facts and Figures – When facts and statistics are used to enhance your product’s credibility.

Heart Strings – are ads that draw you into a story and make you feel good, like the McDonalds commercial where the dad and his son are shoveling their driveway and the son treats his poor old dad to lunch at McDonalds when they are done.

Sounds Good – Music and other sound effects add to the excitement of commercials, especially commercials aimed at kids. Those little jingles, that you just can’t get out of your head, are another type of music used to make you think of a product. Have you ever noticed that the volume of commercials is higher than the sound for the program that follows?

Exaggeration- Representing something to be larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is. “Simply the best tasting cup of coffee you’ll EVER have.”

Humor – If you make them laugh, viewers will remember the commercial and have positive feelings about the product.  What’s the last commercial that made you laugh?  SEE! You remembered the product!