This year we are going to be exploring an exciting new program called Scratch.  Scratch lets you make all sorts of things: from animations and art  to slideshows and video games. Everything you make in Scratch can be uploaded to the Scratch website for the world to see and can be embedded in your blog as well.   Click below to watch a quick intro to Scratch:

Now, click below to see some examples of Scratch projects people have created:

Tetris

Chicken Noodle Soup Dance

Donkey Kong

Daydream Animation

Breakdance

Tamika’s Name Bouncing

MadLibs

Play Space Laser

Play Fall Down

Play Dress Up

When I was a kid, I couldn’t stop playing this game called Mad Libs.  My sister Lisette would ask me for a noun, verb, adjective, or some other type of word and I’d give her the most random and crazy answers I could think of.   She would use my answers to fill in the missing words in a story.   When we were done, she would read back the story about Michael Jackson marrying a bagel or whatever and we’d fall on the floor laughing.   Anyhow, I found an online version.  Click HERE to play Mad Libs and paste your story into your blog for points!

** PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE.

In part 4 of Super Size Me we learn that the advertising budget for fast food restaurants is H U G E…whereas the advertising budget for the government to get us to eat healthy food is tiny.  Companies like McDonalds spend millions on billboards, TV commercials, and websites to get you excited to buy their food.  To learn about how advertising works, play the game below.  After you’re done, write in your blog about 3 things you learned.

Now, using XtraNormal, IMovie, or Photoshop create an advertisement for a healthy food.  Please use at least 2 of the strategies listed in the chart below.  Post your advertisement on your blog along with the advertisement techniques you used.

Click BELOW for examples:

Click HERE to watch Part 4 of Super Size Me

1. In your blog make a list of 10 foods you believe would make up a healthy meal (include some pictures please).

1.   Click HERE to watch Part 3 of Super Size Me

2. Click HERE to go to McDonald’s Bag a McMeal page.  Order enough food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Now, answer the following questions in your blog:

1) How many calories did your McDonald’s meals add up to? How much fat?

2) Look at the chart below.  Did your McDonald’s meal add up to more calories and fat than is recommended for your age?  If so, how much more?

3) Did the results surprise you? Why or why not?

 _____ ____  ____    ____  _     ____  _____ ____
/__ __X  _ \/  __\  /  __\/ \   /  _ \/  __// ___\
  / \ | / \||  \/|  | | //| |   | / \|| |  _|    \
  | | | \_/||  __/  | |_\\| |_/\| \_/|| |_//\___ |
  \_/ \____/\_/     \____/\____/\____/\____\\____/

Damning Dirty Water Animations and Posts

BTan, GCalcano, KAlcantara, MHassan

Fabulous Five Secrets of the Meatrix

MFortune, AOrtega,  LFlorentino

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Radical Random Posts

JLopez, JMatos, ASanchez, BPena, DSim, HArriza, TSerrano, LHernandez, SGreen

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Tantalizing Tech Issues- War

AGivens, CVega, GCalcano, TSerrano, THarris, TCedeno

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Gorgeous Google Entries

TCarter, ASebelen, RContreras

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Freaky Photoshop Face-Offs

AThomas, GCalcano, JiSalcedo, SColon, SMarte, Sponce

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Dynamic Distraction Test Results

TCarter, SSabah, EBourdier, JGuzman, TCarter, THarris

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Arresting Poetry
DHill, ATorres, JLeeTineo, JLopez, JTlatenchi, LHernandez, LHernandez

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Absorbing  Internet Addiction Posts

DHill, DSim, FSimon, KAlcantara, TSerrano, MTucker, NRodriguez, PMei, SStPhard, THarris

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Irresistible Inventions

BCastillo, ElColon, GCalcano, JiSalcedo

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Engaging Profile Interviews

SSabah, CMarquez, LBruno, MHassan, NRodriguez

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Powerful Piercing Posts

MHassan, EBourdier

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Brilliant Banning Bottle Water Posts

MTucker, SSabah, GCalcano, JiSalcedo, KAlcantara, MMendoza, SColon

Watch Part 2 of Super Size Me by clicking HERE (ask for password).  Now, answer the following questions in your blog:

1. Do you think consumers (people who buy things) have the right to sue McDonalds for selling unhealthy food? Why or why not?

2. McDonalds is the largest owner of private playgrounds in the world. What other ways  does McDonalds use to market their food to children?

3.  How many calories do you think a healthy kid should eat in a day (click here for a clue)?  According to the movie, how many calories are in a Super Size fries?  How about a Double Gulp soda?

Watch part 1 of Supersize Me by clicking HERE (ask me for password).  Please answer these questions in your blog:

1. How many times a week do you eat at McDonalds or other fast food restaurants? Do you ever think about whether what you are eating is healthy? Why or why not?

2. What do you predict will happen to Morgan’s health at the end of the month? Do you think he will remain in perfect health?

3. In one scene there is a shot of a McDonalds inside of a hospital. What do you think about that? Do you find it normal, funny, strange, or sad?

*B O N U S*

What does “organic” mean?  What does “vegan” mean (use your own words)?

For those of you who don’t know, a “Font” is the style of type you choose to write with.  Your computer already comes loaded with some fonts you can use in Microsoft Word, Photoshop, Imovie, etc.   But for graphic artists (someone who puts together images and type) it’s important to choose the right font each time they create a design.  You see, different fonts communicate different things:

1.  Click below to watch a tutorial by RCallado about how to download fonts to your computer.

2.  Now, choose one of the fonts you downloaded.  In Photoshop, write a poem inspired by that font and post it in your blog*

* Reminder:  to export a file from Photoshop to your blog choose  FILE –> SAVE FOR WEB –> go to your blog –> ADD THE .JPG IMAGE

1.  Watch The Meatrix 2 1/2 by clicking HERE

2.  Write a blog post beginning with the following sentence:

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

You can use ANY of the 3 Meatrix videos to inspire you.

3. Record yourself in IMovie saying the 5 Secrets and post the video in your blog.

Watch The Meatrix 2 and answer the following questions in your blog:

1. How are dairy farms different from dairy factories?
2. What is RBGH and what does it do?
3. What is the milk replacer fed to calves (baby cows) made out of? Why is this bad (besides just being gross)?
4. Can you do anything to make a difference as a consumer (someone who buys things)?

Click HERE to watch the The Meatrix and answer the following questions in your blog:

1. How do factory farms treat animals differently than family farms?

2. Why are animals fed antibiotics in factory farms and why is this dangerous?

3. What happens to animal excrement (poop) in factory farms?

Have you ever seen those strange photos where two celebrities get their faces mixed up?  Well today we’re going to do that using Photoshop. Watch the tutorial below and then pick a friend to mix faces with.  Post the results on your blog.

Click HERE to see an example from SColon.

Extra Extra Credit: Along with the photo, describe what the new combo person would be like.

DHill and SColon made a cool little documentary on piercings.  Click below to watch it and then answer some questions about it in your blog:

1.  What were the most interesting parts in this documentary?

2.  Name at least three reasons why people get pierces.

3. Do different pierces say different things about people?  For example, does having your ears pierced say something different then having an eyebrow ring?

4.  Is there such a thing as too many pierces?

It’s that time of year again.  Google wants you to re-design their logo using the theme “If I could do anything I would…”

Examples include:

• Figure out a cure for cancer
• Build a movie theater on the moon
• Be an underwater explorer

Prizes include a visit to Google Headquarters, a T-Shirt with your logo, a laptop, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a $15,000 college scholarship!

You can use pens, markers, colored pencils, and/or paint on paper.

Or you can download one of the pics below and create your design in Photoshop.  Entries due by Friday, March 26th.

I’ve got to admit, Island Schoolers have the coolest brains— you guys come up with the most random, funny, and interesting ideas.  Here’s your newest mission, should you choose to accept it:  Think up an invention no one else has thought of.   In your blog describe your invention.  What does it look like?  What does it do?  How will it make the world a better place?  Next, using Phostoshop or IMovie, show off your invention.

Click on some of the videos below for ideas.

Click on these names for examples:   GCalcano,  EColon, AValenzuela, BCastillo, SGreen, and JSalcedo

Using at least 3 cyberbullying poems created by you and your classmates, use Garageband to create an anti-cyberbullying song.  Feel free to work with a partner.  Ask Mr. Lahana for more info on how to do this if you’re interested.  Worth up to 30 points!   Click below for examples:

RBrown

NHernandez & GEscalara

Click below to watch a video about a boy who committed suicide after being cyberbullied.  After you’re done, write a poem in your blog from the perspective of the boy or his father.

Click these names for examples of poetry:  JSimmons, TCarter, JLeeTineo, BTan, MTucker, DSim, AJimenez