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Constitution Works
Article posted June 12, 2008 at 02:26 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 699
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Bill S. 1789, Fund to Promote Excellence and Equal Opportunity in Intermediate and Secondary Schools Athletic Act, is about a fund that will consist of 250 million dollars to improve kid’s athletic skills and to make the U.S. more competitive in international sports.
My view as Senator F. from Delaware on this bill is that the second provision is unfair. I think this because separating all sports programs and teams on the basis of sex makes one or both feel inferior. My view was not different from my constituents.
I listened to the opposing side’s arguments and none of them made me change my mind on this bill. All of the arguments were the same. They all said boy’s skills are just superior to girl’s skills. Some times this argument is NOT true. I liked the way we amended the Bill to say that in extenuating circumstances sports teams can be integrated based on skill levels.
This unit was challenging because we spent a lot of time on it. We spent a lot of time because it was a hard unit. It was hard because we didn’t know a lot of things. Spending a lot of time also made it a little boring because all we did was this.
This unit was long and a lot of work so I have a negative feeling about it. If I could change something it would be to start earlier in the year so we did not have to do so much of it at the end. I would also change not forcing people to be on sides they really did not want to be on. I would keep the same plan of working in groups, having the teachers help us write our arguments, and going to the real courthouse.
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Article posted June 12, 2008 at 02:26 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 699
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Genetic Make-Up
Article posted May 18, 2008 at 04:38 PM GMT •
comment (1) • Reads 316
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To start my project I had to research genetic traits of my family. First I looked at my traits. Then I interviewed my mom, my dad, and my sister. When I looked at the information I noticed some traits were the same and some were different for me and my sister.
We have the same brown color eyes and brown hair color but my hair is straight and hers is wavy. These traits are genetic traits.
We both have the same favorite sport, soccer. We have different favorite foods, mine is chicken parmagiana and hers is macaroni and cheese. These are learned traits.
I expected most of the genetic traits to be the same because we came from the same parents. I didn’t expect the learned traits to be the same because everyone learns and likes different things.
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Article posted May 18, 2008 at 04:38 PM GMT •
comment (1) • Reads 316
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Wagons West Over
Article posted April 30, 2008 at 03:11 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 279
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We did a really exciting simulation called Wagons West about the pioneers. I felt that the simulation was fun but unfair at the end. This showed me that the pioneers had to be very strong and smart to be able to survive and live the way they did. If I did this simulation again I would not choose my supplies differently.
We had to make many decisions along the way. Our decision to buy the water and share it was a good one. Choosing the Cheyenne River Trail instead of the Burial Ground Trail was another good decision we made. A difficult decision was choosing the Salt Flats Trail or the Massacre Canyon Trail or the Long Trail, we choose the Long Trail because it was the safest but longest way and it was a good choice. Our one bad decision was choosing to send scouts to see if we could get over the mountain and continuing to go on, we should have gone back to Paradise. These decisions we had to make were difficult because you think they are so important and you always want to go the right decision. You try to go the safe way but you also want to be the first one to the end so you want to go the short way. It was hard to decide.
Yes, I would definitely do this simulation again next year because we had fun while learning about the pioneers. I would recommend to next years students to bring extra wood and a rifle. I also suggest when they have to choose between going back to Paradise or going to Hacker Valley or to send scouts, they should choose to go back to Paradise.
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Article posted April 30, 2008 at 03:11 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 279
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Return to the Amazon
Article posted April 18, 2008 at 03:55 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 490
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Thanks to the Celebration of Teaching and Learning Conference, we heard Jean-Michel Cousteau discuss issues with the Amazon River and rainforest. You were then asked to watch the two part program, "Return to the Amazon."
Pink river dolphins are one of the four types of river dolphins in the world. The Mata Mata turtle has a snorkel like nose. It is the best camouflaged animal in the Amazon. Regular turtles have been depleting for a very long time, and there are efforts to bring them back. The Camen crocodile is the Amazon version of the crocodile, and they are hunted for the fashion industry. The Jararoca snake is one of the two hundred Amazon snakes. It is a harmless snake.
The Amazon is important to the rest of the world because we use it for water. 20% of the world’s water is from there. It also controls the world’s climate.
Humans in the Western world are responsible for the destruction of the Amazon because we use wood from the Amazon to build doors, decks, desks, etc. If we want to stop the destruction we could stop buying things made out of wood from the Amazon. Also we can stop buying fish and pets from the Amazon, so the people that catch and sell them will not catch as many.
The show describes all the problems in the Amazon and what needs to be done to fix it. People that are destroying the Amazon probably have never even seen it, or know that they are destroying it. Everyone should watch it. It will change the situation a little bit if some people start cutting back on using wood. Conditions at the Amazon will improve.
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Article posted April 18, 2008 at 03:55 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 490
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Demonstrate what I learned
Article posted March 31, 2008 at 01:14 AM GMT •
comment (2) • Reads 301
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We have learned a lot in 5th grade. Many of the units we studied were interesting. One of the most interesting units was the Industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution is when people learned how to mass produce goods. The U.S.A got the idea from England. Samuel Slater stole the idea and brought it to the U.S.A. Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin and Interchangeable Parts. The Cotton Gin is a machine that turns dirty cotton into clean cotton. Interchangeable parts are parts of machines that can go into other any machine.
If I had to teach somebody about the Industrial Revolution I would say “How many shirts do you have?” They probably would say “A lot.” Then I would say “In the 1800’s each person had 3 maybe 4 shirts if they were lucky.” “The reason that people only had 3 shirts was because they could not spin wool fast or clean cotton because they did not have the Cotton Gin or Mechanical Loom.” “Now we have things that can spin wool and clean cotton one million times faster.” This is the way I would start telling them about the Industrial Revolution.
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Article posted March 31, 2008 at 01:14 AM GMT •
comment (2) • Reads 301
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Darfur
Article posted March 6, 2008 at 04:57 PM GMT •
comment (2) • Reads 211
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There is something wrong going on in Darfur. It makes me feel disappointed that the people in the Janjaweed army are killing people in their own country. The amazing thing is that government is supporting the Janjaweed. So if the southerners call the police, which they can not do because they do not have electricity, they would be calling the people that are attacking them.
Did you know that over 200,000 people a year die from starvation, disease and violence because of the Janjaweed? Also 2.5 million people displaced from their homes. Did you know 3.5 million people depend on international aid for health care? The commanders are Lbrahim Khalil, Ahmed Diraige, Omar al-Bashir, Minni Minnawi.
WE NEED TO SEND IN TROUPS TO STOP IT.
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Article posted March 6, 2008 at 04:57 PM GMT •
comment (2) • Reads 211
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digital stories with our buddies
Article posted March 5, 2008 at 02:59 PM GMT •
comment (1) • Reads 151
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When we were making a story I felt like it was hard. It took a long time to make the story. We have background music. I got to record my voice. I also had to draw another picture. It was fun and at the end our parents are coming in to see our hard work.
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Article posted March 5, 2008 at 02:59 PM GMT •
comment (1) • Reads 151
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Football
Article posted March 2, 2008 at 06:45 PM GMT •
comment (3) • Reads 271
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Football, football, football! Everybody thinks that there is one kind of football but I know there are four leagues the NFL, Arena, CFL, and NCAA. My two favorites are the NFL and Arena. There are differences between the NFL and Arena, here are some of them.
In Arena football there are 8 people on the field at one time. The field is 50 yards long with 2 end zones that are 8 yards long. The goalpost uprights are 9 feet apart and the crossbar is 15 feet above the field. There is something called the rebound net, it is 8 feet off the ground, 32 feet high by 30 feet wide. If a kick or pass hits the net, it is still in play. If a player hits into the wall without contact the play is not over he can still run. Arena football is always played indoors.
In the NFL 11 people are on the field at one time. The field is 100 yards long with 2 end zones that are 10 yard long. The goalpost uprights are 18 1/2 feet apart and the crossbar is 10 feet above the field. NFL football does not have rebound net. When player steps out of bounds without contact the play is over. NFL football is played outdoors but is played indoors also.
Now that I have told some of the differences in the leagues, I hope you watch both NFL and Arena football.
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Article posted March 2, 2008 at 06:45 PM GMT •
comment (3) • Reads 271
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Trail Decision 1
Article posted February 14, 2008 at 01:41 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 148
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Our first trail decision was to decide how to get water in Prairie Wells. There are four armed guards protecting the water. The water used to be free but there is a drought and there is only a little bit of water. We need to refill our water supply before we move on. Here are the ways to get the water 1) everybody chips in what they can and shares the water equally 2) people who can pay for the water pay for the water but the people who can not pay for it have to find their own water 3) your wagon train does not pay for the water and you have to find water on the trail or 4) you wait until night and attack the guards and take the water.
My wagon train chose number 1. We chose this because everybody could chip in money and we would share the water. Another reason was because my wagon train voted on it. Also we work as a team and this is the fairest choice.
We eliminated number two because it was not fair. We eliminated number three because we really need water and we might not find any. We eliminated number four because some people might get hurt or die and it is stealing.
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Article posted February 14, 2008 at 01:41 AM GMT •
comment • Reads 148
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Wagons West
Article posted February 11, 2008 at 01:28 AM GMT •
comment (1) • Reads 149
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Day 37
Today my wagon broke down. This is bad. Should I walk, try to build my wagon again or maybe build my house right here? All of my stuff is in the wagon. I do not think I can survive without it. I can not continue without it so no walking. Building right here is not good either because I am not where I want to be. So I guess I have to fix my wagon to keep on going.
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Article posted February 11, 2008 at 01:28 AM GMT •
comment (1) • Reads 149
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