Summer Time in the city

Hey everybody, 

I hope your summer is going well.  I'm trying to stay warm.  My a/c is not working and it is hot.  What are your plans for the summer.  I will be teaching a technology workshop at school Tuesday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's from 12:30 - 3:30.  Come up and learn some cool stuff.  

Lesson plans week of 3-16-09

Monday

• Today we will learn about Fort Dearborn.  In 1808 the US Army built Fort Dearborn right next door to DuSable's cabin.  They did this for two reasons: 1) to protect the new settlers from the Native Americans (remember it was their land first) and 2) to act as the "police" of the town.  In 1812, during a war, Native Americans stormed Fort Dearborn, killed everyone, and burned down the town.  No one returned to Chicago, until Fort Dearborn was rebuilt in 1816.  Even then, people were scared of Native Americans.  The statue below was dedicated to the people that were killed, it still stands on the old site of Fort Dearborn (on Michigan Avenue where the river intersects).  For homework, write about this: Why do you think Native Americans killed everyone at Fort Dearborn?  Do you think it was a good thing or a bad thing?  Why?  

Tuesday 

• Today we will learn about Chicago's first "white" settler.  John Kinzie bought DuSable's house in 1804 and many credit him with the founding of Chicago.  But you know the truth, right?  While here in Chicago, he made a whole lot of money trading; he even had a contract with the US Army to be the only supplier to Fort Dearborn.  In 1812, Kinzie killed his neighbor and was found not-guilty.  He was a known slave trader and a corrupt politician.  So, I ask you, why there is a street in Chicago named after him?  For homework, write a letter to Mayor Daley telling him whether you like the street name or not.  Use specific facts from what you learned.  

Wednesday 

• Today, we will do current events.  Using any newspaper article, write the 5 W's.  

Thursday 

• Today, we will learn about the Great Chicago Fire 

Friday 

• Today, we will take a quiz and continue to learn about the Great Chicago Fire.  

Current Events week of 3-16-09

- Last Friday, the 28th CPS student was killed while trying to protect his two younger relatives.       Read about it here  Please post your comments.  How does this make you feel?  What do you         think should be done? 

- Its March Madness.  Check out ESPN's website here and read all about it.  Who do you want to     win? 

- Check out this week in rap here.  Do you recognize any of these current events.  Post your               comments on any of them.  

Lesson plans for the week of March 9, 2009

Here's what we will be working on this week

Monday: Today we will learn about the death penalty. Watch this video about the death penalty:


Once you watch the video please write the following on a sheet of paper:

1. On the front of the paper write about how you feel about the death penalty. Do you think that the death penalty is a good thing or a bad thing? Why? Use details from the movies to support your ideas.
2. On the back side of the paper write the pros and the cons of the death penalty
   

Tuesday: Today we will review our notes from yesterday and learn about the history of the death penalty. Did you know that the death penalty has been used for over 4,000 years? The death penalty dates all the way back to Hammurabi's Code 1900 years before the birth of Christ. It has been used by various cultures as a punishment for crimes. Many forms of the death penalty have been used including: hanging, boiling, burning, drowning, impaling, beating to death, and crucifixion. The most famous execution of all times is the death of Jesus Christ. When the death penalty came to America, Daniel Frank became the first American execution. In the 1800's many rules for slaves became incorporated in the death penalty laws. In North Carolina you could get the death penalty for giving a slave a book, or telling him to rebel. During the mid 1800's people began to see the death penalty as a bad thing. By 1853, 3 states had abolished the death penalty.

Wednesday: Today we will do current events. Using any newspaper article, please complete a current events template (the 5W's and how this article affects your life).

Thursday: Today we will begin to study the history of Chicago. We will study its founder. Do some research Jean Basptiste DuSable, and find out about him. Who was he? How did he discover Chicago? Write this down and turn it in. Also, watch this video


Friday: Today we will play Jeopardy.


Have a good weekend

Holla
Mr. Wilson

I need your help

I'm trying to put a list of cool websites together for us.  Can you please tell me what websites you like and a short description of each 

Holla 

Mr. Wilson 

Dear Obama

Just before the inauguration of Barack Obama, the students in the 5th/6th grade made a video for him. Check it out below and listen to what the students at May Community Academy want from their new president.

ISAT TESTING

Well folks, its that time of year again. ISAT (Illinois Standard Aptitude Test). How do you feel about the ISAT? Post your comments below.


GOOD LUCK.


Did you know that if you listen to J.S. Bach for 5 minutes before a test, you will do better?


Check out this video the staff made for you about the ISAT. Big ups to Dwayne T and Daevondre P. for their great camera work.

The bike crew is in Uganda

The Reach the World team is now in Uganda, Africa. Do you know anything about Uganda?

To learn more about the country, click here.

Check out what the crew is saying about there travels in Uganda here. Check out the field notes as well. This area lets you know some really cool facts about Uganda.

In the northern part of Uganda a group called the Lord's Resistance's Army (LRA) started fighting the Ugandan government for control of the land.  This group is know for is brutal murders and the kidnapping of children.  Read about this here.

Watch this video about Ugandan children. You should have reactions to this. Please post them. What do you think? How do you relate to these children or this place? What do you want to happen here? Compare and contrast these children's lives to your life.  Do you have questions for the children affected by this conflict?

Click here to meet Edward and Stephen.  They live in Uganda.  They will give you a first hand account of what life is life on in Uganda.  

Watch the video below about a school for children that were kidnapped by the LRA that were able to escape.  They have the same classes you do, but they also take classes to help them deal with the violence they have gone through.  How do you deal with violence that you see?  

There have been peace talks in Uganda between to LRA and the Ugandan government but just like in the Gaza strip, the violence and kidnapping hasn't stopped.  

Current Events week of 2-23-09

Read about the 3 CPS students that were shot last Friday here.  

Watch video about the 11 year old boy that shot his father's girlfriend here.  

Watch This Week in Rap here

Keep up on this weeks TRUE news by watching Democracy now here.  Remember, this is updated daily.  

Please post comments on any article, or POST A NEW CURRENT EVENT.  

Holla 

Mr Wilson 

This week's plans

From now on, I will start posting weekly plans up here on the blog.  If you are not in class, check here for your assignments

Monday:   

     - Today we will learn about Prisons and continue to watch Redemption 

     - For homework, please answer the following questions:

                 ~ What is redemption?

                 ~ What do you think life in jail is like? 

                 ~ Watch the video below about the jail where Tookie Williams spent 29 years and                            write down if your prediction about jail life was correct

                 ~ Watch the videos below and answer this question: did you learn something new                             about jails. 

Tuesday: We will continue to watch the movie redemption.  Please answer the following questions for Wednesday: 

     1.  Why did Tookie start the Crips?

     2.  How can you shoot, hit, or stab someone that looks just like you?

     3.  Do you think Tookie should have been taken off of death row for his work with youth?   

Wednesday: We will continue to watch Redemption and re-watch the video above on prison statistics.  

     1.  Please watch the video above and write down one facts you learned.  

Thursday:  Today we will be doing current events

     1.  Please read a newspaper article and write about it.  Include all of the 5 W's.  

Friday: Today we will continue to watch redemption.  Check back here for homework.  

Holla back.  

Mr. Wilson 

Current Events week of 2-17-09

I will begin to post current events each week up here.  Check it out. 

To watch a video of what's going on this week, check out This Week In Rap.  Click here to watch the video.  

I'm a big fan of Democracy Now.  We watch this in class sometimes.  It is a TRUE newscast that let's you know what's really good.  It comes on every day.  To watch it click here.  

2/18/09 - President Obama sent 17.000 troops to Afghanistan yesterday.  What was he thinking?  To read and watch about it, click here.  

Genocide in Rwanda

Hey ladies and gentlemen, 

Do you know anything about genocide?  Genocide is when a group of people is killed in order to get rid of all of the people in that group.  For example, if all African Americans were to be killed that would be considered a genocide.  

In 1994, in Rwanda, Africa, over 1 million people were killed in 100 days.  

                             Watch this :

READ THIS: Click on read this 

Crazy stuff right?  If you have anything to say about the video, please click the title now and submit a post.  

After you have some background knowledge about the genocide of Rwanda.  I want you to go to the Reach the World website and read the logbook.  Post a comment if you'd like. 

Also, if you have time, go to the Kigale Memorial Center and learn more about the Rwandan genocide.  

Holla Back 

Mr. Wilson 

Welcome to our Blog :)

This is our new blog spot. Here you can post comments, ask questions, and make your voice heard about important issues we are studying (or not) in social studies. This works just like myspace. First, read what I have posted. Then, go to the link (if there is one). You can also post a comment on the blog by clicking the title.  Try that now.  Click the title and post a comment.  ONLY WRITE YOUR FIRST NAME AND LAST INITIAL.  sign in as a name/url.    

Start off by exploring this space. Learn how to NAVIGATE around here.

Holla back
Mr. Wilson