The Lottery

What did you think of the film The Lottery? Did you make any connections to your own life? Do you have any questions? Why do you think getting into the Harlem Success Academy was so important to their families? Please write at least four sentences and make sure that each sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period. Sentences should not start with and, or, but, or because.

When you are finished you can write a new blog post about whatever you choose.

What are you proud of? - Prompt

What have you learned or accomplished in Globaloria this year that you are the most proud of? Please write at least four sentences. Sentences should start with a capital letter and end with a period. Remember never to start sentences with and, or, but, or because.

What are you reading?

Please create a new post and write at least four sentences about the book or book you are currently reading. What is happening in the book? What do you like most about it? What connections can you make from the book to your own life? What do you think is going to happen next?


Remember to start each sentence with a capital letter and end with a period. Sentences should not start with and, or, because, or but.


If you finish early, you may write another new post about whatever you choose.

New Schedule - Prompt

How do you feel about your new classes and your new schedule? Please write 4 sentences describing your thoughts and feelings about the change. Remember to start each sentence with a capital letter and end with a period. Sentences should not start with and, or, because, or but.

Imagining your game - Prompt

Remind yourself of the topic you chose for your game in Choosing a Topic. Imagine and describe one game idea that incorporate your topic into the genre you wrote about yesterday.

Genre - Prompt

What genre is your favorite? State one fact that you learned about that genre.

Friday Checklist - November 19, 2010

1. Answer the following prompt in a blog post of at least 4 sentences: Please tell me about a book you are reading. I would like to know what book you are reading, why you chose it, and also please tell me what is happening in the book so far.

2. Make sure you have completed all of your blog posts for this six weeks:

1. Challenges (10/11/2010)
2. Blue Gold (10/12/2010)
3. Choosing a Topic (10/13/2010)
4. Student Choice (10/15/10)
5. Nutrition (10/19/2010)
6. Communication (10/20/2010) - Date may vary
7. Student Choice (10/22/2010) - Extra Credit
8. Weekly Blog 1 (10/25/2010-10/29/2010)
9. Weekly Blog 2 (11/2/2010-11/6/2010)
10. Mini Game (11/9/2010)
11. The Diary of Anne Frank (11/10/2010)
12. What Are You Reading? 1 (11/11/2010)
13. Into the Arms of Strangers (11/17/2010) 6A, 6B, 6C only
14. What Are You Reading? 2 (11/19/2010)

Read over them and check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Each blog post should be at least four sentences, and every sentence should start with a capital letter and end with a period. You will not get credit for sentences that start with and, or, but, or because. Check my blog posts for the prompts.

2. Make sure you have posted every step of the Mini Game Project (4 MAJOR GRADES!) that you have completed on your projects page on the wiki. I will be grading Steps 1-4, and giving extra credit to those who have completed Steps 5-7.

3. Make sure all of your learning logs have been completed.

What are you reading?

Please tell me about a book you are reading. I would like to know what book you are reading, why you chose it, and also please tell me what is happening in the book so far.

The Diary of Anne Frank - Prompt

What are your thoughts on the film The Diary of Anne Frank? Please add on to the Anne Frank post you have already started. Your post must be at least four sentences. When you finish writing please look up the answers to any questions you have in Wikipedia and add to your post to reflect anything else you have learned. Add any links that you find interesting to your post.

Here is one that I found that you can explore: Anne Frank Museum

Here is a video of her father, Otto Frank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWRBinP7ans

Mini Game - Prompt

What has been your favorite part of the Mini Game project so far? What has been your least favorite part? What would you like to learn so that you can add to your Mini Game? Please write at least four sentences.

Friday Checklist

Make sure you have finished all of the assignments for the week:
1. Weekly Blog - Your blog should be 15-20 sentences long and describe in detail what you have learned this week. You may also write about what successes you have had, what challenges you have had, or what more you would like to learn in the future. Make sure ALL of your sentences start with a capital letter and end with a period, none of your sentences start with and, or, but, or because, and you are NOT writing in ALL CAPS.

2. Complete your learning log. You should have a topic name (short), date, hours spent, and detailed comments about what you have learned.

3. Complete Steps 1-4 of the Mini Game Project

4. Upload your .fla and .swf files of steps 1-4 to your projects page on the wiki (we will do this together).

Weekly Blog

What have you been working on in Globaloria this week? What successes have you had this week? What has been hard or challenging? What are you most looking forward to learning? How do you feel about what you have learned?

You can also check out the next step on the mini game project and write about what you think of it. Does it look easy/hard/fun/interesting?


Make sure you are adding 3-4 sentences to your blog post every day. Every sentence should start with a capital letter and end with a period. Sentences should not start with and, or, but, or because. Do not write in ALL CAPS (this indicates to your reader that you are yelling.)

Friday Checklist

Today you need to make sure you have completed all of your assignments for the week.

1. Weekly Blog - Your blog should be 15-20 sentences long and multiple paragraphs. Each sentence should start with a capital letter and end with a period. DO NOT start sentences with and, or, because, or but. DO NOT write in ALL CAPS! Have a friend read over your post to check for clarity and spelling.

2. Make sure you have completed all your learning logs for this week. Every day should have a topic name (for example - Social Issues or Internet Research), date, hours spent on the activity, and comments about what you have learned. The comments should be descriptive (for example - We watched a movie called Paper Clips and I learned that during the Holocaust Hitler murdered 6 million Jewish people because of their religion.)

3. Take notes on your social issue. Use the links from the Social Issue page on the Wiki and try to find as much information as possible. You should have notes from at least four different sources (websites).

4. Type your notes in Blogger or on the Wiki.

5. Post a free choice blog about whatever you want.

Weekly Blog - Prompt

Starting this week we will be posting only one blog per week. In your weekly blog, you will be reflecting on what you have learned throughout the week. Since we are working on Internet research this week, you can start off today by reflecting on what you have learned about your topic or in Globaloria so far, or what you would like to learn this week to help you with your game idea.

Friday Choice

Today you may write about whatever you choose. Make sure your blog post is at least 4 sentences. Each sentence should start with a capital letter and end with a period. Sentences should never start with and, or, because, or but.

Communication - Prompt

Using the Internet is all about communication. What are some ways that the Internet is used for communication? Which do you think is the most important and why?

Slowing Down

This video is about the "Slow Food" movement and ways people are changing the way they eat.

Nutrition - Prompt

This month we have been discussing ways food can impact our lives. What are some things you can do to change the way you eat to live a healthier life and help keep the planet healthy? Why do you feel these things are important?

Student Choice

Today you may write about whatever you choose. Please remember to capitalize the first letter of every sentence and end with a period. Sentences should not start with or, but, and, or because. Each post must be at least four sentences long and you will only receive credit for complete sentences with the correct punctuation. Please go back and check your earlier posts to make sure each post has four complete sentences.

STEM Challenge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG4W5a-aeds
http://www.marioarmstrong.com/blog/
http://www.stemchallenge.org/

Comments

Today is your chance to add to any blogs you have worked on this week or to comment on your classmates' blogs. Take a look at what your classmates topics are. Is anyone doing the same topic as you? Are there any topics that you think are really interesting?

Choosing a Topic - Prompt

What topic have you chosen for your research? Why is this topic important to you?

Blue Gold - Prompt

What are your thoughts on the film Blue Gold? What did you learn from watching the film? Were there any things about water that surprised you?

Challenges - Prompt

What has been your biggest challenge so far in Globaloria? What have you done to overcome it? What other challenges have you faced so far this year?

Friday - Prompt

Today your blog post can be about whatever you want, but make sure that you are doing your best writing. Once you are done, have a neighbor or a friend proofread your post and make any changes if necessary. The first letter of every sentence should be capitalized, every sentence should have a period, and sentences should not start with or, because, and, or but.

Comments

If you have finished all of your posts for the week, you may go to other students' blogs and read them and post friendly, supportive comments. Here are some things to look for: Do they start each sentence with a capital and end with a period? Does each post have at least 4 sentences? Are they capitalizing words that should be capitalized and not capitalizing other words? Sentences should not start with because, and, but, or or.

Most Meaningful Movie - Prompt

Which of the movies that we have seen in class meant the most to you? Did one of them change your thoughts or inspire you in some way? Did one of them give you an idea about a social issue that you would like to learn more about? Please explain your thoughts.

Science Games Links

You may play any of these science games but you must write a short blog post about each game you play.

Energyville
Plan It Green
Flex Your Power Challenge
The Great Green Web Game
Energy Hog
Energy Quest
Science Channel Games
Science Monster
EPA Climate Change
Science Games for Kids
Element Concentration
Energy Kids Games
Game Central
Engaging Science Games
Water Cycle
Virtual Farm

Dirt! The Movie - Prompt

What did you learn from watching Dirt! The Movie? How was Dirt! The Movie similar or different from Food, Inc.? Which one did you like better? Please explain why.

Picture Pages

Urban Roots Farm

Urban Roots is a farm in East Austin where high school students can work and learn about farming and healthy food. Here is a short video about their project.

Boggy Creek Farm

Boggy Creek Farm is an organic farm in East Austin. Here is a short documentary about the farm made by film students at the University of Texas.

What's Wrong With Our Food System

Here is video of an eleven year old telling some things that are wrong with the food system. It is very interesting and he even mentions a farmer who looks familiar!

Student Choice

Today you choose what you would like to blog about. Your blog post must be at least four sentences. You may try adding pictures from one of the copyright free websites but make sure to tell where you got the picture from. If you were absent during the week or did not finish an earlier post, you should use this time to finish up those posts. If you have finished your work you can watch the videos that I posted on my blog.

Comments - Prompt

Today you will spend some time reading each other's blogs and commenting on them. If you have not finished one of the prompts from Monday or Wednesday, you should finish that before doing comments. Please spend the entire time looking at blogs. You should not be looking at videos or customizing your blog during this time.

Food Inc. - Prompt

What do you remember most from the film Food, Inc.? Please explain some of your thoughts about the movie.

Food Inc.

Take Part and Food Inc.
Sustainable Food Center

Back to School Night - Prompt

Tonight is back to school night. What is one thing you have learned or accomplished this year that you would like to share with your family? Please explain. It does not have to be something from this class.

Your Choice

Happy Friday! Today you can write about whatever you want. Make sure your post is at least four sentences long and you use spell-check. Also remember that sentences should not start with because, and, or but.

Comments - Prompt

Is your blog easy to read? Make sure you are choosing colors that make it easier for people to read your blog. Check out some of your classmates’ blogs to see how easy it is for you to see the letters and read what they have written.

Social Issues Part 2 - Prompt

What have you learned about social issues so far this week? Please share some of your thoughts.

Comments - Prompt

Look at some of your classmates blogs and check to see if they are starting sentences with a capital letter and ending them with a period. If you find some mistakes, comment on them in a friendly and positive way. If you have not finished your post from yesterday, you can work on that as well.

Take Care of the Environment

One social issue that is very important to me is the environment and how much we need to protect it. Americans are using too many natural resources and throwing away too much waste. People are so obsessed with stuff that they forget that stuff has to go someplace once you are done with it. Not only that, the stuff your stuff comes in has to go someplace. Putting everything in a landfill is not a good solution in my opinion. We need to recycle and come up with better ways to package goods. We also need to stop buying so much stuff. Here is a video that says everything that I have been saying for years.

Sample Game Review

The game that taught me the most about its learning topic was Medical Mysteries. This game explores the topic of preventing and fighting diseases. By playing this game, you can learn what causes diseases and how to prevent them. Medical Mysteries is an adventure game. Adventure games are a good choice for a learning game because the story keeps the player involved and being able to see how what you are learning can help you in the real world is also helpful. The graphics are very good. They reminded me of a comic book or a graphic novel. In most places, it was clear what I needed to do to advance in the game. Most of the time I knew what to do in the game, but there was one part that was confusing to me. There were several doors that I could choose from, but I didn't know what to do after I had gone through each door. Some more instructions and a "back" or "next" button would have been helpful. I would put a "Click Here for Help" button on each page so that the players would never be lost or confused. I would like to know how to have pop-up bubbles to show dialogue between characters. I would also like to know how to use the mouse to control animations.

Social Issues - Prompt

A social issue is something that affects many people at one time. What are some social issues that are important to you? Why are they important?

Your Choice - Prompt

Happy Friday! Today you can write a blog post about whatever you would like to write about. I want to get to know you and what is important to you, so write about something that means a lot to you or that you would like to share. It can be a story about something that happened, or maybe what you would like to do this weekend, or anything else. Have fun!

Happy Birthday, Mario!

I can't believe it has been 25 years since the original Super Mario Brothers game came out. I remember playing it at my friend Sarah's house in elementary school and then going home and begging my parents for a Nintendo. Even though graphics and gaming systems have improved tremendously over the past 25 years, it is great to see that my students know about, have played, and enjoyed Mario also. Even those original games still hold up, which goes to show that a well made game will always have value. Graphics are great and all, but what Mario has a story and characters and as a player you can immerse yourself in his world. I guess it's kind of like classic movies. Even though we have color, HD, 3D, and amazing sound systems, Henry Fonda in one room, in black and white, with no special effects still holds up today.

Game Genres - Prompt

In this class you have had the chance to play games from several genres. Of the six genres we have played in this class (Action, Adventure, Puzzle, Strategy, Sports, and Racing Games) which do you enjoy playing the most? Which kind of game teaches you the most? Please explain your thoughts.

Comments - Prompt

Please read several classmates' blogs and comment on at least two of them. Each comment must be at least two sentences. Please be considerate and positive when making your posts.

My Favorite Game

You have played many video and computer games throughout your life. What are some of your favorites? What do you like about them? What do they have in common?

My favorite video game is King's Quest. It is an adventure game that I loved to play when I was a little kid. It was one of the first strategy adventure games ever and I loved it. There were many games in the series and I had all of them. In order to play the game, you had to type in what you wanted the character to do. There was no mouse or joystick and you had to use the arrow keys to make the character move.

Favorite Game - Prompt

You have played many video and computer games throughout your life. What are some of your favorites? What do you like about them? What do they have in common?

An Inconvenient Truth - Prompt

Last week you watched the film An Inconvenient Truth. What was the film trying to tell you? How does global warming (climate change) affect you?

First Week

My first week as a teacher at EACPA has been full of ups and downs. The kids at EACPA are awesome, but I have been getting frustrated with some of the computer issues we have been having. On the first day of school a lot of my computers were not working, but by Tuesday I had enough of them working for everyone to get a chance to work on a computer. It may not have been the computer I wanted them to work on, but at least they have been on computers. Unfortunately, 6A has had more computer problems than any other class (probably becuase they are first) and they have gotten a little behind. Now we are having issues with gmail which makes me want to hop up and down and scream. All of 6C and most of 6D are able to blog, and hopefully 6A will get started today, but 6B and 6E are stuck. I am very mad at Google for thinking we are spammers and blocking all of our accounts. Today is a new day so I am determined to get everyone blogging if it is the last thing I do.

First Week - Prompt

What did you think of the first week of school at EACPA? What are you looking forward to doing this year? What are you worried about? Is Middle School what you thought it would be?

Welcome to Globaloria

I am very pleased and proud to welcome all sixth graders to the Globaloria community. Globaloria is a global, exploratory, media-making platform where you will learn about many things related to technology. The goal of this class is to increase your technological skills while learning more about math and social issues that you care about. You will have the opportunity to create your own math game that relates to a social issue that you care about. You will learn how to use the MyGLife wiki and Adobe Flash as well as how to blog. You will be able to express yourself and interact with your classmates in new ways. I am very excited to see all of the wonderful games you will create in this class and I am also very excited about all of the things we will be learning together. So let's get started.