O' Canada

Here are the links for 12/3/08

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

http://educationcanada.com/facts/

More on "We are Marshall"

Behind the Scenes

Actor Interviews

Here is a little more background on the movie we watched in class.

For character and movie info go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758794/

Landform In a Box 2008

The "Landform in a Box" project will require students to use sand, rocks, foam, and other materials to create a landform in a shoe box. An example is on display in class.
A landform is a feature of a planet's surface, such as an island, mesa, volcano, mountain, waterfall, peninsula, swamp, or valley. (etc...)

This project is due on Friday, October 24th.






Here are some links to landforms on the internet
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/landforms.htm
http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/efs/land.htm
http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/public/students/activities/landformations/

Battle at Kruger

Here is a link to the video we watched in class today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

Chapter 1 Notes

The PowerPoint with notes from chapter 1 can be downloaded from the orange box.net widget on the right-hand column. A Geographer's World.ppt

New School Year

Welcome back to another wonderful year at Bluefield Middle School. If you are on this site it must mean that you are in my seventh grade world geography class. I just want to let you know that this is going to be a very interesting year, and I hope you are up to the challenge. Throughout the course of the year we are going to work on several different types of projects that will require you to work with your hands, think critically, and work cooperatively with your peers. I am excited to see how creative each and every one of you are in your approach to learning this year, and I hope you are just as excited.

As one of your first assignments I would like you to contact me via email (homework@mikemccormick.net) or MySpace (Mr. McCormick), and let me know who you are and what class period you are in. Communication is a key part in knowing and understanding what is going on around you and in this class I am all about helping you become more geographically aware.

Example:

Mr. McCormick,
This is John Smith and I am in your 1st period class. I missed class on Monday and wanted to know if I had any work to makeup.

Thanks,
John

Note to parents: If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call the school or email me personally.

Mr. McCormick

Have a good spring break

Be safe over the holiday break, and I'll see you back in class in 10 days.

Mr. Mc

The Three Branches of the US Government

Here are some links to more information on the brances of government

• http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_threebranches.htm
• http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/federal.shtml
• http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/teacher_lessons/3branches/1.htm

I'm ok, its just a level 4 concussion

It looks like I'm going to be out for a few days. Small accident @ baseball practice.

• Level 4 concussion
• Sprained wrist
• Cracked elbow
• 5 stitches
• Big knot on my head
  

The Spatial Perspective Project

It has come to my attention that there is some confusion about our next project. The idea behind the Spatial Perspective project is to better understand the structure of our global society by evaluating and exploring the interconnections between people, places, and their environment. As a presenter, it is your job to express to the class what your perspective is on our community, by showing and sharing with them your interconnections and ties to the community. To understand your place in the community, you must first at yourself and answer the following questions:

1. What/where is home?
2. What is your role in this classroom, school, community, and society?
3. How do you define your region?
4. How are you connected to…?
5. How is our community different than that of (another community)?
6. How is our community similar to that of (another community)?

By answering these questions and discussing them with others in your family, you will begin to understand how you are connected to the community and others within it. Self-reflection is an essential step in developing an understanding of perspective. The goal of this inquiry is to develop a 3-6 minute presentation on how you view the community and are connected to it. The presentation may take any format that you feel comfortable with. It could be something as simple as a speech to the class using note cards or an elaborate video presentation that you have compiled. The information should be familiar to you because it is about how you connect to others. The reason I am giving such a long period of time is not because this is a difficult project, but I wanted to give as much time as possible for those students who need the time to create, edit, or modify digital content like videos or picture slideshows.

If you do not have a computer at home to work on this project, you may come during advisory time to work in my room or simply ask you advisory teacher to use their computer. There are also a few online sites that will allow you to create, edit, and share presentations online.

http://www.zoho.com/

http://docs.google.com/

http://www.onetruemedia.com/

http://voicethread.com/

Did you Know 2.0

Pearl Harbor - Extended

Your assignment is to get in groups of 3-4 and write a news magazine story about Pearl Harbor as though you were living at the time. You can write a general article about the attack or one from the perspective of military or medical personnel. You could also write an article from a Japanese perspective. (finish as homework)

Rubric

Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate your work during this lesson.

3 points: I wrote an informative, creative article, and were able to apply what happened at Pearl Harbor to the present day.

2 points: I wrote a competent article, and made some comparisons between what happened at Pearl Harbor and the present day.

1 point: I wrote an article with gaps and misunderstandings, and had a hard time applying what happened at Pearl Harbor to the present day.

Additional articles for further research:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/pearl/transcript.htm

http://www.execpc.com/~dschaaf/phraner.html

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-3b.htm

http://www.ibiscom.com/pearl.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/pearl.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Pearl/Medical.html

http://www.navsource.org/Naval/arph.htm

Pearl Harbor

After listening to President Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Day message to joint session of Congress asking for a declaration of war with Japan, take a moment to reflect on the situation and then respond to the following questions. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm

1. What did President Roosevelt mean when he said that December 7, 1941 would be a date that would live in infamy?

Synonyms for Infamy - abomination, atrocity, bad reputation, disapprobation, discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, enormity, evil, ignominy, immorality, impropriety, notoriety, notoriousness, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, outrageousness, scandal, shame, stigma, villainy, and wickedness. http://thesaurus.reference.com/

2. How does this speech compare to George W. Bush’s speech to the nation after 9/11? http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gwbush911addresstothenation.htm

Make your own test

This is your chance to put yourselves in my shoes, and make your own test for chapter 8, Mexico. Every student is going to come up with their own questions for the test. I will take all of the questions and pick the best 20-25 questions for the test. Hint – don’t make them too easy or too hard, or I won’t use them.

Format for the questions,

2 true or false

2 multiple choice

2 short answer

2 fill in the _______

It’s your turn to be the teacher,

Mr. Mc

The Whistle is Back

I know you guys were heartbroken when I lost my whistle a few weeks ago, but don't worry my wife and I went to Dick's Sporting goods in Charleston to get a new one. I just hope you haven't forgotten what it sounds like

Mr Mc

Notebook check Tomorrow

Items required for the notebook check.

Vocabulary for chapters 7 and 8
Climate Regions Map (USA)
Canada Map
Footsteps in Canadian History Timeline
Guided Reading Worksheets 8.1-8.2
Map of Mexico
Section 1 Notes (physical features, natural resources, and climate)


ps. there will be a map quiz later this week - more details later.

Extra Credit

Since we are studying Mexico and it is the beginning of the holiday season, I am offering extra credit to anyone willing to memorize and perform the Jose Feliciano Spanish inspired classic Feliz Navidad. You will have a chance to earn your point the last day of class before the holiday break. Here are the lyrics. Enjoy!

Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano y Felicidad.

Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano y Felicidad.

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart.

[Repeats]

I Met Ponch

Charleston, WV

Erica Estrada was in Charleston today promoting Internet safety and protection from online predators, when he was attacked by an onslaught of WV teachers in the lobby of the Marriott. Ponch had to fight his way through a sea of senior teachers throwing nametags (among other things) for him to sign.

Mexico

Today we started our unit on Middle and South America. So far, we have read and completed a worksheet for chapter 8 section 1. We have also filled out a map of Mexico locating the following items:

The states of Mexico 163
Gulf of Mexico
Bay of Campeche
Gulf of California
Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Tehuantepec
Sierra Madre Del Sur
Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Oriental
Rio Bravo
Mt. Orizaba
Yucatan Peninsula
Baja California
Mexico City
Ciudad Juarez

ps. Don't forget to start working on your vocabulary terms for chapter 8. Just add them to your running vocabulary list in your notebook.

Thanks,
Mr. Mc

Test Friday

Hey guys, don't forget to complete your study guide today, because your test is tomorrow. I know you all will do fine if you study.

Later,
Mr. Mc