Baraka: Documentary showing Culture

A fellow teacher suggested the documentary Baraka for my Geography class.  I haven't been able to watch the documentary yet but I wanted to keep track of this suggestion.

I think I found the movie online at this link: http://documentaryheaven.com/baraka/

OR

she said that Baraka is at the Orem Library as well.

I'll have to look in to it soon!

Maps for Map Tests

Here is a great website that has maps designed for map tests!

The maps are just an outline and every country is numbered.

Creating Maps

PROBLEM:

Since I am teaching Geography this semester, I have been on a search for the perfect map.  I can never seem to find the perfect map.  Sometimes I want the grid system on the map. Sometimes I need a scale. Sometimes I want the countries' names to appear.  Sometimes I don't.  I am never quite satisfied.

SOLUTION:

National Geographic's Mapmaker!  You can design a map to have the features that you want it to and then download and print.

Life just got a lot easier.

Longitude and Latitude Rap

The same teacher that made this rap of the 5 Themes of Geography, made a rap for Latitude and Longitude.  It is hilarious. (The video may take a while to open.)

If I had tons of time one day, I would like to type up the words to the rap so students could follow along as they watch the video.  They could then refer back to the lyrics later to remember latitude and longitude.

5 Themes of Geography

Maddie, my fellow student teacher at Timpview, found this hilarious teacher that makes raps to help remember geography ideas.

Here is a rap to the 5 Themes of Geography.  The rap is about 2:30 minutes long and is a pretty catchy tune.

Setting up the US Government in your Classroom

I am currently preparing for a day where I will have students set up the U.S. Government System in the classroom by electing Senators, Representatives, the President and then appointing Supreme Court Justices.

Once students are in this system (they are actually in new seats according to their position in govt), students can propose new bills that could alter the Disclosure Statement (aka Syllabus) to what they want it to be.  The President has to approve the bill and the Supreme Court has to try the bill for constitutionality.  (The teacher has the final veto but can help nudge the students in a good direction throughout the activity)

In this process, students learn how the U.S. Government system works and how to participate in a democracy.  Students also like they are feeling a part of creating classroom policies, and as a result, students will take more ownership of their own actions during the class.

Jeremy Stevenson designed this activity and has used it every time he has taught.  He usually uses this simulation on the 3rd (ish) day of his geography class at the beginning of the year.  This simulation fits in with Jeremy's intro unit because he introduces government systems during the first unit.  However, this activity could also be used in any class, especially a US Govt class or a US History class.

This is the link to a more detailed explanation.

While preparing for this activity, I came across this short 2 minute video about campaigning for the White House.  This clip is especially great because it helps students learn about current events (as we are in the middle of the campaigning process for 2012) as well as understand how running for President really does work in the U.S.

Here is the video:

And here is the link: http://cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2012/01/12/eitm-running-for-president.cnn

Photos: Rare look inside Sudan

CNN posted photos of Syria claiming that it is a rare look into the country.

Go check it out here!