WEBCAM FROM THE SOUTH POLE!

Today is Saturday, October 10, 2009

Did you know that if you were down in the South Pole today, it would be about -67 degrees F and with the wind chill it would feel more like -103 degrees F...Whew, now that's cold! Click on the podcast below to hear and see more interesting facts about what it's like way way down in the deep South Pole! Find the podcast called The South Pole on my blogger page and watch it to learn more about the U.S. Station in Antarctica. For more information you can click on the link below to explore more interesting facts about all of this. And last but not least, as always, when you are all done please come back and leave a comment under today's blog posting...as always...blog onward soldiers!!!
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CONTINUING WITH THE "CORPS OF DISCOVERY"

Today is Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Yesterday's posting (see below) was the beginning of "Thinking like a Geographer". We had to get in the right "mindset" so that we could begin to understand what it was like for "pre-Lewis and Clark" expedition. Today will watch some more of "The Corps of Discovery" and pay particular attention to the scenery in which you will see some physical and human characteristics of a place (the second theme of Geography). You will see rolling hills, plains and valleys and many different species of plants and animals that are very familiar to us but were unknown to the crew of the Lewis and Clark expedition! However, before we begin with the continuation of the journey, please go to yesterday's posting and finish up section 1 answers in your Google Docs and move on to section 2. The good news is that I was able to send a copy of the chart that you can actually edit to your gmail account! That was shared with me from a student in period 3/4....Thanks to Dave M. for that!
Before you go, leave a comment below this posting and share with me one thing you liked about yesterday's video segment! You can use your number that was assigned to you at the beginning of the year or your initials before your comment. Blog onward soldiers and keep working hard!

INTO THE UNKNOWN-Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery

Lesson 1- Uncharted Territory
Think about a place where no one has ever been. (Perhaps the bottom of the ocean, or another galaxy) What do you know about these places? Are there preconceived ideas you have about them? Is information available about these sites? Have you been able to see these sites even if no one has visited them? How do we obtain information about these places?
Today, you are going to think about how you would prepare for a journey to a location where no one has ever been and/or for which there is limited information. Do you think that myths about the place might dissuade you from visiting it or entice you to explore?
Click on the following link http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/class/l01.html and Click on Section 1 of the Activity sheet and answer the questions in your Google docs. Then proceed to part 2 of this blog posting.
Part 2
Even though people already lived in the region where Lewis and Clark visited, to the European people who had settled the eastern United States, the American West was a mysterious place.
Think about what Lewis and Clark must have imagined about their journey-particularly places they would visit-before they embarked upon it. Click on the following link http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/idx_cir.html Read the information that was available to the Lewis and Clark expedition before they went on their journey and then click on Section 2 of the activity sheet and answer it in google docs.
Part 3
Click on the following link http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/archive/map2_b.html and look at "The Route of the Corps of Discovery" map to see where the expedition went before watching some of the movie.

DOING MORE

Today is Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Some people say the best way to treat a nation that opposes the U.S. is to isolate it and prevent normal relations, including trade. Others say the best way is to open up relations, trade, and travel, believing that closer relations will bring change. Think about the pros and cons of each theory and then write which method you think is best for U.S.-Cuba relations and why...
As always...happy blogging soldiers!!!