Block G - Integrated Studies > working towards essential questions

After listening to more Fair trade presentations,  we spent one class this week working on creating questions for Inquiry. The project planner #1 (found on Google classroom) needs to be ready for Monday in your A block classes as we will be fine tuning those questions. Remember that taking time to research your topic can help you to create the big essential question

Block G & A - Integrated Studies 8 > Fair trade presentations and intro to final Inquiry

Today, only one group was prepared to present in Block G. Thanks Lynna, Precious and Ria.  Block A we were able to get through 3 groups (thanks to you all!). We will definitely have the rest of the groups going next class.

The remainder of the class was spent on informing ourselves on the new Inquiry (info sheet is on Moodle page).  After reading it over quickly, everyone was given a second handout:  Final Inquiry - Getting Ideas ( on Moodle as well), to work on for the rest of the period (It will help for coming up with ideas for your inquiry).

Block G - Integrated Studies 8 > Fair Trade assignment group work

Today was one of the final sessions to work together as a group.  Everyone should be prepared to present their information on Thursday which means there needs to be time to practice before that day. Please be sure you are prepared.

Block G - Integrated Studies 8 > Fair Trade Chocolate - What is Fair?

We finally were able to go back and talk some more about chocolate, this time focusing on the idea of Fair trade (going back to Topic 30 on Moodle - talking chocolate). We worked through parts III, IV and V which involved defining Fair trade, and mapping the countries who produce fair trade chocolate.

Part IV on Web surfing, helps us to understand what the non fair trade countries are doing. This will need to be completed for Thursday.

Block G - Integrated Studies 8 > Getting behind on my own posts.

I am a little behind with my posts but here it goes.

This week we started with learning a little bit about Chocolate and where it is grown in the world which will hopefully lead us to connecting to trade. There is a brief lesson on Moodle under Topic 30.

From here, we moved on to refreshing our skills on finding quality sources by using Google Scholar and taking part in an activity, analyzing articles on Bees and pesticides. Topic 31 on Moodle.

Lastly, we started taking some of the sources we found on Chocolate and were going to list them in proper citation format, APA, which will help us in creating a references list using Bibme.org (Topic 32 on Moodle). Continue to work on these citations and we will double check them next class.

A & G - Integrated Studies 8 > Trading simulation

With a limited amount of time, students were placed into groups representing a specific country and participated in a simulation where they had to trade specified goods.  Everyone was very involved having to deal with new trade situations and the price of goods increasing or dropping.

Remember to finish and submit the reflection questions found under Topic 29 on Moodle.

A & G - Integrated Studies > Reviewing the Silk Road and reviewing Bibliographies

We quickly went over the information on our Silk Road tour and trying to draw comparisons to the cities. The remainder of the class was spent on reviewing  Bibliographies since we are still having trouble with listing sources.

G & A - Integrated Studies 8 > Silk Road tour & price of sugar

Students added one more city to their work on the Silk Road virtual tour.  The remainder of the class was spent starting the documentary, THE PRICE OF SUGAR.

Next class, we will go over the tour information and talk about what we have seen so far in the documentary.

G & A - Integrated Studies > Silk Road Tour

Students learned about the Silk Road back in the Middle Ages that connected Europe to Asia and opened up trading. The period was spent going on a virtual tour to various stops on the road and compiling information like products, influence on Cultures and today.

Silk road virtual tour

G & A - Integrated Studies 8 > Globalization and the Effect of Trade

Following current events, we participated in an activity where we saw pictures of food products and had to guess which countries were the top exporters of that item. The activity helped us to see how large trade has grown over time and how we get many of our popular products as imports.  This helped us to understand the idea of globalization.

Globalization: the process by which businesses, organizations or governments develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.  This process is driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology

We will continue with this topic next class. In the meantime, trade assignments are due next class.

G&A - Integrated Studies 8 > Researching on global trade networks (past and present)

Today, everyone was given a work session to complete the assignment on Global trade networks in Middle Ages and today. Don't forget to make a bibliography of your sources.

G & A - Integrated Studies 8 > Moving on to Mapping early trade routes in the Middle Ages

We worked on and quickly reviewed an activity on trade routes in the Middle ages, noting principal commercial centers, trade fair locations and trade routes. Next, the focus will be on a trading network assignment, chosing a country and city in the Middle Ages and comparing the past to the present.

For next class, everyone should finish the first 3 questions on the Middle ages section of the assignment.

G & A - Integrated Studies 8 > Trying to Analyze Primary sources

Following the Current Events presentation and review of the mapping activity, we formed small groups to try to analyze Primary source documents on the Black Plague. Please remember to finish the questions and summary for next class. (refer to Moodle)

G & A - Integrated Studies > a quick look at the Black plague

This class was cut short so there is a lot of work to do at home. We quickly reviewed the summarizing activity on the Middle Ages and took a quick look at maps of Old Paris in the Middle Ages, discussing trade. After watching a short music video, we learned about the Black Plague.

Refer to Moodle under Topic 22 in order to help you finish the Black Plague mapping activity.

Also, please double check your date for Current events.

A & G - Integrated Studies 8 > Building structures

The class spent the class in small groups with the challenge of building the tallest structure, mainly composed of straws, that could support a softball. Everyone worked well in groups, trying to use their critical and creative side to meet the challenge.

For next class, make sure that you are signed up for the Current events presentations.

G - SS 8 > Summarizing and Fake news

Students completed the summarizing activity on the Amelia Earhart article, choosing the most vital info to report. We moved on to talking about "fake news", how to detect it.

Don't forget to sign up for your Current events presentation day by going to the Moodle entry.

G - Integrated Studies 8> Assessment & Questioning

The first half of the class focused on preparing for Assessment week next week. Everyone has an assessment form that needs to be filled out before conferencing in class. It is important to review the learning levels, then the assignments you have done to determine what you feel you deserve. You need to provide evidence of the work you have to explain your choice.  (Assessment sheet under Topic 17)

The second half dealt with the process of refining questions for Inquiry. We did not finish the lesson so the task is to choose your favorite question or two. From there, following the rules for refining questions (sheet on Moodle), take the question and refine it.  Place the new question on the refined question document on the Moodle entry, under Topic 17.

All the work is found on Moodle.

G - Integrated Studies > Determining the new theme for Inquiry

Everyone participated in a number of activities in small groups while trying to determine what the activities all have in common.  The theme was Connection.  WE will continue forward with the theme next class.

Remember to get all your info into Moodle for the Energy project.

G - Integrated Studies > Finishing storybooks

Today was the last work period for the storybooks.  Due on Monday. Remember to finish the Moodle sections to submit the bibliography and notes for the project and Video reflection.

G - Integrated Studies 8 > Finishing videos and more

We managed to finish the remainder of the Energy Inquiry videos. There are a few videos that cannot be viewed so setttings and access need to be changed. Everyone was reminded to submit your bibliography and research notes through Moodle. Also, complete the video reflection on there as well.


2 more things. Come with your top two choices for videos to next class. Also, looking for activity volunteers at the open house.