Images for Thought and a Fun Video for a Good Cause

Here are two things I came across that I thought were worth viewing. They have nothing to do with what we are studying.

First up, the "Fallen Princess" photos series. You can view the entire set of images here.


A video to raise awareness about Breast Cancer Awareness month, featuring "Down" by Jay Sean.

Our Biography / Autobiography Unit - Part 1 Learning About Someone Else

Developing Greatness: Part 1 Biography & Autobiography
Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches

Essential Questions: How do people change? How do we become who we are?

Assignments:
 Select and read a biography or autobiography;
o Justification for Choice
 Create a PowerPoint presentation with information you have learned;
 Create a VoiceThread about the person you researched

Schedule:
Jan. 18 No School
19 Learn about Biographies and Autobiographies –Begin selecting a book (LMC)(Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
20/21 Select your book and begin reading. Set up a Citation Page
(Reminder on how to cite images & books)(LMC)(Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
22 Time to read.Due: Write out a justification of why you choose your person. Paragraph minimum.(LMC)
25 Time to Read
26 Create Slides 1-3 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide.(LMC)
27/28 Time to Read
29 Time to Read
February 1 Create Slides 4-6 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide. (LMC)
2 Time to Read
3 / 4 Create Slides 7-9 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide.(LMC)
5 Introduction to VoiceThread (Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
8 Finish PowerPoint and Begin VoiceThread. Due: Printout of completed PowerPoint
(LMC)
9-12 Work on your VoiceThread (LMC)

Developing Greatness: Part 1 Biography & Autobiography
Your PowerPoint Presentation
Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches

Goal & Rationale:
I would like you to create a PowerPoint presentation about your findings from your reading. I have structured this set of assignments to help focus your efforts while reading and researching your person. I have spread out the due dates to help discourage procrastination.

Slide Content:
 The actual content of what will go on each slide is very minimal.
o You will be talking behind each slide so you won’t need a lot of information on the slide.

 You should have an image or two
o Think about including pictures, maps, etc.

 A few bulleted points that suggest what you are going to talk about.
o No more than 6 bullet points on a slide

 You will need to create handout notes that include a script about what you will say with each slide.
o You will use this when you create your VoiceThread. I expect these notes to be turned in with your slides.

 I also expect you to update your citation page each time you turn in a set of slide handouts


Slide 1- Title Page

Slide 2- Brief Biographical Summary
 Who is this person?
 Why is he/she important/significant?

Slide 3- Social and environmental aspects, demands or exigencies of time period and places in which they found themselves.
 What events of his/her time period shaped them?
 What human qualities were most influential in shaping the way this person lived and influenced his or her times?
 Was he/she impacted significantly by any technology?

Slide 4- What were their dreams/goals/aspirations?
 Which quality or trait was most beneficial?
 Many people act out of a "code" or a set of beliefs which dictate choices. It may be religion or politics or a personal philosophy. To what extent did your person act by a code or act independently of any set of beliefs? Were there times when the code was challenged and impossible to follow?

Slide 5- What difficulties/road blocks did he/she encounter?
 How did he/she deal with them?
 How did they impact him/her?
 Which quality or trait proved most troubling and difficult?
 Did this person make any major mistakes or bad decisions? If so, what were they and how would you have chosen and acted differently if you were in their shoes?

Slide 6- What were the significant changes in his/her life?
How did these changes affect him/her?

Slide 7- How did this person become who he/she is?
 Some people say you can judge the quality of a person's life by the enemies they make. Do you think this is true of your person's life? Explain why or why not.

Slide 8- Who helped/assisted/encouraged your person?
 An older person or mentor is often very important in shaping the lives of gifted people by providing guidance and encouragement. To what extent was this true of your person? Explain.

Slide 9- What is to be learned from this person?
 What are the three or four of the most important lessons you or any other young person might learn from the way this person lived?
 What do you think it means to be a hero? Was your person a "hero?" Why? Why not? How is a hero different from a celebrity?
Slide 10- Citation Page
 Written Text
 Images
 Electronic Information


Many of the subpoints used in this assignment were borrowed from http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/QUEST.HTM

What Motivates Us? A Thoughtful Video by Daniel Pink

Here's a thought provoking video that I hope you will enjoy:

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Advice for Your Future

As a means of welcoming you to your last semester of high school, I'd like you consider the following video:


This is an exciting, albeit a little scary, time in your life. This semester will present you with challenges in ways you have not experienced before.

Be thoughtful about your actions. Try to make choices that will benefit you in the long run. You will likely be tempted to make this a very social time in your life. Ditching class or blowing off assignments can have pretty big impacts. Some of you will make choices that will result in your not being in the Class of 2010. Vow to not be one of those unfortunate folks. Make choices that you will be proud of later on.

Some of your relationships will become stronger. Others may crumble. Still others, often very important or pivotal ones, may become stressed or strained. Understand that those who love you may be both excited for you, and sad or scared for themselves. They may worry that you will not need them anymore. Those people will need your sympathy and understanding, even as they provoke anger in you. Try to be kind and understand where they are coming from - it probably comes from loving you so much. Try to treat them in the way you would like to be treated.

Most importantly, try to remember the wonderful and remarkable things about yourself. This can be a time of doubt. No one knows everything. Everyone makes mistakes. Even if you think you know where you are going and what you are going to do, chances are your life is headed is some directions you can't even imagine, yet. Act intelligently. Make good choices. Be the very person that your dog or your younger cousin thinks you are. Believing in yourself, even if it feels like you are faking it, is the first step to a great future!