And this is why we don't DO the cinnamon challenge. We watch videos of other people trying the cinnamon challenge (and failing every time). Cinnamon is a delicious spice, not a toy. Right, everyone?
(Scout Leader Mode OFF)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Think before you insult
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Immigration to the US
An animation showing the history of immigration to the US.
When was emigration from Norway and other Nordic countries at its highest? Where did the emigrants go? Do you know why they went there?
First-years, we will be covering these questions in our unit on the United States later this term!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Weathering Hurricane Sandy....
Monday, October 22, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Want to Follow the US Presidential Election?
Click on the picture above to go to an easy-to-follow site that shows what the electoral vote would look like, if the election were held today.
Primary Elections Explained
What are primary elections? And why does the US election season go on forever?
I heartily recommend CGP Grey's YouTube videos. Even if he DOES talk faster than me.
I heartily recommend CGP Grey's YouTube videos. Even if he DOES talk faster than me.
How the Electoral College Works
Who really votes for President of the United States? The answer will surprise you!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Welcome (Back)!
Another school year begins! Why are you going to school?
(The last minute or so of this video may not make any sense to you. Don't worry about that!)
(The last minute or so of this video may not make any sense to you. Don't worry about that!)
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
How to Become An Adult
Adulthood is scary. But you know what the best part of it is? Waking up every morning knowing you will never, ever, ever have to be 15 again.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Everythings Amazing & Nobodys Happy
Just for the record, I don't agree that this generation is any more spoiled than any other. But I still think he has some good points!
I do not miss rotary phones. EVERYONE in my town had a 9 in their number, you see....
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
US Election Schedule
You may have noticed that it's election year in the US again.
The general election is not until November, but first, each state will have a primary election or a caucus. Voters will say who they want to be on the ballot in the general election. The Republicans who are campaigning to be the Presidential candidate get the most attention, but Democrats, Republicans, and the smaller parties (often called "third parties" in the US) are holding primaries to choose candidates for many other offices, both national, state, and local. Four states - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida - have already held their primaries or caucuses.
You can find the primary schedule at this link. The general election is November 6th.
The general election is not until November, but first, each state will have a primary election or a caucus. Voters will say who they want to be on the ballot in the general election. The Republicans who are campaigning to be the Presidential candidate get the most attention, but Democrats, Republicans, and the smaller parties (often called "third parties" in the US) are holding primaries to choose candidates for many other offices, both national, state, and local. Four states - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida - have already held their primaries or caucuses.
You can find the primary schedule at this link. The general election is November 6th.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Some useful online tools
And now, for something completely different...
If you have trouble with organizing your time, or remembering what you need to do, I would like to recommend two free online tools that you may find useful. I have no connection to either of them, other than using both happily for some time now.
The first is Google Calendar. Go to http://www.google.no/ or http://www.google.com/ and choose "Kalendar"/"Calendar". If you already have a Google account it should start you automatically. If you don't, you need to make an account, but that is quick and simple. You can set up one-time appointments for things like birthday parties, or repeating appointments for classes and sports practices. Google Calendar can email you or use a pop-up to remind you if you want it. Very flexible and very useful!
Google Calendar can also keep track of your to-do list, but I don't like the way it's set up. Instead I use TeuxDeux, which is nothing but a to-do list. (You need an email address, any email address, to set this up.) You type in what you need to do each day, and cross each item off as you finish. If you don't cross an item off, it will automatically carry over to the next day. So if you forget to do your math homework on Thursday, it will be waiting for you on Friday...
Both are, as I said, free, although if you want TeuxDeux on your iPhone you will have to buy the app. If you use two computers, like I do - one at school and one at home - you can have the same list on both computers. Genius!
Do you have any useful online tools you'd like to share?
If you have trouble with organizing your time, or remembering what you need to do, I would like to recommend two free online tools that you may find useful. I have no connection to either of them, other than using both happily for some time now.
The first is Google Calendar. Go to http://www.google.no/ or http://www.google.com/ and choose "Kalendar"/"Calendar". If you already have a Google account it should start you automatically. If you don't, you need to make an account, but that is quick and simple. You can set up one-time appointments for things like birthday parties, or repeating appointments for classes and sports practices. Google Calendar can email you or use a pop-up to remind you if you want it. Very flexible and very useful!
Google Calendar can also keep track of your to-do list, but I don't like the way it's set up. Instead I use TeuxDeux, which is nothing but a to-do list. (You need an email address, any email address, to set this up.) You type in what you need to do each day, and cross each item off as you finish. If you don't cross an item off, it will automatically carry over to the next day. So if you forget to do your math homework on Thursday, it will be waiting for you on Friday...
Both are, as I said, free, although if you want TeuxDeux on your iPhone you will have to buy the app. If you use two computers, like I do - one at school and one at home - you can have the same list on both computers. Genius!
Do you have any useful online tools you'd like to share?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Bloody Sunday
This Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday tragedy in Londonderry (Derry) in Northern Ireland, when soldiers opened fire on unarmed civil rights demonstrators, killing 13. It is one of the most well-known incidents of The Troubles, a period of political violence in Northern Ireland that began in 1969 and ended in 1998.
Until last year, the people of Derry held a march each year to mark the day. Last year they agreed that there was no longer a need. The British government had admitted the soldiers shot first and the dead were innocent people. This year there was a smaller march simply to mark the anniversary.
Until last year, the people of Derry held a march each year to mark the day. Last year they agreed that there was no longer a need. The British government had admitted the soldiers shot first and the dead were innocent people. This year there was a smaller march simply to mark the anniversary.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Lovings and Racial Segregation
When Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving married in 1958, they had to leave their native state of Virginia and marry in Washington, D.C.
Mildred, you see, was "colored", the name used for what we would call a black or African-American person today, and Richard was white. And in the state of Virginia in 1958, two people of different races could not marry. When they returned to Virginia, they were arrested, tried, and told they would either have to leave Virginia, or separate and serve a term in jail. They chose to move back to Washington, and for years could not even travel to Virginia together to visit their families.
In 1967, the Lovings' court case finally reached the US Supreme Court, which ruled that states could not stop people of different races from marrying.
Here is an article, with photos, about their story.
The Lovings moved back to Virginia and raised their three children. They lived happily together until Richard was killed in a car accident in 1975, only 41 years old.
Mildred, you see, was "colored", the name used for what we would call a black or African-American person today, and Richard was white. And in the state of Virginia in 1958, two people of different races could not marry. When they returned to Virginia, they were arrested, tried, and told they would either have to leave Virginia, or separate and serve a term in jail. They chose to move back to Washington, and for years could not even travel to Virginia together to visit their families.
In 1967, the Lovings' court case finally reached the US Supreme Court, which ruled that states could not stop people of different races from marrying.
Here is an article, with photos, about their story.
The Lovings moved back to Virginia and raised their three children. They lived happily together until Richard was killed in a car accident in 1975, only 41 years old.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Primary Elections Explained
It's US election season again! (Or is that still?)
Wonder what's going on with all these primary elections? Here's an explanation that may help you understand.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
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