Our successes

Hi everyone,

What an amazing year! Please look at our wonderful successes here:

1. Our website of videos and stories
   


2. Photos from visiting the St Luke's first graders


3. Photos from visiting the St Luke's eight graders


4. Photos from the American Place Theatre gala


5. Photos from the Nuyorican performance (Check)


6. Photos from your performance at Newcomers HS


7. Photos from the No Place for Hate Ceremony

Week of May 9, Bullying

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to think about bullying and why it's a human rights violation.

To begin, please visit these websites:

1. The Bully Project - watch trailer


2. NY Times interview - watch what the film maker says.


3. CNN clip on film - watch


4. Go to Do Something and do something. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Where it asks you what cause, select violence and bullying. Then fill out the rest of the form and do what it asks you to do! Also, give them your email address to get emails about helping others.
   


5. In google docs, write a response to the questions below:

• a. What does bullying mean to you?


• b. Have you ever been a victim of bullying? How did it make you feel?


• c. How is bullying a human rights issue?
  


• d. What steps can you personally take to help those who are bullied

When you finish, please post your response as a comment on our blog. After you post your response, read 3 other students' responses and write a response to them.

Week of May 2, Reaction to Three Cups Scandal

Hi Everyone,

Today we are going to react to the scandal around Three Cups of Tea.

Please do the following:

1. Read this op/ed piece by Kristoff.
2. Read this interview with Greg Mortenson.
3. Read a summary of Three Cups of Deceit by Jon Krakaeur
4. Read this article in which the CAI responds.

• Now, in Google Docs, write your reaction to this controversy. How do you feel about it and why?



• Post your response on our blog.



• Then read 3-4 other students' responses and write reactions.

Week of April 11th and May 2nd, Writing Letters to Greg Mortenson

Hi everyone, This week we are going to begin letters to Greg Mortenson, which we will eventually mail to him! We will also be trying a new software that will help you edit your work as you write it.

• Please go to the Write to Learn website to begin the process.


• Your username is generally the first initial of your first name and then your last name.


• Your password is your OSIS number.


• See me if you are having trouble logging in.


• Once you have logged in, click on the assignment called "Letter to an Author". Here you will have space to begin a letter to Greg Mortenson. After you write a first draft, the program will give you feedback so that you can write a well-revised letter! How cool and exciting.

For your formal, business style letter, please follow these instructions:

Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself (where you are from, your school, etc.). This should be a lengthy account of who you are. 5-7 sentences.

Paragraph 2: Tell Mr. Mortenson what you liked about Three Cups of Tea, what you learned from it, and a favorite quote. This paragraph should be very detailed and specific. 5-7 sentences.

Paragraph 3: Ask him three respectful questions.

Then close your letter by thanking him and inviting him to our school :).

We will be working on this for a few blog sessions. Be sure to save your work on the Write to Learn website.

Week of April 4-8, Letters to Greg from students

Hi everyone,
This week you will pretend to be a student in either Pakistan or Afghanistan.
In Google Docs, write a letter to Greg Mortenson.

1. Introduce yourself (as if you are student from Pakistan or Afghanstan).


2. Tell Greg Mortenson why you want to go to school.


3. Tell Greg Mortenson why you appreciate his work.


4. Closing.

Post your letter on our blog.

Then read two other students letters and respond.

Week of March 28-April 1, Pennies for Peace

Hi everyone, Today we are going to learn about Pennies for Peace, the organization that helps to support Greg Mortenson's work. Please visit the website for Pennies for Peace. In Google Docs, please answer the questions below. Then paste your answers into a post on our blog.:

1. Click on the link on the top that says "For Kids!". What is the value of a penny?


2. On the left side of this page is a link that says "feature village". What did you learn about this village?


3. On the left side of this page is a link that says "feature school". What did you learn about this school.


4. On the left side of this page is a link that says "Afghanistan facts". Name three facts you learned about Afghanistan.


5. On the left side of this page is a link that says, "Pakistan facts". Name three facts you learned about Pakistan.


6. Now click on the link on the top that says "Media". Choose the TV show option and watch at least one video about Greg Mortenson or Three Cups of Tea or Pennies for Peace. Write down what it was about.


7. Read another students' entry and write a comment.

Week of March 21-25, Geography for Three Cups of Tea

Today we are going to think about geography.

Please look carefully at these maps of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Then in MS Word, answer the questions below:

1. How does where one lives affect how one lives? (be sure to think about location, climate, soil, vegetation, animal life, human interaction)


2. Write a journal entry of an imaginary day in your life in Afghanistan or Paksitan. What would your day be like? Think about what you eat, what you wear, what you do for fun.


3. Do the same thing now for a real day in your life here.


4. How are your days different or the same?


5. Look at two other classmates' entries and write a response to them.