Opener: Describe what it is like to "walk in your shoes" for a day.
As a class, we discussed the preconceived judgement of others and how it can lead to bullying. We talked about the goals of the district and school to create more empathetic students and staff, and how it starts by understanding that everyone is stressed and has baggage that affects them daily. This led to the current event about a campaign in Ireland that wants to bring more awareness to mental health issues. We browsed the website's podcasts and blogs that covered a range of topics for children, teens, and adults.
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Opener: Are we, "more alike...than we are unalike"? This quote, from Maya Angelou's "The Human Family," led to discussion about what it is to be human, and how society has influenced many to quickly point out the difference between us. We talked about how humans are separated by oceans and mountains, but teenagers across the globe are experiencing the same emotions that they are here in Sacramento. Stress, love, hate, and happiness are human emotions that can be felt no matter skin color, socioeconomic status, or location. We talked about how judgmental people can be, especially if they fail to empathize with those who struggle. We visited Maya Angelou's website and read her poem, "The Human Family" before watching an Apple ad that ran before the Rio Olympics, that used the poem. Opener: What is your favorite music video?
Students had a number of answers based on creativity, musical prowess, or just visual appeal. We talked about the growing business of music videos and how many of them have increased in budget over the past decade. Then, we talked about the current event...a music video created in collaboration with the Ukrainian band, Brunettes Shoot Blondes, called "Knock Knock". Opener: How do you plan to make your life a "happy" one?
Students described going to college, attaining a career, and having a family, while other talked about financial security or doing things that they enjoy. This led to discussion about setting goals, then working hard and efficiently to attain goals. Our current event article is about the 10 happiest countries in the world, which lists five Scandinavian countries...our lesson's topic. Opener: What is the most popular teenage phrase?
Students suggested that "lit" and "turnt" were popular now, but conceded that they might be used a little too much. We talked about trends and slang, and how different countries have their own versions that would be hard to learn unless you were immersed completely. This led to discussion about the benefits of being bilingual, especially in a region of the world that speaks the language. Our current event was more of a lesson in simple German, along with some key phrases to survive in Germany. Opener: Are you a wasteful person? We discussed how and why students (and adults) are guilty of wasting time, money, and food. We talked about learning from those experiences and becoming more organized, and ultimately more efficient. The current event tackles the problem of food waste. Hopefully, the grassroots effort by the French people to enact laws, will affect the United States because of the amount of food waste we have. As a class, we discussed the waste of food, which led to discussion of the Victor Hugo novel, Les Miserables. We talked about the storyline and how the main character was starving and was sentenced to hard-labor for stealing food...something that the world will have to address to feed 9 billion in 2050. Opener: Describe a risk that you've taken.
Students' answers varied from extrame to mild, but many of them realized that, in life, you have to take risks. Sometimes, those risks pay-off, while other times you must learn from failure. This led to discussion of our current event about an 18 yuear old girl who saved 20 lives while fleeing from war-torn Syria. Not only was she a hero, but she is an inspiration by competing in the Rio Olympics. Opener: Should the public be able to vote a President "out" of office?
Student felt that if it were citizen's decision to choose the President, they should also have the right to determine whether that individual has been competent...if not, then they should vote them out of office. This led to discussion of the Progressive Era and "initiative", "referendum", and "recall". Our current event focused on the referendum in Italy that resulted in the resignation of the Prime Minister. Opener: What is one academic goal of 2017? Students mentioned achieving a 3.5 grade point average, while others focused on keeping perfect attendance. Others focused on more long-term goals like college and always being a life-time learner. This led to discussion of resolutions made for the new year and how many people break them so quickly. We reviewed an article about making more realistic goals, then watched a short film from a group of Dutch animators. This led to watching a short vlog focused on a day in Utrecht, Netherlands. Opener (4th only): What/who has influenced you the most?
We talked about being more observant of the signs that might educate us and inspire us to meet our potential. Then, we talked about the signs that the environment is in poor health. This led to the current event, a short film that focuses its social commentary on the Amazon Rainforest. The producers, both from Argentina, have seen the devestation of globalization and hoped this film would bring attention. |
CE/OpenersEach day students will begin class by responding, in writing, to a prompt on the whiteboard. After discussion, the class will research a related current event. We will use Google Maps to identify the physical and political geography of each event. Remember, write the question, date, and respond with support! Keep these in your "Footebooks" until the next test, for grading. Archives
January 2017
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Mr. Foote
Hiram Johnson High School
Hiram Johnson High School