Kas’s Blog

Cosimo De’ Medici

We have been learning about the Renaissance time for the past few weeks in our Social Studies class. We learned what was special about the time period and all the improtant details that influenced our lives now in a great way. The Renaissance time is the rebirth of Europe. Before that, life was dark and sad in the Dark Ages. With wars everywhere and a lot of death because of the Black Plague. The Renassaince Time is the rebirth of the previous Europe. Everything improved; life of the peoples, freedom and choice and new openings for chances to come out of the Middle Ages. In the Renaissance time, everyone started to be more independent and not depend on someone with greater power or anything as such. The Arts, Sculptures, and Architechtures were one of the most important things, back in the Renaissance time. After that, came the improtance of Trade and Economy. Each country competes to have the greatest Economy and be the richest to lead every other countries in the Renaissance Time. To proove how much we’ve learned, everybody in our class made podcasts of someone who influenced the changes and inspired the Renaissance Time. Amongst this people were, Cosimo De’ Medici who left the greatest impact on the city of Florence, Italy and its surrounding lands.

Cosimo De’ Medici was one of the richest man in the Renaissance time in Florence, Italy. He gave financial support to other individuals in his city. He did many other things ranging from financial support, to bringing up his city and making the city popular for it’s achievements. His dream was to make his country the leading country. Therefore, whom ever he thought had tallent, he would support that person and make them known to the world. Cosimo De’ Medici was born on September 27th, 1389 in Florence, Italy. Sadly, he passed away on August 1st, 1464 after accomplishing many goals and making his dreams come true.

My podcast is about a Chinese girl who travels back in time withour realizing. She ironically, comes to the great Cosimo De’ Medici. She gets interested in his lifestyle and everything about him. She listens to him intently while he explained to her everything about his life and all that he has done.

To see some of his pictures:

http://www.thepeerage.com/003128_001.jpg

http://worldroots.com/brigitte/gifs8/cosimo1medici1519.jpg

1. What did I feel successful doing during the process of the project? What am I proud of?

I feel successful doing the research and making a speech with all the information included in the speech. When it was typed, the speech looked long; but when I presented, it was not very long or short. It was the perfect length. I was very proud of the research I did because I did not find the same piece of research repeatedly. If I did, I would consider it a sub-topic and just get the extra information. I had three pages of information which varied. By saying that, I mean it had a lot of details on various sub-topics. I even did a little research on another relevant topic that my topic led to. My topic was Pilgrimage and I researched on everything possible that led to Pilgrimage and was about Pilgrimage. With all the information I got, I put it altogether into an entertaining speech. My audience during the fair enjoyed it and thought it was educational.

2. What new skills did I value learning?

Putting everything together and presenting it as a fair was a skill I valued learning. I had the visual presentation, to accompany my speech. Then, to make sure my audience learned something and understood what I was talking about; they were to play an interesting and educational game. The game was also part of the process to complete the project. They were awarded if they answered questions right and won the game. This was all the finishing results. In order to accomplish all this, I had to plan, research, execute and evaluate every step of my actions. I chose the topic, then researched on it and made a speech, a game, and a small staging of visualizations. I value learning how to do this and citing all this.

3. What was challenging during the process of completing the project? With what did I struggle?

During the whole process, it was quite difficult to keep up with the due dates. I always have trouble keeping up with the due dates. This project was extensive and there were many components involved. Therefore, it was challenging to stay on top of the game. I did struggle to complete certain sections. In the end, I managed to complete it by the final due date. I worked on the game and the visual presentation until the final due date. I finished the main parts of those components on their due dates but I still had a lot more to do with them. Once I satisfied myself, I moved on to preparing other things for the fair.

4. How could I have improved my process so that I would have been more effective?

I could have planned better from the beginning and I should’ve stuck to the plan. The next time I have a project this vast, I will really think about what to do and be creative with the ideas. I will put in more thought in what I would do for each component but at the same time, all the components should flow together from one to the other. Then with that planned, carry that out just as fine. I will not clutter myself with everything at once.

5. Did I effectively create an age-appropriate presentation and game for the elementary students? (please explain how you know it was appropriate or how you could have changed it to be more appropriate)

I believe I created an age-appropriate presentation and game for the elementary students. The presentation went well because the students found it interesting and it was very well, flowing. As I explained one thing, I had to explain more and go on because or else my audience would be left hanging. I did the speech with the visual presentation. Each picture matched up with a part from my speech. The pictures were enhancing and so were the rewards they got; sweets! I believe for the time period they had to spend the time with us, wasn’t enough to complete the whole game. My game was long and so some of my audience left half way. It would’ve been interesting to see who would’ve won in the end. They found it very enjoyable when someone lends on a “Danger” space. As they were playing the game, I explained more to them. Overall, the game was fun and all of them enjoyed it. They liked the characters they had to play with. In the end of the game, they had a discussion about the gamers as well. I used easy language and did not use any challenging words at all. They understood everything I said as well because I gave them examples that would relate to their age group.

1. What did I feel successful doing during the process of the project? What am I proud of?

I feel successful at linking the pages and linking it back and forth on Power Point. I am proud of my essay because I inserted all my information there and all my research was done successfully. i didn’t get any help from the teacher, it was all my own hard work at finishing this project.
2. What new skills did I value learning?
The skill in which you learn how to do research and cite the pages of where you get your information because that skill can be used for all classes. I also value learning how to make a jeopardy game because now I can do a creative project for other classes in which I can use the method of making a Jeopardy game.

3. What was challenging during the process of completing the project? With what did I struggle?
The power point wasn’t working to begin with. We had problems opening the program and our computer kept giving us problems. We had time problem because of that and required more time to make our presentation worth presenting to the class.I think that was the only challenge we had, getting the Power Point program to work well for us.

4. How could I have improved my process so that I would have been more effective?

Maybe by dividing the work within our group and giving equal amount of work to each team mate. It would have been more effective if we had other programs to use other than Power Point, which delayed us quite a bit.

#1  Think about the presentations  and reflect on the projects your classmates presented and the information you listened to. Explain with details and specific information what you learned, what you found interesting, surprising, or shocking about the presentations you heard in class

My classmates and my own group, we did a great job. Many of the groups had a lot of information and it was very interesting to watch their movies. There was a lot that I found out from everyone’s presentation. Certain information was related to our topic and so, we had a few facts a like with some other’s. I really enjoyed watching Isabel’s and Maya’s group’s presentation because it had a song and it was very detailed and specific.  Some information really surprised and me and I was startled. For an example, the fact that in 2007, there are over 4 million people with HIV and 2 million already died. I was also surprised at how there are many child soldiers in the world. These children are ranging from 8 to 18. In total, everyone did a great job to get the message across.

#2  What would you change to improve your project/presentation if you were to do the assignment again?

I would add music and flowing facts. I will also not talk in the start and save the talking to the end. I will also try to get more information and find another way to spread the message across. Maybe getting the class involved will also make it more interesting, fun and enjoyable for viewers.

Author: unanimous

Title of the Article:US  Marine “shot unarmed Iraqis”

Website Title: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/664 1843.stm

Edition: Thursday, 10 May, 2007

Date published:  Thursday, 10 May, 2007

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6641843.stm> 10/05/2007

Link to news article

What is the issue? 

The issue is that 5 marine officers got involved in a shoting scene. The Marine officers did what they did in rage against an incedent that took place on 19 November, 2005. In this incedent, one of the Marine officers died and Sgt Sanick Dela Cruz was furious. This officer shot the five Iraqis and was accused of leading this litlle commosion. After sgt sanick Dela Cruz shot the five Iraq civilians, Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich shot the victims in the head and the upper part of their bodies just to make sure he is dead. After making sure they were dead, Sgt Deal Cruz urinated the body.

Who is involved?

• Sgt Sanick Dela Cruz
• Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich
• The three other Marine officers

• The five Iraqis

Who is effected and how?

• Sgt Sanick Dela Cruz because he will be put into immunity in exchange for his testimony
•  The three other Marine officers will be arested and charged with second-degree murder. They could be put into lifetime prison

• The five Iraq civilians because now their families is missing a loved one and one of their family members are gone.

What would you do if you were directly involved?

If I was directly involved, I would advise all the other Marine officers to not do like this again. I would also do or give something for the families who lost their members in return (also appologize).  I think now maybe the Marine officers need a counselor or someone to talk to about their problems.

Picture of event:

 URL: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41727000/jpg/

Map(Where the commosion took place):

URL: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41465000/gif/

Discuss whether you feel UN’s power should be increased to have enforcement authority over any nation or should be decreased to only provide humanitarian aid when asked.

I feel that UN’s authorities should be raised! UN has done many great things to improve the nations. So far, they have prevented many wars and instored peace to many countries. It’s also recorded that they have failed resolutions, I believe that that only happened because the countries did not give them the permission to perform or take certain actions. If they were given more authorities, there will not be many problems in the world. Over the past few years, few issues were raised about how a few members of the UN had bad act and UN is not needed for, they are no good to the world.  The problems were dealt with and not a bigger problem now. This may be/not true but certainly if UN was given more power, these will surely happen: ther will be no poverty or hunger, children will get their education, there will be gender equality,  better manternal health and there will be environmental sustainablity. UN with increased power, will help the nations of the world have peace and achieve matters in a more effective way.

The presentations I watched today, were amazing. I could see that many people put in a lot effort in their costumes and their speech. I learnt something different about each character. I also noticed that some characters had relationship and we can find out if what they told is true or not. For an example, if someone said something. Then, the character in relation also says the same thing. These shows that the fact wasn’t made up and that, that was something real that happened. If I had a second chance, I would improve my speech by researching more on the costume, for there wern’t much pictures on my character. I want to be more organized at that moment and be ready, for any moment the teacher will call on you. Being organized, I also mean by having everything the teacher expects from you and everything you need, ready before class.

All hail Snefuru! All hail the great pyramid maker, Great Snefuru!! All hail- wait a minute, do you even know me ?? i am the great Snefuru, running on royal blood. Not totally but half. Still I have to be given credits for building many famous landmarks.

Now, let me give you more information on me. I am known all over the world, until Greece. I am the 1st king or some might call it ruler of the 4th dynasty. I have more than one name, because of how different people call me and spell my name. My names are Sneferu, Snofru, Nebmaat, Soris, Neb Maat Nebty, and Bik Nun. My parents are Huni and the well known Meresankh I. I was born on 2613 B.C. and I will live as long as 2589 B.C. I am very well known for my talents in building landmarks. Now they are marking little spots all around Egypt.

Many worshipped me for the greatness I have done for them. They worked for me and I paid them with daily needs. I have done many things, so far. I was the first to complete the Pyramid of Huni at Meidum. I also built the very well known Bent Pyramid at Dahshur and the Red Pyramid. I t shows that I’m a genius from the fact that, I changed the Bent Pyramid from a step pyramid to a real pyramid. I even made expeditions to Lebanon for cedar wood and to the Sinai for turquoise. With the cedar wood, I build Nile boats u to about fifty meters in length ( that is about 170 ft.)

I hope some of my really poor workers got rich and I hope I paid them enough for all their hard works. I made sure that they were paid enough for daily life. a few even worked for me their whole life.Especially building pyramids all over the place until Elephantine Island.

Snefuru mean “He of Beauty”. My name might have helped me make my pyramids a real beauty!! I have done much and now I hope to get credited. All hail me! All hail the great and talented Snefuru! all hail Snefuru.

Snefuru:

URL:  http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/crowns2.jpg

Author: Geller Adam

Title of article: On close-knit campus, gunman a loner

Website Title: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting_197

Website address: http://www.yahoo.com/

Date: 18/04/2007

• New Information:

The students did a memorial ceremony and they each raised a candle to remember the 32 students. The name of the gunman is Cho Seung-Hui, 23 years old. He is a senior and majoring in English. Cho Seung- Hui has been having this problem for quite a while and the prove was that he had medications for his depressions. Some of the students also teased him! And in his writings and plays he would always have lots of violence that his professors and peers were always surprised. He had always been a loner and did not have anyone to consult with.

• What did you find interesting about this topic?

I found it interesting that a student would reach to a conclusion of murdering someone. I also found it interesting that knowing that he was always lonely, that the professors did not counsol him or even talk with/to him. He even left a note raging against women and rich kids.

Something a classmate of his told:

“We always joked we were just waiting for him to do something, waiting to hear about something he did,” said another classmate, Stephanie Derry. “But when I got the call it was Cho who had done this, I started crying, bawling.”

• What did you like about the intial blog posting?

I liked the fact that her posting was very interesting and caught my attention immediately.

Link to classmate’s blog: http://maya.learnerblogs.org/

Link to article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting

 Author: Unknown

Title: “8 killed in suicide bombing in Iraq”

Website title: www.yahoo.com

 Edition: Unknown

Date Published: 14th March 2007

Website address: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_violence

Date: 14th March 2007

 Suicide bombers

What is the issues?

The issue is that a suicide bomber struck at a market in the Northern part of Iraq. Eight people were killed and 25 others were severely injured and wounded.The bombing happened just before noon. The suicide bomber had something very violent going on in his head because the suicide bomber struck at the time when many shoppers were at the market. this happened in Tuz Khormato. Something similar hapened in Western Baghdad, when a car suicied bomber was stopped at a Iraqi checkpoint. This time two people were killed and four others were wounded.

Who is involved?

• The suicide bombers
• The ten people who were killed
• The 29 others who were injured
• The family of the people who were injured of killed

Who is affected?

• The suicide bombers because maybe they were forced to do what they did or the bomb was fixed to them and they never wanted it to happen
• The ten people who were killed because now their family loose a family member and a loved one
• The 29 people who injured because they don’t deserve to go through a lot of pain and also because now their families will have to help their family member]

What would you do if you were directly involved?

I would have a better security system and I would try to comunicate with the citizens of the country to have less violence and to talk to enemy/countries that don’t exactly like the country to have peace.

Stephan’s current event and Sucide Bombers:

The news are connected because it happened at the same place and both has to do with bombings and violence. Both of these bombings happend in the Middle East.

What did you find interesting about this topic?

• I found it interesting that both of the bombings happened in the same place. I also found it interesting that why must both suicide bombers blast themselves up at this two countries?
• I found it interesting that in general, why does this two countries always have bombings and violence.

What did you like about the intial blog posting?

• I liked how there was lots of information given in a systemetic way. It’s much easier to get the news.

 Link to article

Link to Stephan’s current event

Picture of incedent:

URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Picture of a Map showing Northern part of Iraq:

URL: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/IraqNinawa.png

Map of Western Baghdad:

URL: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41293000/gif/_41293932_baghdad_shula_map203.gif