Friday February 1 Feudal Japan Project

Good Morning,

You'll have about 10 minutes to prepare for your presentation.
Each group will present to 2 other groups -be sure to fill out the presentation rubric here.

Great job everyone!

If we have time left, let's start working on SI Japan in the Middle Ages.

Please bring your progress report back signed.

Wednesday January 29 Feudal Japan Project

Good Morning,

Let's continue our work on the Feudal Japan project.
I'll meet with each group individually -you'll share what you've done since the start yesterday and what you will get done today.

Use the Hierarchy of Feudal Japan Handout shared yesterday along with your notes as a starting point. Please discover more about the Emperor, Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai and Peasants at Wikipedia.

Remember your goal:

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Teach the class what Japanese Feudal society was like. What living in Japan at the time was like. Include the hierarchy social structure of Feudal Japan.

Tuesday January 29 Shogun, Daimyo and Samurai

Good Morning,

Let's read about the Hierarchy of Feudal Japan
After you'll make something to represent the social structure of Feudal Japan -to demonstrate your understanding of Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai & Peasants.
You could make a presentation, 3d pop-up book, a video, an animation, a model, Minecraft world or anything else you'd like. Please let me know what you decide.
We'll be using the Scrum board to keep track of our projects process.
Finished project is due Friday February 1.

Before you leave class today please fill out this form regarding your project idea.

Tomorrow: Be ready to share what you have done and what you are going to get done -Be specific.

Monday January 28 Feudal Japan and Kagemusha

Good Morning,

We must understand Feudal Japan to understand the storyline in Kagemusha.
Let's make some notes on Feudal Japan

Time left let's watch more Kagemusha

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Friday January 25 Beginning Japan

Good Morning,

Let's finish the presentations. For each presentation please fill out the presentation rubric form here.

You'll have about 10 minutes to work on SI 3b China in the Middle Ages at least 20 questions.

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With time left lets start watching Kagemusha an epic film on Medieval Japan.

HOMEWORK: Explain Feudalism

Wednesday January 23 Chinese Invention Presentations and Notes

Good Morning,

Let's start with your presentations. You'll have about 5 minutes to get ready. For each presentation please fill out the presentation rubric form here.

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After presentations be ready to make Cornell Notes on Medieval China slides 30-32.
With time left please go to Study Island and take the 3b China in the Middle Ages test.

Tuesday January 22 Medieval China Invention Review & Presentation

Good Morning,

Today we'll review your Medieval Chinese Invention Design. Please share all 7 steps with 2 neighbors, I will check the quality of your work.
Use the Medieval Chinese Invention Design Steps Project Form during this sharing process.
Your presentations will be tomorrow -Be Ready.
During your presentation you will share how you addressed each of the 7 steps.
After we've shared our work with 2 neighbors, let's watch Tang Taizong's Horses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA1KCVUYAh0

The 7 steps for your reference:
Answer each of the following Design process steps as if you invented the invention:

1. Identify the problem -Describe the problem your invention solves. Use details -describe your environment, life circumstances, job requirements, and more.
2. Brainstorm -Describe your several (4-7) ideas for possible solutions. For each solution write the benefits and drawbacks for each possible solution.
3. Design and Build -you can just draw your possible solution.
4. Test your build - test your invention, explain the process you used to test your invention -explain how things went and how it should be improved.
5. Redesign -describe how you are redesigning your Chinese invention
6. Rebuild -redraw your invention as the actual Chinese invention
7. Share with others -write about how your invention will impact the lives of other Medieval Chinese people.

Friday January 18 Medieval Chinese Invention

Good Morning,

You will share your steps 1-4 of our Medieval China Invention Design process. After I'd like to watch Horrible Histories Challenging China.

HOMEWORK:
Finish steps 5-7 on your Medieval China Invention Design process.

For reference our Medieval China Invention Design process---
Pick a Medieval Chinese invention -something from the film we watched last week or from our class text book.
Imagine you were the inventor of the invention.
Answer each of the following Design process steps as if you invented the invention:

1. Identify the problem -Describe the problem your invention solves. Use details -describe your environment, life circumstances, job requirements, and more.
2. Brainstorm -Describe your several (4-7) ideas for possible solutions. For each solution write the benefits and drawbacks for each possible solution.
3. Design and Build -you can just draw your possible solution.
4. Test your build - test your invention, explain the process you used to test your invention -explain how things went and how it should be improved.
5. Redesign -describe how you are redesigning your Chinese invention
6. Rebuild -redraw your invention as the actual Chinese invention
7. Share with others -write about how your invention will impact the lives of other Medieval Chinese people.

Wednesday January 16 Presenting Inventions

Good Morning,

You'll have a few minutes to prepare for your Invention presentation.
Please remember to include:

1. The problem you are solving
2. Possible solutions
3. Your solution (invention) -Be excited when you share.
4. Tell us why we NEED your invention 
5. And how much it would cost.

You can make it a simple skit (think infomercial), a recorded commercial, use bandicam (screen recording) or whatever makes your heart content. MAKE IT ENTERTAINING and AWESOME!!!!

 After our presentations we'll follow the Design process to understand how the Chinese developed inventions.
Pick a Medieval Chinese invention -something from the film we watched last week or from our class text book.
Imagine you were the inventor of the invention.
Answer each of the following Design process steps as if you invented the invention:

1. Identify the problem -Describe the problem your invention solves. Use details -describe your environment, life circumstances, job requirements, and more.
2. Brainstorm -Describe your several (4-7) ideas for possible solutions. For each solution write the benefits and drawbacks for each possible solution.
3. Design and Build -you can just draw your possible solution.
4. Test your build - test your invention, explain the process you used to test your invention -explain how things went and how it should be improved.
5. Redesign -describe how you are redesigning your Chinese invention
6. Rebuild -redraw your invention as the actual Chinese invention
7. Share with others -write about how your invention will impact the lives of other Medieval Chinese people.

Tuesday January 15 -Invention Presentations

Good Morning,

Our inventions are due tomorrow. Be ready to present.

Include in your presentation:

1. The problem you are solving
2. Possible solutions
3. Your solution (invention) -Be excited when you share.
4. Tell us why we NEED your invention 
5. And how much it would cost.

You can make it a simple skit (think infomercial), a recorded commercial, use bandicam (screen recording) or whatever makes your heart content. MAKE IT ENTERTAINING and AWESOME!!!!


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Monday January 14 Medieval China Inventions

Welcome back,

Hope your weekend was restful.
Let's continue our work on our inventions, please let me know the problem and your possible solution before building.

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Friday January 11, 2013 Medieval China Inventions

Good Morning,

Let's get right into making our own inventions.

Working with a partner follow these steps:

1. Identify a problem
1. Write down 5 problems that you encounter in everyday life. An example: this morning there were a couple large ice patches on the walkway between classes -it's dangerous.
2. Conduct background research
1. Answer your problem with how people have solved it in the past -example ice on the walkway. People have sprinkled salt on ice to make it go away, people have worn spikes on their shoes to provide grip.
3. Suggest lots of solutions and explain why they should work
1. One example: Place a heated blanket on the walkway's troubled spots at night to keep ice from forming. It should work because for ice to form the water must reach below freezing
4. Collect data -present your invention and present to other students -Ask:
1. Is it safe to do?
2. If the change I propose affects others, can I get permission to do it?
3. What materials do I need and can I get them?
4. Do I have enough time to build and test my idea as well as to write it up?
5. If it involves living things, will they be safe?
5. Build your invention
6. Test invention
7. Share your invention

Wednesday January 9, 2013

Good Morning,

Let's finish watching:  Ancient Chinese Inventions
Let's Schoodle while we watch. We'll be using the Medieval China Schoodle page.

After the Ancient Chinese Inventions video, you'll write a reflection in your IN. Be sure to include which invention impressed you the most and make a connection between an invention in the film and a modern day necessity.

Next we'll use the summarizing and nonfiction activity form. to learn more about the Tang and Song Dynasties.
The 3 columns on the front of the page should read: "The Tang Rulers" "The Tang Capital" "Art and Literature", the back 3 columns should read: "The Scholar Official Class" "The Merit System" "The Shift to the South"

We'll be writing a travel blog to the Tang and Song Dynasties...

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Tuesday January 8 Medieval China- Exploration

In the design process (the coolest way to problem solve) we can start by exploring to gain understanding.
We will be focusing on 7.3.5: Medieval China-trace the historic influence of such discoveries as tea, the manufacture of paper, wood-block printing, the compass and gunpowder.

Your exploration will include watching: Ancient Chinese Inventions
Let's Schoodle while we watch. We'll be using the Medieval China Schoodle page.

Happy New Year!

A new year, new opportunities!

I can't wait to find out what you did over your break!
We'll start out the new year by sharing our Minecraft/SketchUp projects finished before break. Please make sure you have emailed me the appropriate information (including screen shots) and be ready to share your building.

My boys