8th – Civil Rights and film

Posted on 4th May 2021 by nkaufman

Our last major unit of focus for this school year will be that of the Civil Rights Movement; examining it from a historical and current perspective. Students will be examining the origins and impact of the Civil Rights Act. Our study will take us from the 1950’s and 1960’s all the way to today, looking differently at at our city compared to a national perspective.

One way we are going to examine this topic is by viewing numerous films. We will start our unit with a brief film-analysis activity, focusing on increasing the ability of our students to read and understand film from an academic perspective. After developing and understanding the skills required to “read” film, we will begin watching films; analyzing them for their historical value and the message they are trying to get across. We will watch numerous films as a class, across a wide-array of time periods and focuses, all with the hope of better understanding the impact of the Civil Rights Act.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to continue to explore a topic of extreme importance in today’s world while gaining additional media-literacy skills to set them up for future success (media literacy, critical thinking, discussion skills).

8th – Soapbox Presentations

Posted on 29th April 2021 by nkaufman

In a normal year, we head downtown to do our Soapbox speeches in a public setting with 3-4 other schools jammed into the same small room. There is lots of mixing and social interaction. This year, not so much.

Yesterday, we had our Soapbox Event, albeit it was done virtually. Students who performed well in our classroom presentations had videos of their speeches sent to the organization. A select group of those students had their speech played yesterday. They were then provided with feedback from a panel of judges.

To view the entire event, select the link here. To view only speech submissions, select the link here. We did have 2 of our students make it to the main event; which was really awesome!

6th, 7th, 8th – President Biden’s Speech to Congress

Posted on 29th April 2021 by nkaufman

Last night, President Biden spoke to Congress for the first time as President. Regardless of politics, it is an important speech to monitor because it highlights the current administration’s desires moving forward. In class, we did our best to understand some of the speech, as well as the coverage of the speech (trying to get both sides of the arguments and to understand media coverage is biased).

To see the document we worked on in class (as well as attached resources to explore on your own), click here. We are doing our best to present as unbiased a view as possible; which through discussion and personal research, students are able to develop their own opinion about a topic.

6th, 7th, 8th – Free Seed Project

Posted on 23rd March 2021 by nkaufman

I recently received a wonderful package from the Free Seed Project (linked here). Every year, Rob Greenfield of the Free Seed Project gives away thousands of seeds to people around the country. His only ask: share the foods or seeds with members of the community. I have in my possession the following seeds (and quantities of those seeds). If you would like some, please let me know and I will do my best to give to you/your child as soon as possible. Hopefully you can grow a beautiful garden to feed yourself, your family, and your community for the year to come.

Carrot – 25

Basil Mix – 200

Kale – 40

Radish – 50

Chive – 40

Arugula – 170

Turnip – 200

Dill – 100

Mustard Green – 70

Bunching Onion – 120

Herb mix – 400

Flower Mix -120

Additionally, I have lots of milkweed seeds from last year (still fresh and in the package). It is great food for the monarch butterfly. If you want some of those seeds, also let me know.

8th – Immigrant Perception

Posted on 22nd March 2021 by nkaufman

After examining how immigrants were treated upon arrival, we are now focusing on how immigrants were perceived when they were here (as well as how different groups were perceived). Students are answering the essential question of how immigrants were viewed in the early 1900’s.

They will be using primary source documents, ranging from the late 1800’s until the mid 1900’s (documents located here).

These documents are sensitive and rather crude. Keep in mind they are not a reflection on my/own beliefs, but they are an opportunity for our students to analyze how some groups were viewed in a historic context.

8th – Immigrate Treatment Upon Arrival

Posted on 22nd March 2021 by nkaufman

As we begin to look at historical immigration trends to America from the 1900’s to today, students need to have an understanding of the context of the times. One important contextual item to be aware of is in general, how were immigrants treated upon their arrival to the United States in the early 1900’s.

One way we are attempting to answer the essential question of how were immigrants treated upon arrival is by using primary sources from the time periods. Students have been analyzing primary source documents (located here) to collect evidence, which is ultimately support their claim/answer to the essential question.

Feel free to ask your student what evidence they have that supports their claim.

6th, 7th, 8th – COVID Relief Bill

Posted on 12th March 2021 by nkaufman

Yesterday, President Biden signed a $1.9 trillion relief bill to help many in our country overcome the hardships brought about by COVID-19. We took a bit of time from our normally scheduled class to discuss the enormity and impact of this bill (for example, simply understanding the scope of $1 trillion is a much harder task than one realizes). Feel free to look at some of the work I presented for your student (linked here).

There were a lot of good questions about the bill from students yesterday. They really are interested in learning more. Please remember to do your best to be unbiased and to ask questions. Allow our students to develop their own opinions as much as is possible.

River Clean-Up Update

Posted on 9th March 2021 by nkaufman

A few weeks back, I posted about the Milwaukee River Clean Up on April 24. It is still happening (it is outdoors, socially distanced), but we finally have the registration information. If you have a favorite spot you clean up at, go do that. If you are wanting to try something new, feel free to sign up for the location at Lincoln Creek: N 60th St Cleanup; that is where I will be hosting a clean-up. The link to register is here.

8th – Immigration Trends

Posted on 9th March 2021 by nkaufman

As we move to our next unit of Immigration, we are working more and more on high school ready skills. One of those skills is that of using primary and secondary sources (an activity we used to refresh on primary and secondary sources is linked here) to find evidence to support one’s claim. We are currently looking right now at immigration trends in the early 1900’s to America (ex: where people come from, why they came, what their impact was, how they were treated). Our first question we are answering is: how were immigrants treated upon their arrival to America in the early 1900’s (the set of primary sources we are using is linked here).

If you and/or your family/anyone you know has some interesting immigration history/story you feel comfortable sharing, please do let me know. We would love to have a live primary source in our midst!

8th – Presenting our speeches

Posted on 3rd March 2021 by nkaufman

Our first three volunteers presented their Soapbox speeches today. They set the bar very high and were amazing! Holy smokes, what a group of talent.

For those not speaking today, they had the opportunity to provide written and oral feedback, based on the rubric we have been using, as well as the opportunity to record all speeches.

Three more speeches up tomorrow!