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January 27, 2009
America
When I think of America the first thing that comes to mind is, fireworks,
and barbecues. In July we celebrate America’s Independence Day. There
is nothing more exciting then joining your friends and family and celebrating with hot dogs, hamburgers, apple pie, and of
course fireworks. As I started thinking about the deeper meaning of America I thought about freedom. We are free to vote, speak our minds, and dream. No one tells
American children that a dream is too big. Children are able to live their childhood
and keep their innocence of playing with toys and being whatever they aspire to be.
America is the home of the cowboy. The Old West was brought to life as authors wrote and experienced the roughness of
moving west. Dreams were carried across the United
States to land in California where
the gold rush began.
The flag, the Statue
of Liberty, and the Liberty Bell are all examples of America’s
symbolism. When Americans see these symbols they are reminded of our history,
how the Statue of Liberty was presented to America as a gift from France in October 1886.
It is said to be a symbol of international freedom and democracy. The
Liberty bell rang July 8, 1776 to summon the citizens of Philadelphia
to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Our American flag is
a symbol of our nation and its fifty states, Harriet Beecher Stowe said it best,
“A thoughtful mind when it sees a nation's flag, sees not the flag, but the nation itself.
And whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag, the government, the principles, the truths, the
history that belongs to the nation that sets it forth. The American flag has been a symbol of Liberty and men rejoiced in it.
The stars upon it were like the bright morning
stars of God, and the stripes upon it were beams of morning light. As at early dawn the stars shine forth even while it grows
light, and then as the sun advances that light breaks into banks and streaming lines of color, the glowing red and intense
white striving together, and ribbing the horizon with bars effulgent, so, on the American flag, stars and beams of many-colored
light shine out together ...."
America is a one of kind nation. Many dream of living here, and making their dreams come true. We
Americans need to appreciate the fact that we do live in the land of the free. America is my home and every time I see an American flag wave
in the distance my heart swells with pride.
4th grade 3-3-2009
Become a Historian
Amber Granger
Objective: Students will be able to describe and explain how
historians and archaeologists provide information from the past by hands on activites.
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Education Standards Addressed: History, Benchmark #1 D understand time passage and
chronology. Objective 1: Describe
and explain how historians and archaeologists provide information about people in different time periods.
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Practice/Assess
Guided Practice:
Monday: Watch YouTube video on digging up the past. Journal: What would help us learn from people of the past
(writings, pottery, spears). Discuss some of the vocabulary that will be presented
this week (historian, archaeologist, tools, and time periods.) Place them on
our word wall. Children will need to bring in seven miniature items from home
and also a shoe box for activity on Thursday.
Tuesday: Read several journals from the past. Students will make a timeline of their life, and then the class will make one together. Journal: Write one entry to someone from the year 2350. Tell them what you think it is important to know, start with your name.
Wednesday: Introduce the Clovis
Man, Discuss how they thought it was possible for the archeologists to know where he came from, and so on. Read book on Clovis Man Visitor will come in and show collection
of rocks, arrowheads, and pottery.
Thursday: Introduce the digging tools we will be using, toothpick,
toothbrush, paintbrushes. We will pour a thin layer of soil on bottom of box,
place the items brought from home in soil. Pour a layer of sand on items where
they are covered. We will mix up the boxes and each student will get a box and
carefully dig to find objects. They will write in their journal what they found,
and who they think the box belongs to, and why.
Friday: We will be taking a field trip to San Juan College. We will visit with an archeologist and we will look at displays of history. We will then go in the hills behind the college and take the role of an archeologist and see what we can
find.
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Assessment: Students will fill out a plus delta for each
day. On Friday after the field trip students will write a reflection on what
they learned and what they enjoyed about this week. They will also include any
questions they still have.
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