home

=Washington D.C. Class Study and Exploration =

Jones Middle School
Our purpose as thoughtful 21st century learners: to keep a digital portfolio.

Mrs. Rook challenges you:...“Why would you even //keep// a portfolio?” How will you answer her?
Consider this question for twenty seconds. Think of ONE good reason for you to keep a portfolio. Now, follow this link and add your answer. When you are done writing, you may silently observe others write. When we are finished, I will ask you to share one thing you saw someone write. []

Our class is going to study and visit Washington D.C. But why? Who cares? Should I remember anything in ten years besides the fact that I had a great time? The truth is, what happens in Washington D.C. can change our lives forever, but WE can affect what happens in Washington D.C. And that is the most important lesson any person in our country can learn!

Our Essential Question: "How does Washington D.C. affect me...and how can I affect Washington D.C.?"

Your assignments: 1. Transform your Home page into an interesting introduction to our class study. No matter who you are, you are going to answer our Essential Question to your very best. Brainstorm at least three ways that Washington D.C. can affect us, and three ways that we can affect what happens in Washington D.C. (Remember, I said "do your very best." If you're stuck, you can always come back to it later.) You may also put the following on your page: -What are you excited about (regarding this study and trip)? -What sites are you looking forward to? -What would you like to learn more about? -What's confusing about government, the President, D.C., or what's happening in the world? -Anything else you can think might be RELEVANT and APPROPRIATE to our study.

2. Begin personalizing your site with photos and copyright-free images. Snips of poetry, readings, art, and things you can bring in from other classes are fantastic too!

3. Strongly consider uploading your Holocaust PowerPoint to your "Assignments" page.

4. Create a new page called, for now, "Places in D.C." On this page, you will identify 3 places you want to see in D.C. For each, upload a photograph of that place (copyright-free, please) and write a brief (1-2 sentence) explanation as to why.

(When are these things due? Well, Mrs. Rook and Mrs. Hardie will tell you the final due dates, but that day is not today. However, the more work you can complete today and feel good about, the less work you do down the road.)