Heartbreaker: USA loses in Overtime to Canada in Hockey Gold Medal Game

Tough way to end the Olympics.  But the USA Hockey team played their butts off.  If you missed the game, you missed hockey at it's very, very best.  If you missed this Olympic tournament, you missed the best Olympic hockey tournament of all time.  It was fabulous.

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fun @ the beach. gorgeous day 60 degrees, sunny & breezy.

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flying kites @ Galveston Beach

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Notes Chapter 17 The Scientific Revolution

Notes Chapter 17 Part1 Scientific Revolution

Agenda: Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Quote of the Day: “It is surely harmful to souls to make it a heresy to believe what is proved.” - Galileo Galilei

Targets:
* Explain how the Scientific Revolution impacted the social, religious and political world.
* Compare Galileo and Vesalius and their methods and discovery to what had occurred previously.  How did their discoveries impact their world?

Agenda:
1.  Pass out the project rubric, targets for chapter 17/18, and collect any outlines that need to be handed in.
2.  Video from Chapter 17 - "The Scientific Revolution"
3.  Notes Chapter 17 - Galileo's Impact

Galileo vs. the Church

this is a video from Youtube.  A very good look at Galileo, his telescope, and his ideas.  


Galileo faces the Inquisition:

Rubric for World Leader Project

Rubric World Leader Project

Chapter 17 and 18 Targets - The Enlightenment and French Revolution

CH17 CH18 Enlight FrenchRev Targets

Agenda: Wed/Thu Feb 24 and 25, 2010

Quote:  "I never think about the future, it comes soon enough."  - Albert Einstein

Agenda:
1.  Turn in our Outlines for the Leader Project.  (Daily Grade)
2.  We will be going to the LGI to turn in course requests for next year.
3.  After meeting with counselors, Mr. Duez will discuss the outlines and also introduce Chapter 17.

Friday - 
We'll get our rubric and due dates for the Leader Project
We will also discuss Chapter 17 - The Enlightenment

Agenda: Tuesday 23, 2010

Quote:  "Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!" - Doubt it will happen, but fun to speculate.

Agenda:

T E S T -- Chapter 14 Absolutism

Tomorrow & Thursday -- Bring your grade selection sheets - we will go to the counselor to turn them in. 

Also your Outline for the Leaders Project is due.

Agenda: Monday, Feb 22, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "Do you believe in Miracles?  YES!" - Al Michaels, calling the end of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey upset of the mighty Soviet Union.

Targets:
* Understand how the Glorious Revolution impacted life in England.
* Explain the difference between Hobbes and Locke and their political perspective.

Agenda:
1.  Watch "Miracle on Ice" story.  This is the 30th anniversary of the greatest sports upset in history.  What did it do for the spirit of our country during a very dark time?

2.  Finish notes on Chapter 14 - Discuss what an Absolute Monarch is.  Explain Locke/Hobbes competing view.  Who was right?
3.  Review for the test on Tuesday

TEST TUESDAY
OUTLINE DUE WED/THU

Notes Chapter 14 Section 2 - 30 Years War/Glorious Revolution

Chapter 14 Sec 2

Agenda: Friday, Feb 19, 2010

Quote of the Day: "Normal is just a setting on your dryer." - Patsy Clairmont

Learning Targets:
* Understand the impact of the 30 years war on Europe.
* Explain the development of the English Civil War and Glorious Revolution

Targets:
1. Discuss Dual Credit - Your schedule sheets are due on block day next week. We'll go and turn them into counselors then.
2. Quiz Chapter 14
3. Notes Chapter 14 - 30 years war, English Civil War, Glorious Revolution

Dual Credit Next Year

Students who are planning on taking dual credit classes next year for the first time will need to be tested for eligibility. Testing will be available here on campus at AHS on Thursdays, Feb 18 and Feb 25 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. in the RED 1 and Red 2 computer labs. Please see Mrs. Diaz in 1004 if you have any questions.

Notes Chapter 14 Section 1 - Absolutism

Chapter 14 Sec 1

30 Years Ago: Do You Believe in Miracles?

I remember it well. 1980 was a tough time.  But, the US men's Olympic Hockey team did the impossible, a miracle of sorts.  They won the gold medal.  Today it is remembered in the move "Miracle."  And it has been 30 years!  Amazing how time flies.  I loved that team and loved the story.  I was 10 in 1980 and the impact of this miracle team on me was big.  It was also big on the American spirit.  
Movie summary from IMDB:  The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: Do you believe in miracles? Yes!
Video from NBC about the miracle anniversary:


Idea for World Leaders Project

Here is an idea for your World Leaders project.  You could do an "In Plain English" type video.

Best example I can think of is this one:



Simple, low tech and very effective.  If you have questions about how to use this - please see me or drop me an email.  I'd be glad to help.
Quote of the Day:  "How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment to start to improve the world."  - Anne Frank

Targets:
* What is an Absolute Ruler?  Why do they emerge?
* Explain the reasoning and outcomes of the Wars of Religion.
* Compare and Contrast absolute rulers - Sun King Louis, Elizabeth, Phillip II

Agenda:
1.  Pass out and discuss the World Leader Project Outline - due next Wed/Th
2.  Notes - Chapter 14 - Section 1.
Discuss the "Wars of Religion"

World Leaders Project Outline

Duez Outline Assessment Rubric for Leaders Project

Ancient Human Discovered

Very interesting what scientists can determine from just a few strands of hair.  Makes me wonder if they discover a few locks of my hair in the year 4000... will they be able to say:
"He obviously watched too much football, had a penchant for pizza, and drank far too much coffee!"

Elizabeth I - Farewell Speech (The Golden Speech)

On Tuesday this speech will be handed out in class.  The assignment is to read it for Wed/Thu and we'll do a socratic seminar on it in class. 

The speech is an example of an address by an absolute leader - Queen Elizabeth I.

Who was Queen Elizabeth I?
Why is she making this speech?
What tone is she setting?

Read the speech and annotate (highlight, circle, underline) and bring a question from the speech to class on Wed/Thu.

The Farewell Speech                                                                   

Agenda: Fri, Feb 12, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "It's hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse." - Adlai Stephenson

Agenda:
1.  Turn in your proposal for the leadership project.
2.  Finish Campbell's 6 Characteristics of a Leader presentations.
3.  Introduce Ch. 14 Absolutism

Have a great long weekend. 
See you on Tuesday.

Suggested Leaders

On Friday the proposal for the Leadership Project is due.  This post will include a list of a few leaders that you might be able to choose. 

Any proposal will be considered. 
Only one leader will be chosen per class.
Mr. Duez will determine which proposal wins the right to profile that leader. 
Make your proposal count.

Of course there are literally hundreds of people who could be considered World Leaders.  So keep in mind that you need to do these things with your proposal:
For Friday:
Write a proposal to do the project on a particular leader of interest to you. In the proposal should be:
1) Who is the leader?
2) Why are they important to you?
3) What accomplishments do they have and how have they led people?
4) What do you propose to do for the product portion of the project - video, power point, poster, skit, song?

Here's the list:
Adam Smith
Adolf Hitler
Albert Einstein
Anne Frank
Barack Obama
Baron de Montesquieu
Benazir Bhutto
Benito Mussolini
Booker T. Washington
Celopatra
Che Guevera
Chinese students in Tiananmen Square
Clarence Thomas
Colin Powell
Condeleeza Rice
Dalai Lama
Desmond Tutu
Elizabeth I
Emperor Justinian I
Franklin D. Roosevelt
George H. W. Bush
George W. Bush
Hammurabi
Hideki Tojo
Hillary Clinton
Ho Chi Minh
Jean Jacques Rousseau
John Locke
John Maynard Keynes
John McCain
Joseph Stalin
Julius Caesar
Karl Marx
Kofi Anan
Lech Walesa
"Louis, Mary, and Richard Leakey"
Mao Zedong
Margaret Thatcher
Martin Luther King
Maximilien Robespierre
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Mother Teresa
Napoleon Bonaparte
Nelson Mandela
Oscar Romero
Pope John Paul II
Richard Nixon
Ronald Reagan
Rosa Parks
Rudy Giuliani
Sarah Palin
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Jefferson
V. I. Lenin
Voltaire (François Marie Arouet)
WEB DuBois
Winston Churchill
Woodrow Wilson

Agenda: Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010

Quote of the Day: "Leaders grow deep roots." - Scott Campbell

Targets:
* Understand Campbell's text and his 6 characteristics of a leader
* Be prepared to write a proposal for the project about a leader you would like to profile.

Agenda:
* Students who were absent last period will take the test on Chapter 12
1. Students are given a couple of minutes to read over their notes from Campbell's text.
2. Divide the room into 8 groups. One for the intro and conclusion and 6 characteristics. 8 total.
Each group will describe their portion of the text. They will explain the importance. They will also rank the top 3 characteristics of a leader and explain where their characteristic ranks.
3. We will present the findings of the small groups to the entire class.


For Friday:
Write a proposal to do the project on a particular leader of interest to you. In the proposal should be:
1) Who is the leader?
2) Why are they important to you?
3) What accomplishments do they have and how have they led people?
4) What do you propose to do for the product portion of the project - video, power point, poster, skit, song?

Targets Chapter 14 - Absolutism

CH 14 Targets Absolutism

Agenda: Monday, Feb. 8, 2010

Quote of the Day: "When the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs!"  - Johann Tetzell, in response to the Indulgence system during the time of the Reformation

Today -
TEST on Chapter 12 - "Reanissance and Reformation"

After the test, pick up these handouts:
1.  Targets for Chapter 14 - Absolutism
2.  Scott Campbell's 6 Characteristics of Leaders:  "Great Leaders Grow Deep Roots."  
Read Campbell for tomorrow.  We will work with it in class.  It is a resource for our next project - The Leadership Project.  We will discuss tomorrow in class.

Fleur Power ~ Go Saints!

Saints Aren’t the First to Call on Fleur Power

Very interesting article about New Orleans Saints Logo and history:


But it is much more than just the logo of a modern-day football team. Throughout history, the fleur-de-lis has represented many things, including royalty and religion. The symbol, an artistic representation of a flower (a lily or an iris), has been found on ancient Greek and Roman coins.
Like an inkblot in a psychological test, the fleur-de-lis of the Saints can have several interpretations. Some may see it as a most aggressive flower or as the tip of a spear or an arrowhead.
New Orleans players like it but vary in their awareness of its meaning. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma said he did not know of its floral origin. Linebacker Marvin Mitchell called it a “fleur-de-leaf.”
Defensive end Bobby McCray said: “It’s not like all the other logos in the N.F.L., like a simple animal or something like that. This is pretty distinguished.”
Drew Brees, the quarterback of the Saints, called the fleur-de-lis “a big part of what New Orleans is all about” because it is a symbol of the culture dating to French rule.

Purchase Points Policy

We had a great time today with a little joke I play every year in class.  After their quiz in World History on the Renaissance and Reformation (Chapter 12) we pass out the "Purchase Points Policy"  here it is:

Purchase Points


We discuss the policy a bit after the students have had a chance to read it.  A few students give me a look like, "This must be a joke."  Others are very excited and are already reaching for their wallets.  A few are very offended that they would not be able to afford to "purchase points."  I explain, "Well,  you might have just failed that test... you could just see your secretary and buy a coupon for academic points and "Boom!"  you have an A."  A few smiles come to the student's faces because they realize they have a reprieve.  And maybe studying for the test Monday isn't really that necessary now.

I spend 10 minutes or so of trying to persuade the students that this might actually happen.  I say things like, "Hey, don't blame me.  They always make us pass out district announcements on initiatives in social studies."  And students know that we are going to the counselor meetings on scheduling like 4 times this month.  So it strikes home.  We discuss the advantages and drawbacks to such a gimmick.  I usually say, "Hey, everyone can go to college now and Mr. Duez might actually earn more money in salary!  What's so bad about that?"

Then finally I have a student (usually someone who is looking the most confused) to read the quote on the board, "When the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."  A quote from Johann Tetzell about indulgences in the time of the protestant reformation.  Finally it starts to sink in that this is in comparison to the reformation and light bulbs come on.

Of course the students are going to have to write on the test and explain the quote.  So this is the perfect way to get it across to them.  It becomes very relevant.  They suddenly understand how Martin Luther must have felt all those many years ago. Getting to pay your way to a better GPA is similar to getting to pay your way to heaven.

The very first time that I did this was at Humble High in 2005.  It just so happens that the very first period that I was doing the gag, my evaluating principal Mr. Monk came strolling into the room.  He was just in time to learn about this new district policy!  To his credit he remained quiet, calm and played along with it.  But, in the end I asked him, "What did you think of this while we were doing it?"  He said sternly, "I was thinking to myself that I would be spending the afternoon on the phone trying to explain this one to parents and YOU would be helping!"

Today I took it to Mr. Roser, just to be sure that no one has any misinterpretation.  I can just hear it now over the loud speaker, "Mr. Duez, please report to the office!"  :)

Notes: Chapter 12 - Reformation Part II

Ch12 Reformation Part 2                                                    

Luther Videos

Luther Trailer:


Scene @ the Diet of Worms:

Agenda: Wed & Thu Feb. 3/4, 2010

Quote of the Day:   "You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea. You can kill a man, but not an idea." - Benazir Bhutto


Agenda:
1.  Finish presenting posters for the Human Rights Project.
2.  If time remains, we will watch an inspirational video.


This is a TAKS testing day most of the morning.  So classes are shortened or lengthened at different extents.  1st period is not even meeting.  


Chapter 12:
QUIZ IS FRIDAY
TEST IS MONDAY

Notes - Chapter 12 - Reformation

CH12 Reformation

Agenda: Tuesday, Feb 2, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "Here I stand and I can do no other.  So help me God.  Amen."  - Martin Luther.

Learning Targets:
* Who was Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Erasmus?
* Why did some members of the Catholic Church believe it should be reformed?

Agenda:
1.  Collect any homework assignments from Chapter 12.
2.  Pass back Human Rights Project Essays (rewrites are due on Monday)
3.  Explain the changes to our schedule due to TAKS testing on Wednesday:
Quiz is on Friday
Test is on Monday
(We will finish the presentations for Human Rights Posters when we finish Chapter 12)
4.  Notes - Reformation 'Chapter 12'

Frank Buckles Turns 109


Last U.S. veteran of World War I turns 109

By Paul Courson, CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Frank Buckles, 109 on Monday, is the last living U.S. veteran of WWI
  • Buckles wants lawmakers to make D.C. monument a national WWI memorial
  • Monument currently honors only D.C. veterans of the war
  • Congress has not yet decided on the legislation


Agenda: Monday, Feb 1, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "There are no good writers in the world, there are only good re-writers." - Mr. Duez

Learning Targets: 
* What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?  What purpose does it serve?
* What is the United States doing to preserve Human Rights and what are other countries in the world doing?
* Present posters and teach the class about each of the 30 articles of the Universal Decalaration of Human Rights

Agenda:
Mr. Duez will discuss the project essays.  He will be passing them back tomorrow.  If you scored below an 85 you will have the opportunity to re-write the essay.  They are due on Monday.  If you failed to do any research, write in MLA format, or cite your sources... you should probably begin rewriting it today.

1.  Present Posters in order 1-30
2.  Collect Homework

Tuesday - Quiz
Friday - Friday