Embracing Cultures Project

If you have never visited the "Free the Children" website, I hope you will enjoy this opportunity to do so! I have visited it often, but in browsing through it again this evening I found a link to a special project that I haven't noticed before and that I thought you would enjoy seeing. It features a special project entitled 'Embracing Cultures'. The following description of the project is from the website:

Free The Children launched the Embracing Cultures Tour and Project in September 2002. This initiative is designed to inspire, motivate and challenge young people in middle schools and high schools across North America to welcome and “embrace” cultural differences and become peace builders.

We have talked about these issues in our classes and have discussed how we can demonstrate these positive qualities in our lives. Please have a look at this site and share on the blog your favorite ideas, suggestions they make, things that you plan to try, etc.
Here is the site:
http://www.embracingcultures.com/
I have also made a link to the right.

I look forward to hearing your comments!

Once upon a time ...

Julie realized that the light was now too dim to take any more photographs. Luckily, she had been able to take about 30 shots before it became too dark. She carefully took the zoom lens off her new Canon and reached behind her for the camera bag.


Why don't you put your creative talents to work and add a paragraph to this story?
We'll read what we create in class this week!


Thanks to http://www.tellingtales.com/Stufftodo/Starters/StoryStarters-Frame.htm for the idea for this story starter.

Some long weekend fun ....

Here is a riddle for you!!! If you share your ideas and questions here, maybe you can come up with a solution together! Good Luck!

A girl has a 12 liter jug of rootbeer, and wants to split it in half, but only has an 8 liter and a 5 liter jug. How can she do it?

Happy solving!

Border Talks

As you know, in our Area Classes this week and last, you have taken part in a United Nations simulation activity. The challenge has been to take on a role at a UN meeting and to create a peace treaty between two nations in conflict. We have found that many of the issues in the simulation are of current concern in various locations around the world. 'Border' issues is one such example: in the news this week, there has been much talk about the security of the American / Mexican border. The Wikipedia article on this topic is linked to the right; it provides excellent background information for you. After reading it (and perhaps checking out some of the current news of this week), what are the similarities/ differences between the current US / Mexico border issue and the border issues raised in our simulation activity?

Taking IT Global

Good Morning!

At the conference last week, I met a young man named Luke Walker who is the Education Program Manager for the organization 'Taking IT Global'. To take a quotation from the home page of their website, "TakingITGlobal.org is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It is now the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month. TIG's highly interactive website provides a platform for expression, connection to opportunities, and support for action."

My challenge to you, as McQuarrie students interested in Global Issues, is to visit their website, go to the various links, and offer your comments here. You can comment on the featured theme, other issues of particular interest to you, discussion forums, special TIG projects, or anything else that you would like to share with our group. I am considering joining the TIGEd program - you may look into this and give me your comment on this as well. This is a fantastic website - I hope you enjoy visiting it!
Ms Watt

Welcome!

Welcome students in Gr. 7 and 8! After an amazing Computer Conference last week, I came home with many new ideas about how we can use technology to even better advantage in our classes. This project arises from that - welcome to the McQuarrie 'blogosphere'! In this blog, I will post items of interest for you to read, think about and post comments. I hope that this will give us all the opportunity to continue our highly motivating discussions beyond the McQuarrie classroom walls!