One requirement of the 7th Grade project is to make sure you discuss one major event from the time period your parents where in school.   

You should have an event they mentioned and last week we researched several possible events, so you would have some ideas to bring up if they could not remember.  

Now you must write a formal summary of the event.  Below is a summary sheet for use.  You will download it, save it correctly (per_summary12_lastname) and complete it for class on Tuesday.  IT WILL NEED TO BE PRINTED.  TRY TO FIT ON ONE SIDE.  

Sorry guys, but I'm finally too sick to make it through the day.  Please continue to work on your "What was 7th grade like?" projects.  If you need to record please do so.  Also continue to collect images.  Please, please, please be careful with the headphones and remember to wind the cord around them before you put it back in the case.
If you are off task the substitute has permission to make you log off and silently read.  Don't let me down!  We have a lot to accomplish next week so we can move on.  Have a nice weekend and see you Monday.

PS, not my best work.  I hope it was helpful.  Leave a comment or suggestions.  I plan to redo this soon for future use, so your ideas would be helpful.  Thanks, Mr. H

You have or will be interviewing someone about what life was like in Middle School.  You know the years they were in middle schools, so today, you are doing MINI research on several topics that they might remember.  This way if they mention them you have some idea of what they are talking about.  WE WILL DO MORE DETAILED research next week.  

On the wall below, Click here to open this wall on the web.  Click in a clear area and add your first name only, the year they were in school, link or image or movie about one of the events you did your mini research on.   

Students should be finished with the interview portion of the "What was it like?" project.  Today we discussed how they should go about writing their script and creating the story of their interviewee.  We also talked about how to find imagery on the internet that is "cc" or creative commons license.  Since student's work will be published, it is important that they learn about different forms of plagiarism and copy right laws.  Our language arts department does a great job of addressing plagiarism, so I felt I should also talk to the students about where they take imagery from on the internet.  Tomorrow students will have

Click here to Read the Akron Beacon Journal Article 

Slang of 1950-1990 
PowerPoints with links to songs, film, tv, and more for 1970's, and 1980's  (note most pictures do not show up as they could not convert to google presentations.  

Garth Holman
Senior Picture.
1984-1985, Graduated 1989
Jordan, New York
Jordan-Elbridge Jr. Sr. High School


What was 7th grade like is a project that asks students to be historians.  This project requires students to research, question, interview and interpreting.  Students need to interview someone over 30 years old by next Monday (Sept. 24).  We will begin constructing students' multimedia presentation the week of the 24th.  

The two essential questions guiding this project are: 
1. What does a historian do and how do they do it? 
2. How has life changed since your parents were in middle school?   

Get out those year books, report cards and pet rocks.  Have fun with this project and help you children understand how the past impacts them.  They are very excited about this project.  In the end they will digitize your images, stories and "your life" for future generations to view and learn from".  Unless we share history, it is forgotten!   

For another great example of how vital it is to share and record our lives, check out
StoryCorps.  StoryCorps is a nonprofit company with national sponsors including NPR, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, CPB, etc.  In their words, " Our mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives." 
**Viewer discretion is advised because of the content of some stories. 

Here are some interviewing tips from StoryCorps:
Start the interview by stating your name, your age, the date, and the location of the interview.  Then ask your storyteller to do the same.
Remember, the questions you prepared in advance are just suggestions. Trust your instincts: if something interests you, ask more about it. Sometimes the storyteller may need to know that it’s okay to talk about a certain topic. Grant permission by saying, “Tell me more.” Avoid saying “uh huh” or interrupting. Take breaks if you need them.
Keep the Conversation Flowing and Listen closely.
Stick with the good stuff.
Ask emotional questions.
Respect your subject.
Take notes during the interview.
Be curious and honest, and keep an open heart. 
Wrap It Up!  We’ve found that 40 minutes is a good length of time for interviews, but you can talk for as long or as short as you like. Before you turn off the recorder, ask the storyteller if there is anything else he or she wants to talk about. Then make sure to thank the person; opening up can be difficult. Let him or her know that it was a privilege to listen to the story.

Below are a few more images from high school and an example from last year.  We looked at these images today and talked about how images are primary resources and tell us about the past.  They got a kick out of "Big hair" and dress.  What will your year book teach them.

We have been talking about closed and open questions and how they impact our answers.  Most test are closed questions....One answer, right or wrong.  Open questions require more thought and much more writing to answer.   

Knowing the difference helps us know how to answer questions in a correct formate.  No one likes an open answer to a closed question.  

However, we started to discuss even BIGGER questions: Essential or Enduring questions.  These have no easy answer and people can spend their life trying to answer one question.  These are the questions we really think about and inspire us to work hard.  Below is a short reading from a site (forget where I got it), but I thought it might help you understand these types of questions more.  

After you look at it and rewatch the clip form GUNS, GERMS and STEEL, can you explain why Jared Diamond's question can be called an ESSENTIAL QUESTION.  If so, leave a comment.  

We have discussed and even created essential questions.  Now the question I have for is, how do we study essential questions?  Last week we watched the video of a college student, Dan Brown attempting to explain his answer for the essential question of "what role does education play in modern society".  I reminded you that essential questions have more than one "right" answer.  Below is a response to Dan Brown's explanation.  It was also created by a college student.  I want you to read the response position and if needed re-watch the Dan Brown video.  THEN answer the questions on the response to Dan Brown reading.
Tomorrow and Friday you will be examining a much larger essential question pertaining to why civilizations started where they did.  We will examine two rather famous explanations; one by Jared Diamond and the other by Charles Mann.

Fill in this form and when you are done click submit.  You should get a thank you for submitting message.  

Mr. P and I talked with you all about Lollipop Moments in life.  You were asked to find and create your own Lollipop moments or lollipop leadership.  If you did and would like to share what happened with us, leave a comment.  

Remember what Coach Hayes said, 


"You can never pay back; but you can always pay forward"


Keep paying it forward.