Blog Archives - AHS * HUMANITIES 11

AHS * HUMANITIES 11

Tuesday, 4/14

4/13/2015

Announcements
Honors Seminar 7th Period!

Starter

Read aloud this Example Student DP Reflection from class of 2014
Take the survey embedded below or click here

Agenda

1st Block: Seminar Prep Work Time!
2nd Block: Partner seminar prep work time (if you're not ready, you are required to do this ALONE tonight for homework for seminar participation tomorrow)
If done early Work on any one of the four inspiration journal entries: See Activity #5 in this document

Seminar Prep Part II: Analysis- Take notes on a shared google doc that you SHARE with Ashley too: Feel free to make a copy of THIS template to organize your notes:
https://docs.google.com/a/animashighschool.com/document/d/1xkiYy1D4mZ2LM4YwhBnSfZL0HuCOP2gWWc4tTDtkU1g/edit

1.       Share ONE example from EACH of the 4 categories of annotation from above (A-D). Write down the quote and page #.

2.       Select one quote from Abbey that you think is the best description of a place. Why do you like this passage? Write the quote down here and explain why you like it.

3.       What are Abbey’s environmental ethics? Pick a quote that best supports your analysis.

4.       What characteristics or adjectives does he ascribe to certain places? How does this reveal his perspective or feelings about these places? Think about how he describes such places as the inside of his trailer compared to the landscape of Arches compared to Hoboken, NJ, etc..

5.       Discuss your discussion questions that you selected while annotating.

Part III: Critique- WITH A PARTNER (ON THE SAME GOOGLE DOC!)

1.       Does Abbey do a good job of using sensory images like sight, taste, sound, touch, smell as well as metaphor, simile and analogy to paint a vivid picture of place for his readers? Why or why not?

2.       Do you agree with Abbey’s ideas about the relationship between man and nature (or technology/progress and wilderness?) Why or why not?

3. Do you agree with his sense of environmental ethics? Why or why not?

Monday, 4/13

4/12/2015

Goals

Begin to understand elements of nature writing
Analyze Ed Abbey's writings for elements of nature writing, environmental ethic and sense of place as one type of example for your own sense of place essays

Announcements

Honors seminar 7th period tomorrow
Project proposal for Cat's Cradle due Thursday e.o.d
Homework for the week! See the Hmwk/Cal page
FLC Chem lab and field trip most of the day on Friday!

Starter
Read the handout on elements of nature writing (page 1 and 2 only for online version) and answer the questions on the backside at the bottom of page #2.

POWERPOINT ON NATURE WRITING: Helpful additional source if you need it.

Agenda
Ed Abbey reading/annotating Work Time

Friday, April 10th

4/10/2015

Goal:
1. Understand what sense of place means and see examples of how writers and filmmakers define and describe sense of place.

2. Familiarize yourself with some frameworks of "sense of place" as characterized by relationships to place and community attachments.

STARTER: Ted Talk "Why Stay in Chernobyl? Because It's Home"

AGENDA
1. Intro to Sense of Place powerpoint

2. Read the Categories of Sense of Place: Relationships to Place and Community Attachments and circle the attachments/relationships that most connect to your relationship/attachment to place and community.

PAIR SHARE: Explain your selection(s) and why you chose it/them.

3. Sense of Place Essays from Orion Magazine
TOGETHER: Read "Traverse City, MI"

PAIR SHARE: Which of the categories of sense of place seem to apply here? What sort of relationship to the place does the author have? How would you characterize his community attachment?

4. JOURNAL #9 complete steps 1 and 2 below:
Step 1: READ AT LEAST 2 MORE essays yourself, asking the same questions of each. (Which of the categories of sense of place seem to apply here? What sort of relationship to the place does the author have? How would you characterize his/her community attachment?) Does the author reveal his/her environmental ethic? Note your connections and observations in your journal.

Suggested reads:
Sioux Falls, SD
The Backcountry
The Bluffs: Pacific Palisades, CA
Oakland, CA
Silverton, CO

Step 2: Name this portion of your journal after a place, such as in the titles of the Orion essays. Write about that place with details that attempt to reveal either the nature of your relationship with the place, your community attachment to the place, or both.

4. Edward Abbey: Reading assignment- Last major reading assignment of the year!!

Watch this video of Edward Abbey (8 minutes)

Read the instructions and summarize them to your neighbor for each of the three parts of this assignment.

Template for organizing Part II and III responses

5. EXIT TICKET: Write down the requirements for Friday's seminar:

How long do you think it will take you to read the 35 pages? Should you start this weekend?
What do you have to annotate for?
Why am I making you annotate so specifically?
When should you finish PART 1: Reading and Annotating by in order to have time to do the partner work in class?

Thursday, April 9th

4/9/2015

LEARNING GOALS

Consider if we have an ethical obligation to innovate
Analyze Barry Lopez's essay on "The Rediscovery of North America"

ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Have you turned in Activities 1-4?
2. Have you turned in your Happiness and Meaning art piece?

3. Honors Book Club:

Cat's Cradle seminar will continue for ALL honors students Tuesday, 7th period. Please come prepared with specific questions about the novel AND a few quotes/passages you'd like to analyze or work through as a group. Project proposal will be due THURSDAY 4/16
Do you have a copy of Half the Sky? Begin reading that asap.

Starter/Journal #8: Observation!
•The foundation of writing is observation. Take ten minutes to observe yourself and what’s happening in your life right now, and write down what you see. Be curious, gentle, and willing to laugh. Allow yourself to daydream and go on tangents. Negative or positive direction is fine. Feel free to explore a particular story. Questions to consider:
–Where are you right now?
–How do you feel? How does your body feel?
–What kind of a day/week have you had?
–What is preoccupying you?
–Did something interesting or unusual happen to you this week?
–What did it make you think about?
–What are some of the small things you’ve noticed recently?
–What are you super excited about?
–Who is someone who has brightened your day/week/month?
–What are you struggling with?
–Did a reaction or a way you behaved recently surprise you?

Agenda
1. Mutation and Innovation Powerpoint

2. Read and annotate "Rediscovery of America" (Need to make up if absent!)
GOAL: Understand Barry Lopez's critique of American society and the consequences Columbus's incursion on modern society AND solutions Lopez proposes to transform this acquisitive paradigm.

Discussion Questions:

Why does Lopez begin this essay by depicting the atrocities of Columbus and early Spanish explorers in the "New World"? (p 10)

On page 11, what does Lopez mean when he says of the Spanish conquest that it was an "incursion of will"?
Why would acknowledging interdependence with the land and other people be a good thing according to Lopez AND do you agree? (12, paragraph 1)
In what ways does this essay compare with Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic"?
What does Lopez claim was the true wealth that America offered? (12-13)
How should we come to really know a land? How does this relate to Leopold's ideas? (13-14)
What is the original definition of "querencia" and how does Lopez apply it to our modern world? (14)
How could a search for querencia be "both a response to a threat and a desire to find out who we are"? (14) Think about how a connection to a place influences your identity. Why is understanding this important for our own personal sense of well being?
Why does Lopez say that the environmental crisis is a "culture crisis" (15)
How does Lopez distinguish between two types or definitions of independence? (15)
Why does Lopez suggest we might face a crisis of character if we don't act AND what is his solution at the end of the essay? (16)

Ski Mountaineering Osprey Week Meeting

4/8/2015

Med Form Needs

Conner
Lawson
Dan

Payment
Who still needs to pay?

Waiver: Keep an eye out for an electronic waiver for SJ Mountain Guides

GEAR

Backpack: Internal frame, 30-55 liters. Guides’ pick: Varient 52
Touring skis and boots: Skis with alpine-touring or telemark bindings. Guides’ pick: Black Diamond Revert w/ Dynafit bindings
Skins: for aforementioned skis
Avalanche Transceiver: Guides’ pick: BCA Tracker 2
Probe
Avy shovel: metal blade is a must
Alpine ice axe: 55-65 cm. Guides’ pick: Raven Ultra
Crampons: general mountaineering crampons. Guides’ pick: Black Diamond Sabretooth
Harness: Adjustable leg loops to fit over layers of clothes. Guides’ pick: Black Diamond Couloir
Locking carabiner: Pear shaped, wide mouth
Belay / rappel device: ATC or similar.
Helmet: Guides’ pick: Guides’ Pick: Black Diamond Vector

Clothing

Socks: Wool or synthetic ski socks
Base layers: Polyester or silk bottom and top
Mid-weight top : Synthetic t-shirt and synthetic underwear
Shell pants: hard shell or soft shell. A pair with side vents are best. Guides’ pick: OR TrailBreaker
Hard shell jacket: waterproof and breathable, no insulation. Guides’ Pick: OR Furio
Gloves: a pair of heavy gloves and a pair of medium weight gloves
Down jacket:
Hats: one with brim, one for warmth
Sunglasses
Goggles

Other Stuff

Water bottles: 2 liters combined capacity; with bottle insulators. Guides’ pick: Nalgene
Sunscreen and lip balm: water/sweat-proof
Headlamp
Personal first-aid kit: for your personal meds/needs; guide will have a large one as well
Lunch food: Everything you eat between breakfast and dinner. May include: bagels, dried meats, cheese, trail mix, candy bars, peanut butter, etc…

Wednesday, April 8th

4/8/2015

Today's Topics: Nuclear Power and Mutation

Starter (Journal #5)

What is your gut reaction to nuclear power? Do you think we should invest in nuclear energy production? Why or why not?

Agenda:
LINK TO THE IMAGES FOR JOURNAL #7 OR USE THIS ONE

1. Nuclear Power and Mutations Powerpoint

2. Introduction to Creative Writing and Journal Prompts # 6 and 7

3. Review Inspiration Journal Requirements (due Tuesday, April 20th)

4. Read and annotate "Rediscovery of America" (Need to make up if absent!)
GOAL: Understand Barry Lopez's critique of American society and the consequences Columbus's incursion on modern society AND solutions Lopez proposes to transform this acquisitive paradigm.

Discussion Questions:

Why does Lopez begin this essay by depicting the atrocities of Columbus and early Spanish explorers in the "New World"? (p 10)

On page 11, what does Lopez mean when he says of the Spanish conquest that it was an "incursion of will"?
Why would acknowledging interdependence with the land and other people be a good thing according to Lopez AND do you agree? (12, paragraph 1)
In what ways does this essay compare with Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic"?
What does Lopez claim was the true wealth that America offered? (12-13)
How should we come to really know a land? How does this relate to Leopold's ideas? (13-14)
What is the original definition of "querencia" and how does Lopez apply it to our modern world? (14)
How could a search for querencia be "both a response to a threat and a desire to find out who we are"? (14) Think about how a connection to a place influences your identity. Why is understanding this important for our own personal sense of well being?
Why does Lopez say that the environmental crisis is a "culture crisis" (15)
How does Lopez distinguish between two types or definitions of independence? (15)
Why does Lopez suggest we might face a crisis of character if we don't act AND what is his solution at the end of the essay? (16)

Tuesday, April 7th

4/7/2015

Proposed site for Pinon Ridge Mill

Tami Lawrence: Naturita Town Mayor

Announcements

Absent Friday? Turn in Activities 1-3
Email Ashley your Town Hall Debate Prep Notes
Honors Seminar 3rd Period Tomorrow
Interesting film this week at the Animas City Theater: Hunting Ground
Be sure to make-up starters/journals if you're absent! If you are absent, you can turn in the journal a day late next week to have more time to make it up: List of required journals due Monday, April 20th
Go over this week's homework/deadlines
Want to visit our sub's earthship home? Email her: [email protected]

Today's Learning Goal:
Evaluate the reasons for or against uranium mining in Naturita based on your assigned interest group

Starter
Watch these 2 two-minute videos about Nuclear Power, how it works and risks of it

Agenda
1. Get into your assigned interest group and prepare for the Town Hall Meeting on the Pinon Ridge Mill

2. Town Hall Meeting

3. Nuclear Power and Mutations Powerpoint

4. Time to work on Activity 5: Inspiration Journal prompts

Friday, April 3rd

4/3/2015

AGENDA

A. STARTER/Journal #4
As a class, watch this TED TALK then respond to the following questions in your journal, then discuss them as a whole class:
https://www.ted.com/talks/leyla_acaroglu_paper_beats_plastic_how_to_rethink_environmental_folklore?language=en

- What are her main points?
- What is your reaction to her talk?
- How could you apply her spirit of innovation to ANY job you pursue? (education, healthcare, engineering, environmental consulting, coaching, business, etc....)

B. Self-Guided Learning Assignment Work Time
Use your time wisely today-- please do not waste class time.
Prioritize your class time in the following ways:
1. Due by the end of class: Activities 1-3
2. Due by Tuesday BEGINNING OF CLASS: Activity 4, Town Hall Debate Prep (SEE THE UPDATED LINKS BELOW)
3. Due by April 20th: Inspiration Journal (includes starters and Activity 5 journal prompts)
4. Happiness and Meaning project art piece (if not complete)
5. Extension readings/films/videos

RESOURCES

Self-Guided Learning Assignment Work Time
Extra time and interest in going into more depth on certain concepts? Consider some of these Optional Extension readings/films/videos

Better Links for Town Hall Debate Prep (Activity 4):
§  Watch the film trailer to Uranium Drive-In and read the film summary to the right of the video on this website : http://uraniumdrivein.com/

§  Check out some Google Images of Uranium Mills

§  Energy Fuels Website: The old company that owned the mill

·         This is the website for Energy Fuel, the nuclear power development company in charge of building and running uranium mills

·         ***Use this sub-link particular to find out about another Uranium mine in Blanding Utah that is similar to proposed Pinonridgemill
http://www.energyfuels.com/white_mesa_mill/

·         Use this link for more specifics on history of and uses of Uranium

§  http://www.examiner.com/article/pinon-ridge-uranium-mill-one-step-closer-to-special-use-permit

·         This article summarizes a town meeting in 2009 to hear from opponents and proponents to the mill. It summarizes pros and cons.

§  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/fukushima-cancer-rates-risks_n_2779729.html

·         This article discusses the cancer risks after the Fukishima nuclear power plant explosion

§  http://www.hcn.org/wotr/a-uranium-mill-makes-no-sense-in-western-colorado

·         This is an article in High Country News by a Telluride resident who argues against the mill.

§  Optional: Colorado Government Report on Health Risks of the Pinon Ridge Mill

Health and Safety Measures for the Mill taken by the company as stated by Energy Fuels:

Numerous safety systems will be present in the Piñon Ridge Mill to protect workers from being exposed to excess levels of radiation. Area air monitors will be located throughout the Piñon Ridge Mill to monitor the concentrations of uranium dust in the mill. Workers involved in potentially dusty operations will wear breathing-zone air monitors to monitor the air that they breathe. For those workers exposed to higher concentrations of uranium dust, urine samples will be collected and analyzed to determine the total uranium that has been inhaled and ingested. In addition those workers exposed to the highest levels of gamma radiation will wear gamma-monitoring badges, similar to what x-ray technicians and airline screeners wear. Other protections include regular power washing of equipment and vehicles, monitoring of the amount of time a worker is exposed to radiation, and general housekeeping and personal hygiene.

Working in the Piñon Ridge Mill will be no more dangerous than working in any other industrial facility.

Some Additional Benefits of Nuclear Power according to Energy Fuel (The Company)

Nuclear power - like wind, hydro and solar energy - can generate electricity with no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions. The critical difference is that nuclear energy is the only proven option with the capacity to produce vastly expanded supplies of clean electricity on a global scale.
The United States currently derives 20% of its electricity from nuclear technology. This makes the United States the biggest producer of nuclear power in the world. Interestingly, the United States currently imports 90% of its nuclear fuel from other countries. Therefore, the United States is in danger of falling into the same “dependence trap” we have with oil.