More than a Piece of Plastic

This year I let each of my Mods(classes) choose a project to complete.  You may have read in one of our earlier postings about my Mod 1 class and their ideas to reduce the national debt.  They made a video and wrote a three page letter to our President.  He responded a few weeks later with a letter and some photos.  Once my other Mods saw that, they totally got on board and stopped procrastinating and wanted to nail down a project.  Mod 3 is choosing a curriculum related item to learn about.(More to follow on this)  Mod 2 and 4 are still selecting their ideas and Mod 5 picked a rather ambitious idea.

After learning about propaganda, several of my students came across this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Many of you may have seen it or have heard your children talking about it.  This video showcases capturing Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA in Central Africa.  His crimes have lasted more than 2 decades.  This video has taken some criticism and with everything that is put out in the media, everyone views it differently and there are lots of opinions.  My 5th Mod was extremely moved by the fact that he has abducted nearly 30,000+ children over the past 9 years and committed several crimes against humanity.  They made some serious connections between our WWII studies and propaganda used today.  Above all else, they just wanted to be a part of something and use their power for good.  It has been rather refreshing to hear in today's world.

My students decided that they would collect 30,000 plastic lids or bottle tops to use to create a mural for our school.  The 30,000 caps to honor the 30,000 abducted and the mural to spread awareness of this man's crimes and to beautify our school with recycled art. Thus doing a lot of good with one project.  We started this journey a week ago.  Not only has this been a Mod 5 thing, but I have kids from other Mods and all over our school helping.  It has been amazing.  One small idea has sparked an ARMY!


Just what can we accomplish with a bunch of pieces of plastic?  You might be surprised....

In one week we have:

~Contacted over 30 businesses, schools, and organizations to help us collect or donate caps
(people are helping and the caps are rolling in.  It is humbling to be out in public and have someone hand you a plastic bag filled with bottle caps because they heard about this project!  That is powerful.)
~Received 3 pieces of 4 by 8 ft. plywood from Morris Wood Enterprises
~Collected, washed, counted, and sorted by color 6,887 plastic caps and lids
~primed our wood to prepare it for our design(students created the design and I can't wait for you to see it)
~lined up volunteers to help us draw, and paint

I SEE plastic lids EVERYWHERE now.  I jump on them like they are GOLD.  I have all my family and friends collecting and they all probably think I am insane.   I view these caps as more than a piece of plastic.  I view them as an amazing gift.  They represent people just like you or me that didn't choose for something terrible to happen to them.  And my students cared very much to honor them.  My students felt a connection and were intrinsically motivated to make a giant statement on their behalf.  Intrinsically motivating 7th graders can be tricky, so when I say this is refreshing, I MEAN it.

I look at things differently now.  I have told many children over the course of 17 years of teaching that they can accomplish anything if they put their mind to it.  Yet, sometimes I know maybe that doesn't always happen for everyone.  We sometimes put our minds to things and they don't work out the way we hope. A week ago, when my students suggested this I found myself saying: "Let's collect some caps and make a SMALL mural.  Cool Idea!"  My student's said, "What if we collect 30,000 caps?"  I said, "What if we don't collect 30,000 caps?  Then what?"  NOW I AM SAYING--"WHAT IF WE DO???"  A week ago I had zero caps in my classroom.  Tonight, I have close to 7,000 plastic caps of all shapes, colors, and sizes sitting in buckets! What a joy.

The next time you look at a cap or plastic lid, wherever you are, I hope you think of this and smile, after you mail us the cap, of course!!:-)

EVERY CAP COUNTS, SO EVEN IF YOU DONATE JUST ONE, THAT IS SOMETHING!
If you have caps to donate we need 23,113 more by May 1st, 2012.  Thank you for helping.

Mrs. Barry's Social Studies Class

Room 707

Excelsior Middle School

3555 North 10^th Street

Marion, Iowa 52302

Propaganda Projects: Bracelets for Breast Cancer and so much More!!

 As a teacher there is nothing more exciting than watching a project become student-led and student-driven.  There can be few instances that really spark, and ignite students.  Do to demands of curriculum and testing requirements over the years I have found that there can be less time to really teach kids all things that I really wish I could.

I have often stated to my students, administrators, and peers that Social Studies is more than placing a capital city on a map.  It's more than labeling facts on a timeline, and it is more than writing an essay about life in Ancient Greece.  Social Studies can be about SOCIAL issues, current events, and things that are happening to PEOPLE ALL OVER THE GLOBE!

During February and early March my students studied World War II and how it affected European countries, Japan, and the Eastern Hemisphere.  We included a few important details related to the U.S.A. because there are just so many amazing details to not cover. We studied Propaganda and how it contributed to Nazism, the Holocaust, Tokyo Rose, and Rosie the Riveter.  We watched documentaries like Top Secret Rosies, and Paper Clips and learned how Propaganda can unite a very large community for good or for evil.  We completed a project shortly before spring break. Each student had to pick a modern day cause/need and create a poster for that cause showing his/her understanding of propaganda.  The result was breathtaking.  My students nailed this assignment and what has followed has swept me off my feet.  I had students choose tough topics to talk about and look at......AHHHH, but that is what makes SOCIAL STUDIES hard sometimes.  Sometimes we have to look at things that are tough to look at and talk about, but if we don't.........then those things NEVER change.

Students advocated for many causes:
~ Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse, Human Trafficking, Equal Rights, Gay Marriage, Gas Prices, National Debt, Cancer, Kony2012, MS, Leukemia, Poverty, World Hunger, Obesity, and the list goes on.

I had students take the project outside of the classroom.   Ellie  and Claire raised money on their own to symbolically adopt a Polar Bear.  Bailey, Makaela, and Allie began selling bracelets to family and friends to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  My Mod 5 class is now collecting 30, 000 new and used water bottle caps, pop lids, and other plastic lids to create a mural for another project.  (Look for more postings on this project, because it is going to be amazing!)

Wow!  What started out as a small project to culminate my WWII unit has exploded into a rare opportunity to let my students take their learning where they want it to go.  When I made the decision to come to middle school, I had several friends, relatives, and colleagues say,"What are you thinking?  Middle School?  They'll eat you alive!  Those kids will be so self-centered!"

Although we all can be concerned with putting ourselves first at times in our life, I have been pleasantly surprised that my 7th graders are not the teacher-eating vultures my loved ones feared they would be.  The 7th grade students I have had the pleasure to work with are smart, capable, kind, and really DO CARE about OTHERS.  The want the world to better place and they are driven!  My propaganda project taught me that.

Below are some thoughts from a few students.  Enjoy and watch for more postings soon!
~Mrs. Barry

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After studying World War II and the negative and positive effects of propaganda, we were assigned a project in our class to evaluate our understanding of propaganda.  We were supposed to pick a current need in society that uses propaganda to promote its product.  We chose to do Breast Cancer Awareness because one of our friend's mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of the year.  I, Bailey, made a bracelet to support my friend and my friend Allie thought it would help if we sold bracelets for donations and gave the money to a Breast Cancer Foundation to find a cure for breast cancer.  For our project we found the facts about the deaths of the many men and women.  It was quite shocking the result we found.  We created a poster for our class assignment.
Our learning and passion did not stop there.  We took our learning beyond the classroom and decided to make a difference.  We asked our friends, and people we knew to donate if they could. Everyone who donated at least a $1 or more we gave them a pink silicone bracelet that says Faith, Hope, Strength, Courage.  We have raised $109.75 and we have gave out almost 50 bracelets. We have learned that 3 small people can make a BIG difference in the world of cancer. We have learned that propaganda can be good as well as bad. But the propaganda with Breast Cancer is good to know about, but the results are sad. The feeling of making a difference in the big world is amazing.
Sincerely,
~Bailey, Allie, and Makaela
Mod 4

Swing Kids Compare/Contrast Essays

Students recently watched Swing Kids.  This movie was about youth growing up in Germany during 1939.  After viewing the movie students wrote essays comparing and contrasting themselves to one of the characters in the film.  Below you will find a few samples of their work:

After seeing the movie Swing Kids, I decided that I am most like the character of Arvid.  Arvid would get angry over something, but would be afraid or too passive to do anything about it.  But when he would get pushed over the edge, he would blowup and stand up for himself.  The summer before 6th grade I knew a girl who I thought was my friend, but she would bully me and push me around.  I used to complain about it to my mom and then I realized that it didn't do me any good.  One day she was being extra controlling and I couldn't take it.  I got so angry that I finally stood up for myself, even though I was scared that I wouldn't have any friends.  Turns out, I ended up with just my true friends and no one treated me like a doormat anymore.
There are ways that Arvid and I are different though.  When things get hard, I don't just run away from them and give up.  Arvid gave up after he stood up for the people who weren't Nazis.  When I stood up against my friend, I didn't run away and give up.  I stood proud and strong and made new friends.  I learned that I didn't have to cling on to anyone and that I am my own person.  Plus, I didn't commit suicide when the the going got tough, like Arvid did.

Allie McDonald:  Mod 4

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After watching the movie Swing Kids I think I'm most like the character Thomas.  I don't really care about much.  Thomas took the high life and joined the HJ.  I think that I would have too.  If one of my friends had to join, I would join with them.  Thomas was crazy, but mean at times.  When I get angry, I can be a bit mean.

I am also different from Thomas.  At the end of the movie Thomas turned on his best friend Peter and beat him up.  I could never hurt one of my good friends.  Thomas changed because of the HJ.  I would never have let someone change the way I am.  Thomas didn't really care when Arvid passed away.  If one of my friends died, I would be really depressed and sad.

Gavin Gast:  Mod 3

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I would say that I am most like Arvid.  We both have glasses and are male.  Besides the physical similarities we are both strong willed.  Just as he did I think that I would stand up against the Nazi cause.  Refusing to play the German song sounds like something I would do, because I am very stubborn.  He didn't get along well with Thomas and I don't think I would either.  He got along well with Peter and I think I would too.  Peter had the best morals and Arvid and I would both like that.

Some of the ways that Arvid and I are different include, he has brown hair and mine is blonde.  Also he walks with a limp and plays guitar.  I don't do either of those things.  Also Arvid killed himself and I wouldn't ever even consider that.  he could have more more of an impact if he would have stayed alive.  He could have fought the Nazi cause while he was alive.  That is what I believe I would have done.

John Melvin:  Mod 3

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I think that I am most like Peter because I care for my family and friends a lot.  Many times, I want to do the right thing.  The problem is, sometimes I don't know what that right thing is.  It is hard for me to make decisions, as it was for Peter.  Neither of us agree with Hitler or what he did to others.  Both of us can realize easily when there is something wrong with people we are close to.  We both also need somebody to comfort us when we are hurt.

Some differences between us, is that I would never question being on the Nazis' side or not.  I don't like to add anger when I'm in a fight, but Peter does.  Obviously, I'm a girl and Peter is a boy.  Also, I would never talk to my superiors the way he talked to his mother and the Gestapo.  I would be too scared to.  I also would not go to the work camp happily.  I would have taken Thomas' advice.

Emily Smith:  Mod 4
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I think I am most like Thomas from the movie Swing Kids, because Thomas is strong willed.  When he decided to join the H.J. he took it very seriously and gave it 110%.  Thomas and I are also alike because when Thomas' friend Peter joined the H.J. he joined.  We are also alike in a way because Thomas stood up for Arvid.  I would also if one of my friends was getting bullied.  Other ways Thomas and I are alike are Thomas only though of himself, and I do that sometimes as well.  The last way Thomas and I are similar are that we can get so caught up in something that we forget that there are other people around us.

The ways that Thomas and I are different is that I would want to make my family proud in everything I do.  Where as Thomas did things to rebel against his family.  Another reason Thomas and I are different is that Thomas joined the H.J. I would not have joined the H.J.  I would have stayed back and helped the Jewish people.  Thomas also did not get along with his father, but I get along with my father very well.  Thomas also got very caught up int he H.J. lifestyle, where I would have stayed back and lived a double life like Peter.  Thomas also though the H.J. were his friends.  It can be hard to tell who your real friends are.  This has not happened to me yet.  The last way Thomas and I are different is that Thomas stood up for Arvid and fought Emil.  That would be very hard for me to do that as well.

Anna Mazzella:  Mod 3

Tough Questions Spark BIG Ideas

One day in my first period class I had a student raise their hand and say,

“Mrs. Barry, I am confused.” 

Me:  "What are you confused about?” 

The student replied with the following, “How can a baseball player or another professional athlete make around $80,000 for just sitting on the bench or getting up to bat, and we have this horrible debt?  It’s not right that some people have so much and so many people don’t.  We should do something about this.”

This sparked a several week process of following the debt crisis, and current events on the economy, as well as discussing ways to help our citizens, and how to reduce the debt. My students began to understand that being paid a high salary isn’t a crime, but that somewhere along the line, things had gotten out of control, and now our whole nation was in trouble. This class was very ambitious and worked hard to complete the regular curriculum in addition to this special project. 

Below is a video clip of all their ideas.  Please realize that sometimes twelve and thirteen-year-olds are idealistic and most of these suggestions might not work, but they did an excellent job of working through the process, thinking outside of the box and making connections. I hope if nothing else it provides some hope that these children do care about their future and want to make a difference now.  

Medieval Festival 2012

Hear Ye, Hear Ye:

Students on Team 7B culminated their learning of the Middle Ages, with a "FANTABULOUS Feast on January 17th, 2012.  Below are some photos of our event!





Butter Making-1/6/12

1/17/12-Medieval Festival

We had a FABO time.  

We wore COOL costumes.

Ate amazing cuisine.

Presented plays, and musical talents of singing, reading, and dancing.

We finally finished with a catapult competition.  

What a day!

Yum!  Who wouldn't want a little Castle with their cake?

2 Knights- Kalob and Jon

The Henchman-Reid

King Jake and Duke Kyle

Queen Kate and Dutchess Maddy

Scenery designed by students in Mrs. Mollman's Language Arts Class

Emily and Maddie during the Catapult Competition

What do you want for Christmas?

Mrs. Barry Ringing the Bells at Wal-Mart for the Salvation Army

AHHHHH!  The holidays.  I enjoy so many family traditions.  Our tree is up, the lights a glow, our nativity scenes are in their special places, the cards are ready to mail, and the shopping will likely be complete in the nick of time!
Over the past week  my students have asked me what I want for Christmas from my family and friends.   I have been tempted to ask my family for one of the following:

"World Peace"
"Students and Children that behave"
" A toddler that throws NO tantrums"
"A vacation"
"8 gallons of coffee for my lack of sleep"
"a workout membership to start getting this almost 40-year-old in shape!"

I've kept my whimsical ideas to myself and told my family none of the above. However, the other day I got an amazing idea.  Our family tries to keep the the "Reason for the Season" in mind, and not focus on the materialism.  Our kids get a few presents, but we also donate something each year for each child and that is one of their presents.  Over the years, our kids(including Brady-we started him young) have helped us pick the recipients.  Their choices have ranged from the Michael J. Fox foundation, Make-a-Wish, Children's Miracle Network, Susan G. Komen, Operation Christmas Child, and the list goes on.

So back to my idea:  What if I did something similar at school? Instead of focusing on getting,  what if I encouraged my students to do something for someone else?  My students love to make cards or posters to hang in my room!  So why don't they make them for others, and mail to a local hospital or a military unit?  I started the ball rolling my ringing the bells for the Salvation Army. 

As a social studies teacher my job just isn't to teach about far off lands and governments... it is to teach my students to CARE about SOMETHING or SOMEONE enough to make a difference.  So this is it.  They have a chance to show others what I already know:  how awesome and capable and kind they truly are for 12 and 13 year olds.

Yes, world peace would be a fabulous thing... but it isn't likely.  A vacation would be great for one week, but it will only last a week.  A totally tantrum free toddler sounds amazing, but I think it is more likely to happen in a fiction novel!!:-)  An act of kindness given this holiday season, could last a lifetime for so many people.  In the words of Ghandi:  "Be the change, you want the world to see."  So it is with great anticipation that I launch my campaign.  My Mod 5 came up with some cool acronyms to name our campaign.  We finally settled on:  "S.O.K.D. - SHOW OTHERS KINDNESS DAILY!! I LOVE IT!"  We'll be taking photos of all the things we do for others and posting them in our room and on our blog.  STAY TUNED AND I HOPE YOU GET SOKD!


Friday, December 16th, 2011- Making Cards for soldiers and veterans  recovering in Iowa and Minnesota hospitals. 

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

  We thought the Rome unit really taught us to appreciate the past because times were very different back then. From reading about Roman culture, to doing the pizza box project, it was fun and very educational at the same time.  There was no dull moment while studying the ways of the ancient Romans.  After this unit we discovered a new found respect for ancient Roman architecture.  We also found that the Romans contributed a great deal of things to our modern civilization.  Once again we found that civilization such as the mighty Romans was not built in a day and that there would be many ups and downs along the way.  We look forward to learning about the Middle Ages next!

                                                         By,

                                     Baylor Fish and Luke Fejfar