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
 

It's All Greek to Me!

The past three weeks the students of Room 707 have been Hanging in the Land of Greece.
My students have found that living in the year 2011 might have some perks.  In Ancient Sparta, boys were sent to military training from ages 7 to 30! YIKES, so asking them to take out the trash or clean their room should be much easier for you now!  Tell them they could be living in Ancient Sparta!
In Ancient Athens girls were essentially slaves to educate children and take care of households, some of them marrying as young as 15.  These little facts provided some interesting debates in our classroom.

Students also found many of the greatest influences the Greeks had on our Nation:  Democracy, Literature, Philosophy, Architecture.

Below you will find some AMAZING projects they created to showcase the three types of architecture the Greeks designed:  Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.  There are also replicas of the Parthenon, and some Greek Vases!  ENJOY!

Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian Pillars designed by Ryan Murphy and Josh Strauss!

Maddie Genskow-model of the Parthenon!

Tucker Bixby- Parthenon!

Jon Larson-Parthenon(Great use of materials!)

Greek Vase by Madeline Evans

Greek Vase designed by Madelyn Russ

How Long Can a Revolution Last?

I don't get the opportunity to watch a ton of television and I consider myself fortunate and probably better because of it.  I have a four year old who loves Disney Channel and Nick Jr, and a husband who loves football, so it is rare that I get to settle down with the remote!

I prefer Grey's Anatomy and 60 minutes.  I encourage my students to watch 60 minutes frequently.  If you had a chance to watch on Sunday, October 9th, 2011, then you probably saw the clip I have linked below.  If you didn't, please take a peek and talk about it with your kids.  We have covered Ancient Egypt and the Revolution of 2011 in class.

Although in class we learned that the Revolution was successful in 18 days, by getting Hosni Mubarak to resign,  8 months later there is still GREAT need for change in Egypt.  This short clip gives them a peek at the struggle for democracy in other places.  I'm sure 8 months after the American Revolution began in 1775, things didn't look so great for our blossoming nation either.  Yet those farmers, and citizens hunkered down in their own battle against the Government.  (8 YEARS LATER) Our nation was born.  Thanks to those revolutionaries, we are blessed with rights, and freedoms today.

For myself and my students it is hard to imagine living under such a regime like the one in Egypt.  If only 60 minutes had been around to interview our Revolutionaries in 1776?  I am inspired by the young individuals in this clip and I hope the Revolutionaries of Egypt do not have to fight for 8 years for their democracy. 

The clip below is about 12 minutes and we had great conversations after watching:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7384064n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox


One of my students wondered, "Maybe if the citizens stop protesting, the Government will be nicer?"  Yet others disagreed and said, "They have to fight harder to get the government to change."  How great that my students know how to debate, discuss, problem solve, share, and  politely "agree to disagree."  I think those 39 men whom signed our Constitution would be proud and I'm sure you are, too!