Advertising Japan

Students used their research and persuasive arguing skills to advertise and explain advantages and disadvantages to Japan's geography.  After taking notes on both sides, including citing evidence and finding statistics and pictures for each side, students created an advertisement, commercial, or P.S.A. either for advantages or disadvantages to Japan's geography, including persuasive techniques such as ethos/pathos/logos, the use of statistics, addressing audience's concerns, providing counterarguments, and even supporting their ideas with citations from resources.  Enjoy some student samples below...

I Haiku...Do You?

It was such a pleasure to put a "pause" on technology and focus on the arts.  Students enjoyed writing haiku poems, creating a painting/collage of their haiku, and translating their haiku into Japanese.  Using straws to blow the paint into forms such as trees, volcanoes, earthquake cracks, and even samurai, students interpreted their somewhat random art piece into a symbol of Japan.  Then, using Google Translate, students wrote their haiku poems in both English and Japanese calligraphy onto their art piece.  Amazing work, D.A.T.A. scholars!

Trial Simulation - Defense vs. Prosecution - Presentation Day!

Simulating a trial, students--as lawyers--investigated the evidence against the famed Spongebob SquarePants for the murder of Mr. Krabs.  Today, they presented their evidence and arguments to the class, including a closing statement, and visual (PowerPoint, poster, props, reenactment, etc.).  While prosecution and defense teams shared their cases, audience members shared their thoughts and evaluations of student presentations on Today's Meet (an online discussion forum).  Ultimately, it was up to the judge, their teacher Miss Lukins, to decide the winning team!  What a fun day!