mondo trudeau: a guide to a world geography class at caddo magnet high school

How To Mardi Gras quizzes: the King Cake Quiz and the Purple, Green and Gold Quiz

2012-01-31T08:59:00.001-08:00

How To Mardi Gras illustrations / copyright Robert E Trudeau, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

King Cake Quiz
1. Louisiana's carnival season does not begin on a) Twelfth Night b) Epiphany c) Jan 6 d) Ash Wed.
2. Dionysian celebration: a) Greek b) Roman c) Persian.
3. Saturnalia: a) Greek b) Roman c) Persian.
4. Translate a) Carne: ___ b) vale: ___
5. Translate: "Lent."
6. Not one of the first 5 nations associated with carnival:
a) Italy b) Louisiana c) England d) Germany e) Spain
7. Earliest historic era in which Carnevale is written about: a) Medieval b) Renaissance c) Elizabethan.
8. One example of riotous Carnival behavior.
9. Shrove Tuesday: translate to "shrive:" __ __ __.
10. Female krewe of New Orleans.
11. European city that establishes the early carnival customs: a) Paris b) Venice c) London d) Munich.
12. First krewe of Louisiana.

Purple, green & gold quiz
1. Alabama location with considerable influence on New Orleans (NO) Carnival? The small city of __.
2. Public activity that was considered a basic pleasure of the pioneer days? ___
3. Slaves gathered on Sundays and danced in New Orleans in a special location, which was back of town. It was called __ __.
4. Louisiana's second oldest krewe?
5. Name one of the 3 customs established by Rex.
6. Etymology of “Rex:” in Latin it means __ .
7. List the chronological order of the founding of these crews: Comus, Rex and Zulu.
8. In Louisiana we call a cheap coin “throw” a __ .
9. Mardi Gras has neighborhood clubs that call themselves "gangs."
Are they a) MG Indians b) Drug organizations c) Brass bands.
10. When did jazz music begin? a) During the US Civil War b) about the turn of the century c) 1930's d) 1950's
11. What are the flambeaux? __
12. How long did French immigrants live in Nova Scotia before being expelled from the region they called Acadia and going on a journey that would take them to Louisiana? a) 50 b) 100 c) 200.
13. A French name for a community dance or a Cajun house party? a) a bon plaisir b) Laissez les bons temps rouler c) Fais do-do d) Mais, oui!

Coates Bluff Nature Trail instruction / Magnet geography

2012-01-28T16:43:00.001-08:00

Coates Bluff Nature Trail instruction / Magnet geography, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

There will be 2 follow-up activities:

1. Mult-choice quiz on the Flora & fauna sheet.

2. Essay on the walk. Your essay must be descriptive and detailed but you may choose between
- realistic reportage
or
- mixture of fact and fiction.

Postponement of walking field trip due to rain and cold; Mon or Wed will be better

2012-01-23T13:52:00.001-08:00

Magnet High geography students, Coates Bluff Nature Trail, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Parents are welcome to accompany us on nature walks to be taken Fri (and Th) on Coates Bluff Nature Trail.

It follows the dry Bayou Pierre river bed from Magnet to Montessori School for Shreveport.

Students will have a Flora and Fauna Identification sheet to use in their examination of the beautiful woods. Students will view a video interview with Caddo naturalist Larry Raymond prior to the walk.

Each group will depart within 5 mins of the beginning of class and will be back on campus before the bell. There will be no missed class.

Also, bring a healthy snack for bonus pts. Bring something that is not manufactured, please. An apple, banana, orange, some peanuts or raisins.

Colorful Carnival project: Mask or poster or float with informativeborder

2012-01-23T08:34:00.001-08:00

Mask making @ Magnet Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Colorful Carnival cut-out project due Jan 23, 11 pts.

- Cut out and paste into the page the central design, whether float design, mask or other Carnival motif. Project stays in notebook - 8 1/2 X 11 sheet.
- Fill the border with factoids - completely round the central design - about Carnival and Lent.
- Masksoftheworld.com is one source for background on masks.

The iPhone and the economy

2012-01-22T05:39:00.001-08:00

iPhone 4G Concept, a photo by lucamegh on Flickr.

Watch this NYTimes video about global manufacturing and the US economy.

The Roots of Carnival quiz

2012-01-17T07:32:00.001-08:00

The most comprehensive guide to Louisiana's Carnival season: How To Mardi Gras, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

1. New Orleans African heritage: a) West b) East c) North
2. translate: bons
3. translate: rouler
4. translate: laissez
5. translate: temps
6. translate: gras
7. Louisiana's carnival season does not begin on a) Twelfth Night b) Epiphany c) Jan 6 d) Ash Wed.
8. Dionysian celebration: a) Greek b) Roman c) Persian.
9. Lupercalia: a) Greek b) Roman c) Persian.
10. Translate a) Carne: ___ b) vale: ___
11. Translate: "Lent."
12. First 5 nations associated with carnival.
13. First historic era in which Carnevale is written about: a) Medieval b) Renaissance c) Elizabethan.
14. Examples (2) of riotous behavior.
15. Translate: Shrove Tuesday.

16. Female krewe in New Orleans.
17. Why were parades instututed in New Orleans about 1857?
18. Two European cities that estabish the early carnival customs.
19. First krewe of Louisiana.
20. Alabama location with considerable influence on New Orleans (NO) Carnival?
21. 2 differences between Alabama and NO celebrations.
22. Primary public activity that was considered a basic pleasure of the pioneer days?
23. The location of Congo Square in New Orleans?
24. Activities by slaves in Congo Square? Frequency?
25. The second oldest krewe?

26. 3 customs established by Rex.
27. Etymology of “Rex.”
28. Make a timeline of Comus, Rex and Zulu.
29. Cheap coin “throw”?
30. Mardi Gras has neighborhood clubs that call themselves "gangs."
Are they a) MG Indians b) Drug organizations c) Brass bands.
31. What organization is brought to mind by the phrase “two-way pocky way!”?
32. Blanc et Noir Marching Society will hire what sort of band for the Krewe of Highland parade?
33. When did jazz music begin?
34. In what kinds of bands did jazz begin?
35. Explain the meaning of the French term "boeuf gras."

36. What are the flambeaux?
37. A famous Louisianian signed his letters, “Red beans and ricely yours,” His name and nickname?
38. What is one of the themes of New Orleans costuming?

39. How long did French immigrants live in Nova Scotia before a journey that would take them to Louisiana?
40. Why are they called Acadians, or Cajuns?
41. What is the name for the Cajun Mardi Gras?
42. Another name for a Cajun house party?
43. What 2 types of music mingle in Zydeco?
44. What ethnic group created zydeco?
45. Make a small map featuring Europe, South America, Central America and North America. List nations in which we see a significant carnival celebration.

Unit 1, second semester: L'Italia, an overview for geography students

2012-01-09T11:49:00.001-08:00

Italy and neighbors by Victor, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Tuscany is arguably Italy's best-known region. The history and beauty of the hilly farmland is legendary. Interestingly, Toyota has named its minivan the Sienna, for a Tuscan town, and Porsche has long had a model called the Carrera, another city of Tuscany. Also in the region: Pisa and Firenze.

My overview of what's important in L'italia:

In the heart of Rome is the temple called the Pantheon, still functioning after some 2000 years.

Ciao! means "hello!" or "bye!" in Italian slang.

From Chianti, a vino of Northern Italy, to chiaroscuro, an artist's term which refers to portrayal through light and shadow, the Italians have an enormous impact on the refined life.

On the other hand there's the Sicilian mafia, the cosa nostra.

The map
* Roma and, within it, the Vatican City. The Vatican is one of the tiniest nations and home to il Pape.

* Napoli / Naples / Neapolis (Gk) Neapolitan ice cream! Home of pizza!
* On the Bay of Naples is the Isle of Capri (goats), one of the most ancient resorts. One of Rome's emperors capriciously used Capri as his capital. *
* Looming above Naples bay is Mt. Vesuvius and nearby is the ancient resort called Pompeii.

* Florence / Firenze / "flower" is the center of the region called Tuscany. The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge over the River Arno which features shops built into the structure. "Florentine" indicates high quality in jewelry, in cooking, in crafts.

* The River Arno flows to the sea through Pisa, famous for its bell tower.

* Venetia / Venizia / Venice, is called the "Queen of the Adriatic." Is this where Venetian blinds originated?

* Milano is a center of the fashion industry and city of fine foods and complex recipes. That's why Pepperidge Farms named their light but fine and imperially slim cookie the Milano.

Why study Italy?

* Natural beauty: the Appenino range, the sea, the fertile fields of the Po River valley.
* History: the eras of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance were periods of extraordinary creativity.
* Cuccina, or cooking. From Fettucine Alfredo to Cannoli.
* Foods such as sausages (salami), olive oil and cheeses (ricotta, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella).
* Textiles and fashionable clothing, shoes and bags: Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, Versace, etc.
* Manufactured goods such as the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Fiat.
* Art by Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and numerous others.
* Vatican City: the tiny nation that is the center of power of the Roman Catholic church.
* The origins of musical art such as opera, ballet and instrument making. See the pianoforte and violincello.
**
Classroom music ...
"Carmina Burana:" secular Medieval tunes in an opera-like choral production (opera means a "work").
**

Tuscany: a region known for its history, landscapes, vineyards, flowers, fine cooking, art and historic towns such as Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Florence is Tuscany's capital.

Sienna, the orangish-red or brownish-yellow color, takes its name from the soil in Tuscany. See Terra di Siena and Terra Cotta ("baked earth") clay. Remember Roman tiles made of terra cotta?

What American region compares to Tuscany?
Napa Valley, California, above San Francisco bay. It is known for vineyards (Gallo, Almaden), fine cooking and hilly beauty.

Mortar & pestle - used by apothecary or chef to grind and blend herbs or medicines. Gives its name to Sauce Pesto.

Pesto sauce includes basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts (pignoli)and garlic. Pesto is herbally greenish and sweet. It is traditionally eaten over pasta.

Pasta: dough.
Did pasta come to Italy from Germany or China? Marco Polo was the likely importer of a recipe for the food, made simply of wheat (one type being semolina) and water.

Here are selected examples:
canelloni: stuffed tube.
capelletti: "little hats;" stuffed.
farfallette: ribbon/bow-shaped.
fettucine: long egg noodles.
lasagna: widest of the flat noodles.
linguini: "little tongues;" narrow.
macaroni: in tubes.
pastina: disks of pasta.
ravioli: filled squares.
rigatoni: ribbed, tubular.
tortellini: ring-shaped and filled.
vermicelli: "little worms;" thin.
**
Sicilian pastry: cannoli. Like ice cream in a tube.
Balsamic vinegar: tart, sweet, dark vinegar, usually combined with olive oil. Used in salads and over pasta.
Calamari: fried baby squid.
**

Italy in WWII
Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy who became a partner - creating the Axis powers - to Adolph Hitler. Both espoused Fascism:
a) totalitarian government b) militarism c) anti-Communist d) anti-intellectual. "Fascism" comes from the term for the bundle of rods used as a symbol of power by the Romans.
Italy was liberated in 1944 by the Allies: US, GB, France, Canada, Australia.
**

pianoforte "soft / loud"
* developed about 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Cremona, Italy.
* harpsichord plucks strings and has only one volume; piano hammers strings and can play loudly or softly.

violin
* Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri family are the luthiers who develop the 4-string, advanced violin about 1700.

Most notable historic composers:
Giuseppi Verdi
Antonio Corelli
Giacomo Puccini
Antonio Vivaldi
Nicolo Paganini
Harmony Illus. Encyc. of Classical Music

According to Italian language student Chelsea Norden:
bella donna, "beautiful woman"
bell'uomo, "handsome man"
casa, "house"
Salve! "hello"
Buon giornio! "good day!"
Io amore tu, "I love you."
Scusi! "Excuse me!"
Prego, "please"
**

"Pinocchio," classic folk tale
**

Espresso & cappucino
The Italians make il caffe' by forcing steam through the grounds; it is called espresso. Drunk in a tiny cup called a demi-tasse, it is a strong brew. When you make a "cap" of whipped cream and grated chocolate to put atop the espresso it becomes cappucino.
Latte refers to the added milk. Frappe' means frozen or iced. Dip a hard biscuit, called biscotti, into it.
**

Can you name the Western European nations that were part of the Roman Empire? Espana, Gaul & Briton.
Our goal is to know the names of all the nations of the empire that were on the Mediterranean rim.
**

More basic Italian ...
Tu sei cortese! "You are so nice/courteous!"
Grazie! "Thank you!"
Dove 'e il bagno? "Where is the bathroom?"

Catherine d Medici, of the powerful family of Florence (think Rockefellers), married Henri II of France about 1500. She traveled to France with her Florentine cooks - with marvelous recipes - and the controversial custom of using a fork (furca).

In ancient times which class of people would've used all 5 fingers in eating? Which class ate with 3 fingers?
**

In what Roman facility would we see the caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium? It was a Thermae, or public bathhouse.
The pools above were "hot," "tepid," or "lukewarm," and "cold." What could you do in a bathhouse besides wash and relax in the pools?
Exercise, hear the news, get a snack, have a massage and leave your laundry.

A Roman feast, according to Petronius and the World Atlas of Food: asparagus, truffles, eggs, olives, sausages, oysters and lobsters, for openers. Main dishes were stuffed geese and chickens and pigs, goose-liver pate' and stewed flamingo's tongues and peacock's brains.

Who is David Macaulay? A contemporary
illustrator/author responsible for books such as Cathedral (how they were built), Castle and the popular How Things Work.
This week we're watching a video called "Roman City," based on his book City. It's about the engineering (bridges, aqueducts, etc.), planning (city grid first) and functions (forum, bathhouses, etc.) of a Roman urbis.
**

The Roman Empire lay upon 3 continents. Which ones?

Romulus & Remus: who were they?

What plastic building material was developed by the Romans?
Concrete.

Intersection of the temples, market and government buildings? Place to disseminate news and opinion? The Forum.

Roman villa
A roof opening that allowed the sun and rain to enter the interior of the house? The atrium. The pool in the atrium was the impluvium.
The garden and vineyard flourished under the peristyle, or arbor.
Cave canem: Latin, "Beware the dog."
Cave emtor: "Let the buyer beware."

Roman apartment buildings: Insulae ("islands"). Multi-story buildings of concrete.

The semester exam includes a mandatory, brief essay - here are the topic choices

2012-01-03T13:42:00.001-08:00

Understanding Sudan- add demograhics to village images, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Choose one!

Comparison essay choices for the open-notes essay -

a) Henry Miller Shreve and Larkin Edwards
b) Adolph Hitler and Henry VIII
c) Quiche and the Chicago hot dog
d) The Mississippi and Rhine Valleys

Essay guidelines -
- Jally title
- Sloopy opening
- Integrate the topics.
- Details: examples, names, stats, dates, states, etc.
- Document!

About a half to one page, carefully, legibly handwritten.

The Miss Valley review for the exam

2012-01-03T13:33:00.001-08:00

The Miss Valley project, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Sem exam questions

1. Westernmost river of the Miss valley?
2. The easternmost river of the Miss valley?
3. State in which we find the headwaters of the Miss?
4. State in which the Miss delta?
5. Longest tributary of the Miss?
6. To what eastern city does the Ohio extend?
7. Name the NE state that borders the Miss.
8. The SW state that borders the Miss.?
9. State through which the Tenn R enters the Miss?
10. Headwaters of La's Red R in which state?
11. Which body of water is the terminus of La's Red R?
12. State not associated w the Red?
13. Caddo chief?
14. Caddo translator?
15. Sustainability ? Using resources wisely. Being comfortable with the basic pleasures of life. Ex: Valencia Community Garden.
16. Migration of Indigenous peoples? Intermarriage with Black and white pop.
17. Migration of indigenous peoples? Ok
18. City w longest name?
19. City named for female?
20. Named for a royal person?
21. Named by a Native Amer word?
22. Two connectors between the Great lakes and NYC?
23. One island / one borough? Staten Is, also Manhattan
24. Two boroughs on one island? Brooklyn, Queens / Long Is
25. Borough on the mainland?
26. London is on the __ River.
27. Name the building that houses Parliament.
28. Name the theater partly-owned by Wm Shakespeare.
29. Name the bridge lined with shops that historically linked the North and South of the Thames River.
30. In the early 1800's a poor boy of London grew up to write successful novels about British life, such as Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities. The author was Charles Dickens. The musical Oliver! is based on his novel. See a version of Oliver Jan 6, 7 or 8 at Riverview Theater.

Jews, European history and the Nazi Death Camps

2011-12-14T17:12:00.001-08:00

shylock, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Says Shakespeare's character Shylock in The Merchant of Venice:

"I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is?

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

And if you wrong us, do we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that."

The Merchant Of Venice Act 3, scene 1, 58–68.

Shylock's complaint about unfair treatment of Jews by Christians has the ring of truth. Yet Jewish people did not try overly hard to accommodate Christians during the historic era in Europe. Jews remained strongly separated from Christians.

Money-lending, the ghetto, misunderstanding of the Jewish law: there were many issues between the 2 groups.

Pawnbroker: an early form of banking, pawn shops were typically operated by Jews

2011-12-14T10:42:00.001-08:00

Pawnbroker symbol, a photo by GVG Imaging on Flickr.

The Diaspora - dispersal of Jewish peoples - was significant during the Roman era. They left because the Romans treated them harshly. The Romans were moderate in their treatment of cooperative people. Rebellious kingdoms received violent retribution. The Jews were bitter toward the Romans and non-cooperative.

Jewish peoples emigrated to every corner of the globe, but most of them went to Europe. Nations famous for their influential Jewish populations were Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Russia.

Forced to live in the back of town, the Jews kept themselves generally separate from the Christians. No Jew would consider a marriage with a Christian. They lived in the ghetto, an Italian word for the Jewish Quarter.

Christians - including the Popes - encouraged mistrust and hatred of Jews. They blamed Jews for the death of Jesus (deicide) and opposed them for not accepting Jesus as Messiah.

From Wikipedia on anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages in Europe:

Among socio-economic factors were restrictions by the authorities, local rulers and frequently church officials who closed many professions to the Jews, pushing them into marginal occupations considered socially inferior, such as local tax and rent collecting or moneylending, seen in these times as a "necessary evil" due to the increasing population and urbanization during the High Middle Ages. Catholic doctrine of the time held that moneylending for interest was a sin, and as such Jews tended to dominate this business. The Torah and later sections of the Hebrew Bible criticise Usury but the Bible is slightly ambiguous. Jews were forced into money lending as there were few other occupations open to them. This provided support for claims that Jews are insolent, greedy, engaged in usury, and in itself contributed to a negative image. Natural tensions between creditors (typically Jews) and debtors (typically Christians) were added to social, political, religious and economic strains. Peasants who were forced to pay their taxes to Jews could personify them as the people taking their earnings while remaining loyal to the lords on whose behalf the Jews worked.

Today, usury means loaning money at exhorbitant interest.

Also:
As the Black Death epidemics devastated Europe in the mid-14th century, annihilating more than a half of the population, Jews were taken as scapegoats. Rumors spread that they caused the disease by deliberately poisoning wells. Hundreds of Jewish communities were destroyed by violence, in particular in the Iberic peninsula and in the Germanic Empire.

Torah, the Jews’ scripture - usually read from a traditional scroll.

Pogrom - murderous massacre of a Jewish community.

Anti-Nazi protesters in Germany: Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl andChristoph Probst

2011-12-14T09:01:00.001-08:00

Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst, a photo by jimforest on Flickr.

Sophia Magdalena Scholl ( 1921 – 1943) was a German student, active within the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. She was convicted of high treason after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich with her brother Hans. As a result, they were both executed by guillotine.

Since the 1970s, Scholl has been celebrated as one of the great German heroes who actively opposed the Third Reich during the Second World War.

See a video summary of her story here.

Semester study guide, Dec, 2011

2011-12-13T21:24:00.001-08:00

DSC00713, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Semester exam: open notes, 100 multiple-choice questions; brief comparison essay that follows guidelines.

This region is called the I-20 Corridor.
- Tx, Ok, La, Ms
- Ft Worth, Dallas, Tyler, Longview
- Shreveport, Bossier, Minden, Grambling/Ruston, Monroe
- Vicksburg, Jackson, Meridian
- add the Miss R, the 30N line
An additional region:
The Red River valley

Include in your sketch . . .
- Tx, Ok, Ak, La
- Wichita falls
- Texarkana
- Shreveport, Natchitoches, Alexandria

1. Shreveport: 32N, 94W
latitude partners: Dallas-Ft Worth. Find partner cities in Arizona,
California and Mexico.
- Continue following the 32N line across China, India, Arabia and
Africa and list the great cities to be found. Example: Tokyo is 35N:
that's close enough to be included in this list.
2. Paris: 48N, 2E.
- latitude partners include cities in the Czech Republic and Ukraine.
3. NYC: 40N, 74W:
- same latitude partners include a city in China.
4. Rio De Janeiro (in the southern hemisphere) : 22S, 42W
- latitude buddies include a capital in South Africa and a coastal
city in Australia.

Earth has an outer silicate (sand, Portland cement, and thousands of
minerals are examples of silicates) solid crust, a highly viscous
)between solid and liquid) mantle, a liquid outer core that is much
less viscous than the mantle, and a solid inner core.

Scientific understanding of Earth's internal structure, says
Wikipedia, is based on observations of topography and bathymetry,
observations of rock in outcrop, samples brought to the surface from
greater depths by volcanic activity, analysis of the seismic waves
that pass through the Earth, measurements of the gravity field of the
Earth, and experiments with crystalline solids at pressures and
temperatures characteristic of the Earth's deep interior.

Inner core: 4000 miles deep, super-hot but solid, iron & nickel.

outer core: liquid, super hot

mantle: silicon, aluminum, magnesium, iron, etc; "This mixture
continually rises, cools, sinks warms up, and rises again, releasing
80% of the heat generated from the eartth's interior." - WG

crust: broken, rocky shell; plates of the crust float upon the upper mantle.

- continental drift theory
- plate tectonics, perhaps caused by interior heat.
- magma
- subduction: heavier sea plate slides beneath the lighter continental plate.
- accretion: adding to the material of the earth's crust.
- spreading: sea plates pulling apart, creating a rift (crack).
- folds: layers of rock that have been bent under pressure.
- faulting: cracks in the crust; associated with earthquakes.
- ring of fire: earthquake-prone zone that surrounds the Pacific.

The word "ciao" is an informal Italian verbal salutation or greeting,
meaning either "hello", "goodbye", "bye" or "hi".

1. Jazzy title (of several words) - original, colorful, lighthearted.
2. Name, date and hour in upper right corner. Please print.
3. Source or sources listed simply and briefly in the lower right
corner. Ex: Google.com Maps or Wikipedia.com
4. Color.
5. Neatness of lettering and design.
6. Do not use a "key." Identifications must be placed in the correct territory.
7. Speeling counts!
8. Trim ragged edges of paper. Submit standard, full-size sheets of paper.
9. Save all papers until the end of the semester. Make a file on your
computer to save papers created digitally. Btw, did you realize that
you can make these geography class maps using a program like Paint? -
Equator, O degrees latitude
- Tropic of Cancer
- Tropic of Capricorn
- Shreveport's about 32N
- NYC about 40n
- Navigation - position can be fixed with a sextant.

- Prime Meridian, O degrees longitude
- Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England
- City of Paris about 3E.
- Shreveport about 94W.
- Intl Date Line
- Navigation at sea requires a chronometer

- At the intersection of 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude,
where are you?
a) North Pole
b) Atlantic Ocean
c) Greenwich, England

Hemispheres:
- Northern
- Southern
- Eastern
- Western
- cerebral

Overview of the fertile, wealth-giving Mississippi valley map:

- 5 tributaries
- 10 states that border the Miss R
- Gulf of Mexico
- Mrs Mimal
- Mr Wiktm
- mnemonics

What is the national impact of such a region? How should you read an
area with these kinds of resources?
Wealth.
Rivers enhance trade, farming, fishing, tourism and general transportation.

- the downtown grid of the original streets of Shreve Town.
- the Red River.
- the Texas St Bridge
- Bossier City
- Barksdale Air Force Base
- Fant Parkway
- Teague Parkway
- I-20
- Hwy 80 / Texas Trail / Caddo Trail
- Cross Lake and Cross Bayou, which links the lake and the Red River.
- I-49.
- CMHS

Mississippi R
Atchafalaya R
Sabine R
Pearl R
Red R

Cross Lake
Caddo Lake
Lake Pontchartrain
Toledo Bend Reservoir

Shreveport-Bossier
New Orleans
Baton Rouge
Monroe
Alexandria
Lafayette
Lake Charles

a) Louisiana`s rivers and large lakes.
Identify 5 principal cities, 5 rivers, 3 lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

b) Shreveport and the Red River.
Identify 5 historic streets (Texas, Commerce, Market, Spring &
Fannin), 2 bridges, CMHS, BAFB, La Boardwalk and the riverfront
parkways.

c) The Miss Valley: Miss R, Ohio R, Tennessee R, Missouri R, Arkansas R, Red R.

Be responsible.
Be respectful.
Seek excellence.

Coal is transported to Louisiana to be used in making electricity. The
train journey comprises these states:
Montana
N Dakota
S Dakota
Wyoming
Colorado
Nebraska
Kansas
Oklahoma
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana

1. Name the Bayou State river that lies below the Mississippi, east of
the Sabine and west of the Pearl. a) Atchfalaya b) Red c) Ouachita
d) Choctaw.
2. A 13 year-old student from New York recently used math and his
observation of nature to produce an award-winning science project that
produced improvement in a) flower crops b) natural gas drilling
c) coastal erosion d) solar collection.
3. The name of the Bossier parkway that runs parallel and close to the
Red River.
a) Fant b) Teague c) Caddo Trail d) I-20.

NYC:

The 5 boroughs -
- Manhattan
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Staten Is

- Atlantic
- New York harbor
- Liberty Is
- Ellis Is
- Manhattan is
- Long Is
- Long Is Sound

- New Jersey
- Connecticut

Lower Manhattan -

- Wall St financial district
- site of World Trade Center
- Battery Park
- Chinatown
- Lower East Side

- Brooklyn Bridge
- East River
- Hudson R

9/11 attacks -
- most 9/11 terrorists were Saudis in organization called al qaeda.
- most al qaeda money from Saudi Arabian sources.
- radicals / extremists
- al qaeda HQ in Afghanistan. Training camps.
- al qaeda cellular structure.
- Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi, inherited serious wealth.
- Taliban radical rulers of Afghan.
- Taliban treatment of women: burqa, no work, no school.
- Afghan. a quagmire.
- War in Iraq based on "faulty intelligence."
- WTC attack was actually a preventable action.
- 9/11: about 3000 dead.

Aquifer
- deplete / depletion
- desalination
- Ogallala Aquifer, the great one that lies under states from S Dakota to Texas.
- water broker: a person who buys and sells water.

Whether as a consumer of fish or business person or scientist,
aquaculture is a wave in your future.
Protein! The world craves fishy protein and men must find a way to
meet those needs.
Some fish have been over-fished. This results in fishing fleets
ranging across oceans in search of the next watery crop.
Today McDonald's get the flesh for their Filet-O-Fish from ocean
waters near the coast of New Zealand. This fish is called the hoki.
Louisiana pursues aquaculture through farm-raised production of
crawfish and catfish.

California
3 neighboring states and I nation, labelled in the proper locations.
- Pacific Ocean
- Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento
- Sierra Nevada range
- Mojave Desert
- San Andreas Fault
- Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is the high-tech center south of San Francisco and near
Stanford Univ (Palo Alto). Here we see the headquarters of companies
such as Google, Intel, H-P, Apple, Ebay and Facebook.
San Jose, ca, is considered the center of Silicon Valley.
Silicon is the principal component of most semiconductor devices -
such as integrated circuits or microchips.

Among the numerous tech companies in this region, which is sparked by
the enormous brain power at Stanford Univ -
- H-P, or Hewlett-Packard
- Intel, a chip manufacture and design comany.
- Apple, where Steve Jobs has been king.
- EBay
- Paypal.
- Google, founded by Larry Page and Sergei Brin.
- YouTube.
- Blogger.
- Twitter.
The major exception is Microsoft and Bill Gates. They are in Seattle
(Redmond, Wa).
- Steve Jobs (Apple) and Bill Gates (Microsoft).
- Sergei Brin and Larry Page (Google) and Pierre Omidyar (EBay).
- Evan Wiliams (Blogger, Twitter) and Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia).

Spaceship Earth -
- Identify Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea.
- Identify China, Japan, N & S Korea, Indonesia and India.
- Identify the equator.
- Annotate the map with 5 factoids or mappoids of your choice. An ex:
Himalayan Range, the Chinese region of Tibet, population of China,
pop. of India, etc.
- Documentation (Satellite Imagemap / Flickr.com for the one here) in
lower right corner.
- Jazzy title that includes the terms "spaceship earth" and "6.8 billion."

California is by far the most populous U.S. state,[6] and the
third-largest by land area (after Alaska and Texas), says Wikipedia.
It is home to the nation's second- and sixth-largest census
statistical areas (Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and San Francisco Bay
Area), and eight of the nation's fifty most populated cities (Los
Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long
Beach and Oakland).[7] The capital city is Sacramento.
Etymology: the name California is thought to be from a Spanish
mythological tale, the tale of Queen Calafia.
At some 37 million, California's population is greater than that of
all but 34 countries of the world.[42][43] Also, Los Angeles County
has held the title of most populous U.S. county for decades, and it
alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states.
Louisiana's pop. is some 4.5 million. Shreveport's pop is about
200,000. Bossier's is about 60,000. Together the metropolitan
population is about half a million.

A selection of demographic measurements of Louisiana as contrasted
with the US statistics - from the US Census Bureau.

Per capita income
La / US
$22,535
$27,041
Persons below poverty level
17.6%
14.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
20.6%
27.5%
Persons of Latino or Hispanic origin
4.2%
16.3%
Asians
1.5%
4.8%
American Indian
0.7%
0.9%
Black persons
32.0%
12.6%
Caucasian pop.
62.6%
72.4%
Pop. increase, 2000 - 2010
1.4%
9.7%

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and the second
most populous in the United States, after New York City,[4] on a land
area of 468.67 square miles.
- Los Angeles enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with an average of 35
days with measurable precipitation annually.
- Los Angeles is subject to earthquakes due to its location on the
Pacific Ring of Fire. The geologic instability has produced numerous
faults, which cause approximately 10,000 earthquakes annually.[44] One
of the major faults is the San Andreas Fault. Located at the boundary
between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, it is
predicted to be the source of Southern California's next big
earthquake.
- El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de
Porciúncula (The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the
Porciúncula River).

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is
inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun
being in the same plane as the Earth's equator.
The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox
(night), because around the equinox, the night and day have
approximately equal length.

1. Which high-tech company is notably Not headquartered in Silicon
Valley? a) Microsoft b) EBay c) Facebook d) Google
e) H-P.
2. Education - especially advanced study in a university - is the
force that energizes the developments made in Silicon Valley.
Which university is farthest away from this region? a) UCLA b) UC
Berkeley c) Stanford d) Harvard.
3. There is a Louisiana population in the Bay Area of San
Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley. Name the La-Cal connection that is more
likely than the others. a) Af-Am residents of La and Tx migrated
westward in the post-WWII years in search of better jobs. b) Oil
fields surrounding San Fancisco Bay drew La residents who had
background in oil drilling. c) Fine restaurants in San Francisco hired
numerous Creole chefs from La.
d) Sugar cane and cotton fields around Oakland drew many La farm workers.

The name "Chicago" implies a respect for indigenous cultures since it
is derived from the Miami-Illinois language. Since it is a French
version of a word from the indigenous people, we are reminded that
French explorers and traders were important part of the early American
landscape.

LA's full name:
The town of Our Lady (mother of Jesus in Roman Catholic parlance),
Queen of the Angels of the River Porciuncula.
- Watts Towers - primitive art by an Italian immigrant in a
neighborhood that became a major Af-Am ghetto.
ghetto: Italian word which means "the section where the Jews live."
Jewish ghettos in Europe existed because Jews were viewed as alien due
to being a cultural minority and due to their non-Christian beliefs in
a Renaissance Christian environment, says Wikipedia.
- Rodeo Drive - posh shopping district.
- RMS Queen Mary, retired steam liner twice the size of the Titanic.
- Disneyland dates from 1955.
- LaBrea Tar Pits: Asphaltum or tar (brea in Spanish) has seeped up
from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. Over many
centuries, animals that came to drink the water fell in, sank in the
tar, and were preserved as bones. Ex: mammoths, sloths and
saber-toothed tiger.
- Hollywood Hills: an affluent and exclusive neighborhood in the Santa
Monica Mountains. By 1915 the movie business had largely relocated
here from NYC.
- Chinatown Los Angeles
- Venice Beach & Boardwalk: people watching and trendy shopping.
- The J Paul Getty Museum and LA County Museum of Art: major art centers.
- Warner brothers Studios: take a tour!
- Beverly Hills: a posh municipality next door to Bel Air, Holmby
Hills and West Hollywood.
- Marina Del Rey: major yacht harbor near LAX and Venice.
- Knott's Berry Farm: famous theme park.
- LA Farmer's Market: The most famous such market in the US.
- Walt Disney Concert Hall: radical building housing a center for
orchestral music. Design is by LA architect Frank Gehry.
- Malibu: 27 miles of beaches; a celeb-studded coastline.
"Southern California saw a huge surge in palm tree plantings during
the 1920s and 1930s, many of which still line L.A. streets today,"
says LA Almanac.

The Windy City, the capital of the Midwest
Population rank in the US?
Chicago founded on a portage between 2 bodies of water. __ and __
2nd busiest airport in the world?
Which recent president has been a representative from greater Chicago?
The first non-indigenous settler was Jean Baptiste du __ . He was a
fellow of mixed ethnicity, including __ and __ .
The name Chicago is a French rendering of a name in a native American language.
In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Fair, called the World's
Columbian Exposition. It drew 27.5 million visitors, and is considered
the most influential world's fair in history.
The 1920s brought notoriety to Chicago as gangsters, including the
notorious Al Capone, battled each other and law enforcement on the
city streets during the Prohibition era.

Leo Fender and the Red Hot Chili Peppers quiz

1. Which plate is moving northward? a) North American plate b) Pacific
plate c) Mexican plate d) Baja plate.
2. One of these is rubbery; one is a metalloid chemical element,
typically found in a dioxide. Which one is used integrated chips? a)
Silicone b) Silicon c) Sillicon d) Sillicone.
3. California's population is about __ times that of Louisiana. a) 3
b) 5 c) 8 d) 11.
4. Which fellow was considered the diplomat in early Caddo Parish
history? a) Tarshar b) Henry Shreve c) Larkin Edwards d)
Tsauninot.
5. Louisiana has a Humid Subtropical climate type. California has a __
climate. a) European b) Caribbean c) Desert d) Mediterranean.
6. An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis
is a) inclined away from the Sun b) inclined towards the Sun c) the
center of the Sun is in the same plane as the equator.
7. Which high-tech company is notably Not headquartered in Silicon
Valley? a) Microsoft b) EBay c) Facebook d) Google
e) H-P.
8. Education - especially advanced study in a university - is the
force that energizes the developments made in Silicon Valley.
Which university is farthest away from this region? a) UCLA b) UC
Berkeley c) Stanford d) Harvard.
9. Which university is most closely associated with Silicon valley? a)
UCLA b) UC Berkeley c) Stanford d) Harvard.
10. There is a Louisiana population in the Bay Area of San
Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley. Name the La-Cal connection that is more
likely than the others. a) Af-Am residents of La and Tx migrated
westward in the post-WWII years in search of better jobs. b) Vast oil
fields surrounding San Francisco Bay drew La residents who had
background in oil drilling. c) Fine restaurants in San Francisco hired
numerous Creole chefs from La.
d) Sugar cane and cotton fields around Oakland drew many La farm workers.
11. Louisiana's per capita (per person) income is ___ as the average
income in the US. a) lower b) higher c) about the same
12. Tibet is a region in the nation of __ . a) Russia b) China c)
Afghanistan d) Pakistan.

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday,
says Wikipedia.
The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for
and remember friends and family members who have died. It is
particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a
National Holiday.
The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection
with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All
Souls' Day (November 2).
Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars
honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite
foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as
gifts.

The Willis Tower (formerly named, and still commonly referred to as,
the Sears Tower) is a 108-story, 1,451-foot (442 m) skyscraper in
Chicago, Illinois, says Wikipedia.[4]
At the time of its completion in 1973, it was the tallest building in
the world, surpassing the World Trade Center towers in New York, and
it held this rank for nearly 25 years. The Willis Tower is the tallest
building in the United States and the seventh-tallest freestanding
structure in the world.

Identify
- 5 great lakes
- 3 cities on the shores of the Great lakes
- 3 states on the lakes
- foreign nation above the lakes.

Cloud Gate, a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish
Kapoor, is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park,
Chicago, Illinois, says Wikipedia.
Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The
Bean" because of its bean-like shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel
plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible
seams. It is 33 by 66 by 42 feet, and weighs 110 short tons.
Said to have been inspired by liquid mercury,[2] the sculpture's
surface reflects and distorts the city's skyline. Visitors are able to
walk around and under Cloud Gate's 12-foot high arch. On the underside
is the "omphalos" (Greek for "navel"), a concave chamber that warps
and multiplies reflections.

Connecting the Great Lakes to NYC harbor
- the outline of NY state
- the edge of Lakes Erie and Ontario
- Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
- the highway that connects the above cities, which parallels the Erie
Canal of 1825.
- the Hudson River
- NYC
- The Erie Canal was a huge investment and gamble for the state of NY,
but it paid off.
The Erie Canal enabled the shipment of iron, coal, timber and.
eventually, steel goods, to NY Harbor. That commerce created new
businesses, jobs and much profit. It was especially beneficial to NYC.
Ships in New York Harbor ferried US goods to every part of the world.

New Amsterdam to New York
New York City consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn,
Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
- Estimated population exceeds 8.3 million people, New York City is
the most densely populated major city in the United States.[5]
- The metropolitan area's population is also the nation's largest,
estimated at 18.8 million people.
* New York was founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch in
1624. The settlement was called New Amsterdam until 1664 when the
colony came under English control.[7]
* New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until
1790.[8] It has been the country's largest city since 1790.[9]
- The Statue of Liberty, gift of France.
- Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a dominant global
financial center since World War II and is home to the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE).
- Empire State Building, 1931.
- Chrysler Bldg, 1930.
- Flatiron Bldg, 1902.
- Harlem: Apollo Theater, Harlem Globetrotters, Harlem Boys' Choir,
Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art,1930's.
- Columbia University - adjacent to Harlem.
- hip hop, disco and Tin Pan Alley in music
- the home of Broadway theater.
- Upper East Side and Upper West Side: wealthy neighborhoods; many
people in towers overlooking Central Park.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art - edge of Central Park.
- Lincoln Center - 10 theaters in an arts center on Upper West Side.
Includes Juilliard School, Metropolitan Opera, NYC Ballet, NY
Philharmonic.
Coney Island, Brooklyn at the Atlantic: amusement park and history of
hot dogs and hamburgers.

Rockefeller Center or Rockefeller Plaza is a complex of 19 commercial
buildings between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, says
Wikipedia.
Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of
Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth
Avenue.
Radio City Music Hall at 50th Street and Avenue of the Americas was
completed in December, 1932. At the time it was promoted as the
largest and most opulent theater in the world. The Rockettes are a
precision dance company performing out of the Radio City Music Hall.
During the Christmas season, the Rockettes have performed five shows a
day, seven days a week, for 77 years. Perhaps their best-known routine
is an eye-high leg kick in perfect unison in a chorus line, which they
include at the end of every performance. Btw, every Rockette must be
between 5'6" and 5'101⁄2" tall.
The centerpiece of Rockefeller Center is the 70-floor, 872-foot (266
m) GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ("30 Rock") formerly known as
the RCA Building. It is centered behind the sunken plaza.

C 1. A similarity between Shreveport and the Windy City, Chicago, is
found when comparing this factor:
a) Shreveport is part of the Bible Belt b) population c) Millennium
Moon mural d) popular foods.
C 2. The run-down Manhattan neighborhood in which many poor immigrants
(notably East European Jews, Italians and Chinese) got their start is
the a) Upper West Side b) the Midtown area
c) the Lower East Side d) SoHo.
B 3. Four of the boroughs are located on islands. Name the two that
share space on one island. a) Bronx, Queens
b) Brooklyn, Queens c) Queens, Long Island d) Brooklyn, Long Island.
A 4. In NY harbor are famous islands such as Liberty Island,
Governor's Island and one small island which was a center for
immigration: a) Ellis Is. b) Rikers Is. c) Hudson Is. d) Roosevelt Is.
B 5. The European explorer given credit for first examining NY harbor
was a) Peter Minuit b) Giovanni Verrazzano c) Henry Hudson d) Duke of
York.

A 6. The earliest site of European settlement in NYC is at the __ tip
of Manhattan. a) Southern b) Northern c) Eastern d) Western.
C 7. Major university associated with Manhattan: a) Harvard b)
Stanford c) Columbia d) Yale.
C 8. When you see landmarks such as Rodeo Drive, Venice Boardwalk and
Arnold Schwarzenegger you know the topic is a) Chicago b) NYC c) Los
Angeles.
D 9. Dutch governor of the NY colony who famously bargained with the
Algonquian peoples:
a) Peter Stuyvesant b) Henry Hudson c) John Peter Zenger d) Peter Minuit.
A 10. Influential, wealthy part of Manhattan: a) Upper East Side b)
Lower East Side c) Little Italy
d) Harlem.
A 11. Name the ethnic group that was welcomed by immigration laws in
the mid 1800's and excluded from immigration by changes in the laws in
the late 1800's. a) Chinese b) Jews c) Italians d) Africans.

1. The approximate metropolitan population of Chicago in millions? a)
4 m b) 6 m c) 9 m d) 12 m
2. Chicago was founded on a portage between 2 bodies of water. They
are Lake Michigan and a) Lake Superior b) Mississippi R c) Lake Huron.
3. Which recent presidents were closely associated with Los Angeles?
a) Reagan & Carter b) Kennedy & Clinton c) Reagan & Nixon
d) Nixon & Eisenhower.
4. Jean Baptiste du Sable was the founder of a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
5. Named for a female-type person: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
6. World's Fair of 1893: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
7. Founded by the Dutch. a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
8. Oprah. a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
9. Bagels: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
10. The beginnings of Health food in America: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
11. Largest city in the most populous state. a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.

Identify the 14 US East coast states.
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- NY
- New Jersey
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- N Carolina
- SC
- Georgia
- Florida

- Canada and Nova Scotia Province
- Bahamas
- Cuba
Atlantic Ocean.

Like NYC, Chicago and LA, the sites of Washington are frequently
featured in the news, literature and general media.
- Potomac R.
- White House, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave
- Lincoln Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Smithsonian Museums (general locations)
- National Air & Space Museum
- National mall
- US Capitol
- US Supreme Court
- Library of Congress
- The Pentagon (US Dept of Defense), across the Potomac and slightly
south of the Lincoln Memorial.

Demographics: here are 6 relevant metro populations, acc to Wikipedia.

1 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA MSA 18,897,109
2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA 12,828,837
3 Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI MSA 9,461,105
4 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA 6,371,773
5 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA 5,965,343
6 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA 5,946,800
States
1 California 37,253,956
2 Texas 25,145,561
3 New York 19,378,102

To be an intelligent citizen of Louisiana is to be a student of all
things Texan.
- Houston
- Dallas
- Austin.
- neighboring states
- Gulf of Mexico
- Rio Grande
- Red R.
- Sabine R.
- Galveston Bay
- Houston Ship Channel (Buffalo Bayou)

T 1. Canada’s population is about one tenth of the US population,
although it is slightly larger than the US in area. T / F
A 2. An island in Eastern Canada came under British rule with the
Treaty of Utrecht (1713). This resulted in a serious change in the
population of a) Nova Scotia b) Quebec c) Massachusetts
d) Montreal.
B 3. Canadians often speak 2 languages, owing to their nation’s
ethnicity: a) English & German b) English & French c) English & Inuit
d) English & Canadianne.
B 4. Born and raised in Montreal: a) Michael Cera
b) Sieur d’Iberville c) Beausoleil d) Celine Dion.
A 5. The French who were born in Louisiana colony were called a)
Creoles b) Acadiennes c) Cajuns d) Gumbo.
D 6. Between their impoverished life in Western France and their
impoverished life as pioneers in Louisiana, the French colonists spent
about 150 years in a) the Caribbean b) British Columbia c) Toronto d)
Acadia.
B 7. Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier founded a) Canadian Waste
Disposals Systems b) Cirque de Soleil c) the rock band Rush d) Quebec
City.
C 8. The nation’s capital: a) Quebec b) Montreal c) Ottowa
d) Toronto.
D 9. The Great Lakes connect to the Atlantic via the
a) Illinois-Michigan Canal b) Erie Canal c) Niagra Falls
d) St Lawrence River.
T 10. Part of Canada is an archipelago. T / F
B 11. “Canada is also geologically active, having many earthquakes and
potentially active volcanoes,” says Wikipedia. This would refer to __
Canada. a) Eastern b) Western c) Northern d) Southern
D 12. The coordinates are 45N, 73W: a) Toronto b) Winnipeg c) Detroit
d) Montreal.
B 13. Land area: which is larger, the a) US or b) Canada?

Maple Leaf Quiz / Geography Open notes review

A 1. This city is the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in
the world, after Paris: a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
B 2. Because of the city's low crime rates, clean environment, high
standard of living, and friendlier attitudes to diversity, _____ is
consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities by the
Economist. a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
C 3. It has become the third-largest film production centre in North
America after Los Angeles and New York City, earning it the nickname
Hollywood North.
a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
A 4. Home to the world-renowned dance troupe Cirque du Soleil.
a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
C 5. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville and his brother Pierre
Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville were born in a) London b) Paris c)
Montreal d) New Orleans.
C 6. Acadians are French people who spent some 150 years living in the
region of Canada called: a) Acadiana b) Arcadia c) Nova Scotia d)
Quebec.
F 7. Canada’s population is about one tenth of the US population; the
US is also slightly larger than Canada in area. T / F
B 8. Oklahoma is part of the American region called the: a) Midwest b)
Southwest c) Northwest d) Southeast.
B 9. The Empire State Building was creamed by a B-25 bomber during the __ era.
a) WWI b) WWII c) Korean War d) Vietnam Conflict
C 10. Strawberry Fields is a location in both a) NYC & London b)
Chicago & London c) NYC & Liverpool d) Chicago & Montreal.
B 11. "OMG, my mother said I have to put my phone up." a) shillalagh
b) shibboleth c) shilly shally d) shilling.

Hola and Bon jour quiz sample questions -

1. Name the Mexican city, Ciudad __, that lies across the Texas border
from El Paso.
2. The capital of French-speaking Canada lies on a river called the __ __ .
3. This city is east of Chicago, west of Cleveland and south of
Toronto: it is __.
4. Toronto is a port on the shore of Lake __.
5. Name a Mexican peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico; it is the __ Peninsula.
6. The Massachusetts peninsula just south of Boston is __ __ .
7. An Asian nation adjacent to Alaska: __ .
8. Which is the more northerly island? a) Isla Cozumel b) Isla Cancun.
9. Name the peninsula associated with the Gulf of California: __ .
10. Tijuana is a riotous border town on the edge of California. T / F

1. Name a Mexican resort on the Pacific coast famous for cliff divers. __
2. Mexico has one great range of mountains that runs from north to south. T / F
3. Whale watching - from December to March - is an event that draws
tourists to this part of Mexico. Name the resort town __ __ __ and the
sea __ __ __ .
4. Your map of California will give you the name of a Mexican border
town that is a short distance south of San Diego: __ .
5. Ciudad Juarez is a crime-ridden border town that is adjacent to the
extreme western tip of Texas. Your map of Texas will tell you the name
of the US town on the Rio Grande at the western edge of the Lone Star
state: __ __ .
6.Which US city is closest to Canada on the Pacific Rim? __ .
7. Which US state is adjacent to Canada on the Atlantic coast?
8. Name the US city closest to the Canadian city of Toronto: __ .
9. Name 5 seas or oceans that surround this map.
10. Name 6 peninsulas that we have discussed on this map.
11. Name the major Canadian city near the Great Lakes: __ .
12. Name the largest French-speaking city in Canada: __ .
13. Quebec City is on a Canadian river that is as important as the Mississippi:
__ __ __ .
14. The ocean north of Canada: __ .
15. Name the high-tech Canadian city on the Pacific Rim: __ .
16. Alaska is separated from Asia by a body of water known as the __ Strait.
17. The Asian nation closest to Alaska: __ .
18. The nation whose population is about 300 million: __ .
19. The nation whose population is about 33 million: __ .
20. The nation whose population is about 100 million: __ .
21. A peninsula which is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean. __ __ .
22. The type of gun that represents a mnemonic for the spelling of
Caribbean: __.
23. Nation of a simple cuisine whose favorite french fry-based dish is
called poutine: __.
24. Nation whose cuisine revolves around corn: __ .
25. Cacao beans (chocolate), vanilla beans and chili peppers
originated in this nation: __ .

The British Isles map -
- England
- Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
- Ireland (Eire)
- France
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Nord ee
- English Channel (La Manche)
- Atlantic
- London
- Stonehenge site
- Loch Ness
- Edinburgh (golf)
- Belfast (Titanic)
- Welsh / English castles
- Celts: the tribal peoples of Western Europe.

Tower of London - Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more
commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the
north bank of the River Thames in central London, England.
Says Wikipedia, It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the
Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire
castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a
resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling
elite.
The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was
not its primary purpose.
A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence.
As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two
concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The first bridge over the Thames was buikt by the Romans about AD 50,
or some 2000 years ago, says Wikipedia.
The King John version of the bridge completed in 1209. He licensed the
building of houses on the bridge, as a direct means of deriving
revenue for its maintenance, and it was soon colonised by shops.
The medieval bridge had 19 small arches and a drawbridge with a
defensive gatehouse at the southern end. Contemporary pictures show it
crowded with buildings of up to seven stories in height.
The buildings slowed down the traffic crossing the river. The houses
and shops took up space and could draw crowds, and when carts broke
down or animals misbehaved, crossing the bridge could take up to an
hour. For this reason, people on foot often chose to use the dozens of
river taxi boats that quickly ferried Londoners from shore to shore.
Nearly 200 places of business lined both sides of the narrow street.

Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the
separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church,
says Wikipedia.
Henry's struggles with Rome led to the separation of the Church of
England from papal authority, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and
establishing himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Henry was known by some to be an attractive and charismatic man in his
prime, educated and accomplished.[4] He was an author and a composer.
He ruled with absolute power.
His desire to provide England with a male heir—which stemmed partly
from personal vanity and partly because he believed a daughter would
be unable to consolidate the Tudor Dynasty and the fragile peace that
existed following the Wars of the Roses[5]—led to the two things that
Henry is remembered for: his wives, and the English Reformation that
made England a mostly Protestant nation. In later life he became
morbidly obese and his health suffered; his public image is frequently
depicted as one of a lustful, egotistical, harsh, and insecure
king.[6]

1. A French river that is comparable to the Mississippi in length and
usefulness. __
2. The only consecutively doubled letter in the name Mediterranean. __ .
3. South of Paris is a city that is also the name of a palace created
by Louis XIV: __ .
4. This region lies along the English Channel: a) Champagne b)
Provence c) Normandy d) Bordeaux.
5. This French city is on the border between France and Germany. __
6. The second most-populous French city is on the Mediterranean coast.
When it was a Roman city it was called Massilia. It is named __ .
7. The French call this body of water La Manche. It connects the North
Sea and the Atlantic. It is also known as the __ __ .
8. North of France on the North Sea is a nation famous for French
fries and mussels: __ .
9. On the southwestern edge of France is the Iberian peninsula. On it
are two nations: Portugal and __ .
10. Tucked between France, Germany and Belgium is the tiny European
nation of __ .
11. Across the Rhine River from France - to the east - are 2 nations.
Name one of them.
__ .
12. Across the northwestern strait from France is an island. The
island is known as the nation of __ .
13. Which body of water is missing from this list of seas that border
France? The North Sea, English Channel, Bay of Biscay, and the
Atlantic. One more: __ __.
14. Which great city of France is on the Seine River? __ .
15. On the Mediterranean coast the nation of France borders a major
European nation. It is __.
16. A minuscule European nation on the edge of the Mediterranean is a
neighbor to France. Its capital city is Monte Carlo. The nation is __

BMW Motorcycle and the many outstanding names in German technological success

2011-12-12T09:16:00.001-08:00

BMW Motorcycle, a photo by engrgoddess on Flickr.

A sampling of German achievements in engineering and technology -

- BMW, Porsche, Audi, Daimler Benz, Volkswagen
- BMW and Zundapp motorcycles
- Leica cameras
- Bayer aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
- Zeppelins
- Messerschmitts and other airplanes of WWI and WWII
- V1 and V2 guided missles of WWII
- Otto: 4-stroke engine.
- Adidas and Puma shoes plus Birkenstoks
- Johann Gutenberg: printing

TImeline on Adolf Hitler due Fri, Dec 16; 10 pts

2011-12-12T08:45:00.001-08:00

Adolf Hitler, a photo by anamy13 on Flickr.

Rather than basing their evaluation of the murderous German dictator, Adoilph Hitler, on hearsay, I believe students should research the biography for themselves.

The timeline may be done in factoid form. Please include
- one illustration
- one map
- documentation

- childhood
- education
- WWI
- Development of the Nazi Party
- Election and rise to Chancellor
- Formulation of the "Final Solution"
- Stages of WWII

Also on Fri: brief mult-choice quiz on Deutschland. See prior questions on the map of Germany.

From Hamburg to Munchen: Deutschland

2011-12-08T20:40:00.001-08:00

Magnet fine arts: Deutschland, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

1. Name the capital of Bavaria, which is the Alpine or southern region of Germany.
2. The city in the northwest of Germany that is almost on the North Sea is a port on the Elbe River. It is the second city of Germany and one of the most affluent cities in Europe. It is ___ .
3. In the East, near the border with Poland, is the capital of the Deutsche. __
4. In the center of the nation is the city with the central German air terminal. Its name means "Where the Franks cross the river." __
5. On the Rhine River is a city that was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999. __
6.What is Germany's western neighbor on the North Sea? __
7. What is Germany's neighbor on the Rhine? __
8. In which nation do we find the head , or origin, of the Rhine? __
9. Adolph Hitler was not born in Deutschland. He was born in the neighboring nation on the southeast: __ .
10. Most of the German death camps of WWII were not built in Germany but in the large nation east of Germany: __ .
11. There is a great range of mountains in southern Germany that extend from France and Switzerland all the way to Slovenia. __
12. One of Germany's direct neighbors is a nation famous as a home of the Vikings. __
13. Does Germany have a Baltic coastline?
14. Was there a period in relatively recent history when there was a military alliance between Germany and Italy? If yes, then when? __
15. The name of this famous German auto company translates as "People's Car." Would that be Audi, BMW, Daimler Benz, Opel, Porsche, or Volkswagen?

White Truffles: $2000 a pound

2011-12-08T00:34:00.001-08:00

White Truffle Dinner, a photo by vainglory on Flickr.

A truffle is the fruiting body of an underground mushroom; spore dispersal is accomplished through fungivores, animals that eat fungi.

Almost all truffles, says Wikipedia, are ectomycorrhizal and are therefore usually found in close association with trees.

There are hundreds of species of truffles, but the fruiting body of some (mostly in the genus Tuber) are highly prized as a food.

The 18th-century French gastronome Brillat-Savarin called these truffles "the diamond of the kitchen". Edible truffles are held in high esteem in French, Spanish, northern Italian and Greek cooking, as well as in international haute cuisine.

Growing symbiotically with oak, hazel, poplar and beech and fruiting in autumn, the white truffle can reach 12cm diameter and 500 g, though are usually much smaller. The flesh is pale cream or brown with white marbling.[9]

Italian white truffles are very highly esteemed and are the most valuable on the market: the white truffle market in Alba is busiest in the months of October and November when the Fiera del Tartufo (truffle fair) takes place. In 2001, the Tuber magnatum truffles sold for between US$1,000 and $2,200 per pound (US$2000 to US$4500 per kg);[10] as of December 2009 they were being sold at €10,200 per kilogram.[11]

From Brittany to Monaco: La France! an alternative map quiz

2011-12-07T17:31:00.001-08:00

Citroen 2 cv in Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

This map test is an alternative to the orthodox, sketched map quiz.

1. A French river that is comparable to the Mississippi in length and usefulness. __
2. The only consecutively doubled letter in the name Mediterranean. __ .
3. South of Paris is a city that is also the name of a palace created by Louis XIV: __ .
4. This region lies along the English Channel: a) Champagne b) Provence c) Normandy d) Bordeaux.
5. This French city is on the border between France and Germany. __
6. The second most-populous French city is on the Mediterranean coast. When it was a Roman city it was called Massilia. It is named __ .
7. The French call this body of water La Manche. It connects the North Sea and the Atlantic. It is also known as the __ __ .
8. North of France on the North Sea is a nation famous for French fries and mussels: __ .
9. On the southwestern edge of France is the Iberian peninsula. On it are two nations: Portugal and __ .
10. Tucked between France, Germany and Belgium is the tiny European nation of __ .
11. Across the Rhine River from France - to the east - are 2 nations. Name one of them.
__ .
12. Across the northwestern strait from France is an island. The island is known as the nation of __ .
13. Which body of water is missing from this list of seas that border France? The North Sea, English Channel, Bay of Biscay, and the Atlantic. One more: __ __.
14. Which great city of France is on the Seine River? __ .
15. On the Mediterranean coast the nation of France borders a major European nation. It is __.
16. A minuscule European nation on the edge of the Mediterranean is a neighbor to France. Its capital city is Monte Carlo. The nation is __ .

Auguste and Louis Lumière: symbolic of historic French success in technology

2011-12-07T17:02:00.001-08:00

Auguste and Louis Lumière, a photo by kylepounds2001 on Flickr.

The Lumière brothers, Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas and Louis Jean were among the earliest filmmakers in history. (Appropriately, "lumière" translates as "light" in English.)

The Lumières held their first screening of projected motion pictures in 1895.

- Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787 – 1851) was a French artist and physicist, recognized for his invention of the daguerreotype process of photography.
In the mid to late 1800's it was the dominant type of photography.

- Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone.[2] In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal (in North America) tyre brands.

It is also extremely well known for its Red and Green travel guides, its roadmaps, the Michelin stars that the Red Guide awards to restaurants for their cooking, and for its company mascot Bibendum, colloquially known as the Michelin Man.

Among Michelin's numerous inventions, there is the removable tyre and the radial tyre technology now used in modern "green tyres" that reduce fuel consumption.

- Mirage fighter jet - The Mirage III (French pronunciation: [miʁaʒ]) is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade. Some of the world's smaller air forces still fly Mirage IIIs or variants as front-line equipment today.

- The Citroën 2CV was an economy car produced by the French car manufacturer Citroën between 1948 and 1990.[1] It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks, and deceptively simple bodywork,[3] that belied the sheer quality of its underlying engineering.

Thurs/Fri: Map test on La France and soap sculpture

2011-12-06T13:39:00.001-08:00

escargots, a photo by mediadahling on Flickr.

Students wrote a Descriptive Quiche Essay in class this week - for 5 pts. In it they described the activity of making (or getting) a quiche. Complete with dialogue and sound effects.

The alternate essay required them to describe Napoleon I and the Citroen 2CV.

Also in their notes, in readiness fort a test on Thurs:

Map of France and neighbors
- 7 nations
- 4 bodies of water
- 3 cities

Automotive France:
- Citroen
- Peugot
- Michelin

Aeronautical France:
- the Mirage jet fighter.

Historic France:
- the Celts, or Gauls
- the Romans

Ideas from Paris
- Block traffic on the downtown streets on Sundays so bicyclists, roller skaters and walkers can take over.
- Pedestrian bridges over the River Seine.

Bring a bar of soap to class on Th / Fri for Relief sculpture study

2011-12-05T05:09:00.001-08:00

Relief sculpture in soap / Fine Arts Magnet , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise.

An effective lesson in relief requires the student to sculpt a bar of soap. We will use large paper clips as tools.

Ivory Soap is the recommended brand. It is soft and forgiving in sculpture. But any full-size bar of soap will score the points.
- 10 pts for having the soap.
- 5 points for successful carving.

To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane, says Wikipedia. What is actually performed when a relief is cut in from a flat surface of stone or wood is a lowering of the field, leaving the unsculpted parts seemingly raised.

In high relief (alto-rilievo), more than 50% of the depth is shown and there may be undercut areas. There is also mid-relief (mezzo-rilievo), low-relief (basso-rilievo, or French: bas-relief), and shallow-relief or rilievo schiacciato,[1] where the plane is scarcely more than scratched in order to remove background material. There is also sunken relief, which was mainly restricted to Ancient Egypt.

A bas-relief ("low relief", French, from the Italian basso rilievo) or low relief is a projecting image with a shallow overall depth, for example used on coins, on which all images are in low relief.

In the lowest reliefs the relative depth of the elements shown is completely distorted, and if seen from the side the image makes no sense, but from the front the small variations in depth register as a three-dimensional image.

It is a technique which requires less work, and is therefore cheaper to produce, as less of the background needs to be removed in a carving, or less modelling is required. In the art of Ancient Egypt and other ancient Near Eastern and Asian cultures, and also Meso-America, a very low relief was commonly used for the whole composition. These images would all be painted after carving, which helped to define the forms.

Shreveport's census breakdown by neighborhood

2011-12-04T05:05:00.001-08:00

Shreveport area landscapes / Talbot, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

This map points out the traditional patterns of ethnic segregation in Shreveport.

The principal points in the life of Henry VIII, King of England

2011-11-30T09:32:00.001-08:00

Henry VIII, King of England, a photo by lisby1 on Flickr.

Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, says Wikipedia.

Henry's struggles with Rome led to the separation of the Church of England from papal authority, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and establishing himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Henry was known by some to be an attractive and charismatic man in his prime, educated and accomplished.[4] He was an author and a composer. He ruled with absolute power.

His desire to provide England with a male heir—which stemmed partly from personal vanity and partly because he believed a daughter would be unable to consolidate the Tudor Dynasty and the fragile peace that existed following the Wars of the Roses[5]—led to the two things that Henry is remembered for: his wives, and the English Reformation that made England a mostly Protestant nation. In later life he became morbidly obese and his health suffered; his public image is frequently depicted as one of a lustful, egotistical, harsh, and insecure king.[6]

Financially, the reign of Henry was a near-disaster. Although he inherited a prosperous economy (and further augmented his royal treasury by seizures of church lands), Henry's heavy spending and high taxes damaged the economy.

[15][16] For example, Henry expanded the Royal Navy from 5 to 53 ships. He loved palaces; he began with a dozen and died with fifty-five, in which he hung 2,000 tapestries. He took pride in showing off his collection of weapons, which included exotic archery equipment, 2,250 pieces of land ordinance and 6,500 handguns.[19]

Henry worked hard to present an image of unchallengeable authority and irresistible power. He executed at will, beheading, often in public, more English notables than any monarch before or since. The roll of heads included two wives, twenty peers, four leading public servants, and six of the king's close attendants and friends, not to mention one cardinal and various heads of monasteries. In addition Cardinal Wolsey died en route to his treason trial.

A big, strong man (over six feet tall and broad in proportion), he excelled at jousting and hunting. More than pastimes, they were political devices that served multiple goals, from enhancing his athletic royal image to impressing foreign emissaries and rulers, to conveying Henry's ability to suppress any rebellion.

Quiche party in geography class: a French-themed party for invitedguests

2011-11-27T16:21:00.001-08:00

Quiche a la Hunter, Patrick, Austin: Magnet geography, France, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Quiche Fest for Trudeau's geography students: on Dec 1/2 all students will cook at home and bring a quiche to class.

Those who cannot cook a quiche have 2 options: purchase a quiche or compose and type a comparison essay. The topic: the French auto called the Citroen 2CV and the emperor Napoleon I.

Our plan is to invite amenable Magnet classes to visit us during that block and have a sample of our work. It's Quiche Party Time.

Here's a video that will help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-rukyaKZlI. Also, check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7EYPC0W48A.

There are many online tutorials - one to suit everyone.

When you've learned how to make one, you'll be able to make quiches for the family during the upcoming holidays.

Social Studies Regional Fair, LSUS, March 8, 2012; see guidelines online

2011-11-18T07:45:00.001-08:00

Magnet Shreveport, 2011: social studies, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Guidelines and all additional info on the Regional Social Stuides Fair is to be found at this LSUS site for the 2011-12 competition.

Only selected students in world geography will be asked to enter the school-level competition. Winners will go the LSUS-sponsored contest. Winners in regionals will be eligible to go to Baton Rouge for finals. Bonus points will be earned by the additional work.

The original Mini was made by the British company Austin

2011-11-17T13:54:00.001-08:00

60s Minis in the 21st Century #48, a photo by Happy Accs on Flickr.

British car companies, a selected list:

AC (1908-present)
Allard (1899-1902)
Aston Martin (1921-present)
Austin (1906-1989)
Austin-Healey (1952-1971)
Bentley (1919-present)
Brough Superior (1935-1939)
BSA (1907-1926; 1929-1940)
Connaught (1952-59)
Healey (1946-1954)
Jaguar (1945-present)
Jensen-Healey (1972-1976)
Land Rover (1948-present)
Leyland (1920-1923)
Lotus (1951-present)
McLaren (1969-1970; 1993-1998; 2005-Present)
MG (1923-present)
Mini (1959-2000)
Morgan (1910-present)
Morris (1913-1983)
Peerless (1957-1960)
Rolls-Royce (1904-present)
Rover (1904-2005)
Sunbeam (1899-1937; 1953-1976)
Sunbeam-Talbot (1938-1954)
Talbot (1903-1938)
Triumph (1923-1984)
Vauxhall (1903-present)

Fish n' Chips, the national comfort food of England

2011-11-17T13:40:00.001-08:00

Fish n' Chips, a photo by entheos_fog on Flickr.

Fish and chips became a stock meal among the working classes in Great Britain as a consequence of the rapid development of trawl fishing in the North Sea, and development of railways connecting ports to cities during the second half of the 19th century, says Wikipedia.

In chip shops in the United Kingdom, salt and vinegar is traditionally sprinkled over fish and chips at the time it is served.[22] Suppliers may use malt vinegar, onion vinegar (used for pickling onions), or the much cheaper non-brewed condiment. A portion of mushy peas is a popular side dish.

London pop-ups: Historic sites along the Thames

2011-11-17T08:17:00.001-08:00

Rae Scruggs' Monuments of Paris, Cmhs, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

"Is this the Tower of London?" says your classmate as they look at your London pop-up map and take the brief quiz.

Here's how to prepare the project:

Sketch and color the curve of the Thames River on typing paper.

Sketch , color and cut out 4 symbols of historic London. Include the Tower of London, the Globe Theater, the Westminster Palace / Houses of Parliament and the Hostoric London Bridge. Leave a paper "tab" for easier attachment and for ability to look behind the paper symbol.

On the back of each symbol print the name of the site. Using the tab, glue the symbols to the proper spots along the Thames.

Above the assemblage, print a jazzy title. Below the assemblage print a word bank.
Ex:
- Tower of London

- London Bridge

- Louvre
- Globe Theater
- Versailles
- St Peter's Basilica
- Kremlin
- Parliament
etc

Ask your respondents to guess the names of the 4 great sites. After they guess, they will be able to bend up the paper graphic and see whether they've given the right answer.

Bonus credit:
Write a brief account of the people, scores and remarks of your respondents.

- The project is worth 5 pts and due Wed/Th.

Center of life on the Thames River: the storied London Bridge

2011-11-16T20:15:00.001-08:00

London Bridge, 1616, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The first bridge over the Thames was buikt by the Romans about AD 50, or some 2000 years ago, says Wikipedia.

The King John version of the bridge completed in 1209. He licensed the building of houses on the bridge, as a direct means of deriving revenue for its maintenance, and it was soon colonised by shops.

The medieval bridge had 19 small arches and a drawbridge with a defensive gatehouse at the southern end. Contemporary pictures show it crowded with buildings of up to seven stories in height.

The buildings slowed down the traffic crossing the river. The houses and shops took up space and could draw crowds, and when carts broke down or animals misbehaved, crossing the bridge could take up to an hour. For this reason, people on foot often chose to use the dozens of river taxi boats that quickly ferried Londoners from shore to shore.

Nearly 200 places of business lined both sides of the narrow street. Ale and beer were not sold on the London bridge because these beverages required cellars, which were not present. The merchants lived above their shops and sold goods from the street-level floor. They used windows to show their goods and transact business; over each shop hung a sign usually in the shape of the articles sold, in order that the illiterate could recognise the nature of the business. These signs were posted high enough that a rider on a horse could pass beneath them— every inch of the small street had to be available to vehicular traffic. Many of the top floors of the houses and shops were built over the street and actually connected to the house or shop across the street, giving the street a tunnel look.

The southern gatehouse, the Stone Gateway, became the scene of one of London's most notorious sights: a display of the severed heads of traitors, impaled on pikes[1] and dipped in tar to preserve them against the elements. The head of William Wallace was the first to appear on the gate, in 1305, starting a tradition that was to continue for another 355 years. Other famous heads on pikes included those of Jack Cade in 1450, Thomas More in 1535, Bishop John Fisher in the same year, and Thomas Cromwell in 1540. In 1598 a German visitor to London Paul Hentzner counted over 30 heads on the bridge.

The buildings on London Bridge created a major fire hazard and served to increase the load on its arches, both of which may have contributed to the several disasters on the bridge. In 1212, perhaps the greatest of the early fires of London broke out on both ends of the bridge simultaneously, trapping many in the middle and reportedly resulting in the death of 3,000 people. Another major fire broke out in 1633, destroying the northern third of the bridge, although this prevented the bridge from being damaged by the Great Fire of London in 1666.

In 1756 permission was obtained to demolish all the shops and houses on London Bridge.

By the end of the 18th century, it was apparent that the old London Bridge — by then over 600 years old — needed to be replaced. It was narrow and decrepit, and blocked river traffic. The bridge was eventually replaced by a structure of five stone arches.

Geography Magnet / London

2011-11-16T19:37:00.001-08:00

Geography Magnet / London, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Tower of London - Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England.

Says Wikipedia, It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.

The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose.

A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The Tower of London is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. Is has been such since at least the Elizabethan period, when it was one of the sights of London that foreign visitors wrote about. Its most popular attractions were the Royal Menagerie and displays of armour. The Crown Jewels also garner much interest, and have been on public display since 1669.

Teens selling stuff on eBay: alternative topic for Social Studies Project

2011-11-15T09:16:00.001-08:00

Steam punk pistol / Fine arts Magnet , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Keep a record of all that you read, all the people from whom you glean advice and of the process that you go through to sell something on eBay.

That is the basis for a Social Social Studies Project. The question: How difficult is the challenge of a teen selling on eBay?

It will probably entail getting a bank account (consider opening a Credit Union account, please) and a Paypal account.

Regardless whether you sell anything it will make a great story and project.

The Thames, the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London / sketch Robert Trudeau

2011-11-15T08:52:00.001-08:00

The Thames, the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London / sketch Robert Trudeau, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The invisible antecedent to the kings' castle called the Tower of London involves hundreds of years of being bullied by invaders.

Celtic People lived in Britain before Roman times; the Celts started coming to Britain from Europe around 700 BC.

In the year AD 43, the Romans invaded Britain.

The Romans mainly settled in the south of Britain. They called this land Britannia. They ruled over it for nearly 400 years.

Sea-raiders from Europe invaded and settled in Britain. Some of the invaders were Angles, some were Saxons, some were Jutes. We call them all Anglo-Saxons.

In AD 793, raiders attacked the monnastery at Lindisfarne, a small island off the north-east coast of England. They were Vikings from Scandinavia. Vikings terrorized parts of the world for about 300 years.

The prayer said in many English churches during the long period of incursions from the Vikings was "Oh Lord, protect us from the wrath of the Northmen!"

The British Isles: industry, language, government, media, literature, ability to make money

2011-11-12T14:10:00.001-08:00

Magnet geography British Isles , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The British Isles map -
- England
- Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland

- Ireland (Eire)
- France
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Nord ee
- English Channel (La Manche)
- Atlantic

- London
- Stonehenge site
- Loch Ness
- Edinburgh (golf)
- Belfast (Titanic)
- Welsh / English castles

- Celts: the tribal peoples of Western Europe.

Coates Bluff Nature Trail opens Sat, Nov 12; join us at Montessori School for Shreveport between 8:30 and 11 for hiking and meeting trail-minded people

2011-11-11T13:38:00.001-08:00

Coates Bluff Nature Trail / map annotations by Robert Hattan , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Drop me an email if you need more info. trudeau11@gmail.com.

Bon jour! Hola! Yo! / Canada, the US and Mexico practice questions

2011-11-10T13:59:00.001-08:00

Taqueria La Michoacana, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

1. Name a Mexican resort on the Pacific coast famous for cliff divers. __
2. Mexico has one great range of mountains that runs from north to south. T / F
3. Whale watching - from December to March - is an event that draws tourists to this part of Mexico. Name the resort town __ __ __ and the sea __ __ __ .
4. Your map of California will give you the name of a Mexican border town that is a short distance south of San Diego: __ .
5. Ciudad Juarez is a crime-ridden border town that is adjacent to the extreme western tip of Texas. Your map of Texas will tell you the name of the US town on the Rio Grande at the western edge of the Lone Star state: __ __ .
6.Which US city is closest to Canada on the Pacific Rim? __ .
7. Which US state is adjacent to Canada on the Atlantic coast?
8. Name the US city closest to the Canadian city of Toronto: __ .
9. Name 5 seas or oceans that surround this map.
10. Name 6 peninsulas that we have discussed on this map.
11. Name the major Canadian city near the Great Lakes: __ .
12. Name the largest French-speaking city in Canada: __ .
13. Quebec City is on a Canadian river that is as important as the Mississippi:
__ __ __ .
14. The ocean north of Canada: __ .
15. Name the high-tech Canadian city on the Pacific Rim: __ .
16. Alaska is separated from Asia by a body of water known as the __ Strait.
17. The Asian nation closest to Alaska: __ .
18. The nation whose population is about 300 million: __ .
19. The nation whose population is about 33 million: __ .
20. The nation whose population is about 100 million: __ .
21. A peninsula which is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. __ __ .
22. The type of gun that represents a mnemonic for the spelling of Caribbean: __.
23. Nation of a simple cuisine whose favorite french fry-based dish is called poutine: __.
24. Nation whose cuisine revolves around corn: __ .
25. Cacao beans (chocolate), vanilla beans and chili peppers originated in this nation: __ .

Canada / Mexico open notes, fill the blanks quiz Fri / Mon, Nov 11, 14

2011-11-09T16:23:00.001-08:00

Magnet geography / library , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Hola and Bon jour quiz sample questions -

1. Name the Mexican city, Ciudad __, that lies across the Texas border from El Paso.
2. The capital of French-speaking Canada lies on a river called the __ __ .
3. This city is east of Chicago, west of Cleveland and south of Toronto: it is __.
4. Toronto is a port on the shore of Lake __.
5. Name a Mexican peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico; it is the __ Peninsula.
6. The Massachusetts peninsula just south of Boston is __ __ .
7. An Asian nation adjacent to Alaska: __ .
8. Which is the more northerly island? a) Isla Cozumel b) Isla Cancun.
9. Name the peninsula associated with the Gulf of California: __ .
10. Tijuana is a riotous border town on the edge of California. T / F

The Elements of the Social Studies Fair Project / 20 pts / Due Dec 5 or6

2011-11-09T15:22:00.001-08:00

Magnet geography / library , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Elements in this social studies project -

1. Jazzy title.
2. Question or problem.
3. Hypothesis. It is a possible answer to the question or solution to the problem.
4. Research. This project focuses on a review of the literature. The student finds sources, reads the articles and chooses the part(s) that are relevant to the paper, the parts that address the problem. Cite 3 or more sources. You must also cite 2 or more interviews.
5. Footnotes. These are numbers embedded in the copy that refer to end notes, which are references to the sources.
Examples:
(1)"Crawfish and Catfish," NY Times, March 2, 2010.
(2) Aquaculture in Louisiana, Pelican Press, 2009.
(3) Interview with social studies teacher Robert Trudeau, Nov 8, 2011.
6. Bibliography. The list of all articles and books read - even if partially.
7. Conclusion. What does your evidence say to you in regards answering the question which began the project?

Scoring will be based on completion of all the above elements plus grammar, spelling and construction.
- student need not build traditional backboard display and assemble images unless teacher and student agree on an entry into the social studies fair.
- students may work solo, in a duo or a 3-person team. Bonus points may be given to those who can complete the project via an international team.
- May be submitted as a powerpoint presentation or in traditional hard copy (with no need for illustrations).
- 20 pts. Due Dec 5 or 6.

Social studies fair project suggested topics

2011-11-08T20:17:00.001-08:00

DSC04572.JPG, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Social Studies Fair Project -
* submitted via image-based report on paper or in Powerpoint-style.
* purpose is to show fluency with the Scientific Method.
* 20 pts.

Examples in making your study more local and therefore narrower in scope:

a) Why is La auto insurance very high for teens?
b) Should my family invest in WalMart stock?
c) How do I help my friends pay more attention to their school work?
d) Will fracture drilling affect the future water supply of North La?
e) How are teens in Afghanistan similar to teens in La?
f) The Red River of North Louisiana: what is its future?
g) Chief Tarsher of the Caddo: why is he mostly unknown to local people? (same question on pioneer Larkin Edwards)
h) What is the background to the drop in crime levels in Shreveport-Bossier?
i) Recycling: is Shreveport-Bossier making progress?
j) Does Interstate 20 and Highway 80 follow the ancient trails established by the Caddo people?
k) Is the Houston Ship Channel at all like the Erie Canal?
l) Will history judge Bill Gates to have been as successful as Steve Jobs?
m) How do voters evaluate the term of Shreveport mayor Cedric Glover?
n) How do we evaluate the negative effect of drop-outs in Caddo schools?
o) Did the French or the Spanish have a greater impact on the north of the Louisiana colony?
p) Update on casino gaming in Shreveport-Bossier: does it remain economically advantageous?
q) Which is the most appealing future source of water for Shreveport-Bossier? Caddo Lake, Cross Lake or the Red River?
r) How did the US Civil War affect Shreveport?
s) Moonbot Studios: Is the Shreveport animation company becoming successful?
t) Why is the Magnet arts club named for singer Huddie Leadbelly Ledbetter?
u) Is Kenny Wayne Shepherd considered a blues or rock musician?
v) Lake Bistineau artist Clyde Connell: does another female artist in North Louisiana match her achievements?
w) Are crawfish an effective basis for aquaculture in Louisiana?
x) Shreveport's Calanthean Temple on Texas Avenue: can it become a site on Louisiana's Black History Trail?
y) Skateboarding in Shreveport: where are the most effective public sites?
z) North Louisiana Soul Food: Can it be developed as a tourist attraction?

Blog and notes quiz on Canada & Mexico on Fri / Mon

2011-11-08T19:39:00.001-08:00

Magnet geography/ Canada Mexico , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The quiz will cover the maps and the additional materials on cities and demographics.

Canada: important, if ignored, neighbor

2011-11-06T19:05:00.001-08:00

canada: important neighbor, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Maple Leaf Quiz / Geography Open notes review

A 1. This city is the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris: a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
B 2. Because of the city's low crime rates, clean environment, high standard of living, and friendlier attitudes to diversity, _____ is consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities by the Economist. a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
C 3. It has become the third-largest film production centre in North America after Los Angeles and New York City, earning it the nickname Hollywood North.
a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
A 4. Home to the world-renowned dance troupe Cirque du Soleil.
a) Montreal b) Toronto c) Vancouver d) Ottawa.
C 5. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville and his brother Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville were born in a) London b) Paris c) Montreal d) New Orleans.
C 6. Acadians are French people who spent some 150 years living in the region of Canada called: a) Acadiana b) Arcadia c) Nova Scotia d) Quebec.
F 7. Canada’s population is about one tenth of the US population; the US is also slightly larger than Canada in area. T / F
B 8. Oklahoma is part of the American region called the: a) Midwest b) Southwest c) Northwest d) Southeast.
B 9. The Empire State Building was creamed by a B-25 bomber during the __ era.
a) WWI b) WWII c) Korean War d) Vietnam Conflict
C 10. Strawberry Fields is a location in both a) NYC & London b) Chicago & London c) NYC & Liverpool d) Chicago & Montreal.
B 11. "OMG, my mother said I have to put my phone up." a) shillalagh b) shibboleth c) shilly shally d) shilling.

Vancouver to Quebec: the Canada quiz

2011-11-06T18:56:00.001-08:00

David Dooley / Cattle, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

T 1. Canada’s population is about one tenth of the US population, although it is slightly larger than the US in area. T / F
A 2. An island in Eastern Canada came under British rule with the Treaty of Utrecht (1713). This resulted in a serious change in the population of a) Nova Scotia b) Quebec c) Massachusetts
d) Montreal.
B 3. Canadians often speak 2 languages, owing to their nation’s ethnicity: a) English & German b) English & French c) English & Inuit d) English & Canadianne.
B 4. Born and raised in Montreal: a) Michael Cera
b) Sieur d’Iberville c) Beausoleil d) Celine Dion.
A 5. The French who were born in Louisiana colony were called a) Creoles b) Acadiennes c) Cajuns d) Gumbo.
D 6. Between their impoverished life in Western France and their impoverished life as pioneers in Louisiana, the French colonists spent about 150 years in a) the Caribbean b) British Columbia c) Toronto d) Acadia.
B 7. Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier founded a) Canadian Waste Disposals Systems b) Cirque de Soleil c) the rock band Rush d) Quebec City.
C 8. The nation’s capital: a) Quebec b) Montreal c) Ottowa
d) Toronto.
D 9. The Great Lakes connect to the Atlantic via the
a) Illinois-Michigan Canal b) Erie Canal c) Niagra Falls
d) St Lawrence River.
T 10. Part of Canada is an archipelago. T / F
B 11. “Canada is also geologically active, having many earthquakes and potentially active volcanoes,” says Wikipedia. This would refer to __ Canada. a) Eastern b) Western c) Northern d) Southern
D 12. The coordinates are 45N, 73W: a) Toronto b) Winnipeg c) Detroit d) Montreal.
B 13. Land area: which is larger, the a) US or b) Canada?

Using images to compare Canada and Mexico

2011-11-03T06:28:00.001-07:00

Taqueria La Michoacana, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

In the Magnet library students will demonstrate knowledge of the nations of Canada and Mexico by creating a comparison project . . .

Assemble 8 images on one page. Add 2 factoids to each image. Four on Canada, 4 on similar sites in Mexico.
Jazzy title.
Bottom right corner: cite 2 sources.

Topics? Choose 4 from these:
- Population
- Industry
- Education
- Languages
- Art
- Holidays
- Cuisine
- Music
- Pop stars / celebrities
- Religions
- 5 pts.
Due next class. Black & white print-out OK.

Map quiz next class: sketch either Texas or Washington, DC

2011-10-31T16:36:00.001-07:00

Texas, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Sketch the outline of Texas and add, as studied in class,
- 4 bodies of water
- 3 cities
- 5 neighbors

Sketch the rectangular National Mall and add
- US Capitol
- Supreme Court
- Library of Congress
- National Air & Space Museum
- the Smithsonian Museums
- White House
- Washington Monument
- Potomac River
- Pentagon (US Dept of Defense)
- 3 neighboring states

Topics for Indie work for bonus credit

2011-10-28T13:58:00.001-07:00

Caddo Magnet library, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Choose one for a comparison essay. Do not write it from the top of your head or what you remember in class notes. Do take your material from credible sources and cite your sources.

Remember:
- Jazzy title.
- Typed. No more than 1 page. A half page will do.
- Integrate the subjects; blend the topics.
- Offer details, not generalities.
- Similarities as well as differences.
- Use comparison words (se guidelines posted earlier).

a) Dia de los Muertos and Halloween
b) The founding of Houston and the founding of Dallas.
c) The Houston Ship Channel and the Erie Canal.
d) The River Walk in San Antonio and the banks of the Red R in Shreveport-Bossier.
e) Tex-Mex cooking and Creole cooking.
f) Houston's pop music stars (2) versus those of New Orleans (2).

Semester book report due Nov 4

2011-10-28T06:17:00.001-07:00

Portland / Powell's Books, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The book report is worth 20 pts and should consist of 2 pages:

1. 5 images that *relate to* elements of the book. For example: a location image, a character image, a conflict image, an era image, an author image. Each image must be accompanied by 2 factoids (typed) from the book. Add a jazzy title.

2. Brief, typed book essay based on 2 quotes from the book. Half a page will do.
Snazzy title, too.
Name, date, hour in upper right.

Criteria for grading:
- Grammar, punctuation, construction.
- Neatness.

Questions? trudeau11@gmail.com

Celebrating el Dia de los Muertos: empanadas, a la Mexicana

2011-10-27T18:32:00.001-07:00

Geography: empanadas, a la Mexicana , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Mexican empanadas can be a dessert or breakfast item and tend to contain a variety of sweetened fillings, says Wikipedia. These include pumpkin, yams, sweet potato, and cream, as well as a wide variety of fruit fillings.

Meat, cheese, and vegetable fillings are less common in some states, but still well-known and eaten fairly regularly.

Thanks, Lana!

A brief unit on Louisiana's amazing neighbor: Texas

2011-10-24T08:57:00.001-07:00

Texas map postcard, a photo by paflip25 on Flickr.

To be an intelligent citizen of Louisiana is to be a student of all things Texan.

Geo class study will focus on
- Houston
- Dallas
- Austin.

Sketch map no. 1 of Texas must show, colorfully, the

- neighboring states
- Gulf of Mexico
- Rio Grande
- Red R.
- Sabine R.
- Galveston Bay
- Houston Ship Channel (Buffalo Bayou)
- 3 cities as above

Enrichment
- In the tragic Enron Corp scandal of 2001 the collapse of the company due to fraud by top executives led to the loss of jobs and retirement money for some 20,000 former employees.
- Some 20 executives were convicted or plead guilty in the aftermath.

- In 1901 the Spindletop gusher oil well, Beaumont (near the corner of Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf), marked the beginning of the Texas Oil Boom.

Researching and writing a plan for a family weekend in Houston or Dallas

2011-10-24T07:06:00.001-07:00

Velo Dendro 11 / A Better Shreveport , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The great metropoli in our region are Dallas and Houston.

Your task is to plan a family weekend in one of the 2 cities. That will include
- Approximate driving time and gas consumed. I would suggest a rough figure of 2 and a half tanks of gas for Dallas, 3 and a half tanks for Houston.
- Motel/hotel cost. Figure the number of people in your family and get a price for 2 nights: a Fri and Sat. An option: get a cost for a budget hotel and a price for an upscale location.
- Attractions: find the location, cost and hours of a museum and an amusement center.
- Meals and notable restaurants. Find the cost of a special restaurant for supper/dinner. Choose at least one that offers an unusual foreign cuisine. You may figure about $20 per person for breakfast and a generic lunch.
- Shopping: find a store that suits you that is not available in Shreveport.
- Approximate total cost.

What book are you reading for the social studies report? Also, are you and your team rolling on the social studies project?

2011-10-24T05:37:00.001-07:00

Velo Dendro 11 / A Better Shreveport , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

If you have doubts or need a refresher, please return to the original guidelines page.

Btw, the photo above is of the state champion Sycamore tree. It is located in AC Steere Park.

Geography notes: Wash, DC and the Atlantic coastal states

2011-10-18T18:38:00.001-07:00

Geography Magnet / Wash, DC, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Please see below for more detail.

Meanwhile, here are 6 relevant metro populations, acc to Wikipedia.

1 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA MSA 18,897,109

2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA 12,828,837

3 Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI MSA 9,461,105

4 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA 6,371,773

5 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA 5,965,343

6 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA 5,946,800

States

1 California 37,253,956

2 Texas 25,145,561

3 New York 19,378,102

What to know in Washington, DC, around the national mall

2011-10-18T07:19:00.001-07:00

Washington, DC, the national mall, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Like NYC, Chicago and LA, the sites of Washington are frequently featured in the news, literature and general media.

Please commit these sites to memory on a simple sketch map.

- Potomac R.
- White House, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave
- Lincoln Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Smithsonian Museums (general locations)
- National Air & Space Museum
- National mall
- US Capitol
- US Supreme Court
- Library of Congress
- The Pentagon (US Dept of Defense), across the Potomac and slightly south of the Lincoln Memorial.

Please click on the map to see full coverage.

Mental mapping: memorize the Atlantic coast US states

2011-10-18T06:48:00.001-07:00

East coast US states, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Be able to sketch and label the 14 US East coast states. Approximate shapes are OK.

Blank sheet memory quiz on the 1st class of the Oct 24 week.

- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- NY
- New Jersey
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- N Carolina
- SC
- Georgia
- Florida

- Canada and Nova Scotia Province
- Bahamas
- Cuba

Atlantic Ocean.

Practice the Three Metropoli with these questions

2011-10-17T19:08:00.001-07:00

Nyc artist, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

A wee quiz on 3 ginormous cities

1. The approximate metropolitan population of Chicago in millions? a) 4 m b) 6 m c) 9 m d) 12 m
2. Chicago was founded on a portage between 2 bodies of water. They are Lake Michigan and a) Lake Superior b) Mississippi R c) Lake Huron.
3. Which recent presidents were closely associated with Los Angeles?
a) Reagan & Carter b) Kennedy & Clinton c) Reagan & Nixon
d) Nixon & Eisenhower.
4. Jean Baptiste du Sable was the founder of a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
5. Named for a female-type person: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
6. World's Fair of 1893: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
7. Founded by the Dutch. a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
8. Oprah. a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
9. Bagels: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
10. The beginnings of Health food in America: a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.
11. Largest city in the most populous state. a) Chicago b) Los Angeles c) NYC.

NYC-Chicago-LA quiz on Wed, Oct 19

2011-10-17T08:41:00.001-07:00

Class of 2015 Talent Show, Caddo Magnet , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

As usual, open notes, multiple choice. About 13 questions.

The Triple Urban Conflagration contest, in which each answer is either NYC-Chicago-LA, will be next week.

Henry Hudson was the second European to explore NY harbor; the first was Giovanni Verrazzano

2011-10-17T04:30:00.001-07:00

Henry Hudson, a photo by Bosc d'Anjou on Flickr.

C 1. A similarity between Shreveport and the Windy City, Chicago, is found when comparing this factor:
a) Shreveport is part of the Bible Belt b) population c) Millennium Moon mural d) popular foods.
C 2. The run-down Manhattan neighborhood in which many poor immigrants (notably East European Jews, Italians and Chinese) got their start is the a) Upper West Side b) the Midtown area
c) the Lower East Side d) SoHo.
B 3. Four of the boroughs are located on islands. Name the two that share space on one island. a) Bronx, Queens
b) Brooklyn, Queens c) Queens, Long Island d) Brooklyn, Long Island.
A 4. In NY harbor are famous islands such as Liberty Island, Governor's Island and one small island which was a center for immigration: a) Ellis Is. b) Rikers Is. c) Hudson Is. d) Roosevelt Is.
B 5. The European explorer given credit for first examining NY harbor was a) Peter Minuit b) Giovanni Verrazzano c) Henry Hudson d) Duke of York.

A 6. The earliest site of European settlement in NYC is at the __ tip of Manhattan. a) Southern b) Northern c) Eastern d) Western.
C 7. Major university associated with Manhattan: a) Harvard b) Stanford c) Columbia d) Yale.
C 8. When you see landmarks such as Rodeo Drive, Venice Boardwalk and Arnold Schwarzenegger you know the topic is a) Chicago b) NYC c) Los Angeles.
D 9. Dutch governor of the NY colony who famously bargained with the Algonquian peoples:
a) Peter Stuyvesant b) Henry Hudson c) John Peter Zenger d) Peter Minuit.
A 10. Influential, wealthy part of Manhattan: a) Upper East Side b) Lower East Side c) Little Italy
d) Harlem.
A 11. Name the ethnic group that was welcomed by immigration laws in the mid 1800's and excluded from immigration by changes in the laws in the late 1800's. a) Chinese b) Jews c) Italians d) Africans.

Philippe Petit -Wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974

2011-10-17T04:18:00.001-07:00

Philippe Petit -Wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974, a photo by Mr. Memphis1982 on Flickr.

The award-winning movie Man On Wire represents a notable learning activity for several reasons -

- documentary on the birth of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.
- connections between Paris, France, and NYC.
- segments of French language.
- story of unusual skill and bravery.
- story which balances the better-known story of the destruction of the Towers.
- skillfully made documentary.

Mary Jane Malone Lecture on Thurs, Oct 20th; Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain, is the speaker

2011-10-15T15:26:00.001-07:00

ARR International Covers // Canada, a photo by ColdTrackDays.com on Flickr.

The 14th Annual Mary Jane Malone Lecture Series will happen Thurs, Oct 20th. Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain, is the speaker.

All 11th and 12th graders will attend the lecture in the PAC during 4th period. 9th and 10th graders will be able to watch the lecture via Channel 1 monitors in classsrooms.

The evening lecture begins at 6:30 and is free and open to the public.

Feel free to invite friends and family to attend.

Flatiron Building: early skyscraper on Fifth Avenue, downtown NYC

2011-10-12T18:07:00.001-07:00

Flatiron Building, a photo by dianasch on Flickr.

The Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building, as it was originally called, is located at 175 Fifth Avenue and is considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper, says Wikipedia.

Upon completion in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in the city and the only skyscraper north of 14th Street.

It is a vertical Renaissance palazzo with Beaux-Arts styling.

In January 2009, an Italian real estate investment firm bought a majority stake in the Flatiron Building, with plans to turn it into a world-class luxury hotel. The conversion may have to wait ten years, however, until the leases of the current tenants run out.

NYC architecture vocab:terraced,cruciform,recumbent,frieze,clad,facade.

Rockefeller Center: a complex of 19 buildings in Midtown Manhattan

2011-10-12T17:53:00.001-07:00

Rockefeller Center, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Rockefeller Center or Rockefeller Plaza is a complex of 19 commercial buildings between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, says Wikipedia.

Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue.

Radio City Music Hall at 50th Street and Avenue of the Americas was completed in December, 1932. At the time it was promoted as the largest and most opulent theater in the world. The Rockettes are a precision dance company performing out of the Radio City Music Hall. During the Christmas season, the Rockettes have performed five shows a day, seven days a week, for 77 years. Perhaps their best-known routine is an eye-high leg kick in perfect unison in a chorus line, which they include at the end of every performance. Btw, every Rockette must be between 5'6" and 5'101⁄2" tall.

The centerpiece of Rockefeller Center is the 70-floor, 872-foot (266 m) GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ("30 Rock") formerly known as the RCA Building. It is centered behind the sunken plaza.

The famous Rainbow Room club restaurant is located on the 65th floor. The skyscraper is the headquarters of NBC and houses most of the network's New York studios, including 6A, former home of Late Night with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien and current home of The Dr. Oz Show; 6B, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; 8H, home of Saturday Night Live; plus the operations of NBC News, MSNBC and local station WNBC.

It offers a trove of public art: among it the statue of Atlas facing Fifth Avenue and the conspicuous friezes above the main entrance to the RCA Building.

There is also the highly recognizable bronze gilded statue of the Greek legend of the Titan Prometheus recumbent, bringing fire to mankind - in the sunken plaza at the front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

At street level, the plaza has about 200 flagpoles.

Margaret Bourke-White shooting from the 61st floor of the Chrysler Building

2011-10-12T17:42:00.001-07:00

Screen shot 2011-08-18 at 12.40.18 PM, a photo by Arnold Waldstein on Flickr.

The Chrysler Building is considered a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture, says Wikipedia.

The distinctive ornamentation of the building is based on features that were then being used on Chrysler automobiles.

The corners of the 61st floor are graced with eagles, replicas of the 1929 Chrysler hood ornaments;[32] on the 31st floor, the corner ornamentation are replicas of the 1929 Chrysler radiator caps.[33]

The Chrysler Building is also well renowned and recognized for its terraced crown. Composed of seven radiating terraced arches, Van Alen's design of the crown is a cruciform groin vault constructed into seven concentric members with transitioning setbacks, mounted up one behind another.[35]

The stainless-steel cladding is ribbed and riveted in a radiating sunburst pattern with many triangular vaulted windows, transitioning into smaller segments of the seven narrow setbacks of the facade of the terraced crown. The entire crown is clad with silvery "Enduro KA-2" metal, an austenitic stainless steel developed in Germany by Krupp.

It was the world's tallest building for 11 months - before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931.

Margaret Bourke-White Margaret Bourke-White (1904 –1971) was an American photographer and documentary photographer.[3][4]

She is best known as the first foreign photographer permitted to take pictures of Soviet Industry, the first female war correspondent (and the first female permitted to work in combat zones) and the first female photographer for Henry Luce's Life magazine, where her photograph appeared on the first cover.

A week to decide on the topic and assemble the research on your socialstudies project

2011-10-09T17:05:00.001-07:00

Geography Magnet / ss project, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

This week in geography: no home work outside of reading the blog; no quizzes, either.

This week Talent Show rehearsals will be held after school each day, 3:45 to 5 pm.

Please take this week to work on your social studies project. You may work solo or with up to 3 partners.

The 20 pt Social Studies project, due Nov 30:

Social Studies Fair Project -
* submitted via image-based report, Powerpoint-style.
* purpose is to show fluency with the Scientific Method.
* student articulates . . .
- social problem (slide 1)
- hypothesis for solution to problem (slide 2)
- review of literature (find sources, read the articles and choose the part(s) that are relevant to your paper) that addresses the problem (slides 3, 4 & 5, at least). The list of all articles read becomes your bibliography (slide 6).
- conclusion drawn from literature review (slide 7).
- abstract, or half-page summary of entire project.improvement (slide 8).
- grammar, spelling and construction.
- student need not build traditional backboard display unless teacher and student agree on an entry into the social studies fair.
- students may work solo, in a duo or a 3-person team. Bonus points for those who can devise an international team.

Bonus points - up to 5 - for early submission of a top-quality project.

Talent Show auditions and first run-through on Mon, Oct 10, 3:45, in the PAC

2011-10-09T13:37:00.001-07:00

Miss Valley project, Magnet geography, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Class of 2015 Talent Show is Fri, Oct 14, 6:30 - 8 pm, in the Magnet PAC. Admission $5.

Below are the first announcements of the production team (subject to adjustment):

Annie Thai / Event Producer

Vincent Huang / Manager / Light and Sound Producer vincent.huang.cmhs@gmail.com
Rachael Miller / Manager / Stage Left
Chloe Hughes chloebeth15@yahoo.com / Manager / Stage Right
Malcom Youngblood myjamel3@aim.com / Producer / assistant to Mr Trudeau
Caleb Basinger basingers5@basingerdental.com / Producer / Talent
Vijay Letchuman / Producer / Talent / vletchuman@yahoo.com

Serena Jackson / script writer / sjobena@gmail.com

Sandy Thurmon / stage back drop / thurmonsandy@yahoo.com
Sydni Durden / stage back drop / sydnidurden@gmail.com
Zoe Mangum / stage back drop / zoemangum312@gmail.com

Will Flavin / Light board / wpflavin@gmail.com
Jake Slater / spotlight / jakeslater5@gmail.com
Zachary Nelson / stage production /
Zaria Alexander / stage production / zarialexander@yahoo.com

Alicia Fields / program/ lucy143@yahoo.com

Parents who would like to volunteer please see parent Mrs Sonya French
868-1493
469-7793
Or me at trudeau11@gmail.com

We need more student talent in the script writing and program production.

NYC: Five Boroughs and an Overview

2011-10-07T09:40:00.001-07:00

NYC: Five Boroughs, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

New Amsterdam to New York

New York City consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

- Estimated population exceeds 8.3 million people, New York City is the most densely populated major city in the United States.[5]
- The metropolitan area's population is also the nation's largest, estimated at 18.8 million people.

* New York was founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch in 1624. The settlement was called New Amsterdam until 1664 when the colony came under English control.[7]
* New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790.[8] It has been the country's largest city since 1790.[9]

- The Statue of Liberty, gift of France.
- Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a dominant global financial center since World War II and is home to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

- Empire State Building, 1931.
- Chrysler Bldg, 1930.
- Flatiron Bldg, 1902.

- Harlem: Apollo Theater, Harlem Globetrotters, Harlem Boys' Choir, Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art,1930's.
- Columbia University - adjacent to Harlem.

- hip hop, disco and Tin Pan Alley in music
- the home of Broadway theater.

- Upper East Side and Upper West Side: wealthy neighborhoods; many people in towers overlooking Central Park.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art - edge of Central Park.
- Lincoln Center - 10 theaters in an arts center on Upper West Side. Includes Juilliard School, Metropolitan Opera, NYC Ballet, NY Philharmonic.

Coney Island, Brooklyn at the Atlantic: amusement park and history of hot dogs and hamburgers.

Fifth Ave: expensive shopping. Runs N-S alongside Central Park.

Greenwich Village / Washington Square Park and Arch: historic neighborhood that was once known for bohemian types; today the wealthy reside there.

- Chelsea - neighborhood north of Greenwich Village.
- SoHo - neighborhood of shops, art galleries and celebrity's apartments south of Greenwich Village.
- NYU, New York University, in the Village.

- Use of mass transit, most of which runs 24 hours per day.
- Nearly 170 languages were spoken in the city and 36% of its population was born outside the United States.
- "The City that Never Sleeps"; other nicknames include Gotham[14] and the Big Apple.[15]

Delaware/Algonquin, indigenous peoples.

- European discovery in 1524[16] by Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer in the service of the French crown.
- Dutch fur trading settlement, later called "Nieuw Amsterdam" (New Amsterdam), on the southern tip of Manhattan in 1614.
- Dutch colonial Director-General Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan from the Lenape people in 1626 for a value of 60 guilders - about $1000 in 2006.
- 1664, the English conquered the city and renamed it "New York" after the English Duke of York and Albany.

- Seminal John Peter Zenger trial in 1735, helping to establish the freedom of the press in North America.
- 1754, Columbia University was founded under charter by George II of Great Britain as King's College in Lower Manhattan.[23]

- Wall St was the site of a wall built to keep out the native peoples.
- Staten Is Ferry is free way to see the harbor.
- Chelsea Hotel - famous residence for celebs.
- Grand Central Station for train traffic.
- Chinatown for immigrants and shopping.

Central Park - 1857. Over 800 acres of urban park. Is 2.5 miles in length.

Social studies project possibility: being aware of the Red River's treacherous sands

2011-10-06T17:28:00.001-07:00

Trees with a view, a photo by mama2mice on Flickr.

This is an example of how to create a basic social studies project (remember, it can be a group project with up to 3 members) based on a local tragedy -

In 2010, teens from 2 families drowned in the Red River while trying to save each other. Six young people were lost to a sinkhole at the edge of the river.

Projects begin with a question, such as:

In 2010, six teens drowned in the Red River. How much can the city of Shreveport do to safeguard people using the waters of the Red River for recreation?

Hypothesis -
The city may have increased efforts to teach teens to swim. Yet the city can do more in regards education on the hazards associated with playing in the Red River.

Gathering of evidence -
Calling or emailing city officials with questions about city efforts in regards swim lessons and education.
- Mayor
- Chief of Police
- Chief of Fire/Rescue
- Media / reporters or editors
- River experts from LSUS and other agencies.
- Web search for articles associated with changes following the drownings.

Conclusion -
Based on the quotes and additional materials collected, would you say the city is making effective efforts?

Bibliography -
A listing of names of interviewees and articles read.

The 20 pt Social Studies project, due Nov 30:

Social Studies Fair Project -
* submitted via image-based report, Powerpoint-style.
* purpose is to show fluency with the Scientific Method.
* student articulates . . .
- social problem
- hypothesis for solution to problem
- review of literature (find sources, read the articles and choose the part(s) that are relevant to your paper) that addresses the problem. The list of all articles read becomes your bibliography.
- conclusion drawn from literature review.
- bibliography.
- abstract, or half-page summary of entire project.improvement.
- grammar, spelling and construction.
- student need not build traditional backboard display unless teacher and student agree on an entry into the social studies fair.
- students may work solo, in a duo or a 3-person team. And, yes, there will be bonus points for those who can devise an international team

Iron & steel: From the Great Lakes to NYC via the Erie Canal and Hudson River

2011-10-05T08:39:00.001-07:00

NY state, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Sketch
- the outline of NY state
- the edge of Lakes Erie and Ontario
- Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
- the highway that connects the above cities, which parallels the Erie Canal of 1825.
- the Hudson River
- NYC

- The Erie Canal was a huge investment and gamble for the state of NY, but it paid off.

The Erie Canal enabled the shipment of iron, coal, timber and. eventually, steel goods, to NY Harbor. That commerce created new businesses, jobs and much profit. It was especially beneficial to NYC.

Ships in New York Harbor ferried US goods to every part of the world.

Another Chicago landmark: a 50' steel sculpture by Picasso

2011-10-03T19:59:00.001-07:00

Chicago Picasso, a photo by mason.flickr on Flickr.

The Chicago Picasso is an untitled monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso in Chicago, Illinois, says Wikipedia.

The sculpture, dedicated on August 15, 1967, in Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop, is 50 feet (15.2 m) tall and weighs 162 tons.[1]

The Cubist sculpture by Picasso was the first such major public artwork in Downtown Chicago, and has become a well known landmark.

Picasso was offered payment of $100,000 but refused it, stating that he wanted to make a gift of his work.[4]

It is known for its inviting jungle gym-like characteristics.[2] Visitors to Daley Plaza can often be seen climbing on and sliding down the base of the sculpture.

The Bean, aka Cloud Gate, Millennium Park, Chicago

2011-10-03T19:56:00.001-07:00

Bean, a photo by Bryan Chang on Flickr.

Cloud Gate, a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois, says Wikipedia.

Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" because of its bean-like shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It is 33 by 66 by 42 feet, and weighs 110 short tons.

Said to have been inspired by liquid mercury,[2] the sculpture's surface reflects and distorts the city's skyline. Visitors are able to walk around and under Cloud Gate's 12-foot high arch. On the underside is the "omphalos" (Greek for "navel"), a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections.

Buddy Guy: bluesman from Baton Rouge who migrated to Chicago as a teen

2011-10-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

Buddy Guy, a photo by kaytethinks on Flickr.

George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936)[1] is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer, says Wikipedia.

He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation. Guy is known, too, for his showmanship on stage, playing his guitar with drumsticks, or strolling into the audience while playing solos.

Born and raised in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Guy began learning guitar on a two string diddley bow he made. Later he was given a Harmony acoustic guitar, which, decades later in Guy's lengthy career was donated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the early '50s he began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. Soon after moving to Chicago in 1957, Guy fell under the influence of Muddy Waters.

Mental map of the Great Lakes - 12 item quiz on Oct 5, 6

2011-10-03T12:02:00.001-07:00

Basin map of the Great Lakes, a photo by NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory on Flickr.

Please be ready to sketch and to identify

- 5 great lakes
- 3 cities
- 3 states
- foreign nation

Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, Chicago: 108 stories

2011-10-03T09:19:00.001-07:00

Willis Tower, a photo by alexventpap on Flickr.

The Willis Tower (formerly named, and still commonly referred to as, the Sears Tower) is a 108-story, 1,451-foot (442 m) skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, says Wikipedia.[4]

At the time of its completion in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world, surpassing the World Trade Center towers in New York, and it held this rank for nearly 25 years. The Willis Tower is the tallest building in the United States and the seventh-tallest freestanding structure in the world.

Located on the 103rd floor of the tower is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago, the Skydeck. Tourists can experience how the building sways on a windy day. They can see far over the plains of Illinois and across Lake Michigan to Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin on a clear day.

Elevators take tourists to the top in about 60 seconds. The Skydeck competes with the John Hancock Center's observation floor a mile and a half away, which is 323 feet (98 m) lower.

Some 1.3 million tourists visit the Skydeck annually.

"Prohibition,"a series on the US prohibition of alcohol, 1919 - 1933

2011-10-03T09:12:00.001-07:00

Al Capone, a photo by che1899 on Flickr.

Watch part of the PBS program "Prohibition" and write about it for indie work.

The show continues on Mon and Tues, 7 pm, LPB.

Black diaspora in America, 1910 - 1930, 1940 - 1970

2011-10-02T20:49:00.001-07:00

JeffreyBaker, Southern Univeristy Museum of Art, 610 Texas, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The Great Migration was the movement of 2 million blacks out of the Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest and West from 1910 to 1930, says Wikipedia.[1]

African Americans migrated to escape racism and prejudice in the South, as well as to seek jobs in industrial cities.

Some historians differentiate between a First Great Migration (1910–30), numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration (1940 to 1970), in which 5 million or more people moved and to a wider variety of destinations.

From 1965–70, 14 states of the South, especially Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, contributed to a large net migration of blacks to the other three cultural (and census-designated) regions of the United States.[2]

By the end of the Second Great Migration, African Americans had become an urbanized population. More than 80 percent lived in cities. Fifty-three percent remained in the South, while 40 percent lived in the North and 7 percent in the West.[3]

A reverse migration has gathered strength since 1965, dubbed the New Great Migration, the term for demographic changes from 1965 to the present which are a reversal of the previous 35-year trend of black migration within the United States.

Nov 1 and 2: Dia de Los Muertos

2011-10-02T16:36:00.001-07:00

Magnet el Dia de Los Muertos , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday, says Wikipedia.

The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday.

The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

The Leo Fender and Red Hot Chili Peppers Quiz

2011-09-30T13:38:00.001-07:00

Fender P Bass Special, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Leo Fender and the Red Hot Chili Peppers quiz

1. Which plate is moving northward? a) North American plate b) Pacific
plate c) Mexican plate d) Baja plate.
2. One of these is rubbery; one is a metalloid chemical element,
typically found in a dioxide. Which one is used integrated chips? a)
Silicone b) Silicon c) Sillicon d) Sillicone.
3. California's population is about __ times that of Louisiana. a) 3
b) 5 c) 8 d) 11.
4. Which fellow was considered the diplomat in early Caddo Parish
history? a) Tarshar b) Henry Shreve c) Larkin Edwards d)
Tsauninot.
5. Louisiana has a Humid Subtropical climate type. California has a __
climate. a) European b) Caribbean c) Desert d) Mediterranean.
6. An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis
is a) inclined away from the Sun b) inclined towards the Sun c) the
center of the Sun is in the same plane as the equator.
7. Which high-tech company is notably Not headquartered in Silicon
Valley? a) Microsoft b) EBay c) Facebook d) Google
e) H-P.
8. Education - especially advanced study in a university - is the
force that energizes the developments made in Silicon Valley.
Which university is farthest away from this region? a) UCLA b) UC
Berkeley c) Stanford d) Harvard.
9. Which university is most closely associated with Silicon valley? a)
UCLA b) UC Berkeley c) Stanford d) Harvard.
10. There is a Louisiana population in the Bay Area of San
Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley. Name the La-Cal connection that is more
likely than the others. a) Af-Am residents of La and Tx migrated
westward in the post-WWII years in search of better jobs. b) Vast oil
fields surrounding San Francisco Bay drew La residents who had
background in oil drilling. c) Fine restaurants in San Francisco hired
numerous Creole chefs from La.
d) Sugar cane and cotton fields around Oakland drew many La farm workers.
11. Louisiana's per capita (per person) income is ___ as the average
income in the US. a) lower b) higher c) about the same
12. Tibet is a region in the nation of __ . a) Russia b) China c)
Afghanistan d) Pakistan.

Sat, Oct 1, Water Haul: from Stoner Boat Launch to Magnet

2011-09-30T07:31:00.001-07:00

Children Carrying Water, Freetown, a photo by AdamCohn on Flickr.

The theme of geography class in 2011-12 is the growing value of h2o, or water.

Thus I want to make a video of students carrying a bucket of water from the Red River to Magnet.

Most of the people on planet earth are somehow engaged in hauling water each day. It is not easy. But it is necessary.

In the US we take water for granted. This video is designed to remind us how the rest of the world lives.

Please join me at Stoner Boat Launch at 10 am on Sat.
5 pts or more of bonus credit.
Parents are welcome to hang out with us as we make the trek!
We will be done in no more than an hour.
Please drop me an email if you plan to attend: trudeau11@gmail.com
Phone is OK, too: 272 6045.

Chicago, the Windy City, the capital of the Midwest

2011-09-28T15:42:00.001-07:00

Chicago, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The Windy City, the capital of the Midwest

1. Metro population?
2. Population rank in the US?
3. Chicago founded on a portage between 2 bodies of water. __ and __
4. 2nd busiest airport in the world?
5. Which recent president has been a representative from greater Chicago?
6. The first non-indigenous settler was Jean Baptiste du __ . He was a fellow of mixed ethnicity, including __ and __ .
7. The name Chicago is a French rendering of a name in a native American language.
8. In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Fair, called the World's Columbian Exposition. It drew 27.5 million visitors, and is considered the most influential world's fair in history.
9. The 1920s brought notoriety to Chicago as gangsters, including the notorious Al Capone, battled each other and law enforcement on the city streets during the Prohibition era.
10. 2 musicians.
11. 3 politicians.
12. Ethnic groups.
13. 2 tv shows and a radio show.
14. Bar graph: the major ethnic groups (totals, percentage and colored graph) of 3 cities: LA, Chicago, NYC.

El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de Los Angeles del Rio de Porciuncula

2011-09-27T15:30:00.001-07:00

Magnet geography Los Angeles, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

LA's full name:
The town of Our Lady (mother of Jesus in Roman Catholic parlance), Queen of the Angels of the River Porciuncula.

Notes -
- Watts Towers - primitive art by an Italian immigrant in a neighborhood that became a major Af-Am ghetto.

ghetto: Italian word which means "the section where the Jews live." Jewish ghettos in Europe existed because Jews were viewed as alien due to being a cultural minority and due to their non-Christian beliefs in a Renaissance Christian environment, says Wikipedia.

- Rodeo Drive - posh shopping district.
- RMS Queen Mary, retired steam liner twice the size of the Titanic.
- Disneyland dates from 1955.
- LaBrea Tar Pits: Asphaltum or tar (brea in Spanish) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. Over many centuries, animals that came to drink the water fell in, sank in the tar, and were preserved as bones. Ex: mammoths, sloths and saber-toothed tiger.
- Hollywood Hills: an affluent and exclusive neighborhood in the Santa Monica Mountains. By 1915 the movie business had largely relocated here from NYC.
- Chinatown Los Angeles
- Venice Beach & Boardwalk: people watching and trendy shopping.
- The J Paul Getty Museum and LA County Museum of Art: major art centers.
- Warner brothers Studios: take a tour!
- Beverly Hills: a posh municipality next door to Bel Air, Holmby Hills and West Hollywood.
- Marina Del Rey: major yacht harbor near LAX and Venice.
- Knott's Berry Farm: famous theme park.
- LA Farmer's Market: The most famous such market in the US.
- Walt Disney Concert Hall: radical building housing a center for orchestral music. Design is by LA architect Frank Gehry.
- Malibu: 27 miles of beaches; a celeb-studded coastline.

"Southern California saw a huge surge in palm tree plantings during the 1920s and 1930s, many of which still line L.A. streets today," says LA Almanac.

Talent Show meeting on Wed after school and Thurs before school

2011-09-27T08:29:00.001-07:00

Shreveport Geological Society speakers in Caddo Magnet High geography classes, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Class of 2015 Talent Show Info update on Wed after school (3:40 - 4:05) and Thurs before school (8:05 - 8:25).

This Oct 14 event is going to be one of Magnet's best ever!

1. Rehearsals require 1 week of after-school commitment.
Mon, Oct 10 - Fri, Oct 14. 3:45 till 5 pm. Presenting a quality show requires numerous run-throughs.
Those who need to leave earlier than 5 pm because of transportation considerations, please see Annie and Mr T.

2. Excellent behavior is required at all times. Whether in rehearsal or performance, I will expect you to respond to each other with kindness and consideration. Rehearsals are not a time to simply chat with classmates. All must be quiet and attentive to business.

3. Submit your theme ideas to Annie.

4. Script writers are needed.

5. Clarity of speech and vocal volume are priorities for MC's. Only musical performers will have mics.

6. As much as possible, students should make decisions and guide each other. I want this to be a show written, performed and produced by 14 year olds. Take this opportunity to show growth as independent young adults.

7. You may invite your classmates from other schools to attend the show. Make sure they are aware that their behavior will have to be first-rate.

Comparing Los Angeles and Chicago, Oct 3 - 4

2011-09-25T14:59:00.001-07:00

Magnet fine arts / Chicago, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Compare 2 cities using a graphic chart (10 pts)

1) Etymology of the names Los Angeles and Chicago. Explanation of the implications of that name.
Ex: The name "Chicago" implies a respect for indigenous cultures since it is derived from the Miami-Illinois language. Since it is a French version of a word from the indigenous people, we are reminded that French explorers and traders were important part of the early American landscape.

2) Population numbers and the industries that support the population. Connecting masses of people to the ways in which people make a living represents a higher thinking skill. List the top 3 industries listed for each city.

3) Geography and successful cities: describe the ways that location has enhanced the success of each city.
Ex: Look at the ships on your LA notes.

4) Culture: list 3 attractions (attraction: a visitor-oriented center for fun) for each city that help establish their differences. Ex: LA has Disneyland. Does Chicago?

5) Map: include a US map that uses color to spotlight the city. Use color to show lines of connection that illustrate extended trade.

- Smashing title
- Informal documentation.
- One sheet.
- Neatness counts.

Mult-choice, open notes class notes quiz Wed-Th, 9-28,29

2011-09-25T12:48:00.001-07:00

Shreveport Geological Society speakers in Caddo Magnet High geography classes, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Prepare your notes on . . .
- Silicon Valley
- California
- San Andreas Fault
- Henry Miller Shreve, the Red River, Larkin Edwards & Bayou Pierre

Some 12 to 15 pts.

samples -

1. Which high-tech company is notably Not headquartered in Silicon Valley? a) Microsoft b) EBay c) Facebook d) Google
e) H-P.
2. Education - especially advanced study in a university - is the force that energizes the developments made in Silicon Valley.
Which university is farthest away from this region? a) UCLA b) UC Berkeley c) Stanford d) Harvard.
3. There is a Louisiana population in the Bay Area of San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley. Name the La-Cal connection that is more likely than the others. a) Af-Am residents of La and Tx migrated westward in the post-WWII years in search of better jobs. b) Oil fields surrounding San Fancisco Bay drew La residents who had background in oil drilling. c) Fine restaurants in San Francisco hired numerous Creole chefs from La.
d) Sugar cane and cotton fields around Oakland drew many La farm workers.

"Equal day and night:" the Equinox

2011-09-22T05:44:00.001-07:00

Thin-walled glass globe, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator.

The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, the night and day have approximately equal length.

Geologists to visit 3 geography classes on Fri.

2011-09-20T19:17:00.001-07:00

Wallace Lake gas well; Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Thanks to Rachel Hill of the Shreveport Geologists Assoc we will have guest speakers on Fri in 2 classes:

Mike Roberts will speak at 9 a.m.
Craig Barclay will speak at 11:50 a.m.
David Benscoter will speak at 2 p.m.

They will talk about their work, careers in geology and fault lines.

Magnet geography: Los Angeles

2011-09-20T19:05:00.001-07:00

Magnet geography: Los Angeles, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City,[4] on a land area of 468.67 square miles.

Often known by its initials LA, the city is the focal point of the larger Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside combined statistical area, which contains nearly 17.8 million people and which is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world and the second largest in the United States.

The Los Angeles coastal area was first settled by the Tongva or Gabrieleños and Chumash Native American tribes thousands of years ago.

Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. It became a part of Mexico in 1821.

In 1848, at the end of the Mexican–American War, Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, thereby becoming part of the United States. Los Angeles was incorporated in 1850.

Los Angeles enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with an average of 35 days with measurable precipitation annually.

Los Angeles is subject to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The geologic instability has produced numerous faults, which cause approximately 10,000 earthquakes annually.[44] One of the major faults is the San Andreas Fault. Located at the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, it is predicted to be the source of Southern California's next big earthquake.

Indie work: comparison essays

2011-09-20T18:45:00.001-07:00

Indie work: be responsible, be respectful, seek excellence, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Indie work / bonus credit

This week's comparison - choose one:

- Steve Jobs (Apple) and Bill Gates (Microsoft).
- Sergei Brin and Larry Page (Google) and Pierre Omidyar (EBay).
- Evan Wiliams (Blogger, Twitter) and Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia).

Up to 10 pts.
- Follow guidelines for comparison essays.
- Typed, delivered in class.
- Once a week; limit 2 per month.
- Brief - less than a page, double spaced.

Poster as described above worth up to 3 pts., not 5.

Healthy snack walking tour of Magnet campus on Wed

2011-09-20T14:57:00.001-07:00

FruitBowl1, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

It's important to take a small hike to view the area where Larking Edwards once had his trading post. We will take sidewalks to the Valencia park side of the campus. There we will also view the Valencia Community Garden.

Students will get bonus pts for bringing fruit or nuts or an otherwise top grade nutritious snack.

As a social studies teacher I must say the issue facing Louisiana and many states is community health. Also to be considered is the idea of prevention rather than reaction.

Magnet geography / comparison essays & California map

2011-09-19T22:50:00.001-07:00

Magnet geography / comparison essays , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Notice the long cargo ships crossing the Pacific from China, Japan, Philippines, S Korea, etc.

They are carrying the consumer goods that we purchase in Target, Walmart and the Family Dollar.

The cheap labor and smart manufacturing process of the Chinese and other East Asian nations coincides with the loss of most manufacturing jobs in the US.

Larkin Edwards and Henry M Shreve: Two pioneers of NW La

2011-09-19T04:33:00.001-07:00

Shreve's snag boat: Red River Waterway Visitor Center, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

A brief comparison of Larkin Edwards and Henry M Shreve. Here's a teacher's sample essay:

The Diplomat and The Engineer: a comparison of Larkin Edwards and Henry Miller Shreve

"Rnnnggg-rnggr," was the sound made by the winches on the work boat designed by Henry Miller Shreve. It was snagboat. Its task was to wrench giant logs from the muck of the Red River as Shreve led the clearing of the Great Raft. A few miles away another pioneer, Larkin Edwards, smoked a peace pipe with Tarshar, chief of the Caddo people.

By learning the language of the Caddo the thoughtful Edwards was able to help the tribe as their interpreter, says caddohistory.com. In the 1835 negotiations which led to the US take-over of the Caddo lands in the Red River Valley, Edwards was given a gift of one square mile of land. He sold that land to the speculators who founded Shreve Town.

Meanwhile, the clearing of the river channel by Shreve ensured that settlers would fill the North Louisiana river bottom. In the process of clearing the raft, Shreve happened to cut off the river bend in which Edwards had established a store and post office. Edwards' site, the Coates Bluff landing on Stoner Hill, lost its river traffic and business.

But the port of Shreve Town prospered.

Guidelines for comparison essays in social studies

2011-09-19T04:31:00.001-07:00

California with Jennifer, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The rubric (required elements) that will guide comparison essay essay writing in geography class includes:

1. Colorful opening. There are 3 recommended ways to create an interest-getting opening: a) use a quote b) ask a question c) write with vivid description.

2. Blend the topics continually in the paper. Do not write a block of material about one topic and then write a separate block about the other topic. Integrate the topics as you offer insight and evidence.

3) Use comparison terms:
* different from,
* the same,
* Both,
* similar to,
* Neither, ... nor,
* like X is (adjective),
* ... than X is (adverb) than.
* both, ...
* either...or
* likewise
* similarly
* although,
* but neither...
* nor
* however
* on the other hand

4. Specific examples must be used to support generalities. An example: generality - The Incredibles was an awesome movie. specific - The Incredibles appealed to me because the characters (especially the mom and the teen sister) were believable. They sounded like people I know.

5. Grammar counts.

6. Spelling, too. When in doubt, see a dictionary or ask me.

7. Punctuation is paramount. Again, ask me or your Grammar Check software.

8. Include documentation via "according to ...". This means include your source - from World Book to your little brother - in the body of your writing. Usually you place it at the end of the first or second sentence, says Grammar For Today.

9. Write a snappy title. Ways to make a title fun are to tweak a song or movie title or use alliteration. Also, write an explanatory subtitle. Example: "Dinkas are Incredibles;" "Many refugees from the Sudanese Dinka tribe have moved from poverty in east Africa to comfort in the US."

10. Finally, please don't put quotation marks around your title - unless you are quoting someone.

Demographics: the study of populations

2011-09-15T18:30:00.001-07:00

Lake Bistineau, Louisiana / photos Talbot Hopkins, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

A selection of demographic measurements of Louisiana as contrasted with the US statistics - from the US Census Bureau.

Per capita income
La / US
$22,535
$27,041
Persons below poverty level
17.6%
14.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
20.6%
27.5%
Persons of Latino or Hispanic origin
4.2%
16.3%
Asians
1.5%
4.8%
American Indian
0.7%
0.9%
Black persons
32.0%
12.6%
Caucasian pop.
62.6%
72.4%
Pop. increase, 2000 - 2010
1.4%
9.7%

The most populous state: California

2011-09-15T18:13:00.001-07:00

Magnet geography / California , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

California is by far the most populous U.S. state,[6] and the third-largest by land area (after Alaska and Texas), says Wikipedia.

It is home to the nation's second- and sixth-largest census statistical areas (Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and San Francisco Bay Area), and eight of the nation's fifty most populated cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach and Oakland).[7] The capital city is Sacramento.

The name California is thought to be from a Spanish mythological tale, the tale of Queen Calafia.

At some 37 million, California's population is greater than that of all but 34 countries of the world.[42][43] Also, Los Angeles County has held the title of most populous U.S. county for decades, and it alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states.

Louisiana's pop. is some 4.5 million. Shreveport's pop is about 200,000. Bossier's is about 60,000. Together the metropolitan population is about half a million.

Inside Silicon Valley: the Google campus and many other world-class info companies

2011-09-15T13:41:00.001-07:00

The Sharks are Circling Google, a photo by Stuck in Customs on Flickr.

Silicon Valley is a term, says Wikipedia, which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States.

The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations.[1] The term originally referred to the region's large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all the high-tech businesses in the area.

Among the numerous tech companies in this region, which is sparked by the enormous brain power at Stanford Univ -

- H-P, or Hewlett-Packard
- Intel, a chip manufacture and design comany.
- Apple, where Steve Jobs has been king.
- EBay
- Paypal.
- Google, founded by Larry Page and Sergei Brin.
- YouTube.
- Blogger.
- Twitter.

The major exception is Microsoft and Bill Gates. They are in Seattle (Redmond, Wa).

Spaceship Earth graphic project due Mon, 10 pts

2011-09-15T08:36:00.001-07:00

Earth globe, a photo by planetaryvisions on Flickr.

Copy and print or sketch a circular earth globe that principally shows Asia, such as this example.

1. All sections lightly colored.
2. Identify Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea.
3. Identify China, Japan, N & S Korea, Indonesia and India.
4. Identify the equator.
5. Annotate the map with 5 factoids or mappoids of your choice. An ex: Himalayan Range, the Chinese region of Tibet, population of China, pop. of India, etc.
6) Documentation (Satellite Imagemap / Flickr.com for the one here) in lower right corner.
7. Print name(s), date & hour in upper right.
8. Jazzy title that includes the terms "spaceship earth" and "6.8 billion."
9. It will remain in your notebook.
10. Neatness counts - 1 pt.

California map quiz next Wed

2011-09-15T08:17:00.001-07:00

California map from Maddeleine5, US, a photo by Alvhyttan on Flickr.

Mental mapping -

Students will be able to sketch a map of California that includes the following notations:
- 3 neighboring states and I nation, labelled in the proper locations.
- Pacific Ocean
- Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento
- Sierra Nevada range
- Mojave Desert
- San Andreas Fault
- Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is the high-tech center south of San Francisco and near Stanford Univ (Palo Alto). Here we see the headquarters of companies such as Google, Intel, H-P, Apple, Ebay and Facebook.
San Jose, ca, is considered the center of Silicon Valley.

Silicon is the principal component of most semiconductor devices - such as integrated circuits or microchips.

California's tectonic vulnerability: the big one is expected any time

2011-09-15T05:08:00.001-07:00

san-andreas-fault-map, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Plates that will crack in a spectacular and nation-affecting way: the San Andreas Fault in California

A number of experts say that California is due for a large earthquake; likely a quake that would emanate from the San Andreas fault line, which runs under much of Southern California.

During such an earthquake, waves would become trapped in the sediment underneath Los Angeles, causing 7.8-level tremors that could shake the area for up to two minutes, says the University of Southern California Daily Trojan.

The seismic waves are unpredictable, so logistics of exactly where this earthquake will hit cannot be specified. The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, however, believes Los Angeles does face a 67 percent chance of a 6.7-magnitude earthquake or greater sometime in the next 30 years. The chance of a similar quake striking anywhere in California in the same time frame is 99.7 percent.

Jordan noted that California is not bracing itself for a specific earthquake, but that there are many possible “big ones.” Though the San Andreas fault is the most likely source of “the big one,” Jordan said there are other faults that could spark dramatic seismic activity in the region.

USC has quite a program for earthquake preparedness. Protective activities are practiced on campus and there are contingencies for water and shelter.

Sustainability: a key term for the coming generations

2011-09-15T05:05:00.001-07:00

The water cycle / drawdown and subsidence, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

The water cycle / drawdown and subsidence

Sustainability is the capacity to endure, says Wikipedia.

In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. For humans it is the potential for long-term maintenance of well being, which in turn depends on the maintenance of the natural world and natural resources.[1]

Sustainability has become a wide-ranging term that can be applied to almost every facet of life on Earth, from local to a global scale and over various time periods.

Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are examples of sustainable biological systems.

Invisible chemical cycles redistribute water, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon through the world's living and non-living systems, and have sustained life since the beginning of time.

As the earth’s human population has increased, natural ecosystems have declined and changes in the balance of natural cycles has had a negative impact on both humans and other living systems.[2]

Paul Hawken has written that "Sustainability is about stabilizing the currently disruptive relationship between earth’s two most complex systems—human culture and the living world.”[3]

Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms from reorganising living conditions (e.g., ecovillages, eco-municipalities and sustainable cities), reappraising economic sectors (permaculture, green building, sustainable agriculture), or work practices (sustainable architecture), using science to develop new technologies (green technologies, renewable energy), to adjustments in individual lifestyles that conserve natural resources.

Recommended: School directories are available to purchase for $5 each

2011-09-14T19:27:00.001-07:00

Caddo Magnet Class of 2011 g, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

School directories are available to purchase for $5 each. If you would like to purchase a directory, send $5 in an envelope to the school office with the following written on the outside of the envelope:

"Student Directory"
Student name: ____________________
Student's Grade: ____________________

The directory will be sent home with your student.

If you have any questions, e-mail cssinclair@comcast.net.

New guidelines for Friday night's Back-to-School Dance

2011-09-13T15:37:00.001-07:00

My Big fat Greek Back-to-School Dance, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Rules for the Back-to-School Dance this Friday from Caddo Magnet Principal Mary Rounds :
1.Only current Caddo Magnet High School students are allowed to be on campus during the dance. Alumni or non-Magnet students will be forced to leave by security.
2.Students must show a 2011-12 CMHS Student ID as well as your pre-purchased ticket to get into the dance. No tickets will be sold at the door, and no students will be admitted without showing current ID... EVEN IF YOU HAVE A TICKET.
3.CPSB dress code applies. No entry if you are in violation. If you can’t correct the dress code violation, your parent will be called to come pick you up.
4.No suggestive dancing. • 1st offense = Verbal warning. • 2nd offense = Removal from the dance and your
parent will be called to come pick you up.

Aquaculture is in your future

2011-09-13T14:20:00.001-07:00

Siberian Sturgeon, a photo by Fish as art on Flickr.

Whether as a consumer of fish or business person or scientist, aquaculture is a wave in your future.

Protein! The world craves fishy protein and men must find a way to meet those needs.

Some fish have been over-fished. This results in fishing fleets ranging across oceans in search of the next watery crop.

Today McDonald's get the flesh for their Filet-O-Fish from ocean waters near the coast of New Zealand. This fish is called the hoki.

Louisiana pursues aquaculture through farm-raised production of crawfish and catfish.

Aquaculture will be on our class radar.

Jump upon your Water cycle

2011-09-13T14:11:00.001-07:00

Water cycle, a photo by babyanimals on Flickr.

In the World Geography textbook the water cycle graphic did not include an aquifer. Let's add one.

Know the terms above.

Also,
- deplete / depletion
- desalination
- Ogallala Aquifer, the great one that lies under states from S Dakota to Texas.
- water broker: a person who buys and sells water.

Noodling: the primitive art of hand fishing / a possible social studies project

2011-09-13T14:03:00.001-07:00

AJ Jones, a photo by bd2000 on Flickr.

In Louisiana back woods Cajuns have traditionally pursued hand (and foot) fishing in bayous as they sought turtles and catfish.

This week I learned that people in Oklahoma also fish for catfish by hand; they call it noodling because the person's hand and arm is presented to the huge catfish as bait.

As a social studies student I want you to learn to spot trends and create hypotheses about the world around you.

So my questioning went like this:
a) Hand fishing in Louisiana.
b) Hand fishing also in Oklahoma.
c) Can we assume that hand fishing is most likely a widespread phenomenon?
d) Can we imagine that hand fishing is a global pursuit? Should I be surprised if I find evidence of it in China? In Europe?

It becomes a social studies project when you pose a question:
- Is hand fishing a global phenomenon?
and follow that with inquiry
- a Google search of the literature on hand fishing
- interviews with qualified people.

When you report your method and the results you have virtually done your project.