Iceland's Volcanic Explosion

This is a fantastic example of Human-Environment Interaction in geography.  The photos truly tell us a story.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html

Ancient Greece

The most famous image of Ancient Greece is arguably the Acropolis.  Still standing today and inviting thousands of tourists each year, when visiting Athens, it is a must see!

How many tourists do YOU think have been to the Acropolis?

Image from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080317/Img214271837.jpg&imgrefurl=http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/ceremonies/greece/news/n214271836.shtml&usg=__F1I35XEtemZge2ttGHhDraDS8H0=&h=338&w=500&sz=48&hl=en&start=12&itbs=1&tbnid=jY-dc6uUsvIImM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dancient%2Bathens%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

Read Across America

This is great and very timely!  A literacy group rewrote the words to Black Eye Peas "I Got A Feeling" so that it is "Gotta Keep Reading."  Check it out at:  http://www.schooltube.com/video/e9bd79d29b4d0e6a2345/Gotta-Keep-Reading--Ocoee-Middle-School

They perform it live with the entire student body outside choreographed.  Can you stop singing it?

Gotta Keep Reading
Cause this books gonna be a good book
Cause this books gonna be a good book
Cause this books gonna be a good good book to read.

Pick up that book
and turn that page
you'll never know
Just what you'll find
information
or fantasy
drama and art
all make you smart!

China and Japan PowerPoint Project Resources

Mrs. Vandenbos shared a number of great resources with us in class.  Here are more links to finalize your research:

The British Museum (go to EXPLORE)
http://www.britishmuseum.org/

Pete's PowerPoint Station
http://pppst.com/

Legalism

Legalism was a philosophy of administration in ancient China. Upon first acquaintance with this system it seems no more than a rationalization by political administrators for their having total political control of their societies. And perhaps this was the way Legalism arose, but over time the Legalist administrators and advisors formulated enough tenets and principles that their ideas had at least the semblance of a philosopy of political and social administration.

The era in which administrators openly avowed Legalism was about 300 BCE to 200 BCE, the time of the conquest of the six kingdoms of the Warring States Period by the Kingdom of Qin (Ch'in); i.e., the time of the creation of the Chinese Empire. Legalist ministers were instrumental in the strengthening of Qin to enable it to conquer the other kingdoms.

http://www.applet-magic.com/legalism.htm

Daoism

Also referred to as Taoism, Daoism comes from the word Dao, which means The Way.  "Going with the flow" is the Daoist way, as one should let nature guide his steps and not structure or organization.

What do you think--structure or no structure?

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/taoism/

Image from http://z.about.com/d/taoism/1/0/0/-/-/-/yinYang.gif

Confucianism

Refresh yourself on our Confucian lesson.  Be able to answer these questions:

Who was Confucius?  What made him sad about China?  What is li?  What are the five basic relationships?  What dynasty used Confucianism to rule?  How did government officials have to demonstrate they knew the Confucian principles?

Look at some Confucian teachings from this foundation:

http://www.confucius.org/maine.htm

Picture from http://sunwalked.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/confucius.jpg