W6 Social Studies

We’re well on our way, learning facts about the Presumpscot and its history. Recently Sarah Plummer, from the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, came to talk to students about a particular anadromous fish, the Atlantic Salmon. We were amazed to learn that while a salmon lays 8,000 eggs at a time, only one or two of those eggs survive to adulthood and return to their place of origin to spawn.

We played a game called “Smell Your Way Home;” salmon use their sense of smell to locate their home waters, so we tried to do the same…with limited success!

Find pictures and videos of Wabanaki artifacts:

http://windowsonmaine.library.umaine.edu/index.aspx

http://www.bigorrin.org/abenaki_kids.htm

We travel so you don’t have to!

Over the past couple of days students have shown their knowledge of the countries they’ve studied by appearing on Travel Talk TV. Students are also taking turns hosting the show, asking their guests about the sights they saw and foods they ate during their “travels.” Environmental concerns, exports, and advice for travelers are also included in the interviews.

http://www.un.org/pubs/cyberschoolbus/

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/

http://kids.yahoo.com/directory/Around-the-World/countries

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/

Besouro Zagon came to visit W6 today to teach us a few capoeira moves. We’ve been visiting Brazil via video, books and the internet, so it was great to see one of Brazil’s national sports come alive in our classroom. W6 students bravely entered the roda with Besouro and played capoeira with him to the music of the berimbau.

What did you think of Besouro’s visit? What did you learn about capoeira?

The Speaker, aka Glenn Cummings, came to speak to Windsor Six students on February 1. He talked about what it’s like to be a State Representative, and the unique responsibilities he has as House Speaker. He also helped us imagine, through role play, what it’s like to sit in the house and debate a bill.

This article describes two middle school students who were arrested for violating a daytime curfew while walking home from a protest.

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=199037

Do you think protesting is risky? Why or why not?

W6 Social Studies students took on the roles of lawyers and Supreme Court justices this week. First they petitioned the Court with case briefs they created using fictional characters. The Court (aka Ms. Ross) chose a brief for each base group; students then acted as lawyers for the defense, lawyers for the plaintiff, or Supreme Court justices.

Each base group heard a different case. In the case of Big Bird v. State of Stephenchusetts, the question for the court was whether Dora’s Discount Furniture violated Big Bird’s First Amendment rights when the store threatened to fire him if he took a day off to observe Passover. The court unanimously found in favor of the plaintiff. (Case brief written by Stephen B.)

The case of Harry Potter v. Dolores Umbridge dealt with two challenges to the Constitution: whether Potter was given a “cruel and unusual punishment” (Amendment VIII), and also whether Amendment I was violated when Umbridge refused to let people read the magazine Harry published. The Court decided in favor of the plaintiff, 6-2. (Case brief written by Ava K.)

Amendment VI, which guarantees the right to an impartial jury, was the focus of Roscuro v. The King’s Court. Roscuro claimed his rights were violated during a trial conducted by the King; the Court agreed unanimously. (Case brief written by Olivia A.)

In the case of Clay v. College, the question was whether Clay’s First Amendment rights were violated when he was expelled from the College for practicing his religion. The decision was in favor of the plaintiff, with seven justices finding for the plaintiff and two for the defendant. (Case brief written by Fatuma A.)