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Mini Page Archive - December 2005: Issue 49 - 52
Listed and Suggested Powers -- Issue 49 -- Dec. 3-9
This week's standards: Students understand the purpose of government. (Social Studies: Power, Authority &
Governance) Students identify key ideals of the United States' democratic republican form of government.
(Social Studies: Civic Ideals and Practice)
Activities:
- Draw a large circle on a piece of paper. Use the circle to design a special coin that shows
something important about your community.
- Make a collage of military words you find in newspaper headlines. Be sure to include all the
different services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
- Collect newspaper stories about the U.S. Congress for a week. Make a list of the topics of those
stories. What can you say about the interests and activities of the Congress from your list?
What topic do you think is most important? Why?
- Write a paragraph explaining why it is better to have an elected president rather than a king.
- Find a news story about a law the U.S. Congress is considering. Read any editorials or opinion
columns about the proposed law. Use these questions to guide your analysis: What is the law?
Why is it being proposed at this time? How much support is there for the law in the Congress and
the public? Write a paragraph explaining how the law would affect citizens in our country. Then
write a paragraph explaining why you support or oppose the proposed law.
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Falling Ice and Snow -- Issue 50 -- Dec. 17-23
This week's standards: Students understand changes in the Earth and sky. (Science: Earth and Space Science)
Activities:
- Draw a picture of yourself and some friends playing in the snow.
- Ask family members and friends to tell you about a time they remember in the snow or freezing rain. Do any people have similar memories? If the person you ask has never seen snow or freezing rain, ask what he/she would like to do in the snow.
- Look at the weather map in your newspaper. Circle the symbols for different kinds of precipitation.
Where is any precipitation falling today? What kind of precipitation is it?
- What type of precipitation forms when (a) rain meets cold air just above the ground, (b) water vapor
collects around tiny bits of ice, (c) rain falls through layers of cold air, and (d) frozen rain
collects more water as it is pushed up and down through the atmosphere.
- People in many cold weather locations have celebrations organized around snow and ice. Use resource
books and the Internet to learn about one of these special events. Use these questions to guide your
research: What is the name of the cold weather festival or celebration? Where does it take place?
When does it take place? What "precipitation" activities take place at the event?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Songs of the Season -- Issue 51 -- Dec. 17-23
This week's standards: Students understand music in relation to history and culture. (Music) Students understand customs and traditions of their own culture. (Social Studies: Culture)
Activities:
- Draw a picture about your favorite holiday song. Write one line from the song under your picture.
- Create a "rebus song." Cut out pictures from the newspaper that show things in your favorite
holiday song. Now write the words to your favorite holiday song on a piece of paper but replace
words with the pictures you found. Have a family member or friend read your rebus song.
- Look through the entertainment section of your newspaper. Find a holiday musical event you would
like to attend. Write a note to your parents explaining why you would like your family to go to the
event.
- Name a holiday song that (a) is about a holiday toy, (b) was translated by John Mason Neale,
(c) is about a bright nose, and (d) was made famous by the musical group Peter, Paul & Mary.
- Think about the melody of your non-holiday favorite song. Create a new song by writing holiday
lyrics to go with that melody.
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Bringing in the New Year -- Issue 52 -- Dec. 24-30
This week's standard: Students describe ways in which language, stories, folk tales, music and artistic
creations serve as expressions of culture and influence the behavior of people living in a particular
Activities:
- Use pictures and words from the newspaper to make a "Happy New Year" collage.
Include words that show the good things you want to happen in the new year.
- Look in your newspaper to find three different ways people will be celebrating the new year
in your community. Which celebration would you like to join? Why?
- Interview several friends about their family New Year's traditions. List their answers on a
piece of paper. Which traditions are similar? What is the most unusual tradition?
- People from which cultural groups celebrate the New Year (a) by cleaning their homes,
(b) with fireworks, (c) by giving children money, and (d) by forgiving other people?
- Write a paragraph describing your family's New Year's traditions. You may want to include the
following information in your writing: When do you celebrate (New Year's Eve or New Year's Day)?
What people are included? What special foods do you eat? What activities do you do? Does your
family do anything to guarantee good luck in the new year? How is your family's ethnic,
cultural or religious background reflected in your traditions?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
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