Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas)

All of my classes will soon be learning at least a bit about World War I, or, the Great War, as it was called.

One of my favorite movies takes place on the embattled Western Front, the 600 mile battle-scarred strip that stretched from the English Channel to the Swiss Alps. The Western Front was marked by a new kind of fighting: trench warfare. Instead of the open battlefields of wars past, soldiers on either side would dig trenches and foxholes, where they would often spend several cold and muddy months.

This movie, Joyeux Noël, depicts the fabled Christmas of 1914, as it was on the Western Front. This film not only does a good job of showing just how terrible the Great War was and the kind of toll the trenches took on men from all sides, but it also tells a great story of how even the worst of "enemies" can come together for something as holy and sacred as Christmas: especially if they're not even sure what they are fighting for.

This will start on pt. 1 of the film, and if you just let it play, it should play the movie in its entirity. Enjoy!

The Sun Never Sets [7th Grade]

Chapter 21: The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire

“Map of the Empire” Assignment

Due: Tuesday, 28 April

You and a small group of others will be responsible for making a map of a particular territory of the British Empire during the Victorian Age. The map should be hand-drawn, informative, but colorful as well (something I would want to hang on the wall!). The map should include a LEGEND, or KEY, and a COMPASS.

The map should be on a normal-sized piece of poster board. The map should include information about important people, places, and events (that´s where the LEGEND comes in!). There should also be a timeline along the lower left corner of the map (so that it does not distract from the map). Around the edges of the map, you should include pictures and bits of important information.

For example, if you were to do a map of Africa, you might mark on your map where the Boer War took place, and include it in your LEGEND. You might also trace Robert Livingstone´s route to the heart of Africa, and mark where he saw Victoria Falls. In addition to this, you would include pictures and bits of information about these people, places, and events around your map (on the same piece of poster).

The regions you will be drawing maps of are:

1. India, China, and Japan
2. Africa
3. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

(You may use more than one piece of poster if you see the need)

If you have any questions when you are working on this outside of class, email me at

mr.nstrayhorn@gmail.com

Mr. Nathan

Student Artwork

As an excellent teacher, I have always been a patron of the arts, and I encourage the creativity and freedom of expression of my students. That is why from time to time, I will post--no, exhibit--the artwork of one of my students.

Current Featured Artist: Ever Barillas. Mr. Barillas is an excellent student in 8B. He loves poetry, History, and making money. But his real love is drawing. When I asked about his special skill, Mr. Barillas simply replied: "Oh, come on Mister, you know I'm the best."

Here are two of his most famous works:

Batman and Robin: note the intricate details and the stylized crinkles

Assorted Pokemon: one of the artist's first, when his genius was first coming into fruition

7th Grade Test: STUDY!

Remember, you have a test over Chapter 16 on Monday. If you paid attention in class and copied notes from the board, and if you study the pages in the book I referred you to, then you should do fine. Remember to pay special attention to the explorers on page 206, the Caste System, the Asian religions, the section on the naming of America on page 205, and the section about the Great Wall of China.

If you study these things from your book/notes/in-class work, you will do fine. But, remember, you determine whether you do well or not; success is your responsibility.

And please, don't be like this crocodile from Pearls Before Swine, one of my favorite comic strips. Click on it to read the whole strip.

Oregon Trail--8th & 11th Grades

So, when I was in 7th grade, I couldn't wait for Thursdays, because that was the day we went to the computer lab. Of course, the computer lab was not anything like it would be today: we didn't even have internet. But, we did get to do things like type our names, make banners with our names on them, or turn the computer on and off and on again.

Not only did we get to type seven letters at a time and get to push "the" button, we also got to play awesome games. No, not games like GTA 4, Tiger Woods 2009, or Shadow of the Colossus. These were good games. Classic games. Games with horrible graphics, and an educational theme. Games like MathBlaster, WordBlaster, DinoPark Tycoon, and I believe a universal favorite: Oregon Trail.

Oregon Trail is awesome, simple, and very educational. Believe it or not, everyone my age used to love playing Oregon Trail. For this reason, I'm going to make you play Oregon Trail. For extra points.

Here are the rules: follow the link at the bottom of this post to play the game. You can't use a mouse, because we didn't have those back then, so you control everything by typing stuff in. Play the game, see how far you can get without everyone dying, then leave a comment on this post with your Name, Grade, Section, and your high score and final position in the game.

Here's a hint: hunt a lot, fjord the rivers, and start out with more than 50 pounds of food.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE BEST COMPUTER GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!

44 presidents made easy.

So, for my 8th and 11th grade classes, you may find the following video helpful. It may be lame, but you have to admit: it is catchy.

8th Grade Test Monday!

Remember to study for your test! It will cover what we've learned from chapters 9 & 10, pages 165-187.

Also, there will be bonus points for anyone that can list the first 10 presidents of the United States, in order. The last of the 10 would be John Tyler. You can find this information in your book.