How to Videos for Underground Railroad assignment

Part 1--How to do the Underground Railroad assignment.
http://screencast.com/t/1fb8CYPQhDa

Part 2--How to do the Underground Railroad assignment.
http://screencast.com/t/8AnKlMkkmM


*For further instructions read the post below.

Underground Rail Road Assignment

         This assignment would utilize Google maps to approximately identify where runaway slaves would escape from the South into Northern territory where slavery was illegal (However, with the passing of the fugitive slave act of 1850, anyone aiding a fugitive slave would be punishable by jail and/or fine).  They will diagram three routes and give the approximate distance it would be from a city in the South to the Northern city, or Canada.  The distances tracked will not be the straight lines originally given but must follow modern day roads to simulate traversing through or around natural barriers.  Once a distance is found they will divide this by the average walking speed of 2.5 mph and determine how long it would take that person if they could only travel during night.   Students will have to list some of the geographical barriers that would have posed problems to those on the Underground Railroad as well.  At the conclusion of making their maps, students will write a “30 second speech” that summarizes the difficulties and distances traveled on their routes.

Instructions (Step 1 is done on the map for option 2 of the assmt.):

1.      .  Map out three different routes from slave states to free states, using roads instead of straight line distances.
2.         Identify the distance and divide it by the average walking speed of 2.5 mph, to calculate how long it would take to get to the North. **Remember trips frequently were only able to occur during low light hours.
3.         What natural boundaries would have gotten in the way? 
4.     Compose a one paragraph summary, or a “30 second speech” that would summarize the challenges faced based on the distances, laws, and boundaries in the Under Ground Rail Road’s way.

View Underground RailRoad in a larger map

Google Maps Assignment

Underground Rail Road Assignment

         This assignment would utilize Google maps to approximately identify where runaway slaves would escape from the South into Northern territory where slavery was illegal (However, with the passing of the fugitive slave act of 1850, anyone aiding a fugitive slave would be punishable by jail and/or fine).  They will diagram three routes and give the approximate distance it would be from a city in the South to the Northern city, or Canada.  The distances tracked will not be the straight lines originally given but must follow modern day roads to simulate traversing through or around natural barriers.  Once a distance is found they will divide this by the average walking speed of 2.5 mph and determine how long it would take that person if they could only travel during night.   Students will have to list some of the geographical barriers that would have posed problems to those on the Underground Railroad as well.  At the conclusion of making their maps, students will write a “30 second speech” that summarizes the difficulties and distances traveled on their routes.

Instructions (Step 1 is done on the map for option 2 of the assmt.):

1.      .  Map out three different routes from slave states to free states, using roads instead of straight line distances.
2.         Identify the distance and divide it by the average walking speed of 2.5 mph, to calculate how long it would take to get to the North. **Remember trips frequently were only able to occur during low light hours.
3.         What natural boundaries would have gotten in the way? 
4.     Compose a one paragraph summary, or a “30 second speech” that would summarize the challenges faced based on the distances, laws, and boundaries in the Under Ground Rail Road’s way.

View Underground RailRoad in a larger map

Dan Carlin--"Common Sense"

http://ec.libsyn.com/p/7/8/f/78fd9a898a11db8b/cswdcc31.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01cc8531d4cd59a893&c_id=4674813

The above link will take you directly to the podcast of a political commentator named Dan Carlin.  As a social studies teacher you have to be well aware of the social analysis of our times.  While his commentary is maybe a bit abrasive for many, it does make one think about "what's going on" in the words of Marvin Gaye.  While it would be a site not really applicable to middle schoolers, it is something I think all adult citizens in this great nation should listen to.  This particular podcast is about the idea of "liberty" and if people are aware at all and not simple seduced by politicians rhetoric or social hypnosis, they will realize our American Dream is faltering.  Whether you look at unemployment, government dependence, or just analyzing how "people feel", it is apparent things are not at a peak point in history for our nation.  The values and ethos of our people is changing and not what made that American Dream possible.  We have been "spoiled" in a sense, comparatively speaking to many other nations and Carlin is trying to awaken people. The central idea in this podcast is the preamble's notion that "we the people" are supposed to be influencing and directing the government, not the other way around where government controls, regulates, and determines how we live on such a micro level!

http://www.dancarlin.com/

Engaging Video for Students on Political Party Basics...

They always end up getting it stuck in their head.  I purchased their entire playlist and use it every year to try and "hook" certain students in :) .

My past weekend on Lake St. Clair...

The what and where questions...

Fishermen can only tell the how, 

to certain people ;)


The where first... and the what beneath it...

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Photobucket

http://s1048.photobucket.com/albums/s375/chiefjames1/

Delicious Stacks

Here is the link for my delicious social bookmarking assignment...

https://delicious.com/chiefjames