Blue Diamond Assessment 10

 

Blue Diamond Assessment 10 requires students to know a ton about poetry and poetry elements:

 

1.  Know the effect of the use of rhyme.
2. Recognize the difference between the structure of two selected poems.
3. Understand that authors use lists to make points.
4. Know the effect of using personification in a poem.
5. Identify an author's feelings based on his/her word choice/mood.
6. Identify the mood of a piece and understand how word choice is used to create a mood.
7. Understand why authors might repeat lines in a piece of poetry.
8. Make inferences about an author based on content included in a piece of text.
9. Make comparisons between the experiences included in a piece of text and outside experiences.
10. Complete analogies.

 

Blue Diamond Assessment 10 Spearing, Beheadings Reported Volcano Erupts in Chile Brazil:  Biofuels don't cause food crisis Leaders warn on biofuels and food Global Warming Documentary Private Rainforests Touted US Leads World in Wind Power Growth Hardy Plant May Ease Biofuel's Burden Pope Preaches Green at UN Global Warming Interactive Overview Grim Climate Predictions Not Exaggerated Costa Rica Aims to be 1st Carbon Neutral Country Global Warming Fast Facts How Green is Your House?

 

 

 

 

Spearing, Beheadings Reported

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080505-amazon-tribes.html

 

An interesting article that shows how illegal logging is also threatening the way of life of the remote tribes that live in the Amazon Rainforest.

 

Question to use:

 

Which experience is similar to the experience of the native tribes in Ecuador?

 

1.  A football player scoring the game winning touchdown in an important playoff game.

2.  A grandmother inviting her grandchildren over for an afternoon picnic.

3.  A superhero being vanquished by his arch-enemy. 

4.  A group of sixth graders standing up to an eighth grade bully. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volcano Erupts in Chile

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080506-AP-chile-volca.html

 

A volcano that has been dormant for thousands of years began erupting in Chile today.  This would be a good article to use to talk about the ways that landforms influence the lives of people.  Includes an embedded video on volcanic eruptions.

 

Questions to use:

 

What is the effect of using the word "carpeted" in the following sentence:  "Rains following the eruption have carpeted surrounding areas in ash and mud."

 

1.  The reader senses the complete destruction of the town of Chaiten.

2.  The author adds a sense of playfulness and humor to the piece.

3.  The author introduces readers to a technical term that describes the aftermath of a volcano.

4.  The reader is left confused about the consequences of a volcanic eruption. 

 

Based on the information in this current event, which of the following relationships is most similar to the relationship below:

 

Eruption : Evacuation

 

1.  Biofuels :  Global Warming

2.  Corn : Biofuels

3.  Alternative Energies : Evo Morales

4.  Hydropower : Damage to Habitats

 

 

 

Brazil:  Biofuels don't cause food crisis

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24185112

 

An interesting article that introduces Brazil's viewpoint on biofuels:  That they don't cause disruptions in the worldwide food supply.  A great example of bias considering that Brazil is one of the world's leading producers of biofuels!

 

Questions to use:

 

Which experience is the most similar to Brazil's experience in this current event?

 

1.  A child arguing with his brother over which television program to watch.

2.  A teacher showing his students how to revise and edit an essay.

3.  A politician trying to convince voters that he is worth voting for by pointing out his opponent's weaknesses.

4.  A preacher trying to inspire his followers to do the right thing in the face of temptation. 

 

 

Based on the information in this current event, which of the following relationships is most similar to the relationship below:

 

The UN Report : Lula's Speech

 

1.  Fossil Fuels : Renewable Resources

2.  Energy Efficiency : Pollution

3.  Carbon Dioxide Levels :  IPCC Report

4.  Greenhouse Gasses :  Global Warming

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaders warn on biofuels and food

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7359880.stm

 

South American leaders are arguing that the world's emphasis on biofuels is going to cause massive poverty in developing nations because it increases food costs to poor people.

 

Questions to use:

 

Which of the following best describes how Evo Morales feels about the use of biofuels?

 

1.  Optimistic and positive

2.  Joyous and envious.

3.  Lonely and isolated

4.  Cautious and skeptical.

 

What can the reader infer about English Prime Minister Gordon Brown's position on biofuels from the following quote:  "Tackling hunger is a moral challenge to each of us and it is also a threat to the political and economic stability of nations."

 

1.  Gordon Brown believes that biofuels can cause great harm if not used carefully.

2.  Gordon Brown believes that the UK should move towards biofuels without hesitation.

3.  Gordon Brown believes that poverty is something that the entire world should work to address together.

4.  Gordon Brown believes that biofuels are too expensive to make them a worthwhile energy source. 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Warming Documentary

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/global-warming-environment/way-forward-climate.html

 

This short National Geographic video is designed to introduce viewers to Global Warming.  It is full of examples of bias----where the creators are intentionally trying to make viewers feel a specific way about the topic.  While bias is never right or wrong, it can be good or bad---based on how many facts the author/speaker uses to back up their opinion.  While watching this video, first identify the different types of bias used by the creator and then decide whether they've backed up their position with enough facts to be convincing to you as a viewer.

 

 

 

Private Rainforests Touted

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/news/environment-news/brazil-rainforest-reserve-apvin.html

 

There is an interesting effort in Brazil to convince farmers to protect their land by creating Private Nature Reserves.  While this means they have less opportunity for farm land, it also means their forests will not be chopped down----and deforestation is one of the leading causes of global warming. 

 

Questions to use:

 

What is the effect of using interviews with actual farmers in this current event?

 

1.  It helps readers to learn more about the Brazilian language.

2.  It helps readers to learn more about Brazilian customs and cultures.

3.  It helps readers to learn more about the geography of Brazil.

4.  It helps readers to understand the challenges of protecting the rainforest faced by real Brazilians.

 

 

US Leads World in Wind Power Growth

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080421-wind-power.html

 

Remarkably, the United States has become one of the fastest users of wind turbines as a source of energy generation.  This article talks about the challenges of adding wind energy to the power mix in countries, including moving electricity from windy areas to large cities and the damage that turbines do to "the view."  Emphasize the importance of developing a well-rounded approach to energy that doesn't over rely on any one source.  Wind energy is only one possible alternative/solution that we should pursue.

 

Questions to use:

 

Which of the following best describes how the author of this article feels about wind power as an energy solution?

 

1.  Sad and regretful.

2.  Joyous and Envious.

3.  Thoughtful and interested.

4.  Happy and grateful. 

 

 

 

Hardy Plant May Ease Biofuel's Burden

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080421-biofuels.html

 

An interesting article about a new plant that is being considered for biofuel production because it grows in marginal lands that no one currently uses for food crops.  One of the major criticisms of biofuels is that food prices skyrocket as farmers convert their fields from places to grow food to places to grow fuel. 

 

Question to use:

 

What can the reader infer from lines 1 and 2 in this article:  "The biofuels boom is causing a spike in food prices worldwide, hitting developing countries particularly hard, experts say."

 

1.  That producers of biofuels don't care about poor people living in developing countries.

2.  That biofuels are inefficient sources of energy that we shouldn't pursue.

3.  That food is becoming more and more scarce in the world because of biofuels. 

3.  That people in developing countries are catching up in quality of life with people in developed countries.

 

 

 

Pope Preaches Green at UN

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080418-pope-environmentalism.html

 

Pope Benedict, on a recent trip to the United Nations, made strong statements about the human responsibility to protect the environment.  Emphasize that the Pope's statements in this area are influential---not because he is the leader of a specific nation, but instead because he is the leader of a religion that spans across nations.  His followers could influence the governments of many countries. 

 

Question to use: 

 

Based on the information in this selection, which of the relationships is most similar to the relationship below:

 

Pope : Catholic Followers

 

1. Teacher : Student

2. Parent : Child

3. President : Country

4. Pollution : Environment

 

 

Global Warming Interactive Overview

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive.html?nav=FEATURES

 

So you've heard about global warming, right?  But what exactly causes global warming to happen?  This interactive tutorial will tell you.  Stress the fact that the majority of the greenhouse gasses that are sitting in our universe are carbon dioxides, which take 100 years to break down.  The good news about this greenhouse gas, though, is that it is the one that humans can control the most. 

 

Question to use:

 

When looking at the graphic explaining the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, why does the animator repeat the tree collapse under "deforestation."  

1.  The animator was confused about the impact that deforestation has on global warming.

2.  The animator is helping the viewer to understand the power and effect of deforestation on global warming.

3.  The animator is emphasizing that deforestation is an insignificant contributor to global warming.

4.  The animator does not like trees and is acting with sarcasm. 

 

 

 

Grim Climate Predictions Not Exaggerated

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070201-global-warming.html

 

While an older article, this current event introduces students to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN group that is designed to study the effects of climate change on the world.  Stress the fact that climate change is a global problem that requires joint cooperation and joint solutions.  The IPCC is a scientific group made of scientists from around the world that study the impact that global warming is having on the world.  They make predictions about the future based on collected data. 

 

Questions to use:

 

What is the mood of the opening paragraph in this current event?

1.  The mood is dark and suspenseful.

2.  The mood is serious and concerned.

3.  The mood is mornful and sad.

4.  The mood is silly and predictable.

 

 

 

Costa Rica Aims to be 1st Carbon Neutral Country

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080307-costa-rica.html

 

The country of Costa Rica is working hard to become the first country in the world to be able to claim that they are not adding any carbon emissions to the world.  Stress the idea that governments can take active steps to protect their environment if they want to.  In Costa Rica, that means rewarding farmers who plant trees.  Also emphasize the fact that global warming is a world wide problem.  Costa Rica has about 5% of the entire world's plant species, making it especially important in the fight against global warming. 

 

Question to use:

 

Which experience is most similar to Costa Rica's experience in this article:

 

1.  A senior citizen wishing that she could go back to her childhood.

2.  A adult recognizing his/her responsibility to be a role model for others. 

3.  A granddaughter remembering why her grandmother is so special. 

4.  A person who spends a lot of time thinking about what makes each country unique and different.

 

 

Global Warming Fast Facts

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html

 

This article includes a collection of fast facts on global warming.  Stress that global warming is a scientifically recognized phenomenon that is caused because our world is struggling to collect carbon dioxide that is being released by factories, cars and the generation of electricity.  Also stress that scientists are not in complete agreement about what the long-term effects of global warming are going to be. 

 

Questions to use:

 

What is the main difference between the structure of this current event and the structure of most current events that we study in class?

1.  This current event is a collection of bulleted lists.

2.  This current event relies on images to make key points.

3.  This current event is written in stanzas instead of paragraphs.

4.  This current event is written from the perspective of a child.

 

What effect does this structure have on readers?

1.  It makes the material more difficult to understand.

2.  It makes the material more approachable and easy to understand.

3.  It makes the material more entertaining.

4.  It makes the material more reliable and accurate.

 

 

How Green is Your House?

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/greenhouse/index.html

 

In this interactive tutorial from National Geographic, students can see how energy can be saved in each room of their homes.  Stress the fact that one of the best solutions to solving our world's energy crunch is for individuals to begin conserving energy.  We can often save enough energy through conservation as we can through identifying and using alternative energy sources. 

 

Questions to use:

 

What is the effect of the green/red toolbar included at the bottom of the flash tutorial?

1.  It makes the reader confused about energy conservation.

2.  It gives the reader a sense of joy about energy conservation.

3.  It gives the reader a better understanding of their own standing as energy users.

4.  It gives the reader the impression that all humans are wasteful users of energy.