Blue Diamond Assessment 7

 

Blue Diamond Assessment 1 requires students to:

 

1. Determine the author's purpose for including particular characters in a scene.
2. Compare experiences between those had by characters in a selection and those held by others.
3. Completing analogies.
4. Determining the effect that particular beginnings have on pieces.
5. Determining the author's purpose for individual word choice.  Understanding that words are chosen on purpose for a piece.
6. Determining how a particular audience is most likely to react to a particular piece. 

 

Blue Diamond Assessment 7 Odd Identical Species Found on Both Poles Back to school after Austrailia fires Pirate Bay File Sharing Case Begins 'Arctic unicorns' in icy display Sweden to rethink nuclear power 'Green' gas could help heat homes Outgoing Icelandic Government Raises Whaling Quotas to Boost Economy Countries in Tug of War over Artic Resources Greenland Vote Favors Independence

 

 

 

Archived Current Events for BD 7

 

 

 

 

Odd Identical Species Found on Both Poles

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/photogalleries/marine-census-deep-sea/index.html

 

(Ferriter, Feb 18)

 

The discovery that it and at least 234 other species inhabit both Arctic and Antarctic waters is big news to biologists. Exactly where these species came from and how they ended up a world apart--with comparatively warm oceans in between--remains a mystery, the scientists said.

 

Question to use:

 

Based on this selection, what will most likely happen next?

 

1. Tourists will flock to both poles to see these new species.
2. Scientists will work to find an explanation for their surprising discovery.
3. The animals eaten by these new species will go extinct.
4. The animals that eat these new species will thrive and survive. 

 

 

Back to school after Austrailia fires

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7890000/newsid_7893700/7893744.stm

 

Schools are reopening in Austrailia today, weeks after fires tore apart the Victoria province.  Students from towns that were completely destroyed are attending classes in neighboring districts.  The community sees the reopening of schools as a sign that things can return to normal. 

 

Question to use:

 

Which experience is the most similar to the experience of Austrailian students returning to school today?

 

1. Soldiers returning from war in Iraq.
2. Mothers giving birth to their first children
3. Students returning to school after a track-out session.
4. Football players winning the Super Bowl.

 

 

 

Pirate Bay File Sharing Case Begins

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7892073.stm

 

(Ferriter, Feb. 16)

 

The founders of a website which carries links to unauthorised copies of music, films and TV programmes go on trial in Sweden on charges of copyright theft.  The Pirate Bay is the world's most high-profile file-sharing site and is being taken to court by media firms including Sony and Warner Bros.  This current event can be used to engage children in a conversation about fair use and copyright protections of content.  

 

Questions to use:

 

Which of the following best describes the owners of the Pirate Bay file sharing website:

 

1. Confident that they will not be convicted.
2. Worried about the mistake that they've made in their business.
3. Intimidated by the larger music companies.
4. Thoughtful and willing to question the reasons for copyright protection. 

 

 

 

'Arctic unicorns' in icy display

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7869257.stm

 

(Ferriter---February 12)

 

Spectacular footage of elusive narwhal has been captured. A BBC team used aerial cameras to film the creatures during their epic summer migration, as they navigated through cracks in the melting Arctic sea ice. They believe the footage, which forms part of the BBC Natural History Unit's new series Nature's Great Events, is the first of its kind. Narwhal are sometimes called "Arctic unicorns" because of the long, spiral tusk that protrudes from their jaws. 

 

Question to use:

 

According to the selection, why are 'arctic unicorns' so difficult to study?  (Summarize)

 

1. There are very few arctic unicorns left alive in the wild.
2. The arctic unicorn lives at depths that make them difficult to film.
3. The arctic is a place that is too cold for humans to function well.
4. The arctic covers a huge area, so finding the unicorns at any given time is difficult at best.

 

 

 

Sweden to rethink nuclear power

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7871824.stm

 

(Ferriter---February 9)

 

The Swedish government plans to overturn a nearly 30-year-old decision to phase out nuclear power and lift a ban on building new reactors.  Leaders of the coalition government say new reactors are needed to help combat climate change and secure the nation's energy supply.  This current event can be used to discuss the commitment of EU nations to become energy independent----largely because of their fears over Russia's control of their energy supply. 

 

Question to use:

 

Based on the information from this selection, which of the following relationships is similar to the relationship below:  (Reading Skill:  Summarize)

 

Swedes : Nuclear energy

 

1. Reading : Success
2. Students : Homework
3. Math : Fractions
4. Teachers : Students

 

 

 

'Green' gas could help heat homes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7862696.stm

 

Ferriter---Feb 3

 

The UK is considering an interesting plan to use the gasses produced by decaying materials in landfills and sewage to heat homes.  By capturing these gasses and converting them into home heating fuels, the UK could meet almost 20% of their home heating needs.  What makes this so important is that almost 50% of the carbon emissions in the UK come from heating homes, so while finding fuel efficient cars and sources of electricity often get much attention, finding efficient ways to heat homes is more important for the environment in the long run. 

 

Questions to use:

 

 

 Based on the selection, which detail best completes the graphic organizer below:  (Reading Skill: Summarize)

 

 

 

 

 

1. Not important enough to consider when talking about solutions for pollution.
2. No real solutions available for changing the way we heat our homes.
3. Critical for addressing because home heating counts for almost half of all pollution.
4. Best done with electricity because temperature in each room can be controlled.

 

 

 

Outgoing Icelandic Government Raises Whaling Quotas to Boost Economy

 http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/jan/Outgoing-Icelandic-Government-Raises-Whaling-Quotas-to-Boost-Economy.html

 

Hutch Feb. 2

Ferriter Feb 2

 

In this article the global economic crisis has hit Iceland very hard.  Their economy is in ruin and the government has stepped down.  On the eve of their exit a minister increased the whaling quotas drastically saying it was needed to break the Icelandic economy out of crisis.  The challenge for Icelanders is that commercial whaling is frowned upon by the rest of the world, including the EU.  The nation of Iceland has to decide whether the increased quota for whalers is worth the risk of angering the EU---a group that Iceland wants to join in order to strengthen its economy.  This article can be used to teach students about the challenges of balancing culture with joining a group like the EU.  While whaling has long been a part of life in Iceland, they may have to give it up to join the EU. 

 

Question to use:

 

Based on this selection, which detail reveals the most information about Iceland's feelings towards whaling?  (Reading Skill:  Summarize)

 

1. Economic factors contributed to the new rule.
2. Iceland’s new government says a new rule allowing more minke and fin whales to be killed could damage the country’s already-battered reputation
3. One of the last things the outgoing minister of fisheries and agriculture did was raise the country’s quotas for hunting fin and minke whales.
4. Under the old quotas, 9 fin and 40 minke whales could be killed per year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countries in Tug of War over Artic Resources

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/01/02/arctic.rights.dispute/index.html?iref=newssearch

 

Hutch - Jan. 29

Ferriter - Jan. 30

 

Question to use:

 

How would a committed environmentalist most likely react to this selection? (Reading Skill:  Inference)

 

1. They would be outraged at the reports of shrinking polar ice and the oil and shipping companies salivating at the idea of getting into the arctic easier.
2. The would question the report and want to know about the scientific studies that have been done on polar ice and possible oil finds.
3. They would support the nations that are currently claiming the 200 mile zones off their northern coasts.
4. They would try to get a job with the oil companies so they could get a piece of the oil revenues.

 

 

Greenland Vote Favors Independence

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/world/europe/27greenland.html?_r=1

 

Hutch - Jan. 28

Ferriter - Jan. 29

 

 

Questions to use:

 

Based on the information from the selection, which of the following relationships is similar to the relationship below? ( Reading Skill: Summarize)

 

Greenland:Denmark

 

1. Canada:USA
2. Hawaii:USA
3. Iceland:Denmark
4. Barack Obama:USA

 

 

Based on this selection, what will most likely happen next? (Reading Skill: cause/effect)

 

1. Greenland will attack Denmark and fight for full independence.
2. Denmark will force Greenland to vote down the independence idea.
3. Greenland will become the newest independent nation in 2010.
4. Greenlanders will enjoy more independence, but will still have some connections to Denmark.