Be Careful What You Wish For

 

 Everyone at one point in the life has been asked what would  you wish for if you had a wish.  Popular responses are fame, love, and of course fortune. In today’s society, people often wish to win the lottery. They hope the lottery will be their ticket to wealth. The lottery remains popular despite your chances of winning the Powerball jackpot are about one in 175.2 million. You're more likely to die from a bee sting (one in 6.1 million), be struck by lightning (one in 3 million) or have conjoined twins (one in 200,000). However these poor odds don’t prevent people from playing. In fact, in 2010, U.S. lottery sales totaled $58 billion. More than half of Americans have played the lottery in the last year, although 20% of customers buy the majority of the tickets. But, is being a lottery winner all it is cracked up to be?  Read the two articles below and view the video.  Then respond in the comments by addressing these questions:

1.       What is your initial reaction to all three pieces?

2.       What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?

3.       Would you still consider playing the lottery after hearing all of these stories? Why?

Article 1

Article 2

Video

The Landlady

 

Follow link below to watch Alfred Hitchcock Presents – The Landlady (approx. 22 min. long).  Use the following questions as a guide to post a 4-6 sentence comment.  Be sure you click on the assignment so that your comment is posted below it.  Comments must be posted by 7 am on Monday, November 18.

1.        Which version of the story was more intriguing? Mysterious?

2.       In what way(s) was suspense created in the video?  In the story?

3.       Did changes/difference in the video from the original story enhance the suspense and intrigue?  Explain. 

 

 

 

Assignment 2

1. Read all of the comments posted in the area you commented on for the first assignment.
2. Reply to one of those comments. Agree or disagree with the comment and explain in 4-6 sentences.
3. The reply must be posted by Thursday, November 7th at 7am.
4. The computer lab will be available after school on Wednesday.

First Assignment

Today you will be completing your first blogging assignment. You will need to select one of the following strange and mysterious events to learn more about. Your choices are: The Bermuda Triangle, The Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, Easter Island, and Area 51. Read through the blurbs about each topic on the blog. When you have made your decision, select the appropriate post on the right. Read BOTH links provided, THEN make your post. Remember, I want to know what you think and why you are thinking that way. Use the questions to help guide your response. You are NOT responding to anyone else's comments today. You are only commenting on one topic today. Have fun and good luck with your first blogging experience!

Bermuda Triangle

Essential Questions:

1.      What makes the Bermuda Triangle so strange and mysterious?

2.      What makes the Bermuda Triangle so intriguing?

3.      What is your personal theory on this matter?

 

Since 1945, when navy airplanes disappeared over an area in the ocean between Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, strange happenings have caused the public to wonder about the Bermuda Triangle. Numerous ships and planes have vanished without a trace. Can you explain this mystery?

Research the history of the area known as the Bermuda Triangle. Find as many facts as possible. Use the following to guide your blog comments: What theories can you find to explain the disappearance of planes and ships? Is there a perfectly natural explanation for these disappearances or are they some sort of paranormal events?

websites:
link 1 http://www.history.com/topics/bermuda-triangle

link 2 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1205_021205_bermudatriangle.html

 

Jimmy Hoffa

Essential Questions:

 

1.  What makes Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance so strange and mysterious?

2. Why do people still discuss and research what happened to Jimmy Hoffa?

3.  What makes Jimmy Hoffa so intriguing?

James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa (born February 14, 1913 – disappeared July 30, 1975) was an American labor union leader who vanished, aged 62. He is widely believed to have been murdered. Hoffa became involved with organized crime from the early years of his Teamsters work, and this connection continued until his disappearance in 1975. He was convicted of jury tampering, attempted bribery, and fraud in 1964. Hoffa was imprisoned in 1967, and sentenced to 13 years. In mid-1971 he resigned the Teamsters' presidency, an action that was part of a pardon agreement with President Richard Nixon, to facilitate his release later that year. Hoffa was last seen in late July 1975, outside the Machus Red Fox, a suburban Detroit restaurant.^[1] His disappearance gave rise to many theories as to what happened to him and where his body was hidden.

 
Research the Jimmy Hoffa and find as many facts as possible.  Use the following questions to guide your blog comments:    What are some new things you have learned about Hoffa?  What do you think happened to him? What evidence do you have to back it up? Any other theories not mentioned here?

 Link 1 http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/18/us/hoffa-mystery/index.html

 Link 2  http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/18/193137445/wheres-jimmy-hoffa-everywhere-and-nowhere

Easter Island

Essential Questions:

1. What makes Easter Island so strange and mysterious?

2. Why do people still discuss and visit Easter Island today?

3. What makes Easter Island so intriguing?

Located in the South Pacific, this triangular island filled with statues holds mystery and debate.  Explore this topic and find out what theories and speculations surround this fascinating location.

Research the history of Easter Island.  Find as many facts as possible.  Use the following to guide your blog comments:    Who formed these statues?  For what purpose?  How were they able to transport these massive statues around the island?  What happened to the inhabitants?

Websites:

link 1 http://mysteriousplaces.com/Easter_Island/index.html

link 2 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/

 

Area 51

Essential Questions:

1.     What makes Area 51 strange and mysterious?
2. Why is Area 51 so top secret? What type of research do you think is taking place in Area 51?
 3. Why is Area 51 so intriguing?

Summary:  Area 51, also officially known as Groom Lake^[1] or Homey Airport (ICAO: KXTA) is a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base.  It is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States, 83 miles (133 km) north-northwest of Las Vegas. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large military airfield. The base's current primary purpose is officially undetermined; however, based on historical evidence, it most likely supports development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems.

Research the history of Area 51.  Find as many facts as possible.  Use the following to guide your blog comments:  What kind of experimental testing could be taking place? Do you believe there could be UFO’s that have been covered up by the government? If this area is not a secret, why is everything top secret?

Websites: 

link 1 http://natgeotv.com/uk/area-51-i-was-there/area-51-the-worst-kept-secret-around

link 2 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130816-area-51-space-ufos-nevada-cia-declassified/

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart

Essential Questions:

1. What makes the disappearance of Amelia Earhart so strange and mysterious?
2. What makes the disappearance of Amelia Earhart so intriguing?
3. What is your personal theory on this matter?

Aviator Amelia Earhart became the 16th woman to be issued a pilot's license. She had several notable flights, becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928, as well as the first person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific. In 1937, she mysteriously disappeared while trying to circumnavigate the globe from the equator.

Research some theories regarding her disappearance. Use the following questions to guide your blog comments: Do you believe the theory of Amelia Earhart working for the US government to be accurate? Why or why not? Could it have been mechanical errors and they crashed in an uninhabited area? Explain. What other reasonable possibilities could there be? Explain.

Website: Amelia Earhart

Welcome to Blogging

I am looking forward to our discussions this year and am eager to get us started. As you log in and create your profiles, I want to remind you how important safety will be for all of us. Keep your profile clear-only complete what is necessary, and please do not include a real picture of yourself.


I can't wait for us to learn how to have academic conversations and comment on posts. Check out what these 3rd graders have learned about commenting.