Thursday, December 18/08

A Wooden Dancing Man …

We continued reading about/discussing Christmas of earlier times. Yesterday you talked about the highlight of the Christmas season for many … the Christmas Concert. Many an Island teacher was evaluated on how well she/he could put together the annual concert.  Today we talked about toys. They were indeed simple in “Them Times” – things like the wooden dancing man, usually crafted by an older male in the family.

Coffee shop (& doughnuts) and trivia were on today.  Congrats to the all male team – Chris, Chad and Dalton. Great job with 17/20.

Remember to finish up the shipbuilding article/questions over the break.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe holiday. Don’t forget to do some digging around for info for your family history projects. I hope you all get an orange in your stocking!!

Tuesday, December 16/08

Fathers of Confederation

Today you continued to work on the research assignment on PEI & Confederation. If you did not finish in class, hand in tomorrow.

We talked further on our Family History Project. I showed you a student example from last year. I also showed you the files on S DRIVE. These are templates for genealogy information that you will add to your project. Copy them into your own account where you can work with them there. I still need pedigree copies. If you want allocated time to work on this in the library – you will need to bring your material. Otherwise, you will have to find time on your own.

Coffee shop/trivia on Friday. Be ready.

Monday, December 15/08

Boston Boxes???

We are days away from Christmas break and I’m sure some of you are buying or wrapping gifts. If you are lucky enough, you might even get a parcel in the mail from a friend or relative who lives “away” (PEI lingo for anywhere that isn’t here!) Today we read the story “The Boston Box” and learned that for many Island families in years past, this box was Christmas. Your relatives from the States would often send home a parcel with gifts and perhaps hand me down clothes. In some cases, this made up much of what was received on Christmas morning. Many Islanders left PEI for better work opportunities and from the mid/late 1800s into the early/mid 1900s,  the US was their destination. Thus, many Islanders had (& still have) close connections to their US cousins.

I returned quizzes … some of you need to improve your mark .. and reviewed them with you. We finished our class in the library working on a research activity  on Confederation. We’ll try to complete this tomorrow.

We’ll return to the library tomorrow - bring your pedigree with you.

Thursday, December 11/08

Black  Islanders …

We have been talking about Black history on PEI for the past couple of days.  It is hard to believe that this history traces its roots back to the slave trade.  Many Islanders today can find some of the Island’s earliest Black immigrants in their family tree.

We are reading some Christmas selections this week too. Yesterday we read about a painful discovery heard while listening secretly at the “hole” in the kitchen ceiling. Today we read about the wonder of finding an orange … a real orange  in your stocking at Christmas!! Some of you told us this tradition still exists in your family.

You have been given a copy of your Family History Project and a rubric to guide your work. Please get your pedigree filled out as best you can and make sure I get a copy. We will be spending quite a bit of time working on this project from now until its due date in January.

Tomorrow – Friday:    

Coffee Shop ( have your news ready)                                                                                         

Homework questions on Confederation Chapter in green book. Do 1 - 10 in the Knowledge section.

Monday, December8/08

Twelve Days of Christmas …

A short day today … just means more time to spend studying for your quiz tomorrow. Use the review sheet  I gave you. Today we looked at a couple of examples of Family History Projects. Most of you have a clear idea of which side of the family you wish to do your project on. If you don’t, make a choice by Wednesday.

I think after today’s art work,  we will be a fine looking team for the 12 Days of Christmas!!!  

Friday, December 5/08

Rainbow Valley Giftshop …

We had a library day today. I handed out a review sheet. Use it as a study guide for your quiz next Tuesday. We then shared our “coffee shop” news. Great job! Hope you enjoyed the snack. You were able to pick appropriate stories. We finished our class with some PEI trivia. Note the Flying Saucer gift shop from one of our questions!! You all got that answer I’m sure. I have since tabulated the results and Jillian and Krista were our trivia champs for this week. Good work girls. We’ll probably do it again next week.

Poster projects should be handed in by the end of today. You will lose 10% per day for every day late.

Have a great weekend and bring your Christmas “competitive” spirit for Monday’s first event in the 12 Days of Christmas.

Thursday, December 4/08

Coffee shop discussion …

We did a little organizing today for the Twelve Days of Christmas. With our combined forces (Smith/Pendergast ) I am sure we can be highly competitive!! We reviewed the Tenant League article this morning - obviously the tenants’ actions had an effect. By the time Confederation rolled around, most proprietors had given in and agreed to sell land to the tenants who lived on it. Then we headed to the library to prepare for tomorrow. Posters are due and we will have our Coffee Shop discussions. Remember, if you are absent, give me a written response to the article your group has chosen. We will also review for your quiz on Tuesday. I think we’ll also do a little Island Trivia tomorrow so have your brains in gear!! Have a great night.

Wednesday, December 3/08

Hippies? Unlikely friends with rural Islanders??

We know that various ethnic groups have made PEI home.Today we looked at a different group – based on lifestyle: the Hippies!! We read a piece that suggested people of the Hippie movement (who certainly stood out next to most Islanders)  probably had a lot in common with rural Islanders: love of the land, old ways, crafts, music … Not surprising when you think about it. PEI was a good place to practice that “back to the land” lifestyle. Things would soon change though as a modern shift was changing a lot of traditional things about Island life. 

Hippies were sometimes known for acts of civil disobedience (ie. protesting the Vietnam War). Civil disobedience was no strange thing on PEI. The Tenant League , an organiziation of Island tenant farmers used civil disobedience to finally win the battle over land reform. They banded together, refused to pay rents and probably eventually forced an end to the Island’s landlord/tenant system.

Tomorrow will be a library day.

Posters due Friday.

Coffee Shop Friday.

Quiz next Tuesday.

Tuesday, December 2/08

George Coles … PEI’s first premier.

We’re still trying to solve the land question. We know how frustrated the tenants were (ie Patrick Pearce!!). The land reformers knew they needed to change the way government worked if they were to make progress. By 1851, Queen Victoria granted PEI “responsible government.” Now, at least in theory, elected members should have a real voice in making laws. A premier was appointed … George Coles. We found out that although some of his political enemies thought he was crude and uneducated, he showed what a gentleman he was when he found himself engaged in a gun fight with the leader of the opposition! Imagine the headline news for that event!!

Bring your pedigree sheets tomorrow.

Poster Project due Friday.

Coffee shop on Friday.

Quiz next Tuesday.

Monday, December 1/08

Abell’s Cape …

Picturesque Abell’s Cape. Hard to believe it was the site of a brutal murder many years ago. Today you read about Patrick Pearce, an Irish tenant who was pushed to the limits by a demanding landlord – Edward Abell. And all over greed – for a black carriage horse. This story is a good illustration of the frustrations that existed between tenents and landlords. This week we are looking at how the Land Question was such a problem for early settlers and how they decided to take matters into their own hands to end it. Complete the questions on this story for homework.

We also had a good discussion on Island homes – from early Island farmhouses to modern loft style condos. How times have changed.

Reminders:

Friday, December 5 – This Place Matters Poster Project due.

Tuesday, December 9 – quiz

Bring your pedigree sheets to school tomorrow.