:TECHBRARIAN

Well hello there! You are about to start a brand new technology adventure like nothing else!  It’s called “blogging” and it will let you share your thoughts, feelings, and ideas with the world.  Those who read your blog will be able to comment on what you’ve written and share their experiences with you.  Once you start blogging, you may never want to stop! So here’s your assignment:

1. Click on the link below to watch a video that explains blogging:

2. Next, watch a video about what blogging means to Island School Bloggers:

3.  Now, check out a few blog posts from Island School Students:

EMcNeil composed a poem about being a student

PNegron made an animation about “blood diamonds”...

AVelazquez pretends she woke up as a lady bug

Rhernandez put a movie in his blog about being healthy

SColon wrote a poem about her brother

SJones posted about a dream she had…

4. Before the end of class, let’s get back together and discuss the following questions:

-What is a blog?

-What can you put in your blog?

-What do you think is not o.k. to put in your blog?

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• DHenderson
• EMcNeil
  
• GCalcano
• RContreras
  
• LHernandez
• MRahman
  
• MJuan
  
• PNegron

Top Top Blog

MJuan

Outstanding Poems

ATorres, SColon 1, SColon2, RContreras, LHernandez 1, DLopez, CMarquez, EMcneil, BUrena, ISimon 1, ISimon 2

Extraordinary Bling Final Projects

JSalas, APichardo, TCarter, SCorrea, BTan, MJuan, AEstevez, NPerez, ISimon

Slammin’ Sneaker Diagrams and Bubbls

EColon, CArce, SnMohamed

Brilliant Random Posts and Never Evers

AGivens, NRodriguez, KAlcantara, GMangin, DHenderson, JSalas, CSantos, RAlvarez, AFigueroa, MRahman

Unbeatable Basketball Poems

MDavila, JTlatenchi, EMcneil

More Fun with Flickr

BTan, DLopez, CSamms, SSabah, SnMohamed, ARobins, NWilliams

Splendid Super Size Me Comics and Videos

LHernandez, RContreras, RHernandez, DSim, JTlatenchi, GCalcano, SColon,

Irresistable Break-in Apologies and Break-up Letters

MDavila, JMerritt, CArce, SGreen, EMcNeil, PNegron, DBeauchamp, CSamms, NWilliams

Best Garbage Diagrams and Interviews

MJuan, PNegron, DHill, JLopez, THarris, AQuintero, RVentura

Deep Thoughts and High School Letters from the Future

JMerritt 1, JMerritt 2,  GCalcano, ASanchez, LHernandez, RAlvarez, JPayne, TGivens, SJones, CSwindell, AVelazquez

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• AVelazquez
• DHill
  
• FSimon
  
• ISimon
• JLeeTineo
  
• PNegron

Top Top Blog

PNegron

Terrific Trash Talk Bubbls

MRahman, AVelazquez, PNegron, CSantos, EBourdier, DHill, JBrent, JLeeTineo, KAlcantara, KBarron, LAlmonte

Outstanding Poems

ATorres 1, ATorres 2, CMarquez 1, CMarquez 2, EHill, ISimon 1, ISimon 2

Bravely Breaking Down the Bling

PNegron, AVelazquez, MDavila, MTucker, DHenderson, EColon, FSimon, JLeeTineo, LAlmonte, MRahman

Brilliant Random Posts

BValles, DHenderson, HArriza, JTaveras, MJuan

Most Fun with Flickr

MDavila, SCorrea, AFigueroa, FSimon, JLeeTineo, MTucker, PNegron

Superb Super Size Me Posts

LHernandez 1, LHernandez 2, ASanchez, DSim, ERodriguez 1, ERodriguez 2, GCalcano, JPena, RContreras

Tantalizing Text Monster Posts

DHill, AVelazquez, ATorres, EBourdier, JSalas, TRawlinson

Best Beyonce Posts

SJones, ARobins, AThomas, EHill, NSingletary

Deep Thoughts

BValles, DHenderson, GMangin

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So, we’ve reached the end of our journey. We’ve discovered the insane trail of blood and terror that diamonds follow from the ground to our jewelry. I found this good slideshow that summarizes some of what we’ve learned and fills in the blanks for some of the questions we still have. Please look at the slideshow and add your final facts, thoughts, and questions to your bubbl.us.

Now, time for your final assignment. Choose one:

1) Using a video camera, create a PSA (public service announcement) warning people about blood diamonds.

2) Make an XtraNormal about where blood diamonds come from and why we pay so much for them.

3. Using XtraNormal, pretend you are a diamond digger, a soldier, or an amputee. Tell your story.

4. Think up your own idea and pitch it to me– if it’s approved by Mr. Lahana, go for it!

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…but a company called De Beers makes sure that doesn’t happen. Watch below:

Now, watch a movie about De Beers by clicking HERE.

———————-

In your blog answer the following questions:

1. How does De Beers make sure there are not too many diamonds in the world market?

2. What does De Beers want us to think about diamonds?

3. How do magazines, advertisements, movies, songs, and music videos support De Beer’s message?

–> For more info on the history and myth of the Diamond click HERE.

–> To see the full documentary on the Diamond Empire click HERE (Part 1) and HERE (Part 2)

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So you might be asking yourself at this point, “how could these RUF soldiers do such horrific things to their own people?”  The answer is complicated.  The leaders of the RUF use fear, lonliness, power, money, food, and drugs to make kids as young as 12 commit savage crimes.  Find out more by watching Part 4 of Bling.

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The civil war to control Sierra Leone was fought by two sides: the RUF (The Revolutionary United Front) and the government.   Now that you’ve seen the atrocities (wickedness) committed by the RUF “rebels” to women, it’s time to find out about the other way men, women, and children were violated in Sierra Leone.  The trademark crime of the RUF “rebels” was to chop off body parts to terrorize people.  Those that survived are called “amputees”.   Click HERE to see Part 3 of Bling.

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Guess how the “rebels” got the money to buy the knives, guns, and food for their soldiers?  Diamonds.

Continue to fill out your bubbl.us with facts, opinions, and questions about blood diamonds.

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Download

Now that you’ve seen the workers that dig for diamonds, you might be wondering who gets all the money?  The answer is the “Rebels” who have been fighting a war in Sierra Leone for almost 10 years.  They use this diamond money to terrorize men, women, and children so that they can control them with fear.  So, when we buy their diamonds, we are supporting them.  Look at what the Rebels did to women in Sierra Leone.    Click HERE to see Part 2 of Bling (ask for password).

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Please return to your bubbl.us and add what you’ve learned.

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1.  Listen to THIS song by Kanye West about Blood Diamonds.

2. Now, watch THIS video clip from a movie called Bling about where most diamonds come from.

3.  Click HERE for a quick tutorial on how to make a bubbl.us account.

4.  Next, go to bubbl.us and create a brainstorm about everything you know so far about Blood Diamonds (don’t worry if you don’t know a lot…we’ll be adding to the brainstorm later.)  Post your bubbl.us on your blog.

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