What is Social Action?

I don’t have to tell you, there’s a lot wrong in this world. There are homeless everywhere, lots of guns leading to lots of unnecessary deaths, women on tv and video games being nothing more than sexy bodies to stare at (instead of creative and powerful minds to listen to), police and politicians treating some races and classes better than others, advertisements everywhere making you feel bad about yourselves, kids getting bullied online, the climate changing in scary ways, people getting addicted to all sorts of things…just to name a few.

Are we just going to stand there and let this all keep on going?  Are you just a kid who has zero things to say about any of this and zero power to DO anything about this?  I. DONT. THINK. SO.

Doing something about all these problems is called Social Action.

Social action can be dangerous.  You are fighting against problems that are often caused by people with lots of money or power or both.  Going up against them is risky.  As game maker Zoe Quinn said, “lf video games have taught me anything, it’s that if you encounter enemies, then you’re going the right way.”   And remember, during this journey, even though i don’t have all the answers,  I always have your back.   Whatever you need to make your project happen, we’ll do it.  period.

What is this Class?

This class is about doing social action with the help of technology.  The tech tools here are chosen to  M A X I M I Z E  the power of your message and help you to invent important things that may never have existed before.  Here are lots of student examples:

RRosario- Affordable Water Filter (Video)

NTanzim, MMunna, JPerez- Change for the Day (Video)

From Mouth to Trash (Video)

GCalandro, KClaudio, SBobbio, and EHernandez- Cosmet(h)ics (Video)

JGadson, ACabrera, and CMclaughlin- Pregnant Teen Barbie (Video)

ALarancuent- Dave (Video)

WRodriguez, RMoran, EHernandez- DIY AC (Video)

Britney Eats Insects! (Video)

JMohamed- Elephant Ivory  (Scratch Game)

NTanzim- Anti-Muslim Discrimination (Video)

ACruz- Ain’t Too Proud (Song + Lyrics)

JColon (X-Ray Goggles)

GUdechi-Cigarettes (Scratch Game)

KQuarles- Ain’t No Bullies Allowed (Song)

KQuarles- Struggle (Music)

How Does this Class Work?

• Find an issue that’s important to you.

• MAKE A PLAN WITH ME so your project is doable.

• Learn a tool (see below) to use for social action.  Learn more using YouTube or Lynda.com (ask for password)

• Using these tech tools, create a project that teaches others about your social issue or invents a solution!

Tool: Lego

• Your Lego must be about social action

• Everything you create must have moving parts (No simple buildings)

• Label your work in a zip-lock bag

• DO NOT touch other people’s lego projects

• Your lego must be programmed to do helpful.  You can create your own or modify one you download.

Tool: Scratch

• Your Scratch game must be about social action.

• If you can’t think of your own idea, I have tons of lessons.  Your job is to take one of them and change it so it is about a real-life issue.  You can also find games on Scratch’s website and remix them.

Tool: Jewelry, Clothing, Cooking, & Inventions

• We have lots of AMAZING tools here in the café:  3D printers, a Cricut, jewelry making tools, sewable electronics, pyrography (burning wood to make art), leather crafts, and much more!
• What you make can be sold on our Etsy Store…for REAL money in YOUR pocket.
• BUT each and every product you make, must have to do with a social issue.

Tool: Filmmaking

• Your Filmmaking must be about social action

• Must have a script or a storyboard before filming

Tool: SketchUp

• Your SketchUp must be about social action

• Use tutorials like THIS.

• Your 3D prints must be about social action

• Design your blueprints in SketchUp and send them to Makerbot Desktop

• Printing takes many hours so start a new project in the meantime

Tool: GarageBand

• Your GarageBand Song must be about social action

• You must have Lyrics pre-written.  No freestyling!

• Click HERE to see how to make a hit pop song.

Other Tools

Rules: Music, Videos, and Games:

• This class is about CREATING not CONSUMING.  Unless you or your friend have created the media, don’t consume it.  What do I mean:  No listening to music, watching videos, or playing games unless someone at The Island School created it.

Rules: Saving your Work

• Don’t count on “your” computer being there

• Don’t count on “your” computer working

• Save your projects to dropbox when possible or email it to yourself

Rules: Start of Class

• Come to the first 3 rows for a quick talk

• Leave your computers closed and open up your ears…I dont talk long.

Confused? Aimless? Go to Techbrarian.com

• If you don’t have a game plan, start by going to Techbrarian.com. Click through links about your social issue on the “What’s your Problem” page.  You can also look at “Social Action @ 188”.

Rules: End of Class

• Logout of all your accounts, roll up cords, headphones, and put your laptop back properly

Homelessness

NTanzim, MMunna, JPerez- Change for the Day (Video)

KPoncedeleon and JDelacruz– Blessing Bags (Video)

ALin and TScott (Feat. 8B)– A Day in the Life

Animal Abuse

JMohamed- Elephant Ivory  (Scratch Game)

GCalandro, KClaudio, SBobbio, and EHernandez- Cosmet(h)ics (Video)

JMohamed- Elephant Ivory (Blog Post)

RRivera- The Meat and Dairy Industry (Video)

LGBTQ

ALarancuent- Dave (Video)

Student Rights

YRodriguez– Search and Seizure of Bags & Cosmetics (Video)

Blood Diamonds

SMassaquoi (Song)

Dirty Water/Clean Water

RRosario- Affordable Water Filter (Video)

BMorales and MHill– LifeStraw

World Hunger

Britney Eats Insects! (Video)

Maria’s Kitchen: Cricket Brownies (Video)

DCastillo- Who’s Worth More? (Image)

Bottled Water

JJabarteh- Can you tell the Difference? (Video)

Bottle Cops (Video)

Teen Pregnancy & STD’s

JGadson, ACabrera, and CMclaughlin- Pregnant Teen Barbie (Video)

ACruz- Ain’t Too Proud (Song + Lyrics)

MAlmonte & DCalcano (Song + Lyrics)

BPerez- Teen Pregnancy (Infographic)

Teen Sex Blog (Website)

War

ASanchez, TArnolod, and BLee (Animation)

ASanchez- Nuclear Radiation and North Korea

JMata– Flower Tank (Scratch Game)

Healthy Relationships & Cheating

JMejia & Econtreras– Cheating (Video)

Bullying

KQuarles- Ain’t No Bullies Allowed (Song)

NTanzim- Anti-Muslim Discrimination (Video)

ACruz (Feat. TMartin)- Inside the Mind of a School Shooter (Song)

ALin- Free to be Bullied (Video)

SPerez- Music is my Protection (Drawing)

What’s Beauty? (Poem)

RBrown- Ryan’s Story (Song)

JMiranda, DMedina, TWells, & MMartin (Song)

AWalker (Song)

YGuo & JMohamed (Lyrics)

RDewberry (Blog Post)

Child Abuse

RReddix (Feat. SBianca) (Song)

HIV/AIDS

RReddix and ACruz– Wear the Latex

Racism/Stereotypes

MAlmonte, EContreras & JMejia – Go Ahead (Song)

IMoreno- GTA Remix (Webpage Hack)

YRodriguez- Dumb Blond (Image)

TMartin- Same Love Remix (Poem)

TMartin- Team Black- I Love my Skin (Poem)

Domestic Violence

MAlmonte, EContreras, & JMejia  (Video)

Steroids

DCastillo- Steroid Clown (Image)

Terrorism

AFeliciano (Boston Marathon Bombing)

YEscalara (9/11 Memorial)

JCapellan (9/11 Memorial)

JColon (9/11 Memorial)

TArnold (9/11 Memorial)

NBegum (9/11 Memorial)

AOrtega (9/11 Memorial)

ALin (9/11 Memorial)

TTang (9/11 Memorial)

WNunez (9/11 Memorial)

KHernandez (9/11 Memorial)

GRobinson (9/11 Memorial)

MGarrick (9/11 Memorial)

TGolson (9/11 Memorial)

JRodriguez (9/11 Memorial)

EBrann (9/11 Memorial)

TGolson (Airport Security)

Anti-Smoking

GUdechi (Scratch Game)

YGuo (Scratch Animation)

Drug Abuse

GMeixueiro (Scratch Game)

Societal Ills

KQuarles- Struggle (Music)

AWalker (Song)

Obesity

JColon (X-Ray Goggles)

DHassan- Miracle Berry to Fight Obesity (Video)

JColon  (Scratch Game)

RDewberry (Scratch Game)

GCandelaria

The Environment

WRodriguez, RMoran, EHernandez- DIY AC (Video)

From Mouth to Trash (Video)

RDewberry (Scratch Animation)

CLora & JGalan (Recycling Song)

Natural Disasters

RRivera (LED Throwies DIY)

Garbage

RDewberry (Prezi)

Teen Life: Poems and Blog Posts

Tope- The Secret (Music)

PMarquez- Rain (Poem)

AJimenez– Society Nowadays (Blog Post)

RDewberry- Introvert (Blog Post)

CDiaz- F*%K Valentines Day (Blog Post)

AJimenez- Book about my Life (Blog Post)

HAriza- My Weakness (Poem)

LHernandez – The Memory of Death (Poem)

MBetances- How is it that You’re so Different? (Poem)

JVargas- I’m Over it (Poem)

YCajigas- Guilt (Poem)

JTlatenchi-Forgetting Family Memories (Blog Post)

SMarte – Don’t Forget (Poem)

MBetances- Hole in my Heart (Poem)

Athomas- Tear (Poem)

Anthony- Like Father Like Death (Poem)

JTineo- Feeling N Thoughts (Blog Post)

Sexting

ASanchez

Sweatshops

AJimenez- Letter to Nike (Blog Post)

TSebelen- Letter to Nike (Blog Post)

ESanchez- Letter to Nike (Blog Post)

KMiller-Letter to Nike (Blog Post)

Y Cajigas- Letter to Nike (Blog Post)

DSim- Sweatshops (Poem)

Immigration

SPerez- Immigration Eye (Drawing)

 

INTRO

Let’s begin by learning about some real world problems that need to be solved. Follow as many links as you can! If you have a problem you’d like to solve that’s not on the list, search for it online and gather your own information. Every time you learn something important, share it (using your own words on the social issues Wiki.  When you find an issue that you truly care about and want to solve, it’s time to start your assignment.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Once you fall in love with an issue, use one of the tools from the START HERE page to create a project to help solve your problem.  Here are some questions your project should answer:

• What does a “day in the life” of a person with this problem look like?

• Are there good guys or villains in this problem?  If so, who?

• Who does this problem affect the most? Why?

• How big is the problem (For example, 35% of Americans are obese or over 8000 people died from firearms in the U.S. in 2010)

• Why are the solutions already out there not good enough?

ADVERTISING

PBS– Advertising Tricks (Interactive Website)

The Power of Propoganda (Video)

Advertising Techniques (Video)

Merchant’s of Cool– Hooking Teen Customers (Video)

Admongo– The world of Advertising (Game)

Advertising  Facts (Infographic) Advertising Tricks (Webpage)

Banksy on Advertising (Blog Post)

ALCOHOL AND DRUNK DRIVING

AdCouncil’s Drunk Driving PSA’s– The Classics (Videos)

AdCouncil’s Buzzed Driving PSA’s (Videos)

The Truth About Alcoholism (Infographic) 

Am I an Alcoholic? (Infographic)

Visualizing Alcohol Abuse (Infographic)

Drunk Driving- Victim Stories (Webpage)

The Problem with Problem Drinking (Infographic)

MADD Statistics (Webpage)  

Alcoho-Lock (Article)

BLOOD DIAMONDS & CHILD SOLDIERS

“] Bling (Movie) Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Child Soldiers (Game)

Diamonds are Forever (Animation)

BULLYING

The Cyberbullying Virus (Video) 

Amanda Todd‘s Message– Cyberbullied into Suicide (Video)

Amanda Todd on the News– Cyberbullied into Suicide (Video)

Student Bullying (Infographic)

Imagine a World Where Straight People were the Minority (Video)

Bad Behavior- Trolling and Freedom of Speech (Video)

Cyberbullying (Infographic)

Cyberbullying– Rebecca Sedwick (Video)  (More info click HERE)

Cyberbullying Example (Video)

Bully— The Documentary (Video)

One Boy’s Online Tragedy– Cyberbullying (Video)

Bullying in a Nutshell– Cyberbullying (Video)

Bullying– What you can do (Webpage)

Long Term Effects of Bullying (Infographic)

the.Gov: Cyberbullying (Video)

R-Word- Ending the use of “retarded” (Videos)

To This Day (Animation)

CIGARETTES

The Real Cost (Website)

The Real Cost:  Bully   Skater   Promise   Teeth   (Videos)

What’s in a But?– Cigarettes (Interactive Webpage)

TheTruth.com– Cigarette Facts (Website)

Anti-Smoking Cigarette Label Images (Images)

Bubble Wrap– Smoking Deaths (Video)

Pro-Smoking Ads (Images)

Vaping (Video)

Anti-Smoking Ads (Images)

Health Effects of Smoking (Webpage)

Ashes to Ashes– Anti Smoking (Video)

Nursing your Lungs– (Infographic)

TheTruth.com Commercials– Anti-Cigarette (Video)   Part 2, Par 3 , Part 4

E-Cigarettes as Gateway to Smoking (Video)

Science Behind E-Cigarettes (Video)

China’s E-Cigarette Boom (Slideshow)

Hidden Cost of Cigarettes (Video) Courtesy of: insurancequotes.org/hidden-cost-cigarettes

CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS

Police Brutality Cemetery (Comic) 

Wolf Blitzer interviews Deray McKesson about violence in Baltimore (Video)

J. Cole: Be Free– Mike Brown Tribute (Song/Video)

R.I.P. Eric Garner- By Bell Hooks (Image)

Browns’ Andrew Hawkins explains why he wore a “Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford” T-shirt (Video)

Why isn’t there a White Club on a College Campus? (Spoken Word Performance)

Women’s Rights (Infographic) 

Occupy Wallstreet Arrests- (Video)

The right to photograph (Video)

The Right to Assemble– (Video)

No Woman No Drive (Music Video)  More info Click HERE

Criminals of Permission- Police Brutality (Music Video) MUST HAVE APPROVAL FROM MR. LAHANA TO WATCH

Start School Late (Video)  (Click HERE for website)

School Uniforms: Pro/Con (Webpage)

CLIMATE CHANGE

It’s Okay to be Smart: Climate Change (Video)

Cowspiracy Trailer (Documentary)  Click HERE for full film.

Cowspiracy Images: Believe, Level Up, News, Tastes,  Wear, Day Job

It’s Okay to be Smart: Why People don’t Believe in Climate Change (Video)

What’s Really Causing Climate Change (Interactive Graph)

Map of New York at the End of the Century (Interactive Webpage)

Weather Versus Climate Change (Video)

Leonardo DiCaprio’s UN Speech (Video)

CRIME / GUN CONTROL

Scenes From Everytown (Video)

Crucual Crew (Game)

Gun Violence in America (Infographic)

Do you Feel Safe? (Infographic)

Gun Crime and Ownership (Infographic)

The Mean World Syndrome (Video)

Mean Guise- Kids and Violence (Video)

9 Year Old with Uzi- Kills Instructor (Video)

Everytown USA (Website)

NYTimes’ Gun Country- (Webpage & Video)

Gun Control- Daily Show (Video)

Mass Shootings (Infographic)

Bowling for Columbine (Documentary)

Violence in Video Games– Pro/Con (Website)

Is Buying Call of Duty a Moral Choice? (Video)

Forensic Firsts (Game)

Guns- Facts, Figures, and the Law (Webpage)

California Restricts Guns (Video)

Pro-Gun Arguments Shot Down (Webpage)

A&E Crime Investigations (Game)

The Real CSI (Video)

Do you Feel Safe? (Infographic)

FBI- Criminal Pursuit (Video)

NYC Crime Statistics– (Interactive Webpage)

Which Countries Own the Most Guns? (Infographic)

Gangs: MS13 (Video)

the.Gov: Growing Problem of Youth Membership in Gangs (Video)

Crips and Bloods in America (Video)

Violence in the Media & Children (Video)

DIGITAL CITIZENS

Texting while Driving Penalties– (Infographic)

DashCam Crashes (Video + Infographics)

Don’t Text and Drive (Animation)

Distracted Driving- NYTimes (Video)

From One Second to the Next– Texting While Driving Documentary Trailer  (Click HERE) for the Full Movie)

Spam: The Documentary

Net Neutrality Explained (Video)

DISEASE

Ebola Expained (Video)

Facts about Ebola (Infographic)

Cancer- Brainpop (Animation)

10 Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer (Infographic)

Pink Ribbons (Documentary)

Breast Cancer Breakdown (Infographic)

OMG I Found a Lump (Infographic)

A Woman Fired Because She has Cancer (Webpage + Video)

Cancer (Infographic)

Why Don’t We All Have Cancer? (Video)

Colors to Die For (Infographic)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/CHILD ABUSE

Get The Facts on Child Abuse (infographic)

Child Abuse Statistics (Infographic)

ChildHelp.org– Statistics (Webpage)

Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect (Infographic)

ThisIsAbuse- School Girl (Video)

ThisIsAbuse- School Boy (Video)

I Was (Video)

ThisIsAbuse- Abuse You Can See (Video)

Escape- A Story about Domestic Abuse (Article)

The Secret (Video)

What you Don’t Know About Domestic Violence (Infographic)

Truth Unfolds (Infographic)

Help for Abused Women (Website)

Things that Cause Rape (Image)

She Asked For it (Video)

How to Spot an Abuser (Infographic)

Who Are You (Video)– MUST HAVE APPROVAL FROM MR. LAHANA TO WATCH

1 is 2 Many– Rape (Videos)

This is Rape Culture (Infographic)

DRUGS

How do I know if I’m an Addict (Documents)

10 Common Marijuana Side Effects (Infographic)

Marijuana: Uncertain Medicine (Video)

Earl the eyeball (Game)

Cannabis and Psychosis (Animation)

Weed(Article & Websites)

Your Brain on Weed (Animation)

Drug Free World (Videos)

Marijuana’s Harmful Effects (Image)

Problem or Solution: Legalized Marijuana in Colorado (Video)

College Drug Use (Infographic)

All-Drug Olympics (Video)

Bigger, Stronger, Faster- Performance Enhancing Drugs (Movie)

10 Pros/Cons for Performance Enhancing Drugs (Webpage)

Drug Facts: Anabolic Steroids (Webpage)

Steroid Effects (Infographic)

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports (Infographic)

Steroid Effects Male/Female (Infographic)

Signs Your a Drug User (Infographic)

Homeopathy Explained (Image)

EDUCATION

We Will Not Let Exams Decide our Fate (Video)

Plaigarism: Adinah’s Deck– (Video)

Plagarism– BrainPop (Video)

Plaigarism– Common Craft (Video)

ENERGY

Energy Now!– Electricity Generation (Video)

WindFall– Wind Turbines to Power a Town (Game)

EnergyVille- The energy needed to power a city (Game)

Three Mile Island- Nuclear Power (Video)

Shale Gas Drilling (Movie)

The Age of Stupid (Movie)

EXTREME WEATHER

50 Images of Hurricane Sandy’s Destruction (Images)

Climate Change like Tetris (Video)

Midwest Tornado 2013 (Images)

Extreme Weather– Brainpop (Video)

Tsunamis– Brainpop (Video)

Hurricanes- Brainpop (Video)

Typhoon Haiyan (Slideshow)

Inside the Megastorm (Video)

Hurricane Sandy: A Storm Still Felt- (Article + Videos)

Sandy Storyline (Website)

When Sandy is the Norm (Video & Article)

Before and After Sandy (Interactive Photos)

NY Times Sandy Slideshow (Slideshow)

Hurricane Sandy (Infographic)

Sandy’s Path of Destruction (Infographic)

How the full moon made Sandy Worse (Article)

Hurricanes Explained- Discovery Channel (Videos)

BrainPop: Earthquakes (Video)

BrainPop: Plate Tectonics (Video)

FACTORY FARMS & ANIMAL CRUELTY

How to Prevent Animal Abuse (infographic)

Cruelty Free Cosmetics (Infographic)

ASPCA- Animal Cruelty (Website)

What’s Really in your Carton? (Infographic)

The Truth about Eating Animals (Infographic)

Food Inc. (Movie)

The Meatrix (Animation) Part 2, Part 2 1/2

Samsara– How our food gets to the table

Petland– Puppy Mills (Video)

If our Pets Could Talk (Video)

Pets 4 Life (Video)

Shark Attacks (Infographic)

Animal Abuse Registry (Webpage and Video)

Last Days (Video)

Tracking Elephant Ivory (Website)

Elephant Ivory (Video)

Ninety-Six Elephants:  Humans + Elements (Short Story)

True Cost of Food (Video)

How Deli Meats are Made (Video)

The Death of Bees Explained (Video)

How Smart are Dolphins? (Video)

GAMING ADDICTION 

CNN- 5 Warning Signs (Video)

PBS (Video)

South Korea– (Video)

Gaming Addiction (Infographic)

GARBAGE & RECYCLING

The Sixth Extinction (Video)

Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground (Video) More Info Click HERE

LoopScoops (Animations)

Midway: A Message from the Gyre (Video)  (Photos Click Here)

Garbage Dreams (Game)

What’s in your Trash? (Infographic)

The Works – Trash (Video)  Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

How Does a Modern Landfill Work? (Animation)

Sustainable Seafood (Video)

Chemical Nation (Documentary Film)

Fossil Fuel Distribution in two minutes (Video)

Earth University Plants a Future (Video)

Plastic Paradise Trailer (Video)

The Electronic Afterlife (Video)

Plastics Breakdown (Infographic)

GOVERNMENT & CORRUPTION

The Corporation (Documentary Film)

Body Scanners(Video)

TSA Gone Wild (Infographic)

SWAT: Mission Creep (Video)

Stop Watching Us (Video)

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Healthy Teen Relationship Spectrum (Website)

Love What’s Real (Facts)

LoveisRespect- Unhealthy Relationships (Website)

The Line- Unhealthy Relationships (Video)

LoveisRespect- Relationship Quiz (Video)

Finding Zoe– Healthy Relationships (Game)

My Paper Girlfriend (Game)

My Paper Boyfriend (Game)

Can we Autocorrect Humanity (Video)

HIV/AIDS & STDs

Voices of Youth (Game)

BrainPop- HIV/AIDS (Animation)

What you Should Know about AIDS (Infographic)

EndGame- AIDS in Black America (Video)

HIV/AIDS (Glogster)

HOMOPHOBIA/LGBTQ

Ryland’s Story (Video)  For more info. click HERE

Minus18: LGBTQ Pride (Images)

Colorado Transgender Girl (Video)

Coming out (Website with Videos)

Kids React to Gay Marriage  (Video)

StandUp!– Against Homophobia (Video)

Homophobia Student Documentary (Video)

Gay Football Player Response (Video)

I Love my Boo Campaign (Article)

Think Be4 You Speak– (Video)  Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Homophobia Quiz Homophobia Infographic

Dys4ia- Hormone Therapy (Game)

Transgender Adventure! (Video)

Born Gay? Pro/Con (Webpage)

Transmormon: Growing up Transgender and Mormon (Video)

IMMIGRATION

Border Crossings (Game)

The Immigration Trail (Game)

ICED– Immigration Detention (Game)

Homeland Guantanamos– Immigration Detention (Game)

MENTAL HEALTH

The Road Back- Teen Depression & Anxiety (Movie)

The Mind/Game Trailer (Movie)

Eating Disorders (Infographic)

Mental Health (Infographic)

Suicide (Infographic)

Thinking Positive (Video)

Breast Cancer Breakdown (Infographic)

What if Physical Health was Treated the Same as Mental Health (Comic)

OCD and Anxiety (Video)

Robin Williams- Depression (Blog Post)

OBESITY

Obesity Facts (Infographic)

BrainPop: Healthy Diet (Animation) 

Yuck: A 4th grader’s documentary on school lunches (Video)

Body Mass Index Calculator (Webpage)

What is a Calorie? (Video)

What 2000 Looks Like (Article)

Obesity: Complex, but Conquerable (Infographic)

NY Times Calorie Detective (Video)

Fizzy’s Lunch– Tummy Trauma (Animation)

Two Foods– Compare any 2 foods (Website)

Carbohydrates– Brainpop (Animation)

Is Junk Food Cheaper? (Article)

Calorie King– Search the calories in food (Website)

Dangers of Obesity (Infographic)

HBO’s Weight of the Nation (Movie)

Obesity Worldwide (Infographic)

What 2000 Calories Looks Like (Video)

Working off the Calories (Infographic)

Food Fury (Game)

FDA’s Nutrition Education (Webpage)

Fantastic Food Challenge (Game)

Global Fat Scale (Interactive Webpage)

Super Size Me (Movie) Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Crazy Amount of Sugar in Everyday Things (Video)

The Economic Cost of Obesity (Video)

Hidden Cost of Big Macs (Video) Courtesy of: insurancequotes.org/hidden-cost-big-mac

Hidden Cost of Soda (Video) Courtesy of: insurancequotes.org/hidden-cost-soda

POVERTY

Homeless: Ronald Davis (Video)

On a Plate (Comic)

Ayiti (Game)

3rd World Farmer (Game)

Spent– Homelessness (Game)

World Hunger Day (Presentation)

Homeless Poem (Glogster)

The Invisible Poor (Infographic)

Where is Homelessness Getting Worse? (Infographic)

Every Beat Matters– Closer to Home (Video)

Every Beat Matters- Mission (Video)

Every Beat Matters- Supporting Front Line Health Workers (Website)

Frontline: Poor Kids (Video)

Hoarding (Quote)

PRISON

“] Mass Incarceration– A Failed Policy (Animation)

Girls and the Criminal Justice System (Website + Videos) (Full Video Click HERE)

Incarceration in America (Video)

3 Strikes Sentencing (Video)

RACISM

On a Plate: A Short Story about Privilege (Comic)

Ernestine Johnson: ‘The Average Black Girl’ (Spoken Word Video)

How ‘Broken Windows’ Policing Harms People of Color (Video)

The “N” Word(video)

A Class Divided– Students separated by eye color (Video)

Sh#t White Girls Say (Video)

Sh#t White Girls Say, Part 2 (Video)

How Ferguson Showed us the Truth about Police (Video)

Ferguson- Daily Show (Video)

Diet Racism (Video)

Is America Dreaming (Video)

Starbucks: Let’s Talk about Race (Image)

ROBOT RIGHTS?

The New Rules of Robot/Human Society (Video)

Killer Robots (Video)

Robot Rights vs. Human Rights (Movie)  Part 2

Robots Resembling Animals: Wild Cat, Cheetah, RHex,  Petman, Sand Flea, LS3, Atlas

Asimo (Video)

The Future of Artificial Intelligence (Video)

Would you Kill a Robot? (Video) 

Humans Need Not Apply (Video)

A Brief History of Robots (Video)

Atlas Walks Outside (Video)

SEXISM AND STEREOTYPES

#LikeAGirl (Video)

Killing us Softly- How Women are Represented in the Media (Video)

The Bro Code– Male Stereotypes (Video)

Hit Record: Feminism (Video)

HyperSext- Girls and Sexuality (Video)

Totally Biased: Cat Calls (Video)

Bronies- Boys who like My Little Pony (Video)

Body Evolution- Before and After Photoshop

Miss Representation– How women are portrayed in the Media (Documentary Film)

How the Media Failed Women in 2013 (Video)

Vintage Ads Shaming Women into Buying (Images)

Clearasil– Hate other Girls (Image)

Sports and Politics (Movie)

Campaign Against Women (Movie)

Life as a woman- Having to watch your back (Blog Post)

Last Week Tonight: Miss America Pageant (Movie)

Sam Pepper Exposed (Video)

Sam Pepper Exposed, Part 2 (Video)

Feminist Frequency- Women in Video Games, Part 1 (Video)— MUST HAVE APPROVAL FROM MR. LAHANA TO WATCH

Feminist Frequency- Women in Video Games, Part 2 (Video)— MUST HAVE APPROVAL FROM MR. LAHANA TO WATCH

Potty Mouth Princesses (Video)–MUST HAVE APPROVAL FROM MR. LAHANA TO WATCH

Hollaback: Street Harassment (Website)  Hollaback: Street Harassment (Video)

Dying to Stay Thin (Infographic)

Does Sexism Hurt Men? (Video)

Not NFL Scandals (Image)

Wait, is Makeup Sexist? (Video)

Tampon Pic (Image)

Photos Shaping Opinions (Video)

Cause & Effect: How the Media you Consume can Change your Life (Infographic)

The Mask You Live In- Trailer (Movie)   Click HERE for Full Movie

SWEATSHOPS AND CHILD LABOR

Global Conflicts (Game)

The Fruit’s of Mexico’s Cheap Labor (Video)

Made in LA– Sweatshops (Movie)- Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Behind the Swoosh (Movie)   Thought Questions: 1, 2,  3  

How a T-Shirt is Made- NPR’s Planet Money (Video + Website)

The Making of Leather (Video)

TECHNOLOGY- SEXTING & PRIVACY

Flocabulary: Oversharing (Video)

Digital Compass (Serious Game)

ThatsNotCool– Girl’s Perspective- Privacy (Video)

ThatsNotCool– Boy’s Perspective – Privacy(Video)

Digital Parenting (Infographic)

Teenage Sexting (Infographic)

The Truth about Teen Sexting (Infographic)

Sexting– (Video)

Profile Penalty– (Video)

What’s on your Mind? (Video)

TEEN PREGNANCY & ABORTION

Real Talk Videos- Teen Pregnancy (Videos)

Teen Birth Rate (Interactive Webpage)

Block Party (Game)

Condoms in Schools– (Webpage)

Condom Choices in Schools– (Video)

Sex Education in Schools? (Videos)

Do NYC anti-teen pregnancy ads go too far Pregnant Boys 1, 2,  3 (Images)

Facts About Teen Pregnancy (Webpage)

Morning After Pill (Webpage)

Abortion PSA (Video)

Abortion Pro/Con (Website)

Teen Pregnancy and Parenthood (Infographic)

12 Facts about Teen Pregnancy (Infographic)

Teen Pregnancy in America (Infographic)

Teen Pregnancy Facts and Statistics (Infographic)

WAR & TERRORISM

BrainPop: War (Video)

Flocabulary: ISIS (Video)

Afghanistan (Game)

September 11:Fact vs. Fiction (Video)

9/11 Ten Years Later (Infographic)

Save Syria’s Children (Video)

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Game)

John Oliver: Torture (Video) ** MUST HAVE APPROVAL FROM MR. LAHANA TO WATCH

WATER

BrainPop: Water Pollution (Animation)

Story of Bottled Water (Animation)

Last Call at the Oasis (Video)

The Story of Microbeads (Animation)

From Fleece Jackets to your Plate (Video)

How Much Water do you Use? (Quiz)

Water.org: Millions Lack Safe Water (Infographic)

Plumbing Heroes (Infographic)

Tapped- Bottled Water (Movie)

Water Life -Protecting Clean Water (Game)

Dirty Water(Video)

Global Water Crisis (Infographic)

Citzen Science– Fresh Water Pollution (Game)

Bottled Water Facts (Infographic)

Hidden Cost of Bottled Water (Video) Courtesy of: insurancequotes.org/hidden-cost-bottled-water

What happens when you Flush? (Video)

CharityWater.Org- Clean/Dirty Water (Video)

The Sound of Death (Video)

Gizmodo: Stop Drinking Bottled Water (Article)

This Land is our Land (Video)

INTRO

We spent the first part of this year learning about important issues affecting the lives of people here in the U.S. and around the world.  You created a variety of projects to express your understanding.  You might have noticed that most of the problems you researched have not been completely solved.  Something’s missing.  Personally, I think what’s missing is a bunch of smart and spunky Lower East Side teens inventing better solutions.  So here’s your assignment:

Your job is to invent something that helps solve the problem you researched.  Your invention could be a game to better educate people about the problem, it could be a machine you create with lego or the Makerbot, a board game, a club, it could be a song, TV advertisement, whatever you can think up!

Here are 3 questions you need to ask yourself, before you submit your final draft:

1) Is my idea original or has it been done before? (Hint: your’s should be original or really improve on something already out there).

2) Does my invention show that I really understand the ins and outs of the problem?  Every problem is complicated, so your solution should not be simple or obvious.

3) Is the idea doable?  If your idea will cost a billion dollars, break the laws of physics, or break the law, then it probably isn’t.

 

Check out these problem solvers for inspiration:

Advertising

Buy Nothing Day (Video)  Flyer 1  Flyer 2

Buy Nothing Day Slideshow (Video)

Banksy- Jesus Shopping (Image)

Banksy- Consumer Praying (Image)

Banksy- Drunk Mickey (Image) 

Against Violence

Good Bread– Former Gangbangers work as bakers

Malala Yousafzai : Introduction (Video)

Anti-Abuse Message Only Kids Can See (Video)

NFL Players Say No More to Rape (Video)

A Ride Home From Prison (Video)

Beauty Tips by Reshma- How to get Perfect Red Lips (Video)

20 Standout Groups Stopping Domestic Violence (Webpage)

Cell Phones for Victims (Video)

Campaign Zero- Ending Police Violence (Website)

Guns for Protection (Podcast)

Police Wearable Cameras (Movie)

Howard Barry Illustration (Illustration)

Old White Man with a Sign (Image)

A New Weapon in the Hands of Protesting Ukrainians (Image)

Banksy- Shooting Crayons (Image)

Not Asking to be Raped (Image)

Whispers from the Field-Violence Against Migrant Women (Video)

How to Sneak Candy into a Movie Theater (Tweet)

Can’t Prevent Gun Violence (Image)

A Few Bad Cops (Tweet)

Rest in Peace Eric Garner (Image)

Emma’s Mattress (Graphic)

Tackle Guys (Image)

This is Rape Culture (Infographic)

Fashionable Safety Jewelry (Video)

Airport Security

Self Service Bag Check (Video)

Failed Shoe Bomber (Quote)

Alcoholism and Drunk Driving

Restaurant Prank (Video)

Fragile Childhood (Video)

Suddenly Got Scary Part 1, Suddenly Scary Part 2 (Images)

Alcohol Can End Your Party (Image)

Resisting Alcohol- Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Battle Against Smoking

SmokerPoker– Stop smoking through Facebook 

Cardboard Bike (Video)

Look at Me (Video)

Bike Safety

Blaze Laser Light- Projects the Symbol of a Bike (Video)

Lumos Helmet (Video)

Helmet For–  Stickers promoting helmet safety

Invisible Helmet (Video)

Body Image

This Girl Can (Music Video)

Dove- Thought Before Action (Video)

Unknown Artist Pasted Photoshop Toolbar on H&M Posters (Image)

Petty Girls Making Ugly Faces– Challenging the Pressure to be “beautiful”- (Tumblr),  NYTimes Article

Let’s Stop Body Shaming (Image)

Thighs Touching (Image)

Tips to Support Girls’ Rights (Webpage)

I Love my Hair (Video)

Bullying

A Brave Heart- The Lizzie Velasquez Story- Trailer (Video)   Click HERE for Full Movie

Anti-Bullying Game- The Daniel Calwell Story (Game)

Cancer

Nivea’s Sunburn Baby (Video)

Fighting Fire with Fire (Video)

Mona Lisa with Cancer (Image)

If Only for a Second (Video)

Henna Heals (Website)

Diabetes

Jerry The Bear– Helping kids with Diabetes

Disaster Relief

4 Ways Hurricane Sandy Is Still Transforming NYC’s Infrastructure (Blog Post)

What would you do with $25,000— Typhoon Haiyan (Video)

Food Distribution, Toyota-style (Video)

Protecting the City Before Next Time (Article)

The Tunnel Plug (Article)

Ending World Hunger

Should We Eat Bugs (Video)

Should We All be Eating Insects? (Video)

Can Eating Bugs Save the World? (Video)

Bug Tacos (Video)

Ento- Marketing bug products (Video)

11 Bug Dishes (Webpage)

List of Edible Insects (Webpage)

Livin’ Farms (Video)

Bug Cooking (Video)

Hopper Bars (Video)

You May Be Eating Bugs Sooner than you Think (Webpage)

TED Talk: Why Not Eat Insect HERE– (Video)

Inglorious Vegetables (Video)

Fighting Obesity

Pushin’ Weight (Music Video)

Health Justice Manifesto (Video)

By Any Sweets Necessary (Music Video)

Candy Man (Music Video)

Purest Poison (Music Video)

Farm Living (Spoken Word Video)

The Corner (Spoken Word Video)

Hear No (Spoken Word Poetry)

Death Recipe (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

I Speak for the People (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Countdown  (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Product of his Environment (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Sole Mate (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Lost in Translation (Spoken Word Poetry Video)  En Español

Block ‘O Breakfast (Video)

Un Sabor De Casa (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Thin Line (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Perfect Soldiers (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Chocolate Smile (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Targets (Spoken Word Poetry Video)

Mandela Food Co-op– Healthy food where it’s hard to find (Video)

What’s on your Plate– Eating Healthy (Movie) Part 2, Part 3

DHassan’s Miracle Berries (Video) 

Lahana’s Obesity Song (Music)

Healthy Food Advertising (Webpage)

Evil KFC Ketchup (GIF)

7 Food lies (Video)

Help for the Disabled

Be My Eyes (Video)

Liftware- Eating with Tremors (Video)

Altar Ur Ego- Fashion for those in Wheelchairs (Vide0)

Valspar: Color For The Colorblind (Video)

Derby the dog: Running on 3D Printed Prosthetics (Video)

Amputee Makes History with Modular Prosthetic Limb (Video)

FingerReader- Wearable Text Reading Device for the Visually Impaired (Video)

Grit Leveraged Freedom Chair– A wheelchair made out of bicycle parts for 3rd world countries

Robot controlled by brainwaves (Video)

Ekso– Bionic walking suit for the disabled

3D Printed Prosthetic Hand (Video)

Bionic Hand gives Sense of Touch to Amputee (Video)

Nico- Overcoming Adversity (Video)

Kid-Friendly Wheelchair (Webpage)

Frail old Lady Carwash (Vine)

Lego Tortoise (Webpage)

The Collective Project: Robert Downey Jr. Delivers a Real Bionic Arm (Video)

Depict.us: Describing Website Images for the Blind (Website)

Be Right Back- Wheelchair Protest (Image)

BuzzClip- Collision detection for the blind (Video)

Keeping Kids in School

Sifteo- Make Learning Interesting

LGBT

Restroom Sign (Image)

Ireland: Support Marriage Equality (Video)

Letter from a Mom with a Gay Son (Document)

If Straight People had to Come Out (Video)

Boys Wear Skirts in Support of Transgender Classmate (Webpage)

Storybook Remix: Boy Next Door, Spoon, Superman, Elsa and Superman (Images)

In my Shoes (Video)

Mental Health

It’s OK to Need Help (Images)

Stuffed Animals for Company (Image)

Understanding Starts with Listening (Image)

Helping a Depressed Friend (Comic)

What Depression Actually Feels Like (Graphic)

Depression is a Silent Killer (Image)

Parenting and Relationships

Values.com- Inspirational Stories (Videos)

Fatherhood Involvement: Cheerleader (Video)

Fatherhood Involvement: Manicure (Video)

Fatherhood Involvement: Reunion (Video)

Fatherhood Involvement: Hide & Seek (Video)

Healthy Relationships: Love is… (Image)

Poverty

Give Back Films: $100 for Homeless (Video)

Two Sides (Poster)

Banksy’s McDonalds (Video)

Children Helping Children *Fast Forward to 14 minutes*  (Video)

Mobile Homeless Shelters of the Future (Webpage)

Homeless Air Vent  “Parasite” (Webpage)

One Sandwich at a Time (Webpage)

Banksy- Forget Change (Image)

You’re a Human Being (Image)

Unhappily Ever After- Poverty (Image)

Liter of Light (Video)

Protecting Animals

Before/After Pet Adoption (Images)

Lion Lights- Protecting animals

SMS Alert– Catching Elephant Poachers

Battle for the Elephants (Video)

San Diego Bans Pet Stores from Selling Cat & Dogs (Video)

Rescuing a Homeless Dog (Video)

How Saving a Pet Might just Save your Life (Infographic)

If you Suspect Animal Abuse (Infographic)

Dog in Hot Cars- What you can do (Infographic)

Glowing Reindeer Antlers (Image)

#Looking For You (Video)

Photos of Dogs before being Euthanized (Images)

Prisoners of Greed- Rescuing Animals from Puppy Mills (Website)

Turn off Geotag (Image)

Rhino Cam (Video)

Taste Test of Lab Grown Meat (Video)

Cultured Beef Process (Video)

Providing Clean Water/Clean Air

Mr. Toilet (Video)

The Drinkable Book (Video)

Everyone is In–   WaterForPeople (animation)  Part 2

Bottle Cops – Ending Bottled Water

Clean Water– Good.is

The WaterMill– Water From Air (Video)

Coca-Cola’s EkocCenter (Video)

PackH2O– A backpack for carrying water in 3rd world countries (Video)

QDrum– Rollable Water Transport

Aqua4- Solar Powered Water Still that Cleans waste water

Naked Portable Filter (Video)

SciGirls: Aqua Bots (Video)

Door Filter (Video)

Racism & Stereotypes

Ms. Marvel (Comic Book)

I’m Sorry, Can you see my Shoulders? (Image)

Hands Up on Newspaper (Image)

Mike Brown Protest (Image)

Team Hats (Image)

Feminist Hacker Barbie (Website)

GoldieBlocks– Girls and Science (Video) 

Reverse Racism (Feat. Aamer Rahman, Comedian) (Video) 

Ban Bossy- I’m not Bossy, I’m the Boss (Video)

Ban Bossy- Change the Story (Video)

Ban the Word “Bossy” (Website)

VH1 Revenge of the Nerds (Video)

The Caucasians (Tweet)

If We Lived In A World Where Women Catcalled Men (Video)

Cats Against Catcalls (Image)

Letter to Dick’s Sporting Goods 

Tampon Run  (Article)    Tampon Run (Game)

Women Shouldn’t – UN (Image)

It was Never a Dress– (Image)

Girl Stuff (Image)

Dear White People (Tweet)

Rebuilding after 9/11

WTC Reborn– Infographic 

Rebuilding Ground Zero (Movie)

Reproductive Rights

Vessel- Pro-Life Ship (Video) Vessel Website

ProLife.com (Video)

Saving the Environment

Earth to Paris (Video) More info Click HERE

Peecycling (Video)

Styrofoam-Eating Mealworms (Article)

Recycling Cigarette Butts (Video)

Out of Fashion- A Campaign for Forest-Friendly Fabric (Video)

What if Waste Had Worth? (Interactive Graphic) 

Puma Re-Cut Project (Video)

Recycling Snapple Bottles (Video)

Flower Bombing

RenewUS– Climate Change

BottleShare– Re-using water bottles

Earth Plants a Future- (Video)

Imagine if Trees… (Image)

Rapid Packing C0ntainer (Video)

Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility (MRF)  (Webpage)

How Does Material Recovery Work? (Animation)

Ooha Edible Packaging (Webpage)

ShellShocked- Saving Oysters to Save Ourselves (Movie Trailer) More Info Click HERE

Live Green Toronto (Images): Lowlife,  Dipstick, Selfish, Lazy, Dumb, Pig

Garbage Shoes (Video)

Banksy- I don’t Believe in Global Warming (Image)

Coca Cola- 2nd Lives (Video)

How Whales Change the Climate (Video)

Watch Your Dead Tech Get Demolished at an E-Waste Recycling Plant (Video)

The Green Lumen (Video)

Solving the Energy Crisis

Solar Freakin’ Roadways (Video)

Harvesting electricity from Lobsters– Clean Energy

Solar-Powered Ray-Bans– (Video)

sOccket– Energy Ball 

Saphon Energy– Redesigned Wind Turbine

Luci Solar Lamp

Heat People Not Buildings (Video)

Electricity by Walking (Video)

Sweatshops & Child Labor

Banksy- Child Sewing Flags (Image)

Technology: Bullying, Sexting & Privacy

Stop Phubbing (Website)

Look Up (Video)

The More we Connect, the Less we Connect- Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Big Data (Image)

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine (Video)

Chess with a Troll (Image) 

ACLU’s Jack– Government Surveillance Spoof (Video)

Banksy- Facebook Prison? (Image)

We Found the Future (Image)

Banksy- Cell Phone Love (Image)

Banksy- Flower Camera (Image)

Troll (Animation)

Lasers Against Helicopters (Image) 

Snowden: Arguing you Have Nothing to Hide (Image)

Phone Crashing (Video)

Phubbing- A Word is Born (Video)

Teen Pregnancy + Sex Ed.

The Pregnancy Project (Movie)

100 Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents (Book) ** MUST HAVE MR. LAHANA’S PERMISSION TO VIEW

Laci Green: Masturbation ** MUST HAVE MR. LAHANA’S PERMISSION TO VIEW

Consent is a Conversation (Image)

“No” Does not Mean “Convince Me” (Image)

My Clothes do not Determine my Consent (Image)

Anti-terrorism

French Bombing Security Guard (Paragraph) 

Syrian Refugees (Tweet)

Ending Child Abuse

StopAbuse- Puppet Show (Video)

Special Needs

Sesame Street and Autism: A Sibling Story (Video)

Sesame Street and Autism: Thomas’ Story (Video)

Sesame Street and Autism: Being a Supportive Parent (Video)

The Autistix– Autism Rocks! (Video)

Traffic & Safety

Dancing Traffic Traffic Light (Video)

Stay off the Tracks (Image)

Street Pong (Video)

Car-shaped Bike Rack (Image)

Ambulance that Interrupts Radio (Video)

Texting Stops (Article)

iOS Car Mode (Article)

Texting While Driving (Video)

Katasi Groove- Keeping Drivers Focused on the Road (Video)

Bass Blaze- Putting out Fires with Bass (Video)

Dinosaurs + Cars (Comic)

GPS with Child’s Voice (Video)

 

In this unit we will create a mind-blowing song about cyberbullying.  Obviously, we’ll need to create a sick beat and powerful lyrics to get the job done.  One thing to keep in mind:  everything in this unit is *optional*, meaning feel free to write a song about any issue on Techbrarian’s What’s Your Problem page. The song we create together will be hip-hoppy, but if you want to create a dubstep, rock, death metal, or whatever style song feel free.  As long as your song talks about an important social issue in a powerful way, it’s all good.

-Day 1-

 

1. Let’s begin by learning about Cyberbullying.  Go to Techbrarian’s What’s Your Problem page. Find the “BULLYING” section.  Click on some of the links to learn about this social issue.

 

-Day 2-

 

1. Now, listen to THIS song and THIS song created by Island School students about Ryan, a boy who committed suicide because of cyberbullying. 2.  For the first verse of our song we are going to pretend we are Ryan before the cyberbullying began.  Obviously, you don’t know him, so we’ll talk about someone you do know: you!  Think about 5 things you like to do. 3. Now write this in your blog:

My name is Ryan

I used to (happy thing 1)

used to (happy thing 2)

used to (happy thing 3)

used to (happy thing 4)

used to (happy thing 5)

Then the bullies came

The cyberbullies came

stomping on my heart messing with my brain

 

-Day 3-

 

1. Let’s take a break from lyric writing and start thinking about our music.  Watch this GarageBand tutorial on how to create a song and upload it to Dropbox.com.

 

Now, begin creating the music for your Cyberbullying song and record your first verse.

 

-Day 4-

 

1.  Begin by watching THIS movie called “The CyberBullying Virus“.

2. Time to write verse 2 of your cyberbullying song.  Here’s another fill-in-the-blank possibility if you’re having trouble thinking of your own:

Now the demons haunt me (place 1)
haunt me (place 2)
alone in my (place 3) just wishing I could (action word)
but i’m (sad emotion)
they call me a (bad name)
they call me a (another bad name)
girl pretends to like me
but then (how he gets dissed)
now I feel like (sad emotion)
text emails facebook stay away

Then the bullies came
The cyberbullies came
stomping on my heart
messing with my brain

3.  Now, watch the video below to see how to record your second verse using GarageBand:

 

-Day 5-

Now that we’ve shown what Ryan’s life was like before the bullying began and described the bullying that took place, it’s time to talk about the sad outcome of the bullying.  As you saw in the video, Ryan committed suicide 🙁  Unfortunately, there are many cases of suicide caused by cyberbullying.  Check out the video below to see the tragic case of Amanda Todd:

Now, let’s write the third verse of our song.  This time let’s brainstorm some ideas for lyrics.  Here are some things that come to my mind when I watched the movie about Ryan, what about you?:

Hangman’s Noose…kids calling Ryan gay…the girl pretending to like him…talking with his friend online about how to commit suicide…losing hope…no way out…can’t talk to my parents…all alone…

Use some of these ideas and your own, to write verse three about Ryan committing suicide.  Click HERE to see what I came up with.

 

Obesity is  a HUGE problem in our community. It’s about more than just a big belly.  Because of obesity, more kids and adults than ever before are getting diabetes and are living shorter lives due to heart problems, cancer, and many other diseases.  Obese people often have trouble sleeping, playing sports, and miss out on school and work because of obesity-related problems.  

It doesn’t have to be like this.  By eating healthier foods, smaller portions, and exercising more, obesity could vanish.   Sound easy?  It’s not.  The junk food companies want your money and will do whatever they can to get it.  And with more and more hours spent on the phone, watching tv, gaming, and on the Internet, people are spending way less time playing real sports and  just running around with their friends.  Something’s gotta change.  Can you be the one to do it?  In this unit we’ll be learning about obesity and remixing your maze game in order to fight against it. 

Step 1– Click on any or all of these links to learn more about obesity:

Obesity Facts (Infographic)

BrainPop: Healthy Diet (Animation) 

Yuck: A 4th grader’s documentary on school lunches (Video)

Body Mass Index Calculator (Webpage)

What 2000 Looks Like (Article)

Obesity: Complex, but Conquerable (Infographic)

NY Times Calorie Detective (Video)

Fizzy’s Lunch– Tummy Trauma (Animation)

Two Foods– Compare any 2 foods (Website)

Carbohydrates– Brainpop (Animation)

Is Junk Food Cheaper? (Article)

Calorie King– Search the calories in food (Website)

Dangers of Obesity (Infographic)

HBO’s Weight of the Nation (Movie)

Obesity Worldwide (Infographic)

What 2000 Calories Looks Like (Video)

Working off the Calories (Infographic)

Food Fury (Game)

FDA’s Nutrition Education (Webpage)

Fantastic Food Challenge (Game)

Global Fat Scale (Interactive Webpage)

Super Size Me (Movie) Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Crazy Amount of Sugar in Everyday Things (Video)

The Economic Cost of Obesity (Video)

Hidden Cost of Big Macs (Video) Courtesy of: insurancequotes.org/hidden-cost-big-mac

Hidden Cost of Soda (Video) Courtesy of: insurancequotes.org/hidden-cost-soda

Here’s the deal.  Making a serious game about a social issue isn’t easy.  So we’re going to make one together the first time around.  Later on this year, you’ll be making one by yourself.  The game we’re going to make is about obesity.  Before we get started with it, let’s create a maze game.  Once we complete the first 4 parts of the maze, we are are going to remix it into an obesity game.  Follow each tutorial by clicking below.

Maze, Part 1– Make a maze and a maze runner to go through it.   If your maze runner hits the wall, have it make a noise.

 

Maze, Part 2– If your maze runner hits the wall, have it return back to the beginning.   Create a goal for your maze runner to reach.  If it reaches it, have “You Win” appear.

Maze, Part 3– Create points (calories) and a timer.

Maze, Part 4– Create multiple levels for your maze.

 

 

Now, put your Scratch work on your blog.  Here’s how:

 

For some of you, my Choose your Own Adventure assignment is too complicated or just plain uninteresting. Below is a back to school assignment I posted in 2010. Feel free to do it instead:

Well hello there!  Welcome back to the world of blogging.  Get ready for an exciting year filled with interesting issues, fun with Photoshop, moviemaking, and Scratch programming.  Before we move ahead, though, let’s reflect back on your summer with a little game.  Here’s how it goes:

1) In a blog post, tell three stories about your summer.  Two of those stories should be true, one should be a lie.  but don’t make it an obvious lie.  Your goal is to trick everyone into thinking it’s true.

2)  Include an image for each story.  If you forgot how to add an image click HERE.

3) When you’re done, ask your neighbors for their blog addresses.   Go to each blog and leave a comment as to which story you think is the lie and why you think it’s a lie.  If you forgot how to leave a comment click HERE.

Below is my example:

by kodomut

1.  I spent the summer trying to teach Ruby her first words.  I kept trying to get her to say “Daddy”.  All day long I would repeat, “Daddy, Daddy, Daaaaaddy”.  Guess what?  Her first word:  computer!

by jackie weisberg

2.  I went to central park zoo with Ruby and my wife Amy for my birthday.  When we were about to leave, we saw a man taking a picture of his wife and baby.  Suddenly, a tree branch snapped and fell on them.  It killed the baby and the mother was severely injured.  My birthday was ruined.

by Aztec Moon Photography

3.  This summer I taught Ruby to play basketball.  She slam dunked the ball all day long!   After each hoop she made she would clap her hands.  Pretty good for a one year old!

When I was a kid, THE best books to read were Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA). Basically, you would read through the pages and be asked to make all kinds of decisions about what you wanted to happen in the story. Depending on your choice, you’d have to flip to a different page on the book. Want the robot to let the girl escape in the Ferrari? Turn to Page 100. Want the robot to eat the Ferrari? Turn to page 112. You get the idea. Flash forward to 2012 and Google Forms + your blog give you the power to publish your own! Your assignment is to create a Choose Your Own Adventure about your summer (feel free to exaggerate).
 
1. Begin by playing MY Choose your Own Adventure:
 

 
 
2. Next, watch a tutorial on how to make your own. Then make one!  
 
Quick Tips:

• Write the story as if it’s happening right now (the present tense).  For example, “a wolf is chasing you…”   NOT   “a wolf chased you”.
• Write sentences using “you” instead of “I”.  For example, “you wake up on your first day of summer…”
• If you’re stuck on how to tell your story think about what really happened, what you wish would happen, and what you hope would never happen).

 

 
 
3. Now, Watch the tutorial below for directions on how to put the final touches on your CYOA and publish it on your blog: Once you publish your CYOA, have at least 10 of your fellow students take it!
 

 
 
4. Next, watch this video to learn how to “read” the statistics created by your story. Now make a blog post describing the choices your CYOA players and what surprised you and what didn’t. :
 

 
 
5. Finally, use the rubric below to evaluate your work. If you don’t think you got all 4’s, go back and work HARDER!
 

Here’s what’s in store:

easel.ly