Thursday, October 30, 2008

World War I Report

World War I
By Nick J.
10/30/08


World War I brought many great changes all over the world. It was even called "the war to end all wars". However, the bad peace conditions brought upon Germany at the end of the war played an important role in setting up for World War II. Instead of providing lasting peace, World War I became the beginning for the unprecedented destruction from Hitler's wrath.


World War I was on a scale never before seen. The sheer loss in human lives were staggering. For example, the battle of Somme was waged for six months, all for just a few square miles of land. Over all the allies lost about 600,000 troops while the Germans lost over 650,000 troops. The total loses for the entire war were 10 million troops. Civilian losses hugely exceeded that amount.


On November 11, 1918 at about 11 am, World War I was ended. Now the difficult task of drafting a long lasting peace treaty would begin. The basis of the treaties peace negotiations were president Wilson, 14 Points. The Cental Powers were absent at the negotiations so they were forced to accept the terms of the armistice. At a large speech to congress on January 8, 1918, president Wilson outlined his vision for lasting worldwide peace. This was designed to boost the allies morale also assuring fair treatment of the Central Powers after the war.


In Wilson's preface to the 14 points he said, "We demand that the world be made fit and safe to live in ... against force and selfish aggression."


World War II report to follow soon.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Vietnam War


History Report
Vietnamese War
10-28-2008
by Nick. J
"Vietnamese War"

At the beginning the Vietnam War attracted very little attention. A lot of people knew the US had advisers in Vietnam. There seemed to be no reason to be worried. To an average American, Vietnam was nothing but a small out of the way country; of little concern. An average American probably could not even find Vietnam on a map.
The public awareness of Vietnam changed in 1965 when president Johnson deployed the first American troops to join the fight. In just a few years, the number of American troops jumped to 500,000. The Vietnam War divided America in many ways. For example; at first public opinion surveys showed that many Americans supported the war and the governmental policies that sent them to Vietnam. As the war continued though, the public came to disagree with the political decisions that kept the troops in Vietnam. Americans vigorously protested this war and showed their disdain for the service men when they came home from tour.

It was not until 1982 that veterans from the Vietnam War received true recognition for their service. On Veteran's Day that year the Vietnam veterans were dedicated in Washington D.C.. The "V" shaped wall was inscribed with 58,000 names, each belonging to one of the soldiers who gave their life. The wives and mothers of the soldiers looked for the names of their husbands and sons.

Although the Vietnam War has been over for about 20 years, we will always remember the brave soldiers that gave their lives for this country. All gave some ... some gave all.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Weekend Field Trip

Today we went to the Aviation Museum on Fort Rucker. The kids learned about the Wright brothers anf their first air plane. The got to sit in the seat of an air craft to see what a pilot would see & do. The learned about airplane parts, op stations, what soldiers would take with them to the field etc. They got to see the plane that Eisenhowser traveled in & they got to sit in a chinook ... CH47. The buckeled in & pretended the plane was taking off.


Thursday, October 23, 2008

Field Trip

We took a little trip to Aplin Farms today. our initial intent was to pick out a couple pumpkins but the place was so amazing that we ended up picking sunflowers, petting the animals, learning how to milk a cow ... it was an amazing time down on the farm. The kids showed a lot of interest in going back soon.


Create Your Own

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

End of the Semester Grades





This is how we are looking at the end of the first quarter. Not horrible but Nick is eager to get his B's to A's. He doesn't like seeing anything out of the 90's percentile. He's been feeling under the weather this week and I have noticed his grades have fallen with 3 days of seat work. I have no doubt that by the end of the 1st semester he will be an all A's student.

Lysa doesn't have a nifty computer program keeping up with her grades but she is equally doing well in her studies.

Math = 92.5% B

Science = 95.4% A

Spelling = 92% B

Language = 99% A

History = 92.5% B

Monday, October 20, 2008

United Nations Day

This week we are learning about the United Nations. Friday October 24th, marks the day that the world celebrates our unity.

This day recognized the United Nation organization and all who serve and participate in this world organization. The United Nations is dedicated to world peace and to the betterment of humanity through a wide range of program from world hunger to environment and health issues. Almost all of the more than 100 countries in the world are members of this organization.

The United States of America was admitted into the United Nations 24 October 1945.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Fall Break

This week we are taking off ... a Fall Break. Our first quarter has been completed, the kids are ahead in all of their studies and well, I like to give the kids the same days off as the public schools. I have found over the years that it's much easier to let them enjoy time with their friends instead of keeping them inside for studies while their friends are outside. This just works better for us.



Poetry is good for the Soul

In autumn when the trees are brown
The little leaves come tumbling down
They do not make the slightest sound
But lie so quietly on the ground
Until the wind comes puffing by
And blows them off towards the sky.



Keeping our hands & minds occupied with fun.


Potpourri is wonderful natural material for creating unique fall wreaths. The potpourri gets sold in bags and is available in many colors and aromas. Choose bags with larger and smaller pieces for a variety.

Instructions:
1. Wrap paper twist around the styrofoam wreath until completely covered and secure.
2. Glue fibers onto the wreath at different intervals. Then take potpourri and fill in the empty spaces until the desired look is achieved.
3. When using for the door, attach a cord to the top of the wreath.

Christopher Columbus


CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS discovered America in 1492. At least that is what all elementary school children were always taught: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Of course, Columbus never did "discover" North America, and the regions he did explore were already inhabited. He only discovered them from the viewpoint of the Europeans. Yet his first voyage did prove one thing for sure, that the earth was not only round, but that it was bigger than he had thought, Eratosthenes notwithstanding.


One of the first known celebrations marking the discovery of the "New World" by Christopher Columbus was in 1792, when a ceremony organized by the Colombian Order was held in New York City honoring Christopher Columbus and the 300th anniversary of his landing in the Bahamas. Then, on October 12, 1866 the Italian population of New York organized the first celebration of the discovery of America. Three years later, in 1869 Italians in San Francisco celebrated October 12 calling it C-Day.


To mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage, in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison made a commemorative proclamation. But it was Colorado, in 1905, that became the first state to observe a Columbus Day. Since 1920 the day has been celebrated annually, and in 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day. That's where it remained until 1971 when Congress declared it a federal public holiday on the second Monday in October.


Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1505)
Columbus, the son of a wool merchant and weaver, was born in Genoa, Italy and went to sea at the age of 14. Following a shipwreck off the coast of Portugal in 1470, he swam ashore and settled in that country.


Between 1477 and 1482 Columbus made merchant voyages as far away as Iceland and Guinea. But in 1484, his "Enterprise of the Indies" idea fell on deaf ears when he presented it to King John of Portugal. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Spain, where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella became more interested in his adventuresome ideas.


To the New World
On August 2, 1492, Columbus set sail in search of the East Indies. The voyage was financed by Ferdinand and Isabella by making the city of Palos pay back a debt to the crown by providing two of the ships, and by getting Italian financial backing for part of the expenses. The crown had to put up very little money from the treasury.


Columbus and 90 crewmen boarded the three ships that were to make the first voyage to the New World, the Niña, Pinta, and the flagship, Santa Maria. On October 12, 1492, Columbus first saw the islands of the new world, landing in the Bahamas. Later in the month, he would sail to Cuba, and to Hispaniola (now Haiti). He thought he had reached the East Indies, the islands off Southeast Asia.


Contrary to popular belief, most educated individuals in the 15th century, and especially sailors, already knew that the earth was round. What was not realized by Columbus, however, was just how big a globe it was. Columbus seriously underestimated the size of the planet.


Seaworthy Cuisine
The menu for Spanish seamen consisted of water, vinegar, wine, olive oil, molasses, cheese, honey, raisins, rice, garlic, almonds, sea biscuits, dry legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, beans, salted and barreled sardines, anchovies, dry salt cod and pickled or salted meats (beef and pork), salted flour.


Food, mostly boiled, was served in a large communal wooden bowl. It consisted of poorly cooked meat with bones in it, the sailors attacking it with fervor, picking it with their fingers as they had no forks or spoons. The larger pieces of meat were cut with the knife each sailor carried. Fish was eaten most often. On calm days, the crew would fish and then cook their catch.

Return to Spain and Additional Voyages
On Christmas Day, 1492, the Santa Maria sank off Hispaniola. Columbus departed for Spain on January 16, 1493 on the Niña, arriving there on March 4.
Columbus made three additional voyages to the New World. The second voyage set sail in September, 1493, with 17 ships. During his expeditions, he helped to colonize Hispaniola, and discovered the South American mainland. He did not, however, see mainland North America during any of his voyages.


He returned to Spain for the last time on November 7, 1504. He died at Valladolid, Spain on May 20, 1506, at the age of 55.


Controversy
Much controversy exists over Columbus' expeditions and whether or not one can "discover" an already-inhabited land. The natives of the Bahamas and other islands on his journey were peaceful and friendly. Yet many of them were later enslaved by the Spanish. Also, it is known that the Vikings explored the North American coast 500 years before Columbus.


Nevertheless, Columbus' expedition was unique and important in that it resulted in the first intertwining of Europe with the Americas, resulting in the first permanent European colonies in the New World.