Week 11 Day 2

The computers and technology doesn't work in the room. How is Mr. Rick going to teach without them?

1. So here is Mr. Rick coming to the classroom.

Mr. Rick tells us to sing "Henry the Eighth", although that is our last semester's topic and the French Revolution has nothing to do with Henry VIII. Here is all the class singing.

And then, Mr. Rick continues to sing by himself and tapping on the desk while preparing the PowerPoint.

Mr. Rick opens the projector in the ceiling with the "Noodle". This styrofoam tube gets played by another student when Mr. Rick is preparing the PowerPoint. Mr. Rick says he looks like a samurai.

Unfortunately, like usual, this classroom's technology doesn't work! The PowerPoint in the computer won't open at all. Mr. Rick has to teach with the textbook for the meantime, while another student gets the "IT Person" to help fix the problem.

Okay. He was very quick.

After messing a bit with the computer, which included restarting the computer, the PowerPoint eventually was able to work. Hooray!

Mr. Rick continues the lecture with the topic "Did the French Support the Revolution? Part 2".

2. Again like last class, a revolution can happen when there is a misery. Then a person takes this advantage to fix the problem, but using the very wrong way. King Louis XVI has been executed, and the people to rule the country that time are the Jacobins (Sans-Culottes are also part of the Jacobins). Each region in France is ruled by one Jacobin leader. And these people are very bad guys in Power.

People began to hate the Jacobins. They were pressuring the people. Killed nearly anyone, who are against the revolution, support the revolution, being too revolutionary or not being revolutionary enough. (HAHAHA!) The Clergy were being asked to follow the government, not the Pope. That's why the Clergy were in hiding. 

Girondins are people who are against the Revolution. They don't want this type of government, and want to find better ways to make the constitution more fair. There were other people as well. The Nobility were divided into three, Citizen Nobles who supported the Revolution (pretended, actually), Emigres who went out of the country to ask help from other countries and other nobles who had to lie low to stay alive. The Middle Classes too, and the Peasants. The peasants thought because the King was dead and the church was gone, they could buy the land and get some riches. But the government didn't sell it to them because the government thought they didn't have enough money. So the peasants became angry.

There was a person named Jean Paul Marat. He was a doctor and he set up a practice here. Then, the revolution came and people were asked to take sides. He chose the Jacobins side and also killed many people. He then stopped his practice and published a newspaper talking bad about the aristocracy. Of course the people went mad, so he had to run away. He stayed in the sewers. Because a long time ago the sewers were not kept hygiene, he developed a sickness called "Prurigo". He has to wrap his skin with a cloth dipped in vinegar and have Vinegar baths so that he will feel less pain.

Mr. Rick asked to Google that up, and the blog author has to kindly put the picture on the blog...

Picture from: http://www.patienthelp.org/diseases-conditions/prurigo-nodularis.html

There is another side of the story. Charlotte Corday doesn't like the way the Revolution is becoming, and she decided to kill Marat. Marat was taking his regular Vinegar baths at home, that made him easy to find.

3. Then, it is time for the teachers to teach! Mr. Rick reads the teachers for today. Then it is teaching time!

We get the teacher for today. Here...

Apparently the PowerPoint won't open on his laptop, so he has to use Mr. Rick's PowerPoint. (See... Every technology doesn't work in this room!) Here is Mr. Rick grading the teachers...

And then after the teachers were done, the class ends. Next week, we will continue the LdLs.

4. What we can do better is to listen to the teacher well. And also, no one is perfect, we should find something to improve everyday... right???

Week 11 Day 1

Today is the start of the new LdL 3. We get the first teachers to teach today.

1. Mr. Rick is always late, so he has to pay infractions. Unfortunately, the "professional photographer" of this blog was very tired to take photos, she forgot to take photos of the the first part of the lesson. When she realizes that, the photo is Mr. Rick setting up the PowerPoint.

After setting up the PowerPoint, he calls another student and reminded her about submitting her assignments because she doesn't submit her assignments. Then, Mr. Rick reads out the LdL 3 teachers for today. Again, there will be much little pictures than usual, so be aware of that. 
Now, Mr. Rick will begin the lecture. He will teach about "Did the French Support the Revolution? Part 1".

2. Here is Mr. Rick teaching...

The thing that creates the revolutions are people. People take advantage of the misery they are having now (French revolution's example would be lack of bread), and they come through that and do something wrong (like, they will say that the lack of bread would be the King's fault). And then, because everyone is just so miserable they would believe it. Then revolutions happen. Just like that!

We can compare it to other places. Other time's revolution, like the Russian Revolution, World War 1 or World War 2. Mr. Rick talked about the Nazis, and how are they going to be successful. Mr. Rick said about a 4.5 kilometer long hotel with 10 000 rooms they're making and out of curiosity the blog author decides to take a look and here is what she found...

Picture is from: http://www.sickchirpse.com/nazi-hotel-photos/2/ (I don't know if this is the original author, but thanks for the pictures!)

Now back to topic. There were people who supported the revolution, people who didn't support the revolution and people who didn't care at all. One of the people who supported the revolution is the Sans-Culottes. The meaning of Sans-Culottes is "without knee-breaches". Knee breaches are those tight pants that the aristocracy wear that ends just after your knee and is covered with socks. So, yes it might look weird now, but girls who wear a skirt that has some sort of pants inside is called a Culottes!

These people were the third estates who don't like the upper class. They don't afford clothes like the rich, so instead of Culottes they wear long pants. It also means that they don't like the rich people, and so if they do wear it the rich people would get confused as well. What they basically want is to have the right to vote for things (as these were only for people who had money) and have fixed prices for staple food (basic food like bread and salt). They also are under Robespierre and killed a lot of people.

This is only part one, so the next part will be on next class.

3. Mr. Rick stopped teaching and ask us to do our LdLs. The teacher is the photographer for this blog, so she wasn't able to photo herself, so here is one examples of the slides.

Then after that, Mr. Rick told us about the way we teach. Here is Mr. Rick...

There were people in other classes teaching about other topics. Here our topic is about the one above, but they kept talking about "The Storming of the Bastille." Mr. Rick says that even though we have to research well and also teach with depth, we also need to stay in topic and not go off topic. Mr. Rick also reminds us about Battlefield Academy, if anyone has managed level 2. Most were not done, as it is a very hard strategy game. This game is actually about thinking critically. It will help in the Cambridge Exams, and it needs us to think.

Now, the class ends. Tomorrow is the continuation of Part 2!

4. What we can do better next time is to listen carefully to the ones who are presenting in front. If the person is boring, don't complain, make it more interesting by asking some questions. Rarely we ask questions, so we must have some BHQs (Big Hairy Questions) for the presenter! 

Week 10 Day 2

We have a test today in Schoology. Good luck everyone!

1. Mr. Rick came in late to class. (Again!)

Today is the Schoology quiz. So everyone must have their computers fully charged and strong internet signal to do this quiz. Nobody should look around to their sides, and hands on the computers. If you are done, close your computer. Here is the test...

It's not available yet, to prevent other people who have not taken the test to take some answers. Everyone does their test well. Here is a picture taken during the test (not allowed actually, but for blog purposes)...

And now the test is done! Everyone has done better this time, rather than that test before, where everyone just got around 50 out of 100. This time people got higher scores, so their test averages got up. The highest average score is 79. (Yes, blame it on the test before.)
Now Mr. Rick tells us to finish the game called "Battlefield Academy". Here is Mr. Rick...

That's the very hard strategy game that looks something like this... (And the blog author is just about to give up)

Luckily Mr. Rick tells us about a strategy. It was made by Mr. Rick's old students. The student made a good strategy for this game. Actually, if we had been playing this when we were in Grade 6, we would have played this for a year! This is Mr. Rick telling the strategy... (Forgive the tilted picture, the picture was taken with the laptop on the photographer's lap because other people were blocking the way of the photo)

The strategy is to protect the gates and find the weaknesses of the enemy. Everyone then plays the game. But the time is very little so the game got cut off. The class ends! Next week we have our normal LdLs again.

2. What we can do better is to be quiet during the test. Even though we are whispering and no one can hear us, it still disturbs and can have the chance being caught by the teacher on cheating. If the other person talking to you is disturbing you on the test, shut him up. And if you are talking during the test, stop talking! 

Week 10 Day 1

We are in Week 10 already! Tomorrow is a test, so we must prepare. Mr. Rick gave us a video to watch!

1. Mr. Rick came to class late and had to pay for the infractions.

After that, Mr. Rick told us about our Schoology assignments. Some have done their work, some haven't. Mr. Rick reads out to the people who haven't done their work. It is too late to submit now, actually, a week ago. They will get zeroes on their assignments. Mr. Rick gives the average score to people who want it read out.

To prepare for our test, Mr. Rick gives us the materials on what to study. The materials are from the questions that the groups have made. Mr. Rick reads out the good questions, and we have to type them down so we can study and know the answer. This is Mr. Rick...

And some of the questions!

And now... Video time!

2. We watch a video called "History Bites". This video tells us about what if the French Revolution was in television. And the video was educational and funny. A few photos...

3. After the video is done, Mr. Rick tells us to form study groups.

Study groups is studying the topic with your group, by quizzing each other, and helping others when they don't understand something. Everyone should help one another prepare for the test. Unfortunately the time is very limited to do this, so the class ends. I hope we do better on this second test!

4. What we can do better is to participate on the lesson. So we actually hear and listen to what is in front of the class. And we also need to discuss and communicate to help each other and remind each other. 

Week 9 Day 2

Today we have Tech Time... Again! We are done with the teachings, and we are ahead of every other class!

1. When Mr. Rick comes in the class, all the computers in the class don't work. This is Mr. Rick trying to fix all the computers...

He says like... there is something or someone comes into the class and breaks everything. Like Monster's Inc. movie, where they go through a closet. He thinks that the trash can is the teleport thing. 

Because the projector is on top of the ceiling, Mr. Rick can't reach it. So he takes a styrofoam tube to turn it on. He says that a long time ago he calls it "Noodles" or something. Then he throws it to another student, and then all the students react.

So Now! Let's get to work. Mr. Rick opens the computer to his PowerPoint. Here it is...

As soon as Mr. Rick start teaching, a student calls out and says that he has taught that subject before. Then he realizes, asks the class, and everyone says yes. For me personally, I don't think we've discussed about that person called Robespierre, but we'll go on with it. So Mr. Rick says we can relax a bit.

He asks us to form study groups. We are asked to quiz each other. Well, here is the group discussing. 

And the other groups discussing...

Mr. Rick talks about the blog. Why the only blog that gets sent is this blog, Puncake History Blog, and not the others. So he asks everyone to add his Google+ and link the blog to your G+ account. Here is Mr. Rick adding everyone he knows...

Then it is the end of class. Hooray!

2. What we can improve is to be honest. And not to be afraid to tell the truth. Actually, the class isn't done with all the teaching, and everyone just agrees because they want to have tech time. Next time, we need to tell the truth, because it is the right thing to do!

Week 9 Day 1

Today Everyone must be done with their LdL and submissions in Schoology. If they haven't submit, they might get Zero!

1. Mr. Rick is going to start the lesson.

Mr. Rick open www.timer-tab.com for no reason?

Okay, well. So first things, first! We have the infractions. Everyone pays infractions if they break the rules. If they choose not to pay, they will get demerit. If a student doesn't pay, they can pay next time or get a demerit. The money from infractions will be put for a Pizza Party!

Then, Mr. Rick checked the submissions for the Portfolio assignments we did after the IT based quiz. Some people haven't submitted. It is too late to submit now, the assignment is closed. The way is to tell your parents to give a letter with their signature about why you can't complete the assignment. Or else, you will get a zero on the assignment. Here is Mr. Rick...

Now, Mr. Rick is going to start the Lecture. Here is the PowerPoint. 

There are three topics to cover, but Mr. Rick only finish one topic, "Why did the French Execute their King?". The rest is for the others to teach. Here is Mr. Rick Teaching... 

And here is the group taking down notes with their computers.

2. There are the seven deadly sins, which can poison you and you cannot be cleared without the help of God. It affects the whole idea of life, and it may take years to clean. 
So, like that, when you sin it comes back to you. If you make a revolution against the government, you commit treason. Now we can find the similarities between King Louis XVI's trial and King Charles I's in Britain trial that happened a hundred years ago. The people were taking over the government, only it is the people that are taking over the government, and want Liberty. 
In the trial, the judges are from the revolutionary government. If they were from the King, of course they will support the King instead! So the revolutionary government were made sure that people don't disagree with this. And in the end the King was executed, along with the Queen too.

3. After the Lecture, there was not many people going to teach this last LdL, so Mr. Rick told the ones who haven't did the LdL to come up to the front to teach to everyone. There was not many willing, only one person. Here...

He taught quite short, but was asked to make it longer by Mr. Rick. Then it took very long to explain everything, and finally Mr. Rick had to cut him off.

The next thing because we still had time, we are going to build an exam! We have to make multiple choice questions for the whole people to answer. 

Here is our questions, but because we are in a hurry we don't quite have the time to think.

Then the class ends. Tomorrow is another History Class.

4. What we can do better is to listen and respect others while they are talking. So, not doing something else but taking down important notes. We must respect the one who is trying hard to talk in front!