Youth Day At The Capitol Training
On February 22nd, Pleasanton students planning to participate in the March 15th “Youth Day At the Capitol” connected to several professionals via distance learning.
Anchorage, AK Connections
On Monday, February 22nd, Pleasanton sixth graders connected via Skype to Stacy Schmitz, Pleasanton High School graduate, located in Anchorage, Alaska. Stacy is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Dental College, and is working as a dentist in Anchorage. Students were able to ask questions, and respond to Stacy in a face to face conversation via Skype. Students are asked to reflect upon the conversation and share what they learned.
Kigluait Race Ready: Iditarod Race
The Iditarod Race in Alaska occurs across a 1,000 mile trek of true wilderness, taking 10 days to finish. Pleasanton sixth graders connected via distance learing to the Kigluait Educational Adventures Program in Talkeetna, Alaska. The videoconference demonstrated the preparation a musher and dog sled team must encounter as they plan for the Iditarod. Sixth graders, along with students from Ohio and New Jersey, talked to a teenage musher, Charlie, who placed tenth in the Junior Iditarod and seventh in a 110 mile dog sled race for adults. Students will be participating in a ‘virtual race‘ online and an additional videoconference. Students are asked to comment on what they have initially learned. Video clips of a practice run for a dog sled can also be seen.
Alabama Connections
Pleasanton sixth and seventh graders have been able to connect from classroom to classroom in Eufaula, Alabama using Skype, a software downloaded to a computer. Seventh graders connected in December while sixth graders are connecting during February, 2010. Students have researched information about Eufaula in regards to the city, the economy, and jobs available. Students are asked to identify at least ten things they have learned, either through online research of from the various connections to Mr. Mckemy’s sixth or seventh grade class. By reviewing the pictures you find, or by looking at the city’s website, you can also describe the climate, geography, topography, and architecture, or students can identify the differences / similarities between the two communities, schools, or students in Eufaula and Pleasanton. 
Alaska Connections
Please review Mr. Barthelman’s Blog. Mr. Barthelman teaches fifth graders in Quinhagak, Alaska. You can also view another Alaska Blog detialing a trip to Alaska this past summer. Your assignments – Log into the ‘comments’, please identify five unique characteristics of Quinhagak, Alaska, that would make their community much different than Pleasanton, Nebraska. In addition, identify two similarities of Quinhagak and Pleasanton. In addition, using wikipedia, identify the following:
1) Describe the geography surrounding Quinhagak.
2) Describe three thing ‘demographics’ about Quinhagak.
3) Explain the economy of Quinhagak
Using the ‘King Salmon Drying‘ website, please explain the history of Quinhagak.
How is the weather in Quinhagak different than Pleasanton?
Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
Pleasanton sixth graders connected via distance learning to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY today. The Hall of Fame website provides many links to their resources, artifacts, and displays, including information about Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, and others. Sixth graders participated in an hour long “Batter Up” lesson, focusing on the use of math in computing batting averages. Students used computers to calculate batting averages, slugging percentages, and other baseball statistics. The group also divided into two teams competing to answer questions about baseball statistics. Each student chose to answer a question worth a single, double, triple, or home run. Three wrong answers represented three outs. Examples of questions: 1) Willie Mays had 195 hits in 585 bats. What was his batting average? 2) Has a woman ever played baseball in the major leagues? How many years did it take for a woman to first play in the minor leagues, since the beginning of major league baseball? 3) Calculate the difference in age between the major league’s youngest pitcher and oldest pitcher in history.
Sixth grade students are asked to identify at least three things they learned from the “Batter Up” video conference activity from the Baseball Hall of Fame.
U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
On November 30, students in grades nine through twelve participated in a distance learning video conference with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. This memorial marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors killed on the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 by Japanese imperial forces. The attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oʻahu was the action that led to United States involvement in World War II. The memorial, dedicated in 1962 and visited by more than one million people annually, spans the sunken hull of the battleship without touching it. Since it opened in 1980, the National Park Service has operated the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center associated with the memorial. Historical information about the attack, boat access to the memorial, and general visitor services are available at the center. The sunken remains of the battleship were declared a National Historic Landmark on 5 May 1989.
Schools also participating in this video conference were Central City High School, Santee High School, and Bancroft – Rosalie High School. The Durham Museum in Omaha made the arrangements for the conference through a bridge connection at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Pleasanton students are asked to summarize what they learned from the event in the “comments” at this site. Students can summarize information gained from the presentation on what it was like to be a World War II soldier, the patriotism of World War II Veterans, the training of soldiers prior to World War II, or what was learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pleasanton seventh graders participated in a distance learning video conference with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio today. The hour long presentation focused on “Careers in the NFL”, with an attempt to encourage each seventh grade to set high academic goals, and complete a college education. Several NFL careers were identified in the presentation: web design, business, marketing, advertising, ticket sales, event scheduling, grounds upkeep, hospitality, landscape design, event production, team physician, athletic training, security, food service, team statistics, and security. Students are asked to make at least a four sentence comment, reflecting on: 1) What advice was given as you choose a future career? 2) What can you do to prepare for your career? 3) What did you enjoy / learn from the Pro Football Hall of Fame presentation?
Ben Franklin’s Reflection On The U.S. Constitution
Ben Franklin has been considered America’s most beloved Founding Father who signed all four of the key documents that established our Republic. His life was a showcase of patriotism, community service, life-long learning, and scientific achievement. Therefore, it was fitting that Ben Franklin re-enactor Chris Lowell, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, present his “Ben Franklin Live” Chautauqua-style performance to students in celebration of Constitution Day in Nebraska. His presentation, September 14th included two presentations:
The high school presentation originated from ESU#10 while the elementary school presentation originated from Windy Hills Elementary School in Kearney.
Pleasanton’s fourth, fifth, and sixth graders particpated in this event. Mr. Lowell, reenacting Ben Franklin, made his presentation from Kearney to Pleasanton students, as well as students in Loup City and Hershey Public Schools.
Those who viewed the Ben Franklin re-enactment, please answer any three of the following:
1) How did Ben Franklin contribute to the beginning and development of the United States?
2) Describe the goals, philosophy, or attitude of Mr. Franklin.
3) How did Mr. Franklin challenge his audience to make life worthwhile?
4) Describe Mr. Franklin’s contributions to a U.S. / France friendship.
5) What contributed to Ben Franklin’s outlook in life, based on his growing up experiences?
6) How would you describe Mr. Franklin’s skills in expressing his opinions, views, or belief?
Orphan Train Storytelling
Pleasanton Fourth Graders participated in a distance learning connection, May 7th, with the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, Nebraska for it’s annual ‘StoryTelling’ Festival. Storyteller, Pippa White, retold the many experiences and stories of orphans traveling to Nebraska. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes. Some were adopted by loving families; others were not as fortunate. Pleasanton Fourth Graders made the following comments to summarize what they learned.
