Give Thanks!

I'm giving thanks for my brainiacs!
Post a comment here and receive extra credit.

What's Due

• I-Search projects and PSAs are due and worth a total of 150 points.
• Your blogs will be graded for the 2nd marking period. Post links to both your I-Search project and PSA on your blogs and complete all required postings.
• Independent reading projects. Remember them? They are due before the end of the semester.

Reflecting on What We Have Learned

Aim: How do we answer the essential questions now? 

Do Now: Give thanks on your blog!

During this very short week, you should be completing your PSA on brain science. What is the important message you want to deliver to your audience? Here is the rubric by which you'll be graded. You may work in groups. The presentation is worth a total of 50 points.

It might be helpful to consider the enduring understandings and essential questions of this unit.

  Enduring Understandings

Use it or lose it. Brains are fragile and at the same time amazingly adaptable. Train your brain: Just as you can increase your physical power with exercise, you can increase your intellectual abilities with thinking. Essential Questions How much of our brain function are we born with and how much do we learn? How can/do we re-wire our brains at times of crisis and challenge? What is the relationship between our brains and our minds? How do our brains and/or minds define us as individuals? Are you convinced of the enduring understandings? Are they messages you will always remember? How have your answers to the essential questions changed since we first began this unit? Final Reflection: To close out this unit, put your thoughts into at least two paragraphs about what you have learned and its significance to you personally in a reflection on your blog. Don't forget to give some context for readers who are not familiar with this course.

Friday Self-Assessment

Aim: How do we identify an important message about brain science?  Do Now: Read below the (national) Common Core Standards you were expected to meet this week and assess your performance on your blog. Then compare and contrast your own expectations for yourself to the Common Core Standards. When you have completed your self-assessment, go back to the posting for 11-20-13 and proceed with creating your PSA. Common Core Standards ·        CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. · CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation. · CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks. · CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.5 Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. · CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grades 11–12 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)

We Pause for a Public Service Announcement

Aim: How do we collaborate to create a PSA on the care and feeding of your brain?

Do Now: What are some important facts you have learned about your brain through your studies in this course. Put it on a Post-it.

PSAs (public service announcements) are free advertisements or commercials that bring important information or advice to the public. Watch this PSA from 1987:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub_a2t0ZfTs

Now that your research is completed, it’s time to get the word out about brain science and the importance of caring for your brain. Brainstorm with the class on what important information you have learned so far in this course. Work together to create a PSA advertising that information. It doesn’t have to be long. You should be able to get the message out in a minute or less.

Step 1: Decide on your message. What’s an important message about brain science that the public needs to know?

Step 2: Decide on a format. There are several ways to get your message out:

·          Video: You can easily shoot a video with your cell phone or on your computer.

·          Podcast: A podcast is an audio recording. Check out Audioboo or SoundCloud

·          Presentation: Make a PowerPoint, sliderocket or Prezi. If you choose this option, you’ll have to present it!

Step 3: Collaborate with your class or team to write a script for your presentation.

Step 4: Shoot, record, and present!

Final Reflection: Have you ever been persuaded by a PSA? Tell us about it.