A few weeks ago I watched the video above and it got me thinking.  Last year, we blogged about blood diamonds and sweatshops.  We learned how these people work for little money and under the constant threat of being hurt or deported.  We even discovered that companies like  Forever 21 use slave labor in Los Angeles to create their merchandise.  What we didn’t talk about was child labor:  the fact that many companies use children to create their goods. Below is a link to a video game called Sweatshops that I’d like you to play.  In order to play it, you need to sign up by clicking HERE.  Once logged in, find “Attend Course.” Paste the code: LTQJS2J.   Finally, click “Start”.  The site has lots of games, but they cost money.  Once you sign up, only the Sweatshops game will have the word Play in green.

After you finish playing the game, answer these questions in your blog:

1) What was the game about?  Who were the characters?

2) Pretend you are Raihan, the factory owner. Argue in favor of child labor.

3) Pretend you are Michael Badesha. Argue against child labor.

** BONUS **

What can you (yes you!) do to help stop child labor? 

Imagine if you could write an email to yourself that you would get 20 years from now. What would you say to yourself?

Write an answer to these questions in you blog:

1) What is your life like now? What’s it like at home? At school? With your friends?

2) What do you hope your life will be like in 20 years? Where will you live? What will your profession be?

–> After you write your post, email it to yourself 20 years from now by going to FutureMe.org

Game design in Scratch lets you use your imagination and mathematical skills to create amazing things.  However, Scratch in not great for looking at the bigger picture: game design principles.  Game design principles are the best ways to design a game so that it’s easy to use, entertains, and challenges people.  A website called Gamestar Mechanic is all about that.  Through SUPER FUN activities, you learn many of the principles of game design.  

For this assignment you need to:

1. Sign up for an account by clicking HERE.

2. Complete Missions 1-3.

3.  Each game you played in GameStar Mechanic was designed to teach you a game design principle.  Look over these game design principles.   Describe at least three principles  you saw in the games you played.

 

** EXTRA CREDIT **  Complete all the Quests.  The more you complete, the more credit you get in class.  You may play Gamestar Mechanic until the end of the school year!

1. Begin by reading a story about a friend losing his friends to weed by clicking HERE.

2. Next visit the site  Above The Influence and NIDA For Teens.  Write a blog post about why smoking weed isn’t a good idea (even though every other music video says it is).

3.  Pretend you are a teacher. Write a story about discovering one of your students is stoned in class.

 

** EXTRA EXTRA CREDIT:  Make a Prezi about Marijuana.

Scratch Skills

ESanchez, WCruz, ALin, TTang, RPurrone, TSebelen, ASanchez,

Gnarly 911 Memorials

YEscalara, JCapellan, JColon, TArnold, NBegum, AOrtega, ALin, TTang,

WNunez, KHernandez, GRobinson, MGarrick, TGolson, JRodriguez, EBrann,

Trash Talk Prezis

Serious about Sports

JAlmonte, JaGary, KSimon, RCollado, IBarron, JCarter

Sizzling SketchUps

MCordero, GUdechi, TTang, AnLin, GMeixuiero, GMeixuiero,

DCastillo, JMohammed, JMejia, DHernandez, GRobinson,

Music with Swagger

SWood and ARosado, TTunn,  EColon, DVelez, EBarron,

SWood and ARosado, WLi, TSloan and JoGary, JeGary, XWood, and AWalker,

Radical Random Posts

AJimenez, RDewberry, Ecolon, KPonceDeLeon, JRoman, CDiaz,

CDiaz, RDewberry, AOrtega, TTang, TSebelen, AJimenez,CWatts, JColon,

JColon,  DHassan, KPonceDeLeon and JDelacruz, JRoman, BTaforo, LToro,

TGolson, YEscalara, EBerlanga, JGao, FWitherspoon,

Gorgeous Google Logos

DCosme, , CMorgan

Man Vs. Machine and Squashing Plagiarism

DHassan, MFortune, ALin

1.  Watch Garbage Part 5 by clicking HERE.

2. Next, look over everything you’ve written in your Prezi.  Write out at least 5 interview questions you could answer as an expert in garbage.  Now, using Photo Booth, have a partner interview you using your questions.

1.  Watch Garbage Part 4 by clicking HERE.

2. Continue adding ideas and questions to your Prezi.  Please include some of these processes in your Prezi:

a) Follow garbage from when it is picked up on the street until it reaches the landfill.

b) Show what happens to garbage when it reaches the landfill all the way until it becomes power to homes.

c) Show how a garbage recycling facility works (how it sorts the recyclables).

d) Follow recycled paper from garbage to pizza box.

1. Watch Part 3 of Garbage by clicking HERE

2. Continue adding ideas and questions to your Prezi.  Click HERE for some images I collected related to trash.

** BONUS **

3. Click HERE to learn more about the North Pacific Gyre.  Write a post about what you’ve learned.

1.  Watch Part 2 of Garbage by clicking HERE.

2. Go to your Prezi and continue to brainstorm about what you’ve learned (especially how new landfills are made) and questions you still have.  Click HERE for some images I collected related to trash.

** Bonus **

In your Prezi, use your own words to answer the following questions:

a)  How is GPS used in landfills?

b) What is Leachate?

c) What is biodegredation and what valuable resource does it provide from landfills?