Tuesday, April 26, 2011

SF Write #2

The year is still 2061. Your alter ego is downtown in what today we would call Olympia, Washington. Your piece begins with your alter ego at a specific location downtown. Describe the location and what your alter ego is doing there. Your alter ego will then make his or her way through the city to a second location. Describe people they see, modes of transportation, and the city itself: buildings, structures, etc. Finally, describe the destination your alter ego reaches. Your alter ego must purchase something at this destination. Describe what they purchase and how much it costs.

Like SF Write #1, SF Write #2 is a descriptive piece. It doesn’t need any more plot than what is given above. However, the piece must be consistent with SF Write #1.

SF Write #2 is due Wednesday, May 4. It must be typed and conform to Mr. Gacek’s standards for typed papers.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Geo Quiz #37: Canada Capitals

Edmonton, Victoria, Winnipeg, Fredericton, St. John's, Halifax, Charlottetown, Ottawa, Quebec, Regina, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Iqaluit.

Geo Quiz #36: Canada Provinces and Territories

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, Nunavut.

A blank map of Canada can be found here.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Recommended Science Fiction Films and Series

 These films and tv programs are generally appropriate for a middle school audience.  R-rated films have been excluded.

Films:
Avatar (2009)
Wall-E (2008)
Serenity (2005)
Minority Report (2002)
AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
The Iron Giant (1999)
Back to the Future (1985)
Explorers (1985)
E.T. (1982)
Star Wars (1977)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

TV Series:
Fringe (2008-present)
Lost (2004-2010)
Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)
Firefly (2002)
The X-Files (1993-2002)
Star Blazers (1979-1984)
Star Trek (1966-1969)
The Outer Limits (1963-1965)
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Friday, April 15, 2011

Masdar: Futuristic City


Ouroussoff, Nicolai.  "In Arabian Desert, a Sustainable City Rises."  New York Times.  25 September 2010.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

SF #1


The year is 2061. Your alter ego is attending school in what today would be called Olympia, Washington. Describe a day at school for your alter ego. The narration must be in the first person. Your letter must contain the following:
  1. 5 adverbs, underlined
  2. Description of the physical school itself
  3. Description of at least one class
  4. Description of at least one teacher
  5. Opinion of the narrator of the effeciveness of the school
This piece must be at least a page in length. It should follow Mr. Gacek's standard requirements for typed papers.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Geo Quiz #35: Caribbean

Countries: Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica.
U.S. Territory: Puerto Rico.
Capitals: Nassau, Havana, Port-Au-Prince, Santo Domingo, Kingston, San Juan.

Geo Quiz #34: Central America

Countries: Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaraguea, Panama.
Capitals: Mexico City, Belmopan, San Jose, San Salvador, Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, Managua, Panama City.