Mr. Katz's Webpage http://avoca37.org/katzr Just another avoca37.org weblog Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:25:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Publish Your “Year in Review” Rap! http://avoca37.org/katzr/2011/12/11/publish-your-year-in-review-rap/ http://avoca37.org/katzr/2011/12/11/publish-your-year-in-review-rap/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:04:28 +0000 katzr http://avoca37.org/katzr/?p=459 Eighth Grade, here's an opportunity to get some of your work published for all the world to see!  The folks at Flocabulary, who produce the weekly hip-hop summary of the news that we watch on Fridays, have joined with the New York Times to sponsor a "Year in Rap" contest.  Go here for more information, and be sure to read the Contest Rules and the Rubric.  Also, the Lesson Plan might give you some really good ideas.

Sign your rap with only your first name and last initial, followed by "MMS-Avoca37".  If you work in a team, include the first names and last initials of all contributors.

The deadline is January 6, so start rappin'!

(P.S. Let Ms. Stewart or me know if you would like us to read your rap before you submit it--we'll be happy to do so!)

]]> http://avoca37.org/katzr/2011/12/11/publish-your-year-in-review-rap/feed/ 0 Powers of Congress http://avoca37.org/katzr/2011/03/16/powers-of-congress-3/ http://avoca37.org/katzr/2011/03/16/powers-of-congress-3/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:27:10 +0000 katzr http://avoca37.org/katzr/?p=334 Did you ever think: What would I do without Congress? Here is a 1947 “short” about the powers of Congress. Watch it prior to the upcoming Constitution Test as a good review of Article I, Section 8.

By the way, did you know that this was made before most people had televisions? Shorts like this one were regularly shown at movie theaters before the “feature” film. Movie-goers would have seen this educational short about Congress before such popular 1947 movies as “Miracle on 34th Street” or “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”–two of my favorites. (Not! I wasn’t even born yet!)

Another interesting aspect to this short is how similar it is to “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the famous feel-good film by Frank Capra. In fact, don’t you think that the lead character in this short film about Congress looks an awfully lot like Jimmy Stewart? And if you’re a fan of German Expressionism, this is right up your alley. It’s pretty weird. Turn your speakers on and take a look…

Download the Powers of Congress—worksheet for film and take notes while you're watching, then click the link below to open the film.

Film: Powers of Congress

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