Poll

I just added one last poll to the blog, is you want to check that out. It would be cool to have your opinion. Thanks!

Updates, Updates, Updates

The due date is just around the corner. This weekend our whole group is buckling down to finish our independent pieces and to finish editing the videos. We'll have a bunch of stuff to post by Tuesday, if everything goes according to plan. If so, this will probably be one of my last posts, since the project is ending soon. We've got a lot to do, but we're all working hard, and I think it will pay off in the end.

Keep checking the blog to see the outcome of our project, and some of the work that we've done.

Progress Report # 11

Our project is almost over! We're almost done with our creative pieces, that's mainly our focus at the time, as well as editing our how-to and modern problem videos. We should have them posted very soon! WE have a classroom presentation of our project, a school presentation, and one group will also be picked to present for the district. Keep reading for more updates!

Progress Report # 10

We've finished recording the how-to video except for one scene that we have to redo. Other than that all we have to do to finish the video is edit it. We'll be sure to post the video as soon as it is finished, which should be sometime this week, but won't be any later than my update post next Monday.

Our next task is to film our modern problem video. We've finished the script, so now we have to film it and then edit that. We'll also post that on the blog after we have finished it.

Another task that we have to complete is each of our individual components, which should be creative pieces incorporating the topics that we studied in our individual reading.

Thanks for still reading the blog! Keep checking to see what we've added.                                                                                                                        

Progress Report # 9

Sorry my post is a little late! We finished video taping our how to video. It gave some background info about the guitar, told the parts of the guitar, and taught how to play a song. We'll post the video on the blog as soon as it is all edited! Coming next is a video comparing the past to a modern problem, and our group decided to use slavery as our modern problem, because that played a role in some revolutions such as Haiti. Toussaint Louverture actually led slave revolts, and had once been a slave himself.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on our deadlines and what's coming next! Keep reading!

Updates

We decided that building a cardboard guitar might be too much, so we're thinking instead we might teach people how to play a song in our how to video. I'll keep you posted on our final decision.

New Poll!

Be sure to check out the new poll I posted!

Progress Report # 8

Our next group project is to create a how to video explaining how to do something relating to our time period. Our group is planning on explaining how to build a guitar. We will be using a sturdy cardboard, not wood. This week we have a lot of planning due, including a script for our video. We are going to have to learn more about guitar building to complete our video, but I think we can pull it off.

It was Brendan's idea, because he was studying inventions and innovations, and learned that a guitar was an important part of Latin American culture. He thought it would be cool if our group tried to build one. I'm excited about the idea, I'll be sure to keep giving you updates! Read again soon!

Progress Report # 7

On Thursday we are having a mock teen trial with members of some of the other capstone groups. It's going to be really awesome, I'll report back about how it went and maybe post some picks that were taken during the trial. I'll see what ends up working out the best.

There's a lot of planning going on right now. On Thursday we have to pick a topic for our how to video, where we teach people how to do something from our time period. We also have to agree on a modern problem that we can use in a video that ties things that happened in the past to what is happening now, and figures out how we can use past solutions to help remedy those problems.

We have a lot of work going on right now since the whole project is due April 23rd. Keep reading to see what we do next!

Progress Report # 6

Right now our capstone group is planning our seminar lesson, and we are planning on having a mock teen court trial, because that is one of the things we read about in our seminar. We also read about how the court is publicized, and how it was an important part of the Declaration of Independence.

Other than that we are just finishing up research and preparing ourselves for the next part of the project. Keep reading to see what happens next!

Poll

Hey, just wanted to let you know I posted a poll. Be sure to take it!

Don't Forget

Not all of my posts are pictured on my page. Don't forget that if you want to see some of the older things I've posted, like information about Toussaint Louverture or a cool video about Simón Bolívar, there is a link you can use at the bottom of the page. Keep reading!

Progress Report # 5

Now that our individual research is done our group is more focused on bringing our project together as a whole. I'm happy with the way our group is working together, I think we're good at communicating, and we make sure everybody is staying on top of their work so that no one gets behind. One of our tasks this week was to read and article and give a lesson to our class, and we're working on how to do that. We've come up with some cool ideas for how to do that; keep reading to see what we end up deciding.

Progress Report # 4

Individual research is done! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Our next assignment is to write an essay about one of the things we researched during our individual research. Our group also has to read an article this week and present a lesson to the rest of the capstone groups in our class where we talk about the article.

So far I think we're all working well together, and we've got a lot accomplished. We've still got a long way to go, and a lot of group for ahead of us, but I'm hopeful for the future! Keep reading to see what we're going to be doing next!

Latin American Harp

This is the harp that was traditionally played in Latin America during our time period. Music was an important part of Latin American culture.

Progress Report # 3

Our group's research is due soon, so that has been the majority of our work the past week. I learned a lot about many of the people I've been researching, about how Francisco de Miranda was one of the first activists of revolution before Simón Bolívar, and how Miguel Hidalgo was a priest who was a major activist in Mexico's independence from Spain.

Liam learned that Great Britain and the United States opposed the plan for the reconquest of Latin America. Britain is thriving for the trade with the independent Latin American regions.

Brendan learned that Latin American music somewhat sets the bar for all the music that we have today. We listen to all the rhythms that the dominate nations had  back then. The three main nations that occupied the Latin American Area were the Pre - Colonial Indians, Europeans and the Africans. The Africans that were brought to this region were used for slavery as they were in the U.S.A. 

Progress Report # 2 (Continued)

Here's what my group members say about what they've learned so far:

Liam: When Napoleon was defeated in Europe, the numerous kings and queens regained their throne once again. The Spanish king at the time wanted to rebuild Latin America. It was too late, though, the Europeans lost their grip on Latin America, the inhabitants formed their own government.

Brendan: The main music that came from the Latin American music were syncopated rhythms and all the main types of instruments with strings on them like the violin and the guitar and all the other stringed instruments.  

Progress Report # 2

Another week of Capstone done! Overall I think my group has been successful. We found a primary source for our seminar, and our group has been focusing on getting some research done. I've been focusing on Simon Bolivar (see previous posts) while the rest of my group has been focusing on other topics like events during our time period and inventions and innovations. Our plan is to keep researching our individual topics until the work is due, and then we'll begin to work on other aspects of the project.

I'll post information soon about what they have learned. Until then, keep reading.

More On Simón Bolívar

Recently I've been doing a lot of research on Simón Bolívar, and I learned some really cool things about him. He was born in Venezuela in 1783, but he spent a lot of time in Spain and France, and also visited Mexico, Cuba, Rome, and Venice.

When in France in 1801, he admired Napoleon Bonaparte because he had risen to power on wits and bravery instead of how rich he was, or what family he was born into. He lost that admiration in 1804, though, when Napoleon proclaimed himself the emperor of France. I think it is interesting to think about the people and events that inspired Bolívar. He would have been inspired by the French Revolution, and probably even the American Revolution.

Simón Bolívar

This is an awesome Brainpop video about Simón Bolívar! Check it out!

Toussaint Louverture and Haiti

Good news, I talked to my teacher, and our group is allowed to research Haiti! Yaaaaaaaaaay! It's part of the Carribean, but it can be included when people are talking about Latin America. That means we're allowed to research Toussaint Louverture, who was a slave who rose up, broke free of slavery, and ended up leading the Haitian Revolution. I think that's really cool. Make sure to keep reading for more information about the people, events, and inventions/innovations of our time period.

Progress Report # 1

So far our group is mainly focused on getting beginning information sorted out. We have began to do research, and are working on finding some Latin American revolutions in our time period. So far we have found out about these events:

1809 Equador gains independence from Spain
1810 Venezuela gains independence from Spain
1811 Paraguay is independent from Spain

Also, people we have found to research include Simón Bolívar and Miguel Hidalgo

One of our tasks this week is to find a primary source from our time period, I'll report back on our progress for that. Keep checking out my blog for more information!

How Well Do You Know Your Revolutionaries? (Continued)

Toussaint Louverture was the correct answer to the question, he was a major leader in Haiti's revolution. I took the poll down because I learned that Haiti is not actually a part of Latin America.

Sorry about the confusion. But look for a new poll very soon!

How Well Do You Know Your Revolutionaries?

Haiti won it's independence from France in 1804. Who was their leader?

Be sure to take my poll and see what you know! Come back next Thursday, February 9, for the correct answer.

CapStone Project Begins!

Hi! This is my first ever blog post on my first ever blog, so I'm very excited! My group and I are about to embark on a big project that's going to take a lot of work. You may be wondering about my blog title, libertad. That's the Spanish word for liberty. I thought this suited our project topic, which is Revolutions of Latin America from 1801-1812.

Wish us luck!