Gowanus Superfund

Project Connect students had the opportunity to meet with community organizers from local organizations: FROGG (Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus) and CORD (Coalition for Respectful Development) to discuss the Gowanus Superfund. We talked about how polluted the canal is and what we can do to help make a change.

Check out the story of our interview on a local blog:
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2009/05/miiddle-school-students-at-new-horizon.html

Let's reconnect

It has been a while since we used the blog but it is time to reconnect. Since we last spoke, Akeisha went to interview people in Carroll Gardens about their views on President Obama. The other members have prepared to go out and do their interviews as well.

Since we will be interviewing a variety of people that we do not know, we need to think about how we will act/react to people who we disagree with.

1) How will you react/act when someone says something you disagree with?
2) Why is it important to listen to people with different views?
3) What is the best way to convince someone to change their mind about a certain issue?

TIme to Reflect!

Before we leave for February break, let's take some time to reflect on our work in Project Connect:

1) What has been your favorite part of Project Connect so far. Be specific.
2) What are you looking forward to in your project?
3) What is community action and why is it important?

Developing Our Projects

Here are our project ideas so far:

• Cleaning up our community: Getting the word out & Getting in touch with the people in charge
• Obama: Gathering opinions from the local community
• Obama: Understanding what the school community thinks/believes

With your project idea in mind, answer the following questions:

1) How will you use technology in your project?
2) What will you need to do to prepare for your project?

Community Action: Helping, Learning & Bringing Power to Your Voice

Community action is about helping your community, learning and understanding what needs to be done and bringing power to our voices.

Think about your community action project idea you have come up. With that project in mind, answer the following questions:

1) Who needs to be helped?
2) Who has the power now?
3) What are the obstacles (problems) that stand in the way?

-Ms.G

Getting our Voices Heard

Today in class, Alex said, "Being part of a community is not just about living there. It is about your actions."

Take a moment to think about what you can do(actions to take) in your community and how to get your voice heard.

Post below the community topic/issue you'd like to work on before Thursday's class.

-Ms.G

Community Walk: Connection, Curiosity, Creativity

Take a look at these photos from our community walk. Answer the following questions:

1) What do you notice about the community from these photos?
2) What do the photos make you want to DO?
3) If you had unlimited money and materials, what is one thing you would do for your community? Why?

Congratulations of completing your ELA exam! Have a safe and relaxing weekend. See you Monday.

-Ms.G

Community Action

Yesterday in his inauguration speech, Obama said, "For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. " He also said, "All this we can do. All this we will do. "

Your questions for today:

1. What kind of "work" is he talking about?
2. Do you agree with Obama that we can do all this? Why or why not?
3. What would you do to make your community a better place to live?

Don't forget to sign your name at the bottom of your comments!

-Ms.G

Great first meeting!

Great to hear your ideas to today. Just to get get the blog going, here are your questions for today:

1) What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
2) Choose one word to describe yourself.
3) What is one issue or topic you care about it in the world?

Post your responses. See you Thursday.
-Ms.Gutman

Welcome!

Congratulations on being chosen to be a part of this project! We are excited to hear your ideas and to work together as a group.

This blog will be a place for us to communicate and to exchange ideas.

Check the blog daily for information from us and for your chance to comment and express your ideas.

-Ms.Gutman, Mr.Templeton, Ms.Price