"Think, Then Think Again…"

Most educational games I know are really boring but the ones Mr. Hossack showed me are so FUN!!! I think one reason educational games are created is so that kids and adults of all ages can have fun while they learn.

Brain Games: Out of these three educational games I would say that brain game is the least interesting one. I didn’t really explore a lot but after the first time I played it I immediately decided it wasn’t that good but still better than other games I’ve played before.

Wordz Games: This is the best educational game EVER!!! You have to unscramble words, each time you do it right you move up a level. If you like to challenge your brain to come up with words I think this is the best game for you. The highest level I ever got on was level 18 but I heard that Mrs. Hossack got up to level 43.

Travel IQ Games: This is a really good site that helps you improve your memory and increase your knowledge of the world . It tells you a place then you’re supposed to click on it. If you really just want to zoom by your computer and play a quick educational game, this is the game for you!

Enjoy playing!!!

To me August 16 is a very important day mainly because it’s my birthday but it’s also equally  important day for other people.

Tiffany Xu:  I know her from my Chinese class and she is also a Student Council representative from Mr. Howitt’s class and she has the same birthday as me.  If ever you want more information about her go to her blog.

Vannesa Carlton:  Vanessa Carlton is a three time Grammy nominated artist whose hits include “A Thousand Miles”, “Ordinary Day” and “White Houses”.  To find out more about Vanessa Carlton I suggest you go here.

Madonna:  When I found out about Madonna’s birthday being on my birthday I was really amazed because somebody “famous”  was actually born on the same day as me.  Honestly I’m not sure why Madonna is so famous but I hear her name really  often so that’s why I know her.  If you want to know more information about Madonna I suggest you go here.

Steve Carell:  Believe  it or not Steve Carell is born on the same day as me!!!  He has starred in many T.V. shows and movies.  He has also won several awards namely the Golden Globe award.  For more information go here.

And that’s all the people that I know who are born on the same day as me.

The Iowa test is a test where the teachers time you while you answer questions on spelling, math, reading comprehension, grammar and so on, by filling in the bubble.

Last year the whole school from grades 3+ took the test. I was part of those group of people who took the test. It wasn’t that hard but it sure made me nervous.  Although I was nervous while doing the test now I really want to see my grade. Today my teacher, Mr. Hossack said we would get our test results. Wish me luck!!!

For more information about the test go on The Iowa Testing Website.

Yesterday, all 18 students (except for the new student) in Mr. Howitt’s class wrote a post on tips about Shanghai for the new student. 

 I read a couple of them and I found them all very amusing and overall helpful.  I suggest that if you are new here (China) you read these posts because you will learn a lot of “survival tips” about China that you probably didn’t know before.  To see some of them click here, here or here… or here.

Hope you new people find this useful/ helpful.

Technology is the use of science to affect lives.  Below is a list of technology and it’s use - helpful technology or entertaining technology or both.

Key:  Helpful Technology      Entertaining Technology     Both

1. Lights

2. Computer/ Laptop

3. Ipod

4. Cellphone/Telephone

5. T.V.

6. Cars

7. Microwave

8. Stove/Oven

9. Internet

10. Refrigerator

11. Electric Organ

12. Calculators

13. PSP/DS

14. Wii

15. Pencil Sharpener

16. Water Dispenser

17. Shower

18. Butt Washer

19. Air Conditioner/ Heater

20. Rice Cooker/ Toaster

Explain what you liked most about the project and why?

The part that I enjoyed most was making the blowgun, specifically when I was sawing the bamboo pole, because it was my first time to use a saw!

Summarize what you found most difficult or challenging about this project and why?

I think that the most challenging part about this project was working together in a group.  I say that because for my group we had some trouble making sure that tasks are equally distributed and are completed on time.

Analyze one aspect of the project that you would change and give details as to why?

I would probably change it from only Mrs. Powers having the table for global natives but also the other classes so that we could try to set up our presentation there. 

Assess what new knowledge you gained from this project?

I learned a lot about the way of life and practices of the different Indian tribes.

Define what skills you have gained from working with your group during this project.

I have gained several skills during this project namely teamwork, patience, communication and creativity.

Justify how you were a positive influence on your group.

I encouraged them by giving suggestions on how we can make our group project more interesting.

Describe the problems that you and your group encountered throughout this project.

Some of the problems we encountered in making this project were communicating and coordinating outside of school.

Inventor: Duke de Richelieu

Invention: Mayonnaise

Year Made: 1756

How it Effects/Helps us: If we didn’t have mayonnaise we wouldn’t have a yummy filling to go with sandwiches, salads and dips. 

Source: Enchanted Learning

Inventor: Carl C. Magee

Invention: Parking Meter

Year Made: 1935

How it Effects/ Helps us: If we didn’t have parking meters then there will always have to be a “parking attendant” to make sure that the parking fee computation is accurate. 

Source: Enchanted Learning

Inventor: Stephen Perry

Invention: Rubber Band

Year Made: 1845

How it Effects/ Helps us: Rubberbands have many uses whether it’s tieing your hair, putting together bundles of money, playing games, or even flicking a person or using it on a geometric board.

Source: Enchanted Learning

Inventor: Thomas Alva Edison

Invention: Lightbulb

Year Made: 1879

How it Effects/ Helps us: Without lightbulbs it would be dark in the house, the streets and offices.  The lightbulb is also a safety alternative to candles since the latter can cause fires. 

Source: Enchanted Learning

Inventor: Wilbur and Orville Wright

Invention: Airplane

Year Made: 1903

How it Effects/Helps us: Airplanes are a very fast way to travel over oceans.  Facilitate travels and business.  It saves us a lot of time and is the safest and fastest way to go to far places. 

Source: Enchanted Learning

In class my teacher, Mr. Hossack, asked us (it was optional) to write a post on how many ways you can use a toothpick other than using it for your mouth. 

1.    You can use it to check if a cake is properly baked by sticking a toothpick in and out of the cake.  If it comes out clean, then you know it is done.

2.    You can use toothpicks in arts and crafts to build miniatures.

3.    You can use a toothpick to glue those hard to reach areas.

4.     You can use it to pick your nose.

5.     Create a hedgehog or porcupine figurine. 

6.      Used as an engineering/architectural projects.

7.      As a poking tool for areas you normally can’t reach.

8.      Use as legs to microwave soft foods faster.

9.      Use as an accesory for doll houses.

10.   Use them as identifying markers.

11.    Apply paint on tiny areas.

12.    Use as a temporary fix for loose hinge screws.

13.    Fix a leaky garden hose.

14.    Deter cutworms.

15.    Get rid of grease and grim in crevices and hard-to-reach areas.

16.    Mark the start of a roll of tape.

17.    Pierce link sausage with a toothpick to stabilize them while they cook.

18.     If you have the toothpick with the mint at the end you can suck on it and it becomes a lollipop.

19.     Poke the mouth of an old set of glitter paints and they won’t be jammed again.

20.     Use a toothpick for playing games like chinese numbers and other mind games. 

Most people may not know who Shigeru Miyamato is but they do use his inventions.  Shigeru Miyamoto, born November 16, 1952, is a Japanese video game designer. He created Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, F- Zero, Pikmin and Nintendogs.  He has also supervised many titles published by Nintendo on behalf of other developers, including Metrod Poid and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Worlds.  Miyamoto is a world-renowned game designer who has been called the “father of modern video games” and “the Walt Disney of electronic gaming”.

I think that this article is written for people who surf the internet and want to learn about the origin of popular video games.  It takes a creative mind like Mr. Miyamoto to understand what games are exciting for kids like me.  I’m sure he has put in a lot of hard work and time to bring challenging  and entertaining games to video gamers around the world.  He has also inspired other people to continue bringing new games that challenge the minds of today’s kids and adults, too.

For more information go on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Miyamoto

Have you ever wondered how the soda we drink today called Coke was invented and its history?  Well now you can find out how in this interesting post that is definitely worth- reading.

In May, 1886, Coca Cola was invented by Doctor John Pemberton a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia. John Pemberton made the Coca Cola formula in a three legged brass kettle in his backyard. The name was a suggestion given by John Pemberton’s bookkeeper Frank Robinson.

Being a bookkeeper, Frank Robinson also had excellent penmanship. It was he who first scripted “Coca Cola” into the flowing letters which has become the famous logo of today.

The soft drink was first sold to the public at the soda fountain in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886.

About nine servings of the soft drink were sold each day. Sales for that first year added up to a total of about $50. The funny thing was that it cost John Pemberton over $70 in expenses, so the first year of sales were a loss.

In 1887, another Atlanta pharmacist and businessman, Asa Candler bought the formula for Coca Cola from inventor John Pemberton for $2,300. By the late 1890s, Coca Cola was one of America’s most popular fountain drinks, largely due to Candler’s aggressive marketing of the product. With Asa Candler, now at the helm, the Coca Cola Company increased syrup sales by over 4000% between 1890 and 1900.

And that’s how Coca Cola the yummy drink is where it is today.