Physics Project Reflection 1 - Debra

Recently, we have started our rollercoaster project. As a group, we decided to do a combination of a Rube Goldberg project and a rollercoaster project. We hope that our project will consist of many events, and will work. So far we thought about how we wanted our Rube Rollercoaster to look like and we decided instead of making one roller coaster we will make two that connect, so that we can have more events. We will have dominoes being knocked down and cups being dropped. So far we have only built the beginnig of the two coasters.

The beginning of our project

One frustration we had was after building our first rollercoaster on the first day, right when class
ended, the rollercoaster fell apart. Even though it fell apart, we figured out a better way for it to stay up. Next class we are hoping to get a better structure four our coaster, get some boxes, and get more equipment.

Before 

Complete Letter Draft 1 - Language Arts

To: The United Nations

My name is Debra Effiong, and recently my class has been reading about child soldiers and the horrendous things they go through. We learned that sometimes the children are forcefully recruited to join militant groups. Because they are easily manipulated, loyal, fearless, and are always available, they are taken advantage of and used as soldiers, taught violent methods, threatened, and are mentally abused. They are sometimes found roaming the streets in search for shelter or their families. Since they are found in such dire situations they easily accept the chance to have shelter. We have been asked the question "What should happen to them after the war. Should they be given amnesty?" After a while of thinking, my answer was that children should be given proper treatment into becoming normal again and be pardoned. With that answer I spent time finding which organizations helped child soldiers with demobilization the most, and the answer I got was Unicef.

UNICEF has made way for many child soldiers to be demobilized. An example of a child soldier demobilized by UNICEF is Raul, a young Congolese boy,  who was kidnapped by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to commit atrocious acts. After returning to his home his aunt reports,“He is thinking too much about the past.” Raul was constantly reminded of the acts he committed, and found it hard to sleep. When asked why he didn’t refuse to kill, he answered with, “I didn’t dare refuse, because a friend of mine who refused to kill was shot himself.” The things that young Raul had to see still haunt him. “If I don’t pray before going to bed, I dream of the LRA coming to kidnap me again,” he said.

Raul, just like many children, has faced a very traumatic experience. Their childhood consist of gunshots and killing. No kid should have to go through that. Unicef and a co-ed organization have provided assistance for 1,570 children who were previously in armed forces or groups. 585 girls and 764 boys were assisted from the LRA, including Raul. After they were demobilized they received medical and psycho-social therapy. To help them further they are quartered in Unicef sponsored families and give demobilization kits with shoes, hygiene articles and civilian clothes.  “I thank UNICEF for the care that my nephew received. I know that he is intelligent and can have a bright future,” says Raul’s aunt.

Children all around the world are often forcefully recruited into militant groups and used for war. Some children are lucky enough to be helped by an organization like UNICEF and given the opportunity to get an education, a home, and a chance to be free again. All of this can’t happen if a non profit organization like UNICEF doesn’t have any funding. Some logically argue that with the budget the UN has, child soldiers shouldn’t be a priority, but one of the main things the UN does is work to protect human rights. Children have just as many rights as adults and if those rights are being stripped away from them, shouldn’t there be something done to help protect them? That is why I believe that the UN should continue to fund UNICEF. The amount of child soldiers that UNICEF helped is unbelievable, and I don’t think they can continue to help those helpless children without some type of funding.

Sincerely,

Debra

Final Draft Child Soldiers - Language Arts

To: The Luxembourg Government

My name is Debra Effiong, and recently my class has been reading about child soldiers and the horrendous things they go through. We learned that sometimes the children are forcefully recruited to join militant groups. Because they are easily manipulated, loyal, fearless, and are always available, they are taken advantage of and used as soldiers, taught violent methods, threatened, and are mentally abused. They are sometimes found roaming the streets in search for shelter or their families. Since they are found in such dire situations they easily accept the chance to have shelter. There are currently 300,000 estimated child soldiers active in conflicts all around the world. Those children are involved in conflicts in over 36 different countries. We have been asked the question "What should happen to them after the war. Should they be given amnesty?" After a while of thinking, my answer was that children should be given proper treatment into becoming normal again, and should also be pardoned. With that answer I spent time finding which organizations helped child soldiers with demobilization the most. The answer I got was Unicef.

UNICEF has made way for many child soldiers to be demobilized. An example of a child soldier demobilized by UNICEF is Raul, a young Congolese boy,  who was kidnapped by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to commit atrocious acts. After returning to his home his aunt reports,“He is thinking too much about the past.” Raul was constantly reminded of the acts he committed, and found it hard to sleep. When asked why he didn’t refuse to kill, he answered with, “I didn’t dare refuse, because a friend of mine who refused to kill was shot himself.” The things that young Raul had to see still haunt him. “If I don’t pray before going to bed, I dream of the LRA coming to kidnap me again,” he said.

Raul, just like many children, has faced a very traumatic experience. Their childhood consist of gunshots and killing. No kid should have to go through that. Unicef and a cooperating organization have provided assistance for 1,570 children who were previously in armed forces or groups. 585 girls and 764 boys were assisted from the LRA, including Raul. After they were demobilized they received medical and psycho-social therapy. To help them further they were quartered in Unicef sponsored families and give demobilization kits with shoes, hygiene articles and civilian clothes.  “I thank UNICEF for the care that my nephew received. I know that he is intelligent and can have a bright future,” says Raul’s aunt.

Children all around the world are often forcefully recruited into militant groups and used for war. Some children are lucky enough to be helped by an organization like UNICEF and given the opportunity to get an education, a home, and a chance to be free again. All of this can’t happen if a non profit organization like UNICEF doesn’t have any funding. I know that Luxembourg uses its money to make the universal health care better, but UNICEF has given the demobilized child soldiers access to health care as well. If UNICEF doesn’t have any funding, those child soldiers will not have the privilege of access to health care unlike the children in Luxembourg. Children have just as many rights as adults and if those rights are being stripped away from them, shouldn’t there be something done to help protect them? That is why I believe that the government should continue to, and increase, the funding of UNICEF. The amount of child soldiers that UNICEF helped is unbelievable, and I don’t think they can continue to help those helpless children without some type of funding.

Please take my plea into consideration as the government thinks about the fiscal budget of 2018.

Sincerely,

Debra Effiong

Draft 1 - Language Arts

Intro:

To: The United Nations

Recently, my class has been reading about child soldiers and the horrendous things they go through. We have been asked the question "What should happen to them after the war." After a while of thinking, my answer was that children should be given proper treatment into becoming normal again. With that answer I spent time finding which organizations helped child soldiers with education the most, and the answer I got was Unicef.

Supporting Idea:

Raul, a young Congolese boy, was kidnapped by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to commit horrendous acts. After returning to his home his aunt reports,“He is thinking too much about the past.” Raul is constantly reminded of the acts he committed, and finds it hard to sleep. When asked why he didn’t refuse he answered with, “I didn’t dare refuse, because a friend of mine who refused to kill was shot himself.” The things that young Raul had to see still haunt him. “If I don’t pray before going to bed, I dream of the LRA coming to kidnap me again,” he said.

Raul, just like many children, has faced a very traumatic experience. Their childhoods consist of gunshots and killing. No kid should have to go through that. Unicef and a co-ed organization have provided assistance for 1,570 children who were previously in armed forces or groups. 585 girls and 764 boys were assisted from LRA, including Raul. After they were demobilized they received medical and psycho-social therapy. To help them further they are quartered in Unicef sponsored families and give demobilization kits with shoes, hygiene articles and civilian clothes.  “I thank UNICEF for the care that my nephew received. I know that he is intelligent and can have a bright future,” says Raul’s aunt.

Conclusion:

Children all around the world are sometimes forcefully taken into militant groups and used for war. Some children are lucky enough to be helped by an organization like UNICEF and given the opportunity to get an education, a home, and a chance to be free again. All of this can’t happen if a non profit organization like UNICEF doesn’t have any funding. That is why I believe that the UN should continue to fund UNICEF. The amount of child soldiers that UNICEF helped is unbelievable, and I don’t think they can continue to help those helpless children without some type of funding.

Child Soldiers #2 - Language Arts

The Child Soldier on Trial in Guantanamo

- I think that the child should be given an education after the war
- Unicef provides a way for child soldiers to get an education
- Unicef provides housing for many kids and gives them therapy classes. They also provide them with shoes, clothes and hygienic suppliances.
- Send a letter to Unicef to talk about the education provided.

Intro:

Dear Unicef,
My class has been reading about child soldiers and we have been asked the question "What should happen to them after the war." My answer was that children should be given an education. With that answer I spe she nt time finding which organizations helped child soldiers with education the most, and the answer I got was Unicef.

Body Paragraph:

(Give example of a child soldier from text set)  

Child Soldiers #1 - Language Arts

She volunteered to fight. She has acted as a messenger. She has acted as a driver. She has given logistical support. She has killed.

I believe that the girl should go to back to school. Even though she volunteered to fight, she shouldn’t have been fighting. Now that the conflict is over the girl should be reunited with her family and sent back to school. Although I think she shouldn’t have fought in the war, she should get some type of acknowledgment for the bravery she showed and the help she brought on the country. Yes, she shouldn’t have fought in the war, but she should be known. I don’t think she should be put in jail because she was considered a soldier. She was working for the country, so her acts should not be considered bad. I also believe that she should be given support for the things she has seen.

To conclude, this girl should be sent to school and reunited with her parents. I don’t think any punishment should happen to her. She deserves an acknowledgment for her acts, and should be respected for her bravery.

Armed and Underage Child Soldiers Article

Imagining a child being sent into war to kill is something hard for me to think about. In my opinion it cruel. I find it amazing how when the recruiters try to make the issue logical they say, "The kids can be so easily brainwashed. They don't even have to be paid." Not only is that a horrible excuse to use children in war, but it shows how young these children must be when they are recruited for war. According to the article the youngest child was 9 years old. I think it is horrible for a child to go through this when the effects are not only short term, but long term as well. Children will have to remember the horrendous memories of war throughout their childhood and even when they are adults. I don't think any child should have to go through that.

Pro Con List

Victims	Perpetrators
- Didn’t have any family left	- Some agreed to go
- Had nowhere to go	- Most don’t argue
- Didn’t have a mature mind	- Didn’t try to leave
- Are brainwashed	- Killed people

Blog Post #8 - Media Literacy

ISTE Standards

In addition to using ISTE Standard #1 we have been dependent on ISTE Standard #4 to complete our iBook. ISTE Standard #4 is:

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

In ISTE Standard #4 there are four points:

• Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
• Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
• Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
• Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative decisions

We worked on those points in different ways. We worked on point one when we realized that we had no idea what the 5th graders needed to hear.

That leads us into how we worked on point two. We scheduled a meeting with Mrs. Callaway and Mr. Everett to understand the process 5th graders go through when transitioning, and what they do to help them. Once they told us those answers we got an idea about what they would need to hear, but we wanted the 5th graders to tell us.

How we worked on point three was by sending a survey out to the 5th graders to understand their point of view on middle school. We gathered information about their fears for middle school and what they are most excited about. With that information we made a structure for our iBook.

We worked on point four when we used experience from our transitions to make the iBook something that would be helpful. We used our transitions to figure out the things we wanted to hear as a 5th grader and put it in the book.

Throughout the process of making the iBook I realized how crucial it is to make everything positive for the 5th graders. If not it will make some scared to come to middle school. I enjoy working on the iBook and I hope that it will actually be useful for the upcoming middle schoolers. I am so happy that it is almost done. Even though I liked working on the iBook i'm glad that it’s over because it was very stressful to balance it with other work. Going back to the topic of ISTE Standards I know that having read them it made it easier to work on the iBook. We could see that the iBook should contain certain characteristics and it helped us make it.  Even though we finished the iBook we still need to show Mrs. Callaway the final results and get her approval. Again, I hope that the iBook is going to be useful for the 5th graders and that there transition is as smooth as possible.