Today we reviewed the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: Colossus of Rhodes · Great Pyramid of Giza · Hanging Gardens of Babylon · Lighthouse of Alexandria · Mausoleum at Halicarnassus · Statue of Zeus · Temple of Artemis. Only the Pyramids of Giza remain today. We tried to imagine through historical records and imagery which may have been the grandest of all of them as it's certainly hard to choose.
Kaitlin was such a sport throughout 1st period as our remote class continued dropping in Microsoft Teams. I started in her room, then went into the hallway to try and reconnect, walking in and out of empty, available rooms. I was able to reconnect briefly with Kaitlin from the teacher work room after multiple, continuous attempts throughout the period to reconnect. By then, class was over. Kaitlin was very understanding and shared she tried her best to initiate contact with me from her end, too.
Today's class was an introduction to the longest, contiguous (no water or bridge crossings) road in the world. Stretching 14,000 miles (22,387km) from Cape Town in South Africa to Magadan in Russia, this route will include stops in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia. Oh and it will take "just" 562 days to traverse it if one walks 8 hour a day. We will stop along the route to learn about some of the wonders and sites along this 14,000 mile journey in future classes.
Today we began to explore the world's longest contiguous road that is uninterrupted by any water crossings. This 14,000 mile road takes the brave traveler through Africa, past the Suez Canal, through Turkey, Central Asia and across Siberia to Magadan. The route requires no flights, ferries or other boat-crossings: just open roads and bridges. The route takes the traveler through Africa, past the Suez Canal, Turkey, Central Asia and across Siberia to Magadan in eastern Russia. This 14,000
mile journey goes through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia. We began our virtual journey today.
Today we concluded with other ways to cross from Asia to Europe beginning with the Eurasia Tunnel. It's main appeal is being the fastest way to get from one side of Istanbul to the other.
It's functional rather than beautiful, with a speed limit of 70 kilometers per hour, it's a nine-mile road link connecting Europe to Asia, and it was completed in 2016 reducing travel time from 100 minutes to just 15 minutes. There is also the undersea Marmaray train, completed in 2013 as well as a multitude of ferries, water taxis. The Bosphorus between Asian and European Istanbul is a fascinating and busy waterway between two continents!!!!
Today we reviewed current events. We focused on the incredible news re: the steady recovery of Buffalo Bills player, Demar Hamlin after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at Last Sunday's game. We then looked at the ongoing war in the Ukraine. We discussed a brief history of the Ukraine and other Eastern European nations who became independent from Russia in the 1990s. We also discussed the reasons why Putin may be acting so aggressively to wage war against the Ukraine. Two of the main reasons are that Zelinskyy has never been, nor will he ever be a puppet leader, influenced or dominated by Putin in any way. The second reason is that Putin may want access to many of Ukraine's natural resources. As of next month, this war will have been raging for one year.
The Gigantic Bridges & Tunnels Linking Asia to Europe
Lesson Outline
Istanbul as a city that straddles two continents. Crossings between Asian and European Istanbul are over or under a narrow strait called the Dardanelles, which feeds into the Sea of Marmara, which leads to the Aegean Sea. Today we looked at the four modern suspension bridges connecting Asian Istanbul to European Istanbul: the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, and the Çannakale 1915 Bridge (the newest of all four).
Session Minutes
45
Minutes Student Attended
15
Lesson Comments
The McMahons were 30 minutes late to first period today.
Today we began to look at the modern day city of Istanbul. It is a booming metropolis that straddles both Asia and Europe with a rich history. The city was once known as Byzantium, then Constantinople under the Roman Empire and Istanbul under the Ottoman Empire and today. We looked at how Istanbul is divided across a body of water called the Dardanelles Strait that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. We took a virtual tour of modern day Istanbul, from its market places to shopping, restaurants, historic ruins and the heavy traffic from Asian to European Istanbul via ferry, water taxis, bridges and tunnels. Tomorrow we will continue to look at this incredible transcontinental transportation crossing network.
Queen Elizabeth came to power in when she was 25 in 1558. She died in 1604 at the age of 69. She ruled for 45 years and her reign is considered the longest of a modern queen who wielded political power, leading both the government and the armed forces. She was well-educated (fluent in five languages), was intelligent, determined and a strong leader. Her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it a secure Church of England was established. It is known however that she contracted smallpox in 1562 which left her face scarred. She took to wearing white lead makeup to cover the scars. In later life, she suffered the loss of her hair and her teeth, and in the last few years of her life, she refused to have a mirror in any of her rooms.
Session Minutes
45
Minutes Student Attended
15
Lesson Comments
Kaitlin was 30 minutes late to school today and therefore, we only had 15 minutes of class time.
