During today's period, we focused on current events. A lot has happened this week...from continued impeachment hearings, to the New Zealand volcano, a deadly shoot out motivated by anti-semitism in Jersey City and a controversial Executive Order from the president.

Current Events

Today we took a few moments to learn about 41st President George H.W. Bush who died last Friday. His funeral will be on Wed.,12/5. I knew Kate would be especially touched to see a photo of President Bush's guide dog, puppy named Sully, lying in front of the coffin in Washington, D.C. today. We then took some time to learn about the British royal family today, as well.

We began the hour watching CNN10. Elle was particularly interested in a segment on an outbreak of Ebola Disease in the Congo. We researched the Congo and the Ebola Disease and discussed how the culture and conditions of life in the Congo affected the outbreak. We also watched a segment on fast food restaurants that use meat that has antibiotics in it. We discussed how that could affect people who eat the meat. This led to a discussion of healthy eating and choices.

Kate and I read and watched videos on new food themed museums. She was especially interested in the Ice Cream Museum. We discussed the ecological effects as well as the possibility of germs and what could be done to mitigate those effects. We also discussed why the specific locations of these pop up museums were chosen.

Yanuell was very interested to read about new discoveries made about fish. Scientists discovered a new snailfish that has a jelly-like body to withstand the ocean pressure, a new Lantern Shark that is able to glow in the dark and catsharks that glow green. We discussed the adaptive features of each fish needed for survival. We also spent time discussing how current scientific tools make it possible for new discoveries in the ocean.

We read an article from Newsella about the reduction in number of refugees that will be allowed into the United States next year. The article described different reactions to the new limit and presented vocabulary. Yanuell felt strongly that the new limit was wrong. We role played what he would say if he met with the president about the new limit of refugees allowed into the country. We also read an article on a new film due out next month that is said to portray unfair treatment of minority groups by the police. Yanuell talked about the protests in St. Louis last year.

We used Time For kids to discuss current events. Articles discussed included Serena Williams, A Plant Eating Shark, Journalists jailed in Myanmar and the effects of Hurricane Florence.

"What the Health" follows intrepid filmmaker Kip Andersen as he uncovers the secret to preventing and even reversing chronic diseases – and investigates why the nation’s leading health organizations don’t want us to know about it. With heart disease and cancer the leading causes of death in America, and diabetes at an all-time high, the film reveals possibly the largest health cover-up of our time. With the help of medical doctors, researchers, and consumer advocates, What the Health exposes the collusion and corruption in government and big business that is costing us trillions of healthcare dollars, and keeping us sick.

The documentary is incredible and very informative!

"Rotten" gives food the true crime treatment, diving deep into the food production underworld to expose the corruption, waste and real dangers behind your everyday eating habits. Very enlightening!