PORTFOLIO OF STUDENT WORK

The first samples of student work are from an assignment entitled, Did You Know? The students researched a city and wrote and illustrated an article about the cultural and physical features that gave their city its sense of place (place is one of the five themes of geography.)

These are examples of mosaics. This is an ancient type of art that has taken many forms around the world and throughout history. The student examples are made from bits of torn advertisements from magazines. This takes much planning and a lot of work (not to mention the glue!)

Freedom really means a lot to me. I thank the Lord that everyday I can wake up on my own and not somebody shaking me to death to get up and work from day till night. Most of my relatives fought in the war. I have never taken freedom for granted because I really think those who served in the war are pretty brave. That's what I think about freedom.

Freedom means that I have a right to speak out. I can go where I want to go. I also can go to a store without someone telling me to get out of the store. Some of my friends that are a different color can come with me, too. I like to use the words that Martin L. King used when he was making his speech. The words are, "Free at last, free at last, thank God, I'm free at last." I use these words when I can go with my friends to a store.

Veteran's Day is a very important day because if it weren't for them we wouldn't have our freedom right now. They defended our country and its rights. A lot of soldiers died for your freedom. They fought a lot of times like in the Gulf War and World War II. Every time a soldier dies in battle he is dying for one of you. Veteran's Day is not just for your common soldier. It is for the men who fought against the British for your right and freedom. We did have some help from the Indians. A lot of men took bullets for you. These men are what America is mostly about. That is what Veterans Day means to me.

To me, freedom means many things. It shows that I can do many things without having to worry about getting caught. I don't think about the privilege of freedom, but when I do I'm very thankful. I am very thankful that I am a citizen where there is freedom. During Social Studies class, when we talk about the different types of government, I think about what goes on in that country. Sometimes a government sounds so bad to me that I can't even picture it. For instance, monarchy government is so powerful that people have little or no power and freedom to do what they want to do. I am proud to live in a country where there is freedom, and I will always be.The many things that freedom mean to me are like being able to say what I want to say, driving once I am sixteen, voting when I am eighteen, choosing my own religion, and making decisions on my own. I am happy that I have all these freedoms, because all these things are things I want to do. I am very honored to have freedom for all these things, and I will never forget what a honor it is to have freedom.

"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts
comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances - to choose one's own way."
-Victor Frankl

Freedom means to me not to have restrictions on the way I express my feelings, the church I attend, the places I go, the choices I make in life. Each year we honor those who have or are serving our country on Veteran's Day. We are thankful for those who fight for our country and rights as citizens. Freedom is great because I can say the things I want and in the future, I can vote for the people of my choice without others telling me who to vote for. I know that freedom makes the difference when each person can speak for themselves and make a decision without someone telling them what to do. It is great to live in the United States where freedom is everything!

Freedom means-being free. If I was not free I would be miserable. I would no longer have the freedom of speech, religion, and all the other things I do each day. I like having freedom because I'm free to think and walk into stores to buy stuff.Freedom is not a right but a privilege. Freedom is not earned but was given by the people who risked and gave their lives for our country and our freedom. I thank the veterans who fought for our country and freedom. All the Veterans were very brave to fight in the line of fire for us.