Country Profile: Iraq -- by Daniel

The famous city of Babylon was in Iraq a very long time ago. It was the one of the first cities in the world. Because of this, the land of Iraq is sometimes called "The Cradle of Civilization."

History & Geography

Map of Iraq's provinces.

Iraq is located in the Middle east, between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iraq is mostly desert, with reedy marshes along the Iranian border in the south. Because of its desert clime, Iraq's natural hazards are dust storms and sand storms. Its rivers are also known to flood.

Although Iraq has a glorious history, its recent history isn't so great. In 2003, the United States invaded and killed then-president Saddam Hussein, leading to a civil war in the country.

Oil pipelines are integral to the country's economy.

Economy
Iraq has large amounts of oil, so it was their main export. Currently, the United Nations allows Iraq to sell only small amounts of oil to buy food, clothes, and medicine for its people.

People & Culture
Iraq is a multiethnic society and its two main languages are Arabic and Kurdish. Although many kinds of people live in the country, nearly everyone -- 97 percent -- is Muslim.

Overall
I didn't know anything about Iraq before, but it sounds like a place that might be dangerous to visit. That's too bad because I think it would be neat to see.

Biography: Justin Bieber -- by Mickey

Justin Bieber was the most searched Google term in 2011. Who is this guy and why are people looking for him?

Bieber is a Canadian singer who became famous for a song called "Baby". Bieber was born on 1 March, 1994, and grew up in London, Ontario. He taught him self to play many instruments like piano, guitar and drums. He was discovered when he was just 12 years old, after he entered a local talent competition and placed second. Now, he's ranked No. 1 on the VH1 List of 100 Greatest Kid Stars.

He has performed with Chris brown, another famous singer,and is good friends with Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. Bieber, a practicing Christian, is busy off of the stage, too. He runs a charity to build schools in Guatemala. He also uses his celebrity status to push for the cause of animal welfare. He even owns a pet monkey.

Even though he is young and rich, Bieber tries to use his money for good causes. I think he's a good person.

Animal Report: Naked Mole-Rats -- By Mickey

The ugliest animal I've ever seen!

Did you know that naked mole rats can't feel pain in their skin? That's not even the weirdest thing about them!

Charecteristics

Diagram of a naked mole-rat.

Cross section of a mole-rat burrow.

The  naked mole rat is a very ugly animal and also funny to look at. Their noses look like pigs and they have no hair on their bodies. The funniest thing is the mole rat looks like my grandfather, because its skin is wrinkly all over.


Habitat

The naked mole rat lives in underground tunnels. They are found in East Africa, predominanty in southern Ethiopia, Kenya, and Solmalia.
     
Diet
Naked mole rat don't eat much variety. They mostly eat tubers. Sometimes they eat their own poop. Gross!

Behavior
Naked mole rats live together in colonies. They separate jobs, like workers, protectors and a queen. They are the only mammals who do this.

Conclusion
I think the naked mole rats are the weirdest mammals I've ever heard of.

Animal Report: King Cobras -- By Mickey

                                                         

One bite from a king cobra has enough venom to kill 20 people. That might sound bad, but their venom is also used as a medication to help people.

Characteristics

A king cobra standing at attention.

King cobras are a species of reptile. Their colors are green and dark green and they grow up to 2 meters long. Their long fangs have enough venom to kill an elephant -- or 20 grown men.

Habitat

King cobras live in the forests of southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia.

The range of king cobra habitation stretches from the Philippines in the east to India's west coast.

Diet

This cobra is eating a mouse.

King cobras eat other snakes, lizards, eggs, and small mammals, like rats and mice.


 Behavior

King cobras open their hoods to look fearsome just when they fight. King cobras can see above 300feets! Also, it can hear some sound we make.

This cobra is fighting a mongoose, its only natural enemy.

Conclusion

Someday I wish to catch a king cobra.

Country Profile: Egypt -- By Mickey

People have lived in Egypt for more than 4,000 years. The ancient Egyptians left building called pyramids. that still stand today. You can visit them if you go.

History & Geography 

Egypt shares borders with Israel and Libya.

The location of Egypt is northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Its total area is 1,00,450sq km. It's the 30th largest country. Egypt's climate is desert with hot, dry summers and moderate winters.


Economy

Tourists come to Egypt to explore its history.

For the resources of Egypt is Detroleum, natural gas, iron ore, and phosfates. Egypt's main industries, are tourism, textiles and food processing. There are lots of agriculture, like cotton, rice , corn, wheat, beans, water,buffalo, and sheep. Also, 51 percent of Egyptian work in service jobs.

People

People in Egypt are 90 percent Sunni Muslims of ethnic Egyptian heritage.
 
Overall

Egypt is a rich country. I hope I would never go to Egypt.

   

Country Profile: Uruguay -- by Mickey

The flag of Uruguay.

 Does the Uruguayan flag look familiar? That's because Uruguay wanted it to look like the American and Argentine flags. There are nine equal horizontal stripes of alternating white and blue, with a sun symbol in the corner.

Geograhy

A map showing Uruguay's administrative districts.

Uruguay is located in South America, with the south Alantic Ocean on its East coast and Brazil on its northern border. If we total the area of Uruguay's lands, it is 176,215 square km. Compared to the rest of the world's countries, it is 91st in size. The weather is always warm in Uruguay. Also, there are some plains, hills and lowlands.

Economy

Fishing is a major export industry for Uruguay.

Uruguay has a free-market economy characterized by an export - oriented agricultural sector, especially fishing. There were financial difficulties in late 1990s and early 200s, economic grow for  Uruguay averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08. At 2006, has in  creased by nearly 70% more than $20 billion. They had trade the foods that is made and electronics. They also have  many resources. For an example, there are soy beans, beef, fish, rice, diary and lumber.

People & Culture

A Uruguayan church.

Uruguayans are overwhelmingly descended from colonial European settlers, mostly Spanish and/or Italian. Native people make up approximately six percent of the population. Spanish and Portugese are the main languages spoken.

Due to the large Spanish and Italian makeup of the population, most Uruguayans are Catholic.

Country Profile: Germany -- by Jackson

The flag of Germany.

German people are the second biggest consumers of beer in the world, with an average of 107 liters consumed per person in 2010. Germany is also the most populous European country, with 82 million people.

Geography

Germany is located in Central Europe along the Baltic sea and North seas. It also shares borders with nine different countries, some of which include France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. And low mountain has large forest.

People & Culture

Germany art has a long and distinguished tradition in the visual arts from the earliest known work of figurative art to. Its current output of contemporary art.

Approximately one third of Germans worship in a place like this.

And Germany's religion. The 64.1% of the German population belongs to Christian denominations. And 31.4% are Roman Catholic.

 

Recent History

Both world wars of the 20th Century took place in German territory. World War I happened from 1914~1918 and World War II took place from 1939~1945.

Class Videos for 8/29

Jackson, the lone student in my Thursday Writing class, wrote a couple of dialogues today. First he tried a gossip scenario, then he wrote a little how-to about raising and caring for a dog.

Gossiping About Teacher Angela by TheDanielDaugherty on GoAnimate

How to Care for a Dog by TheDanielDaugherty on GoAnimate

Class Videos for 8/28

Two student videos from Daniel and Tony in my Wednesday Writing class. Our focus was in writing dialogues.

Debating the President's Policies by TheDanielDaugherty on GoAnimate

Ninja Standoff by TheDanielDaugherty on GoAnimate