Room 229

HI everyone remember the post I wrote before about our ancient city trip? well today I rewrote it to make it much better. Compare the two and comment telling me which one is better.

My favorite event this year was the field trip to the ancient city. I know it sounds very boring, but you should think again. It was very fun. We rode bikes, and raced up high temples with lots of stairs. There was also a treasure hunt between all the classes that went. We learned a lot about old monks and Buddhas. We also learned that a long time ago, there was a big war with Burma. We learned that some of the statues there were built over 400 years ago! When we climbed a temple that had over 100 stairs, me Matt and Gwen raced to see who gets there first. We all got there at about the same time. At about 12:30 we ate lunch. It was very good. For dessert we had ice cream. Though next time I go there, I would like to explore more, for example the temples, because we didn’t have lots of time, so we only saw 9 temples. At the end, we had time to buy things. I bought a mini fan. There are lots of cheap things there. If you ever go there, you should take a bag with:
Snacks (in case hunger strikes)
Camera (to take pictures of the amazing things)
Money (to buy things at the end)
A helmet (to be safe when riding the bike)
PSP/Game boy/DS or any other game system. Fully charge it before the trip. (It’s a long bus ride, so you should keep yourself entertained!)

This is inside one of the temples.

This is my favorite picture!

Freaky!

This is a Buddha

Us riding bikes

For our 5th grade field trip, we went to the Ancient City.
Ancient City is a place where famous monuments all over Thailand are placed as a small duplicate of a real one.
I explored Thai culture by learning about Dvaravati, Khmer, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Ratanakosin(where we are living) period.
It was cool to learn about different cultures from different time, and I learned to understand how people lived during past.
We also learned about Thai architectures. As times goes by centuries, housings changes from using mostly wood to bricks, and to what we see in temples these days.
It was an interesting field trip because I saw cows near the road. This is a cow I saw in the Ancient City.

A cow in the Ancient City

I thought it was awesome because at first I thought it was a buffalo.
For transportation around the Ancient City, we rode bikes around to explore.
First thing I realized was that the bikes were old!!! The bikes were rusty, but fortunately bike worked pretty well.
We were working as a group and we needed to pick jobs and to be responsible for the work. I was a photographer.
I learned that our field trip connects with exploration because we were exploring what we didn’t know and now we do know about Thai culture.

Khmer temple

This is one of the Khmer temple.

The original size of a temple is 10X bigger than this!!!
I think it’s suppose to be bigger because it was really hard to go through with your helmet on. Then I realized that we can go around the temple.
This was my best field trip in 5th grade.

helen

Thomas Edison is from USA. I think Thomas Edison is an important inventor. Thomas Edison is an important inventor because he invented many things. Thomas Edison is also important because his inventions are helpful.

He invented telegraph. Telegraph is like letter. He invent gramophone. Gramophone is like recorder and it is funny thing. He invented electric light. Electric light is like lamp but its so dazzling. He invented movies. Moves are like a film.

A lamp is a helpful thing because a lamp is light . Then we can study. One hundred years ago they didn’t have lamps. Then about sunset they went to sleep. But now we can wake up at night because we have the lamp!

The moves are helpful because the moves are funny and scary things. The kid want to watch the funny moves. The man and woman wants to watch scary moves I think. I like o watch funny moves.

Now do you agree with me Thomas Edison is important because he invented many things and they are all helpful!!

Hernan Cortes Was An Important Explorer

Many people have heard of Hernan Cortes, but have you thought about all of the things he did? Hernan Cortes is a memorable explorer because he explored more of Mexico also because he won over Spain for land and last but not least he killed most Aztecs.

Mexico was discovered, but with Hernan Cortes it had to be more explored. It couldn’t be explored by just anyone it had to be explored by him, Hernan Cortes. Hernan Cortes loved to explore more of something that has already been explored because to him there was always more you could explore of something. Just like Mexico. From exploring more of Mexico he got famous for it. As he explored more of Mexico he discovered that most people there like the natives did not like the Aztecs. While he was discovering Mexico he finally ran into the Aztecs. When he first ran into the Aztecs they were very nice to him so he stayed for a few day. That’s how the whole thing started. A few days later they wanted him to leave, and he wanted their land. He made a success for getting the land, and became a hero for Spain. Most importantly he did what he wanted which was to explore more of Mexico.

Hernan Cortes was a proud citizen of Spain. He became the Spanish ruler of Mexico. This Spanish explorer got more land for Spain, but he had to fight for it. He fought the Aztecs for this land. He went through a lot just for the land. For example, he had to burn down 10 of his ships because when he got there the Aztecs gave the Spaniards gold, so they left with the gold. The others that had stayed, put up a fight. After he burnt down most of his ships he sailed off with gold. The people that had already with the other gold had died if sickness and storms, but the very few others that made it told them about their adventures and about Hernan Cortes winning land over for Spain. So when he got there, all of Spain called him the Governor of Mexico.

Killing most of the Aztecs (over 300,000 Aztecs) wasn’t bad for most people. The Natives and Americans did not like the Aztecs. When Hernan Cortes first discovered the Aztecs he enjoyed them giving him and his men gold and jewels. He saw no point in hurting them. After awhile he realized why they were treating him that way. The Aztecs thought he was the Aztec god called Quetzalcoatl. When he found out that they thought he was the Aztec god, he became greedy and kept asking for more gold and food. Afterwards he returned to Spain, and turned to the Aztecs a year later. This made the Aztecs upset because the Aztec god wasn’t suppose to come back for another 200 years or so. When he found out that he was no longer going to receive gifts he declared war.

During the war, many of Cortes’ men were capture. Some were held as prisoners others were killed. Half of the prisoners escaped but those that got caught were killed. The escaped prisoners had no luck with them. The escaped prisoners stole as much treasure as possible and tried to swim across the river. Their heavy pockets caused many of Cortes’ men to drown. Hernan and a few others made it across alive.

Hernan Cortes was not going to be defeated. So he found thousands of people and got to work on his new plan. His simple plan was to cut off the city’s river by destroying the aqueducts so they couldn’t have fresh water to survive from. Then he went around the whole city and cut off cause ways. Now the Aztecs couldn’t get any food to survive. Cortes’ plan worked. He had killed many Aztecs. Most died from a disease called small pocks. The Spaniards brought the disease but didn’t know it because their body was used to it. Three months later the Aztecs got weak enough for Cortes’ men to move in. the Spaniards destroyed anyone and everything in their path. Most of the Aztec’s gold was never found. Many people believed the Aztecs sunk their gold in the river while they were being starved. After the the battle, Hernan Cortes went back home to Spain and was hailed the “Spanish Ruler of Mexico”.

So Hernan Cortes isn’t that bad of a person now that you know these facts about him. He explored more of Mexico and the Aztecs. He also won over a lot of land for Spain and was rewarded for it. Killing the Aztecs wasn’t bad for all especially for Spain since that is where he got his land from. I hope you enjoyed reading this!

I think if there was no age of exploration the world would be a lot different. There wouldn’t be as many wars, the plane might not be invented, and there wouldn’t be as much variety in the word.

One of the reasons I care about this is because. If the Philippines and America were never found I would not be born. Lots of people are from two or more different countries, and without exploration most of them would not exist.

There wouldn’t be as much variety in the world if there was no age of exploration. For example if I as from England my parents would be from England, and my parents, parents and so on.

Because of exploration people went to the Americas, Australia and a lot more countries. They brought new things to these lands. They also started intermarrying. Intermarrying is when people from different countries get married. That’s why the world wouldn’t have a lot of variety without the age of exploration.

Would the plane be invented if there was no age of exploration? I don’t think there would be. The people would not want to go that far away. Because the world would seem much smaller.

The world would seem much smaller because. There would be Europe, China, and a part of Africa. Would seem like the world. And the tribes and natives in all the other countries, would only know of were they are. There would be no need for a plane if you can’t go that far with it. That is why I think there would be no plane if there was no age of exploration.

I think with out the age of exploration there would not be as many wars. Because there would not be as many places to fight with. People might be fairly separated so they wouldn’t fight over land.

One example is, from exploration England moved to America, the French moved to Canada, and the British moved to South America. Soon they started fighting over who owns the land. Then the Indies started fighting because they did not want to be ruled any more. That’s why I think without exploration the plane would not be invented, there would not be as many wars, and there wouldn’t be as much variety in the world.

by Karis

Captain Cook is an important explorer

I am an Australian girl who goes to an American school. At my school we always study Northern American discoveries but there are other continents like for example Australia. Beautiful beaches awesome city’s, none of this could be possible if I wasn’t for this guy… Captain James Cook. He is (to me) an extremely important explorer, because he never gave up, he made Australia what it is today, and gave us so much knowledge about that part of the world.

Captain James Cook never gave up for example he (as a child) had seen so many explorers go out and never come back but still he went out on 3 journeys knowing what he knew. On his first exploration he got very sick but he did not make the sailors go back to England instead he ate sea greens (starfish, seaweed and coral). One of the reasons he is one of the best Captains is because he did, ate and even said any thing that the crew had to.

Captain Cook gave us a lot of knowledge about the eastern bottom part of the world by mapping it. For example for his first journey he went from England around the cost of South America, straight through the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand around Australia and back to England. He mapped it all and it took him over 3 years to do so

Another reason Captain Cook is important (to me) is that he made Australia what it is today. If he hadn’t explored Australian people could be speaking French, Spanish or even Portages. Australia would not be multicultural country; Sydney could still be a forest instead of one of the nicest cities in the world. Captain Cook brought convicts to Australia and that’s why we are western looking not Asian or African. Captain Cook also decided a lot of names in Australia and New Zealand, for example Cook Bay could be called Balboa Bay, Magellan Bay or even Desoto Bay.

Captain Cook is my favorite explorer, because he never gave up, he made Australia what it is today and gave us a lot of knowledge about that part of the world.

By Tasha

Teddy Roosevelt

Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was a very successful person. He was 26^th president of the United States, he helped the environment with his national parks, and he even was the person who got the idea of building the Panama Canal. He was fair, kind, and always wanted what’s best for everyone. The world would be a very different place if he had decided to become a scientist instead of a politician.

Teddy really helped the environment over his lifetime. He loved nature. He also loved animals and studying them up close. He used to hunt down animals so that he could look at them. But after awhile he realized that animals were very, very precious and that if people kept hunting, some species could disappear. He decided he had to find a way to preserve the animals and their habitats. So with the help of some other people, the WORLDS first national park, Yellowstone opened in 1872.

As I had said, Teddy did a great many things during his life. One extremely important thing that he did was that he helped build the Panama Canal. Before the Panama Canal, ships had to go on a long, dangerous journey to Cape Horn at the bottom of South America and up the other side. The sea was full of dangers and the bottom of South America is bitterly cold. There was a tiny strip of land that ran right through Panama. If someone cut through that land, ships would only have to go half of the journey they used to. Panama used to belong to Brazil but they broke free so that the Canal could be made. Teddy convinced everyone to pay Panama lots of money to build the Canal. The Canal would cut through the small strip so that ships would only have to go half of the journey. It took 10 years to complete it but every minute was worth it.

Teddy was a very fair person. When some people run for a spot in the government they run for power or fame. But Teddy ran because wanted change. He felt that if he set his mind to something, and did everything in his power to try, he could achieve great heights. One way he did this was by being fair. A good example of him doing this is, during his presidency Russia and Japan were fighting over some land. Teddy always said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick you will go far.” This was his favorite saying. It meant solve your problems by speaking but show power as you do it. And that’s just what he did. He asked a government official from each country to come and talk to him. They signed a peace treaty and stopped fighting. For doing this, Teddy was awarded with a Nobel Peace Prize. He spoke softly and carried big stick. And did go very far.

As you can see T.R has done a great many good things. And along the way he was a pretty good person. His life shows strength, determination, and fairness. And for these reasons, I think the world would be a very different place if Theodore Roosevelt had never lived.

By: Olivia

Thank You for reading!

Dian Fossey’s Accomplishments By Sophie

Have you ever heard of Dian Fossey? Her home was in the jungle with Mountain gorillas. And there she was the first to touch Mountain gorillas, the first in the world! And there Dian accomplished her dream! In my opinion, Dian was an important explorer because of mainly 2 things. Bravery and kindness to the gorillas.

Dian was brave. Well, for example, here is the story of how she got into her gorilla project! When Dian saw Dr. Leaky, she wanted to explore even more than before so she ran towards him. Dr. Leaky was in the middle of a gorilla fossil research so he was covered in dust. But still, Dian told him of how she explored the gorillas in the Virunga Mountain’s. After that, Dr. Leaky asked, “Are you merely interested in gorillas as a spectator or journalists?” Dian replied, “Much more than that Mr. Leaky, Someday I plan to come and live and work here” Dian was actually very nervous for she had never made that dream before, or written it down. But at the same time Dian was very excited. She wanted to live among them and complete her goal. Dr. Leaky understood and sent her to Africa and they always kept in touch.

Another example for how she was brave is that Dian was a natural person, who studied hard and went to a good college and got interested in Mountain gorillas by Dr. Leaky. She was brave enough to go near the so-called most “vicious” gorillas in the world!

Dian was important because she helped preserve Mountain gorillas. At first sight, Dian thought Mountain gorillas were the cutest animals in the world! She thought that the people who called mountain gorillas mean and vicious were cruel. She knew that Mountain gorillas were being killed by poachers, traps, and other things and for example, when Dian heard that Digit, (her gorilla friend) was killed by a trap she told all Africans to find all traps and destroy them, because she wanted Mountain gorillas to live and be happy forever. When the Africans were done they altogether found over 600 death traps. Dian was so happy!

Now you know what Dian did and what her personality is, and sometimes Dian liked animals more than people! And if Dian didn’t discover Mountain gorillas, they would probably still be called the most vicious animal in the world. And still, Dian was an important explorer to me because of her bravery and kindness.

Thanks and bye!

James Cook’s Accomplishments                                        Sarah

Have you ever heard of James Cook? You probably have and if you haven’t, I’m shocked. I would be shocked because Cook is an important explorer. Cook is an important explorer because he is an excellent captain. Cook was also an important explorer because if he hadn’t found Australia and New Zealand, then when someone else found them, they might have not been British. Also because he added to the world’s knowledge about the Pacific Ocean and the world itself.

James Cook was an excellent captain because none of his men died on his first voyage. That was amazing because fifty or sixty men usually died on voyages back then. Cook kept his crew alive by making them bathe everyday and air out their beddings and clothes twice a week. He also ran a very clean ship; he made his crew clean the ship. Cook checked their hands to make sure they were clean. He gave them breadfruit as a starch to give them energy and gave them citrus fruits to prevent scurvy.

If Cook had not found Australia and New Zealand the when someone else found them, they might not have been British. It could easily have been Portugal, France, or Spain. Then Australia and New Zealand would be speaking Portuguese, French, or Spanish. They actually could be speaking English but some one else might have been famous for discovering them. I’m not just making it up the idea of the different countries discovering them. France went to Tahiti and all three countries explored around that part of the Pacific. One wrong turn and any of them could have ended up in Australia or New Zealand.

He added to the world’s knowledge about the Pacific Ocean and the world itself. He actually made maps that had Australia and New Zealand on it. Also, when mapmakers found out about them, they added them to the maps. After the discovery people started to know more and get more interested in the Pacific Ocean. He helped other explorers with their explorations. Cook could have inspired some one to explore or maybe they took a different path because they didn’t know Australia and New Zealand were there and may have ended up somewhere else. After Cook, people started to know more about the world. He had three voyages and in those three voyages he was the first to land on a couple undiscovered countries back then, for example Australia and New Zealand. He also claimed Antarctica for England. By just exploring he opened a lot of new opportunities for England and other countries.

If you hadn’t heard of James Cook, now you know who he is and what he did. Some of you already knew, therefore you’re experts. He is an important explorer because he was an excellent captain, if found Australia and New Zealand then might not ended up speaking English, and he added to the world’s knowledge. In conclusion, James cook is an important explorer.

Explorers. What do you think at first when you hear this word? Is it closer to hero or villain? Explorers in the Age of exploration are villains because explorers treated their crews badly. In addition, explorers are villains because explorers destroyed the civilization of the natives and started the slave trade when exploration started.

When explorers go exploring, of course, they need a crew on their ship. Explorers trick or capture people and that’s how exploration starts. Back in the age of exploration, not many people wanted to explore. They especially didn’t want to be a ship member because you don’t know what lies ahead. Furthermore, it was easy to get disease, such as scurvy because you can’t get enough vitamin C. Because of this condition, explorers had to kidnap people to start its journey. Wither they like it or not, once the ship went sailing, they cannot come back. The journey to the unknown started. For example, Christopher Columbus tricked his crews into believing they have traveled less far than what they actually had. He decreased the distance he traveled each day when he told crew. Each day, he told his crews that they had sailed 10 to 40 miles less than they actually had.

During the Age of Exploration, Europeans landed in America where Aztecs lived. Explorers destroyed their civilizations by taking their gold, land and fighting with the Aztecs when they can’t trade. The explorers’ main goal was to trade gold so they can bring wealth to themselves and to their country. So if they couldn’t trade, they used their weapons to get the gold. Taking the Native Americans’ land started in the late Age of Exploration when people needed more land to live and grow crops. Since European’s weapons were more powerful than the natives, eventually the natives lost their land. Explorers were destroying their civilizations slowly; natives didn’t realize it until it was too late. For example, when Samuel de Champlain formed an alliance with the Huron and the Algonquin against the Iroquois. He did this because he wanted to explorer the river passage to North and West. Just to achieve wealth for himself and for his country, he made the Iroquois lose the fight. By destroying the civilization of the natives, explorers in the Age of exploration are villains.

When exploration started, the slave trade started. It started when Prince Henry, the Navigator, brought ten Africans to Europe. Since the Europeans needed more people to work on their farm, the salve trade was successful and more ships were sent to Africa to bring back slaves. These were done with force and the natives felt no comfort.

With these actions, explorers discovered many new places and many new inventions. Without explorers, our lives wouldn’t be the same as today. But what explorers didn’t discover was themselves; they didn’t realize their actions were wrong, or they couldn’t help it.  Maybe it was too early in history for that. It’s just that behind the hero parts, there are always villainous things following.

-Helen