Six Flags Qiddiya unveils plans for world’s longest, fastest and tallest roller coaster

(Image:  Six Flags Qiddiya)

https://www.newsweek.com/fastest-roller-coaster-world-speeds-155-mph-will-open-this-six-flags-1566747 

1.  In what ways are numbers used in this article?  How might one's knowledge of engineering limit or create apprehension for wanting to ride this roller coaster?  

2.  To what degree does the location matter for this story?  Why might a teenager in Saudi Arabia fell differently about this than a person in Mexico?

3.  In what ways is this connected to environmental sciences?  How might we connect this to the last book you read?

4.  What would you do if you won tickets to be the first person to ride this roller coaster?  What factors change in order for records like this to be broken? 

5.  What might be the long-term effects of building this roller coaster? Is there something more important I should be considering in this story? 

Extension Activities:  

1)  Students can compare previous record-breaking roller coasters and present their findings in a visually appealing way?

2)  Students can design their own dream roller coaster and present their findings to the class.  

Stolen Copy of World's Most Expensive Painting Is Found

(Museum of San Domenico Maggiore)

https://www.newser.com/story/301485/stolen-copy-of-worlds-most-expensive-painting-is-found.html 

1)  What numbers are used in the article as evidence of authenticity?  How is evidence used in art to determine authenticity? 

2)  Whose perspective is represented in this story?  Whose perspective is left out?  Why might an Italian feel differently about this than a Brit?

3)   In what way is this connected to science?  In what way is this connected to the last movie you saw?

4)  How might this have been different if it happened one year from now?  In what ways might this situation have been resolved quicker?

5)  How is this significant for students?  In what ways might this be significant for Italy?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research famous art heists and rank them on a scale of significance.

2)  Students can research the most valuable pieces of art and plot the figures on a chart where they get to choose the x and y axis labels.  

Family of Teen Sues School to Play on JV Team

He was cut from the Ladue High soccer team. First his family cried foul. Then they sued.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/he-was-cut-from-the-ladue-high-soccer-team-first/article_a8eb5429-4355-5357-9aa2-a3c6eababeaf.html

1)  What evidence is being used to prove discrimination or non-discrimination?  What evidence do you find most convincing? How are numbers used in this story to persuade the reader?

2)  To what degree is one perspective promoted over another in this story?  In what ways might the teen's perspective differ from his parents'?  How could you view this story from both the school's and the family's perspectives?

3)  To what degree is this connected to your school?  How might this be connected to Harry Potter?  To the Academy Awards? 

4)  How could the coach's rationale change if this was a different sport?  How could this be different if the student was 2 years younger?  Older?  In Colombia? 

5)  In what ways is this significant to you?  What are the long-term consequences for the school?  For the student?  What is a piece of information that could make this significant for a student at this school in the future?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research and report about famous athletes/artists who got cut/rejected from teams early in their career trajectories.

2)  Students can devise an equitable plan/policy/advice for students who find themselves in a similar situation.

Authorities Investigating Tourist Riding Crocodile

https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/northern-territory/incredible-moment-tourist-jumps-on-the-back-of-massive-saltwater-crocodile/news-story/697f1ce15e6672b963f96f34e80461ff
Picture: Niels Jensen/Caters NewsSource:Caters News Agency

1)  What makes this story credible?  What more information do I need to understand this problem better?  What numbers are used in this story to give a value judgement of the tourists actions?   

2)  Were the perspectives in this piece generally positive or negative about the man's actions?  How is my own perspective limited in making a judgement about this story?  How might this story be perceived differently in different parts of Australia?  In different parts of Denmark?

3)    Have you seen something like this before?  In what ways is a connection to "Crocodile Dundee" or "The Crocodile Hunter" appropriate?  To which classic fairly tale or story is this most connected?   

4)  How might this story be different if the tourist's nationality were changed?  To what degree would this be newsworthy if there were fewer media outlets in Australia? 

5)  What might be some ways this story is significant for Australian tourism?  Environmental efforts?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can study tricks of zoologists to keep animals docile when humans are around and look for patterns between groups of animals (reptiles and mammals)

2)  Students can list animals common to their area and rate on a continuum "most dangerous" to "most friendly".  

A Guide to What Teenagers Think is Cool

What is Lit?

Just some teens, enjoying the coolest brands. (Getty Images/ISTOCKPHOTO)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/04/teens-think-axe-body-spray-is-cooler-than-espn-mcdonalds-or-vice/?utm_term=.d39e2f77f4a1

https://storage.googleapis.com/think/docs/its-lit.pdf

1)  What evidence is presented in these resources?  Is it compelling for the conclusions the authors come to?  What are the limits in surveying people for research?  To what degree can one trust the conclusion of YouTube being the "coolest" brand?  

2)  Whose perspective is represented in the articles?  Whose perspective is not represented?  In what ways are teenagers' perceptions different than their parents?  Why might a Pewdiepie subscriber think about this report differently than someone who has never heard of this YouTuber?        

3)  In what ways can this report connected to the environment?  To government and politics?  Education?

4)  To what extent would this report have been different if they extended the age range 3 years above and below?  How might these resources be    

5)  In what ways is this significant to you?  What are some assumptions about teenagers?  About the field of advertising?  What are the long-term consequences of this report?  Short-term?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the techniques used to sell products and bring in ads that use these techniques.  They can then compare them to early techniques in marketing (i.e. Listerine).  

2)  Students can create an guidebook of new words for teachers to be aware of and update it throughout the year.  They can then chart the use and disuse of slang words throughout different periods of time through research or by interviewing family members.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Language

Wasteful Spending? US Gov Spends $2M, Finds Out Kids Like Food Un-Sneezed On

Senator Questions the Value of Scientific Research

 (Getty Images/mammamaart)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/30/should-the-u-s-spend-200000-on-how-500-year-old-fish-bones-relate-to-tanzanian-social-status/?utm_term=.6218dd1cef44#comments

1)  Which numbers are used as evidence in this article?  What evidence is used by politicians as "appropriate" or "too much" spending?

2)  Why might a scientist have a different opinion on this than that of a builder?  Whose perspective is left out?

3)  In what ways is this connected to sports?  Instagram?

4)  How might this be different if it was written by a scientist?  What would happen if the government did not fund scientific research in the non-STEM related field?

5)  What are some basic assumptions about government?  The role of science in society?  How are those assumptions reinforced in this article?  How are they undermined?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the history of breakthroughs/inventions that have their roots in seemingly trivial experimentation and create a top ten list.

2)  Students can research Bell Labs/Raytheon and NASA/NSF for the various ways the government and the private sector approach research and development.  

AoK:  Natural Sciences

WoK:  Emotion

Texting Mistake Leads to New Plans for Thanksgiving

Grandma With Wrong Number Makes Holiday Miracle


(Twitter)

http://mashable.com/2016/11/16/grandma-texts-wrong-teen-thanskgiving/?#JSfFo5r7VEqU

1.  In what ways did questions of evidence come up in this story?  How do we know what is true on social media?  What evidence would you need to verify someone's identity from a number you didn't know?    

2.  Whose perspective is represented in this story?  Whose is left out?  In what ways is your perspective limited when reading this story?  With whom do you identify most?  Why might a teenager have a different perspective than a senior citizen?

3.  In what ways is this connected to history?  In what ways is this connected to transportation?  Star Wars?

4.  How might this be different if the gender roles were reversed?  If this was in India?

5.  What are the basic assumptions of the role of a grandmother?  The Thanksgiving holiday?  In what ways is this significant to you?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the term "doxxing" and decide if this falls under the definition and debate for their viewpoint.

2)  Students can invite someone they normally wouldn't invite to a celebration and reflect on the experience from planning to implementation.

AoK:  Ethics, History

WoK:  Reason, Imagination, Emotion

Single Mother Returns Money from Broken ATM

Bank Customer Lauded for Honesty

(Getty Images)

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20161005/cop-shop-woman-does-the-right-thing-after-gift-from-atm

1)  What could be used as evidence that this story is a fabrication?  What are the limits of financial records as evidence?  What are the limits of video evidence?

2)  Whose perspective is represented?  Left out?  In what ways is your perspective limited on this story?  Why might the CEO of Wells -Fargo feel differently about this story today than 3 years ago?

3)  In what ways is this connected to social media?  Marvel Comics?

4)  How would the story be different if it was a man?  A woman of a different race?  A larger amount of money?  A smaller amount?  A bank teller was responsible?

5)  To whom might this be significant?  What are some basic assumptions about honesty in financial dealings?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can rank which items are the most immoral to steal  a. a car  b.  a painting  c. pirated music  d.  bread for a hungry family.  and then research Kant's categorical imperative and re-rank

2)    Students can write a short story of a character who one day finds $133,000 dollars was deposited into their bank account.

AoK:  Ethics

WoK:  Emotion  

UK Girl Makes Money Naming Chinese Babies

16 Year Old Has Helped Name 200,000 Children

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/37255033/a-16-year-old-british-girl-earns-48000-helping-chinese-people-name-their-babies

1)  What numbers are of significance in this article?  What evidence would be helpful to the clients that their name is appropriate?  If you were seeking a Chinese-influenced name?

2)  Whose perspective is represented in this article?  Whose is left out?  In what ways might a mother's perspective be different than a child's?

3)  In what ways is this connected to the culinary arts?  Sports?

4)  What might happen if a Chinese young woman is discovered doing the same for Europeans?

5)  In what ways is this significant?  What are some basic assumptions about naming children?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research popular names over time and analyze frequency charts to make predictions about the likelihood of people of different ages having certain names.

2)  Students can read the chapter of Freakonomics discussing names and how they are connected to social status and predict the names of the future indicating education level or relative wealth.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Language, Imagination

Canandian Teenager Calls 911 on Her Parents

Teen Upset With Vacation Spot

(Wikimedia Commons/By P199)

https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/gta/2016/08/20/teen-girl-calls-911-after-parents-forced-her-to-vacation-with-them.html


1)  What evidence would help the teen prove her point?  What evidence would help the police convince the teen that her use of 911 was inappropriate?    

2)  Whose perspective is represented in this story?  Whose is left out?  In what ways might your perspective be different than your teacher's about this story?

3)  To what degree is this connected to math?  Geography?    

4)  How might this have been different if it occurred in the U.S.?  About Disneyland?  If the young woman was 9?  19?

5)  To whom might this be significant?  What are the short term effects of this? Long?  What are the basic assumptions about emergency management services?  Teenagers?

Extension Activities:  

1)  Students can research vacation spots and write a series of diary entries from the perspective of a disgruntled teenager to describe the major features and landmarks of thee location.

2)  Students can research emergency management and create a frequency spectrum of likely scenarios and responses based on statistical information available for your hometown.

AoK:  Human Sciences, Ethics

WoK:  Imagination, Language

Umpire Ejects a Heckling Fan

Ump Stops Game to Throw out Unruly Fan

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/umpire-bob-davidson-ejects-phillies-fan-heckling-mlb-giants

(USA Today)

1)  What numbers are used in this article as evidence?  What evidence would a judge need to determine if the umpire acted accordingly?      

2)  Whose perspective is left out of this article?  Why might the owner of the team feel differently than the child of the umpire?

3)  To what degree is this connected to education?  Economics?

4)  In what ways would this story be different if it happened during an Olympic event?  

5)  What are the short term consequences of this ejection?  To whom might this be most significant?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can create a continuum of fan behavior from the positive to the negative.

2)  Students can research the history of booing or cheering from a cultural perspective and write a small guide of do's and don't's for first-time visitors.   

AoK:

WoK:

The Case for Critical Thinking in an Election Year (WARNING-POLITICAL POST)

I live in a world where I have access to unlimited information and limited time.  It seems as if all news, opinions, tweets, posts are given equal priority in my social spaces and it is easy for me to default to quick “gotcha” talking points on breaking events (all events seem to be breaking lately) and wallow in the satisfaction of an old-fashioned game of meme one-upmanship .  This may be entertaining but it doesn’t necessarily encourage deep reflection on inherently complex issues.  I often struggle with distinguishing between that which is worth my attention and that which is worth letting drift by.  It is easy to get cynical or hopeless about my individual agency in changing seemingly intractable systemic problems in economic inequality, the environment, or my big one- education.  But one of the things I’ve decided I can do on a personal level is start exercising good judgment about what I allow into my thoughts and how I let it affect me. 

          

Thinking is a privilege.  To have the free time to sit back and deliberate about my current situation and how it is a result of my past and how it will shape my future is a gift for which I am thankful.  I try not to judge those who may not have grown up in an environment that supported strategic thinking or are constantly reacting to the micro- decisions that can take up a disproportionate amount of cognitive bandwidth.  But for someone like me who has enough time enough to post on social media, I’ve found an exercise (not THE, or the ONLY exercise)  that seems to help in maintaining some kind of equilibrium when it comes to the constant barrage of 1’s and 0’s I experience.  I’ve been practicing using a method of questioning for the last few years in interactions with my students, colleagues, friends and family (often to their chagrin, I’m sure).  The 5 Habits of Mind is a framework promoted by two of my educational heroes that encourages asking questions of 1) evidence 2) perspective 3) connections 4) alternatives and 5) significance about the information we encounter.  Here’s how it might work when I look at a shared post at the top of my newsfeed with the headline “It is Undeniable:  Candidate X is the Most _________ Candidate in History”.  (edit:  obviously I don’t do this for every post or completely for any post, it’s just a series of suggested questions I might ask):

1)      Evidence:  What evidence is being presented here?  Do I find this evidence credible?  What counts as evidence in this field?  Do I even know enough to know what counts as evidence in this field?  Is this based on the opinion of an expert or the feelings of someone who doesn’t have a background in the topic?  Could one’s expertise make their opinion even more entrenched in bias?  

2)     Perspective: Whose perspective is represented here?  Whose perspective is left out?  Why am I attracted to this particular perspective?  In what ways might this perspective be valid?  Why do I discount some perspectives as illegitimate?  Have I always had this perspective?  Is my current personal viewpoint on this topic worth keeping or tossing?  How can I avoid confirmation bias informing my perspective?

3)     Connections:  How is this connected to what I already know?  How is it connected to what I don’t know?  In what ways is this connected to what I read yesterday?  How might it be connected to what I will read tomorrow?  How is it connected to my favorite artist?  Book?  Vacation spot?  Child? 

4)     Alternatives (Supposition):  Would I believe this if some of the major points were switched (i.e. black to white, male to female, theist to humanist)?  Would I accept this if it was about another country?  What would I do if I was in their place?          

5)     Significance:  What are the long term effects of this?  Is this significant to me?  If it’s not significant to me, to whom might it matter?  Why might it be significant to them?  (This last one throws it back to “Perspective” and you can start the whole process again. 

       

           Why did I say this was a political post if I don’t mention my allegiance to one candidate or distaste for another?  Democracy requires discussion, but not all discussions are equal.  Talking at someone with no intention of considering their side of the story is not useful to changing minds and attitudes.  While some of the most condescending and reactionary posts have helped me sharpen my ideas, the posts inspiring honest debate by demonstrating respect for diversity of thought have been most beneficial to me.  My hope is that practice with the 5 Habits can lead to a more compassionate understanding of another person’s lived experience, which is the bare minimum I can extend to those with whom I agree…and especially to those with whom I don’t.

Basketball Skills Run in the Family

Basketball players are more likely to be related to elite athletes than baseball, football players

New York Knicks' Robin Lopez is defended by his brother, Brooklyn Nets' Brook Lopez, during an NBA game in April.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

http://www.newser.com/story/225714/basketball-more-than-any-other-major-sport-is-a-family-affair.html

1)  What numbers are the most significant in the article for convincing soeone that basketball is unique in this instance?  What role do statistics play in sports?   What words help you identify the main idea of this article?  

2)  Why might a sibling of a professional athlete feel differently than a parent after hearing this?  To what degree would a world-class musician identify with the results of this study?  Why might this be a good article to read in a class of academically gifted students?  Whose view is not represented in this article?

3)  In what ways is this story connected to math?  Politics?  Harry Potter?

4)  How might this story be different if the basketball rim was raised by two feet to twelve feet?  In what ways would this be different if it was about actors and actresses?

5)  What are basic assumptions about talent in athletics?  About hard work vs. natural ability?  About competition?  To whom does this study matter?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can try to create a sport or change the rules to an existing sport that minimizes the effects of inherited physical ability.

2)  Students can fictionalize their own life story by writing about a real or imaginary sibling who always overshadows them or who is always in their shadow.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Sense Perception

Study Confirms the Harmful Effects of Spanking

Science Shows How Physical Punishment May Change Personality

http://mic.com/articles/141851/here-s-what-getting-spanked-as-a-kid-did-to-your-personality-according-to-science#.PaWX9lpLU

1) What evidence is used to support the claims? What quotes are most useful? Which numbers are most significant to refuting this study?

2) Why might a teacher have a different perspective than a student on this topic? Why might your great-great grandfather think differently than your future grandchildren? Whose perspective is missing in this article?

3) In what ways is this connected to school? To what degree is this connected to athletics?

4) In what ways would this news be different if it happened 5 years ago? Why might this change if the definition of spanking was extended? Restricted?

5) What is the purpose of the study? What are the possible implications of this article? What are some basic assumptions about punishment in this article? What are some basic assumptions about parenting? In what way is this story significant to you?

Extension Activities:

1) Students can create a mock article that substitutes the subject of "Spanking" for another issue for comedic effect/satire.

2) Students can conduct a survey of "unpopular opinions" and present their findings.

AoK: Human Sciences

Wok: Reason, Perception

Man Sets Record for Binge Watching

Watches 94 Hours of TV in One Sitting

http://www.vulture.com/2016/04/brooklyn-man-sets-tv-binge-watching-world-record.html

1) What evidence is used to prove records? How might the the Guinness Book of Records have become the authority on world records? Would yo have chosen these rules to enforce? Anything you would add or clarify?

2) Why might an executive at Netflix be interested in this story? Why might the record holder's mother have a different opinion on this record than his girlfriend's mother?

3) In what ways is this connected to psychology? Biology? In what ways is this story connected to other famous world records?

4) To what degree would this story be different if the content the group watched had been decided by popular vote? How would the story be different if the participants were from another demographic category?

5) What are some basic assumptions about binge-watching? About "screen-time"? In what ways does this story affect you?

Extension Activities:

1) Students can research world records and make a plan to break a record of their choice?

2) Student can research the current APA guidelines for children and "screen-time" and create a plan for children of different generations.

AoK: Human Sciences

Wok: Imagination

Coke Wins Lawsuit over Pomegranate Juice Content

Jury Says .3% is Enough

Minute Maid stopped making its Pomegranate Blueberry juice in 2014.   (AP)

http://www.newser.com/story/222453/jury-cokes-3-pomegranate-juice-was-a-ok.html

1)  In what ways does this affect POM?  How does a jury know what is true in a case like this?      

2)  In what ways might a father feel differently about this than an executive at Coca Cola?  Why might an Indian feel differently about this than an American?

3)  To what degree could this be thought of as a math problem?  Health?

4)  How might this have been different if it was advertised as apple-pomegranate juice?  In what ways would this article have been different if it was about pears?

5)  What are the basic assumptions about health in this article?  To what degree does this affect you?  Your community?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the marketing behind "super foods" over the past decade and use the same tactics to promote a new food of their choice to be in included in the list.

2)  Students can write a law for rules and ethics in advertising associated with the amount of the marketed or primary ingredient.

AoK:  Math, Human Science
WoK:  Reason, Language

Waitress Not Tipped for Unique Hairstyle

Customer Left Note that said "Tips are For Normal Looking People" 

(Shutterstock)


http://www.newser.com/story/222251/waitress-stiffed-for-not-looking-normal.html

1)  How do we know what is true in this article?  What evidence is useful in determining the "unspoken rules" for tipping?

2)  Whose perspective is being represented in this article?  Whose perspective is not represented in this article?  Why might a teenager feel differently about this than a senior citizen?

3)  In what ways is this connected to math?  Technology?  Traveling?

4)  How might have this situation been different if the employee was a man?  If it happened in a Red Lobster?  

5)  To whom is this significant?  What are the basic assumptions about tipping in your culture?  Customer service?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the history of tipping in America and provide a list of situations that require tipping and calculate percentages for "excellent customer service".

2)  Students can research tipping culture in other countries and write a guide to tipping for a country of their choice.

AoK:  Ethics
WoK:  Language, Perception

That Moment When You Think You Won Powerball

NJ Workers Celebrate After Thinking They Won the Lottery


 (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)


http://abc7ny.com/news/video-nj-workers-ecstatic-after-thinking-they-won-the-powerball-(hint-they-didnt)/1156511/

1)  What evidence did the employees use to confirm their numbers?  In what ways might this experience strengthen their decision-making abilities for the future?  Weaken?

2)  Why might the manager's reaction be different than that of the dishwasher's or valet's?

3)  In what ways is this connected to the concept of celebrity?  To what degree is this connected to religion?

4)  How might this story be different if it was school employees?  Google employees?  In China?

5)  What are the underlying assumptions about money and work expressed in this article?  How important is money to you?  In what ways might a large lottery jackpot improve your life?  In what ways might it be a detriment?

Extension Activities:

1)  Student's can write a series of apology texts form the perspective of a person mentioned (or not) in the article (i.e. the sender of the wrong numbers, the valet)

2)  Students can calculate the odds of winning the Powerball Jackpot and compare it to other unlikely scenarios (i.e. Shark Attack, Vending machine serious injury, hole-in-one in golf)

AoK:  Math

WoK:  Reason

Nicki Minaj to Perform in Angola

Should Celebrities Appear for Leaders Known for Oppression and Brutality?

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/nicki-minaj-concert-in-angola-draws-human-rights-complaint.html?pagewanted=all

1)  What evidence would sway your opinion one way or the other?  Does the amount of money make a difference?

2)  In what capacities might Beyonce think about this differently than Nicki?  Your sibling and the daughter of Dos Santos?

3)  In what ways is this connected to sports?  To Martin Skrelli and Bernie Sanders?  Schindler's List?

4)  Would you change your mind if you found out people in the country with your religious beliefs were being persecuted?  Hair color?  About North Korea?  Germany in 1942?  Mongolia in 1210?  

5)  To what degree does this affect you?  What is the short term consequence?  What are the underlying assumptions about pop stars that affect this story?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can chart the responses of their classmates and teachers on the amount of money they would take to perform in a similar situation and analyze their results.

2)  Students can write a series of 5 tweets to Nicki Minaj supporting or protesting her decision and predict the outcome of a fictitious back-and-forth with an online opponent.      

AoK:  Ethics

WoK:  Reason

Facebook to Introduce Features for Breakups

Facebook Will Erase Your Ex

http://www.dailydot.com/technology/facebook-break-up-features/

1)  What evidence does Facebook use to indicate the end of a relationship?  Which numbers would be most convincing that this is a valuable resource?  Whose opinion on this matter would give the most credence?    

2)  In what ways would a divorce lawyer and a marriage counselor differ in opinion?  Why might Mark Zuckerberg and an artist have different opinions?  Whose perspective is left out of this article?

3)  In what ways is this connected to health?  To what degree is this connected to geography?  How might we view connections between this update and Facebook's new logo redesign?    

4)  In what ways would this story be different if Facebook made you pay for this service?  How might this be different if it was paired with news that Facebook was acquiring an online dating website?  

5)  What assumptions does the article make about modern dating?  What are the short-term implications for psychology?  What are the long-term implications for Facebook's finances as a result of this issue?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can draw comparisons to this article and the Pope poem "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and design a Venn diagram showing contrasts and comparisons.  

2)  Students can write an advertisement for the new service.  

AoK:  Human Sciences
WoK:  Emotion, Ethics