January 5, 2006		Mr. Lamb	travlamb@topekacollegiate.org
Get to Know Kwanzaa Prior to our winter break students spent time learning about the 7 principles of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa, a celebration of family, community, and culture, was established by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 and is grounded in Umoja (unity) and Kujichagulia (self-determination). Loosely translated from Swahili, Kwanzaa means “first harvest.” It is a nonreligious holiday observed by almost 10 million Americans. Interested in learning more? Visit the official web site at: www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/				Dates of Interest ► 1/5-2/15 Exhibit- “Frederick Douglass: From Slavery to Freedom-The Journey to New York City” at TCS ► 1/8-3/31 Photography Exhibit- “Unseen. Unforgotten.” at the Brown v. Board Nat’l Site (photos from Birmingham during Civil Rights era) ► 1/9 Film showing and Panel Discussion of “Through Martha’s Eyes” at TCS, 7:00 pm ► 1/15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance ► 1/28 Lecture- “Michael Senn…Swiss Imigrant …Populist Legislator …Advocate for Women’s Rights” Constitution Hall, Lecompton, KS, 2:00 pm ► 2/7 TCS History Fair, all day Note: Please contact me if you would like me to include upcoming information of historical interest in the TCS History Times.
Social Studies-Grade Summaries 6^th Grade- Students presented their South American newscasts prior to the break. I was impressed by the imagination displayed by all the groups. There were plenty of colorful costumes and props to go around. Together, we learned about people like Johan Santana and Hugo Chavez. Also, a Public Service Announcement taught us about fire safety. Well done! 7^th Grade- I was pleased by the depth of detail provided by all the groups in our student taught sections on the original 13 colonies. Besides thorough outlines and comprehensive key term lists, students created a performance portion as well. Puppets were sewn, a digital documentary was made, a talk show was filmed, and skits were written. Quite an amalgamation of talent! 8^th Grade- Besides continuing their study of the United Nations in the world, students have continued reading and responding to our current event magazine, Upfront. Prior to the break students engaged in illustrating political cartoons based on what they read.
	A Virtual Repository? Yes! You can explore the turbulent times of “Bleeding Kansas” online. View letters, diaries, and photos of this exciting six year period that served as a precursor to the Civil War. Novice and expert alike can find something interesting at this fantastic site. Visit them online at: http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/