Bug Out!*

*Bug Out!: (v) 1: Military Terminology used to describe the act of immediately evacuating an area or position without taking any more than can be conveniently carried by an individual. 2: to depart especially in a hurry. Synonyms: bolt, flee, hightail (it), retreat, run off, skedaddle.

An earlier assignment for this course was to bring in artifacts, or items we felt would be important to us, and/or our survival if we found ourselves relocating. This relocation could have been caused by a natural disaster, persecution of some type, of just a desire to “move on.” Also known as the “shoebox activity” we all brought in those things we felt were needed, and perhaps defining.

Several things were notable due to their absence. Technology was not represented; rather than computers, iPads®, cell phones and the like, the only communication devices were simple pencil and paper. Interesting!  Unfortunately there seems to be no photographic evidence of what I brought along to share, but I will do my  best to list and describe what I did bring.

·         Representing a real fire arm, I brought a toy pistol; essential for defense and procurement of food.

·         A Bible; although not overly religious, this is a good source of solace and inspiration, as well as very riveting reading.

·         Bottle of water; initially for drinking (one never knows where the next source of potable water is) the container can be refilled when you find some usable water, or cut down to form a scoop.

·         Pocket knife; for cutting whatever needs to be cut or trimmed, and far easier to use than a stone blade that you have to make yourself.

·         Toilet paper; well just think about how amusing it would be if you had to clean yourself and all that was around was poison oak or sumac leaves.

·         Lighter; using this is far easier than rubbing two sticks together, and faster as well.

·         Change of undergarment; eventually you will find it necessary to clean your clothing. This gives you something to wear while that process is taking place..

 Well there you have it, I think I got it all, but if not I’m sure someone will tell me.

gev

IUSB T2T Trade Fair

Once upon a time at beautiful Indiana University South Bend there was a Trade Fair. This event was held by and for the Transition 2 Teaching Cohort of which I am a part. Members of our little group each brought items to trade with the rest of the class as a demonstration activity relating to “trade”. At first I had hoped to have some handmade lanyards produced by my youngest son, but when he heard that there would be no pay, he became dispositional and refused to help.

My initial plan in flames, I found several antique shirts from my jaded days in the nuclear power industry. One was a souvenir from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Southern California from 1982. It has some nice artwork of the plant on the back. The other shirt is a relic from shortly after the Three Mile Island incident in Pennsylvania. When the world decided that nuclear power was a baaad thing, we had some “NO NUKES” shirts made, with a somewhat different message wrapped around the comment. I was not sure if anyone would even want them, but I took a chance.

Lo and behold the Lovely Nia decided that her engineer fiancé might be amused by my No Nukes shirt, and was willing to negotiate a trade involving a luscious red velvet cupcake for the shirt, yum!.

Later, I was able to trade the other shirt, with the artwork, for several bags of homemade cookies by the Ever Wonderful Gladys, double yum!

The fair taught us about interdependence, general trade, supply and demand and bartering. It was a good class and a fun experience that we can use in future with our own classes.

Welcome to the Blog!

This posting is a test of the blog settings. Other posts will follow with (hopefully) good and interesting information relating the teaching of Social Studies to Elementary School children. It will also document a number of activities that the Transition 2 Teaching Program students are participating in.

As this  post is a test, I will include a photograph taken this evening which illustrates time and change. gev