Liam 8th Grade Log

Liam Al-Rajabi 8^th Grade Log

Math

Pre-Algebra

Key To Algebra Workbook 1

Key To Algegra Workbook 2

Science

The Physics of Superheroes  by James Kakalios, PhD. (used as a reference guide)

Physics Class@ South Fl Museum 2x a month (missed one class due to illness)

    a) Basic Motion: Pulleys and Levers
    b) Our Expanding Universe: dark matter, dents in the Universe
    c) Da Vinci Machines Exhibit
    d) Built a catapult, but had too much weight on it.

    e) Light waves

"Life: A Cosmic Story" @ South Fl Museum Jan. 22, 2014
Live Star Talk, Nov. 27, 2013, Jan. 22, 2014, Feb. 26, 2014, March 26, 2014
DaVinci  Special Presentation @South Florida Museum
"Through The Wormhole" 5 episodes
"Hawking" Documentary on Stephen Hawking

“The Physics of Superheroes”  lecture by author James Kakalios, PhD.

“Journey of the Universe”

“Cosmos” episodes 1, 2, and 3

History

Around The World In 100 Years by Jean Fritz
Walter Raleigh by L. Du Garde Peach

“Queen Elizabeth’s Tilbury Speech” Made on the eve of the battle with the Spanish Armada in 1588

Documentaries:
"Deadliest Warrior: Napoleon vs George Washington"
"In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" PBS documentary
"American Experience: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" PBS
"Deadliest Warrior: Sun Tzu vs Vlad the Impaler"
"Mystery of a Masterpiece" Nova/National Geographic

“Chicano: The Struggle in the Fields”  PBS documentary on Cesar Chavez

“Auschwitz: The Nazi State”

Documentary on The Iroquois Confederacy

“Slavery By Another Name” 

“The Clock That Changed The World”  BBC  (on John Harrison)

“The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment”

Movies:

"Longitude"

"Twelve Years a Slave" (2013)

“The Killing Fields”  (1984)

"Tora, Tora, Tora" (1970)

 “Amistad” (1997)

Lesson on Eli Whitney and the cotton gin and its effect on slavery

Language Arts:

Comics

-“Stan Lee: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”  documentary on Stan Lee

-“Superheroes: Never Ending Battle”  a 3-part documentary on the history of comics

-“Comic Book Men” tv show

Green Arrow: Quiver by Kevin Smith, Phil Hester, and Andy Parks (graphic novel)

Giant Size Man Thing Issues 1, 2, and 3

The Incredible Hulk Issue 236

The Amazing Spiderman 252

Solar: The Man of the Atom Issue 27

Haunted Hulk: Part One

The Mighty Thor Issue 4

The Savage Hulk

The Amazing Spiderman Issue 383

The Green Hornet Issue 8

The Punisher: War Journal Issue 41

Avengers Issue 331

Daredevil Issue 10.1

Iron Man Issue 3

Venom Issue 36

Fantastic Four Issue 353

Quasar Issue 41

Daredevil Issue 241

Visionaries Issue 2

The Call of Duty Issue 5

Arts: Film Studies

-Film Camp at Sarasota Film Society: made a short documentary film

-Liam was credited as a cameraman on other student films from the Film Camp at Sarasota Film Society
-LA Film School Fridays 10 podcasts by director Kevin Smith
-"The Making of The Hobbit"  included discussions on types of lenses
Comedy
Movie: "Let's Make Love" starring Marilyn Monroe (1960)
Movie: "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe (1959)

Movie: "Father of the Bride" (1950) starring Spencer Tracey and Elizabeth Taylor

Movie: “The Prince and The Showgirl” starring Marilyn Monroe

Drama
Movie: "East of Eden" starring James Dean (1955)    This has become Liam’s all time favorite movie.
Movie: "Rebel Without a Cause" starring James Dean (1955)
Movie: "Dances With Wolves" starring Kevin Costner (1991)
Movie: "The Man with the Golden Arm" starring Frank Sinatra (1955)
Movie: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)

Movie: “The Visitor” (2007)

Movie: “Clerks” (1994)
Musicals

Movie: "Fiddler on the Roof" starring Topol (1971)

Movie: "Wizard of Oz" (1939)
Movie: "The Sound of Music" (1965)

Special Effects

Movie: “Superman: Man of Steel” (2013)

Movie: “The Life of Pi” (2012)

Movie: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2012)

Film Studies:  I think Liam’s greatest strength in terms of film studies has been his ability to recognize and appreciate film as an art of storytelling.  His appreciation for classic films never had to be forced or artificially cultivated in any way because he immediately took a liking to many of these movies.  Liam did not like the Superman movie “Man of Steel” because he said that the special effects took over the movie rather than enhanced it.  He was bored by too many action sequences. 

I think Liam will do well to continue to study the art of film and to learn more about the photography and technical aspects.  The challenge of this is that some of the equipment can be costly.  At the same time, the benefit of today’s technology is that many tools are easily accessible. 

On a personal level, I think Liam’s confidence in terms of film making has grown.  He was very nervous about having his film screened at the Camp’s Film Festival.  He seemed to learn that even though his equipment wasn’t as fancy as some of the other students used, he was still able to connect with his interviewees and put together a successful short documentary.

Math and Science: I don’t think Liam will ever pursue a career in math or sciences.  He worked on basic algebra this year.  He was successful in completing the assignments.  I think he would have a difficult time with testing even after studying the concepts. 

Liam never liked science until he attended the Physics classes at the South Florida Museum.  I don’t think he found a new calling in life, but I do think he has developed a greater appreciation for the sciences. He also found the documentary on Stephen Hawking, the documentary “Journey of the Universe” and the show “Through the Wormhole” on his own accord. 

The book The Physics of Superheroes made physics more approachable and easier to understand. 

History: Liam studied The Age of Exploration this year as part of his planned curriculum.  He developed a real understanding of what drove the exploration and expansion of territories – spices and slavery.

Liam’s self-directed learning approach to history this year was much more open-ended rather than time or theme specific.  The theme became one of human endeavor and triumphs.   He learned about diverse people from many different time periods.  He used the medium of film, both from documentaries and historical-fiction movies, to develop a sense of time periods and a connection to the people who were our history-makers.

Language Arts:  I wouldn’t usually think of films on comic books and comic book writers as part of language arts. I have included it though because I think it shows Liam’s ability to consider comics within a greater context of their role in society.  In our discussions, Liam has been able to analyze the hero and anti-hero factors that really drive these stories. 

I would have liked to have seen him step out of the comic book genre a little more this year, but he has read classic and modern novels in the past.  I guess he just needed a year of fun and fantasy readings.