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A few weeks ago, eight students from the Middle School Leadership team attended the David Brower Youth Awards, at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.  Students met youth environmental activists from all over the country.
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Tyrone, Ana, Sidhartha, Francis, Arianna, Lilliana, Juan, and Alaina pose in front of the Herbst theatre.
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Tyrone signs up for more information about future Earth Institute events.
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Between performances by Youth Speaks.
Reflections...
One thing I liked about the Brower Youth Awards was that a man was trying to help the biggest forest in the Northern Hemisphere (in Canada).  This really helps the environment because forests have trees.  The trees give us oxygen to breathe.  If we can't breathe, we can't live.  I agree with him, but we, the humans, should not only focus on one forest, but all forests.  He gave a good speech about humans and their responsibilities to the environment.  One strong part of his speech is when he said, This forest didn't just give us oxygen, but if you go into a canoe and travel deeper into the forest by one mile ore more and drink the water, the water would be the same as if you drank fountain water.  Helping this forest helps the earth. --Sidhartha

I learned that people eat too much junk food and that this is bad for the earth.  I liked how people gave a speech and told us how they feel and then explained how the environment can help us a lot.  I can't wait until we start to compost and help the earth and community.
--Alaina

I enjoyed the poems that were spoken word about the environment and their lives.  People said them really fast and that was cool.
--Ana
 
To begin our study of Early Humans, we first learn about archaeology, and how we know what we know about the past.  Last Friday, two archaeologists from UC Berkeley, Flavio and Peter, set up a class dig.  We excavated two sites, and learned what it takes to be an archaeologist while doing so.  We also had tons of fun!  Read some of our reflections and view pictures of the visit below:
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First, Flavio and Peter explained how archaeologists do thier jobs.
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Next, we used brushes to unearth artifacts.
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Then, we measured the artifact to indicate where it belonged on our map of hte site.
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After that, we drew the artifacts on our map, and wrote down details about the artifacts we found.
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Finally, we categorized the artifacts, and placed them in bags. We discussed the artifacts we found and made inferences about where they came from and who used them.

Student Reflections:

"I think that it's important to have a lot of imagination to be an archaeologist, because when you find something you need to think about how it got there, why it is there, and what that place was like before you."
-Vanessa

"What was hard about the excavation was that when you see an artifact you couldn't just pull it out with your hands.  You have to leave it where it is to measure and map it."
-Jose

"My group found a lot of broken plates, and a piece of a bowl.  Also we found a bean, and other seeds.  I think our site was a kitchen because these are artifacts you would find in a kitchen."
-Diamond

"I learned that you set up a dig facing North, but the coolest thing I learned was when we experienced what it's like to be an archaeologist.  I want to learn more about history and science after this investigation."
-Sidhartha

"I learned that archaeologists use brushes to look for things.  I think that's really clever because that way if it is broken or poisonous they can clean it with the brush with out damaging anything.  My favorite part of the presentation was when we used the brushes and switched roles to draw and describe the things we found because I felt like an archaeologist like Flavio and Peter."
-Ana

"I found broken pieces of pottery and an object that looked like a mushroom with a seed on it.  It felt like a softened rock."
-Alvin