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Writing Assignment: At a Wedding Shower (Solution)

Posted on 2012/06/02
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Wedding shower

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1.    Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken in a house (living room).

2.    Who do you see in this picture?
We see a young lady, and an old woman.

3.    What are the people in this picture doing?
The young lady is holding a present, and the old woman is watching her.

4.    What kind of clothes are the people in this picture wearing?
The young lady is dressed in a bridal gown.  The older woman is dressed up.
5.    What is the young lady in the picture holding?
She is holding a heart-shaped present of some sort.

6.    What kind of emotions do you think the young lady has?
She is probably happy and excited.

7.    What kind of party is this?
This is a wedding shower, or a bridal shower.

8.    Who is probably the hostess for the party?
The hostess for the party is probably bride’s maid of honor.

9.    Who else might help the hostess with the party planning and preparations?
The bridesmaids and maybe the bride’s mother might help the hostess with the preparations for the bridal shower.

10.    Who would be invited to this party?
The people that would be invited to the bridal shower would be the bridesmaids, the mother of the bride and other female relatives of the bride, and other female friends of the bride.

11.    Would there be any male guests at this party?
No, there are usually no male guests at a bridal shower.

12.    Why are there usually no men at a bridal shower?
There are usually no men at a bridal shower, because most men would find it boring to be at a party with a group of ladies talking about things that interest women.

13.    Would there be any children at a bridal shower?
There probably would not be any children at a bridal shower, because they would not find it interesting and become easily bored.

14.    What types of presents would the guests bring?
For a bridal shower, the guests usually bring presents that help a bride to set up housekeeping – presents like small kitchen appliances (toasters, mixers, etc.), linens (towels, bedclothes, etc.), and other handy things for the home.

15.    How do the guests know what types of presents would be good for the bride-to-be?
The guests can get a good idea of what would be good presents for the bride-to-be by consulting the bridal couple’s gift registry, or wish list, if they have registered such a list at a store.

16.    What sort of decorations would be appropriate for this kind of party?
Appropriate decorations for a bridal shower would be wedding-themed, with hearts or turtle doves, white and other pastel colors, wedding bells, and so on.  There are also usually some small party favors for the guests.

17.    What sort of food would be appropriate for this kind of party?
Cake, punch, and light snacks such as appetizers and hors d’oeuvres would be appropriate for a bridal shower.

18.    What sort of activities would be appropriate for this kind of party?
The kind of activities that would be appropriate for a bridal shower would include fun, light-hearted games that help “break the ice,” giving the women a chance to socialize and chat with one another.

19.    How could the bride-to-be keep track of who gives her which presents?
The bride-to-be can keep track of who gives her which presents by keeping any tags or cards with the presents.  It will also help her if the hostess writes a list of the presents, and who they are from.

20.    After the shower is over, how can the bride express her gratitude for all the presents she has received?
After the shower is over, the bride can express her gratitude by sending thank-you notes to all the people who gave her the presents.

Paragraph:  At a Wedding Shower

When I got married, my maid of honor had a bridal shower for me.  The shower was held a few days before we got married.  Everybody met at my house for the shower.  There were appetizers and snack trays with carrot sticks and other vegetables for people to eat, along with some cake and punch.  In the middle of the table was a lovely floral centerpiece.  My friends came to my shower.  There were many presents for me to open, and it was nice of everyone to think of me and help me get ready for married life by giving presents to help furnish the kitchen and the house.  After opening the presents, there was a lot of talking with all the women there.  Many of them had some advice for me as a bride-to-be.  I was thankful for my maid of honor to host the wedding shower for me, and I was thankful for my friends helping me to get ready for this new phase in my life.

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Writing Assignment: At a Wedding Shower

Posted on 2012/06/01
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Wedding shower

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Vocabulary

bride
shower
party
hostess
maid of honor
bridesmaid
invitation
guest
present
card
registry
wish list
housekeeping
party favor
decoration
activity
game
appetizer
hors d’oeuvre
punch
cake
thank-you note

1.    Where was this picture taken?
2.    Who do you see in this picture?
3.    What are the people in this picture doing?
4.    What kind of clothes are the people in this picture wearing?
5.    What is the young lady in the picture holding?
6.    What kind of emotions do you think the young lady has?
7.    What kind of party is this?
8.    Who is probably the hostess for the party?
9.    Who else might help the hostess with the party planning and preparations?
10.    Who would be invited to this party?
11.    Would there be any male guests at this party?
12.    Why are there usually no men at a bridal shower?
13.    Would there be any children at a bridal shower?
14.    What types of presents would the guests bring?
15.    How do the guests know what types of presents would be good for the bride-to-be?
16.    What sort of decorations would be appropriate for this kind of party?
17.    What sort of food would be appropriate for this kind of party?
18.    What sort of activities would be appropriate for this kind of party?
19.    How could the bride-to-be keep track of who gives her which presents?
20.    After the shower is over, how can the bride express her gratitude for all the presents she has received?

Paragraph:  At a Wedding Shower

Have you ever heard of a wedding shower?  Have you ever attended a wedding shower?  Do you have a similar custom in your country?  What do brides do in your country to get ready for a wedding?  Write a brief paragraph about wedding preparations in your country.

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Culture Focus: Wedding Showers

Posted on 2012/05/30
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June – the traditional month for weddings – is just around the corner, I thought I’d take a look at wedding showers for this Culture Focus.  You probably know what a wedding is, and what a shower is, but what does the phrase “wedding shower” mean?

A “shower” is a special party for a person – usually, a pregnant woman (“mother-to-be”) or, in today’s Culture Focus example, a woman engaged to be married (“bride-to-be”) – to give the lady presents especially suited for the big change in life that she is about to experience.  So, a “wedding shower” is held for a bride-to-be, and the gifts given to her are intended to help her establish a household with her new husband.  The origin of the bridal shower probably stems from the older practice of a bridal dowry.

Who usually attends a wedding shower?  Well, of course the bride-to-be will be there, but not the future groom.  Showers are overwhelmingly attended by women (and sometimes teenage girls), so most men will be glad to escape to the golf course or other safe place while their wife or girlfriend is at the shower.  Most of the time it is the bride’s maid of honor who is responsible for arranging for the shower:  the maid of honor will invite the women to come, arrange for refreshments, plan a few games or other activities for the shower, and so on.  The other bridesmaids may help the maid of honor with the planning and logistics of this task, especially if there will be a lot of women at the shower.  Other ladies who are generally invited to the shower include the female relatives of the bride (her mother, grandmother, sisters, aunts, cousins, etc.) as well as female relatives of the groom.  Close friends of the bride are also invited.  And, of course, the females in the bridal party (maid of honor, bridesmaids) are also there.

What kinds of gifts are usually given at a bridal shower?  Traditionally, the purpose of a wedding shower was to help the newlyweds establish a home together, so the gifts tended to be focused on practical things, such as kitchen appliances – toasters, blenders, pots and pans, etc. – and other items for the house – towels, bed clothes and other linens, dishes, silverware, etc.  Nowadays, though, many single people are accustomed to having lived on their own after getting out of college, so there is more flexibility with the gifts given to the new couple.  To help provide guidance as to what items the bride and groom need, many engaged couples set up a “bridal registry” at a department store.   This registry is the couple’s “wish list,” and people can take a look at it to give them an idea as to what to buy for the couple.  If they buy the present at the store where the couple is registered, then the list will be updated so others who access the list will know that the couple no longer need a bath towel set, for example.  The concept of a “bridal registry” is very convenient – no matter how much a couple may enjoy toast with their breakfast, they surely don’t need five toasters!

What do women do at a bridal shower?  Just like any other party, there is a lot of talking and eating!  Rather than serving a full meal, the food is usually “finger food” (appetizers, snacks, small sandwiches, and the like), and generally a cake.  Besides talking and eating, the bride will open her presents, while the other guests admire her gifts.  It is said that for every ribbon the bride breaks while unwrapping her presents, she will have a child.  So, if she breaks five ribbons in the course of opening her gifts, she will have five children!  Of course, this is just a fun fable, and there is no truth to it, but people like to guess how many children are in store for the new couple.  Finally, there might be a few games or activities for the shower attendees to enjoy, such as “How well does the bride know the groom?”, “Bridal Bingo” (based on what types of presents the bride gets at her shower), “Design the Bridal Gown,” or “Advice for the Bride.”

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Education Focus: Scholarships

Posted on 2012/05/28
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money

Today, let’s take a look at scholarships.  With the average cost of attending college / university somewhere between $8,000 and $28,000 per year (depending on factors such as public/private school, location, and so on), many people are concerned about the price of college tuition.  Indeed, in the 20-year period from 1988 to 2008, the average price of tuition and fees at a public college / university increased by 130% – more than double, and it doesn’t look like price increases are going to slow down anytime soon.  Small wonder, then, that people look for ways to find money to fund a college education.  Scholarships can help.

When Americans talk about a scholarship, they generally mean “money to study at school,” or money given to a student to cover some (or all) the costs associated with attending school.  Broadly speaking, this could be any school, including a private elementary school or high school.  But usually, most people think of scholarships in the context of attending college or university, and that is what we’ll be taking a brief look at here.

There are different kinds of scholarships.  Some scholarships are what we call a “full ride,” where all expenses are paid for – not only tuition (i.e., the price of instruction), but fees, book, and room and board (i.e., paying for the student’s living arrangements and meals while attending college).  Other scholarships might be for tuition only, or only for books.  Sometimes a scholarship is for a set percentage of a student’s college bill, and other times a scholarship will be for a designated dollar amount, such as $500 per year, or $5000 per year.  Some scholarships are granted through the college or university, while others are granted through private organizations.

Not only do scholarships differ in the amount of support they provide a student, but they can also differ as to the reason why scholarships are awarded.  Some scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit – if a student earns excellent grades, he may be granted a scholarship.  Some scholarships are awarded to students who come from a disadvantaged background – perhaps the student comes from a poor family that otherwise could not afford to send him to college.  Some scholarships are given to students of a particular ethnicity or ancestry – for example, if the student is of German ancestry, or Mexican ancestry, etc.  Some scholarships are given to children of members of a particular group – for example, there are scholarships reserved for students whose mothers are members of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).  Some scholarships are given in exchange for commitment to future service – for example, if the student agrees to serve in the military during college, or after graduation.  Some scholarships are for sons or daughters of employees of a particular company, and some are for sons or daughters of veterans.  Some are for students who plan to study a particular field, such as medicine.   There are even oddball scholarships:  believe it or not, there are special scholarships for people who are left-handed, for people who have red hair, and people who attend their prom wearing a dress or suit made entirely of duct tape!

As a matter of fact, there are simply too many scholarships available to list them all here.  If you are thinking about attending college, it pays to investigate and see if there are any scholarships that you are eligible for.  If you don’t like the idea of spending hours of research online, you can even sign up for a service that will hunt for scholarships on your behalf.  Of course, such services generally have some sort of fee associated with them, but some people prefer the convenience of having someone else do the digging for them.  Regardless of which option you choose, it’s worthwhile to see if you qualify for one or more of these scholarships.  Every little bit helps!

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Culture Focus: Memorial Day

Posted on 2012/05/23
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Graves at Arlington on Memorial Day

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In the U.S., next Monday is Memorial Day.  It is always the last Monday in May. The origins of this holiday date back to the time just after the American Civil War, when various informal remembrances to honor the war dead of the Union Army began to spring up across the country.

The holiday was originally called “Decoration Day” because of the emphasis on honoring the fallen soldiers by decorating their graves.  At first many of the Decoration Day remembrances were local, but in 1871 Michigan became the first state to adopt it as an official state holiday.  By 1890, however, the holiday was recognized by all the Northern states.  The Southern states had their own remembrance (Confederate Memorial Day) with the date ranging from sometime in April to sometime in June, but as time progressed, the two sides forgot their animosity, and eventually the May date was observed by both sides.  The focus of Memorial Day also began to take on a broader focus, so by the end of World War I, Memorial Day became a remembrance of all Americans who gave their life in war, and not merely an observance of commemoration for the Civil War dead.

Although the name “Memorial Day” was first used in 1872, it did not become more common until after World War II, and in 1967 it was officially changed to “Memorial Day.”  Originally, Memorial Day was observed on May 30.  This date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle.  Gradually, people wanted the convenience of a three-day weekend, so the date of Memorial Day became officially fixed in 1968 as the last Monday in May.  It was just a few years later, in 1971, that Memorial Day became a federal holiday.  The U.S. flag is flown at half-staff from dawn until noon.

Observance of Memorial Day typically includes a parade, followed by a ceremony.  Soldiers in various veterans’ organizations, such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and others, represent their fallen comrades.  Speeches are given to remember the fallen, and to remind us of the ultimate sacrifice they gave to preserve our freedom.  A favorite poem that is often recited at a Memorial Day observance is the poem “In Flanders Field”:

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

At the end of the ceremony, an honor guard fires several rounds of blanks, a wreath is placed on a grave (which is sometimes a symbolic grave, and not an actual one), and “Taps” is played; this is to represent the fallen soldier.  A Memorial Day observance is a very somber event.

Other, less somber celebrations of Memorial Day include family-oriented activities, including picnics, cookouts or barbeques, camping, and other similar events.  Many Americans enjoy the Indianapolis 500 (“Indy 500”), an auto race that is also held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  And because Memorial Day is so close to the end of May, many people regard Memorial Day as the unofficial start of the summer season – outdoor swimming pools will open for the summer, and June is just around the corner, with graduations, end-of-the-year class picnics, and other events letting children know that the school year will soon be finished, and they won’t have to think about homework or lessons again until the end of August or the beginning of September.

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Education Focus: Prom

Posted on 2012/05/21
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Prom

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For this week’s Education Focus, we’ll take a look at a quintessential American school experience:  Prom.

Prom comes from the word “promenade.”  It is one of the major high school dances held in the year.  It is sometimes referred to as the senior prom, as it typically marks one of the final social events in a high school student’s career, but sometimes there are other students (for example, juniors) who attend as well, as long as one of the couple is a senior.  Most often, a boy will ask his steady girlfriend to the prom, but sometimes a couple will go as “just friends.”

Prom is a formal dance.  Girls usually wear a fancy, expensive dress and get their hair done professionally at a beauty salon.  To go with his date’s dress, a boy will get her a corsage, often worn on the wrist.  Boys, on the other hand, rent a black or white tuxedo.  His outfit is completed with a boutonniere from his date.  Many parents will take pictures of the couples before they ride off in a hired limousine to take them to the site of the prom.

Sometime the prom is held at an outside venue, like a banquet hall, but of course such an arrangement would add to the cost of the ticket, so to keep it affordable for most students, many schools opt to have the prom in the school gymnasium, which is decorated for the big day.  Food may be served, but the focus on the evening is on dancing.  There are often other activities at prom, such as voting for a prom king and prom queen.

Afterwards, there is often a post-prom party.  These are usually chaperoned, to help reduce the incidence of teenage drinking.  Post-prom activities range from bowling parties to picnics at a park, or even a trip to an amusement park.  Many students look back at prom as a highlight of their high school years.

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Writing Assignment: At Graduation (Solution)

Posted on 2012/05/19
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receiving the sheepskin

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1.    Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken outside, on an athletic field.

2.    Whom do you see in the picture?
We see a man and a girl in the picture.

3.    What are they doing?
They are standing, and the man is passing something to the girl.

4.    What is the man dressed in?
The man is dressed in a suit and tie.

5.    What is the girl dressed in?
The girl is dressed in a cap and gown.

6.    What is in their hands?
A diploma is in their hands.  The man is handing out a diploma to the girl.

7.    Why is the man giving the girl a diploma?
The man is giving the girl a diploma because she has graduated from school.

8.    What is this ceremony called?
This ceremony is called a graduation ceremony, or commencement exercises.

9.    Who is usually present at a graduation?
The people that are usually present at a graduation include parents, the graduates, the faculty, friends and family of the graduates, and the members of the band and choir.

10.    What parts are usually in commencement exercises?
Commencement exercises often consist of procession, speeches, awarding of honors, distribution of diplomas, and recession.  There is also often special music by the band and/or the choir.

11.    What kinds of awards are usually presented at a graduation ceremony?
The awards that are usually presented at a graduation ceremony include graduation cum laude (with honor), magna cum laude (with great honor), and summa cum laude (with highest honor).  In addition, the school recognizes the top two students, based on grade point average (GPA):  valedictorian (highest GPA) and salutatorian (second highest GPA).

12.    Who might give a speech at commencement exercises?
The principal of the school, or a well-respected teacher, might give a speech at commencement exercises.  Sometimes there is also a guest speaker at commencement exercises, especially at a college or university.  And usually the valedictorian and/or the salutatorian will give a commencement speech as well.

13.    How is it determined which students will give a speech?
The valedictorian and salutatorian are chosen to give a commencement speech based on their class rank.

14.    How do the graduates get their diploma?
The graduates line up to get their diploma, and they walk across the stage after their name has been called.  They walk up to the person handing out the diplomas and shake his hand as he gives them the diploma.

15.    What does a graduate do right after he receives his diploma?
Immediately after receiving the diploma, the graduate switches the tassel on his mortarboard from the right-hand side to the left (undergraduate and high school).

16.    What does the graduating class often do after everyone has received his diploma?
After everyone has received his diploma, the entire graduating class often toss their mortarboards high into the air.

17.    What can take place after a graduation ceremony?
After a graduation ceremony, there usually is picture-taking.  People also like to have celebrations like a graduation party.

18.    How might a family celebrate a son or daughter’s graduation?
A family might celebrate a son or daughter’s graduation by taking family and friends out to dinner, or hosting a dinner party at their home.

19.    What kind of graduation present might be given to the graduate?
Graduation presents that are often given to the graduate range from nice pens or dictionaries (especially for those who are going on to college or university) to cars or apartments (especially for those who have graduated from college or university, and are starting off on their own life).

20.    How might the graduate celebrate?
The graduate might celebrate by attending a graduation party with his friends or classmates.  This is usually separate from a graduation party with the family.

Paragraph:  Graduation

When I graduated from high school, the weather was nice.  It wasn’t too hot, it wasn’t too cold, and it was sunny, so we were able to have the graduation ceremony on the football field.  The commencement exercises were scheduled for 1 p.m., so all the graduates gathered at the high school beforehand to get ready.  The girls wore nice dresses, and the boys wore suits and ties.  Of course everyone would wear a cap and gown for the graduation ceremony, but we still dressed up.  Many of us would have some sort of celebration, such as a graduation dinner, afterwards, so dressing up was appropriate.  A number of the girls wore a corsage on their gowns.  Just before the start of the graduation ceremony, we lined up at the end of the football field and waited for the band to start playing the traditional graduation music, Pomp and Circumstance.  We marched in procession to our seats and sat down, row by row.  One of our classmates was handicapped and thus in a wheelchair, so a couple of the boys wheeled him in the procession.

Once everyone had taken their seat, the principal gave some opening remarks.  A local pastor opened with a word of prayer, and then there several speeches – one by the superintendent, one by the principal, one by the valedictorian, and one by the salutatorian.  Although the speeches were all different, they all had a common theme – the secret to success in life lay in hard work, dedication, and perseverance.  Like most commencement speeches, they were meant to inspire us to work hard and dream for our future.

It was difficult to remember exactly who said what, because we were all excited to be graduating from high school – it was an important milestone in our lives, a marker that we were finally adults:  some of us would start working full time and move out on our own, some of us would go into military service, and some of us would be getting ready to attend college or university in the coming fall.  Before we knew it, all the speeches were over, and it was time to begin handing out the diplomas.  Row by row, we stood up and got in line, waiting for the moment when our name was called and we would march across the stage, shake hands with the superintendent as he handed us our diploma, pause a moment for the photographer who took a picture of our personal milestone, and switch the tassel on our cap from the right side to the left, to signify our new status as graduates.  We then finished the walk across the stage and went back to our seats.

After everyone had received his diploma, the principal then addressed the audience of family and friends:  “Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you the Class of 1981.  Congratulations!”  At these words, a number of the graduates took off their caps and tossed them high into the air, happy to hear those magic words.  Then the band struck up the recessional music, and we marched off the field, marching away from high school, away from our childhood and into adulthood, into the future.

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Writing Assignment: At Graduation

Posted on 2012/05/18
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big milestone

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Vocabulary

commencement
commencement exercises
graduate
cap
gown
tassel
diploma
announcement
Class of 2012
speech
Valedictorian
Salutatorian
grade point average
class rank
mortarboard
procession
recession
awards
honors
cum laude
magna cum laude
summa cum laude
graduation party
graduation present

1.    Where was this picture taken?
2.    Whom do you see in the picture?
3.    What are they doing?
4.    What is the man dressed in?
5.    What is the girl dressed in?
6.    What is in their hands?
7.    Why is the man giving the girl a diploma?
8.    What is this ceremony called?
9.    Who is usually present at a graduation?
10.    What parts are usually in commencement exercises?
11.    What kinds of awards are usually presented at a graduation ceremony?
12.    Who might give a speech at commencement exercises?
13.    How is it determined which students will give a speech?
14.    How do the graduates get their diploma?
15.    What does a graduate do right after he receives his diploma?
16.    What does the graduating class often do after everyone has received his diploma?
17.    What can take place after a graduation ceremony?
18.    How might a family celebrate a son or daughter’s graduation?
19.    What kind of graduation present might be given to the graduate?
20.    How might the graduate celebrate?

Paragraph:  Graduation

Have you completed your education?  Did you have a formal graduation ceremony?  What was it like?  Write a brief paragraph describing graduation ceremonies or customs in your country.

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Culture Focus: National Parks

Posted on 2012/05/16
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Purple Mountain Majesties

Iceberg Cirque, Glacier National Park (Rocky Mountains, Montana)

Many people enjoy nature, so it is not surprising that they would want to set some land aside as parks or recreational areas to preserve the rugged beauty of nature.  It was in this spirit that America’s first National Park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872.

John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt (left) and John Muir on Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park

Although people acknowledged the importance of preservation and conservation, for many years there was no systematic approach to the acquisition of land for nature preservation.  Indeed, the well-known nature preservationist John Muir took U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt on a tour of the Western United States to impress upon him the need to develop a federal approach to setting up a national park system.  But it wasn’t until 1916 that the National Park Service was created under President Woodrow Wilson.  The original vision of the National Park Service was “…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Now, there are over 365 National Park Service areas in the US, including 58 actual National Parks.  The National Park Service has been expanded to include:

National Parks:  There are 58 of these, including the famous Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon.

National Monuments:  There are 74 of these.  National Monuments are similar to National Parks – the main difference has to do with how an area is established as a National Monument.  Examples of National Monuments include:  the Statue of Liberty, Fort McHenry (associated with the war of 1812, and Francis Scott Key inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner), Fort Sumter (the place where the first shot of the American Civil War was fired), and Muir Woods (where the Redwood Forest is, near San Francisco).

National Historical Parks, National Historic Sites, and International Historic Sites:  There are 123 areas that fall into this category.  These sites are sites of historic significance, or are a significant cultural resource, or have some significant cultural or natural feature.  Examples include Ford’s Theatre (where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated) and Colonial National Historical Park, which contains the Jamestown National Historic Site (where the first permanent English settlement in North America was located).

National Memorials:  There are 28 National Memorials, which memorialize a historic person or event.  Examples include the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore, and the Washington Monument.

National Military Parks / National Battlefield Parks / National Battlefield Sites / National Battlefields:  There are 24 sites that fall under this category.  They are battle sites preserved by US government, including Gettysburg National Military Park and Gettysburg National Cemetery, and Shiloh National Military Park.

National Parkways:  There are 4 protected scenic roadways, including the Blue Ridge Parkway located in the Appalachian Mountains.

National Recreation Areas:  There are 18 sites designated as National Recreation Areas, where the primary focus is on water-based recreation.  An example of this is Golden Gate National Recreation Area near San Francisco.

National Lakeshores / National Seashores:  These are coastal areas that have been preserved for their beauty.  There are 4 National Lakeshores, all in the Midwest:  Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan, the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin, the Indiana Dunes, and Pictured Rocks in Michigan.  There are 10 National Seashores, including Padre Island in Texas, Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and Cape Hatteras in North Carolina.

National Rivers and National Wild and Scenic Rivers and Riverways:  There are 15 rivers or riverways that have this designation for their scenic, recreational, geologic, fish & wildlife, historic, and cultural importance.  An example of this is the East Branch of the Tahquamenon River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

National Scenic Trails:  There are 11 trails of particular natural beauty that have received this designation, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

There is an entrance fee for the National Parks.  This fee ranges from $7 – $20, but it is good for seven days.  If you are planning on visiting a lot of National Parks, you can instead buy an annual pass (known as the “America the Beautiful pass” for $80.  This annual pass is good for an entire year from the date of purchase.

What can you do at a National Park?  All kinds of things, depending on the particular park, and the time of year.  Possible activities include:

  • Camping (RV, tent, backpacking)
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Climbing
  • Swimming / Scuba diving
  • Skiing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Boating / Canoeing / Kayaking
  • Horseback riding
  • Picnicking
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Birdwatching / Wildlife viewing

The most popular National Parks:

  1. Yosemite National Park, California.  Established 1890.  In 2011 it had 3,951,393 visitors.
  2. Glacier National Park, Montana.  Established 1910.  In 2011 it had 1,853,564 visitors.
  3. Acadia National Park, Maine.  Established 1916.  This was the first national park east of the Mississippi River.  In 2011 it had 2,374,645  visitors.
  4. Zion National Park, Utah.  Established 1909.  In 2011 it had 2,825,505 visitors.
  5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.  Established 1929.  In 2011 it had 2,587,437 visitors.
  6. Denali National Park, Alaska.  Established 1917.  This was originally named Mount McKinley National Park, and it is home to the highest mountain in North America.   In 2011 it had 406,582 visitors.
  7. Arches National Park, Utah.  Established 1929.  In 2011 it had 1,040,758 visitors.
  8. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.  Established 1919.  In 2011 it had 4,298,178 visitors.
  9. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.  Established 1872.  This is the oldest National Park.  In 2011 it had 3,394,322   visitors.
  10. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.  Established 1915.  In 2011 it had 3,176,941 visitors.

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Education Focus: Graduation

Posted on 2012/05/14
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proud graduate

 

For this week’s educational focus, I want to take a look at graduation. “Graduation” just means that the student has completed the necessary work for a particular grade level, and can then be moved up to the next level. However, when you say the word “graduation,” most people will think of a specific ceremony marking the end of a particular stage in a student’s life, and his moving on to the next stage. This “moving on” is also called “commencement,” and the graduation ceremony is also often called “commencement exercises.”

In the American educational system, the transition from junior high school to high school, from high school to college, and from college to the working world are all marked by graduation ceremonies. Thus, we have 8th grade graduation, high school graduation, and college graduation. For the ceremony, the graduates (the students who are moving on) march in to solemn music (traditionally, “Pomp and Circumstance” by Elgar – midi, or see Wikipedia’s sample (which is played too fast for commencement exercises) at the bottom of its page) and take their seat in an auditorium. All the graduates are dressed in cap and gown, with a tassel hanging from the right side of the cap. Various speeches are given by the principal or other school officials, the valedictorian (the top-ranked student in the class), and the salutatorian (the student who is ranked second in the class). Sometimes, in the case of a college graduation ceremony, a notable person may be awarded an honorary degree from the school (for outstanding work in a particular field, for example), and then that person would most likely give a speech as well. The speeches tend to be motivational, encouraging the students to continue to do their best and be a positive influence wherever they may be. After all the speeches, the students line up to get their diploma (the symbol of the degree that they earned), and the principal or dean reads off the names of the graduates. As his name is called, the graduate crosses the stage, shakes hands and accepts the diploma, and switches his tassel from the right side to the left. The switching of the tassel symbolizes that the student is now a graduate. Afterwards, the student steps off the stage and returns to his seat. When all the students have received their diplomas, they are presented to the audience by the dean or principal: “I now present to you the class of [year],” and many graduates then throw their caps in the air in celebration.

The graduate’s family often prepares some sort of celebration as well, and graduation parties are very common. Particularly in the case of 8th grade and high school graduations, it is common to have a graduation picnic or pool party for the whole class. Many parents also give a nice graduation gift to their graduate, such as money, a new bicycle, or other reward for having successfully completed school.

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