****NEW RULE****
You must pass BOSS BATTLES before moving from SQUIRE to KNIGHT, from REGENT to MASTER BLOGGER, and from MASTER BLOGGER to GRAND BLOG MASTER CHAMPION.
CHECK EMAIL when you reach these levels to find a link to the BOSS BATTLE.
You may attempt one BOSS BATTLE per day, MAXIMUM.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW STANDINGS!!
Great Blogging Challenge XP Levels
___________________________________________________________XP Level XP Needed to Next Level
0-99 1 Troll +100
100 2 Newbie +200
300 3 Rook +200
500 4 Page +400
900 5 Squire +500
1400 6 Knight +600
2000 7 Adventurer +500
2500 8 Wizard +500
3000 9 Enchanter +1000
4000 10 Regent +1000
5000 11 Master Blogger +1500
6500 12 Grand Blog Master Champion +3500
10000 Switzer's Apprentice --------
Violating the contract: automatic reduction of 1 level to lowest XP in that level.
Repeated violation of contract: Alternate assignment to be completed in office or group room involving research writing.
Rules: Gather as much XP as you can by completing Challenges. Some Challenges can only be done once; others, multiple times. Some challenges require a minimum XP in order to do. Keep an eye on the XP board to know your status and which challenges to tackle. Some challenges run out of XP, or award fewer XP the more they are done. Be aware.
Keep track of your own XP and update Mr. Switzer whenever you post a challenge. Use the XP chart to track your progress.
Asking Mr. Switzer questions about the game or how to play will cost you 100 XP per question, and will be automatically deducted from your total XP. The expectation is that you are SELF-DRIVEN to succeed and understand the game, not that Mr. Switzer should explain it to you.
**************************RULE ADDENDUM*********************************
Once you reach Level 4 (Page), you will not be able to earn XP unless 3 or more people comment on each blog you write.
Once you reach Level 11 (Master Blogger), you will not be able to earn XP unless 3 or more people from OUTSIDE of our classroom comments on each of your blog posts.
*****************************CHALLENGES*************************************
OPEN CHALLENGE: FREE BLOG (50 XP): (Do as many as you want)
Free blog (write what you want to- as long as it is appropriate for school) on a topic of your choice. The more thorough and error-free you are, the more you explain your ideas and reasons, the more XP you can earn.
OPEN CHALLENGE: OREO (20 XP): (Do as many as you want)
Create a NEW 5 pt comment on a classmate's blog. If your comment is a 5 pt. comment, you will earn 20 XP. If not, you will earn 0 XP. If you comment on a Comment4Kids blog, you can earn 40 XP (PLEASE write down the http:// address of the blog you commented on!).
OPEN CHALLENGE: RESEARCH (100 XP): (Do as many as you want- MUST DO ONE to move beyond Newbie)
Create a research blog post over a topic of your choice. Find a credible source (book or internet- wikipedia.org is NOT credible, but searchypants will help you find credible sources), and do some reading on something you want to learn about. Write two paragraphs (in YOUR words) about what you learned. Include the topic sentence, 4-5 detail sentences, and a concluding sentence. Also, include a LINK TO THE WEBSITE YOU USED FOR RESEARCH. Google and Searchypants are NOT research sites- they are search engines- do not make a link to either of these.
Do you want to learn about Minecraft? Do it!
Do you want to know more about eye color and genetics? Do it!
Do you want to know which movies are on the National Film Registry? Do it!
Just write what you learned on Kidblog!
OPEN CHALLENGE: 180 PROMPTS (100 XP): (Do as many as you want)
180 Writing Prompts: CLICK HERE
Create a blog post using one of the writing prompts from "the 180 prompts I actually use" website. Title your blog the same as the writing number (1-180). Be careful- these writing prompts are meant for 9th graders, so you may have to think hard for many of them. No XP will be awarded for any post less than 100 words. Post your blog on KIDBLOG!
OPEN CHALLENGE: NARRATIVE (100 XP): (Do as many as you want- MUST DO ONE to move beyond Troll)
Create a blog post telling an interesting story. This can be a fictional story, or a story of something that actually happened. You can be the main character, or you can make up the main character. The story must be original to you. In order for the story to be valid (and count for XP), Mr. Switzer should be able to find the Setting, Characters, Inciting Incident, Conflicts (rising action), Climax, Solution, and Resolution. Stories missing any element will not be counted for XP.
OPEN CHALLENGE: GOOGLE TRANSLATE (400 XP): (Do once)
Create a blog post telling an interesting story. This must be an original blog post, 100+ words. Use Google Translate to translate the story into another language (copy and paste). You can get an additional 50 XP for every person that comments in the SAME LANGUAGE AS YOUR BLOG. Ni Hao!
CHALLENGE #1: ONE WORD (100 XP): (only do ONCE)
Go to this website: One Word (Click Here)
Read the directions carefully. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT ON ONE WORD.COM!
When you are finished typing, copy and paste your work into your KIDBLOG. Name the blog entry after the word you are given. You can earn up to 100 XP for a grammatically perfect, error-free entry. You may only do this ONCE.
CHALLENGE #2: PLINKY (200 XP): (reduced with repetition)
Go to this website: Plinky (Click Here)
Read the writing prompts and choose one to blog about. Name your blog after the writing prompt. You can earn up to 200 XP for a grammatically correct, error-free entry. You can earn an additional 25 XP for each new person that leaves a 2 pt comment on your Plinky kidblog. You may do this challenge as often as you'd like (earn new points for different prompts). DO NOT SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT ON PLINKY.COM. Your blog must have 100+ words.
CHALLENGE #3: CNN 1 DAY (300 XP): (reduced with repetition) (Can only be attempted if you have 200+ XP)
Go to this website: CNN Student News (Click Here)
Watch the Video (and listen- use HEADPHONES please!) and write a reaction to the news presented. Your reaction must be 5+ sentences, detail how you feel about what you saw, and indicate what you think the impact of what you saw will be on students in the Cedar Valley. The quality and thoroughness of your writing will determine how much XP you earn. You can do this once per day with each new news video.
CHALLENGE #4: CNN QUIZ (600 XP): (only do ONCE) (Can only be attempted if you have 200+ XP)
Go to this website: CNN Student News (Click Here)
See the section that says, "Daily Discussion and News Quiz?" After watching the CNN news videos for an entire week, click on this section and answer all 10 questions on your blog. Make a link to the News Quiz that you are taking. You may only do this once.
CHALLENGE #5: iMovie NEWS (1000 XP): (only do ONCE) (Can only be attempted if you have 600+ XP, AND have done Challenge #4)
Create a News Video using iMovie on the iPads covering Lincoln News over the past week. Write your news script into your blog and post. Film the News Cast during recess or XP time, including graphics and banners. You can include as many people as you would like, but the 1000 XP will be divided among the members of your team (eg, 5 people would get 200 XP each, maximum). Show Mr. Switzer the blog post and your completed iMovie so he can post it. The more thorough and professional your news show, the more XP you can earn.
CHALLENGE #6: TFK MOVIES (200 XP): (only do ONCE per article) (Can only be attempted if you have 200+ XP) (reduced with repetition)
Go to this website: Time For Kids (Click Here)
Read through ONE of the articles about movies coming out this summer. Write a response to the article- are you interested in the movie? Will you see it? Why or why not? The more thorough your response, the more XP you can earn. You can also earn 10 XP for each new person that comments on your blog post. You can do a separate post for each movie article.
CHALLENGE #7: CHARITY BLOG (6000 XP): (only do ONCE) (Can only be attempted if you have 700+ XP)
Blog about a charity or cause that impacts you or that you have experience with. Give information about the charity, why the charity exists, and how and why people can help this charity. Provide links, pictures of you working with the charity, AND a plan that you have to raise money or awareness for this charity. Present the plan to Student Council, set a date for the activity, and DO IT. Blog about the experience. If you are having trouble thinking of charities, check here (click here). If you are having trouble thinking of ways to raise money or awareness, check here (click here). A successful awareness or fundraising campaign will merit an AUTOMATIC GRAND MASTER BLOG CHAMPION status. You may work with another student on this blog- only if both of your roles are clearly defined and work is shared equally.
CHALLENGE #8: HERO POETRY (1000 XP): (reduced with repetition) (Can only be attempted if you have 400+ XP)
Create a series (4+) of poems detailing your views of heroes you know personally (family, friends, neighbors, etc.) Remember not to name the person- keep their identity private (pseudonyms). Each poem you write must be in a different style: Use this website to figure out styles and how to write poems (click here). Label each type of poem with its style (eg. Haiku) and Title (Tribute to my Dad, the Hero). Color, add pictures (ok to use picture of hero). The poem should reflect why you feel this person is a hero and how you feel about this person. BONUS- 300 XP can be added to your blog if one of your heroes comments on your blog!
CHALLENGE #9: MOVIE/BOOK REVIEW (200 XP): (reduced with repetition) (Can only be attempted if you have 400+ XP)
Write a review of a book or movie you have read or seen recently. Your review must include the 4 Square elements (check symbaloo 4 Square Book Analysis if you forgot the elements). Give a rating of the book or movie based off of 5 stars. Create a link to the movie website, or the book (Amazon.com) site. BONUS- 300 XP if you post your comments to Amazon.com in the reviewer section. Check with Mr. Switzer prior to doing so.
CHALLENGE #10: COMIC (1000 XP): (only do ONCE) (Can only be attempted if you have 900+ XP)
Create a comic using Write Comics (CLICK HERE). Save the comic to your hard drive, then upload the picture into your blog. In order to get XP, your comic must:
1) Have a message about being a Kid of Character, address a virtue, or talk about Cool to be Kind month
2) Show intentional and purposeful effort
3) Impress Mr. S with your creativity and effort. Typically, a minimalistic comic will not impress Mr. S
4) Title your blog with the whatever you chose on #1 above.
WARNING: This is very subjective to Mr. S and his tastes.. I have HIGH expectations for your creation and clarity of the topic you write about.
CHALLENGE #11: EXIT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (500 XP): (Can repeat at full XP for each complete, error free answer) (Can only be attempted if you have 400+ XP)
See the rubric and interview questions for your 6th Grade Exit Portfolio interviews? You can earn 500 XP for each question that you answer on your blog, if:
1) You have a PAPER ROUGH DRAFT OF YOUR ANSWER prior to typing it.
2) You have had three people read AND edit your rough draft, with signatures.
3) You have a re-written paper draft with corrections made.
4) Your published blog has no errors in grammar or spelling.
There is a chance for one person to earn a BONUS 1000 XP after our portfolio interviews- stay tuned!
CHALLENGE #12: TOP 10 (500 XP): (Can only be attempted if you have 400+ XP- only do ONCE)
Watch this video on the 10 Top Tech Time-Saving Tips from NY Times columnist David Pogue (use headphones, please!):
Write a blog post (or film and embed!) on your Top 10 Tech Time-Saving Tips. Include SCREENSHOTS of your tips. This can be for any type of technology!
CHALLENGE #13: MY INTERVIEWER (200 XP): (only do ONCE)
Remember your portfolio interview? Look up and contact via email your interviewer. Write them an email telling them who you are, thanking them (again) for their time and help with the interviews. Ask them a question or two. Ask for permission to write a blog post about them and what they do. Ask them for advice on getting a job, going to school, pursuing their dreams, what interests them, or anything along those lines. Publish this blog post on Kidblog (make sure you CC Mr. Switzer on your emails and replies).
