Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Welcome to the Enlightenment Week Blog!

The Enlightenment was a period in history within the Age of Reason (roughly 1620-1845) where many important discoveries and bright ideas occurred, including the Great Awakening. Students enjoyed a week long thematic unit with a Living Museum and workshop. There are 300+ hours of student-videos and 100+ thank you notes. Enjoy!...

Friday, January 12, 2018

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Newton, Thank you for the law of gravity. Sincerely, Chloe Tucker Sent from my iPa...

John Locke

The Enlightenment is very important to me. Because of the Enlightenment, we are able to have complex math concepts, reading, and literature. Many philosophers ideas from the Enlightenment influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Enlightenment helped us have freedom of religion and also the Great Awakening. I would like to...

John Locke

I enjoyed learning about John Locke. I learned that many of our freedoms came from him. I thought it was extremely impressive about how he affected our socie...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for discovering gravity. It was real nice of you. Also for all of your contributions to mathematics and the sciences. Sent from my iPh...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, Thank you for all the rights you have given us in our American lives. I enjoyed some of them today.                                                                 ...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, My name is Anna Brown, and I am in 9th Grade. I am emailing to thank you for your great work during the Enlightenment Era. Your discovery of gravity and the laws of motion have been imperative to the field of science and technology. Your legacy will live on for generations to come. Thank you again.  Sincerely, Anna...

Thomas Paine

Dear Thomas Paine, Thank you for having a well delivered speech that was fun to listen to. I hope your life in heaven is much better than the one you had down here, getting thrown in jail.  -- Hunter Johnson 405 635 428...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dear Mozart, I love your music. Really gets me going. Thanks for making our life's easier and better. You really inspired people to make music. Some Crossings people for example Matkel and Calebcruise. Sincerely, Owen Crotts Sent from my i...

Thomas Paine

Dear Thomas Paine, Thank you for the well put together presentation. Well done and keep up the great work.  From,  Jacob Clinkenbeard Sent from my iPa...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dear Mozart, You're music is very cool. Thank you for not creating calculas and not making school harder. You are a creator of music. You inspired other people to make music. Music today would be different if you had decided to not make music.  Sincerely, Braden Lowder. Sent from my iPa...

René Descartes

Dear René Descartes Thank you so much for taking the time to teach me about your life and the Enlightenment. I found the insight on your personal life was very profound and moving. Thank you for your contributions to mathematics. Have a good day. Sent from my i...

Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe, I thought that Crusoe had a neat set up with a parrot and had a cool story. He had put a lot of effort into it too. Sent from my i...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Newton, Thanks for discovering gravity. Nice work. Sent from my i...

Voltaire

Dear Voltaire, Thank you for everything you have done to help this world. You helped us understand that everyone has a right of speech, religion, etc. If we didn't have you we probably would not have freedom of speech and religion in the US. Thank you. Sent from my iPa...

Robinson Crusoe

John Mark did an outstanding job memorizing his script and getting into character. His character was Robinson Crusoe. I didn't know anything about him until John Mark gave that presentati...

John Locke

John Locke, Thank you for helping creating the social contract. Thanks to you, we are able to be safer in our country. I enjoy the benefits of feeling safe in my community.  Sent from my iPa...

Mary Wollstonecraft

Dear Mary Wollstonecraft, You really did so much for this world. By supporting women' rights, you made the world a better place. Some of my best friends and rivals are females, and I have you to thank for that. I could be an awful misogynist today, but I can be better because of you. Thank you,  Nathan Bailey -- Nathan Bailey, CCS...

Robert Boyle

Dear Robert Boyle,  Thank you for your contribution to science. You helped create a way in which we can identify pure elements within compounds. It is amazing how you thought to light the compounds on fire and then the colors they produce relate to individual, specific elements. We still can use this experiment today and I appreciate your...

Sir Francis Bacon

Dear Sir Francis Bacon, It was really cool to learn about your life. Enlightenment week let me learn about all the different philosophers and people that influenced the world. You were the best person I did research on. Sent from my i...

Robert Hooke

@RobertHooke thank you so much for your generous contribution to society! I am inspired by you to go into the medical field and study cells. I think that I can make a difference like you did when you discovered cells. I cannot tell you how much it means to the world that cells are in existence. I also want to thank you for writing your book Micrographia,...

René Descartes

Enlightenment for me means a period of ideas! I would like to thanks René Descartes for all the things he has done. One of the things he did for us was create the Cartesian coordinate plane. He did many things to help us in geometry. Thanks to him we can solve problems that supposedly impossible. Sent from my iPh...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for all your contributions in math and science. You created a lot and have changed the way we think and learn today. The story of you discovering gravity was very interesting. Thanks for all your hard work! Sent from my i...

Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards, My name is Elisabeth Stephens and I am in 9th grade I am emailing you to thank you for helping start The Great Enlightenment. Your preaching helped turn people back towards God. If it wasn't for you people might not have believed in God and we might not be able to hear preachings today. Thank you so much you had a deep impact on...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, Thank you for establishing our freedoms and laws that we use today. You have shaped our government and made our nation a better place.  Sincerely, Lily McWilliams Sent from my iPad...

Beethoven

Dear Beethoven: Thank you for making great music, even though you were deaf. Sent from my i...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, Thank you for your ideas on social contracts with the government and their citizens. Your ideas on freedom allow us to have natural rights tod...

Sir Isaac Newton

I learned all about the different sciences and people. My favorite I have to say was Isaac Newton. He made advancements in science, even more that I thought he did. He made advancements in mathematics and in religion. Well, his own religious beliefs. But he made more interesting advancements than I thought. Sent from my i...

Monk

Dear Monk (Lauren Cline), Thank you monk person for all of the contributions you made. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your presentation because it seems like you had a very interesting life. I also appreciate how in depth Lauren went with her performance because she actually took it to heart. Sincerely, Samantha Power Sent from my i...

Agnes Grey

Agnes Grey (Allison Crampton), I really enjoyed your effort for a British accent. Your story interested me and I enjoyed seeing your props. I also loved your costume, although I was disappointed you weren't wearing a bonnet. I also loved your friendly smile and overall enjoyed getting to see you in a living museum. Sincerely, Gabby Cramp...

Johann Sebastian Bach

Dear Johann Sebastian Bach, Thank you so much to your contribution to the Enlightenment! You have made such a huge impact in music both during the Enlightenment and even today. I have even played some of your pieces on piano and the clarinet! Without you, music would not be the same, so thank you again! Regards, Ashley Potter  -- Ashley...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, I enjoyed learning about your life. It was interesting to learn about your social contract concept. You had many ideas that changed certain thin...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, Thank you for writing influential things that helped Thomas Jefferson to write about our independence. Without your influence, America wouldn't have good ideals to base our freedom off of. For this, we thank you. Sincerely, Maylee Miles 9th Grade Sent from my i...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, Thank you for all that you have done for us in your lifetime. You would be blown away if you saw your impact on our society today. Your "life, liberty, and property" idea was absolutely groundbreaking. Thomas Jefferson pretty much copied and pasted that idea into our constitution, and our country lives by that every day. You have...

Sir Francis Bacon

Dear Sir Francis Bacon, Thank you for your contribution to science and reasoning. Your methods have shaped the way that science experiments are executed. Your work has inspired many scientists and learning about your work has pushed my level of learning. Sincerely, Caroline Sent from my i...

Thomas Paine

Dear Thomas Paine, Thank you for inspiring the American Revolution by writing common sense. I'm glad you were persistent with your work and stay consistent even within your failure. I benefited greatly from this experience and lie ending to him speak. Sincerely, Campbell Garoutte Sent from my i...

Thomas Paine

Dear Thomas Paine, Thanks for all of your contributions during the Enlightenment period. Common Sense helped shape thinking and influences how we are today. Also, without you helping with the Declaration of Independence, our country would function entirely different. Love, Riley Stinson  -- Riley Stinson ...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for your contributions to mathematics today. I enjoy your formulas that you added to algebra that allow me to understand math. It has helped me realize that I actually really like math and I am not the worst at it. Sincerely, Josie Strunk Sent from my i...

Thomas Paine

Dear Thomas Paine, Thanks for helping us get America. You wrote that pretty cool pamphlet called Common Sense. It was a lot of help to get people on board with leaving Britian and starting new. It was pretty nice to get a new country to be in. With deep love, St...

Edward Jenner

Dear Mr. Edward Jenner, Thank you for not only discovering the vaccine for smallpox, but more importantly the worlds first vaccine. You paved the way for many different medications. You made an improvement that helped small sicknesses stay small, and not become unnecessarily big and deadly. Without you, many would be dead, and even more would be...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dear Mozart, You are so amazing, and your music is beautiful. I'm so thankful for the pieces you created. Without your contribution to music during the Enlightenment, my orchestra class would be very different today. I really love Eeine Kleine Nachtmusik. Thank you for all that you did! With much respect, Molly...

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Dear Mr. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Thank you so much for your contributions to the field of mathematics. Without you we wouldn't have gotten the idea for a mechanical calculator and we would be forced to work everything out by hand. You've saved us so much time and helped make doing math easier. We have you to thank for making our lives less...

Thomas Jefferson

Dear Thomas Jefferson, Thank you for your efforts toward religious freedom during the Enlightenment Period. Your inclusion of these liberties in the Declaration of Independence entirely reformed the dynamic of American Society. Yes, discrimination persists as a result of fear and ignorance, yet your efforts have allowed diversity to prevail in...

Patrick Henry

Dear Mr. Henry, To me, The Enlightenment has meant that people were discovering new ideas. The Enlightenment influenced America because it brought forth new ideas, newspapers, books, and many more things. It taught people to think differently. In the Enlightenment, religion was becoming popular and more pastors were being ministered. I have learned...

Edward Jenner

Thank you Edward Jenner for telling a young child that your hypothesis could save him from the smallpox disease. You hypothesized that if you rubbed gross cow pox liquid into that young child's small cuts that you inflicted on him he would build a resistance to smallpox a completely different disease that killed many, you then went on to put straight...

Benjamin Franklin

Dear Benjamin Franklin, Thank you so much for being so influential during the Enlightenment period. Your discoveries have help out countless people around the globe. Some inventions have also evolved past you highest expectations. Thanks to your light bulb I am able to stay awake during the night hours and study and do homework. Your inventions...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for your contribution to our world today. Your discoveries on the laws of motion, gravity, math, and science has highly influenced modern society. Without you, we would not have figured out that an apple falls to the ground because of gravity, that algebra and calculus are very difficult, and that the previous understanding...

John Locke

Dear Mr. John Locke, I would like to thank you for your significant contributions to the Enlightenment, in Europe and the Americas. Your groundbreaking ideas challenged governments to reconsider preconceived notions that led to greater equality for all. In particular, your work on the "natural rights of life, liberty, and property" set up the foundation...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton,  This week we learned about the amazing ideas you had. We learned about how you impacted math and science. Thank you for being dedicated to learning. Your accomplishments have changed the world forever.  Darla Weston CCS Student Class of 202...

Sir Francis Bacon

Dear Sir Francis Bacon, Thank you for your many brilliant ideas. The Scientific Method changed the world, thanks to you. Without the Scientific Method, it would be so hard to solve scientific problems. People today use the scientific method all the time. You created a practical and easier approach to solving problem. Thank you again for all of...

Michel de Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne, Thank you for sharing all your ideas and works from your Essays. I love that I am able to get to know you and learn while reading your very personal essays. You have provided insight to religion, politics, and social problems. Your work is very knowledgeable, but easy to read, unlike many other pretentious philosopher's writings....

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for all of the contributions that you made to the fields of math, theology, astrology, and physics. By developing your laws of motion and gravitation, we are able to better understand the world that we live in. Furthermore, you helped us better understand planetary motion and the universe as a whole.  Thank...

Thomas Paine

Dear Thomas Paine, Thank you for writing your pamphlets. Thank you for playing such a big role in the American Revolution. Because of your writings, America is a world superpower, fighting wars to protect democracy around the globe. Because of your writings, the world is a much better pla...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, You have truly impressed me. Without the theory of gravity, we would still be wondering why things fall and would not know about the force pulling us toward the center of earth. Physics, engineering, economics, statistics, and medicine would not be as developed without the invention of calculus. My life would not be the...

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift, Thank you for your contribution to modern day writings and philosophy. I have learned a lot about you this week and have done two project in regards to your biography and writings. I would love to learn more and can't wait to read Gulliver's travels. Thank you, Boone Sent from my i...

John Locke

John Locke, Thank you for being a fantastic philosopher and pretty cool dude! Your work on natural rights and the social contract directly impacted and shaped the way America is made. Also I like the way that you think education should have equal amounts of leisure and work. Thanks, Mitch Granth...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dear Mozart, Thank you so much for everything that you have done and have accomplished for the future generations during the enlightenment. You advances in music were impeccable and have provided many classical piece for us to play and enjoy in 2018. You have provided a role model for so many young and aspiring musicians to look up to and learn...

Johann Sebastian Bach

Dear Johann Sebastian Bach, Thank you sincerely for your inspiration to other major artists that over time eventually created genres of music like soul, rock and roll, blues, and hip hop. These types of music will be remembered for the rest of time and help me procrastinate. Sent from my i...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for your studies in physics and theology. Your great works greatly influenced science and your theological works are greatly fascinating. Without your works, we would not be able to understand why things fall and how we are held to the earth. I also enjoy your works on planetary motion. Sincerely Mikaela Waggo...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, Thank you for all of your great discoveries. Your discovery of gravity and motion changed the way people view the world. Thank you for being the greatest scientist of all time, and paving a way for future scientists. Sent from my i...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dear Mr. Mozart, Thank you for all the beautiful music you composed so many years ago. Thank you for your courage to go against the church and create music that wasn't based off of the Christian religion. If you hadn't of challenged the church we might not have the music we have today. While Christian music is great, I do enjoy others genres...

William Wilberforce

Dear William Wilberforce, Thanks you for your work in the new world, thank you for abolishing slavery and making the world a better place and allowing a better Path for people who follow you. Sincerely, Matt Da...

William Wilberforce

Dear Mr. Wilberforce, You made the today's world so much better, thank you so much for that. The way you lived your life and followed your beliefs was just amazing. Thank you for fighting for equal rights and working endlessly to stop slavery. Without you we might still have slavery to this day. Thank you from the bottom of my hea...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dear Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, I am proud that I can play your pieces that still endure today. You're a truly outstanding genius and a prodigy. Thank you for your compositions, symphonies, concertos and fantasies. They are delightfully mathematical and precise and clear. Your contribution to the musical world truly raised the bar of compositions today....

William Wilberforce

Dear Mr. Wilberforce, Thank you for fighting everyday to eliminate slavery throughout Britain, and fighting for equal rights for all. -- Gavin Bender, CCS Student, 20...

Sir Francis Bacon

Thank you Sir Francis Bacon for coming up with the scientific method. I enjoy learning about science in school and without your discoveries science would be harder to understand. Thank you also for creating a pathway for other scientists to make discoveries on top of your methods. Sent from my i...

Sir Isaac Newton

Dear Isaac Newton, I want to thank you for the work that you have done that impacted the Enlightenment and changed the world. You invented the laws of gravitation and you were a key figure to the scientific revolution. Thank you for making discoveries of optics, motion and mathematics. Also thank you for accomplishing science concepts that help...

Jonathan Edwards

To me the enlightenment is a time of progression and change for the better in society and the world. It influenced America in many ways, such as inventions, religion, and peoples views on certain things. I would like to thank Jonathan Edwards for his religious contributions. He did amazing things and gave unbelievable sermons. He was a brilliant...

Denis Diderot

Dear Denis Diderot, Thank you for everything I've learned so much about you, and getting to know who you are and how you came to this world impacted lots of people. You impacted me the most because you're a critic of art and, a writer, and did stuff with encyclopedia. In enlightenment you had a quote it was "make people happy." It inspired me because...

Sir Isaac Newton

Thank you, to Isaac Newton for being one of the best scientist to ever life. Thank you for making a pathbreaking contribution to the Optics. Thank you for everythi...

John Locke

Dear Crossings, John Locke was the most influential character for me this week. Without him, I learned, the Declaration of Independence would be very different. He was the one who said that there should be a social contract between the people and the government. Our "natural rights" idea came from him, and without it, our constitution and laws would...

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Dear Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thank you for being fearless of your own opinion. You questioned and then went against the church when the traditional style didn't match up to what they said their standards were. You wrote books and talked about how people should be raised and treated. Though they were banned for going against the doctrine of original...

Michel de Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne, Thank you for establishing and popularizing the modern essay as a genre of English literature. I love writing and I have developed a love for writing through writing essays. Thank you, McKenna Bowlware Sent from my i...

Benjamin Franklin

Before we started this week, I literally know nothing about Enlightenment. But since we doing several research projects for different subjects. That's how I get to know more about that period time. I get to know Enlightenment is a period time so many scientific people and mathematicians develop to a new age. But not only for science but also for...

Beethoven

Thank you Beethoven for your music. It inspired people to be better and skyrocketed music. Your song Fur Elise is amazing and inspired. Your contributions have made what music is what it is today. Sent from my i...

Benjamin Franklin

Dear Benjamin Franklin, I have loved learning about you this week. Going into this week I knew you were very smart and very influential to modern society. I didn't know how much you actually influenced though. I knew you knew about electricity, but I didn't know that you basically started the first public library. Thank you for all the influential...

Patrick Henry

Dear Patrick Henry, It is with great pleasure to let you know that you by far are my favorite enlightenment thinker, not just because I did a project in English over you but because of the work you did during the American Revolution and our war for Independence from Britain. Your great speaking ability and explosive personality sparked a revolution...

Enlightenment week

Dear Edmund Burke, Edmund Burke was a major part of our government. He lead the way for being a conservative and other people followed his beliefs. He had many famous quotes. We would not have had the conservative type of government if it were not for you. Michael Haley Sent from my i...

Benjamin Franklin

Thank you Benjamin Franklin for inventing the lightening rod and discovering electricity through lightening. You are amazing because you tried something new that no one thought of before. Because of your great discovery, we now have electricity which led to many more discoveries and invemtions that changed our world forever. This all started with you...

Immanuel Kant

Mr. Kant thank you for your ideas on morals that derive from reason. I feel that people should understand that morals come from practical ways of thought rather than a collective idea made to benefit only a certain group. Thank you for your views on peace and true equality for all people. ...

John Locke

Dear John Locke, Thank you for all you have done to progress the philosophy of our government and the way we approach self evaluation. Without your research and theorizing our country would not be the same. Your theory of social contracts has allowed for many laws essential to the well being of our country to be implemented. You also provided a...

Reflection

The entire week was extremely interesting. The last day of the enlightenment week I was sick the entire time, and I had to present like 3 times. I had a lot fun, but next time I'll be sure not to get sick. I made it through the entire day learning and teaching about what I knew and finding new thinks that I didn't know. My favorite part was talking...

Rene Descartes

Dear Mr. Descartes, Thank you very much for your contributions to the world of mathematics. Your early success in attending college was remarkable and the effect that this experience had on the rest of the world is unforgettable. I use the coordinate plane in almost every lesson that I learn in math class. However, I am confident that a few of my...

John Locke and Thomas Paine

The enlightenment was a time of new idea. I enjoyed the living museum. I thank everyone who helped. I learned very much this week. I think it has opened my eyes to the benefit of the enlightenment. I am glad we had this week. I learned about John Locke, Thomas Paine, and many more. This was a very helpful week. Sent from my iP...

Sir Francis Bacon

Dear Sir Francis Bacon, Thank you for skepticism and the development of the scientific method. I am thankful for your contributions to the enlightenment era and to my society today. Even my science classes have been impacted by your intelligence and dedication to the laws of science. -- Ashlyn Darter CCS Student Class of 2020 ...

Thursday, January 11, 2018