On Bi-Camels......

In history class, we are just ending the revolutionary war and beginning the Foundation period. I was finding it difficult to help my students keep all of the Plans our Founding Fathers proposed straight, hence the Bi-Camels (pun intended).


Me: "So when the Revolutionary War ended, we were left with a huge amount of debt, and more importantly, no clear government!"

Jake: "like, people could do whatever they wanted?"

Kyle: "cool!"

Me: "wait a second, guys, it wasn't like the apocalypse and then total anarchy."

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Me: "Translation: it was like when Harry defeats Voldemort and Dumbledore is dead and Snape is dead and there's technically no elected Headmaster of Hogwarts but of course there are still leaders that everyone follows, I mean, hello, McGonagall is still right there."

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Holly: "Is Harry Potter really applicable here, Ms. Sefcik?"

Me: "Harry Potter is always applicable. Also, nice use of the word 'applicable.' Also, let's get back to the Founders. The New Jersey Plan proposed one legislative body that would give every state equal representation in the form of one vote. Well, guess who didn't like that?"

Mary: "Mary!" (Shoots hand into air)

Frank: "why do you say your own name?"

Mary: "It makes people call on you."

Me: "Yes, Mary, who didn't like it?"

Mary: "(to Frank) See? (to me) The big states."

Me: "Yes! So good ole Edmund Randolph and James Madison submitted what became known as the Virginia plan. The Virginia plan was to have a bicameral house legislature--two houses based on population."

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Me: "Who knows what bicameral means?"

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Me: "Hmm, talkative class today. Ohhhh-kayyy, well---AHA! I know! Ok, watch this--"

(proceed to draw on board)

Katy: "WHAT is THAT?"

John: "I think it's a dying dog."

Laine: "I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be a snake bird monster."

Katy: "It looks deformed."

Me: (step back to admire my handiwork) "What? It's a camel. See? The humps on its back? Those are the houses of the VA plan! And this one only has one hump, so it's the NJ Plan. Get it? It's a BI-CAMerAL! Bi-camel! Bi-cameral! See?"

Holly: "The one on the right looks sick."