3/29/19

Today we took our quiz on Eastern Philosophies. We also turned in the Rig Veda Creation Hymn and the Buddha reading.

Below you will find the requirements and topic list for the semester 2 research paper. This will begin after Spring Break. Students will need to do preliminary research and select a topic by the Friday before Spring Break. Instructions are at the top of the topic list.

Parent Letter and Requirements

Topic List

Due Monday: Signed research paper sheet
Due Friday 4/5: Preliminary research and topic choice for semester 2 paper.

3/28/19

Today we discussed the origins and basic beliefs of Buddhism.

Buddhism class notes

Friday 3/29: Eastern Thought Quiz. We will also turn in the Rig Veda Creation Hymn and the Buddha reading.

3/27/19

Today we discussed the origins and basic beliefs of Buddhism.

Buddhism notes.

Upcoming Dates:
3/28: Integrated Socratic Seminar
3/29: Eastern Philosophy Quiz

3/26/19

Today we created our own epic heroes. Students used the traits of the ideal person they came up with and drew their own hero. Drawing should include annotations describing how your hero exhibits the traits you came up with. Instruction are in ppt.

Epic Hero instructions (last two slides)

Homework Due Wednesday 3/27: Read and fill out the reading guide for the Life of the Buddha reading

3/25/19

Today students read an excerpt from the Ramayana and recorded the traits of an epic hero. We then analyzed the didactic purpose of the Ramayana.

Ramayana excerpt

Epic Hero chart (this should be placed in your LA journal along with the analysis questions)

Ramayana analysis questions (answer the analysis questions on slide 4, NOT the discussion questions in the ppt. These along with the chart will go in BOTH gradebooks)

Homework Due Wednesday 3/27: Read and fill out the reading guide for the Life of the Buddha reading

3/22/19

Today we discussed the paradoxes and possible meanings in the Rig Veda Creation Hymn. We also did a Lit lesson on Didactic literature, Epic Poetry, and Epic Heroes. We looked at the roles of these types of texts in Hindu culture and got an over of the Ramayana. We will read an excerpt on Monday.

Literary notes for your LA journal are at the end of this Hinduism powerpoint.

3/21/19

Today we discussed Hindu culture, common misconceptions surrounding Hinduism, and religious diversity within India.

Hindu culture class notes


Due 3/22: Read and answer questions for the Rig Veda Creation Hymn

3/20/19

Today we students worked in groups to analyze depictions of Hindu deities. We talked about the role of the deities in the lives of Hindu followers and in the broader belief system.

Hindu Deity activity

3/19/19

Today we began our discussion of Eastern Philosophies by looking at the origins and basic beliefs of Hinduism.

Hinduism pt 1 class notes.

3/18/19

Today we took our Africa Exam. If absent, please set up a time in the next week to take the test with Mrs. Santos.

Homework packets were also due today. Africa Homework Packet

3/15/19

Today students led small group discussions on the global response to conflicts in modern Africa.

If absent, answer the following and turn in with your research:

• How did the response to your chosen conflict compare with the response to the Rwandan genocide?
• Why do you think the UN so often hesitates to get involved in African conflicts?
• How could the UN response to African conflicts be improved?

 Africa exam on Monday. This will involve developing an outline to one of the prompts shown in class. This should include a thesis statement answering your chosen prompt, at least 6 pieces of evidence, and 2-3 body thesis statements. You should also include analysis for your evidence that shows your understanding of its connection to your argument.

Students should be working this weekend to develop their thesis and outline using their notes. This becomes your study guide to prepare for the exam. You will then create your outline in class without your notes on Monday. This will be graded on showing good content knowledge of the big ideas covered this unit which generally revolved around this question:

• How did imperialism impact the development of African countries? Students should consider the long-term impacts as well as the cultural perspectives created by imperialism that influence Africa today.

Due Monday 3/18: Africa Homework Packet

3/14/19

Due to the number of students out for a field trip today, our discussion on modern conflicts in Africa has been moved to Friday. Please come prepared with your research.

Today we work on preparing for our Africa exam on Monday. This will involve developing an outline to one of the prompts shown in class. This should include a thesis statement answering your chosen prompt, at least 6 pieces of evidence, and 2-3 body thesis statements. You should also include analysis for your evidence that shows your understanding of its connection to your argument.

Students should be working this weekend to develop their thesis and outline using their notes. This becomes your study guide to prepare for the exam. You will then create your outline in class without your notes on Monday. This will be graded on showing good content knowledge of the big ideas covered this unit which generally revolved around this question:

• How did imperialism impact the development of African countries? Students should consider the long-term impacts as well as the cultural perspectives created by imperialism that influence Africa today.

Due Monday 3/18: Africa Homework Packet

3/13/19

Today we finished viewing Hotel Rwanda and discussed what we learned.

Due Thursday 3/14: Using at least 3 good academic sources, you will choose one of the conflicts below to research. You should be finding out the following information:

Get a general understanding of what the conflict is about and what took place. Then look at the global response (or lack thereof). Analyze this action by looking at who was involved, what they tried to do, and how it went/why. Be ready to discuss the idea of the UN/global response to internal conflicts in Africa using evidence from your conflict. We will look at what the world does/doesn't do and as well as what we think they should do.

Take good notes on your conflict. Collect evidence and be sure to cite your sources. These can be used during our graded discussion on Thursday and will be turned in after the discussion.

Possible conflicts:

• Somalia
• Sudan
• Congo
• Central African Republic
• Mali
• Ethiopia/Eritrea
• Other major violent conflicts are acceptable if there was a global/UN response of some sort.

3/12/19

Today we continued watching Hotel Rwanda.

Due Thursday 3/14 (as oppose to Wednesday as stated in class): Using at least 3 good academic sources, you will choose one of the conflicts below to research. You should be finding out the following information:

Get a general understanding of what the conflict is about and what took place. Then look at the global response. Analyze this action by looking at who was involved, what they tried to do, and how it went/why. Be ready to discuss the idea of the UN/global response to internal conflicts in Africa using evidence from your conflict. We will look at what the world does/doesn't do and why as well as what we think they should do.

Take good notes on your conflict. Collect evidence and be sure to cite your sources. These can be used during our graded discussion on Thursday.

Possible conflicts:

• Somalia
• Sudan
• Congo
• Central African Republic
• Mali
• Ethiopia/Eritrea
• Other major violent conflicts are acceptable if there was a global/UN response of some sort.

3/11/19

Today we began watching Hotel Rwanda as part of our study of modern conflicts in Africa.

Due Thursday 3/14 (as oppose to Wednesday as stated in class): Using at least 3 good academic sources, you will choose one of the conflicts below to research. You should be finding out the following information:

Get a general understanding of what the conflict is about and what took place. Then look at the global response. Analyze this action by looking at who was involved, what they tried to do, and how it went/why. Be ready to discuss the idea of the UN/global response to internal conflicts in Africa using evidence from your conflict. 

Take good notes on your conflict. Collect evidence and be sure to cite your sources. These can be used during our graded discussion on Thursday.

Possible conflicts:

• Somalia
• Sudan
• Congo
• Central African Republic
• Mali
• Ethiopia/Eritrea
• Other major violent conflicts are acceptable if there was a global/UN response of some sort.

Genocide/Rwanda Notes

3/8/19

Today we did a gallery walk of the Independence Movement visuals. Students took some notes on 3 different countries as well as a visual from the same country as their own. We then discussed the similarities and differences between the movements and the reasons behind them.

If absent, see Mrs. Santos for a time to look at the visuals.

On Monday we will begin watching Hotel Rwanda as part of our study of modern conflicts in Africa. Today we discussed the 8 stages of genocide and introduced the Rwandan genocide. Students should understand these stages as well as the background of the conflict.

Genocide/Rwanda Notes

3/7/19

Today students finished their research and worked to put together their visuals for their independence movement. This will be due Friday.

3/6/19

Due to the internet outage during 5th period today, the due date for the independence movement protect will be pushed to Friday. Work time for both 3/4 block and 5th period will be adjusted so that both are balanced. Mrs. Santos will explain more in class.

3/5/19

Today we discussed how South Africa gained independence and the effects of apartheid on the country.

South Africa class notes

We also introduced our African Independence Movements Visual project (detailed requirements in link). This can be done as an individual or with a partner. Below are two readings. The first has sections on every available country except Nigeria.  The second talks about Nigeria. You DO NOT need to read or turn in these readings. They are simply to give you a starting point for what the independence movement looked like. Students should use at least one other academic source for information.

We will have Wednesday to work on this in class.

Students can choose from :

• Ghana
• Nigeria
• Angola
• Algeria
• Kenya
• Congo

Nigeria Reading

Other Independence Movements

The writing prompts for the outline we will write for the exam are in Mondays' powerpoint. Remember you will choose one of these. Test will be on March 15th.

3/4/19

Today we discussed Leopold and the Congo.

Leopold and the Congo notes

The writing prompts for the outline we will write for the exam are in the powerpoint. Remember you will choose one of these. Test will be on March 15th.

Homework Due Tuesday: Critically read the first page of the Apartheid reading. On the second page, answer the questions at the top of the page using the list of laws.

3/1/19

Today we discussed the motivations behind European colonization as well as the methods used to control the colonists.

Berlin Conference and Colonization

Students also read a speech by Kwame Nkrumah, a Ghanaian independence leader. If absent, read the speech and answer the questions near the end of the powerpoint about Kwame's perspective.

Kwame Nkrumah speech


Due Monday: Critically read AND answer the question on Leopold and the Congo.

2/28/19

Today students participated in the Scramble for Africa simulation. If absent, see Mrs. Santos for
make-up assignment.