Category Classwork

Unit 6 Presentations & other resources

PDF Presentation: Africa Powerpoint

PDF Presentation: Capitalism vs. Socialism

PDF Presentation: Intro to Industrial Revolution

PDF Presentation: Imperialism Intro Presentation

PDF: capitalism & marxism worksheet

PDF: Capitlism vs. Socialism master

Doc: Unit 6 Review Sheet

Japan Nuclear Reactor Update and link to Industrial Revolution

Based on the developments of the last 3 days, Japan’s potential nuclear meltdown seems to be emerging as the most significant challenge facing the country at the moment.

Here are a few links to help you understand how nuclear power works and why the reactors are facing a potential meltdown.

One of the best videos I have found explaining the situation:

Link to Industrial Revolution:

In class over the past 2 days we have been discussing the Industrial Revolution. We have discussed how virtually everything that we see, own, and come in contact with is the direct byproduct of the Industrial Revolution.

We have discussed the question: How did the Industrial Revolution lead to the nuclear crisis that Japan faces at this moment?

Answer (one explanation at least): The Industrial Revolution marked a dramatic shift from agricultural living to the urban, 9 to 5 work, have to earn money to live, must have power to fuel our society that we live in today.  Our need for power/electricity to fuel an industrialized country has led to innovations in nuclear power.  Ultimately, the risk of nuclear, radioactive contamination, which had been demonstrated by Chernobyl, was seen as worth it in exchange for the steady, non-polluting stream of power that comes from nuclear power plants. For the most (98%) part, nuclear power has been relatively incident free.  However, it is natural for us to look at what is happening and ask whether any source of power is worth the potential radiation contamination that faces Japan, and possibly, the West Coast of the US – and likely even more areas than that.

Chernobyl

The news has frequently brought up the term “Chernobyl” in regards to the Japanese Nuclear Meltdown Crisis – and the possible Chernobyl-esque solution.  Some have predicted that if left unresolved, the situation in Japan could be even worse than the nuclear catastrophe that occurred in Chernobyl in 1986.

How bad was Chernobyl?  Watch this shocking documentary that retells the story and what the USSR had to do at the time to contain the radioactive magma that had already contaminated most of Europe.

There are ten parts to this Chernobyl documentary.  At the end of each clip, they give you the link to the next part.

Japan Tsunami 2011 Lesson Plan & Resources

Last updated 3/17/11

In class today we will review the historic tsunami that struck Japan over the weekend.  The earthquake that caused the tsunami is one of the most 5 powerful earthquakes in the last 100 years.  This tsunami has been one of the best documented – as there are ample video, eyewitness accounts, and news sources that we can use to analyze the challenges that Japan faces.

Focus Question: What is the most significant challenge that Japan faces in the wake of the 3/11/11 tsunami?

What will it take in order for us to be able to answer this question?

First, students need to define what makes a challenge significant.  Is it based on difficulty to overcome, damage caused to the country?  Develop a definition as a class of what significant means in this context.

Then we will review the background of tsunamis, as well as briefly review Japan’s unique history as the most tsunami prone country in the world.

Background:

Japanese Tsunami History

2011 Japan Tsunami Video

2011 Japan Tsunami Video 2

2011 Japan Tsunami Video 3

2011 Japan Tsunami Video 4

CNN Before/After Interactive Slideshow

CNN Nuclear Reactor Explosion Explained

NY Times Status of each nuclear reactor

Excellent animation showing the multitude of aftershocks since the 9.0 earthquake

News Article Jigsaw Activity:

Each student will be assigned a different news article to read and summarize.

Each of these news articles deals with a specific aspect of this tragedy; loss of productivity due to power outages, the possibility of an even more deadly aftershock, possible nuclear meltdown and wide scale radiation, huge financial costs, and a death toll that could top 10,000 – though many reports claim that this number could go up dramatically.

Students will be given one of the articles in expert groups of 2 or 3.  They will read their article and summarize the significant challenge that their article represents.  Expert groups will be given 4-5 minutes to discuss their article to make sure that they have the same idea and information regarding their challenge.

Expert groups will then be mixed in order that students summarize the main idea of their article to their classmates.  While they are summarizing, each student takes notes on the graphic organizer.

Each student is responsible to summarize each challenge, what that challenge means for the Japanese people, and brainstorm what it will take to overcome this challenge.  After each student has shared, each mixed group will have a discussion on which challenge they feel is the most significant.

News Articles:

TEPCO warns of massive blackouts; urges conservation

Monster aftershock could strike within days

Nearly 200,000 people evacuated near Japanese nuclear plant

Japanese earthquake could be most expensive ever

Japan Reels As Quake Toll Could Top 10,000

 

Japanese Tsunami 2011 Worksheet

Homework Due 3/18:

  • You will conduct research online to identify one additional challenge that Japan faces in addition to the 4 we covered in class.
  • You will then evaluate which challenge you consider to be the most significant, and write a summary paragraph justifying your choice.

Extension (Worth 20 points): Students will identify a news article that correlates with their selected challenge and leave it in the comments of this post.  In your comment, summarize the article and how it relates to the challenge you selected.

Additional videos and resources:

Excellent visualization of the tsunami: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RCPG3HNwHA&feature=related

Truly amazing NY Times graphic/tutorial on the nuclear reactor meltdown: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/12/world/asia/the-explosion-at-the-japanese-reactor.html

Excellent slideshow-timeline from USA Today: http://topics.gannett.com/japan%20earthquake/?template=usatoday

Video of skyscrapers swaying back and forth in Tokyo: http://www.wimp.com/skyscrapersswaying/

Video of the tsunami remnants hitting a canal in Hawaii: http://www.wimp.com/tsunamibackyard/

Video of the ground being torn apart during the earthquake: http://www.dump.com/2011/03/12/crazy-video-of-the-ground-shifting

Video of supermarket during earthquake: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12717701

Economist chart of world’s deadliest earthquakes since 1900: http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/03/earthquakes

BBC Tsunami wave forecast map: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12715415

BBC Interactive map with site-based video clips:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12722187


Possible discussion extension questions:

  • How was the impact of this earthquake different from the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010?
  • How does this tsunami and its aftermath compare with the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004?  Compare the size of the earthquakes and examine why so many more lives were lost during the 2004 earthquake.

 

Update: Latest Libyan news and student political cartoons

Update: We’re famous (well Christina is…) !!!

When you google image search Libya political cartoons, Christina’s is in the top 4!!!

We’ve already had multiple visitors to our site based on this turning up in google image search!

Witness: Peaceful protesters mowed down in Libya

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/04/libya.conflict/index.html?hpt=T1

30 killed in attacks west of Libyan capital

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0304/libya.html

Massacre by Gaddafi’s forces in Zawiyah on 4-3-2011: 50+ dead, 300+ injured (Warning: this is intense footage)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4TOT1pNXPs

On a lighter note….

We had a 1/2 day so we drew political cartoons on the Libyan Revolution.  Overall I was very impressed.  I included a PDF with some stand-out cartoons.

Student Libya Political Cartoons

Will the Libyan Revolution Succeed?

In our last class we discussed the Libyan revolution, Gadaffi, and some of the factors that will influence whether this revolution will succeed. Today we are analyzing current events in order to predict whether the Libyan revolution will be successful.

Assignment: You are a CIA analyst stationed at the N. Africa desk. You have been asked to write a 1 paragraph report on whether you think the Libyan democratic revolution will succeed and why? Your station chief wants this delivered by tomorrow.

What do you already know about Libya that you can use to predict what will happen in Libya?
What else do you need to know in order to accurately predict what will happen in Libya?

You will use the following graphic organizer to help make our predictions:  Libyan Revolution Prediction Worksheet

In addition, here are the articles that each group reviewed:

Here are a few more articles with some really interesting insights:

Answer questions 3 and 4 on the worksheet for homework.  You will have the opportunity to conduct additional research to answer the 1-2 questions that you identify for #4.

The American Revolution: Opposing Viewpoints of the Loyalists vs. the Patriots

Click here to access the presentation and all of the political cartoons we used in class:

http://www.martinsclass.com/worldhistory/2010/03/23/the-american-revolution-opposing-viewpoints-of-the-loyalists-vs-the-patriots/

More on Egypt….

CORRECTION; Despite news reports this afternoon that Mubarak had intentions of stepping down, he still seems to be clinging to power.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/us-egypt-idUSTRE70O3UW20110210

Respond to these questions in the comment section:

  • What do you think?
  • Is it going to take violence to remove Mubarak? Is that justified?
  • Based on what we have discussed, do you believe Mubarak will turn his military on his own people to prevent an overthrow?  Do you think the military would go through with it?

In class we’ve had some great discussions on the Egyptian revolution and how it so clearly represents Enlightenment themes and ideas.

Here are some links for you to learn more about Egypt:

Here is an episode of a PBS show Rick Steves Europe where he goes to Egypt.  I like how he addresses Egypt’s unique history: http://www.hulu.com/watch/106471/rick-steves-europe-egypt

Here is a clip showing how a spirit of responsibility and positivity has taken hold in Cairo: http://www.wimp.com/egyptianprotests/

Here is a link to the timeline that we reviewed in class: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/03/egypt.protests.timeline/index.html

And, if you’re up for it, here is a great special by Democracy Now on the Egyptian protests: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/5/uprising_in_egypt_a_two_hour

More to come….

Enlightenment Thinker Rap/Song/Poem Assignment

Your Assignment (Due Monday) :

You will take on the personality of an enlightenment thinker and create a rap/poem/song from their perspective

Your rap/poem/song must meet the following criteria:

  • Clearly state your name/background
  • Identify what they wrote
  • Identify and explain their main ideas
  • Relate their ideas to at least 2 enlightenment themes
  • Bonus: How do you see your enlightenment thinker’s ideas in today’s world?

Here are some resources to help you:

People of the Enlightenment Worksheet

Enlightenment Water/River Graphic

Textbook Chapter on The Enlightenment

Also, here is a link to help you find rhyming words: http://www.rhymezone.com/

Lastly, here is my rap/poem I created for Beccaria to model what I expect:

Hello, how are you , my name is Beccaria

I come from a boot-shaped peninsula called Italia

The criminal justice system these days just ain’t right

They torture and abuse suspects under the cover of night

All the criminals say: Beccaria Beccaria, can’t you see

Crappy criminal justice systems always picking on me

They make convicts wait forever for a trial

And while they wait they punish them in an arbitrary and cruel style.

The trial should be fair, with fair-minded judge

That don’t give harsh verdicts because they hold a grudge

People should be judged according to the rules of nature

Look at the evidence and apply the scientific method to measure

Whether a person is actually guilty or innocent of a crime,

We don’t want innocent people on an MSNBC documentary about people serving hard time,

Punishments for crimes need to be fair

But governments these days just don’t seem to care

I explained this all in my book crime and punishments

That criminal justice systems don’t make any sense

Because of me, your US Bill of Rights guarantees

That police can’t torture inmates as they please

If you get arrested for stealing a loaf of bread

You don’t have to fear that they’ll cut off your head

I deserve some credit for all of the ideas that I’ve given

Because of me your society is a better place to live in

Peace


Scientific Revolution Worksheet and Reading

In class we used the text to complete this worksheet working in jigsaw groups.  The most important part of this worksheet is the box under each category “Significance to Today”.  To fill in this section, consider the following question: What can we do, or what specific technology do we have as a result of the achievements in this category?

After you have finished the sheet, you will review your answers to the “Significance to Today” and identify the category that you consider to be the most important or significant.  Write an essay justifying your choice citing specific achievements from the Scientific Revolution, and how the technology these achievements have created have benefitted us today.

Click on the links below to download the graphic organizer and text you will need to complete it:

Scientific Revolution Graphic Organizer

Scientific Revolution Textbook Reading

Midterm Review Materials

The first thing you can do is to click on the “archives” page up above.  Click on the months and categories to see posts and materials related to different units.
Blank Europe Map (right click to download)
Here is the review slideshow we covered in class 1/13/11: Midterm_Review_Pt._1
Here are the textbook chapters for review: