Reaching Out to Africa

This week with the help of technology we traveled to the second largest continent, Africa. Your projects clearly illustrated the numerous challenges, opportunities and successes of the different countries we visited. I hope you have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation of the people of this continent.

Your projects were impressive. You chose good photos to help tell the story. Your use of note cards resulted in smooth, confident presentations. Some of you are natural presenters, standing tall and speaking clearly and at an understandable pace. All of these skills will serve you well when it comes time for your Capstone presentation and in your future calling, whatever that may be. Finally, your reflections and self evaluations gave you the opportunity to think about the steps of the project and how you could improve. So often we get so busy that we forget to pause and reflect, a process that helps us advance in every field of endeavor.

Things to keep in mind as you prepare future presentations:

1.Make sure you understand all the terms you use...copying information onto a note card without understanding the content can be dangerous...one student used the term “emerging market” to describe the country and then immediately defined the word for us...great job!

2. You should be able to identify every illustration you use and say why you selected it; the illustrations are supposed to help tell the story...not distract attention from the point you are trying to make...if you are talking about tourism, an appropriate photo of a place of beauty or interest would support your point; if you use the flag of the country, know what the colors and symbols represent.

3. Not all answers are found on the web...some groups struggled with the opportunity slide (what could be the future of the country) and the success slide...these focus questions required you to think about the material you had read, analyze the different sources and then synthesize the information into a coherent prediction or assessment. It can be hard but it is a skill you need to practice.

4.Your source slide should list all the resources you used for the project. You will look at some sources and decide not to use them and those do not have to go on the list. The source slide is not a laundry list but a concise listing of the sources you found useful. When you do your Capstone, you will be asked to do an annotated bibliography which will require you to explain how each source helped you with your project. Students often list Google or Bing as a source...they are not sources but search engines. The sites to which your search leads you are the sources. Your source list also required a newspaper or magazine from the country.

Accountable Talk

This week we had our first accountable talk activity. Using two readings from our UpFront magazine, you had the opportunity to read, take notes, and process the information using our 3-2-1 strategy prior to conducting the discussion. Accountable talk gives students the ability to direct the conversation. It is your time to explore your ideas and ask others what they think about issues in the readings. You earned credit for your notes, contributions and reflections. If you struggled with this activity, we will have other opportunities. Get in the swing of things...contribute...ask a question...make a connection. All ideas are welcome.

Colonization of Africa

Thank you to Mr. Young for providing a primary source document lesson on colonization. Your graphic organizer helped you sort through the documents and discover the motives for Europeans to take over Africa and the impact colonization had on the continent. Many of the problems of Africa can be traced back to this time when others conquered in the name of God, glory and gold.

Famine

Some of the classes watched Nicolas Kristof’s video on “Hidden Hunger” and another NYT clip on hunger in Kenya. You had readings about famine in your text and two BBC handouts. We will continue to look at Kristof’s ideas for fighting poverty. This award winning journalist thinks differently about how to solve big problems. Instead of spending millions of dollars on grand projects, Kristof is a supporter of micro-financing. He believes small loans directly to individuals will have a bigger impact on the quality of life. If you want to read more about micro-financing I have given you a link to the Kiva website. We will also watch a slide show based on “Half the Sky,” a recent book Kristof and his wife co-authored. Last year one of our own MHS students did an independent study on micro-financing and helped a Mongolian woman buy a goat.

War Dance

Next week we will be watching “War Dance,” an inspirational and true story of a group of high school students from Uganda who participated in the country’s annual song and dance competition after undergoing horrifying experiences as captives of the terroristic Lord’s Resistance Army. The film is a powerful reminder that hope and healing are possible even in the face of some of the worst atrocities imaginable.

Watching the News

While there is no homework for the weekend, make sure you are watching the news. Our next unit on South West Asia will study an area that has been the main focus of international coverage since September 11, 2001. On Friday, explosives hidden in computer printer cartridges were found in packages being shipped from Yemen to Chicago. According to the CIA, over 600 Al Qaeda terrorists are using Yemen as a base of operation to plan international attacks.

Current Events Quiz Time

We will be having a quiz on our current events. Periods C and D have already submitted questions for the quiz and should be prepared with their notes next class period. Periods A, B, and E will write possible quiz questions on Monday and we will have the quiz on Tuesday. Now let me see...take good notes....keep my notes organized....write the questions for the quiz....use the notes for the quiz...could this be a trick or treat....no ....it is an opportunity to earn lots of points! Be ready.

Halloween

As part of our study of Africa, we looked at different organizations that help the people. One of the more popular groups is UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. Is any one trick or treating for UNICEF? If so, you might be interested in today’s obituary for Mary Emma Allison, the teacher who founded “Trick or Treat for UNICEF.”

Have a fun and safe evening...extra credit for those dressing up as historical figures or elected officials!

Preparation Pays!

Congratulations on a great spirit week. While I didn’t always recognize you behind your blue and white faces or unique costumes, it was evident that Middletown spirit was in great supply!

This week we continued our journey through Africa. You had two days to work in the computer labs with your partners on your power point project. Learning to work successfully with a group is a great skill to have as you get ready to enter the work force or go on to further professional development. Using your MHS email accounts and Acrobat allowed you to collaborate beyond the school building and regular class hours. As with any technology we have to be prepared for glitches. Your room management plan clearly stated that MHS email accounts had to be up and running by October 1. Many students were ready on time and that made the project start smoothly. Some of the paper work got tied up in the office but again with enough advance warning most of you were ready. You will need an MHS account for another project in the future so please be sure to make any necessary arrangements now.

A few last minute hints:

1. Read the rubric and then reread it; it is a very clear list of what you will need to do to have a project that meets standard.

2. Use visuals; limit writing on the slides; you may put all of your words on note cards that will be handed in.

3. Practice your presentation; be confident, be comfortable; you are the expert on the country.

4. Focus on the 3 main questions: what are the challenges, opportunities and successes of your country?

If you can think of any other questions, please post a comment and I will get back to you. Good luck…all projects are due by 7am on October 26.

Maps

Some classes have finished both the physical and political maps of Africa. High quiz grades were earned by students who took the time to draw a clear and well labeled map. Some classes are finishing up the physical map and your syllabus states that a quiz will follow.

Accountable Talk

Some classes finished the accountable talk activity while others will complete it on Monday. As promised, I have provided a link to “Africa’s Rising Stars” and “Armed and Underage”. Accountable talk encourages you to explore your thinking and your fellow students’ thinking about the articles. It is a student focused activity where you are in the driver’s seat…you decide upon the questions to explore. It is a great activity when everyone puts forth the effort to participate.

Current Events

You handed in your current event on Africa this week and many of you did an event from your country project. Some of you commented that you were able to learn some background knowledge about your country by reading the current event. Good idea!

Economic Worksheet

Some classes have completed this worksheet while others have it for homework. You had some class time so hopefully it should not take long to complete. This chapter will help you think through the history of economic problems experienced by many countries in Africa and what steps countries are taking to improve their economic opportunities. Think infrastructure…no business wants to locate in a place without a strong infrastructure. We have linked the need for good infrastructure to our own state as efforts are underway to link rail service with the airport, improve Quonset Point port, upgrade our roads and bridges, and implement education reform that will result in a competitive labor force. When all of these conditions are positive, companies will locate and invest in your state or country.

Federal Forms

Impact Aid forms were distributed and are due in the Main Office by Wednesday October 27. Those forms can bring in additional federal aid to our District so it is very important to have them filled out and returned as soon as possible. We all want to do what we can to make our District efficient and this is one way you can help out.

Happy Birthday LEM

The Power of Collaboration

An event watched round the world this week was the successful and joyful rescue of 33 Chilean miners who had been trapped underground for two months. Miners, engineers, politicians, and families all worked together to make this successful rescue possible. Collaboration is a powerful tool.

This week we had to cope with a short week and NECAP testing. Some of our classes were not affected and were able to complete activities such as the map quiz that other classes will be taking during the coming week. So let’s do a quick recap.

By now all of you should have your syllabus for Africa. It lists the activities we will be doing as we get to know this large and diverse continent. All classes were assigned the Africa political map, and as the syllabus states, a quiz will follow. You may use your map for the quiz, so if you have a complete and easy to read map you should earn a high score. You also have been assigned a current event on Africa. Many of you decided to bring in an event based on your project country. That was a great idea, as that article has now given you some background information for your project.

All of the classes have been broken into groups and your leader selected a country out of the hat. You have a rubric that clearly outlines what your project must include. We are focusing on the challenges, opportunities and successes of your country. By working together you should be able to divide the work to make the project more manageable.

You were required to have your MHS email account ready to use by October 1. When all members of your group have accounts, you can use Adobe Acrobat to build the slides as a joint venture. Collaboration is a key to success in many endeavors, and this project gives you an opportunity to practice that skill. In addition, you will be presenting and using note cards... an opportunity to practice skills you will need for Capstone.

Some classes were able to watch the MSNBC story on the ancient city of Timbuktu. Western Africa was a rich region and home to wealthy and powerful kingdoms. Cities traded in slaves, gold and salt. Today, these cities have fallen into disrepair but there is a new interest in preserving the culture, especially the thousands of documents that were part of the Timbuktu library.

Some classes also met William Kamkwamba, “the boy who harnessed the wind.” William tells his own story as the young son of a poor farmer. His family was hard hit by a drought, and because of the lack of money he was forced to drop out of school. But he would not be defeated. By reading a book on electricity from his local library (which had just two shelves of books), he was able to put together a wind mill out of scrap pieces of PVC pipe and old bicycle parts. He soon was generating enough electricity for his home, the farm, and recharging people’s cell phones. William plans to use the proceeds from an award he received to conduct workshops in his home village in Malawi to teach other young people the useful skills he has learned. His is an inspiring story.

Right here in our own back yard

While reading The Newport Daily News I came across two articles of particular interest. First, Richard Saul Wurman was featured on the front page of Friday’s paper. He recently spoke at the Redwood Library, where he offered a partial apology for a remark he had previously made to a New York Times reporter describing Newport as “an intellectual wasteland.” But what particularly interested me were Wurman’s references to TED, an organization he founded that sponsors an annual conference on technology, education and design (hence the initials). One of its guiding principles is that bringing together creative minds from a variety of fields can lead to exciting new innovations. TED is one of my favorite web sites, offering brief but fascinating video clips of dynamic, thought-provoking speakers.

The second article was a brief story about Solar Sisters, an organization based on women selling to women products using solar power that will make their lives easier. This organization has been very successful in Africa. Check it out.

Spirit Week

Even though our football team was a bit short on the score board, we can all be very proud of the efforts they made on the field and as you know there is another big game coming up next weekend. We are going to have a grand time celebrating Spirit Week at school. So join in the fun!

Happy Birthday to BABM!

The Politics of Peace

Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese advocate for democracy, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. He was recognized for “his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.” The Chinese government and its supporters portrayed the decision as a “desecration” of the award and a move to impose Western values on the Chinese people. Liu is currently serving an 11 year prison term for circulating a petition on the internet in December 2008 that demanded civil liberties and judicial independence. Contemporary China will be a major unit of study towards the end of this semester, and it is not too soon to start reading about this country that has a major political, economic and strategic impact on the United States and the rest of the world.

As you may recall, last year President Obama was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the third sitting President to receive it. Many people were surprised when a President who had been in office less than a year received what many consider the most prestigious award for public service. The statement accompanying it said Obama was selected for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” In addition, the Committee cited the President’s efforts towards nuclear disarmament. We should all pause and think about the implications of this award as we try to move towards a more peaceful world and to consider how we as Americans relate to the people of other nations.

CWI

We have struggled this week with NECAP testing and shorter class periods. If you have been absent any time this past week, your tests will be rescheduled and you will have to arrange to make up your class work after school. Time is available any afternoon except Tuesdays but keep in mind you have five days to make up missed work due to an excused absence.

This week we discussed different types of governments. Knowing how a country governs itself will give you special insight into its relationship with the rest of the world. In addition, we talked about how the size, location and shape of a country affect its ability to trade and to protect itself. Think about the disadvantages a landlocked country may have as opposed to a country with ample sea ports.

We also tackled a difficult chapter on economic geography. The text was loaded with new vocabulary words to help describe economic systems and activities and to measure economic output. These vocabulary words will be useful when you analyze your current event on business.

We had a quiz as we ended these segments. The questions have been a mixture of identification based on the vocabulary and an open ended question which allows you to apply the information you have learned. Full credit will be earned for responses that are well thought out and respond to all parts of the question.

Africa

Most of the classes had the opportunity to watch a power point presentation on Africa. By listening to the music and watching the photos you were introduced to the beauty and variety of people and landscapes on this continent. We also did a reading from an excerpt from National Geographic. I have many back issues available to you in the classroom. Please take advantage of this added resource when you have a few minutes.

While we can make some generalizations about the continent as a while, it will be more useful to look at Africa region by region. Your text has a map that shows the different regions. Many classes received the map assignment so make sure you use both the political map and the regional map to draw your own. You will have a quiz on the political map and you will be able to use your own to answer the questions. A good map should mean a good quiz grade.

As part of our study of Africa, you will do a group power point project on one country. Some classes have already selected their groups and countries. Your next current event is due starting October 14 ( check the board for your class period due date). I recommend you do a current event on the country you have selected to give you a head start on the power point project.

Interterm reports

Our interterm reports are ready. Many of you had well organized portfolios with an up to date status of assignment sheet. You will be pleased that all of your work is in one location as it will give you a head start for studying for the mid term exam. As announced for the past 2 weeks, if you did not have a folder with an up to date sheet, you were below standard. Take the time to organize your work and keep the folder in the bin so you can earn full credit. If you are below standard, you still have four weeks to bring up your grade. What is your plan?

Email

Is your MHS account ready to go? You can check your account by going to the Middletown High School web page...use your password...go to mail...type in your name and then check “Charlie Checker” to see if becomes highlighted...if yes...you are ready.
You must have a school email account to do the next project.

Columbus Day Weekend

We have a long weekend as Monday we celebrate Columbus Day. This holiday has come under attack recently as some historians have questioned Columbus’ role in history. How original was his “discovery”? Did he treat the indigenous people with respect, and if not why should we honor him? At the same time, many use this holiday to honor all great explorers no matter when or where they went as they opened up new lands and established links between peoples who previously had not known of one another.

Extra Credit

What Africans have won the Nobel Peace Prize? Be the first in your class to email me the correct response using your MHS email account to receive extra credit.

Religion and the World

This week we focused on understanding the elements of culture, and especially the role of religion. You had the opportunity to work on a group presentation focused on the five major religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Using multiple sources (a good idea for any project) you highlighted key information: where and when the religion started, its main beliefs, and the number of people who practice it. We quickly recognized that three of the major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have much in common: all three originated in Southwest Asia, are monotheistic, look upon Jerusalem as a holy city, believe in a holy book and practice alms-giving, prayer, and fasting.

Your current event this week was also linked to religion. Martin Marty, editor of the religious series we used for this project, states in his foreword, “to be informed citizens of our world, readers have good reason to learn about these features of religion that mean so much to so many.” Some classes were able to view the “60 Minutes” interview with the developer of the proposed Muslim community center in New York and the leader of the opposition. The interviews showed both sides of the argument. As we continue our study of the contemporary world, keep in mind how religious differences can lead to conflict. What can we do to avoid this conflict? Is the building of the community center an effort to heal, or an example of disregard for America’s loss?

Finally, you did a map on world religions. This is the first of many maps you will work on this year. We talked about what makes for a good map and this activity allowed you to practice those skills.

We ended our study of religion with an announced quiz. You had time to review your notes. How did you do?

Population Geography

We continued with readings on population geography from your syllabus. As part of our reading, we practiced bold to bold notes, a strategy that allows you to outline a chapter very efficiently. Yes, it takes time to do the outline but you will find using this strategy will help you a great deal in understanding the material. We followed up the next day with a jeopardy style game that gave us the opportunity to review key terms. This led us to the discussion of how population size can affect a country and how age distribution can affect policies. We also had the opportunity to watch a video clip where Hans Rosling explained population growth in the world using plastic bins.

Political Geography

You have a worksheet to help guide you through the next section of our text. You have your syllabus so you know what is expected.

Email Accounts

You are required to have a MHS email account. The room management plan clearly indicates the need for an account by October 1. Many of you have accounts but if you do not it is your responsibility to see Mr. Fontaine, Mrs. O’Donnell or Mrs. Gill to get the paper work. You will need this account for our upcoming project on Africa. Yes, I know many of you already have private email accounts but you also need a school email. You will find out in the business world that work and private activities must remain separate and this is good practice for you in maintaining two accounts. I will be passing a list around next week where you will need to list your school email.

Interterms

We are almost at the halfway mark for first quarter. You updated your status of assignment sheet on Friday so you know your grade. Interterms will be based on your work and your folder. You must have a folder with all of your work in the class bin in order to meet standard.

Revisions

On some assignments you are allowed and encouraged to revise. This is an opportunity for you to have a second chance at the assignment and therefore improve your grade. As I have noted before, Thomas Jefferson revised the Declaration of Independence over 20 times, so we know from this and many other examples that even the best writers can greatly improve their work by revising. If you have been asked to revise, please return the revisions the next class day. If you are not going to revise, please write this on the assignment and return it to me for some credit. It is your responsibility to return revised work in a timely fashion.

PSATs

It is that time of year when Juniors have the opportunity to take the PSAT’s. This is great practice for the SATs, and if you receive a high score you can become eligible for scholarships. Many colleges also use this score to identify students who may be interested in their school. After you take the test, you should start receiving information in the mail about various programs. Take the time to find out about the wide variety of programs available

NECAP

Juniors will be taking NECAP tests this week. It is important to do your best on these exams as they are part of your record and scores are a reflection of our school. It is always nice to read good things in the paper about how well our students perform on these exams. Good luck!

Are you watching the news?

Keep in mind that watching the evening news is going to help you better understand the issues we talk about in class. The newscasters select the big stories and within 2 or 3 minutes give you the key information. By watching the news on a regular basis you will be able to ask questions and make connections with the topics we discuss.