5/18 - Raising awareness

Today we watched some videos about human trafficking. One was a photo montage and statistics about human trafficking. Another was a video montage set to the song Amazing Grace. Before watching that one, we discussed the abolitionist William Wilberforce and what he did to end the slave trade in the British Empire in the 1800s. Then we watched a video on the Price of Life and how they worked to raise awareness and funds to combat human trafficking in the summer of 2010.

Homeork: Read Ch4, human trafficking in Europe
THERE WILL BE A QUIZ OVER THE READING, DISCUSSIONS AND VIDEOS ON MONDAY 5/23

5/17 - Child soldiers in Uganda

Today we'll discuss Chapter 3 of Not For Sale, which focuses on child soldiers in Uganda.

Homework: Read Chapter 4 in Not For Sale for tomorrow; Reading Reflection on Ch4

Slavery in Haiti

Here's an article (with video) I just came across about slavery in Haiti. We've addressed this in class, so I thought I'd share it with you: Haiti still ailing from child "slavery" epidemic

5/16 - Human trafficking in India

Today we'll discuss Chapter 2 of Not For Sale, which is about human trafficking in India. Here are two short videos we'll watch as an intro for class:

The Story of Seema
Born into Brothels overview

Here's also a video about Kru Nam, the abolitionist we read about in Chapter 1: Kru Nam

Homework: Read Chapter 3 and do a Reading Reflection, due 5/18

5/12 - Human Trafficking in Thailand

Today we'll read/discuss Chapter 1 of Not For Sale together, which focuses on Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand.

Homework: Read Ch2 of Not For Sale and do a Reading Reflection on that material (optiona). Due 5/16 (again, optional)

5/10 - Starting to discuss human trafficking

Today we're going to interrupt our normal course of lessons to start a unit on human trafficking. I'll pass out books called Not For Sale, which we will read and discuss with one another. I'll show some videos to kick off our classes for the next couple weeks:

At the End of Slavery
Eye to Eye with Katie Couric: Human Trafficking (CBS)

Homework: Read the Intro and write a Reading Reflection, due 5/11

5/9 - Tibet

In order to transition back to the textbook, we'll read an article about Tibet and answer questions. Students will complete that in class (or do it for homework if they do not get it done). With time remaining, students will read Chapter 24, Section 2, which is on South and Southeast Asia. We will go over that section together tomorrow in class.

Homework: Read Ch24, Sec2; Tibet worksheet

5/5 - South and Southeast Asia

Today we'll look at Chapter 24, Section 2, together. It focuses on events in India and other areas of South and Southeast Asia. Here are some videos on Indira Gandhi:

Indira Gandhi interview 1971
Indira Gandhi assassination 1984

Homework: Review Ch24, Sec2

4/18 to 4/20 - Relaxed schedule

I will be out of school this week as I am in the Czech Republic on a missions trip. Monday, 4/18, students will take a quiz over Ch24, Sec1. After that, students will view various history DVD's about American History. We'll pick up with the rest of Chapter 24 after Spring Break.

4/14 - Cultural Revolution discussion

Today students will share information they found on Mao's Cultural Revolution. We'll start by watching this video: Mao's Red Guards. Tomorrow we will finish discussing Ch24, Sec1. You'll be quizzed over the material on Monday, 4/18.

4/13 - School canceled

School is canceled today. We will continue our discussion on Chapter 24, Section 1, tomorrow. Remember to bring in information about Mao's Cultural Revolution.

4/12 - China 1945-present

Today we'll go over the first part of Chapter 24, Section 1, on the Chinese Communist revolution, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. Homework: Find information (article or video) on the Chinese Cultural Revolution for 4/13

4/11 - Ch23, Sec1 Test

Today students will take a test over Chapter 23, Section 1, the video on Africa, and Things Fall Apart.

Students who would like to earn 3 points of extra credit on their homework grade may do the Section Review questions for Chapter 23, Section 2, which is due Wednesday, 4/13.

Homework: Read Ch24, Sec1, for tomorrow, 4/12

4/6 - Mrs. Okafor visits

Today Mrs. Okafor will share her experiences in Nigeria to go along with Things Fall Apart. Students will have a chance to ask her any and all questions they have regarding the culture of Umuofia and Nigeria in general.

Homework: Continue reading Things Fall Apart; be ready for a test over Ch23, Sec1, and Achebe's book on Monday, 4/11

4/5 - Video - Global Issues - Africa: Challenges in the 21st Century

Today we will watch a video to highlight and review things we've discussed about issues Africa is facing in the 21st century. Students will fill out a note-taking sheet as we go through the video. Homework: Prepare questions for Mrs. Okafor; continue reading book

4/4 - Things Fall Apart from a new perspective

Today I am out ill, so students will work with a substitute teacher. The assignment is to write another version of Things Fall Apart from the perspective of a character, such as Okonkwo's children, wives, friends, or Okonkwo himself. Whatever the students have written is due at the end of the period. Homework: Ch11-16 of Things Fall Apart and corresponding Reading Reflections, due 4/5

3/31 - Things Fall Apart discussion

Today we will discuss Chapters 1-6 in Things Fall Apart.

Homework: Read Chapters 7-10 in Things Fall Apart, and write about one interesting thing from each chapter in a Reading Reflection (so a total of four interesting things in one RR), due 4/1

3/30 - African leaders' biographies

Today students gave presentations about various leaders in Africa during the continent's independence movement. We also started discussing the first few chapters of Things Fall Apart, but we didn't get far. We will talk about these chapters tomorrow.

Homework: Review Chapters 1-6 in Things Fall Apart

3/29 - Independence in Africa

We will finish going through Chapter 23, Sec1, and discussing various African leaders. Homework: Read Chapters 1 through 6 of Things Fall Apart and do a Reading Reflection on SIX ideas from these six chapters (one idea from each chapter), due 3/30

Yam recipes

As we read Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, we will see how central yams are to Nigerian culture. To recognize and celebrate this, students are welcome to try to make various foods using yams. Here are some recipes to consider trying: Top 20 Yam Recipes. Not all of these are African dishes, but I'm sure they're all rather tasty. You can prepare one of these recipes and bring it in during our discussions of Things Fall Apart for extra credit. The final day to bring these in would be Tuesday, April 5th.