Arms Trade Simulation: Making a Killing

Students participated in a simulation of the international arms trade. The simulation focused on the difficulties presented by illegal arms traffickers and corrupt governments. After, students began watch a film about the arms trade in West Africa, connecting the realities to the simulation. The film can be watched here.

Human Rights and the Rights of the Child

Agenda 10/26:

Students though about human rights and brainstormed as list that they believe everyone, regardless of a difference, should enjoy. Students then watched an animated video of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and viewed a powerpoint about the rights of children:

The United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child

As an example of how rights are abused when child soldiers fight in conflicts, they watched a presentation by former child soldier Emanuel Jal: 

Next, students read through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which the United States has not ratified, highlighted rights in the declaration that are being violated around the world today. Finally I assigned a poster assignment. Students will create a two-sided informational poster - one side about one of the articles from the UNCRC and the other about child soldiers.

HOMEWORK:
UNCRC 1/2 page posters - DUE Thursday 11/3

Invisible Children

Today students watched several films about the Lord's Resistance Army and their abduction and use of children as soldiers. The Invisible Children Organization was at Cleveland to present a film about the conflict.

Quiz and Colonialism Simulation

Agenda:

1. Quiz: Africa and Colonialism
2. Colonialism Simulation.

On Monday, students will be watching a presentation from the Invisible Children organization. Students need to prepare the homework reading for background knowledge.

HOMEWORK:

Lord's Resistance Army Reading and Questions. Answer questions in your logbook. DUE Monday 10/24

Congo Free State

Agenda 10/18:

1. Students finished reading and answering questions from the packet, The Congo Free State.
2. Students began preparing for a simulation of colonialism and the question of independence.

HOMEWORK:

HW: Analyzing Bias and Scramble for Africa Worksheet (MWH 11.1 p.339) - DUE Thursday 10/20
QUIZ: African Colonialism - DUE Thursday 10/20

King Leopold's Ghost

Students continued watching the film King Leopold's Ghost. Students also began a reading about the Congo Free State. They answered questions using this worksheet.

HOMEWORK:
QUIZ - Colonialism in Africa - Thursday 10/20
Homework: Analyzing Bias / Scramble for Africa - DUE Thursday 10/20 *** You need the Modern World History textbook for this assignment.

King Leopold's Ghost

Agenda 10/11:

1. Students received a detailed progress report for midterm.
2. Map quiz - Southern Africa
3. Map analysis - Colonialism in Africa
4. Began watching film, King Leopold's Ghost.

Responding to Colonialism in Africa

Today students debated different options Africans had when faced by colonizing Europeans. I emphasized how  European military superiority limited the options and leverage held by the Africans. Students used this worksheet to respond to the scenarios below:

HOMEWORK:
QUIZ - Southern Africa Map - Tuesday 10/11

Responding to Colonialism

Ethnic Groups of West Africa

Agenda 10/5:

1. Students took notes from the posters they created on Monday. They focused on key aspects of life for the Igbo, Hausa and Fulani, and Yoruba tribes. They then created a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the different groups.
2. Students began reading an account of English colonialism from a cheif in Kenya. They answered questions as they read.

HOMEWORK:

The MAP QUIZ over Southern Africa has been postponed until Tuesday 10/11.

Ethnic Groups of West Africa

Agenda for 10/3:

1. Students turned in their Writing Biased History assignments.
2. Northern Africa Map Quizzes returned. Come to tutorial (8-9 Wednesday) if you need to retake the quiz!!
3. Peer check for Checkpoint #1
4. Students read about the Igbo, Hausa and Fulani, or Yoruba ethnic groups of West Africa. The focus was on aspects of life prior to European colonization. Students discussed and made spoke diagram posters in groups. 

HOMEWORK:

QUIZ - Southern Africa - Friday 10/7