Agenda: Wed/Thu Sept. 1 & 2, 2011
Quote of the Day: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” - Thomas Edison
Learning Target:
How can historians understand the Indus Valley Civilization, even though their writing system has not yet been fully decoded?
Note taking, Visual document analysis, and cooperative learning will be emphasized.
1. Students will pick up a packet at the front table. They are to read and take notes on a separate sheet of paper for the first 15 minutes.
2. Students will be divided into groups and analyze the visual documents together. They will answer the guiding questions on the packet and then report back to the full group when completed.
3. All students will focus on the questions at the end of the packet and we will answer them as a large group.
4. If time, Engineering an Empire: China, part I.
Learning Target:
How can historians understand the Indus Valley Civilization, even though their writing system has not yet been fully decoded?
Note taking, Visual document analysis, and cooperative learning will be emphasized.
1. Students will pick up a packet at the front table. They are to read and take notes on a separate sheet of paper for the first 15 minutes.
2. Students will be divided into groups and analyze the visual documents together. They will answer the guiding questions on the packet and then report back to the full group when completed.
3. All students will focus on the questions at the end of the packet and we will answer them as a large group.
4. If time, Engineering an Empire: China, part I.
Ground Zero Now
I read and watched this video today at lunch... amazing what they are doing to the Twin Towers site in NYC. The video is great because it gives you an idea of what it will look like for the replacement towers, but also for what is going on underground. Everything should be 100% finished around 2020.
Agenda: Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Quote of the Day: "In just 2 days, tomorrow will be yesterday."
Target: Compare and contrast Egypt and Mesopotamia. Write a thesis statement.
AGENDA:
1. Work on the writing of a thesis statement. What is a thesis statement? Why are they important? What is a good thesis? What is a poor one?
Answer the learning target question in 1st 5 minutes and discuss in groups and in a whole class environment.
2. Video - Engineering an Empire: Egypt
Students will take notes and then discuss afterwards:
I. Chapter 2 - Rise of Menes (10 minutes)
-How did Menes secure the city of Memphis?
II. Chapter 3 - Djoser (10 minutes)
-What was the impact of Djoser's rule?
Target: Compare and contrast Egypt and Mesopotamia. Write a thesis statement.
AGENDA:
1. Work on the writing of a thesis statement. What is a thesis statement? Why are they important? What is a good thesis? What is a poor one?
Answer the learning target question in 1st 5 minutes and discuss in groups and in a whole class environment.
2. Video - Engineering an Empire: Egypt
Students will take notes and then discuss afterwards:
I. Chapter 2 - Rise of Menes (10 minutes)
-How did Menes secure the city of Memphis?
II. Chapter 3 - Djoser (10 minutes)
-What was the impact of Djoser's rule?
Tomorrow - Chapter 2 "Early China, Nubia, Celtic, Olmec & Chavin"
Friday - Chapter 3 Reading Check Quiz
Also for Friday, compare and contrast two early civilizations, write a thesis statement.
Also for Friday, compare and contrast two early civilizations, write a thesis statement.
We will finish Chapter 2 and begin Chapter 3 - Early Greece
REMEMBER TO COMPLETE THE STUDENT INFO SURVEY - Click Student Info button below the banner on this website.
REMEMBER TO COMPLETE THE STUDENT INFO SURVEY - Click Student Info button below the banner on this website.
Agenda: Monday, August 29, 2011
Quote of the Day: "Ads are the cave art of the twentieth century." - Marshall McLuhan
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"World History AP is so easy, a caveman can do it!"
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Learning Targets:
* How does Mesopotamia and Egypt compare? (Think in terms of culture, role of women, religious/world view)
1. Reading Check Quiz - Chapter 1 & 2. Students can use their notes. 10 multiple choice questions. 15 minutes.
2. Discuss the learning target How does Mesopotamia and Egypt compare?
3. If time - Also 10-15 minutes of Engineering an Empire Egypt.
Target for tomorrow:
* How does Indus River Valley & China's Huang He civilizations compare? (Think in terms of culture, role of women, religious/world view)
Unit 1 Videos
Here are a few video clips that might help you understand the rise of farming and the Neolithic Revolution:
Of course, we watched "Guns, Germs and Steel Episode I" - Youtube LINK.
Annenberg has a nice 20 minute video on the Agricultural Revolution here, click on the VOD: Video on Demand link on the left side of the page.
The Olmec Heads by BBC is an excellent look inside these ancient MesoAmerican ancestors.
Meroe's Royal Cemetery
The story of the Black Pharaoh's turns full circle at Meroe's magnificent Royal Cemetery in the shadow of some of Sudan's 300 pyramids - three times as many as were built in Egypt. Meroe's pyramids are a lasting testimony to the glory of Kush, the land of the Black Pharaohs that history forgot. Clip taken from the BBC Timewatch programme The Black Pharaohs.
Engineering an Empire: Egypt
Five thousand years ago--nearly two millennia before the Romans built their first mud huts--ancient Egypt's mighty pharaohs began commissioning and building monumental masterpieces whose scale, beauty, and sophistication still boggle the mind.
Hosted by actor and art historian Peter Weller, the feature-length EGYPT: ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE explores Egypt's awe-inspiring engineering accomplishments through the prism of its pharaohs' indomitable personalities. As Egypt's pharaohs alternately conquered and ceded vast expanses of land, they pushed their royal architects to stretch the boundaries of imagination and human potential, in effect inventing the science of structural engineering. Follow the empire's development from the First Dynasty of 3000 BC through the last days of the reign of Ramses the Great in 1212 BC, from dazzling obelisks to the 700-foot Great Pyramid of Giza.
Engineering an Empire: China
For over 4000 years, the world's greatest empires have come and gone. Only one has survived the test of time: China.
Century after century, China's regal emperors mobilized immense peasant armies to accomplish engineering feats unparalleled in human history.
Among the groundbreaking innovations of the ancient Chinese were the world's longest canal, its most complex and effective irrigation system, and a naval fleet mightier than all those of Europe combined-but, none can compare to the colossal 4,000-mile wall that stands as the most ambitious construction project ever built.
From such heights came spectacular death spirals, as dynasty after dynasty-consumed by vanity and greed-was stripped of power by the people it had ruled.
The Celts: celtic and roman fortifications, vercingetorix, and battle of alesia
Of course, we watched "Guns, Germs and Steel Episode I" - Youtube LINK.
Annenberg has a nice 20 minute video on the Agricultural Revolution here, click on the VOD: Video on Demand link on the left side of the page.
Meroe's Royal Cemetery
The story of the Black Pharaoh's turns full circle at Meroe's magnificent Royal Cemetery in the shadow of some of Sudan's 300 pyramids - three times as many as were built in Egypt. Meroe's pyramids are a lasting testimony to the glory of Kush, the land of the Black Pharaohs that history forgot. Clip taken from the BBC Timewatch programme The Black Pharaohs.
Engineering an Empire: Egypt
Hosted by actor and art historian Peter Weller, the feature-length EGYPT: ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE explores Egypt's awe-inspiring engineering accomplishments through the prism of its pharaohs' indomitable personalities. As Egypt's pharaohs alternately conquered and ceded vast expanses of land, they pushed their royal architects to stretch the boundaries of imagination and human potential, in effect inventing the science of structural engineering. Follow the empire's development from the First Dynasty of 3000 BC through the last days of the reign of Ramses the Great in 1212 BC, from dazzling obelisks to the 700-foot Great Pyramid of Giza.
Engineering an Empire: China
For over 4000 years, the world's greatest empires have come and gone. Only one has survived the test of time: China.
Century after century, China's regal emperors mobilized immense peasant armies to accomplish engineering feats unparalleled in human history.
Among the groundbreaking innovations of the ancient Chinese were the world's longest canal, its most complex and effective irrigation system, and a naval fleet mightier than all those of Europe combined-but, none can compare to the colossal 4,000-mile wall that stands as the most ambitious construction project ever built.
From such heights came spectacular death spirals, as dynasty after dynasty-consumed by vanity and greed-was stripped of power by the people it had ruled.
The Celts: celtic and roman fortifications, vercingetorix, and battle of alesia
Bonus Points on Quiz: Student Information Form
I have 140 World History AP students. So far only 20 have put their names, email, and information into the Student Information Form! Wow, that is terrible. Probably the worst one week total I have seen since I have begun to use this system.
Sadly, this is not the kind of commitment or behavior expected from an AP student. For example, EVERY ONE of my Junior and Senior AP Psychology students have already done this after one week.
Get your butt in gear and get the form finished and submitted. It will take all of 3 minutes of your time. This information will help me help you. If I can contact you and share information we have a much better chance at success.
So I am going to reward you if you can get this accomplished by the end of this 2nd week. If you successfully complete the student info form I will give you bonus points to use on your lowest quiz grade this six week's period.
CLICK STUDENT INFO FORM AT THE TOP BAR ON THIS WEBSITE.
Sadly, this is not the kind of commitment or behavior expected from an AP student. For example, EVERY ONE of my Junior and Senior AP Psychology students have already done this after one week.
Get your butt in gear and get the form finished and submitted. It will take all of 3 minutes of your time. This information will help me help you. If I can contact you and share information we have a much better chance at success.
So I am going to reward you if you can get this accomplished by the end of this 2nd week. If you successfully complete the student info form I will give you bonus points to use on your lowest quiz grade this six week's period.
CLICK STUDENT INFO FORM AT THE TOP BAR ON THIS WEBSITE.
Homecoming Week
Here are the dates for all of our Homecoming events, along with our Dress-up Days for Spirit Week:
Aug 29th - Sept 2nd (This week!) - Court Nominations at all lunches
Sept 6th - Sept 9th - Court Voting Online
Sept 6th - Sept 9th - Ticket Sales Begin at $25
Sept 12th - Sept 16 - Spirit Week (Dress-Up Days & Class Competitions), Ticket Sales Continue at $30
Martian Monday - Dress up like an alien
Nerd Tuesday - Dress up like an extremely studious student
Star Wednesday - Dress up like your favorite star (celebrity)
Out of This World Thursday - Dress up crazy mix-match, an "out there" kind of look
School Spirit / Favorite Friday - Wear school colors and/or dress like your favorite teacher!
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| Nothing quite like a stiff-arm from a squirrel. |
Wednesday, Sept 14th - Coronation Practice for Court Nominees
Thursday, Sept 15th - Pep Rally in the Big Gym at 6 with 9th-11th Coronation
Friday, Sept 16th - Homecoming Game vs. La Porte at 7:30pm (Also come see our Choir perform the Star Spangled Banner & Senior Coronation during half-time)
Saturday, Sept 17th - Homecoming Dance at AHS Cafeteria 7-11pm
We can't wait to see everyone's Eagle Spirit for the Dress-up Days and at the Game!
More updates and information will be soon to follow. Have a great second week and let's see that Eagle Spirit!!
Your Student Council
Friday August 25, 2011
Quote of the Day: "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." - Albert Einstein
Objective:
How can you explain the inequalities of today by tracing the development of civilizations from the ancient world?
Compare and contrast Mesopotamia to Egypt.
1. Students will be in groups discussion Guns, Germs and Steel with their packet. Each group will have 2-3 questions to discuss and answer. After about 15 minutes we will share out to the whole group.
2. Remainder of time will be spent doing a comparison of Mesopotamia and Egypt with lecture, notes and discussion from Chapter 1 and 2.
Objective:
How can you explain the inequalities of today by tracing the development of civilizations from the ancient world?
Compare and contrast Mesopotamia to Egypt.
1. Students will be in groups discussion Guns, Germs and Steel with their packet. Each group will have 2-3 questions to discuss and answer. After about 15 minutes we will share out to the whole group.
2. Remainder of time will be spent doing a comparison of Mesopotamia and Egypt with lecture, notes and discussion from Chapter 1 and 2.
Guns, Germs and Steel - Part 1
If students are absent, they can view episode one for free by searching youtube for "Guns, Germs, and Steel." Email me if you have any questions: david.duez@humble.k12.tx.us
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies is a 1997 book by Jared Diamond, professor of geography and physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1998 it won a Pulitzer Prize and the Aventis Prize for Best Science Book. A documentary based on the book, and produced by the National Geographic Society, was broadcast on PBS in July 2005.
The book attempts to explain why Eurasian civilizations (in which he includes North Africa) have survived and conquered others, while refuting the assumption that Eurasian hegemony is due to any form of Eurasian intellectual, moral or inherent genetic superiority. Diamond argues that the gaps in power and technology between human societies originate in environmental differences, which are amplified by various positive feedback loops. When cultural or genetic differences have favored Eurasians (for example, written language or the development among Eurasians of resistance to endemic diseases), he asserts that these advantages occurred because of the influence of geography on societies and cultures, and were not inherent in the Eurasian genomes.
Diamond Guns Germs Steel Viewing Guide
Agenda: 1st Week
2. Video - "How to Survive AP World History" Not Mr. Duez's video... but the students who put this together have some great advice! And no, we didn't have to read Guns, Germs and Steel over the summer or Salt! But, we will check out Guns, Germs and Steel on block day this week... in video form.
3. Discussion of WHAP website, course expectations.
4. Questions on Bulliet 1 and 2 if time.
Objective: Student understands course expectations and rigor of AP.
Assignment - TEST Tomorrow, Also students will fill out the course information survey (link here).
Tuesday Aug 23
Quote of the Day: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there."-Will Rogers
TEST Bulliet Chapters 1 and 2. (Summer reading)
After the test Mr. Duez is going to look at journals from summer reading to see how students prepared.
Wed/Thu Aug 24 and 25
Quote of the Day: "Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts." - Edward R. Murrow
1. Film: Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 1, 50 minutes; Students will take Cornell notes, write a summary at the end.
2. Discussion and analysis: 30 minutes
Objective: Explain how geography played a fundamental role in the development of different human societies across the globe.
Friday Aug 26
Quote of the Day: "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." - Albert Einstein
Objective: Describe how a cosmopolitan civilization developed in the Middle East during the Late Bronze Age, and explain what forms it took. (Bulliet, pp. 69-76)
Email to Parents & Students
This is an email I sent out to parents and students last night. I am not certain that it is working correctly. Hopefully it is, but I thought I would also post it on my website just in case.
Greetings,
I am writing to welcome you back to a new school year at Atascocita High School. It is not my typical practice to jump the gun a bit and email students and parents before school has even begun. But, I recognize the special circumstances here and want to be sure to begin communicating with you immediately.
As of today (one week before the beginning of school), your student is scheduled to have me for AP World History. I am pleased to be working with Mr. John Gillespie this year and we will be the two AP World History teachers.
Because this is our first year to offer this course to sophomore students, I wanted you to be aware of the syllabus for this college level study of history. As students learned last spring during meetings at school, this course is fast paced but exciting. I wanted to emphasize again that our first test is on the second day of school. It will cover the summer reading assignment of chapters 1 and 2 of Bulliet and the earliest civilizations of the world. The first unit is typically a portion of the AP Exam where the lowest percentage of questions originate. So it is our hope to hit the ground running with teaching a few of the skills necessary to be successful Advanced Placement History students as the year begins.
You or your student may be experiencing some level of anxiety over this new and challenging course, but I want to assure you that I am here to help. Obviously, a key to success in this or any AP class is the dedication and drive of the student to be disciplined and do their outside of class work. With a week left until school to accomplish the summer reading, I wanted to strongly emphasize that it is not too late (although time is ticking).
I have created a website http://apworldduez.blogspot.com where I have embedded power points that will help the students to work through Chapters 1 and 2. Please contact me regarding any questions you or your student may have.
Also I wanted to emphasize to the students that working in groups to study this material is often a great way to motivate and accomplish the learning. It is not too late to arrange a study group with a few friends and review these two chapters. This is something I will be encouraging my students to do during the school year.
I am VERY MUCH looking forward to this year, this new challenge, and to working with you and your student. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any questions or concerns that you have now or in the future.
Sincerely,
Mr. David Duez
http://apworldduez.blogspot.com
PS - Obviously schedule changes may occur before the beginning of the school year. But, if you or your student is planning on taking AP World History and were to be switched to Mr. Gillespie's class, the test over Chapter 1 and 2 will be the very same test I am giving on day two. Our assessments (tests and quizzes) will be almost identical during the school year.
Bulliet Text Chapters 1-3
Bulliet Chapter 1 - Agriculture to River Civilizations
Bulliet Chapter 2 - New Civs in 2 HemisphersText
Bulliet Chapter 3 - Emergence of Civilization Text
First Day Procedures - Welcome Back
FIRST DAY
PROCEDURES
1. Upon arriving to school, students will find their
names on a list posted by grade levels on Main Street Flight
School
2.
Students will
report to advisory at 7:25.
3. In advisory students will receive their official
schedule on yellow
paper. Schedules from Flight School
4. Students arriving at school AFTER advisory need to
report to the CAFETERIA for their official schedule.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE?
During
the first week of school counselors will be available between classes and to
answer questions. Students may also sign
up with their house secretary to schedule an appointment.
LEVEL CHANGES:
Students
who wish to request a change in course level may do so at (1) the end of the third
week of school, September 9 (2) at the
end of the first six weeks, September 30, or (3) at the end of the first
semester, December 16.
C.A.T.E. CLASSES
No
CATE classes on the first day of school.
Students enrolled in a CATE class will report to the cafeteria
during
their CATE class period(s). Students
will start their CATE classes on the second day of school. Buses will pick up students in the back of the
cafeteria.
Welcome to WHAP! Test coming on Chapters 1-2 Bulliet
Welcome to World History AP. Or as some call it: "WHAP!"
I got "WHAP"'d last week when I accepted the position to teach this awesome class. Mr. Bingham moved on to another school and I gladly stepped up and took on this challenge.
Next week will be here before we know it. So be sure to know Chapters 1 and 2 of Bulliet for the first Tuesday. That's our test! Yikes, I know. But you can do it. Welcome to the wonderful (and fast paced) world of World History AP.
I have posted the power points that I created from my own notes on Chapters 1 and 2. I hope they are helpful to you, but obviously nothing will replace reading and taking notes. Have you been working with your journals this summer? I will expect to see them on Tuesday and will look them over during the test.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have.
Ok, let's go!
I got "WHAP"'d last week when I accepted the position to teach this awesome class. Mr. Bingham moved on to another school and I gladly stepped up and took on this challenge.
Next week will be here before we know it. So be sure to know Chapters 1 and 2 of Bulliet for the first Tuesday. That's our test! Yikes, I know. But you can do it. Welcome to the wonderful (and fast paced) world of World History AP.
I have posted the power points that I created from my own notes on Chapters 1 and 2. I hope they are helpful to you, but obviously nothing will replace reading and taking notes. Have you been working with your journals this summer? I will expect to see them on Tuesday and will look them over during the test.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have.
Ok, let's go!
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