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Agenda: Week of April 3-6, 2012

Learning Targets CHAPTER 23
Independence and Development in the Global South 1914–Present
         •  To explore the breakup of imperial systems in the twentieth century
         •  To consider, through the examples of India and South Africa, how the process of decolonization worked
         •  To examine the challenges that faced developing nations in the second half of the twentieth century
         •  To investigate the potential clash of tradition with modernity in the developing nations, especially considering the case of Islam in Turkey and Iran


Monday, April 2, 2012
Quote of the Day: "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." - Mahatma Gandhi
Agenda:
2. Who was Gandhi? (Indian Independence Notes)
Trailer for the Movie Gandhi 5:09 Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi."
Video Clip 9:21: "In Search of Gandhi"
Gandhi, Mohandas K.: Usually referred to by his soubriquet “Mahatma” (Great Soul), Gandhi (1869–1948) was a political leader and the undoubted spiritual leader of the Indian drive for independence from Great Britain. (pron. moh-HAHN-dahs GAHN-dee)


Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Quote of the Day: "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela
Agenda:
1. DO NOW QUESTION: Big Picture Question 1 - "In what ways did the colonial experience and the struggle for independence shape the agenda of developing countries in the second half of the twentieth century?"
2. Who is Nelson Mandela? (African Independence Notes)
Video Clip 8:23: "ESPY Awards 2009 Award for Courage: A short documentary for the ESPN Espy awards. This year the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was presented to Nelson Mandela, and his work to unite his country through love of sport."
Mandela, Nelson: South African nationalist (b. 1918) and leader of the African National Congress who was imprisoned for twenty-seven years on charges of treason, sabotage, and conspiracy to overthrow the apartheid government of South Africa; he was elected president of South Africa in 1994, four years after he was finally released from prison. (pron. man-DEL-ah)
3.  What accounts for the ups and downs of political democracy in post-colonial Africa?



Wednesday, April 4, 2012 & Thursday, April 5, 2012
Quote of the Day: "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." - Nelson Mandela
Agenda:
2. Class handout to assist in answering the document questions. We will hand this in at the end of the class period.
I. Document Study: Document 23.2: Development and African UnityII. Visual Source Study: Visual Source 23.1: “Non-Co-operation Tree and Mahatma Gandhi” (pictured above)
Friday, April 6, 2012
Quote of the Day: "A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble." - Mahatma Gandhi

NO SCHOOL. GOOD FRIDAY.
Quiz on Tuesday when we return over 23 and 24.
Test is next Friday on 23 and 24.

CH 22 Video Study

Since we are in the last unit and more of a modern world discussion, there is some GREAT video for this chapter. We will see some of it, but not all of it in class. I highly recommend watching each of these. The War of the World - Episode 5 will be watched in class with questions due. I will collect those. So be sure to make it up if you are not in class. I post it here first for your ease (you are welcome). 
1. Ferguson's War of the World - Episode 5: Icebox(45 min.)
Who won the Cold War? 
Nuclear powered peace came frighteningly close to destruction. 

Also, was there really a World War III? Or a Third World's War?
Students will answer these questions during the video.

2. The fascinating story of Sidney Rittenberg. The American who became a part of Chinese Revolutionary history. 
Very short trailer for the documentary movie: The Revolutionary.
9:00 story from BBC Story about Rittenberg's fascinating life: Sidney Rittenberg True Chinese Insider.

3. Clip from Ferguson's War of the World - Episode 2 
Only need to watch: 5:34 to 16:20 (10 minutes)
Russia's "Planned Economy" wasn't exactly what it seemed. Racial persecution was disguised as "class warfare." Stalin regarded certain ethnic groups as 'unreliable' and he had them deported, sent to work camps, or executed. 200,000 Koreans were 'removed' - just a small slice of the vast program of deportation. Early on after WWI it seemed in reality that Germany and Russia were really just two halves of a whole similar in theory on an outward appearance of "socialist theory" and an inward racially charged dictatorship.
4. The Tank Man: PBS Documentary that you can watch the entire documentary from the program Frontline on their website for free through streaming it. On June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese army's deadly crushing of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, a single, unarmed young man stood his ground before a column of tanks on the Avenue of Eternal Peace. Captured on film and video by Western journalists, this extraordinary confrontation became an icon of the struggle for freedom around the world.

Agenda: Week of March 26 - March 30, 2012

Targets - Chapter 22 - "World Communism: Rise and Fall"
•  To examine the nature of the Russian and Chinese revolutions and how the differences between those revolutions affected the introduction of communist regimes in those countries
 •  To consider how communist states developed, especially in the USSR and the People’s Republic of China
 •  To consider the benefits of a communist state
 •  To consider the harm caused by the two great communist states of the twentieth century
 •  To introduce students to the cold war and its major issues
 •  To explore the reasons why communism collapsed in the USSR and China
 •  To consider how we might assess the communist experience . . . and to inquire if historians should be asking such questions about moral judgment

VERY STRANGE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF TESTING.
Monday Periods 3, 4, & 6 AND Tuesday Periods 5 & 7
Quote of the Day: "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind."  -William James
Agenda: 
1. Essay: Evaluating Stalin. Students will read the documents for Chapter 22 and then consider either constructing an argument in support of Stalin or against Stalin. Follow the directions on this page. The completed essay will be due at the end of the period.
The Quiz was pushed back to block day, due to Mr. Duez being out on Monday.
Tuesday For ONLY PERIOD 3
Quote of the Day: "Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Agenda: 
1. Do Now Question - Compare and contrast the French and Russian Revolutions.
2. Discuss Stalin Essay from Monday.
3. Notes, Discussion, Video: Ch 22 World Communism - comparing USSR and China
Clips from Ferguson's War of the World - Episode 2 5:34 to 16:20 Russia's "Planned Economy" wasn't exactly what it seemed. Racial persecution was disguised as "class warfare." Stalin regarded certain ethnic groups as 'unreliable' and he had them deported, sent to work camps, or executed. 200,000 Koreans were 'removed' - just a small slice of the vast program of deportation. Early on after WWI it seemed in reality that Germany and Russia were really just two halves of a whole similar in theory on an outward appearance of "socialist theory" and an inward racially charged dictatorship.
4. If time, (because period is 80 minutes) Tank Man Documentary.
Wednesday/Thursday March 28 & 29, 2012
Quote of the Day: "One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour.  Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Agenda:
1. Quiz Chapter 22 "World Communism: Rise and Fall"
2. Do Now Question -  Compare and contrast the course of the Russian and Chinese communist revolutions.
2. Notes, Discussion, and Video: CH 22 - The Cold War
Also, the fascinating story of Sidney Rittenberg. The American who became a part of Chinese Revolutionary history. Trailer for the documentary movie: The Revolutionary.
BBC Story about Rittenberg's fascinating life: Sidney Rittenberg True Chinese Insider.
3. Video with Questions that students can use to prepare for their test on Friday 
Niall Ferguson's War of the World - Episode 5: Icebox. Who won the Cold War? 
Nuclear powered peace came frighteningly close to destruction. Also, was there really a World War III? Or a Third World's War?
Students will answer these questions during the video.

This British cartoon of 29 October 1962 shows Kennedy and Khrushchev arm-wrestling for power, sitting on nuclear weapons.   The caption read: 'OK Mr president, let's talk'
Friday March 30, 2012
Quote of the Day: "Some people are making such thorough plans for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine." -William Feather
Agenda:
1. TEST - Chapter 22 "World Communism: Rise and Fall"
2. Begin preparing Chapter 23 - Quiz on Monday. "Independence and Development in the Global South."  

Bell Schedule Next Week


Ninth Graders Testing on Monday & Tuesday, March 26 & 27
Next Monday and Tuesday, March 26 & 27 our ninth graders will be taking their English I End-of-Course Writing & Reading State Exams.  The bell schedule for the week is below.  Every student is expected to be at school during testing.

Monday, March 26
7:25 – 12:00 Testing EOC Writing (only freshmen)
10th, 11th and 12th graders will follow the schedule below:
1st 7:25 – 8:52
2nd 8:59 – 10:26
3rd 10:33 – 12:02
4th 12:09 –12:19
    A Lunch 12:19 – 12:46
    B Lunch 12:51 – 1:18
    C Lunch 1:23 – 1:50
6th 1:57 – 2:45

Tuesday, March 27
7:25 – 12:00 Testing EOC Reading (only freshmen)
10th, 11th and 12th graders will follow the schedule below:
1st 7:25 – 8:52
2nd 8:59 – 10:26
3rd 10:33 – 12:02
5th 12:09-12:19
    A Lunch 12:19 – 12:46
    B Lunch 12:51 – 1:18
    C Lunch 1:23 – 1:50
7th  1:57 – 2:45

World War II - "Battle Plans"

This should help you with pulling together the information that is in the power points and with your study of Strayer. We'll discuss in class on Wed/Thu this week and uncover much of the course of WWII and aftermath.

Click here to download and print from Google Docs

Brittany at Bay: Making of Modern Britain Documentary

We watched the first 30 minutes of this in class on Monday to understand the Battle of Britain and Miracle at Dunkirk.

Agenda: Week of March 19-23, 2012

Learning Targets for Chapter 21
Chapter 21—The Collapse and Recovery of Europe, 1914–1970s
Learning Targets:
•  To examine the history of Europe between 1914 and the 1970s as an organic whole made up of closely interconnected parts
•  To consider the repercussions of nationalism and colonialism in Europe and Japan
•  To increase student awareness of the effects of the two world wars
•  To help students imagine the appeal of totalitarian movements in the twentieth century
 

Monday March 19, 2012
Quote of the Day: "Germany has concluded a Non-Aggression Pact with Poland... We shall adhere to it unconditionally... we recognize Poland as the home of a great and nationally conscious people."  - Adolf Hitler, 21st May 1935
Agenda: 
1. Do Now Question: How did World War II differ from World War I?
2. Notes, Discussion, & Video: World War II
Tuesday March 20, 2012
Quote of the  Day: "Never in the field of human conflict, has so much, been owed by so many, to so few!" - Winston Churchill, September 1940
Agenda: 
1. Do Now Question: What motivated Germany and Italy to invade other nations and begin war?
2. Video Study: The War of the World - Episode 3 "Killing Space." How the rise of the Axis powers led to a fundamental redrawing of the world map. He pinpoints 1942 as a pivotal year, and considers how the 20th century might have unfolded had World War Two ended differently, with totalitarian regimes dividing the globe between them.
Series Summary: Controversial historian Professor Niall Ferguson argues that in the last century there were not in fact two World Wars and a Cold War, but a single Hundred Years' War. It was not nationalism that powered the conflicts of the century, but empires. It was not ideologies of class or the advent of socialism driving the century, but race. Ultimately, ethnic conflict underpinned 20th-century violence. Finally, it was not the west that triumphed as the century progressed - in fact, power slowly and steadily migrated towards the new empires of the East.
Wednesday & Thursday March 21 & 22, 2012
Quote of the  Day: "You are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you...I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle." - General Eisenhower, before the D-Day invasion began,  summed up the mission of the Allies 
Agenda: 
1. Do Now Question: How did Germany, Italy, and Japan lose WWII?
2. Notes, Discussion, and Video: World War II
Friday March 23, 2012
Quote of the  Day: "We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender."Winston Churchill
Agenda: 
1. TEST Chapter 21 Part II
Quiz on Chapter 22 on Monday!

The Story of "Keep Calm and Carry On"

This is such a good video and gives us great insight into the history of this iconic poster. Ironically, it wasn't widely distributed until the 21st century. But, the British had the idea to use these posters to help people deal with the difficulties of war. Especially difficult was the civilian bombing of Britain by Adolf Hitler's Nazi forces after the occupation of France.

Neat stuff!
Check out the video below:


Of course, Mr. Duez uses a "Keep Calm" poster himself. But, adds the more exclamatory "DFTBA" at the bottom. Which means, "Don't Forget to be Awesome." How could we forget with such a great poster design?

There is even a KeepCalmAndCarryOn.com website. 

Test Prep for Friday

Here are a few items to help you prep for the test Friday.
Chapter 21 Targets
CH 21 Notes WWI Part I
CH 21 Notes WWI Part II 
CH 21 Notes WWI Part III
CH 21 Notes WWI Part IV 
CH 21 Notes Great Depression and Rise of Dictators

Understanding Documents at the end of Chapter 21 (covered on Tuesday in class).


Videos for Chapter 21 (covered on Block Day this week).
1st Video:
Video Questions for Guernica & Leni Riefensthal StorySimon Schama's Power of Art: "Guernica" Born in Malaga, Spain, Picasso's many styles and prolific work rate have marked him out as one of the most recognised artists of the twentieth century. Not limited to one medium he created sculptures, etchings and prints. His artistic career only began to boom once he moved to Paris in the early 1900s. His Blue Period, reflecting the colour and his mood at the time was followed by his Rose Period, work inspired by primitive art and then Cubism, which shocked the critics, but ultimately made his name.  Guernica (1937) was created during Picasso's Surrealist period and captures the horror of the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. By the end of World War II, Picasso had become an internationally known artist and celebrity. Schama's Guernica Site on BBC.
2nd Video:
Leni Riefenstahl Story A German film director, actress and dancer widely noted for her aesthetics and innovations as a filmmaker. Her most famous film was Triumph des Willens (Triumph of the Will), a propaganda film made at the 1934 Nuremberg congress of the Nazi Party. Riefenstahl's prominence in the Third Reich along with her personal friendship with Adolf Hitler thwarted her film career following Germany's defeat in World War II, after which she was arrested but released without any charges.


Video:
Video Clips to help understand the reactions to global economic collapse in US, Germany, Italy, and Japan
Understanding How WWI Ends and the immediate failure of the treaty & harsh treatment towards Germany


The Making of Modern Britain - The Great War  
The War of the World, Part I by Niall Ferguson
The War of the World, Episode II by Nial Ferguson

Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War - Causes
Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War - Where are the British Forces?
Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War - Trenches
Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War - Wee Wee

The First World War - A Call to Arms
The First World War - Under the Eagle
The First World War - Global War
The First World War - Jihad
The First World War - Shackled to a Corpse
The First World War - Breaking the Deadlock
The First World War - Blockade
The First World War - Revolution 1917
The First World War - Germany's Last Gamble
The First World War - War Without End

Schlieffen Plan - Counter-Factual History I
Schlieffen Plan - Counter-Factual History II
Schlieffen Plan - Counter-Factual History III



Qui did a fantastic job with his answer to the question from Friday. As I said in class yesterday, I believe it also goes a long way towards answering the 5 margin questions we wrote down as "Do Now" yesterday. Great job Qui!




Houston Rockets & Devon Energy Teacher of the Game Award


I wanted to sent out a special thank you to my wonderful AHS staff members who nominated me for the Rockets Teacher of the Game Award. You can read their nomination letter hereTheir words are very special to me. I can't imagine anyone writing anything about me that would be written any better. It is amazing. Winning the award was a nice thing, but to me reading that nomination letter was winning enough. 


Thank you to my Blue 2 Principal Jonathan Campbell. You are an amazing friend and leader. Thanks to my English-teaching neighbor Jill Davison, who I can never seem to thank enough. You are AWESOME. 


Thank you to John Gillespie - my WHAP Partner in crime. I am very lucky to have worked with you this year. I hope we continue to do so for a long time. 


And also special thanks to Matthew D. Webb - you are also a great friend, mentor, and a wonderful leader of our social studies team. 


I am a lucky guy to work with such an incredible faculty and staff at Atascocita High. We have such incredible and hard working students. Some days I can barely get out of bed in the morning. But, knowing that my students need me gives me motivation to summon the energy to face each day. 


Of course, I'd be stupid not to mention the #1 MOST important person that I work with... and share my life with: Norma Duez. I could not do it without her. Thank you honey. And thanks for coming with me to the game. I needed you... like always.




Some neat goodies.
Mrs. Duez and I kept wondering where the ice was? No fights either. And the Rockets really need to step it up on the Power Play. :)

Great Documentary Clips - Global Depression Era Leadership

Hopefully these clips will assist in your study of the era of global depression and the leadership that countries around the world turned to.

The United States. Franklin Delano Roosevelt.


Germany. Adolf Hitler.
Great Video: Rise of the Nazis (in color)
In August 1934 Hitler declared himself Fuhrer, absolute leader of Germany. Follow Hitler and his Nazi Party's rise to power in the lead up to the Second World War.


Italy. Benito Mussolini.


Agenda: Monday, March 5 - Friday, March 9, 2012

Learning Targets for Chapter 21
Chapter 21—The Collapse and Recovery of Europe, 1914–1970s
Learning Targets:
•  To examine the history of Europe between 1914 and the 1970s as an organic whole made up of closely interconnected parts
•  To consider the repercussions of nationalism and colonialism in Europe and Japan
•  To increase student awareness of the effects of the two world wars
•  To help students imagine the appeal of totalitarian movements in the twentieth century
 

A propaganda poster produced in Queensland in World War I suggesting perhaps what might be expected in Australia if the German occupation of Belgium was repeated here. Such images were supposed to encourage Australians to enlist in the AIF. 
Monday, March 5, 2012
Quote: "I have never advocated war except as a means of peace." - Ulysses S. Grant 
Agenda:
1. Collect essay question homework 
For Monday, write out your answer on a sheet of paper. Due at the beginning of the period.
 - How did these events influence each other: 
  • Military Tactics & Lessons of WWI
  • Failure of Treaty & Post-War Recovery
  • Global Economic Depression 
  • Rise of Dictators in Europe
  • Rise of Japan in Asia
2. Video, The War of the World, Episode IIThe Plan. How the US became the envy of the world in the aftermath of World War One, a state of affairs that was shattered by the Wall Street crash. He also considers the effect of the Great Depression on people’s attitudes to capitalism and democracy, and how it led to the rise of totalitarian states. (The War of the World is done by controversial historian Niall Ferguson. It is subtitled "A New History of the 20th Century.")
Students will take notes and answer these questions while viewing the video (students will note that each of these are also margin review questions from Chapter 21 of Strayer):

1. In what ways was the Great Depression a global phenomenon?
2. In what ways did fascism challenge the ideas and practices of European liberalism and democracy?
3. What was distinctive about the German expression of fascism? What was the basis of popular support for the Nazis?
4. How did Japan’s experience during the 1920s and 1930s resemble that of Germany, and how did it differ?
5. In what way were the origins of World War II in Asia and in Europe similar to each other? How were they different?
In Germany in the 1930s, propaganda was in full swing and being used by Hitler’s advisers to call the German people to arms and spread lies about the Jews. One of the most famous artists behind Nazi propaganda was Hans Schweitzer, known as “Mjolnir.” This poster by Hans Schweitzer shows the typical pro-Nazi theme of the German army’s strength, depicting an S.A. man standing next to a solider. The text reads, “The guarantee of German military strength!” 
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Quote: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."  - Dwight D. Eisenhower 
Agenda:
1. Students will be placed in 4 groups
Each group will read and discuss one of the 4 documents at the end of Chapter 21 & visual sources. 
2. Students will discuss in their groups for the first half of the period.
3. Second half of the period will be a class-wide discussion about each document. 
Analysis of common qualities and different attitudes and strategies will be debated. 
Among the questions: "Which of these ideologies would impress you the most? German, Japanese, or Italian?" and "How do the visual sources (propaganda) influence people in these countries?"
The most famous war poster was British Alfred Leete's 1914 image of Lord Kitchener pointing directly at the viewer. So successful was this image that it was adapted for American use in both World War I and II by JM Flagg
Wednesday & Thursday, March 7th and 8th, 2012
Quote: "Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind."  - John F. Kennedy 
Agenda:
1. Students will see two videos this period. 
Video Discussion Questions: students will answer during video & discuss afterward.
1st Video:
Simon Schama's Power of Art: "Guernica" (Born in Malaga, Spain, Picasso's many styles and prolific work rate have marked him out as one of the most recognised artists of the twentieth century. Not limited to one medium he created sculptures, etchings and prints. His artistic career only began to boom once he moved to Paris in the early 1900s. His Blue Period, reflecting the colour and his mood at the time was followed by his Rose Period, work inspired by primitive art and then Cubism, which shocked the critics, but ultimately made his name.  Guernica (1937) was created during Picasso's Surrealist period and captures the horror of the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. By the end of World War II, Picasso had become an internationally known artist and celebrity.) Schama's Guernica Site on BBC.
2nd Video:
Leni Riefenstahl Story (a German film director, actress and dancer widely noted for her aesthetics and innovations as a filmmaker. Her most famous film was Triumph des Willens (Triumph of the Will), a propaganda film made at the 1934 Nuremberg congress of the Nazi Party. Riefenstahl's prominence in the Third Reich along with her personal friendship with Adolf Hitler thwarted her film career following Germany's defeat in World War II, after which she was arrested but released without any charges.)
Picasso painted Guernica in response to the bombing of the town by Germany and Italy, which were following orders from Spanish Nationalist forces, on 26 April 1937. It must be said that it was commissioned to Picasso long before the bombing of the town and was supposed to be a classic painting first; after the bombings, Picasso changed his drawing to respond to the recent bombing. The giant mural shows the tragedy of war, using innocents civilians as the focal point. It became a huge symbol of anti-war, and upon completion it was exhibited worldwide to spread the message. The piece also educated other countries about the horror of the Spanish Civil War, which till then most people had never heard of.
Friday, March 9th, 2012
Quote: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill, English economist & philosopher (1806 - 1873)  
Agenda:
1. TEST Chapter 21 - WWI to the beginning of WWII. 
2. Begin preparing for WWII - after spring break we will begin the second world war.

AP Amnesty

A message from our awesome AP Coordinator:

For one day only, i will sign up next friday the 9th from 7:00am to 2:45 in W2, for anyone who missed the AP deadline.... call me stupid and soft.... but that's it!!!!!!!   Please let them know...
Ms.  Plagens

The End of World War One and Treaty of Versailles

Great video that does a wonderful job of briefly detailing the end of World War One.
We will watch this on Friday in class, instead of going through each of the power points on the website. Yet, you should review those on your own to prepare for the test.