Tuesday's Quiz

• As of Saturday, the dome to contain the BP oil leak had not been put in place.

• Here is a story that got lost in the news last week somewhere between the Times Square bombing attempt and the oil spill in the Gulf.

• The UK elections on Thursday resulted in a hung parliament.

• A Staten Island ferry slammed into a dock on Saturday morning.

• Protesters took to the streets in Greece.
  

Current Events Quiz is on Tuesday.

But here are the links...

• Well this is certainly unnerving...

• While this was just a false alarm.

• May 4th will mark the 40th anniversary of this event that we learned about in class.

• Here we have one of the worst environmental disasters in history

• This Fox News story goes along perfectly with our current unit on the Modern Middle East, especially if yours is a class that watched a clip from the movie Persepolis.
  

Final Stretch of PSSAs... and a Current Events Quiz.

Hi, everyone. Here are the links for this week...

• A deadly tornado whipped through this state on Saturday, killing at least 10.

• Thousands protest a deal between Russia and the Ukraine...

• Here's a story that fits in well with our current unit on the Modern Middle East...

• China's one-child policy may be on its way out, but parents aren't rushing out to have more kids...

• A new Arizona immigration policy sparks controversy...
  

More PSSAs... and another Current Events Quiz

One day, all of my classes (1st pd, 2nd pd, 4th pd, 6th pd, and 7th pd) will be on the same schedule, learning the same thing. In the meantime, for the remainder of the month of April, we will do the best we can with using the time that we have, however short (or however long!)
Just a reminder: you will have your current events quiz on Monday and then a quiz on the Five Pillars (vocab) on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Here we go...

• This article about statement's from Iran's Ahmadinejad is timely, considering last week's class discussion of the Iranian Revolution.

• The aftermath (a giant volcanic ash cloud!) is still causing all European flights to be grounded.

• LBJ's daughter,Luci Baines Johnson, has been hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic.

• The Dalai Lama wants to return to the province where he was born.

• There was another suicide bombing attack in Pakistan.
  

Current Events Quiz Tomorrow...

• In tragic news this week, Poland's President is killed in a plane crash along with 95 others.

• More sad news-- this time about the awful mining accident in West Virginia.

• Some Tea Party leaders are denouncing some of the conspiracy theories about the current President.

• The demonstrations in Bangkok turn even uglier this weekend.

• The future of the U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan is in question following last week's events.

Don't forget you'll also have a map quiz (on "The Middle East") on Thursday.

Current Events Quiz

Hope you are enjoying your 3-day weekend. It's not as good as a 5-day weekend, no, but still-- not too shabby!

We will have a current events quiz Monday morning. Below are the links you need to read in order to be prepared to get a 5 out of 5. Enjoy this beautiful weather!

Ms. S.

• This report show that unemployment is on the rise for veterans.

• 153 Chinese miners are still trapped.

• A Vatican priest is facing criticism for his comments.

• A spring break tragedy in Panama City

• Demonstrations continue in this location in Southeast Asia
  

This week...

Monday*: Pol Pot documentary
Tuesday*: Pol Pot documentary; written summaries due (if you were absent for the film you are exempt from this assignment.)
Wednesday: Finish Power Point notes/lecture that we started on Friday (Ch18Sec4: "War in Southeast Asia")
Thursday: 15-point map quiz (Asia), Nystrom Atlas classwork activity #52a: "The Vietnam War Ends an Era". (I also handed out review guides for next week's Cold War Unit Exam.)
Friday: Independent reading, key terms, section assessment questions for Ch18Sec5: "The End of the Soviet Union"; Power Point notes/lecture on this section on Monday.

Next Tuesday we will have a review game.
Next Wednesday will be your Cold War Unit Exam. Since there is no mid-term in this course, this is the test that I consider to be the "mid-term"-- it's worth a lot of points (between 50 and 60) but it isn't "weighted" like your final exam will be.


*I was not in school on these days.

Korea and Vietnam...

Work we completed this week:

• Finished watching "Korean War Stories" and went over answers to the questions that accompany the film (worth 10 points.)

• Took a quiz on Chapter 18, Section 3 (worth 10 points.)

• Color-coded a map of Asia, which can be found here. There will be a 15-point quiz on this map next Wednesday.

• Read Ch18Sec4 ("War in Southeast Asia") and fill in the key terms from the worksheet which can be found here.

• Started Power Point notes for the above mentioned section. See me for a copy of the Power Point; the file is too large to post here.

REMINDER: There will be no current events quiz on Monday.

Lucky you...

There will be no current events quiz tomorrow. We'll start off class by finishing the Ch18Sec3 notes (for those classes who still have to finish them) and then watch two segments of the PBS documentary "Korean War Stories" so we can discuss the answers to the questions that accompany the film.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Ch18, Sections 2 and 3...

Monday we took a current events quiz and then worked on a Ch18Sec2 OPEN BOOK quiz. If you are on home bound, I can send this home for you. It's worth 10 points.

Tuesday we went over the answers to that "quiz" (really, a class assignment) and then worked independently, reading Ch18Sec3 ("Communism Spreads in Southeast Asia"), defining key terms in our notebooks, and answering questions #3, #4, and #5.

On Wednesday we will go over the answers to those questions and then work on a Nystrom Atlas activity #43a ("American Troops Fight the Korean War"). We should have time at the end of class to go over the answers to this worksheet.

Thursday and Friday will be spent half on lecture/Power Point notes, and half on watching the PBS documentary Korean War Stories. There are questions that accompany the documentary, but they won't help if you are not here to see it. See me when you return (if you are on home bound) and we can set up a time for you to watch it and answer the questions.

Have a good weekend! Don't forget to read the articles for the current events quiz!

Current Events

In this news this week,

• A gunman drove from California to D.C. and opened fire in a Pentagon metro station. (there are two separate links there, one to a video and one to an article in case you have trouble viewing the video.)
  

• Iraqi voters brave the blasts to make it to the polls this week.

• Toyota is still trying to dig itself out of a hole.

• The cold spell in Florida caused a tomato shortage.

• Here is an interesting story about female Marines in Afghanistan.

After the current events quiz on Monday, we will have a quick review of Ch18Sec2 ("The Industrialized Democracies after WWII") and then an open-book quiz. These two scores will be the last grades in Skyward before progress reports go out (they are due at 3:00 p.m.)

Hope you all are having a good weekend -- get out there and enjoy that sunshine!

~Ms. S.

Next week

Here is a link to next week's notes for those of you on home bound. Hope you are recovering-- we miss you!

Ch18Sec3 Communism Spreads in East Asia

The week in review.

Monday: we took the Cold War mid-unit exam. If you missed this, you will have to make it up upon your return (or via your home bound teacher.)

Tuesday: We went over the answers to Monday's exam, took a current events quiz, and started the notes (The Cold War Unfolds) (Some classes had already started these.)

Wednesday: We finished the notes for Ch18Sec1, studied for the 10-point quiz on that section, and wrote the key terms for Ch18Sec2 ("Industrialized Democracies") in our notebooks.

Thursday: 10-pt quiz on Ch18Sec1. Went over answers. Students showed me their Ch18Sec2 Key terms so I could put 5 points in Skyward. Started notes for Ch18Sec2 which can be found here.

Friday: Discussion and lecture on Ch18Sec2, with a concentration on 1950s and 1960s American life. There will be an OPEN-BOOK quiz (which will count as a classwork grade for 10 points) on Monday following the regular current events quiz.

update

Sorry I have not updated the site; it's been a very hectic week. Tonight by 8:00 p.m. the site will be updated with the rest of this week's assignments and notes.

Thanks,
Mrs. S.

Current Events Quiz Tomorrow...

We will have the current events quiz tomorrow; links can be found below. Please remember to read the articles carefully, as the new format involves fill-in-the-blank/short answer style questions rather than the old multiple choice.

On Tuesday, we will begin class by going over the answers to Monday's Cold War Mid-Unit Test. Next, we will take the current events quiz and talk about the past week's happenings. Finally, we will spend the last ten minutes or so finishing up the Power Point for Chapter 18, Section 1.

Now for the links...

• Here are two articles pertaining to the disaster in Chile. Please read the articles carefully.

• It seems that my fear of whales is not so unfounded, after all.

• Remember when I told you about this site? It seems I was not being paranoid in my distrust.

• What's going on with the health care bill?
  

• Finally, here is an article about some of Hempfield's best and brightest! Way to go, students! And thanks again to the Army War College Eisenhower Fellows for being so gracious in answering all of our questions.
  

Schedule change...

Due to Friday's snow day cancellation, our weekly current events quiz will be postponed until Tuesday. The Cold War mid-unit quiz that you missed on Friday will be administered tomorrow (Monday).

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Just another manic Monday...

Today we took our weekly current events quiz. Please note that if you are absent, I cannot send home any quizzes-- you'll have to see me when you return to make them up.

Also, I should point out (if you were not here today) that I have changed the format of the questions. Rather than having five multiple choice questions, I will now give five short-answer questions. The quizzes will be more challenging; be sure to thoroughly read the articles that I post.

We also read about the Bay of Pigs invasion today (Monday) The article can be found here, and the accompanying questions (worth 5 points) are right here.

All of the information we've covered from the beginning of the year up through the Bay of Pigs will be covered on a 30-point test on Friday, but as of Tuesday we will begin the next section, Chapter 18 Section 1. You can re-read this online, and make sure that you have the key words (in blue) defined in your notebooks.The link for the Power Point presentation is here. I will be out on Wednesday and a film will be shown in class; we will continue with the Power Point presentation and lecture on Thursday.

Friday is the Cold War mid-Unit test. Study!

Full steam ahead...

I'm hoping this week is a sunny, no-delays, no-cancellations kind of week. If we are delayed, we will still have the quiz; if we are canceled (banish the thought!) we will simply have the quiz on the next school day.

That said, here are the links...

• DNA tests have revealed new information about King Tut.

• This man flew a plane into an IRS building to show his frustration with the government.

• The TSA is planning to implement more regulations soon.

• The final costs to the City of Pittsburgh incurred during the G-20 summit have been tallied up.

• "Soldier and Stateman" Alexander Haig dies at the age of 85.
  

Back in the swing of things...

Ok, Hempfield-- let's do this.

• In very sad news, a young man died during a practice run on the opening day of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

• More than a dozen were injured when a rogue wave struck at a surf competition.

• The National Guard had to step in to help the area with snow removal efforts after a debilitating winter storm last week.

• A former U.S. President found himself in the hospital this week...

• This story fits in nicely with our Cold War unit.

After the current events quiz, we will watch the last 10 minutes or so of "Thirteen Days" and I will be collecting the questions you answered-- they are worth 10 points.

Tuesday's lesson will be about the differences between Traditional, Market, and Command economic systems, (link to classwork can be found here.)

On Wednesday we will complete a chart highlighting the major differences between Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism, (if you miss class, you'll have to see me for a lesson on this worksheet which I will provide in person)

Thursday we will have a reading, short video clip, and discussion about the Bay of Pigs invasion, and I'm still planning what all Friday's lesson will cover.

All of this to say: our 9-day weekend has come to an end, my friends. Time to get back on track, because June will be here before we know it!

Hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day...
~Ms. S.

Snow update?

Hey, guys. I'm going on the supposition here that a lot of you are unable to even read this due to the power outages in Westmoreland County. I don't feel comfortable planning on having a quiz when a good percentage of you will likely not be prepared, through no fault of your own.

Sooooo... assuming we have school tomorrow, we will still have a five-point current events quiz, but it will be more for discussion purposes than anything else. It won't count in Skyward.

Now, those of you who are reading this, tell me-- what's it like out there? Are the roads cleared? Have you been out of the house? Mr. Cullen and I are essentially trapped, and he's still out there trying to get the car un-stuck from a side street we slid down unintentionally. Send me a comment telling me what things look like closer to Greensburg...

Stay warm!
Ms. S.

current events quiz tomorrow...

Here are the links for tomorrow's quiz. Any info in the articles is fair game!

• A British couple abducted by pirates may be running out of time.

• What will happen to J.D. Salinger's supposed 15 posthumous novels?

• Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin was hanged to death this week.

• China is "aggravated" with the U.S. for potential arms sales to this country...

• Did you know that the director of this movie is a woman? (I have to confess I was surprised when I found out.)
  

Stay warm!
~Ms. S.

Quiz Tomorrow!

Today we finished the Power Point notes for Ch17Sec5. (The presentation can be viewed here. Tomorrow there will be a 10-point quiz on that section.

We also worked on a Nystrom map activity: "Superpowers Face Off in the Cold War". Before we take the quiz tomorrow, we will go over the answers.

Don't forget to check this website on Sunday after 2:00 p.m. for clues to Monday's current events quiz!

Online access to the textbook.

I'll probably end up posting this in the sidebar somewhere, but for now, go to:

www.pearsonsuccessnet.com (Bookmark it!)

If you can't remember the username and password, see me.

Scroll down to the very bottom and you will see the green World History: The Modern Era textbook. There, you can access the online text and supplemental resources (audio clips and the like.)

Now you don't have to carry around the book. You're welcome!


PS: Thanks to the kind student who pointed out that the link was broken. :)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

On Monday we took the current events quiz, discussed the week's world events, and went over the answers to Friday's "diagnostic test" (I gave points if you remembered to bring this to class.)

On Tuesday we will have an in-class reading: Chapter 17, Section 5 (Ch17Sec5) and students will need to bring their notebooks to answer section assessment questions. If time allows, we will begin this section's Power Point presentation on Tuesday and complete it on Wednesday. By then, the week will be half over! These classes go by quickly!

Welcome, new students!

Welcome to a new semester of Modern World History. I hope you are as psyched as I am to be starting anew!

Below, you will find the links to the articles that will appear on tomorrow's current events quiz. Don't hesitate to leave a comment about any of the articles, or even to link me to another news item you discovered and would like to learn more about.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

• The "Hope for Haiti" benefit/telethon that aired Friday night was organized by which Hollywood celebrity?

• At least 150 were killed in Nigeria, prompting the group Human Rights Watch to investigate.

• The Supreme Court made an historic ruling on Thursday dealing with corporate limits on campaign spending.

• Osama bin Laden released a new tape claiming responsibility for a recent foiled attack.

• This is going to require a pretty big cleanup crew. Yikes.
  

See you tomorrow!