January 31, 2006
Lesson #11 - Mongol Invasions and the Tatar Yoke
Today's question: Why are my blog entries for Regional Studies so much shorter than my other classes? I think we work harder in here... I don't expect you to have the answer, but I was just wondering to myself.
I'll take any questions on the Russia VIP project (rubric), Ancient and Imperial China group presentations or the unit test coming up on Friday, February 10th.
Today, our focus will be on going through the rest of the Kievan Rus and the Mongol Invasion study guide. After that, you should get some group time.
Tomorrow, we meet Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great. Thursday, it will be Elizabeth and Catherine the Great.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2006
Lesson #10 - Kievan Russia
Let's clean up a few odds and ends at the top today.
VIP reminders and schedule
Handout on Ancient and Imperial China group presentations
Reading on "The History of Russia to 1917"
Format for Ancient & Imperial Russia and China test on Friday, February 10th
Test format: You will learn how to write "identifications," as well as continuing with a multiple choice portion. (You will also write an essay again before too long...) It might be early to think about a test that is still two weeks away, but let's take a quick look at the Ancient & Imperial Russia and China Exam.
Identifications: You will write on your choice of 5 of the 8 identifications on the exam chosen from the list below. You may have 10 words of "notes" for each of the 16 possible identification during the exam. You will need to turn in these notes, and I reserve the right to count symbols, acronyms, etc. as one or more words.
Russia Identifications
Primary Chronicle
Cyril
Golden Horde
Ivan III (the "Great")
Time of Troubles
oprichnina
Pugachev
"Bloody Sunday"
China Identifications
Confucius
Taoism
Shi Huang Di
Kublai Khan
Ming Dynasty
Manchus
Taiping Rebellion
Opium War
There will also be 20 to 25 multiple choice questions, and they will be divided evenly between Russia and China. You are not allowed any additional notes for those questions.
Kievan Rus will be our topic for today. You will want a copy of this Kievan Rus/ Mongols note-taking guide.
HOMEWORK: Some of you have Russia VIPs coming up this week, and, of course, you all are doing one of those at some point. In addition, the Ancient and Imperial China presentations are beginning on Friday. We won't be collecting any additional assignments this week from you, but you should have this Russia chapter you received today reaad by the end of Thursday. After that, it's back to China for a bit...
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2006
Lesson #9 - Work Day - China Presentations
2nd hour presentation schedule
Friday, February 3rd (order this day to be determined...)
Confucius/Confucianism - Brand, Chris, Tom
Military and War - Andy L., David J., Will
Art and Culture - Ann, Asha, Christina, Layne
Monday, February 6th (order this day to be determined...)
Buddhism and Taoism in China - Abby, Katharine, Kelsey, Josh
Science and Technology - Alex, Alicia, Souriya
Architecture - Andrew C., Bobby, David O.
4th hour presentation schedule
Kevin, we'll talk when you get back...
Friday, February 3rd (order this day to be determined...)
Science and Technology and Military - Geoff, Amit, Bryan
Architecture - AJ, John, Roerick
Monday, February 6th (order this day to be determined...)
Art and Culture - Hannah, Karee, Morgan, Natalie
Religion and Philosophy (of some kinds) - Jackie, Robert, Veronica
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2006
Lesson #8 - Ancient and Imperial China group presentations
Here's an article worth taking a look at... "Google move 'black day' for China."
REMINDER: You have a set of Current Events due tomorrow.
Ancient and Imperial China Presentations
Thursday, January 26 Research and preparation time
Friday, January 27 Research and preparation time
Friday, February 3 Presentations (order to be determined)
Monday, February 6 Presentations
These are the general topics that you can choose from. We will determine the order of presentation in class. We will do at least 6 of these topics in each class.
Buddhism in China
Art and Culture
Science/ Technology
Taoism (Daoism)
Military and War
Architecture
Confucius/ Confucianism
You may choose your partners within any limitations I prescribe. (No more than 3 per group.) You will have a lot of decisions to make in terms of the exact nature of your presentation. However, each presentation will be evaluated on each of the following elements:
Preparation: You will be expected to make good use of your class time and to be ready to present on your day.
Duration: The total duration of your presentation, including any discussion or questions, will be expected to be between 15 and 20 minutes. You will be penalized for being shorter than that.
Content: You will be evaluated on the relevance and appropriateness of your information. You will have opportunities to discuss your content with me.
Handout: You will be expected to prepare a handout (either paper or electronic- one or two page) for distribution to the rest of the class. You must get it to me by 8:45 AM on the day of your presentation.
Primary Source(s): You will be expected to make use of appropriate primary sources in your presentation. (Photographs or computer images would count for this.)
Question and Answer: Reasonable questions from the audience should be answered by your group. You will not be expected to know everything about your topic.
Assessment: You will need to prepare some sort of quiz, assignment, or similar assessment for the rest of the class. (It could also be based on participation.) You will evaluate their work. Your group, in turn, will be evaluated on how appropriate your choice of assessment is.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2006
Lesson #7 - Finishing the China Chronology
I love these short blog entries...
First, you take the China geography quiz. It is worth 25 points.
Next, we'll finish up the China chronology activity by looking at events of the 20th century.
If time permits, we will take a look at the next section of the "Global Progress Report, 2006."
REMINDER: You have that batch of Current Events due on Friday. (I'd prefer them printed out this time. Back to back is just find if you go beyond one page...)
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2006
Lesson #6 - China Chronology
REMINDERS: China Geography Quiz tomorrow and Current Events are due on Friday. (I'd prefer to have the Current Events printed out this time, please.)
Let's look at that "Global Economy" section from the "Global Progress Report, 2006" article today. We've gotten away from that a bit. I'll take the blame.
Today is simple. We'll get as far as we can in the China chronology. They are worth the same 10 points possible as last time. You should have an email from me with a list of all the events that you can use for your notes.
Other than the China geography and your Russia VIP, there is no additional homework tonight.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2006
Lesson #5 - China Introduction
We'll start our look at China today with some introductory activities. First, we'll take care of a little business from last week...
Today, we'll look at the third section ("Global Economy") from the Global Progress Report, 2006. We'll finish off those final two sections the next two periods. Keep doing each of those things from the cover sheet for the sections.
Next, here's a list of "who's who" for the Russia VIPs. Here's the scoring rubric again as well. (In all cases, I listed 2nd hour first, then 4th. If there is only one name, that's a figure that appears in 2nd hour only.) By the way, the rubric is from my "old" web pages. If you follow those links, you'll get to information from past years. Due dates, etc. should only be trusted on this blog.
Wednesday, February 1st
Ivan the Terrible - Bobby, Natalie
Peter the Great - Joshua, Kevin
Thursday, February 2nd
Elizabeth - Alicia
Catherine the Great - Andrew, Veronica
Tuesday, February 7th
Leo Tolstoy - David O.
Nicholas II - Brand, Bryan
Alexandra - Ann
Rasputin - Kelsey, AJ
Monday, February 13th
Karl Marx - Katherine, Morgan
Vladimir Lenin - David J., Geoff
Leon Trotsky - Andy, Amit
Wendesday, February 15th
Joseph Stalin - Souriya, Karee
Sergei Eisenstein - Abby, Hannah
Tuesday, February 21st
Nikita Khrushchev - Asha, Robert
Leonid Brezhnev - Tom
Alexander Solzhenitsyn - Alex, John
Andrei Sakharov - Will, Roerick
Monday, February 27th
Mikhail Gorbachev - Layne, Jackie
Mikhail Baryshnikov - Chris
Tuesday, February 28th
Boris Yeltsin - Christina
REMINDER: Your first"Current Events" assignment of four stories is due Friday, January 27th. You follow the template I emailed out exactly. Four stories, one related to each of the regions that we study this year... Africa, Middle East, Russia, China.
Back to China... The China - Chronology starts tomorrow, and your China -Geography Quiz is Wednesday.
Let's try and do three things today. You'll get a handout for each, and we'll make use of the overhead projector. You don't need to take any notes, but feel free to ask questions and make comments.
First, let's look at China "By the Numbers." We can both compare China to other countries and make comparisons over time.
Second, we'll look at five "maps" of China that show different aspects of the country and it's people. You'll interpret these maps for us in small groups.
Third, we're going to look at the results of a survey done to measure Chinese attitudes of the United States. Again, you'll each get a part of the data, and we'll try and draw some conclusions together.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2006
Lesson #4 - Finishing the Russia Chronology
We'll start today with the Russia geography quiz.
Next, we'll finish up the Russia chronology activity that we began in class yesterday.
If time permits, we'll talk more about the Russia VIP project and the section of the "Global Progress Report, 2006" that you were asked to read for today - "Global Economy."
Here's a tentative schedule for the Russia VIP appearances. You will not be asked to move "ahead" from this day, but it is possible that we would move you back if needed... Here is the link to the guidelines for evaluating the VIP presentations.
Wednesday, February 1st
Ivan the Terrible
Peter the Great
Thursday, February 2nd
Elizabeth
Catherine the Great
Tuesday, February 7th
Leo Tolstoy
Nicholas II
Alexandra
Rasputin
Monday, February 13th
Karl Marx
Vladimir Lenin
Leon Trotsky
Wendesday, February 15th
Joseph Stalin
Sergei Eisenstein
Tuesday, February 21st
Nikita Khrushchev
Leonid Brezhnev
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Andrei Sakharov
Monday, February 27th
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Tuesday, February 28th
Boris Yeltsin
REMINDER: Although we didn't talk about it much in class, I mentioned that you will be doing "Current Events" assignments a couple times in here. I emailed you a copy of the template for that. Your first batch of four stories is due Friday, January 27th. Since you don't have anything else due Monday, this might be a good weekend to start on those. You follow the template exactly. Four stories, one related to each of the regions that we study this year... Africa, Middle East, Russia, China.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2006
Lesson #3 - Russia chronology
Today's plan is pretty simple. We'll start by looking at the "Global Politics" section from the "Global Progress Report, 2006" article. Then, we'll get as far as we can in the "History of Russia - Chronology" activity.
Your "presentation" of the event is worth up to 10 points. Do your best, and I'll help explain some ideas, provide background information, show maps, etc.
You all received an email from me with a copy of all the events in a document. You should use that to take whatever notes that you would like. That is the ONLY thing you should be doing on your computers during class time.
REMINDERS: Your Russia geography quiz will be tomorrow. Read the next section in the "Global Progress Report, 2006" article as well. I'll be giving you more specifics about the "VIP Project" as well.
Although we didn't talk about it in class, yesterday's blog entry mentioned that you will be doing "Current Events" assignments a couple times in here. I emailed you a copy of the template for that. Your first batch of four stories is due Friday, January 27th.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2006
Lesson #2 - Russia Introduction
Today's focus will be on Russia. We'll do a little introductory work together, but you'll also have some work time.
We'll start with looking at the "Global Security" section of the Global Progress Report, 2006 article.
With Russia, you do an independent project that I've called the "VIP" project. (With China, you do something in a group.) Basically, you'll "become" one of Russia's major figures and "appear" in class at the appropriate time. Today, we'll draw for roles, and you'll also get a sense of what the project is about. I'd anticipate that we'll hear from the first group on February 1st... Here are the figures from which you will draw. (Those with a * are not in the 4th hour draw.)
Ivan the Terrible
Peter the Great
Elizabeth*
Catherine the Great
Nicholas II
Alexandra*
Rasputin
Karl Marx
Vladimir Lenin
Leon Trotsky
Joseph Stalin
Sergei Eisenstein
Leo Tolstoy*
Nikita Khrushchev
Leonid Brezhnev*
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Andrei Sakharov
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Baryshnikov*
Boris Yeltsin*
Current Events - Yes, you do get to do a couple batches of these during the second semester of Regional Studies. The format will be simple - one story from each of the four regions: Africa, Middle East, Russia and China. You can download a copy of the template from the blog in a day or two. The first batch of these will be due Friday, January 27th. It is expected that you follow the outline format exactly.
Russia reminders... We start the chronology tomorrow, and your Russia geography quiz will be Friday.
Reading for tomorrow: Do the "Global Politics" section of the Global Progress Report, 2006 article. Remember to do the five things for each section.
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2006
Lesson #1 - Course Introduction
Welcome back to Regional Studies. This quarter, we'll be taking a look at Russia and China. I've taught both of these topics here a number of years, but we'll try things a bit differently this time. Basically, we'll study them "together," alternating our focus from Russia to China and back as we move through both their histories and the quarter.
There will be a blog entry for class every day. I use it as a preview or lesson plan of the day's activities, as well as a place to list homework, make reminders, etc. Going to this each day when you come in for class would be a good idea. (You'll also be able to download certain assignments and handouts directly from this blog.) We will also make use of the comment feature as well, but I'll tell you more about that later.
It might feel like you are getting a lot of handouts today, but that's because you're starting a new quarter with a new teacher. Be sure you keep track of upcoming due dates and assignment guidelines. Most of our first two weeks will be spent on introductory activities, but you'll have a number of assignments and two quizzes during this time as well.
Today, I'd like to go over...
Brainstorming activity - Russia and China
Regional Studies - Policies and Expectations
Russia and China Chronology activities
Russia chronology - due Thursday, January 19
China chronology - due Monday, January 23
Russia and China - Geography
Russia geography quiz - Friday, January 20
China geography quiz - Wednesday, January 25
"Global Progress Report, 2006" - Current History magazine
Posted by mvergin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)