Classes watched two short videos and discussed the growing threat of the terrorist group ISIS.  Students read more about how ISIS operates and answered questions.  The class ended with students answering questions about and sharing political cartoons about US involvement with the ISIS conflict.

With a substitute, students looked at events in the Middle East and created a double timeline with summaries of the events on one side and the US response on the other.  Classes then discussed how well the US handled each crisis.

Students discussed the homework (Conflicts in the Middle East) and then read more about many of the same events and how the United Nations Responded.  They were asked to both guess what the UN would do and then grade what the UN actually did.

Today classes participated in a simulation designed to get them to think about the two sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  The ended by answering questions (Two Claims to Palestine).

Students looked at all the religion posters made last week and completed an assignment comparing these 7 major religions.  The class ended by discussing similarities and differences.

Students looked at demographics of the Middle East and made maps of where they would draw the borders of countries, and then compared their ideas to reality in an assignment called Determining Borders.

Homework: Conflicts in the Middle East

Students had the first half of class to finish their posters on major religions.  During the second half students wrote summaries of 3 Key Events in the Middle East. These will be important background information as we learn more about recent events in this region of the world.

Today students started a new unit by making posters about major religions of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam).  They will finish them tomorrow and gather information from them on Monday.

Today students took the Communism in Asia test and turned in their logbooks for...

Logbook Check #7

• Major Events in Chinese History Notes
• Identifying Quotes about Events
• Homework: Communists Take Power (Notes)
• Mao or Jiang Reading Questions
• Homework: Wars in Korea and Vietnam (Notes)
• Homework: China Reform and Reaction (Notes)
• The Secret State of North Korea (Video)
• Homework: Focusing Your Thoughts / Your Opinion 5
• Tank Man Notes (Video)
• Communism in Asia Crossword Puzzle

After the test students worked on a small project, creating their own political cartoon about China or East-Asia. It is due next Thursday (May 14).

Students finished their lessons about modern China by watching a documentary about Tank Man (The Tienanmen Square protests and massacre) and taking notes about what they learned.  This video is free online and should be watched by anyone who missed class.

Students also received a crossword puzzle to use as a study guide for Thursday's test and logbook check.

Today the class discussed the homework assignment from last week when students needed to make a decisions as to what they think the US policy toward China should be.

Students also watched a short video about Ai Weiwei (a Chinese artist) and discussed how the freedoms that Americans may take for granted are not enjoyed by Chinese citizens.