Jan. 25, 26 and 27

Wednesday: Half the class worked on a web-quest about Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon, while the other half worked on the "Chapter 7, Lesson 1, pp. 213-216" reading guide. Halfway through the class we switched. BOTH ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE CHECKED MONDAY FOR COMPLETION. PACKETS WILL BE DUE NEXT WEEK. Here is a list so far:

1. Engineering an Empire I
2. China/Asia Map
3. Engineering an Empire II
4. Chapter 7, Lesson 1 pp. 213-216
5. Chinese New Year 2012
6. Dynastic Cycle Fill Ins

Thursday: We discussed the Dyanstic Cycle of China. Students completed "fill-in-the-blanks" notes as they viewed my Powerpoint. Students then began creating an animation of the cycle which will be completed in either iMovie, or Imageready.

Friday: Students continued work on their animations. Song of the week - Hold On, I'm Coming by Sam and Dave.

Jan. 24

Tuesday: Today we watched about 15 minutes of Engineering an Empire. The segment we watched was about the Terra Cotta Army which guards the tomb of the first emperor of China. Students then had time to finish the Asia maps. The maps will be due tomorrow at the beginning of class - they will need to be finished at home. Period 1, however, has an extra day. Their maps will be due Thursday.

Jan. 20 and Jan. 23

Jan. 20 - Students finished their mock magazine ads and handed them in. Last day of Quarter 2.

Jan. 23 - We began our unit on China. Students watched about 17 minutes of the History Channel series "Engineering an Empire." We also began a map of Asia. No Homework.

January 18 and 19

The quarter ends Friday. All packets and tests have been entered into Powergrade. For the remaining 3 days of the quarter students have been either creating a mock magazine cover reflecting the content we covered during the first semester, or working to complete work to raise their grade.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Today students worked to complete their photoshop montages of the influence of Islam on West Africa.

Friday, January 13

Today we took the Africa unit test. I also collected the latest packet title "West Africa, Packet 2." Here is a list of what was in that packet:

1. Decline of Mali, Fill-ins
2. Africa GDP map
3. Africa GDP questions
4. Colonies of Africa map (periods 1 and 2 only)
5. Slave trade statistics
6. Africa Unit Test: Study Guide
7. Reading Notes 14
8. Ghana, Mali, Songhai fill-ins

January 12

Today we wrote topic sentences for the short answer questions on tomorrow's test and played review Jeopardy. Packets due tomorrow.

January 10 and 11

Students have been working on their photoshop montage illustrating the changes Islam brought to West Africa.

Today we practiced a map that will be on the test Friday. The packets are also due - here is a list so far:

1. Decline of Mali - Fill-ins
2. Africa G.D.P. map
3. Africa G.D.P. questions
4. colonies of Africa map (periods 1 and 2 only)
5. Slave trade statistics
6. Africa; Unit test study guide
7. Reading Notes 14

Monday, January 9

Students will begin a new Photoshop assignment this week. Today they read a supplement describing how Islam influenced and changed West Africa (one of the questions on thier upcoming test). Tomorrow we'll begin the graphic element of the project. TEST FRIDAY.

January 6 and 7

Thursday: Students continued to work on the GDP per capita map of Africa and the corresponding questions.

Friday: We discussed the impact of the slave trade on Africa and students analyzed statistical information from the slave trade. I also passed out a study guide for the unit test, which is scheduled for next Friday (see study guide below):

Africa: Unit Test Study Guide

Before next Friday’s test, be sure to study the terms and short answer questions below. Look through the packets of in-class work, and your text to help you study. You may create note cards to help you prepare for the test, and I will give you extra credit for making them.

Terms to know:

Savannah, Sahel, Culture
Berbers , Islam/Muslim , Traders
Mansu Musa, Timbuktu, Askia Muhammad
Ghana (Empire of), Mali (Empire of), Songhai (empire of)
Sahara Desert, Griots , Salt/Gold Trade
Kinship Group, Clans, Goods and Services
GDP Per Capita , Arabic Language
Imperialism, Sundiata, Sunni Ali

Short answer questions to prepare for:

1. In what specific ways did Islam influence and change West African Culture?

2. Be able to explain the trade relationship between Muslims and West Africans. How did the trade influence and change West African culture?


3. There was a myth that Africa had no history of great empires, kings, knowledge etc. Why was that myth wrong? Provide specific examples.

4. Be able to explain why Africa is so poor today. (based on the reasons we discussed in class)



Nations to know on the map: Egypt, Mali, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Niger

Geographic features/Regions to know: Sahara Desert, Sahel, the Niger River, the Red Sea. Also know the borders of the ancient empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai.

January 4 and 5

Tuesday, Jan. 4: I introduced students to the concept of G.D.P. per capita and students began working on a map that color-codes African nations by their G.D.P. per capita.

Wednesday, Jan. 5: Students continued work on the G.D.P./Africa map. There will be a unit test next Friday, January 13! Packets will be due that day as well. Study guides will be given to students before the weekend.

Dec. 15 and 16

Dec. 15: Students finished their Sundiata mock film posters and turned them into the drop box.

Dec. 16: We looked at all the Sundiata film posters and did a brief written comparison of the Sundiata legend we had read, and the Disney film "The Lion King."