August 10, 2017
Today we begin a new semester 3 new students. We will go over the course outline and go over a list of possible topics besides the main course outline. Students will be informed about the Friday article summaries.
August 11, 2017
We will start the semester with an atlas exercise. They learning target: Students will be able to read graphs, use indexes and interpret statistics.
August 14, 2017
We will finish the atlas exercise and have a vocabulary exercise. Students will share orally a current event item.
January 9, 2017
We will go over the results of the National Geographic Scavenger Hunt., The learning target: Strudents will be able to interpret graphs and charts and make assessments ofcountries and regions based upon the data providfed. Students will share their search of their closets andhome to determine the country of origin of their clothing and furnishings. I will hand out a packet of "Why geography Matters" Students are to read the section on Africa, which we will start discussing on Thursday. Instead of their Abstract they wiull summarize the readinga in 2 pages minimum
January 10, 2017
I will introduce the MilleniumProject which is a list of 15 Global Challenges facing humanity this cntury. We will br referring back to these challenges throughout the semester asw we examine countries, regions and topics.
TheLearning target: Once we start to examine countries, regions and topics, students wil refer to these Challenges to see how they are being ddressed. Students will select one of the 15 Challenges and read from the list provided to orally share on Wednesday.
January 11, 2017
students will share orally their findings on their readings. We will beginour study of Africa and start witth a video which traces early human evolutionand the spread of human out of Africa.. the learning target: Students will be able to tracd the migration patern of earlty humans
January 12
Today we will examine the San Bushmane,a tribe of people who have changed little through milleniums .
TheLeaerning target:Srtudents will have a bettter undersgtsnding of what early African civilizations were like after viewing a video on the San bushmaen. Students may works on finalizing their summaries of the readings..
January 13.
Students will share their summaries of the readings . We will look at the role of European colonization of Africa. Students will be able to list the positive and negative effects of colonization of Africa.
January 16& 17 no school because of icy conditions
Jan.18
To prepare for our examination of the role of mineral extraction and corrupt leadership in Africa, we will be doing a map exercise using the atlas and The web site "CIA World Factbook", locating those countries with large supplies of natural resources and those which are sometimes listed as "failed states" . The learning target is is to be able to identify common factors which contribute to a country falling in to "failed State" status.
January 19
We will continue with yesterday's exercise . With each student choosing at least 5 countries to examine. We will also view a video which examines diamond mining in Sierra Leone. Students will continue to identify common factors contributing to " failed states". Students question from the history of Africa, its slave trading era and colonialism will be due.
January 20
Student will be finishing up their atlas and CIA World Fact book exercise. We will view a video and readings which describe the significance of diamond mining The learning target
is to list the the methods militias use to fore citizens to do their mining.. We will examine a TIME article on diamond mining and the role advertising plays in spurring the demand for diamonds. Question will b due Jan 24
January 24
Today we will examine the Role COLTAN play in the international manufacturing of electronic goods. The learning target
Students will be able to explain the role militias play in keeping countries in a "FAILED STATE status." We will view a video which explains the actions that international corporations play in policing and the transportation of "conflict minerals"
January 25
We will begin looking at the role of food production and distribution in Africa including looking the development of agriculture, from hunting and gathering to current methods.The learning target: Students will be able to identify areas of Africa where climate and soil types are favorable to food production. We will view a Crash Course video on the history of agriculture, from foraging to modern crop production.
January 26
We will be looking the issue of food insecurity and the role of the World Food Program in dealing withe the issue.
The learning target is to examine the United Nations and the role it plays with its agencies which include the Wold Food
program to coordinate relief agencies. We will be viewing a video which illustrates the scope of the program not only in Africa but throughout the world.
January 27
We will examine the issue of food waste, not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well the learning target: Students will be able to list 5 factors which contribute to food insecurity. We will be reading and responding to a National Geographic Article which examine the role "factory farms" is having on traditional small scale farmers.
January 30
We will finish up our examination of The World Food Program. The learning target is to be able to explain the process
that the program uses to determine their responses to food emergencies.we will examine three countries: to see how the World Food Program has responded to their needs.
January 31.
World Food Program assignment is due. We will examine the African Leadership Academy and its founder,
Fred Swaniker. The learning target: Students will be able to list the criteria that The African Leadership Academy uses to recruit its students. We will view a video which examines the history and current status and operations of the academy. Students will be reading a short selection on Fred Swaniker's background.
February 1
We will examine the issue of child marriage and female genital mutilation. We will examine one individual,
Kakenya Ntayla who has taken a stand and gone on to establish schooling for young girls. The learning target:
Students will be able to explain the drawback that the practice of female genital mutilation and child marriage have on the societies in which it is practiced.. We will view two videos which explain the practices
February 2
We will examine the issue of modern day slavery, which exists throughout the world. The students will be reading from 2 selections 1. Modern Day Slavey: Your phone was made by slaves & 21st Century slavery. Student are to write a 3 page summary of the readings. We will view a video on the organization FREE THE SLAVES.The learning target: students will be able to identify the industries that utilize the greatest number of slaves and the methods to enslave them.
Feb.3
We will continue the examination of Modern day slavery.Learning Target: students will be able to explainb the procedures that FREE THE SlLAVES uses to free slaves,. Students will be working on their 3 pages response to the modern slave trade
Feb 6
We will examine the Rwandan Genocide.The learning target :Students will be able to elist the events which led to the genocide and the actions taken to bring about reconciliation. We will view a video which illustrates the actions which occurred during the genocide and the action which occurred since.
Feb. 7 We will begin to examine the world's oceans , including pollution, exploration of the depths, and mining and territorial claims. Our first task is to examine the exploration of the ocean depths .The learning target: Students
will be able to describe the types of life forms fund at the great depth and what possible implications they have for the worlds populations.
Feb. 8
We will examine deep sea mining. The learning target: students will be able to list the positives and negatives of deep sea mining.We will view a video of the deep sea mining project. We will begin to look at the problem of pollution on the oceans, including plastics, fertilizers depletion of coral reefs
Feb. 9
We will continue examining ocean pollution and also look at China's claim to large parts of the South China Sea.
The learning Target: Students will be able to describe the risks to international relations if China continues to claim large parts of the South China Sea.
Feb.13
We will discuss the videos the students viewed on their own regarding deep sea exploraation.
We will examine the issue of ocean pollution in particular the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The learning target: Students will be able to describe issues that have brought on the garbage patch and some possible solutions.
We will examine two videos which demonstrate the hazards to animal life and what some counties are doing to clean up some of the pollution.
Feb 14
The assignment on ocean utilization and The role of China Sea is due. We will examine the role of drones both for domestic and military use. The learning target : Students will be able to identify the history of unmanned flight and long distance means of warfare as well as the ethical and legal issues of drones. For the next two days students will be reading and responding to a series of articles related to these issues. We will viewing several videos which touch upon these issues., including the history of DARPA
Feb.15
We will continue with the drone issues. Students will present their summaries of the articles and will summarize
orally their 5 top areas of concern and will list corroborating evidence. to back their claims.
Feb. 16
We will begin the examining the use of robots, both commercially, militarily, and for personal use. The learning target: Students will be able to list economic, military, social and ethical issues both positively and negatively.
The students will be reading from a selection of articles which touch upon the above concerns The will present an oral summary, and then put forth their op 5 concerns that robots present, either in a positive or negative way.This assignment iis due on Feb. 20
Feb.17.
we will view several videos that demonstrate the civilian and military uses of robots. The learning target students will identify the positive and negative aspects of Robots
Feb 20
Students will present their summaries of the robot selections. We will begin a study of the Middle East.
The learning target: Students will be able to trace the history of Islam and its 2 major branches and on a map identify countries with the majority populations There will be a reading which describes the major tenets and vocabulary associated with Islam.
Feb 21
We will examine recent Events including the Iran-Iraq War and the U.S Invasion of Iraq. The learning target. Students will be able to describe the events that led to the U. S. invasion of Iraq. We will also examine the countries of the Middle East, in terms of their ethnic, religious and standards of living
Feeb 22
Today we will examine the Sykes Picot agreement. The learning target: Students will be able to explain how this agreement laid the groundwork for much of the strife n the Middle East.
Feb 23 & 24
I will be in Omaha for a Gifted Conference. Students will have two documents to read and respond to. One of the documents traces the history of Islam in the Middle East and spread of ISIS. The second article covers the history of Syria and the events that led to the Syrian War. The learning target: Students will be able to extrapolate events from both reading to collaborate in creating a report which summarizes the current situation in Iraq, Syria and the status of ISIS, This report is due Feb.28. There will also several videos which will help tie the events together
Feb.27
Today students will be finishing up theri summaries of the documents related to the history of Islam and its the role f the Sunnis & Shia Western civilization in bringing about many of the problems that exist today. The Learning target: students will be able to explain the role of the Sykes Picot agreement in laying the groundwork of many problems that exist today. We will view a video which explores the plight of quest workers in the Middle East.
Feb.28
Students projects are due.
We will begin examining the role of manufacturing and technology in the American economy. The Learning target: Students will be able to explain how with the increased mechanization of manufacturing, many prospective workers lack the education required to fill the new jobs. WE will read and discuss two articles and short videos which explain the problem. We will look at the increasing number of billionaires, and the issue of income inequality. We will examine the list of billionaires in terms of country of origin, the source of their wealth and their willingness or unwillingness to share.Students will choose 5 individuals to examine in greater depth
March 1
Student will be gathering data on their 5 billionaires, giving a short biography describing their source of wealth, their country of origin, their willingness to share and if they are partial to any particular causes.
March 2
Students will share their 5 biographies . We will be reading and article on the building of wealth by corporations The learning target: students will be able to explain the role of investment in research and electricity has played in successful busniesses.
March 6
Today we will look at the history of Google The learning target: Students will be able to summarize ithistory of early information gathering and productivity applications to its current project of developing self driving automobiles. We will examine a series of short selections elating to its founding to some of its unique services.
March 7 & 8
These next two days will be devoted to the subject of online search and reading Vs. reading from text or paper. :Students will respond to the statement: Is google making us stupid? Students will be reading online and from print sources and describe their reaction to both methods. Students will also respond to "How to save the News"
regarding the future of newspapers and magazines in a digital age.One of the students will be on a family trip and will be taking thee reading assignment in paper and digital form and keep track of their reading habits while traveling.
March 13
The students and I will both be attending the NebraskaYouth Institute in Lincoln
March 14
Students will be finishing their assignment on Google & the news media
March 15
WE will begin out study of NASA And the SPace program & The proposed Mars mission. The learning target:
students will be able to list at leas 5 everyday items that can their development to the space program.
March 16
Today we will view a video which explores the mission and conditions on the International Space Station..
The learning target: student will be able to explain the amount of cooperation that goes into the missiions of the
crews aboard the ISS. The students will have reading and questions related to NASA and the 3 proposed Mars missions
March 17
The students and I will be at the ESU Quiz Bowl. The questions will be due on March 20
March 20
We will finish the unit on NASA and introduce the long term assignment which involves the students creating a narrative describing the preparations needed to travel to Mars.Students will have been supplied with the readings which describe physical, psychological and engineering problems which must be addressed. The students are to write at least a 7 page narrative describing crew interaction, and problems that may ocurThe learning target is for students to develop an appreciation for the complexities of space flight.
March 21
Students will be on a Junior trip to Central Community College
March 22.
Today we will examine we will examine The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Learning target: students will compareand contrast that document with our U.S. Constitution. They will make 3 columns, one showing rights found only in the U.S. constitution, one which is only found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
the 3rd will list those rights found in both documents
March 23
Students will view a short video which covers the historical development of human rights and finish up on yesterday's activity and then examine the constitutions of China and Russia, countries which we will be examining further during the quarter. The learning target: students will compare the constitutions of China & Russia with that of the U.S. and look for similarities and difference.
March 24
We will examine the countries that are considered to be emerging markets which include the BRIC countries
of Brazil, Russia, India and China which we will be covering in greater depth in the coming weeks.WE will be doing a map exercise to locate these countries . The learning target: identify those countries has trade agreements with.
March 27
We will begin our unit on India. We will examine early settlements in the Indus Valley, the Muslim areas of settlement and the development of Hinduism.We will examine the the physical features of the country including its major rivers, and cities. We will be viewing a video which illustrates the advance skills early inhabitants possessed. Students will be able to locate selected physical features and cities on a map.
March 28
Today we will examine more closely the history of Hinduism, and its role in the everyday life of the people of
India, including its caste system, its rituals and the role the British played in the development of modern day
India. The learning target: Students will be able to list the positive and negative aspects of British rule. We will watch a short video which reinforces material system covered regarding the caste system.
Mtrch 29
Today we will examine the issue of sanitation and recycling throughout, including health hazards connected with contaminated water and non existence of sewage systems, we will examine the recycling systems used in other parts of the world to reduce and recycle waste. Learning target: after having seen a video on the recycling of waste , students will discuss if such a system might work in India.
March30, 31 April 3 April,4
we will examine several issues over the next several days: the caste system, the untouchables, the cow, education and the role of women and the Green revolution. There will be a series of readings and questions, which will be discussed. The big question: What must India do to bring a greater amount of people out of poverty and to insure equal right for all its citizens
April 5
We will be finishng up the unite of India.The learning target: What positive signs that India can bring more of
its population out of poverty. What must India do to Imprve its sanitation and infrastructure issues.
April 6 & 7
The students will be at State FBLA convention. They will have a series of readings on Sanitation and recycling
and those in poverty with questions related to the readings.
April 10
We will be finishing up our unit on India. LT: After having viewed the video which outlines India's future, students will be able to describe the demographic dividend India has ver the other economies of the world.
I will introduce the Unit on China, by introducing the challenges China has with an aging population and a lack of workers to take their place in direct contrast to India's situation.
April 11
We will view a video in which the narrator outlines the difference between China and the western world economies. LT: Students will explain the differences between China's monolithic culture with the multicultrual societies of western nations. Students will have a series of short readings on North Korea, Which outline some of the issues that the countries face students will deliver a summary to the class when we meet on April 13
April 12
I will be a the conference Quiz Bowl, Students will be reading and responding to the articles on North Korea.
April1 13
We will discuss the readings on North Korea and how the actions of North Korea Affect China's relationship with the U.S. I will assign a packet of readings which outline China's history, It's current economic situation and its relationship with its neightbors and the U.S. and its connections to Africa
April 18
Today we will examine China's infrastructure-Roads, Building f new cities and the role of pollution in
the air, water and soil. LT : students will explain therole cole plays in peoples lives
April 19
ACT Test
April 20
Today we will examine the Great wall, the Silk Road and the Terra Cotta Warriors/ Learning Target: what role did the Sllk Road have in expanding world wide spread of culture>
April 21
We will examine China's role in Africa and China's need for land, water, minerals and oil
April 24
We will review the unit onChina. Students will be able to list the 4 ingredients China needs for the future.
We will examine Chinese culture with several videos
April 25
We will examine Mongolia, its history and current relationship with China & Russia. Students will be able to describe the positive and negative impacts of mineral exploration in the country. We willexamine theculture of the people
April 26
No Class
April 27
We will begin examining Russia, its history & current role in world affairs. students will explain the role of the Romanovs in world history. We will examine The role Peter the Great had in Russia's history.We will begin
examining the Russian revolution
April 28
Major writing assignment is due.
We will continue with the Russian Revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union & its demise. Students will be able to explain the role mother nature has played in Russian history
May 1
Today we will examine some of the historical places of Russia- St. Petersburg, Moscow, Music & Art. Lt. What countries had influence on Russian architecture
May2
We will examine the Russian Revolution, The Cold War The break up of the Soviet Union
May 3
We wil review the information from the assignment that was dueand view a video on the Romanovs
May 4
We will examine current Russia and view a video on Putin.
May 5
WE will finosh the unit o n Russia& start looking at Rainforests of BBrazil
Welcome to my site.
George Mohr
Media SpecialistiNorthwest High School
2710 North Road
Grand Island, NE 68803
Phone: 308-385 6394
[email protected]
Media SpecialistiNorthwest High School
2710 North Road
Grand Island, NE 68803
Phone: 308-385 6394
[email protected]