Today was our last day in Africa Students completed their World Hunger packets and saw many heartbreaking pictures that depict the reality of world hunger in Africa today.  We moved our focus to AIDS when students looked at the Grim Statistics and saw the  numbers of people who have AIDS, where these people live, the treatments they use etc…  Some may wonder, why doesn’t anybody help?  Well people have tried, but excuses seem to overtake their efforts.  Students learned this after reading the Pandemic Report.  The last thing we did today was go over any questions that students may have had on the study guide.  Remember to studay tonight!

News and Notes:

• Your Africa Unit test is TOMORROW…be sure to study and get a good night’s rest!
• Country extension presentations will be Wednesday!

NO!  It is a little confusing so hopefully this will clear it up for you:

Just because a country is considered a Republic does not mean that they are considered a Democracy.  A Republic is when a nation is bound by a “constitution” that gives the people the right to elect their representatives.  However, just because they elect their representative does not mean that they have freedom; which would be the case in a democracy.  So the Republic of Sudan allows it’s people to elect it’s government officials but the rights of the people and the way that they government governs the people does not match that of a democracy. 

I hope this helps you out!  If you have any further questions PLEASE feel free to ask

World Hunger and AIDS conclude our study of Africa.  Today, students listened to “Ruth’s Poem”,  a poem written by a mother with AIDS.  It was a very sad and real picture of just what AIDS does to the family of the victim.  Students also listened to an article ”Africa’s AIDS Orphans”.  This article discussed the issue currently facing Africa today; orphans.  These orphans lost their parents to AIDS and now they have nowhere to go, but an orphanage.  It is a sad and true story.  We talked about the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic.  An epidemic being a disease in strictly one area, and a pandemic being a disease that has spread to an entire country or multiple countries.  Student finished working on their world hunger packets for the remainder of class time. 

On a happier note, I am VERY excited to hear and see the next set of presentations on Monday!

News and Notes:

• If you have not presented yet, be prepared to present on Wednesday!
• Your Africa Unit Test is Tuesday…study, study, study!

 Today, students watched the movie “Invisible Children”.  They were able to see the true story that the children of Uganda live through everyday.  It was an eye-opening experience and taught us not to take ANYTHING for granted!

News and Notes:

• Your GREEN note sheet is due tomorrow!
• Remember your Africa Unit Test has been moved to Tuesday (3/9)

 We got further into our study or World Hunger today.  Students continued working on their World Hunger packets and anwering the questions.  The article was very interesting and brought to light many horrible statistics that face Africa today. 

News and Notes:

• Read the article “Africa Enviromental Issues” (cream colored) AND use the green note sheet to complete notes on the article by Friday!
• Your Africa Unit Test has been moved to TUESDAY.
• Bring a healthy snack tomorrow because we will be watching “Invisible Children”

Yet again, we were realeased early today!  I hope everyone made it home safely and is enjoying their day in the snow…AGAIN!  For the short time that we were in class, we did a fun Vocabulary Review Game called, “I have…who has”  Students were able to review their vocabulary words while having fun!  After the game, students completed the quiz.  We also began our study on World Hunger.  We will conlude this study tomorrow, and begin exploring the impact of AIDS on Africa.

News and Notes:

• Your PINK group reflection on your country extension project is due tomorrow! 
• Africa Unit Test is this friday (3/5)!  Remember you now have your study guide
• Here is a list of the countries you will need to be able to recognize on a map for the test friday: Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Democratic Republic of The Congo, Nigeria, South Africa

Happy studying and playing in the SNOW

Today, students presented their findings on their African country.  It was great to see information from the different countries.  We had power point presentations, websites, three-tier poster boards, Epcot exhibits and MORE!  It was an exciting Monday!

News and Notes:

• Your defined vocabulary terms are due tomorrow! 
• Economic Vocabulary quiz tomorrow
• Africa Unit test FRIDAY!  You will receive a study guide in class tomorrow!

Here are a few resources to help you take notes on your Pink graphic organizer

Nigerian Website

http://www.wix.com/nigeria555/Nigeria-Epcot-Project

congo pp

More to come later!

Your Country Exrension Projects are due MONDAY

Here are the rubrics for each project…remember to look over this and treat it as your last “check-up”

3-sided poster rubric
Epcot rubric
Power Point rubric
story board rubric
Web page rubric

Remember, you need to define these by TUESDAY (3/2).  We will have a quiz on Tuesday as well!  Check out the website Quizlet to help you with flash cards, memorization, and studying!  Super cool!

1. Quota
2. Entrepreneuer
3. Human Capital
4. Currency
5. Capital
6. Economics
7. Command Economy
8. Tariff
9. Market Economy
10. GDP (Gross Domestic Product
11. Embargo
12. Standard of Living
13. Traditional Economy
14. Trade Barrier
15. Specialization
16. Mixed Economy
17. Literacy Rate
18. Economic System
19. Interdependency
20. Volunteer Trade

Today, students played a little government review game.  They made cubes with different aspects of government written on each side.  There were six groups, to represent the three types and the three systems of government.  Groups passed the cubes around and the students were able to explore the different way that each type and system of government works.

Students also took a “Pre-Quiz” on economic vocabulary terms.  This was to see just how much they remembered from our lesson on Middle East economics.  Of course, this quiz was not taken as a grade; just as a measurement to see where we stood on economics.  It was definitely an exciting and fabulous Friday! 

News and Notes:

• Country Extension Projects due Monday!
• Make sure you have defined ALL 20 vocabulary terms….Quiz on Tuesday!