Social Studies Toolbox

Positive/Negative World Timeline and Map Project: Create a Positive/Negative Timeline which includes news-worthy events from the past year for the following countries: Afghanistan China Democratic Republic of Congo Egypt France Iraq Israel Japan Mexico North Korea South Sudan Sudan Syria Uganda United States United Kingdom You must include a minimum of three significant events (either positive or negative) for each country. Write the title, author and date for each news story  in the packets provided in class.  You must include at least four pictures on your timeline. You must rank the significance of each event you include on your timeline. You must locate, shade, and label each country on a world map . You map will be turned in when you turn in your timeline. Links: CNN World: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD BBC World: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/index.s...

U.S. History: The Children's March (Civil Rights) "Found Poem" Assignment-  Topic of the poem: "The Children's March" video (Teaching Tolerance video) First, brainstorm a list of words and phrases you will likely use in your poem. Then, look through magazines and newspapers for those words and phrases. Cut them out and arrange them on construction paper to form a poem. Glue them on construction paper. Decorate your poster with pictures and photographs relating to your theme. Found Poetry (definition): A found poem is shaped from a collection of words or phrases found in one text. A found poem may be created by students after a text has been read, in part or in whole . Found Poem (What is it?): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Found_poetry

Toolbox for change: Everyone will receive a photocopy of a toolbox. Fill your toolboxes with "tools" for change (things used by Civil Rights leaders in their struggle for civil rights). We will brainstorm a list of ten things as a class. Each individual must come up with ten additional "tools". You will need to find pictures of these things (or pictures of things that symbolize your "tools") or words from magazines. Cut out your pictures and glue them in your "toolbox".  You need a minimum of twenty words, phrases, and/or pictures in your "toolbox." (See example above or look at the example on the bulletin board in the classroom.) You may mat your toolbox on a piece of construction paper if you wish. Construction paper, scissors, glue are located on the center table. Projects are due at the end of class.

Lecture: Brown v. Board of Education Segregation - our nation's caste system (keeping the races separate - denying access to African Americans) The Brown decision would test the validity of the law - law that existed for decades ( Plessy  v. Ferguson, 1896) It was essential the Supreme Court decide the case unanimously, anything less would appear weak - considering the controversial nature of the issue, unanimity was key - the Court could not give the appearance of division The reasoning: Segregation in public education was a violation of the 14 th  Amendment's Equal Protection Clause Many people viewed schools as the ticket to advancement - segregated schools would have a detrimental effect on Black children - sense of inferiority has an effect on a child's ability to learn "... to separate them from others of similar age and qualifications because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may ...

1. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  Why did Japan bomb Pearl  Harbor?  2. How did the American people react to the bombing of Pearl Harbor?  3. What is a citizen soldier?  Why does the United States have a particular history of  citizen soldiers?  4. Discuss the transition from a peacetime economy to wartime economy that occurred  in the United States during World War II.  5. Women workers increased dramatically during the war.  Why was there resistance at  first to women working in war plants?  6. Why were women accepted in the defense industries after some initial reservations  and resistance?  7. World War II was not fought on American soil.  Nevertheless, the impact of the war  was tremendous. How did World War II alter the American homefront?  8. How did the United States use propaganda to unify the American people behind the  war effort?  9. Why were ...

Frontline : "Cambodia: Pol Pot's Shadow" http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/cambodia/ Discussion Questions: 1. Who were the Khmer Rouge? 2. When did the Khmer Rouge take power? 2. What did they believe? What were they trying to achieve? 3. What was the ultimate result of the rule of the Khmer Rouge? (Discuss the devastating effects on the people and the country of Cambodia.) 4. What has happened to the Khmer Rouge? (When were they driven from power? Where are they now? Have top officials in the Khmer Rouge been held responsible for the genocide in Cambodia?) 5. Relate this story to other stories of genocide we've discussed in class. In your answer discuss how those in power used propaganda in their attempts to commit genocide. Discuss how those in power attempted to dehumanize targeted groups.  Final scene from "The Killing Fields" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwgHauFn9Gc

Questions for students to consider after watching "Hotel Rwanda": 1.Why do you think people are willing to commit the barbaric acts seen in Rwanda and in other genocides? 2.Why do you think people who were fundamentally good and decent cross the line into behavior that was profoundly wrong? 3.In situations of conflict, people can be classified as perpetrators, rescuers, bystanders and victims. It is estimated that generally the category of bystanders contains far more than all the other categories combined. Why is the bystander category so large? 4.Does it matter what one person does in such situations? Watch CBS News Video Online Newsweek article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/131754

Conflict Minerals 101: 60 Minutes Story: How do electronics companies stack up? http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings Time Magazine Article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1912594,00.html?xid=rss-topstories Assignment: Answer the "5 W's and an H" questions regarding the issue of conflict minerals. 2 points each, for a total of 12 points. What? Who? When? Where? Why? How?