Monday, April 25, 2016

Born in Blood and Fire Readings

Friendly reminder to complete the Born in Blood and Fire readings about U.S. intervention in Latin America. The readings are: 
  • Chapter 8: Pages 257-261 (2nd edition)
  • Chapter 8: Pages 264-273 (2nd edition)
  • Chapter 9: Pages 297-302 (2nd edition)
 The reading handouts are available in class. 
 

April 25th, 2016

We are now onto our last case study of U.S. involvement in Latin America during the Cold War, Nicaragua.














We will only spend two class periods reviewing the major players of the Nicaraguan Revolution: Augusto Sandino, Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista movement, The Contras (counter-revolutionaries), and the U.S. Government. After learning about the revolution broadly, students analyzed the rhetoric from each perspective deeply in order to complete Character Retrieval Charts and write two-voice poems.


Thursday, April 21, 2016

We are zooming through our unit! Today we continued to explore the Cuban Revolution, diving deeply into the major events and goals of the revolutionaries. Specifically, we analyzed excerpts from Fidel Castro's infamous defense, "History Will Absolve Me," before wrapping class up with a short film clip from American Experience's Fidel Castro.

Guiding Question: So how exactly did 18 revolutionaries overthrow the Batista regime in Cuba in the late 1950's?


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Tuesday April 19th

Today we wrapped up our (brief) examination of U.S. involvement in Guatemala during the Cold War and turned our attention toward Cuba. What a fascinating time to learn about the Cuban Revolution and Cuba's role in the Cold War, given the recently renewed relationship.















After some review about the 1954 coup in Guatemala, we spent time learning about Cuba pre-Revolution with a "text graffiti" exercise. We wrapped up class with a "Cuban Revolution" Bloc Party. What a blast.  

No homework! If you can, we would love to discuss homework with you during tonight's Homework Summit. Library. 6:30pm.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Friday April 15th

Today we continued learning about the U.S. led coup in Guatemala through the help of prominent Latin American authors Pablo Neruda and Eduardo Galeano. We ended class by listening to a short clip from the "Hearts and Minds" episode from This American Life. You can find these resources posted on the "assignments and worksheets" column on the right hand side of the blog.

Wednesday April 13th

Today we continued to explore the Cold War period, turning our attention to the role of the United States in Central and South America. 

We started by examining this Diego Rivera painting, before diving into a set of CIA documents. Students played detective, piecing together the story of what exactly took place in Guatemala in 1954.













For Friday, please complete the short reading in Born in Blood and Fire Chapter 8, pages 257-261 (second edition). Start at the heading, "Onset of the Cold War," and stop reading once you reach the "Bolivia's National Revolutionary Movement."


Friday, April 8, 2016

Monday April 11th

Welcome back from the long weekend! This week we will continue exploring how the Cold War shaped life in the United States, and then begin examining how the Cold War shaped Central and South America. 

Our goal for Monday is:
  • I can describe McCarthyism and the Red Scare and describe how they shaped life in the United States. 
 Homework:
  • Be sure to complete and turn in any assignments from the 3rd quarter. 
  • Bring Born in Blood and Fire to class Wednesday, you'll need the book to complete in-class assignments.
 Here are the slides from class:

 

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Monday April 4th: New Unit! The Cold War

WOW, I cannot believe we're beginning the 4th quarter. This week we will begin our second to last unit, the Cold War.

Today we will begin our unit of the cold war. Our objectives are:
  • I can describe the political and ideological conflict between capitalism and communism that led to the beginnings of the Cold War.
  • I can identify several key individuals, events, and concepts that shaped the Cold War, including: Atom/Hydrogen Bomb, Berlin Wall, Yalta Conference, USSR, Truman Doctrine, Iron Curtain, Greek Civil War, Joseph Stalin.

Agenda: 
  • Review 3rd quarter class survey results
  • Introduction to the Cold War
  • Cold War Prezi lecture
  • The Red Dot Game
 Here are the slides for the class: