Week Seven

This Week

I can't believe I'm writing "Week 7" in the headline, but it really is! This week students continued watching Invictus, a movie about the South African rugby team that helped bring the country of South Africa together after the fall of apartheid. Through this movie, students are able to understand on an emotional level what elements of racial tension existed in South Africa and how Mandela used sports to help bring about racial reconciliation in the newly fashioned "Rainbow Nation." Students also analyzed the Bill of Rights sections of the United States Constitution and South African Constitution in order to see how the prior shared experiences of both nations and the passage of time helped to inform the documents they created to govern their new nations.


Students also went on a trip Thursday to our parent institution, Wright State University, where they were able to talk with current students, visit the colleges within WSU, and just see the campus. It was a fun visit and students had a great time learning about my alma mater. If any of them want to know more about what it's like to go to WSU from an alum and current student, I am always happy to share my experiences with them!

Here are some photos from the trip -

Students got to go on a campus tour, during which they saw many of the colleges, the student rec center, and the dorms.

Students heard from a panel of current WSU students about what college life is like.

Students visiting the science labs, where Board President Dr. David Goldstein works.

Upcoming Week

Students will be reading a book in Sierra Leone entitled A Long Way Gone in Language Arts. Ms. Reid has asked me to post her letter to parents on my blog, which you can READ HERE.

Students will also be continuing our study of South Africa and next week they will take part in the new role-play activity I have for them to do. It should be a fun week.

Lastly, because I forgot to tell students early enough what this week's geo quiz would be, I did not have them do a geo quiz this week. Next Friday, however, they will be taking the geo quiz on the countries of Southern Africa, so they should use THIS QUIZ to study for it.

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve

Week Six

This Week

This week we began our study of South Africa as students were exposed to an overview of South African history, followed by group research on topics related to the system of apartheid and how black South Africans fought back against (and ultimately overcame) the apartheid regime. Students also took their last Geography Quiz on South America, and next week we will begin looking at Southern African countries. 

Students will be working tomorrow during the Plan E day on their Who I Am pages. You can now find them on our DRSS 10th Grade website here.

Upcoming Week

Students can study for the upcoming test, which will cover South African countries identified in this quiz - http://lizardpoint.com/geography/africa-southern-quiz.php.

Additionally, next week we will continue our study of South Africa by preparing for simulations whereby students will role-play people from one of four groups - a member on the Board of Directors for Coca-Cola in the 1980s, an activist seeking to change Coke's role in South Africa, an investor pushing for adoption of the "Sullivan Principles," and another investor urging the company to stay the course. We will also be viewing the movie Invictus, which chronicles the efforts made by Nelson Mandela to bring his country together after the end of apartheid through sports. Students will be writing a short essay about racial reconciliation in South Africa after viewing the movie in segments throughout the week.

Next week it might be fun to study the poem that resonated so deeply with Nelson Mandela and inspired the movie title and talk about it with your son or daughter. The text is printed for you here:

Invictus

By William Ernest Henley

 

Out of the night that covers me,

      Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

      For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

      I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

      Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

      How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

      I am the captain of my soul. 

Hope you have a great weekend, and don't forget about Plan E tomorrow!

~Mr. Grieve

Week Five

This Week

This week we held our second simulation as we studied the partition of India and Pakistan. Students role-played the 1946 Cabinet Mission, playing the roles of the British, the Congress Party, the Muslim League, the Unionist Party, and the Sikhs of Punjab. Students really got into the negotiation process and did an outstanding job of the role-play activity. A few groups were successful in negotiating the puzzle of keeping a united India, but the successful role-playing was historically accurate for many groups, meaning that they were unable to reach an agreement and were forced to allow the British to partition India into two countries - India and Pakistan.

Negotiations became very heated as students were role-playing. This group couldn't stay in their seats!

Students also took their second South America GeoQuiz today.

Upcoming Week

Next week we begin our study of South Africa. Students will be studying the early history of South Africa, how the system of apartheid was put in place (and remained in place for so long), and how a combination of non-violence and external pressure eventually helped bring about an end to apartheid. This group of students will also be preparing for a brand new role-play simulation that I have created this year, so they will be my "guinea pigs" in seeing how it works out. I'm looking forward to trying it!

As we are studying South Africa, our next quiz will be over the 10 countries in Southern Africa. You can find the quiz here.

Don't forget, there's a Plan E on Friday. Students will be working on creating their "Who I Am" pages on their websites in all of their 10th grade classes. If they need help on finding information on how to set up their pages, please direct them to this page on the new 10th grade Website.

Also, next week there is an informational meeting on Monday for all 10th and 11th grade JCOWA students. Seniors would be invited, but they have a Jostens meeting they have to attend.

The meeting will take place at 12:15 in my room and we will be going over the recently released study guide. If you'd like to take a look at the study guide, you can find it here.

There are four JCOWA events this year:

• Oct. 29 - International Career Day at Sinclair CC
• Dec. 2 - Youth Forum at Wright State University
• February 9 - Academic Quiz Bowl at the University of Dayton
• April 2014 - Geography Bowl at the University of Dayton

Due to the large number of students who have joined (over 50!) we will have to be selective this year in terms of who goes to which of the first two events. We may or may not be able to attend the Geography Bowl. We will be going over who gets to attend which event on Monday at this informational meeting, so it's important that students attend.

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve

Week Four

This Week

This short week was a busy one we wrapped up our study of the Iranian Revolution and Modern Iran by learning about the Iran-Iraq War and reading about human rights issues in Iran today. After that, on Thursday, we began our study of Early India and then moved onto the Indian Independence movement on Friday.

Next Week

This reading will prepare students to take part again next week in another simulation. This time they will be preparing to play the role of the British as they decide how to break apart India in the 1940s as the Indians are clamoring for Independence.

On Tuesday during study hall students who read Persepolis are invited to join Ms. Reid and I for a book club discussion, which should be a lot of fun.

Our first entire South America quiz was today, and our second will happen next Friday. It will be the same quiz both times, so if your son or daughter needs practice please have them continue to practice it by visiting this link.

Lastly, the 10th grade team now has a page where you can easily find out more about all of your teachers and about some of the projects we do each year. You can find it at http://daytonstem.wix.com/drss10thgrade.

Check out our new website

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve