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