New and Returning Students:
Backboard Group:
1. Watch the BBC 1 Minute News, and write down at least 2 news stories. Watch the broadcast with an adult so you can ask questions and discuss what you are seeing.
2. Gather what you need for your backboard. You wlll need maps, colored copies,photos from National Geographic, and any other pictures to put on your backboard.
3. Please watch this video about Tanzanite, a precious gem only found in Tanzania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQrt1LDvu8&feature=channel
4. Then read this article: http://www.fairjewelry.org/archives/3678
Write a 5-6 sentence summary about it. Include the following information:
Why does Tanzania want to cut its own stones?
How will this help Tanzania?
What is fair trade jewelry?
5. Do you think Tanzanite is sold in Tucson? How could you find out?
6. Malaria is a major health problem in many African countries. Read these two articles about Zanzibar and Malaria:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/tanzania_26396.html
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/tanzania_53431.html
Write a short paragraph answering these questions:
Why has Zanzibar been successful in reducing malaria? Why do some people in Zanzibar think the voucher program is better than giving away the the bed nets?
7. http://www.nothingbutnets.net/nets-save-lives/about-bed-nets.html
Read about what bed nets are, and what the NGO Nothing But Nets is trying to do. Why is it better if the benders are produced in Africa rather than Europe?
Backboard Accessory Group
1. Watch the BBC 1 Minute News, and write down at least 2 news stories. Watch the broadcast with an adult so you can ask questions and discuss what you are seeing.
2. Bring in what you will need for your backboard accessory for the next meeting.
3. Please watch this video about Tanzanite, a precious gem only found in Tanzania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQrt1LDvu8&feature=channel
4. Then read this article: http://www.fairjewelry.org/archives/3678
Write a 5-6 sentence summary about it. Include the following information:
Why does Tanzania want to cut its own stones?
How will this help Tanzania?
What is fair trade jewelry?
5. Do you think Tanzanite is sold in Tucson? How could you find out?
6. Malaria is a major health problem in many African countries. Read these two articles about Zanzibar and Malaria:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/tanzania_26396.html
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/tanzania_53431.html
Write a short paragraph answering these questions:
Why has Zanzibar been successful in reducing malaria? Why do some people in Zanzibar think the voucher program is better than giving away the the bed nets?
7. http://www.nothingbutnets.net/nets-save-lives/about-bed-nets.html
Read about what bed nets are, and what the NGO Nothing But Nets is trying to do. Why is it better if the bed nets are produced in Africa rather than Europe?
a. When did Tanzania join the UN?
b. When did Tanzania become a nation?
c. Did the UN help Tanzania to become a nation?
d. If Tanzania a colony, give the mother country's name and explain the effect the change has had.
e. Is your country a large, medium or small contributor to the UN budget?
f. Is the UN involved in any way in the health issues of Tanzania?
g. Which countries are considered friendly?
h. Which ones are considered adversaries (enemies)?
i. Which countries located near Tanzania have had violent conflicts?
j. How have these conflicts affected Tanzania?
k. What percentage of its expenditures is spent on education?
l. What is the school expectancy rate?
m. Where is Tanzania in the index of most developed/least developed nations?
For questions g and h, consider looking at trading partners for "friends" or news articles that discuss which countries are supporting them. For enemies, look at transnational issues on the CIA Factbook page or news articles that describe conflicts with other nations.
New and Returning Students:
We are ready to start country research!
Here are some starting research questions.
1. Where is your country located? What is the capital city?
2. What are the neighboring countries?
3. What are the physical features (mountains, rivers, nearby oceans, deserts, etc.)
4. What are some major events in your country's history? Why are they important?
5. What is the population of your country?
6. What ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?
7. What are the traditional art forms?
8. What are the characteristics of your country's economy? (What does your country export?)
9. Who is the president or leader of your country?
10. What type of government does your country have?
11. What is the traditional diet?
12. What is the climate?
13. What are typical jobs in Tanzania?
Take notes on these areas (no full sentences necessary). Use books, not just web sites for this research. Make a trip to the library and reserve some books if necessary. Encyclopedias can be a good source of information, too. Do a lot of reading-you are trying to become an expert on your country.
For web sites, check out the cyberschoolbus site (Country at a Glance-on the left hand side),
the CIA factbook site: www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook (this is a great starting place) and the BBC News site (they have country info. in addition to news stories).
New students:
Here's your next homework:
1. Read through these sections in your Model UN handbook: Present Day and What the UN Can and Cannot Do
2. With a highlighter or colored pencil, mark some ideas that you are think are important about the UN.
3. Using the ideas that you highlighted, make a list of FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions). Take the fact and turn it into a question.
a. Ex: fact: The UN does not make world laws ---> Can the UN pass global laws?
4. Use the format of a FAQ (look at the MMUN web page for help: http://www.montessori-mun.org/faq.php
a. Make sure you answer the questions with a sentence or two.
5. See how many questions and answers you can come up with (try to get a minimum of 10) Write your questions and answer on an index card (question on one side, answer on another)
6. Read the section The Six Main Organs of the UN. Take notes on each UN body (General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, etc.) using lined paper or type it. Make sure your notes answer these questions:
a. What does this part of the UN do?
b. Who are the members?
c. How many members are there?
d. What type of problems do they solve?
e. Are members elected to this committee?
f. What are the suggested reforms for this body?
Returning students:
1. Re-read the sections in your handbooks: Present Day and What the UN Can and Cannot Do
2. Highlight any information in these sections that you forgot or didn't know before
3. Form in two groups (have a meeting at school and split up). Each group is responsible for creating a presentation about the UN for the Lower El classes.
a. Your presentation should include:
i. a poster or several small visuals
ii. the 5 Ws
iii. the mission of the UN
iv. the issues of the UN
v. the job of a delegate
vi. a few words about Model UN
***This presentation should be about 10-15 minutes long, including some time for questions at the end. Everyone speaks in the presentation. Practicing public speaking skills is important-you are showing the LE students what it takes to do Model UN. The practice could be done at school or at home. See me with more questions.***
Hi students,
Thanks for coming to the first Model UN meeting.
Here's your first assignment. It will be a long one because you have a week off for parent/teacher conferences and lots of time to work on it! You will need to break up this homework over the course of several days:
** Please note the homework is in 2 parts: one for new students and one for returning students**
New students:
1. Bookmark these three web sites (ask a parent if you don't know how to add a bookmark or a favorite)
c. www.un.org
i. You'll be using these web sites for your research. Most of your research will be done with web sites because you will be looking for the most up to date information.
2. Go to the www.cyberschoolbus.un.org site. Click on links (listed in the Model UN sidebar) . Then click on UN intro
3. . Read the information about the history of the UN. Then answer these questions in sentences (except for the chart). You can use lined paper or type your answers. Do not e-mail me your homework. Please bring it to the next meeting on 10/21
4. Questions:
a. What are 5 W's related to the UN? (Who is in the UN? Where is it? When did it originate?) Do not include the How does it work question. Make a chart using columns that shows your answers (answers can be in note form)
b. What are the major goals of the UN?
c. What was in place before the United Nations? Why did it fail?
d. Who is a member of the Security Council? Why do some countries want to change the members?
Returning students:
1. Review the History of the UN on the cyberbus web site. Be prepared to answer typical 5 W type questions at the meeting.
2. Make sure you still have the un.org web site still bookmarked.
3. Go to un.org--->UN at a glance
a. Create a concept map of this information. UN is the main topic, you choose the subcategories (8-10). Concept maps include written info. and pictures. Look for info. that you don't know. Tape two pieces of paper together if you need more room.
4. At the UN at a Glance, click on Goodwill Ambassadors. Make a list of celebrities that you know and which committee they are associated with. Write a short paragraph about the job of the Goodwill Ambassador.
5. Go to the UN News Center. Make a chart displaying this information:
| Location | Situation or Problem | UN Action |
| Developing Countries | Access to appropriate medical care | UN is making good progress in achieving universal access for people afflicted with HIV has been limited in many developing countries according to recent report |
| UN Headquarters | Child soldiers have been used to fight conflicts worldwide | 11 new countries added their name to Paris Principles, a document that seeks to end child soldiers |
