Homework Due 11/3/11

New and Returning Students:

1. Watch the BBC 1 Minute News and Record 2 Stories.

2. Follow the directions for your country research (Upper Elem.: Malaysia, MS: Bahamas)

3. Start selling Equal Exchange if you haven't already?

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? (or nearby islands)

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? What is the name of the currency?

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).

Homework Due 10/27/11

New Students

1. Watch BBC with parent and record 2 news stories.

2. Go to the cyberschoolbus web site.

3.. Click on Millennium Development Goals of the UN (grey box). List the 8 goals and draw their symbol.

4. Using this web site as research, write a short paragraph about each of these topics:

-what are MDGs

-current progress

-how are goals related to each other

-how countries can achieve goals

-special role of developed countries and goal #8

Returning students (Willow and Maryn)

1. Watch BBC with parent and record 2 news stories.

2. Go to the cyberschoolbus web site.

3.. Click on Millennium Development Goals of the UN (grey box). Study and review the 8 goals-see if you can memorize for the next meeting.

4. I would like a flashcard with a symbol for each goal on one side, and the goal on the other (8 cards in all). Divide up this work between the two of you. You can draw them or print an image. Please make them look good. :)

5. Read this article about Guatemalan coffee cooperatives: http://www.equalexchange.coop/profile-of-manos-campesinas-in-guatemala

6. Look up the words: cooperative, middlemen and small scale if you don't understand them.

7. Be prepared to talk briefly about this idea:

Why is it better to form a cooperative instead of staying a individual farmer? Take notes so you can share ideas with the group.

** Willow and Remi: please finish up Lower El presentation and bring your poster to the next meeting.

Homework due 10/20/11

New and returning students:

Here's your homework:

1. Bookmark the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/

2. Watch the BBC 1 Minute new with a parent. Record at least 2 news stories that you watched.

3. Read through these sections in your Model UN handbook: Present Day and What the UN Can and Cannot Do

4. With a highlighter or colored pencil, mark some ideas that you are think are important about the UN.

5. See how many questions you can come up with (minimum of 10). Write your questions and answers on index cards (question one one side, answer on the other).

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. Do the members rotate? Who are the members?

c. What type of problems do they solve?

Middle School

1. Watch the BBC 1 minute news and record 2 stories.

2. Complete the next phase of your UN presentation.

3. Divide up your work: who will contact your teachers, the lower el teachers. If you want to write them a note, please e-mail it to me first.

4. Be prepared to answer the Upper El questions about this section of your handbook: Present Day UN and What the UN Can and Cannot Do. Read these sections and take notes if you don't know the information.

Homework due 10/20/11

New and returning students:

Here's your homework:

1. Bookmark the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/

2. Watch the BBC 1 Minute new with a parent. Record at least 2 news stories that you watched.

3. Read through these sections in your Model UN handbook: Present Day and What the UN Can and Cannot Do

4. With a highlighter or colored pencil, mark some ideas that you are think are important about the UN.

5. Using the ideas that you highlighted, turn the fact into a question.

a. Ex: fact: The UN does not make world laws ---Question: Can the UN pass global laws?

5. See how many questions you can come up with (minimum of 10). Write your questions and answers on index cards (question one one side, answer on the other).

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. Do the members rotate? Who are the members?

c. What type of problems do they solve?

Middle School

1. Watch the BBC 1 minute news and record 2 stories.

2. Complete the next phase of your UN presentation.

3. Divide up your work: who will contact your teachers, the lower el teachers. If you want to write them a note, please e-mail it to me first.

4. Be prepared to answer the Upper El questions about this section of your handbook: Present Day UN and What the UN Can and Cannot Do. Read these sections and take notes if you don't know the information.