Homework due 10/23/14

You have 2 weeks off from Model UN, so this homework assignment will be a long one.  Break it into sections!

1. Watch the BBC and record 2 news stories.
2. Come prepared do work on your project.  Bring supplies and communicate with your group as needed.  CC all e-mails to me.

3. Complete the following research questions.

 Use un.org (go to Member States--->Cuba--->UN Data)

                               and the CIA Fact book

a. When did your country join the UN?

b. When did country become a nation?

c. Did the UN help your country to become a nation?

d. What was the former name of this nation?

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 your country?
Use this document for this question:  
http://www.un.org/press/en/2013/ga11445.doc.htm  (several paragraphs down from the top)

g. Who are your trading partners?

h. Which ones are considered adversaries (enemies)?

i. Which countries located near your country have had violent conflicts?

j. Have these conflicts affected your country?

k. What percentage of its expenditures is spent on education?

l. What is the school expectancy rate?

m. Where is your country in the index of most developed/least developed nations?

3.  Read this article:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28785420

Answer the following questions (a few questions may need research from other web sites for background information):
a.  Define these words from the article.  Use context or a dictionary (or both)
bastion, communism, subsidy, ideological, sever, proximity
b. Why does the author stock his suitcase with items like cleaning fluid every times he visits Havana?
c. Why does this remind him of Russsia of the past?  What has changed in Russia?
d. How did the collapse of Soviet power affect Cuba?
e.  Why is there no Starbucks in Cuba?
f. How do private restaurants get their supplies quicker that state run businesses?
g. What does the author mean by the word "mule?"
h. If the U.S is not trading with Cuba, why do you think there are so many American cars from the 1950s?

4. Watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVTb9oyyNM
Please watch the first and second episode of this BBC program (link to episode 2 on the right)

--Add any new information you learned about Cuba to your other research.

 

Homework due 10/2/14

New and Returning Students:

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

2.We are ready to start country research!

Here are some starting research questions:

New and Returning Students

1.  Watch the BBC and record 2 news stories.

2.  It's time to start researching the Republic of Cuba. 

Take notes on these areas (no full sentences necessary, but some deserve more than a 1 word answer). 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).

1. Where is your country located? What is the capital city?

2. What are the neighboring countries? To which continent does it belong?

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? Has it had any major changes in government systems?

11. What is the traditional diet?

12. What is the climate?

13. What are typical jobs? What is the name of the currency?
14. List 3 unique features of Cuba.

Homework due 9/25/14

New and Returning Students

1. Watch the BBC 1 Minute News and record 2 news stories.

2.  Read the article about the International Day of Peace:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gaia-paradiso/war-and-peace-the-door-is_b_5690807.html?utm_hp_ref=impact&ir=Impact

Write 2  paragraphs about these ideas:
a.  Why is Pope Francis encouraging the youth of today to "wake up?"  What does this have to do with war and peace, and the lack of areas with conflict?

b. What does the author suggest everyone should do to make the world a better place?  Why does the author believe that the Pope should attend the Social Good Summit?

**Optional**
If you have a preference for being part of the backboard, sewing or art group, you are welcome to write me an e-mail that explain which skills or qualities you have would be beneficial to the group.

Homework due 9/18/14

New students

 

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

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

3. With a highlighter or colored pencil, mark some ideas that you are think are important about the UN.
4. Go to the cyberschoolbus web site (http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/)

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

6. Using this web site as research, write a few sentences 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

1. Complete steps 1-4 of regular homework.

2. Re-read the information about the MDGs.  Make flash cards for each MDG-print out a symbol of each goal, paste it on one side of an index card, and on the back write a few facts about the goal.