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.

Homework due 9/11/14

New students

1. Bookmark this web site:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

2. Click on the "video" link at the top and watch the BBC 1 minute news with a parent.  Watch the video clip several times.

3. After discussing what you saw with a parent, record at least 2 news stories on lined paper (or typed) in your Model UN binder.

4. Bookmark this website:  http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/

5. This is the kids version of the UN web site.  Click on "UN intro" on the right.

6. Read the 6 page article about the history of the UN.

7. Write 16 questions based on your reading.  Make them a mix of high and low level questions.
Example of low level:  What year was the UN formed?  How many sections are there in the UN?
high level:  Name 3 goals of the United Nations today.  What were the problems of the League of Nations?

8. Use index cards for your questions: question on one side, answer on the other.  Put your index cards in a rubber band or Ziploc bag.

9. Be prepared to answer other students' questions-read the article closely!


Returning Students
1. BBC
2. Go to this web site:
http://www.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/visitors/shared/documents/pdfs/Pub_United%20Nations_Everything%20U%20Always%20wanted%20to%20know.pdf
3. Open the document: Everything You Wanted to Know about the UN
4. Read the information up to pg. 14
5. Follow the same directions for the new students for creating low and high level trivia questions on Index cards.

Homework due 4/3/14

1. Continue to practice your speech.  Make sure you have a copy of it (large font) in  your binder.
2. Clean out your binder.  You will bring it to NY, and it only should contain your student guide, your position paper and your speech.
3. Print out packing list (from parents' e-mail).  Start getting organized!

Homework due Tuesday, March 25, 2014

****Remember we are meeting on Tuesday after Spring Break.

1. BBC-2 news stories
2. Continue to practice your speech.  By this point, you should have practiced it at least 10 times.  Before you go on the trip, you should have practiced it at least 20 times.
3.  Go to this section of the MMUN web site:
http://montessori-mun.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MMUN2010_Resolutions_UNEP.pdf

Please read UNEP resolutions 1.1 and 1.2 (look for numbers in the right corner)

 Print out these resolution.  Highlight the preambulatory phrases and operative clauses (use your background guide for help).  Make note of the sponsors and and signatories.   Read through the solutions, and look up any terms you are not familiar with.

Homework due 3/13/14

1. Watch the BBC 1 Minute News and record at least 2 news stories.
2. Practice your speech 5 times.  Have an adult time you to see how long it is.  Practice making eye contact with your audience, speaking slowly and clearly.
3. Read the background guide of your partner's topic. You will need to know some information about their topic.
4. Review the rules of protocol: see how many motions you have memorized.