Extra Credit Opportunities

Looking for extra credit for 1st quarter? Check out the following website for your news article:

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/archive/

Information about the Genocide in Darfur

Here's the link for the video "Voices from Darfur" video which we watched in class. This video gives a great overview of the current conflict in Darfur, and features survivors' stories. It is about 15 minutes long.

Interested in getting involved to help stop the genocide in Darfur? Check out the following links:

• http://www.voicesfromdarfur.org/
• http://www.savedarfur.org/

CONGRATULATIONS, BU 8!

BU 8 won the "Most Spirited Advisory" award for the first part of the school year! Great job, BU, for your high rubric averages, positive attitudes, and super SSR time!

Links on South Africa

Here are links to different clips that we used in class:

Nelson Mandela Biography Part 1

Nelson Mandela Biography Part 2

"Biko" by Peter Gabriel

"Freedom Now" by Tracy Chapman

Map-based MAPP Miles!

Hi 8th Grade,

For those of you out there checking my website, here's a great way to earn MAPP miles for next week's merit auction. (PS: You could get your own tray of Reese's peanut butter cup brownies from me!)

Answer the questions below:

1. What does this map show?

2. What is the role of Timbuktu in medieval African history?

African History

Hello 8th Grade:

As you know, we've been studying early African history. For Friday's Quest, please focus on the following time periods: Eastern African trading empires (Egypt, Axum, and Kush), Western African trading empires (Ghana, Mali, and Songhai), the European Age of Exploration, and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Check back soon for links to more information about these topics!

Congratulations to the "A Team"

A number of 8th grades students earned 90% on Friday's History Quest (Geography and Patterns in World History). Students who earned As were successful for a number of reasons, which included:

• Careful and thoughtful analysis of question stems
• Detailed, accurate, and succinct answers
• Effort and overall quality!

Check out sample student work on our "Wall of Historic Achievement" in 240!

Helpful Hints for Tomorrow's Quest

Can you define each of our key terms? Can you provide at least 1 example for each term? (Hint hint!)

History Quest #1 Tomorrow!

8th Graders: Tomorrow is the first History Quest. Make sure that you study your BLUE TOC NOTES!

Topics Covered:

• Absolute location
• Relative location
• Human migration
• Culture
• Cultural Diffusion
• Interdependence
• Ethnocentrism
• Chronology
• Trade

Mr. Bates visits GSA!

Today 4th period Global A students met Mr. Mike Bates, a history teacher from Lampton Secondary School in London. Mr. Bates spoke with students about differences in American and British schools...and, wow, what differences with uniforms! For example, students at his school must wear black trousers, white button down shirts, black vests, and black blazers with the school's crest. Missing that top button? Detention! Fourth period students asked great questions about school life, laws, and Harry Potter. Thank you, Mr. Bates! (Also, you can check out his school - Lampton.)

Most Influential

Check out Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2009. When you look through the list, make sure to click the individuals' names to learn more about them. Also, ask yourself: do I know about any of these people? How - from history class, the newspaper, television news, the internet?

Updates from Kenya

In September 2008, GSA students met Jamie Clearfield, a BU alum who worked in the slums of Kibera, Kenya. Ms. Clearfield taught GSA students about poverty and underdevelopment. She shared her experiences at the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy. Ms. Clearfield will not be returning to GSA classes this fall because she is currently living in Tanzania. However, one of her colleagues, will be joining us to discuss her work in preventing and treating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.

To learn more about KGSA, follow the link above.

Stay tuned for more information about our exciting guest speaker this fall during our Africa unit!

Welcome to 8th Grade History!

Welcome to 8th Grade History with Ms. Feldman! Over the course of this school year, we will explore the histories of the non-Western world. I hope that you had a very relaxing, fun, and safe summer vacation and that you're geared up for an exciting year in room 240.