World History

Summary: Today, anybody who missed the test will make it up.  Also, I’ll be having you complete a final critique of my teaching.  It’s been a pleasure to teach all of you and please feel free to keep in contact.  Thanks!

Summary: Today we wrapped up the documentary regarding Al-Qaida in Europe and then spent a few minutes reviewing for the test.  Please feel free to contact me via email (sam@mr-spurlin.com) or AIM (spurliss) if you have any questions about the review homework.

Homework: review homework.

Summary: Today we talked about and watched a video that dealt with how Europe is becoming the new battleground of Al-Qaida.

Homework: None.

Summary: Today we discussed what domestic terrorism is, what some of the most notable domestic terrorist groups are, and what some of the most notable domestic terrorist attacks have been.  To wrap class up, I had you get into groups and provide me with a memo of possible vulnerable places in the United States in regards to terrorist activity and a brainstormed list of ways we can protect them.

Video: Just a quick clip about the Taliban in Pakistan gaining power.

PowerPoint: domestic-terrorism

Summary: Today we took notes on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and the Taliban in Afghanistan.  After we took notes, we spent a little bit of time watching a video clip in which some reporters are allowed access to a Taliban base in Afghanistan.

Homework: None.

Handouts: None.

Video: Will upload later.

Summary: Today I passed back your Soviet Union tests and we discussed any questions that were posed.  Also, we finished watching the PBS Frontline documentary on Islamic fundamentalism today.

Homework: None

Summary: Today we watched a PBS Frontline documentary called, “Looking for Answers.”  The documentary explores why anti-Americanism is prevalent in many Islamic countries today.  It traces the spread of anti-Americanism over time, with an emphasis on al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

Video: I could not find an embeddable file of the documentary, but the official website can be  found at the following link (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/).  It has links to additional resources like articles, transcripts, interviews, and other video clips.

Homework: Read the following article from the New York Times on Wahabbism (a sect of Islam) and answer the five questions found at the end.  [[bin-laden-adheres-to-austere-form-of-islam]]

Summary: Today we finished the packet of primary source documents and worksheets that we started on Friday.  We looked at some charts of population changes in Palestine, a map of the proposed U.N. Partition Plan, and some video interviews of Palestinian suicide bombers.

Homework: Finish the last page of the packet.

Videos:

• http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/wideangle/lessonplans/dyingto/index.html (go about halfway down the page)

Summary: Today we spent some time exploring why there is a conflict in Israel.  First we talked about how three different religions have some of their most holy sites located in the same city– obviously a recipe for some tension.  Then, we looked at a couple primary source documents (The Balfour Declaration and U.N. Resolution 181) to help us understand how the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine created some issues.

Handouts: the-balfour-declaration//un-resolution-181

Links: The following links will take you to the 360 degree panorama pictures of the religious sites we looked at in class:

• http://www.inisrael.com/tour/jer/vt_church.htm
• http://www.3disrael.com/jerusalem/kotel.cfm
• http://www.nylocations.com/panoramic-photography/

Homework: None.