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Arabic calligraphy that surrounds the entrance to the Taj Mahal, in India. We learned about Islam today in class - this is a famous example of Islamic architecture in the world! Photo taken over Spring Break, 2015.
Hi everyone,
I hope you are feeling excited for the prospect of a three day weekend! I certainly believe you have earned it! It is a very stressful time of the year for everyone, and I am grateful for some time to grade and then relax a bit, as well. Here's what we did today in class:
I hope you are feeling excited for the prospect of a three day weekend! I certainly believe you have earned it! It is a very stressful time of the year for everyone, and I am grateful for some time to grade and then relax a bit, as well. Here's what we did today in class:
Learning Targets:
Knowledge LT 22: I can explain how religious ideas impact the shaping of societies.
Critical Thinking LT 2: I can explain connections between events, issues, problems and concepts.
Knowledge LT 22: I can explain how religious ideas impact the shaping of societies.
Critical Thinking LT 2: I can explain connections between events, issues, problems and concepts.
Soundtrack: "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum. Selected for today because of our ongoing religion unit. The lyrics also mention Jesus, who we talked about today and last class in regards to Christianity.
AGENDA 4/23/15:
News Brief – Brian
Is America a Christian Nation?
The Pluralism Project
Islam
Is America a Christian Nation?
The Pluralism Project
Islam
Homework: Read the blog! Enjoy the long weekend - you have earned it! Know your grade and how to improve it - Russian Revolution (found on this post), World War I work (found on this post) and finishing Historical Investigation if you have not - revisions needed, as well. Next news brief: Asha.
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News Brief: Brian had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - Al Qaeda hostage, American Warren Weinstein, killed in operation. This is a tragic story about two aid workers who were taken hostage years ago, and killed earlier this year in Pakistan. It is a somber reminder that we are still at war with Al Qaeda and various related terrorist groups.
We also watched VICE News for the day, before moving on.
The next news brief was assigned to Asha.
Is America A Christian Nation?: This was not meant as a debate question in class, but rather a look at how religion impacts and shapes our own society (relating, as always, to the learning target for the unit). I had students create a YES/NO t-chart on a piece of paper to look at both sides of this. To start with this, we watched the video clip from this story from nearby in Washington:
Finally, I showed some more Pro/Con quotes. Again, this was not a debate we had in class - I just wanted everyone to see that it IS a debate, and be able to identify some different perspectives.
The Pluralism Project: Next, I passed out this in-class assignment, which is a reading and some questions on the back:
We also watched VICE News for the day, before moving on.
The next news brief was assigned to Asha.
Is America A Christian Nation?: This was not meant as a debate question in class, but rather a look at how religion impacts and shapes our own society (relating, as always, to the learning target for the unit). I had students create a YES/NO t-chart on a piece of paper to look at both sides of this. To start with this, we watched the video clip from this story from nearby in Washington:
This was meant as a call back to earlier in the year, when we had a Forced Choice debate on whether or not the phrase In God We Trust should be removed from our currency. It was also meant to show how fired up both sides were, and how religion impacts our society.
Next, we watched a short clip of President Obama saying that the United States is no longer a Christian nation, which upset a lot of people at the time.
Then, we watched this debate on the TV show Hardball in 2009, between an Atheist and a Christian, talking about the origins of the United States government and the role religion should play in our lives (again, students were supposed to note both sides of the debate):
Finally, I showed some more Pro/Con quotes. Again, this was not a debate we had in class - I just wanted everyone to see that it IS a debate, and be able to identify some different perspectives.
The Pluralism Project: Next, I passed out this in-class assignment, which is a reading and some questions on the back:
The point here was to see that there are a variety of different religions (and people who don't believe in religion) in the United States, which the article makes the case is a reason our society has been shaped (get it - the learning target again!). Students were expected to read the article and answer the three questions on the back. I called on students randomly to talk about the answers.
Islam: Next, we continued with the religion notes, using the Cornell Notes format. Here is the PowerPoint again:
Today, we finished the last religion in the PowerPoint - Islam. I appreciated your focus on it! I enjoyed, as always, explaining and trying to answer questions from the class. It was also great to have students be able to share and explain more about their own faiths!
Have a wonderful long weekend!
Have a wonderful long weekend!
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