Vanessa’s Social Studies Blog

United Nations World Issues Reflection

Link to the homework:
http://ssmeetsit.edublogs.org/2007/05/30/united-nations-world-issues-reflection/

#1. Think about the presentations and reflect on the projects your classmates presented and the information you listened to. Explain with details and specific information what you learned, what you found interesting, surprising, or shocking about the presentations you heard in class.

Everybody presented quite well, but the one the particularly caught my attention was the group the presented the peacekeeping iMovie. I thought it was very detailed and the people in that group worked really hard on it, as the effort could be seen. The governance group presented a fact that I found very surprising; that some governments look to terrorism for a solution to their problems, as I always thought governments would help their country by not looking towards terrorism to help them solve their problems. Another fact from their presentation that I found shocking was that 1.2 billion people live under poverty! I learned many things from all the presentations and it was really interesting what we learned, as well as what we could do to help with these issues.

#2. What would you change to improve your project/presentation if you were to do the assignment again?

If I were to do this same assignment over again, I would probably reconsider the way my group presented the current event and the information. The wikispace was easier to do because everyone in the group could access and edit it. However, it took time to click on the separate links to talk about all the questions. Otherwise, I think I wouldn’t change much in the information and answers.

Link to the homework:
From: http://ssmeetsit.edublogs.org/2007/04/27/homework-block-d-april-27/

“Discuss whether you feel the UN’s power should be increased to have enforcement authority over any nation or should it be decreased to only provide humanitarian aid when asked.”

There are consequences to both options. For example, if the UN’s power was increased to have enforcement authority over ANY nation, there would be absolutely no point. If the UN could just enforcement authority over ANY nation, the countries part of the UN would want to leave, as they are the ones who are sponsoring the UN. But also, the countries need the UN because they provide humanitarian aid, such as supplies, food, money, etc. However, if you decrease their power to only provide humanitarian aid when asked, then when the nation asks for the humanitarian aid, it might be too late to make the situation any better, as currently the UN acts by itself. To conclude, the UN should stay at where their power now, as they are doing a good job at helping the world and providing humanitarian aid.

Current Event: US to give North Korea more time
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6613953.stm
Citation:
Not given. “US to give North Korea more time.” BBC News. 1st May 2007. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6613953.stm> (2nd May 2007.)

1. What is the issue?
The US has said it will give North Korea more time to act on its nuclear disarmament pledge after they talk with Japan about security issues.
Condoleezza Rice and her Japanese counterpart, Taro Aso, warned North Korea that both their countries do not have “endless patience.”

2. Who is involved?
The US, North Korea, Condoleezza Rice, and Taro Aso are all involved in this issue.

3. Who is affected and how?

• US: The US is affected because they are willing to let N Korea have more time to let N Korea to act on their nuclear disarmament pledge.
• North Korea: N Korea is affected because they are the ones being asked to make a pledge for nuclear disarmament.
• Condoleezza Rice and Taro Aso: Condoleezza Rice and Taro Aso are affected because they are the ones warning N Korea that their patience will reach their end soon.

4. What would you do if you were directly involved?
If I were directly involved, I would be willing to give more time to N Korea as well, but would urge them to hurry with their nuclear disarmament pledge, as it would help the whole world if nobody had anything to do with nuclear weapons.

Pictures:

From: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42872000/jpg/_42872431_usjapantalksafp203b.jpg

From: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/12/nkorea.defector/korea.pyongyang.lg.map.jpg

Famous Egyptian Reflection

In Social Studies, we did research about particular people who lived in the times of Ancient Egypt and typed all our information into a speech, which we presented to the class. It was very enjoyable to watch all of my classmates try to act as their various person, and learn about more facts about other people we didn’t even know. For example, I learned that King Khufu was the builder of the great pyramid, and that the only statue found of him was 7.5 cm long! Overall, I think I did quite well, although I could’ve slowed down a bit. When I was out of the spotlight, my friends had said that I could’ve talked a little slower. Although I was a little bit nervous, if we ever did it again, I would look forward to it! I enjoyed dressing up as Egyptian as we could and seeing every one else’s creative costumes.  If I were to do this again, I would change how I spoke slightly, and maybe have praticed a bit more, as well as making more visual hand gestures, as standing there without any movements will seem to be very dull. To conclude, I really enjoyed presenting my speech to the class so they could learn more about who I was trying to who them I was.

This is my Social Studies speech for the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Children, Hathor.

I am Hathor! Patroness of music! Goddess of love, beauty, and children! Protector of the sacred sycamore! I am Hathor. I am married to Horus, the sky god. I have a son, Hor-sma-tawy, or Ihy, the god of music. I am one of the many daughters of Ra, the sun god, and also the father of all the kings of Egypt. Following, I will tell you more about myself and about an accomplishment I made quite a while ago back in the times of Ancient Egypt.

I am Hathor, the patroness of music, goddess of love, beauty, and children, and protector of the sacred sycamore. I am also an ancient sky goddess, shown as a cow that brings up the sun on my horns every morning. I live in Duat, the underworld, in my sycamore tree, leaning out every once in a while to give people advice. My main place of worship is Dendera, or Ta-Netjer, where many priestesses and people worshipped me around 2700 B.C. But this was not what I was once before, a very long time ago.

I have one very well known accomplishment that was spoken of for quite a while in Ancient Egypt. I was Sekhmet, the slayer of many people, in the tale of the Destruction of Mankind. My father, Ra, was infuriated with the people disobeying his laws, simply because he was turning old. And so, I came into creation, and I set out to slay all of mankind that walked this Earth, especially humans that did not follow my father’s rules. And this is how you people came to know and fear me because I nearly wiped out your entire existence on Earth.

And so, what did you think of me after that tragic event? I could not stop myself from slaying you all. While I was sleeping, Ra made slave girls sneak out into the night to pour red wine everywhere, which I mistook was blood and I drunk it all up. Feeling suddenly transformed after that, I changed into what I am today, the goddess of love, beauty, and children, a non-aggressive god. After that humongous scare, the people began to respect my father again, a wonderful ending for that tale. I changed lives because all people learned that age should not change the respect they have for people.

I played an important role as Sekhmet, by almost wiping out all the people who disobeyed and disrespected my father before I drunk the red wine that I mistook for blood. I am the personification of the Milky Way, as well as being identified with the royal family. I, Hathor, have done my job well as a slayer, as well as a goddess to assist all that you need.

From: http://theafrican.com/Images/Hathor.jpg
This is Hathor, the Goddess of love, beauty, and children, protector of the sacred sycamore and patroness of music.

Current Events Response to Haniff’s Millions Face Hunger from Climate Change
Link to Haniff’s Blog: Click here.
Citation: Not Given. “Millions Face Hunger From Climate Change: Report.” Millions Face Hunger From Climate Change: Report, -. 10 April 2007. <http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041007EA.shtml> (15 April 2007)

1. What new information has emerged?
Because of this sudden global warming, it threatens wonderful natural sites such as the Great Barrier Reef and sub-Antartic islands. Scientists think it could really change life on Earth, as the polar ice caps are melting and it will have caused a lot of damage by 2050.

2. What did you find interesting about this topic?
I found this topic on global warming interesting because since global warming is becoming more intense, many things on earth are being affected and maybe even destroyed. I also found it interesting that now because it is so serious scientists are holding conferences about what they could do to about this sudden global warming.

3. What did you like about the initial blog posting?
What I liked about the initial blog posting was that instead of including a map showing all the continents of the world, Haniff showed a picture of Earth itself from space. I generally liked this idea because the world from space might look different if global warming keeps destroying the Earth.

Map:
http://www.earthdayenergyfast.org/IMAGES/earth.jpg

Picture:
From: http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/images/polar-bear0901.jpg

Link to homework: http://ssmeetsit.edublogs.org/2007/03/13/homework-all-blocks-feb-1314/

Ra: The Sun God
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/egypt/Ra.gif

Maat: The Goddess of Law, Order, and Truth
http://www.circewicca.nl/graph/works/maat.jpg

Osiris: Was a Fertility God but Now a Judge of the Dead
http://cr.middlebury.edu/public/russian/Bulgakov/public_html/Images/osiris.JPG

Isis: Sister and Wife of Osiris
http://grenier2clio.free.fr/egypte/pic/isis.jpg

Horus: God of the Sky
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/mythology/images/horus_sm.jpg

Thoth: God of Scribes and Knowledge
http://www.enormousfictions.com/wp-content/5399a.jpg

Hathor: Goddess of Love, Beauty, Children and the Sacred Sycamore
http://www.thoutmosis.org/_img/hathor.jpg

Anubis: God of Cemeteries and Embalming
http://www.nemo.nu/ibisportal/0egyptintro/1egypt/gudasidor/gudabilder/anubis.gif

Nekhbet: Patroness of Upper Egypt
http://sithathor.free.fr/divins/nekhbet.jpg

Citation: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6399527.stm
Author: BBC
Title of Article: Afghan base hit as Cheney visits
Title: BBC News
Date published: Tuesday, 27th February
Date you looked at this site: Tuesday 27th February

1. What is the issue?

The issue is that as Dick Cheney, the US Vice President was visiting Afghanistan’s main US base, a suicide bomber killed at least 5 people while other reports say they killed 15 people. The Taleban state that they carried out the attack and was trying to get to Mr. Cheney.

2. Who is involved?

Dick Cheney is involved because he was the intended target. The suicide bomber is also involved because he killed innocent people, and the Taleban who had arranged the killing.

3. Who is affected and how?

Dick Cheney is affected because the Taleban had attempted to kill him and will probably now put him on the alert. The suicide bomber and the Taleban are also affected because they were unsuccessful at their attempt. Also, the family of the soldiers who died because they would have lost their loved ones.

4. What would you do if you were directly involved?

I would tighten security around the Afghanistan base and Mr. Cheney to ensure the security and safety of both the soldiers and Mr. Cheney. Then I would meet with the US President to see what could be done about the security of their staff and for the soldiers as well.

Dick Cheney, the US Vice President
From: http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/05/pt_cheney_0611_narrowweb__300×297.jpg

Location of Bombing
From: http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/deployment.map/khowst.gif

Link to the homework: http://ssmeetsit.edublogs.org/2007/02/08/homework-block-b-and-g-feb-78/

What did you learn from this task?

What I learnt from this project is a lot of things, such as the topic we were researching about. I learnt many interesting things about what the Ancient Africans did back in that day and how they managed to live and survive very efficiently in the wild. All the information we managed to learn from this task through researching was mainly what I learnt in this task, but I also learned how to use search engines efficiently and to cite sources correctly through noodletools. I learnt a lot of things!

Did you find this task difficult or easy? Why?

I found mostly everything easy (like getting the information up on the blog and editing and proofreading each other’s pages), but the most difficult part was getting the information. I found it particularly difficult to get information because my searching techniques were unefficient and incomplete. Thanks to this project, searching in search engines is one of the easy things in life.

What would you change about the process you went through to complete the wiki if you were to do the assignment again?

Like I said in the other reflection (reflection 2) the one thing I would change in the process is how I researched and spent my time. If I spent more of my time researching, the project would’ve been much better because I am not very confident that I fulfilled all of my duties as a group member. I really enjoyed this project, but I feel I could do much better than this.

What would you change about the final product (the wiki you created) if you were to do the assignment again?

If I were to do the assignment again, I would do more careful and cautious research than just blindly taking information from websites that I didn’t evaluate. I would also add more effects and font changes to the wiki to make it more effective, and additionally, I would look through my information and run it through the Spelling and Grammar check. I also could’ve explained things more throughly than just saying a word that nobody else understands.

Look at some of the other wikis from any class and find a few that you think are done exceptionally well. Tell me the name of the empire and the block, and then explain what you like about their wiki.

• Block D- Ancient Ghana

One thing I liked about the Ancient Ghana group were that they had flashy titles for every page, and it attracted a lot of attention. Also, they included much detail and pictures, and it was quite easy to understand what they were trying to tell and explain to us. I really liked their pages, great job!

• Block E- The Swahili Trading States

I think this group has done exceptionally well because they included a lot of detailed, descriptive information. What I really enjoyed were the ‘catchy’ phrases the put after all of the links. They had many colorful pictures to go with their information, which made it VERY clear what they were trying to explain. Great job!

Overall, the project has been very enjoyable, especially learning all about Ancient Africa!