Sunday, June 26, 2016

Influence of Ancient Cultures on Modern Art

Here's a terrific review of the origins of modern art from Felipe Galindo for TedEd. It's called "how ancient art influenced modern art."

Galindo reviews the influence of traditional and ancient cultures on 20th century artists like Picasso, Gaugin, and Matisse.

He shows how ancient African culture influenced Picasso's seminal piece, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," which is considered to be the first 20th century masterpiece with new forms, colors, and meanings.

Pre-Columbian culture influenced other artisits. British sculptor, Henry Moore, for example, looked to the Toltecs for his inspiration.

This short clip is definitely worth bookmarking for next spring when we study the 20th century.


 

Friday, June 17, 2016

The New DBQ for AP World Explained


Want to know about the changes to the new AP World DBQ? 

Listen to Dave Eaton's and Matt Drwenski's podcast, On Top of the World. They discuss the big changes like the elimination of grouping, point of view, and expanded core.

In addition, Eaton and Drwenski plan to post on Facebook a revised version of every "legacy" DBQ.

Here's a link to the first one they revised, the 2003 DBQ on indentured servitude.

Dave Eaton is is an associate professor of history at Grand Valley State University and Matt Drwenski is a world history graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh.

If you don't subscribe to their podcast, you should. Their topics hit many key concepts in AP World. One of my favorites, and one I used as an extra credit assignment, is episode 81 on the trans- Pacific silver trade in the 16th century.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

New Archive of 20th Century Resources

Here is a cool new online archive of 20th-century resources surrounding Winston Churchill.

The archive includes primary sources such as images, cartoons, and documents.

One of the most interesting parts of the archives are the investigations of significant issues designed for high school students.

Find out what went wrong at Gallipoli or if Britain could have done more for the Jews during WWII. The website gives you an overview of each issue along with a chart of primary sources to help students come to a conclusion.

The database is divided into four themes:


  • Key developments in world history
  • Key development in modern British empire history
  • Anglo-American relations in the 20th century
  • Churchill: Discussion, debate, and controversy


  • Thursday, June 9, 2016

    Periodization & Chinese History

    Chart developed by Angela A. Lee
    Teaching Chinese history in AP World or in an honors world history class?  

    Check out this terrific essay by AP World teacher,  Angela A. Lee, for Education About Asia,  called Periodization and Historical Patterns in Chinese History.

    Lee argues that we should go beyond the dynastic model that most of us use when we teach about China. 

    Other models of periodization, especially those that examine Chinese history through an economic perspective, offer students a better chance to recognize "the broad scope of changes and continuities," and believes that it offers a more global perspective.

    Lee developed the chart above to show students the different models of periodization and offers discussion questions about the models.

    Monday, June 6, 2016

    Zheng He: Terrific Introductory Essay

    Here's a terrific short biography of the great admiral, Zheng He, whose travels for the Ming Dynasty throughout the Indian Ocean may have made him the greatest explorer in history.

    That's the claim that Karen Williams makes in this essay which might work well as a student assignment.

    Karen Williams works in media and human rights across Africa and Asia.

    Wednesday, June 1, 2016

    World History: Maps, Images & Videos by Unit

    Teaching World History? Check out Coepedia! Video clips, maps, and images organized by unit from prehistory to the Renaissance and aligned to Virginia state standards.

    I'm still working on it and hope to add study aids for each unit along with links to lesson ideas.

    I got the idea from Benjamin Freeman who has an even better site with AP World and World II units called Freemanpedia.