Thursday, March 30, 2017

Cold War: Video Resources

Studying the Cold War?

Here are some great clips about some of the important events like the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Space Race.

The first clip is about the Berlin Wall and comes from Simple History. The second clip comes from TedEd and reviews the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The third clip reviews the space race and also comes from Simple History. Here's a great four-minute review of the Berlin Wall from Simple History.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Decolonization in Ghana & Kenya: Two short Documentaries

Studying decolonization?  Here are two terrific short (25 to 30 minutes) documentaries about two independence movements in Africa--in Ghana and Kenya.

Both are from CCTV News, a 24-hour English news channel, of China Central Television, based in Beijing.

You can find questions for both videos in the New Visions Global Curriculum for 10th grade. Look for the unit on decolonization and nationalism. You'll find links to both videos with questions and other short activities.

Monday, March 27, 2017

Black Plague: Newscast from the Past

Studying the Black Plague?  Here's a Newscast from the Past from September 19, 1356. It includes the news as well as a couple of commercials.


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Importance of Active Learning


What is the best way for kids to study?
  • highlight the material
  • underline key concepts
  • explain key concepts of the text to yourself
What is the best way for students to review for a test?
  • underline or circle key ideas in the text
  • review important elements of the lecture in an audio format
  • take an informal quiz on the material
In both instances, the answer is the one that requires students to get actively involved in the material like explaining key concepts to yourself and taking a quiz. 

That's what a lot of research suggests. It's also the subject of an excellent essay by NPR's lead education blogger, Anya Kamenetz.  You can also take the quiz to see how well you understand active learning.

Most people, according to surveys, don't understand the importance of active learning. Over 90% think that simply rereading the material is "highly effective."

I bet that many of our students do not realize the importance of active involvement with their reading and test preparation.  Most simply highlight the material or underline key concepts.

But these students might increase their performance if they work with the material in an active way, like taking an informal quiz on the chapter, or making a crossword puzzle with the chapter's vocabulary.

Another finding, Kamenetz notes, is that spacing study over time is much more effective than cramming the night before a test.



Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Later Middle Ages: Resources

Here are some video resources if you are studying the later Middle Ages.

They include a short biography of William the Conqueror, one from "Cloud Biography" and one comical review from Horrible Histories.

You will also see a short biography of Joan of Arc, also from Cloud Biographies.

Finally,  and perhaps best of all, is a review of the English Bill of Rights from teacher Tom Richey.


Here's a short two minute biography of William the Conqueror.
 And here's a more humorous review of William the Conqueror from Horrible Histories.
 And here is a short biography of Joan of Arc for when you review the Hundred Years War.
 Here's a terrific review of the English Bill of Rights from teacher, Tom Richey.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Rome Reborn: Narrated by Khan Academy

Many of you may have seen Bernard Fischer's 3-D model of Rome showing a simulation of the city's urban development. It's pretty cool as is!

Khan Academy took the  model and narrated the the tour of the buildings making the clip even more meaningful to students.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Russian Revolution: Lucy Worsely's Empire of the Tsars

Studying the Russian Revolution?  Part 3 of Lucy Worsley's "Empire of the Tsars" deals with the revolution and outlines the nature of Tsar Nicholas's reign. You can stream it from Netflix.

Start the clip at about 27 minutes into Part 3 and you'll come in close to the coronation of the Tsar. Worsley will review his reign through World War I.

Worsley does a good job of showing the country's worsening conditions under the Tsar from Bloody Sunday, to Rasputin, and to the mishandling of the war.
 

Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Crusades: Video Resources

Studying the crusades?

Here are several clips about the two most important, the first and third crusades.

The first two clips are about the first crusade known as the Peoples Crusade. The first clip comes from Extra Credits.

The second clip comes Mankind, the Story of us all, and runs about two minutes.

The third clip covers the third crusade with Saladin and Richard the Lionhearted and comes from Atlantic Productions.
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Friday, March 3, 2017

World War I and Art: PBS NewsHour

America joined World War I 100 years ago in April.

Here's an interesting clip from the PBS NewsHour which explores a new art exhibit in Philadelphia about how artists dealt with the conflict. It explores the development of propaganda and iconic images like Uncle Sam.

Although the focus is American, it might be interesting for world history students because of its focus on propaganda and art, a medium that all sides used.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Feudalism: Video Resources

Here are some short clips covering different aspects of European feudalism including religion, education, and Charlemagne.

The first two clips, both five minutes or less, outline the major features of feudalism. The third outlines Charlemagne's life with music and film. The fourth clip reviews the role of religion in feudal Europe and the last clip reviews the the development of the medieval university.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

The Black Death: Resources

Studying the Black Death?

Here are a couple of clips that might help. The first is a summary of what people believed to be the causes and the second is a newscast from the past, September 19, 1356.

Finally, you will see a graph comparing the deaths from the Black death with those in World War I & II.