Monday -
- What are the lessons of the Easter Islanders and Mayans for today's civilizations?
- Why did the Easter island and Maya Civilizations collapse?
- What might the Easter Islanders and Mayas have done to prevent the collapse of their societies?
- Are we headed in the same direction today as the Easter Islanders and Mayas?
- Are there practices which we must change or alter to ensure our survival as a civilization? If so, which practices and how?
Welcome - Please pick up your name tags.
Announcements
Roll call
Small Group Activity -
Share your essays which are due today. You may either read them aloud in your group or swap them around the group and read silently. Look for ideas which you think were well-written, and be prepared to give feedback about the essay to its author.
Large Group Discussion -
The large group will discuss the ideas written about in the essays and try to find lessons which apply to today. Think about these ideas:
Individual Reading -
Read the article "Paradise Squandered" by Dale Van Atta (Reader's Digest, May 1997, pp.87-91) about the island people of Nauru.
Reflective Writing -
Write a two paragraph reflective short essay. The first paragraph should review and summarize our class discussion about Easter Island and the Mayas. Make sure to include a summary of the lessons that might be learned from their civilizations. The second paragraph should relate how the article about Nauru either supports or does not support the lessons we drew from the Easter Islanders and Mayas. Worth 25 points. Due at the end of the period.
Homework -
Read Ponting pp.127-140. Start at the last paragraph on page 127.
Tuesday -
Welcome - Please pick up your name tag.
Roll call
Announcements
Overhead presentation -
Review of the early migrations of peoples throughout the world; development of early agricultural civilizations; spread of European influence; and conquest of native peoples throughout the world.
Pairs Activity -
Construct a map with graphics to represent the movement of species of plants and animals from Eurasia to other parts of the world. Use Ponting pp. 170-175 as a reference for your map.
Homework -
Read Ponting pp. 161-170 for Wednesday.
Wednesday -
Welcome
Roll call
Announcements
Pairs Activity -
Using the information from last night's reading, finish your map project (started yesterday) and add graphics which show species extinctions and localized extinctions.
Individual reading -
Read Ponting pp. 186-193 about whaling in class.
Homework -
Read Ponting pp. 175-186 for tomorrow.
Thursday -
Welcome
Roll call
Announcements
Individual reading-
Whaling article.
Timeline assignment -
Construct a timeline from the events described in the whaling article. Worth 25 points. Due at the end of the period.
Video -
The Columbus Controversy : Challenging How History is Written
Class discussion of video and implications from an environmental history perspective.
Homework -
Read Ponting pp. 194-204 for tomorrow.
Related Whaling Links -
Friday -
Welcome
Roll call
Announcements
Class Meeting - Web publishing of student work
Class discussion -
The moral dilemma of property taken in the past that becomes the inheritance of those who did not take it. Whose is it? What can be done about the injustice that was done in the taking?
Class assignment -
Create a concept web from the information on pages 194-204 of Ponting. Include words or phrases to connect the concepts together on the web. Worth 25 points. Due Tuesday.
Homework -
Read Ponting pp. 204-213 for Monday.
