Friday, April 23, 2010

William Shakespeare Died this Day in 1616

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

- Wikipedia

Lesson Plan Information
Title: A New Look at Romeo and Juliet
Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will learn:
- about the history of the English language and life during Shakespeare's time;
- to use various methods of research to learn about Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet;
- how Shakespeare's life and times affected his writing;
- how Shakespeare's plays can still apply to our lives and times today.
Grade Level: 9
Subject: English / Language Arts / Literature
Materials: Student copies of Romeo and Juliet; computers with access to the Internet.
Time Needed: Two 50-minute class periods
Provided by: Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators (LACUE); author: Tracy Jordan
Link: http://www.lacue.org/conference/lessons/RomeoandJuliet.doc

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Adolf Hitler, the man behind World War II and the Holocaust atrocities, was born on this day, 121 years ago

Lesson Plan Information
Title: The Rise of Adolf Hitler to Power
Objectives: Students will understand how and why Hitler was able to come to power.
Grade Level: 9
Subject: Hitler and Nazi Germany
Materials: Access to the Internet
Handouts: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/hitler
Time Needed: One class periods
Provided by: SchoolHistory.co.uk
Link: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/riseofhitler/teacher_notes.htm

Sunday, April 4, 2010

NATO was formed, this day, 61 years ago

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is an intergovernmental military alliance signed on 4 April 1949.

NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, and the organization constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.

NATO was founded by the western powers in order to counter the military power of the USSR in general and the Soviet Berlin Blockade in particular.

The twelve founding members of NATO were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States.

- Wikipedia

Lesson Plan Information
Title: The Role of NATO
Objectives: students will understand:
- the political atmosphere of post-World War II Europe and the U.S. foreign policy of containment;
- the critical events that occurred prior to the formation of NATO;
- the countries that formed the Warsaw Pact and the NATO alliance.
Concepts / Vocabulary: alliance, arms race, blockade, cold war, containment, occupation
Grade Level: 9-12
Subject: US history / European history
Materials: access to the Internet, a map of post-World War II Europe
Time Needed: Two 50-minute class periods
Provided by: Discovery Education (Author: George Cassutto)
Link: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/nato/