| History & Social Studies - high |
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Gang-related incidents, from graffiti to drive-by shootings, are being reported across the country in suburban and rural areas. As gangs move into new areas, they also move into locations that were traditionally considered "neutral zones," such as schools and malls.
Every teenager is at risk.
The teenagers most vulnerable to the lure of youth gangs are middle school students. By the age of 14 or 15, most teenagers have decided whether to stay out of or join gangs. How can middle school students be influenced to make a thoughtful choice?
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"In the following WebQuest, you will learn about nine African-American students who, back in 1957, chose to attend an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. They took these steps with the power of the U.S. Supreme Court backing them up, but with armed soldiers blocking the entrance before them. Still, this WebQuest isn't about history, it's about the world you live in and the choices your community has made in the past and you will make in the future. If you're ready, begin the Quest..."
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"Mass killings and genocides have occurred in numerous places in the world in the last century. Each time, humanity cries out, "Never Again!" Yet you can see evidence that it continues to occur. What is it in our consciousness that allows us to treat other human beings so inhumanely? The most recent cases of genocide are occurring right now or leading toward erruption. Thus bringing us to cry out, "Never Again! - Again?""
Involvement in domestic affairs of others is risky business. But how far should we let violence advance until we say, "STOP THE KILLING!" How much do we value humanity and ourselves as human beings? How much are we willing to risk to save the lives of others?
Question: What can we do to prevent and stop mass killings in our world?
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"Many people have said that the world changed on September 11, 2001. Undoubtedly it did for many people and in many ways. Since then, the US and its Coalition of the Willing have entered into a War on Terror. Deciding the merits of this war or those who struck the US on 9/11 is a larger topic than this WebQuest can tackle. However, we can increase our understanding by looking more closely at what we think about terrorism. To start with, we can view two videos that capture two sides of the Arab view:
* Islam Remembers September 11 (Flash movie)
* Arab-American Responses (streamed video)
These powerful videos capture the feelings of many Muslims around the world.
Okay, so what's the point here? In an atmosphere where almost any group can be called a terrorist, it's important to move beyond sound bites and look more closely at real examples of what are considered Terrorist acts. Why should you bother? Without a doubt you will be paying for the current War on Terror and you may even be called upon to fight in it. So let's get clearer on what we're talking about... "
Question: What is terrorism? Is there such a thing as a 'just cause?'
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"Even those who actually lived through a particular historical period will have different perspectives of what it meant - for them, for others like them, for those who were different to them and for their society as a whole."
Each member of your team will become an expert in one individual/family's experience during this time in Chinese history. Then you'll have to come back together to answer a question that gets to the heart of "what's the truth and who says so?''
Question: "How did Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution affect the lives of ordinary Chinese - at home and abroad?"
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"Imagine that you're a poor person living during hard economic times. Your government offers you free medical care. Sounds good. But what if the real reason you're approached is because you have a disease. But instead of giving you medical care, the doctors are really just watching what happens when this disease goes untreated. Suppose a miracle then happens and a treatment is found for your disease. Instead of giving you the new medicine, the doctors continue the experiment of watching the disease go untreated. Years pass, some of your friends who were also in the study die, some pass the disease to their wives and children. It's hard to imagine anything as bad as this. And yet people have come to use the Tuskegee Study in comparison to other topics like abortion, gun control, and concentration camp experiments. Are they really the same? In this WebQuest, you will decide."
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"With summer Olympic 2008 in Beijing in full swing, the athletes are breaking records like never before. New records are set with more than 50% improvement. The tests for performance enhancing drugs (testosterone and anabolic steroids) are negative but still something different about them: they are genetically enhanced athletes; their genes have been altered to increase strength and endurance that is undetectable by any test so far."
"This WebQuest will help you to examine, understand and evaluate the issues of “germ line modifications” and “genetic enhancement” by taking on different roles. With several cooperative groups presenting a different perspective, you will investigate the different sides of the issue to decide for yourselves how you feel. By dividing into roles and working cooperatively, you will work together to understand this topic. The Internet will provide all the resources that you need to explore gene therapy.
So, your task is to understand the issues, gather and analyze the current information provided to you, try to reach on a consensus with your teammates on the questions, write your recommendations and let the world know about it."
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"As students living in Australia globalisation has impacted on us in many ways. We drink Coke, eat at McDonalds, wear Nike runners and use Nokia mobile phones. We support American Basket Ball teams and English soccer clubs and watch 'Friends' on TV. With all of this in mind it is time to ask ourselves the question 'What does Globalisation have to do with me?'"
Question: "What is Globalisation and how does it impact on individuals, Australia and the World?"
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"Did you know that although slavery is illegal, 27 million people are enslaved today? the average price for a slave is US$90? you probably use or eat goods made with slave labor everyday?"
Question(s): Why does slavery still exist? What do we know about contemporary slavery that can help abolish it?
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"World War III is about to occur!The source of the conflict is the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir. Negotiators have so far been unsuccessful in obtaining a peace agreement between the two countries. A Peace Summit has been called at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland, by the U.N. Security Council as a final attempt to avert nuclear warfare in Pakistan and India.
A war between these two nations could escalate to encompass the entire world."
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"The year is 2010 and the Antarctic Treaty is due to be renegotiated. The Prime Minister has invited various interest groups to make a presentation regarding their views on the position Australia should take at the forthcoming conference."
Question: What position should Australia take when renegotiating the Antarctic Treaty?
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"Consider the following hypothetical scenario of war. A conflict occurs between your country and another neighboring country. The politicians of each country try to resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels. Alliances, nationalism, militarism, racism, and a poor economy add fuel to the fire of this conflict. A final act of terrorism (bombing) touches off a war between your country and the neighboring country. Other nations with economic ties and alliances also join the war.
You, as a citizen of your country, are concerned about the threat to your freedom and safety that a war could bring. At the same time, you are also concerned about death and destruction caused by war."
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"The Social Security Act was signed into being by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several States to make more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and the administration of their unemployment compensation laws; to establish a Social Security Board; to raise revenue; and for other purposes.
The Social Security Act has been amended in part, a number of times since then. However, today there is much concern over its present state. The debate over reform of the Social Security System rages as elected politicians banter it about. What is the problem with American Social Security? How should it be solved? This is an issue that will effect you far into your future. Should you have a say? Why should you even care at this stage of your life?"
Question: "How should the American Social Security System be structured to provide for its elders and disabled citizens?"
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"Many professional sports teams have Native American mascots and names. Atlanta Braves, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, etc. In our own state, Oklahoma, many schools also have Native American names and mascots. Catoosa Indians, Union Redskins, Glenpool Warriors, to name a few. The same is true with schools all across our country."
"You are a student at Broken Drum High School, home of the three-years-running undefeated BDHS Savages football team. Lately, the school has come under criticism for its team's name and mascot, Chief Eagle Feather. The four-member school board is considering changing the team's name, but several members of the community are in favor of keeping it. They say it's been a tradition for 70 years. Critics of the mascot say it mocks Native American sacred religious traditions."
Question: Where do you stand? Is this a case of modern day racism, or political correctness run amok?
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"You have heard the phrase, 'It's a nice place to live [sic], but I wouldn't want to live there!' Well, what do you think of Cooperstown, New York? Many people know the rural upstate town better as the 'Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame'. Do you love baseball enough to make this your home? Well, for those who don't like baseball, Cooperstown is more than bats and balls. Maybe you need the hustle and bustle of things. Does Cooperstown have what you need? Time is ticking and you have to decide with the help of others: is Cooperstown just a nice place to visit, or would you like to live there? You have in store a special challenge, so buckle up and enjoy the ride."
Question: "It might be the 'Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame', but would it be some place I would call home?"
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"The United Nations operates under the assumption that the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Its intent to bring this recognition to the hearts and minds of all peoples of the world is set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948."
This WebQuest is designed to help you
- Understand the purpose and function of the United Nations.
- Use this as a model to fashion a culture at your school that recognizes the inherent dignity and equal, inalienable rights of all members of your school population. This includes students, teachers, counselors, administrators, teaching assistants, office workers, technicians, custodians, cafeteria workers, campus aides, and of course parents. (Continue adding any others that are not listed.)"
Question: "How can we fashion a school culture that recognizes the inherent dignity and equal, inalienable rights of all members of our school population?"
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"Historians coined the term "Gilded Age" in an effort to illustrate the outwardly showy, but inwardly corrupt nature of American society during the industrialization of the late 1800's. You are a member of a film production studio that has recently been hired to produce a documentary about the Gilded Age of American history."
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"Your team will be exploring India's caste system, the civil rights movement, and the equal rights movement, then putting it all against the backdrop of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird."
Question: How is the Dalits' plight in India like the struggle for equality fought by blacks and women in the United States?
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"Arthur Miller's The Crucible shows many innocent people being accused of crimes/sins they did not commit. Throughout history, society has been blinded to similar occurrences, or "witch hunts." Indeed, Miller wrote The Crucible in response to one of those "witch hunts" that took place in his time period--McCarthyism."
"Your job, in a group of 3 (or 4) students, is to research the background of the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and other "witch hunts" throughout history to find their causes, evaluate their consequences, and develop a solution that would help avoid and/or prevent such "witch hunts" in the future."
Question: What should be done to keep the innocent from being accused and presumed guilty?
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"The Vietnam War was an event that divided a nation. The period 1965 to 1972 saw Australia embroiled in one of the most divisive involvements in its history. During this time 50,000 troops were sent by the Australian Government to fight alongside US troops in Vietnam. This decision led to an unprecedented reaction on the part of the Australian public. The conscription issue in particular caused civil unrest, which gave rise to new social movements that changed Australians' perceptions of their nation."
"Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War and the reaction of Australian citizens to her involvement cannot go unrecognised."
Task orientation: "A new museum commemorating Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War is to be built in your city. A committee has been formed to create the exhibits to be housed in the museum. Your group is one of several which has been asked to select artefacts and displays of significance for one of the museum’s six rooms."
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"Now that we have finished reading The Crucible, you are going to have a chance to examine some other instances where mass hysteria has ruined people's lives and compare them to the tragedy in Salem. For this webquest, you will be a journalist working to expose injustices caused by mass hysteria. Through accessing primary and secondary sources and talking to experts, you will use the webquest to find and compare the causes and effects of The Salem Witch Trials, the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, the McCarthy Hearings, and the Robert Roberson child abuse case."
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"The land in the Middle East referred to as Palestine has been ruled by a series of foreign occupiers for hundreds of years. Since British occupation and the eventual declaration of the creation of the independent state of Israel, May 14, 1948, the region has been plagued by a series of wars and continual tensions between the Arabs and the Jews. You will discover the roots of the conflict between the Arabs and Israelis and examine the events occurring today and ultimately design a peace plan of your own."
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You are a teenager living in the United States during World War II. You read the newspapers and hear the radio broadcasts, but it is hard to make sense of this war that involves so many countries and people. This webquest will take you back to the Home Front of the 1940's to learn what it was like to grow up during this turbulent time. As a group you're going to explore the topic of A Separate Peace.
What would it have been like to have been a teenager during World War II? How would teenagers of today deal with the conflicts of war and friendship?
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"Have you ever wondered how the United States Supreme Court makes its decisions? You are about to become a Supreme Court justice, entrusted with the power to make the final decision upon a controversial case. Your opinion will become law in this country."
"Today the case before you is Able v. U.S. This case calls into question the constitutionality of the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy with regard to homosexuality."
"As a Court, you must determine whether or not 'don't ask, don't tell' violates homosexuals' equal protection under the law."
Question: If you were a Supreme Court Justice, how would you decide the case of Able v. U.S.?
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"Welcome to the world of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. You are living in the 1930s. Your home, neighborhood, school, activities, clothes and social interactions are vastly different than anything you are familiar with in the 1990s. This WebQuest will take you back in time to learn what your life is like as a young person growing up in the 30s. Using what you learn, write a series of pen pal letters to someone living in 1998."
Question: What was life like for a young person growing up in the 30s?
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