Trial and...Error?

The long-awaited trial day came and went for my US History I class. Our mock trial was a case that was straight off the script of Law and Order! And happily I can say, that some of my students' performances falls nothing short of a future Emmy Award!

The trial consisted of a woman, Martha Monroe, who was in an abusive relationship with her husband. After many beatings, she did not want to tell the police due to fears that he would come after her. However, one night she couldn't take it anymore and shot him three times while he lay sleeping in his bed. It's truly a case that could go either way, and we will finish it up on Tuesday! (I have to be gone on Monday)

In other news...

- Was dropping the atomic bombs on Japan to end WWII justified? Was it something that should have been done? US History II students had to consider those questions on Friday as we wrapped up our WWII unit.

- Storming their way through Europe was my World Geography class this week. It was an action-packed week that included plans to build a bridge (or two!) over the Strait of Gibraltar; lessons on the Tour de France, French culture, and the French Revolution; and country studies of Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Students learned that many of the foods they eat on a daily basis have roots in all 4 countries; they "explored" the old vestiges of the Roman Empire at the Forum; and examined the smallest country in the world, Vatican City!

- And in Sociology, students were introduced to the elements of culture. We took a look at how Western values differ greatly from many other culture systems in the world, especially on relationships and individuality. The students also read an article on the sociology of naming and found that high culture tends to filter down to pop culture! Pretty interesting that a name usually starts out small like anything else, then is released to the masses and becomes the latest fad!