Saturday, August 25, 2007

MWH3.3.10. War in the Pacific

Topic: War in the Pacific
Essential Question: Why did Japan start a war in the Pacific?
  • Preview:
    • Why did Japan become an imperial power?
      • Age of Imperialism
      • Political Modernisation
      • Industrialisation
  • Understanding Goals:
    • Why was Japan aggressive in the 1920s and 1930s?
    • Why did Japan start a Pacific War?
      • What are the assumptions in these questions?
      • What are some evidence to support the assumptions?
      • What are the points of views to this question?
  • Performances:
    • Work in groups of 3s to generate your responses to these questions
    • Watch "Horrors in the East" to supplement your knowledge of Japan in the inter-war years.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

MWH3.3.9.War in the Pacific

Topic: War in the Pacific
Essential Question: How did Japan become an imperial power?
    • Watch clips on feudal Japan
  • Understanding goals:
    • How did Japan modernise in the period 1854-1893?
      • Role of the West
      • Rivalry between clans
      • Meiji Restoration
    • Why did Japan become an imperial power?
      • Age of imperialism
      • Search for economic security
      • Rise of militarism
  • Performances:
    • Here are some events in the power history of Japan.
      • Treaty of Kanagawa (1854)
      • Meiji Restoration (1868)
      • Sino-Japanese War I (1894-5)
      • Russo-Japanese (1904-5)
      • WWI & Shantung Issue (1918)
      • Washington Naval Conference (1922)
      • Kellog-Briand Pact (1927)
      • London Naval Conference (1930)
      • Manchurian Incident (1931)
      • Sino-Japanese War II (1936)
      • Anti-Comintern Pact (1937)
      • Tripartite Pact (1940)
      • Pearl Harbour (1941)
    • Research these events for their context and significance.
    • Plot these events on the Rise & Fall of Japan chart to indicating the power/prestige factor that Japan gained /lost through these events.
    • Justify your ratings for each of these events.
  • Assessment:
    • Check on CA2 corrections, HSS Workbook exercises.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

SEA3.3.8.Reassertion of Colonialism

Throughline: The Emergence of Southeast Asia

Topic: Reassertion of Colonial Rule
Essential Question: How did Colonialist Reassert Control of SEA?

  • Preview:
    • Impact of Japanese Occupation
      • On colonials: diminished in stature
      • On nationalists: driven in resistance/reform
      • On locals: politicised in awareness/actions
  • Understanding goals:
      • How did colonial attitudes react to nationalist activism?
  • Performances:
    • Watch Dien Bien Phu & Riding the Tiger. Discuss:
      • How similar were French & British colonial attitudes & actions towards SEA after WWII? Why were the attitudes and actions similar/different?
        • Attitudes: Conservative vs. Liberal;
        • Explanation:
          • Experiences of WWII in Europe
          • Administration during Japanese Occupation
          • Disarmament after Pacific War
      • How similar was nationalist activism in Vietnam and Malaya? Where was their activism similar/different?
        • Activism: Spirited vs. Passive
        • Explanation:
          • Usefulness to colonial intelligence
          • Political intervention of Japanese
          • Concept of nationalism
  • Assessment:
    • Review of CA2

Saturday, August 11, 2007

HSS3.3.8.Managing Peace and Security

Throughline: Appreciating Singapore
Topic: Managing Peace and Security
Essential Question: How does diplomacy and deterrence help me manage our national security?
  • Preview:
    • Bonding Singapore:
      • Challenges: racial, religious, regional
      • Channels: national identity, minority interests, social integration
  • Understanding goals:
    • Why do conflicts occur among countries?
      • territories
      • resources
      • ideology
    • How does Singapore manage international relations?
      • Bilateral diplomacy
        • FTAs
        • Humanitarian
      • Regional diplomacy
        • ASEAN
        • AFTA
        • ARF
      • International diplomacy
        • UNCLOS
        • SC & GA
        • UNPK
  • Performance:
    • Read the ASEAN Day message.
      • What are the assumptions in the message?
      • What are some evidence to support your assumption?
      • What are some key concepts in your evidence?
      • What are the points of view regarding these concepts?
      • What is the purpose of the message?
      • What inferences can you draw from the purpose of the message?
      • What are the implications of these inferences?
      • How will you take the issue from here now that you understand the implications?
  • Assessment:
    • Review of CA2
    • Assignments to be completed on 14 Aug 07
      • Conflict in Multi-ethnic Societies: Workbook pp. 42, 45-47, 48-52, 56-57, 58-59.
      • Bonding Singapore: Workbook pp. 66-67, 76-77.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Parliament in Session Anyone?

Attend 'live' Parliament proceedings.
Observe how laws are made and listen to Ministers and MPs debate on the policies and details of the proposed Bills.
Find out how Parliament votes.
A briefing will be provided on the proceedings just observed.

Date: 27 Aug 07
Time: 1500-1700
Interested? Sign up under Comments.
Closing date for sign up: 17 Aug 07

Saturday, August 04, 2007

HSS3.3.7.Bonding Singapore

Topic: Bonding Singapore
Essential Question: What are the challenges of managing multi-ethnic societies?
  • Preview:
    • Race Conflicts:Sri Lanka
    • Religious Conflicts: Northern Ireland
  • Understanding goals:
    • What are challenges Singapore face in managing ethnicity
      • Perceptions of race
      • Perception of religion
      • Influence from region
    • How can Singapore manage ethnicity
      • Fostering national identity
        • Multiracialism
        • Common practises
        • Bilingualism
      • Safeguarding interests of minority groups
        • Minority representation
        • Self-help groups
      • Developing common space
        • grassroot programmes
        • educational opportunities
        • housing integration
        • National Service experiences
      • Focusing less on Race
        • remove race categories
        • celebrate cultures & cosmopolitanism
  • Performances:
    • Take part in the I Luv SG competition!
    • "Upload a picture together with a short write-up of 50 words describing what you love about Singapore. The best ten entries will win prizes of $100 each!* The closing date is 30 Sep 2007. You may submit as many entries as you wish."
    • click on image below and follow the instruction on how to upload your pictures.
  • Assessment:
    • Review of CA2 on Mon.
    • Bring workbook on Tue.

SEA3.3.7.Reassertion of Colonialism

Topic: Reassertion of Colonial Rule
Essential Question: How did Colonialist Reassert Control of SEA?
  • Preview:
    • Aspects of Japanese Occupation
      • Expropriation of economic resources
      • Extermination of political resistance
      • Education for ideological patriotism
    • Impact of Japanese Occupation
      • On colonials: diminished administrative authority
      • On nationalists: increased resistance activities
      • On locals: increased political awareness
  • Understanding goals:
    • End of WWII
      • Peace Settlements: Victory for Allies
      • Disarmament forces: Surrender of Japan
      • Beginning of the Cold War: US vs. USSR
  • Performances:
    • Research on the implications for SEA of the 3 factors listed above:
      • Colonialist
      • Nationalists
      • Locals