Lives of the Presidents

The Independent did a series of booklets a couple of months ago about the lives of the Presidents.

I have created a booklet with all of the Presidents important to the course in. It would be a great way to revise, by doing a couple of Presidents per week. The booklet also contains 'funny facts' about each person that will help them to stick in your mind. This is an excellent revision aid for A*/A/B candidates.

The articles are still on the Independent website to read as well

The Lives of the Presidents

As usual copies of the booklet will be availible from me in room 11 and I will give one to each of the other Y11 teachers to distribute as they see fit.

'Operation Human Shield'

As promised here is the clip from the South Park film about 'Operation Human Shield'. This is a clever (and risky) joke about the 'Jim Crow Army' and should help you remember that during WWII the US Army was segregated. Just don't write in your exam about things from the clip, it is satire, taking a grain of truth and building it up.

More information on the 'Jim Crow laws' can be found on this link.

Ali

For those of you missed the film 'Ali' last night on Channel 4 I recorded it and have popped it on DVD. I will have copies available after school tomorrow.

It is essential viewing for anyone thinking of doing the Black Peoples question on the big America paper. It also stars Will Smith (who you can mention in the same question but only for his early TV/Rap work to 1990).

This is from Wikipedia...

'Ali is a 2001 American biographical film directed by Michael Mann. The film tells the story of boxing icon Muhammad Ali (Will Smith) from 1964 to 1974 featuring his capture of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, banishment from boxing, his return to fight Joe Frazier in 1971, and, lastly, his reclaiming the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight of 1974. The movie also discusses the great social and political upheaval in the United States following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.'

See me before the revision session or later in the week for a copy to borrow. Watching this actually counts as revision!

The Dream Team?

They certainly think so... but it's all about the revision now!

BBC GCSE History Bitesize

USA Revision Podcats (mp3)

I have just made available two superb USA revision podcasts. They are taken from a BBC Radio 4 series and cover our course perfectly. They will help refresh you on the topics that we have already covered.

These links will take you to the Priory VLE. You will need to log in (normal school username/passwords) and go to the 'History' page.

USA 1915-1929 (mp3)

USA 1929-1945 (mp3)

I recommend that you listen to the second one at least once before the mini mock exam in a couple of weeks. You can try listening to them in 15 minute chunks if the full hour seems too long.

Apparently the last series is 'coming soon' (hopefully before your exams!) and I will put them up here when they are released.

Get downloading and swap Boyzone for History on your iPod!

Martin Luther King/Malcolm X - Debate

Your homework this week is to discuss and compare below the black civil rights leaders, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

- What were their different ideas?
- Which one did more for black civil rights? Why?
- Which leader is the most significant?
- Which one would you have supported? Why?

Let the debate commence!

Half Term Coursework Workshop

I will be in room 11 from about 9:30am until 2pm on Tuesday 17th Feb for a Y11 coursework workshop. This is to help anyone that needs to finish their Swinging Sixties or Jack the Ripper final drafts.

Over the Easter holidays I will be in again but running an exam skills workshop, details to follow later.

I have also placed the sources and help sheets for the Swinging Sixties coursework online. I can't put the Ripper stuff up as we only have paper copies.

Swinging 60s? - 'Swinging' Sources

Swinging 60s? - 'Fantasy' Sources

Swinging 60s? - Coursework notes

Swinging 60s? - Coursework structure