On May 11, 2012, our Freshman World Studies students combined with our English Language Learners to host a panel discussion about some of the sensitive issues related to Anglo-Latino relations in our community. This work grew out of our reading, “House on Mango Street.” Panelists related their concerns about segregation and distrust and how we can act to break down these walls. Students are following the panelists’ advice with lunchtime Anglo-Latino meetings to build formal and informal structures to raise awareness and reduce distress caused by segregation and distrust.
World Studies Connects with Spain and Russia
18 FebOur World Studies students are using skype, email and Facebook to engage in a cultural exchange with high school students in one school in northern Spain and two schools in Russia. Our Russia exchange grew out of the Russian students’ and our students’ mutual interest in International Peace Day. See the students of the British Club of Magnitogorsk, Russia, upping the ante for us by hosting an International Peace Day Conference in Magnitogorsk. On February 22, we skyped with them about “peace” and “what youth can do to promote peace.” They left us feeling hopeful that the world can become more peaceful through the use of this technology. The second Russian school we are excited to be exchanging ideas with is “Gymnasium Number 4,” in Velikiy Novgorod, Russia. Watch the Gymnasium No. 4 students speaking English here. More details forthcoming….
World Studies Connects with Denmark
27 Jan
Can You Read Danish?
Danish students at Han Herreders Ungdomsskole school (a private boarding school) are communicating with Shaka House World Studies Honor students. Danish teachers-administrators (Christina Pedersen and Flemming Pedersen) crossed the Atlantic to visit our World Studies classes in December. Now we have connected the students so they can learn from each other in preparation for Danish students’ visit here next year. We look forward to sharing thoughts about customs and ideals, as we look outside our respective country’s boundaries.
Students will act by sharing pictures and comments on this post, as well as sharing private correspondence via email, Facebook and other weblinks. Stay tuned.
Check out Han Herreders Ungdomsskole webpage here.
Invisible Children Come to Shaka House
4 NovShaka House and the Freshman Academy hosted an all-day human rights event: Invisible Children. Oganda Kuzito, a refugee from the 20-year Ugandan Civil War taught us about the war, how cellphones are helping to end it, and actions our students can take to bring peace to remote villages in Central African Republic, South Sudan and D.R. Congo. Click here to learn more.
Students Teach Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism
31 OctWorld Studies students communicated to help each other learn about some key religions, or ways of life, in China. Most acted in groups of 3-4 to develop key symbols and words to teach about the founder, key ideas and current impact of one of the following: Buddhism, Confucianism or Daoism. Click here to see the rough-cut one minute youtube.
Shaka Gets “Mathy”
21 OctSometimes we need to change the way we measure things. For example, sometimes we measure things in inches, but need to convert to feet; or, grams but we need to convert to pounds. Ms. Stover’s math wizards teach us how. Click on the a group below to learn (get ready for fancy name…) “Unit Conversion Using Dimensional Analysis.”
We invite your comments!
Shaka Connects with United Nations and Cambodia – FreeRice
21 SepGo to FreeRice.com and you, too, can learn geography, put the United Nations’ World Food Program to task, and help feed people who really need some help. We did all this without leaving “our house.” Shaka!
International Peace Day
18 SepShaka students celebrate International Peace Day, September 21, by skyping with classes in Uruguay and Pakistan. Students cross cultures by sharing their definitions of “peace,” their culture’s best quotes regarding “peace,” and swap stories about actions they are taking to build peace. Click here to see how it started.
Here’s a reflection Erika wrote after skyping with the class in Uruguay:
“Peace starts with we. We think unerringly the same, although we live so far away. We are not the only ones striving for peace. We are not the only ones taking action. We are not alone. “
See Jeremy Gilley, the founder of Peace One Day, Facebook Page where he shares Shaka House’s story of skyping with students in Pakistan.
South Medford High School - Shaka House of Freshman Academy 
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