On Tuesday I gave you a quick overview of the situation in the Middle East. So I want you to get our your notes and review the four things we looked at. We looked at the Middle East as the birthplace of human civilization; some of the oldest civilizations and religions began there. Second, we looked at religion today in the Middle East, and how it affects people's lives there. Third, we looked at natural resources, what the Middle East has and what it doesn't have. Forth, we looked at the tensions, particularly around the formation of Israel, what happened when it was formed and why it was formed.
Now I need you to open up your notes and review them. This is one of the reasons why I tell you that you need to get your notebook organized. If you just put a piece of paper into your pocket, I bet you won't have it today. But you're going to have a brief quiz today. So if you don't have your notes, you'd better find someone who does.
Student: I don't have my notes.
Abbott: Then find someone who does and study together.
Class falls silent as student study their notes. After five minutes, Abbott passes out the quiz.
Abbott: Let me just go over this so that you understand. The first question is: What natural resource is in major supply in the Middle East, meaning that there's a lot of it. The second one is: What is in short supply, meaning there's not a lot of it. And those are both very important. The next question is about the three great religions of the West that all started in this region. You can answer this according to the place that they began, or according to the order that they began. The last question is about Israel. Describe why it began, and what problem was created when it was founded. They did it to solve a problem, but then they created another problem. You get these questions right and you'll have your finger on some of the major issues plaguing the Middle East today.
Pick up your pen! Even if you think you don't know the answer, they've done scientific studies that say you think better when you have a pen or pencil in your hand. There's some kind of connection there between your fingers and your brain.
Student: Do I really have to do this now? I didn't get a chance to study. Can't I come in afterschool?
Abbott: I expect you to do it now.
Students spend ten minutes answering the four questions on the quiz.
Abbott: Okay, that should be enough time. Now let's go over the answers. What's the resource that's in great supply?
Student: That's easy, oil. It's the basis for so much of our civilization now.
Abbott: And what's in short supply?
Student: Water.
Abbott: Right, water. That's going to be an even bigger problem in the near future in the Middle East. Right now, for example, the water that goes to Jordan all comes from Israel. If Israel says that they're going to build a dam, then Jordan might not have any water. It's a big issue.
Student: I think the day will come when water is a big issue everywhere in the world!
Abbott: Which religion was first and began between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?
Student: Judaism?
Abbott: Correct. That's where Abraham lived, and Jews, Christians, and Muslims will all say that Abraham is their founder. Which is the one that began in the area that's now Israel?
Student: Isn't it Christianity?
Abbott: Right. Jesus lived in what is now Palestine, which is in Israel. And the one that started in present-day Saudi Arabia?
Student: Islam, I think.
Abbott: Yes. That's where Mohammad lived. What's interesting is that Muslims have gotten along quite well with Jews and Christians over history, but it's really the Christians that haven't gotten along with the others so well.
Student: So why has it gotten so complicated, why is it such a mess?
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Abbott: Look at it this way. Suppose Janice buys a new pair of white sneakers. She gets the crazy idea of walking in her sneakers. What happens?
Students: They get dirty.
Abbott: Right, they got dirty! That's what happens in life. You do something for a good reason, in this case Janice walked in her sneakers, but they've gotten a little dirty. Sometimes when we do something, the effect is not always what we intended. So what was the reason that the State of Israel was founded?
Student: So the Jews could have a place to go, a homeland, after the Holocaust.
Abbott: Right. But what was one of the side effects?
Student: The Palestinians had to be moved out who were already living there.
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Abbott's "license test" for U.S. History
As part of his U.S. History class, Abbott requires his students to pass a "license test" that asks them to sort people, events, ideas, and movements along a timeline. Students can take it when they want and as often as they want, but they must pass it. Click here to see the test.
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Abbott: So who's right? The Muslims or the Jews? It's not fair to either of them. Maybe everybody's right and everybody's wrong?
Student: Or nobody is right and nobody's wrong?
Abbott: Now we're going to move from the Middle East to another part of the world, still thinking about the background of the United States. This is a part of the world that many of you are very familiar with. In fact, some of you have been there recently. What part of the world am I talking about?
Student: Central America
Student: The Caribbean.
Abbott: You got it. I want you to find all these things on the map. Now someone show me where Columbia is. What country is directly east of Columbia?
Student: Venezuela.
Abbott: Right. Now whom did Venezuela lose to the other night in the World Baseball Classic?
Students: Dominican Republic!
Abbott: Now I can tell that you're all really awake! Find DR on the map for me. Everyone show it to me. Now your quiz on Monday will be on this map. Everyone hear me? On this map!
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Learning in Action:
On Tuesday I gave you a quick overview of the situation in the Middle East. So I want you to get our your notes and review the four things we looked at. We looked at the Middle East as the birthplace of human civilization; some of the oldest civilizations and religions began there. Second, we looked at religion today in the Middle East, and how it affects people's lives there. Third, we looked at natural resources, what the Middle East has and what it doesn't have. Forth, we looked at the tensions, particularly around the formation of Israel, what happened when it was formed and why it was formed.