Is a yam the same as a sweet potato?

No, they are very different!  Yams originated in ancient Africa and are considered one of the oldest cultivated "root" foods in the world today.  Yams are rich in nutrients (low glycemic index) and an ideal alternative to white potatoes (high glycemic index).  Get more information below:

What are yams?

Yams are a vegetable native to Africa. Grown in tropical regions around the world, Yams are a root crop. Though many think they closely resemble sweet potatoes, yams are not related to the sweet potato at all.

CLASSIFICATION
Yams belong to the family Dioscoreacea, and are tubers most often grown on a tropical vine. The word "yam" is African for the phrase, "to eat."

There are 150 different varieties of yams, including the air-potato, the only true yam cultivated in the United States.

GROWTH
Yam plants bear thick tubers, climbing stems, leaves, and flowers. The greater majority of yam plants are grown in warm regions of the tropics. In Africa and New Guinea, the yam is the primary agricultural commodity. In the United States, sweet potatoes outnumber yam plants and consumption.

APPEARANCE
Yams vary in size, shape and flavor by species. The flesh of the yam can be white, yellow, pink or purple. Some yams are sweet, some are tasteless, and others are bitter. Some varieties of yams grow up to 7 feet in length, and can weigh up to 150 pounds.

VERSATILE VEGETABLE
Yams are a versatile vegetable, which is easy to prepare and cook. All varieties of yams can be boiled, broiled, fried, roasted or baked.

BUYING YAMS
Yams are sold in the United States in chunks, sealed with a wrapping usually made of plastic. Because most varieties of yams are large in size, it is rare to find whole yams in any produce section in North America. Look for yams which are free of blemishes and bruises, and have tight, unwrinkled skins. The flesh of the yam should feel firm.

STORING YAMS
Yams should be stored in a cool, dark, dry area. They can be safely kept for up to two weeks. Uncooked yams should never be refrigerated. Cooked yams can be refrigerated for 3 days.

WARNING
Unlike the sweet potato, yams cannot be eaten raw. Uncooked yams are toxic.

Information from HungryMonster.com

African Cultures and Tribal Groups

Africa has a myriad of cultures and tribes, each with their own languages and traditions.  Check out The Africa Guide site below and learn some of the names, as well as what is unique about each one.  This is a growing list and not complete as of today.

http://africaguide.com/culture/tribes/index.htm

Below is an image from a village in Ghana:

Ancient World History Games

As we cruise through the school year, play games and learn at the same time!  Games available include those for Egypt, Rome, Middle Ages and more.

http://www.besthistorysites.net/Multimedia.shtml#ancient

African Country Practice--Interactive Quiz!

As we learn the countries of Africa, this site offers a fun way to test your growing knowledge.  Take the challenge and see what happens!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/African_Geography.htm

Five Pillars of Islam--Arkan Ad-Din

The Five Pillars (arkan ad-din) are the basis for which Muslims are to live their lives, according to the Qur'an.  Review them here (you might get new ideas for your memory clues):

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/5PILLARS.HTM

Apostle Paul

In class today, we focused on Saul (Jewish name)/Paul (Roman name) and his work as a great missionary in the Roman Empire following Jesus' death.  Not only did Paul plant churches and write many Epistles (letters) to other leaders around the Empire, but he conducted four major mission trips during his adult life.  Read more about him here:

http://history-world.org/paul.htm

Jerusalem is holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

As we start our week studying the history of Christianity, you are going to connect many pieces of information from Judaism's history to the birth of Christianity.  For example, Judaism believes in a Messiah but that He has not yet come.  Christianity believes the Messiah is Jesus, and some Jews who converted to Christianity during Roman rule believed Jesus was both the Jewish and Christian Messiah.

Check out this more modern image (Bethlehem Well, 1920-33), which looks like a traditional manger scene.

http://www.lifeintheholyland.com/

Western Wall of The Temple = Wailing Wall

Do you remember when we discussed King Solomon?  He is best known for ordering the construction of The Temple in Jerusalem.  From years of attacks, only the Western Wall of the original structure remains today.  The location of greatest spiritual significance for Jews, it is also known as the Wailing Wall.  Jews visit the Wailing Wall to give their prayers in the hope they will be answered by God.  Visiting it three times daily (morning, noon and night) is common still today.  Check it out here:

http://www.lifeintheholyland.com/wailing_wall_1960s.htm

Middle East Map Practice

Go to this website and practice your Middle East map.  You can explore geography all over the world through this site!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Middle-east_Geography.htm

The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill a Child King--A Nonfiction Thriller

Author James Patterson has a hit with this new thriller!  It debuted at the end of September and has gotten many rave reviews.  Several of the reviews specifically address the value of this book for classroom reading and lessons.  If you are a Patterson fan, you cannot miss this one.  Mine arrives from Amazon this week!  Read it and let me know what you think.

NOTE:  There is some language that all parents may not like their child to read.  Parents, please review it first.

http://www.amazon.com/Murder-King-Tut-Nonfiction-Thriller/dp/0316034045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256744975&sr=8-1

Pete's PowerPoint Website

This website is a fantastic review tool for students.  Look under the topic "Ancient History."  There are PowerPoints for every unit we go through this year!  Use it to review for quizzes and tests, get ideas for imagery and as a resource for projects.

http://www.pppst.com/

China 2009

This past June, I was privileged to travel to China with our school district.  Our Team consisted of six high school students and five staff members, including Dr. Porter!  Our journey in China began in Beijing, where we took in the entire city in about two days.  Highlights included the Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City and exclusive views of private homes followed by rides on rickshaws.  Next, we traveled to Xi'an, where we visited with our sister school.  We visited the archaeological site of the Tomb of Qin Shi'huangdi, the People's Provincial Museum (amazing!) and beautiful city parks.  From Xi'an, we took a long train ride to Chongching, the largest province in China (over 34 million people!).  Traveling through the countryside by train was a highlight for me, as I got to see farmers and their families working on terraced land and using anything but modern equipment.  I took amazing pictures!  Chongching might be compared to our San Francisco, in terms of the terrain.  HILLS, HILLS and more HILLS--a runner's dream!  I saw aspects of life in this large city that are difficult to describe--poverty, porters, beautiful views, the highest point in the area and babies being carried in baskets on their mothers' backs.  The next leg of our trip included a 3-day trip on the Yangtze River with our Team.  We got to see caves on the cliffs and the waterline goals of the current Three Dams Project, which is displacing over 2M people from their current homes.  The project will allow for better, faster water travel for boats of all sizes.  Our two-week trip ended in Shanghai, which was the most Westernized location of our trip.  We passed by dozens of American fast food restaurants daily and saw a mix of many cultures.  Shanghai offers a beautiful nightlife and modern city transportation.  We got a treat when we ate at Pizza Hut upon arrival--American food was wonderful for all of us!  Our plane ride home was long but short.  We were exhausted but filled with excitement to see our families and sleep in our own beds.  I will share pictures from my trip this fall, in an after school school session for any student to attend.

Welcome to Mrs. K's blogspot for Eastern Hemisphere! Ready yourself for a year filled with ancient civilizations, as we explore Mesopotamia, Egypt, the origins of Western Religions, Africa, India, China, Japan, Greece, Rome and the Middle Ages. That sounds like a lot, doesn't it? By the end of the year, you will know these ancient histories like your own.