Where is Israel? "Depends on who you ask"

I asked my World Civ students to tell me where they think Israel is.

Here are all their answers, sorted alphabetically:

• Borders the Dead Sea. 
• Next to/on top of Palestine, North of Egypt.
• Depends on who you ask.
• Europe.
• In Africa on the top right corner by Egypt.
• In the Middle East by Iran and Palestine.
• In the Middle East somewhere
• In the Middle East surrounded by countries that hate them.
• In the Middle East, next to Pakistan.
• In the Northern Middleast
• In/part of Palestine
• Israel is a Middle East country.
• Israel is a Middle Eastern country.
• Israel is close to Jerusalem
• Israel is in Jerusalem.
• Israel is in Asia, where the desert is.
• Israel is in Rome
• Israel is in the Middle east, by China.
• Israel is in the Middle East.
• Israel is located in North America
• Israel is near Iraq and Iran.
• Israel is next to another country. Surrounded.
• It is in Persia in the Egyptian area.
• It is in the Middle East along the strip. It is the Holy Land.
• Middle East is where Israel is.
• Middle East.
• Next to Islam in the Middle East area.
• Northeast of Egypt, west of Syria
• Off the border of Gaza. Next to Gaza.
• Smack on top of Palistine.
• Somewhere between Europe and the Middle East. Home of Jesus.
• Somewhere by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, on top of Pakistan.
• Took Palestine land in the Middle East.
• Who knows?

Haiti is near Cuba OR they are near France

I asked my World Civ class a question I have never asked in a pretest before: Where is Haiti?

Here is *all* of their answers, sorted alphabetically:

An island off the southeast coast of Florida. 

Borders Jamaica in the Caribbean. 

Caribbean Island; it’s capital is Port a Prince. 

Next to Cuba. 

Haiti is a small island between Santo Domingo. 

Haiti is an island below Florida, off the coast of South America. 

Haiti is close to Guatamala 

Haiti is in South America. 

Haiti is located in South Africa 

Haiti is near Cuba OR they are near France because they speak Frenchish. 

Haiti is on an island which it shares with Dominican Republic. 

Haiti is on an island 

Haiti is on the east coast of South America. 

Haiti is right next to Jordan in the Middle East. 

Haiti is south of Florida, in the Virgin Islands 

I never hear about Haiti, but I guess it’s in Mexico. 

I think it’s on the border of Europe. 

In the Atlantic Ocean somewhere. 

In the Caribbean. 

Island near Africa 

It is an island in/near Caribbean. 

It is near Europe And Africa. 

It’s next to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. 

It’s one of the islands in the Caribbean. 

Middle of Nowhere. 

Next to Dominican Republic (Hispanola).  

 In the Caribbean. 

Next to Honduras. 

On an island that connects with Dominican Republic. 

On the island of Hispaniola, between Cuba and Puerto Rico. 

Same island as the Dominican Republic. San Salvador? 

Shares an island with the Dominican Republic. Caribbean. 

South of the US.

On an island. By Jamaica? 

The other half of Costa Rica or Jamaica 

Gwam Alfonso Haiti Jibudie: Name 5 Countries in Africa

 Pretest Question #22: Name 5 Countries in Africa.

 About 3/4 of my students correctly identified 4 countries in Africa.

Here is a sampling of the rest of their responses:

Africa-africa

Alfonso

Alqueons

Answise

Bing

Bosnia

Byabidi

Calculus

Chi

Chile

China

China

Ecudor

Flor

Gwam

Haiti

Islam

Italy

Jabooty

Jamaica

Jibudie

Kembabwe

Kidip

Kingston

Korea

Lands

Lark

Lemur

Libriya

Loco

Lu

Madagascarullo

Maraccas

Mexico

Nicaraguana

Nile

Niquereqgwa

North Africa

North Africa

North Africa

Pakistan

Paraguay

Peru

Pride Rock

Quebec

Rio

Rivers

Rota

Sabria

 Sears

 Sema

Siria

South America

South Arabia

Sowali

Su

Swahili

Tahiti

Tako

Tally

Texas

The one with the weird K word.

Thing

Thomasthetrainville

Toton

Tuscan

 Tutu

Yourmom

Zantwot

Zito

Zombobway

Africa, Costarica, Himalayas, South Reone: Name 5 Countries in Asia

Pretest Question 21: Name 5 Countries in Asia.

About 2/3 of the students could correctly identify 3 countries in Asia.

Here is a selection of the rest of their answers:

Africa (x11)

Alaska

Argentina

Asaiay

Australia

Austria

Besing

Bootleg

Brazil

Bulgararia

California (x3)

Canada (x5)

 Chilie

Costarica

Croatia

Cuba

Dubi

Europe (x4)

Filine

 Finay

Florida

France

Gangnam

Germany

Greenland

 Gwam

Himalayas

Hiroshima

Iran

Iraq

Italy

Jamaica

Mexico

Mexico

Mongolia

North America

North Rera

Peru

Portorico

 Sacra

 Sati

Sira

South America

South Reone

Spain (X2)

Tally

Thibet

Tokyo

Venezuela

Beyonce Shania Octomom Kardashian

 

Question #19: Who is this? What do you know about her? 

I was surprised at how many students answered this correctly. 

Here are the rest of the responses.

 

Ms Puffyhair

Kelly Clarkson

Jessica Simpson

Dianna Ross

Chloe Kardashian

Octomom

Jessica White

Demi Lovato

Pretty Lady

Natalie

Actor Lady

Kasey Anthony

Gina Mallarky

Rebecca Black

One of the Kardashians

She’s a Kardashian

Mary Ann France

Kardashian? Has a sex tape?

Karen

She did something really great for America

Leah Remini

Mariah Carey

Brittany

Beyonce (Singer)

Jennifer Star

Jane Smith

Mellissa; had an affair with JFK

Elizabeth Short

? She killed someone?

Avril Lavine; she was fat shamed

Kassandra Banks

Paulie Taylor

Sabine Whosne

Famous Actress

Optimus Prime

Megan Fox

Shania Twayne

Mary

Kelly Smith

Anne Hathaway

Serena Fox

Shania Twain

Jodee Messina

She’s in a soap opera!

Marie Ray

The main girl from scream

Rachel Ray, Food Network Star

Jessica White

Victoria

Julia Jackson

Looks like Kim Kardashian

Cheryl Crow

Lisa

Secret Kardashian

My wife, jk, you said these were from the 90s so it can’t be her.

Demi Lovato

Robin from how I met your mother

She robbed someone

Female model who made a big mark in the USA

Rachel, CNN Anchorwoman

Models for magazines

Claire, from women’s rights movement

Lisa; she jumped out a building

Rebecca Black; got pregnant

Julia; a famous feminist

No clue. After 1880s?

Pretest Question #4: What country did the US win our independence from? When?   

62/150 students did not know the answer to this question.

 I have many theories on why they are lost, but that's for another time.

Here you go:

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Africa; I have no idea

Asia

Bahamas, after a war

Britain, 1400s

Britain, 1500s

Britain, 1500s

Britain, 1530

Britain, 1600s

Britain, 1668

Britain, 1868

Britain, 1976

Britain, 1970s

Britain, before George Washington’s time

Britain, during WW2

Britain, in the 1900s

Brittain, 1862

Brittin, before 1900

China, 1900s

Colombia, July 4

Cuba 1854

Cuba, 1800ish

England, 1600s

England, 1650s

England, 1840something

England, 1856

England, 1875

England, 1890

England, 1400

England, 1400s

England, 1700

England, 1800? Time is an illusion, not linear

England, 1800s

England, 1840s

England, 1850s

England, during the Hamilton era

Europe, before the wars

Europe

Europe during the 1800s and 1900s

Europe, 1762?

France

France, 1700s

France, 1800s

France, before I was born

France, July 4, 1752

France, mid 1700s

German, before the 1850s

Germany, 1824

Germany, 1800

Germany, during the 1900s

Great Britain in the 1900s

Great Britain, 1800s

Great Britain, after 1400

Mexico, after the Civil War

New England, 1776

No clue. After 1880s?

North Korea

Russia, 1794

Spain, 1840

Spain, after 1700s

Spaniards/Spain

USA

USA, 1901