October 10-14

Contact me by e-mail at:http://kbenoy@nvsd44.bc.ca/

Things that are static -- not requiring regular change -- can be found at my website:http://sites.google.com/site/kbenoy/.
Expect a unit test around Friday of next week (September 30), worth around 75 marks. It will be based on map reading and the use of Canadian Oxford World Atlas (7th edition). We will also have a number of quizzes worth from 5-30 marks throughout the unit. You will not always be warned ahead of time about quizzes -- so it is important to keep up.This blogsite will have all of the changing material -- lesson plans and links to assignments. I will try to ensure that all assignments are posted here.If you see something underlined, it means that you can click on the item to have it appear. I will do this for all pdf documents, PowerPoints, videos, and even some music.

Course outlines are posted in the material for the first class this semester - go to the Wednesday, September 7 posting.

Social Studies 8

Expect the next unit test in about two weeks. However, be sure to be making and using your flash cards every day to master vocabulary and names. Your test on Rome will include the following: 40 multiple choice questions (1 mark each), 5 definition items (2 marks each) and 3 long answer questions (6 marks each). The total is, therefore, out of 68 marks. You can earn up to 5 bonus marks for submitting at least 25 correctly made flash cards (term or name only on the front and definition or why the person is important on the back) at the time of the exam. You may not hand these in late to earn marks; they must be submitted when you write the test.

Be sure to visit the BBC's Roman Empire pages. There is plenty of fascinating material to interest anyone interested in this ancient empire.

• Monday, October 10 - Eat Turkey (or Tofu if you are so inclined) and relax. Enjoy the Thanksgiving break -- unless you are one of those who have not handed in all of their work -- you should catch up!
• Tuesday, October 11 - Hand in the Architecture Hunt assignment. Take up #1-6, p. 10. Watch The Western Tradition; Early Christianity (you may need to register to use this resource -- but this is American public television and they do not sell your contact information, so it is safe for you to do so) and do the questions. Assignment: Conversion to Christianity -- Imagine that you are a young Greek person living in the city of Rome. Write a letter to your parents in Athens explaining why you have decided to give up worshiping the old Greek Gods and become a Christian. You will have to find out something about both Ancient Greek religion and early Christianity to do this. The assignment will be marked out of 10 and will be marked on both content and composition. It is due next class. Note: When we deal with religion in this course it is not with the intention of supporting one religious view over another. What we want to do is to understand basic beliefs of each religion and know something about the impact that any particular religion has had on the world. We do this using an historical approach.
• Wednesday, October 12 - Hand in the Conversion to Christianity assignment. Video Legions of Rome (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) andquestions. Read pp. 10-12. Do #1-6, p. 12. You might enjoy playing a small game from the BBC - Romans vs. Britons.
• Thursday, October 13 - Take up #1-6, p. 12. Look at the sidebar on p. 11. Video: Constantine and questions. Read pp. 12-16. Do #1-6, p. 16. Bring coloured pencils to next class for map work.
• Friday, October 14 - Take up #1-6, p. 16. Complete watching Constantine and complete the questions. Hosford Atlas, pp. 3 & 4. Screencast on the Decline of Rome. Also look at this video of the changing map of Europe during this time. Map Assignment: The "Barbarian Invasions." 10 marks. Complete for next class.

Social Studies 11

We just completed a big unit test and we will now finish our last Government unit - a short one on Provincial and Municipal government. You will receive a take-home test on Friday -- to be returned next Monday. We will, however, start the History unit on Friday, before you receive the test. Flash card marks will not be added to this test, though it is a very good idea to continue making and using flash cards to use in reviewing before the provincial final exam.

There is a major research assignment starting now, the Family History - Immigration Assignment (With additional options for International and First Nations students.) The due date for this work is not until right after the Christmas holidays, to allow plenty of time for research and discussion with family members.)

• Monday, October 10 - Eat turkey (or Tofu if you are so inclined) and relax -- unless you have incomplete work to submit!
• Tuesday, October 11 - Take up homework. Comparison of BC Provincial and Federal systems of Government. Video BC's Government House. Watch this video on the work of an MLA -- Having Your Say Through Your MLA. While doing so, do the following: 1) note the tasks that an MLA is expected to do, and 2) List similarities and differences between the setup of the Provincial Legislature and the Federal Parliament. Download and read Welcome to the House to fill in any gaps and to better understand the workings of provincial government. You might also like to look at other brochures and documents from this website. Government (red) texts. Read pp. 170-178. Do #1-3, p. 178. Note: Municipal Government will be tested using a take home test on Friday.
• Wednesday, October 12 - Take up homework, #1-3, p. 178. Municipal government introduced. Video & questions on Provincial and Municipal Government. Read (red book) pp. 186-196. Do #1-6, p 196. Read (blue book) pp. 245-246. Do #2-4, p. 246.
• Thursday, October 13 - Take up #1-6, p 196 (red book) and #2-4, p. 246 (blue book). Take up homework. Discuss Aboriginal self-government. Mayor Mussatto's PowerPoint on Municipal affairs. Write a paragraph to a page explaining why we should study History. 10 marks. Due next class.
• Friday, October 14 - Introduction to History. Family History and Immigration Assignment or alternative (see above) assigned and explained. Take home test assigned. Read pp. 4-10. Do #1-3, p. 9 and the questions in figure 1-2, p. 6 and 1-5, p. 8.

History 12

Topic #3 Plan

Topic #3 Questions

Essay #2

• Monday, October 10 - Eat turkey (or Tofu) and enjoy the break -- or, better still, work on essay #2 and your Topic #3 questions.
• Tuesday, October 11 - Russia Before the Revolutions and The Russian Revolutions. (Base notes). Be sure to look at the excellent resources at The History Guide's Russian Revolution Resources.Spartacus Schoolnet's Russian Revolutionaries page has links to great material. Scott Masters has a decent PowerPoint on the revolution. If you are interested in finding out more about Lenin, try Lenin; Revolutionary (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4).
• Wednesday, October 12 - The Russian Revolutions (Base Notes). Be sure to look at the excellent resources at The History Guide's Russian Revolution Resources. Spartacus Schoolnet's Russian Revolutionaries page has links to great material. Scott Masters has a decent PowerPoint on the Revolution. Watch The Russian Revolution (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.) You might also have a look at World War I; The Russian Revolution (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4) - this deals with the importance of the war in leading to the momentous events of 1917.
• Thursday, October 13 - The USSR From Lenin to Stalin (Base Notes). You should consider watching the following biographical treatment, Stalin (Part 1, Part 2).
• Friday, October 14 - Complete From Lenin to Stalin (Base Notes) and begin The Stalin Revolution; Collectivization and Industrialization (Base Notes). If you have an hour and a half to spare, watch Stalin; Man of Steel.