February 27-March 2

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/.

Notice to Parents: Because of the current labour dispute, only grade 12 marks are supposed to be provided on report cards. Written comments are proscribed. This does not mean that we are not reporting marks to students and parents regularly.

If you want an update regarding marks or other information you need only e-mail me at the address above. I am happy to give a full account that goes well beyond what a report card provides.

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 Monday, January 30 posting.

Social Studies 8

We finished the Geography unit and have only just started the Rome Unit. Your next unit test is still a couple of weeks away. Expect it around ----.

• Monday, February 27 - Take up #1-6, p. 6. Video - Roman City and questions.
• Tuesday, February 28 - Take up the video questions on David Macauley's Roman City. Introduction to Classical Architecture -- how the Romans built and how this knowledge is the foundation of modern building today. PowerPoint on Roman Architecture -- from Mr. Benoy's Comparative Civilizations 12 course. If we have time, we will watch What the Ancients Knew; The Romans. Read the handout and do questions for homework. Also complete the Architecture Hunt assignment -- value: 10 marks and due next Monday. Are you interested in learning more about Roman engineering? Check out the BBC's animation on the Roman Colosseum.
• Wednesday, February 29 - Take up handout questions. Introduction to Ancient Religions: Paganism, Judaism, Mystery Cults and Christianity. Watch Ancient Roman Religion. (On your own, watch this tongue-in-cheek account of Roman Religion - History With a Twist of Lime; The Early Roman Religion. You might not get all the jokes, or you might find them cheesy, but the information about Roman religion is good and at 7:00 minutes, it is an easy review.) We will also watch two more short clips that examine Pagan influences on early Christianity: Mithras - Pagan Origins of Christianity and Osiris - Pagan Origins of Christianity. Be sure to list things that seem to be common to these pagan religions and Christianity. Read pp. 6-10. Do #1-6, p. 10 for homework. Don't forget to complete the Architecture Hunt assignment.
• Thursday, March 1 - 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.
• Friday, March 2 - Hand in the Conversion to Christianity assignment. Introduction to Legions -- importance, organization (including a short video) and vulnerabilities. Video Legions of Rome (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) and questions. Read pp. 10-12. Do #1-6, p. 12. You might enjoy playing a small game from the BBC - Romans vs. Britons.

Social Studies 11

Your unit test on the Legislative/Executive/Judicial Branches of our Canadian Federal Government will be this Friday -- to allow extra time for anyone who needs it. The mark breakdown should be roughly as follows: 35 multiple choice questions (1 mark each), 2 from 4 long answer questions (6 marks each), and one essay question on what should be done with the Canadian Senate (12 marks - 2 x 6). The total is, therefore, most likely to be out of 59 marks. Create and use flashcards now to master terms and names. This not only helps you with subject content, but it ensures that you know what test questions are asking. At least 25 flash flash cards are needed to earn the 5 bonus marks.

• Monday, February 27 - Take up #1-3, p. 280, & 1 & 4, p. 288. Complete the second video on our Court system. While watching the video, identify the positions of court officials and note the roles that they play. Introduce concept of Human rights – examine text p. 294. Students to list what they would expect fundamental rights to be in Canada - Think-Pair-Share. Use Government text p. 60 to list Schweitzer’s list of fundamental rights. Government text pp. 152-158. Read pp. 292-312. Do #1, p. 297, #2-3 sidebar p. 303, #1 & 3, p. 304, #3, p. 308 & #2, p. 312. Remember to bring 25+ flashcards to the test Friday to earn 5 bonus marks.
• Tuesday, February 28 - We do not have a Social Studies class today. Report to class for attendance and then go to the library for Programming - grade 11 into grade 12. Any grade 12 who will be graduating will have a free block -- to be spent in room D208, so bring along work or reading material.
• Wednesday, February 29 - Take up homework. Examine the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - see PowerPoint; The Constitution. Summarize each of the key sections in your notes. Effect of passing the Charter on Canadian law -- all laws in Canada must conform unless passed using the notwithstanding clause or if they can withstand a challenge based on their being within reasonable limits. Read pp. 240-246. Do #1-3, p. 246, & sidebar #1, p. 244. Study for the test Friday.
• Thursday, March 1 - 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 for Monday. Note: Municipal Government will be tested using a take home test next Wednesday.
• Friday, March 2 - Unit Test on the Legislative/Executive/Judicial Branches. Complete the homework from Thursday.