February 25 to 29

For those of you new to my blogsite, it is intended to work alongside my website at:
http://kbenoy.googlepages.com/

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

Those of you in block 4 have the honour of working with my student teacher, from UBC, Miss Carlson. She too will be blogging at: http://ejcarlson.blogspot.com/ .

Things that are static -- not requiring regular change -- will be posted on the website. This blogsite will have the changing material -- lesson plans and links to particular assignments. I will try to ensure that all assignments are made available on the Internet in this way. If something is underlined on the blog, it means that you can click on it to see a copy of the particular item -- this could be a pdf document, powerpoint, music or a video.

Use this blog to see what is coming up each week. I will usually post it on Saturdays for the following week. If you are away, you can check up on what you are missing. There really is no reason for you not to know what is happening. If you do not have an Internet connection, you certainly know someone who does.

If you can't read the PowerPoint material on your computer, download PowerPoint Viewer from Microsoft. It is free.

Sutherland has a license to access Discovery Channel's United Streaming video collection. Students may download or stream videos from the collection by going to http://www.unitedstreaming.com/ . Use the passcode posted in the classroom to register. If you have lost it, see me, or e-mail me, for this information. Students are licensed to include this content within their own creations.Social Studies 11.

Social Studies 11 (Regular)

Block 4: See Ms. Carlson's blog.

Block 3:

Expect a test in about a week (probably on Monday, March 3) on the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of government. The breakdown of marks will be roughly as follows: 35 multiple choice questions. 2 from a choice of 5 long answer questions (6 marks each) and one essay on what should be done with the Senate (12 marks - 2 x 6). The test will therefore be out of around 59 marks. 25 flash cards are the minimum needed to earn 5 bonus marks.

• Monday, February 25 - Take up homework - Essay outline on reasons for keeping or abolishing the monarchy. Discuss the role of the PM., Cabinet & the bureaucracy. Watch Yes, Minister episode. Read pp. 234-240. Do #1-4, p. 240. Assignment: Value 5 marks, Identify by name each member of the federal (national) cabinet and their department. This is an assignment, not a homework check, so accuracy is part of the mark.
• Tuesday, February 26 - Hand in cabinet assignments, take up #1-4, p. 240. Lobbying & Pressure Groups. Look at the list of institutionalized groups on p. 259 (Click here for an online list of federal lobby groups - interest groups and social movements). Explain what lobbying is and look at the activities of several lobby groups (not used in group exercise). Divide into groups (with printed - or online --background information) Each group is to come up with a strategy for influencing our present federal government. Report back to class. Poster Assignment - on a regular size sheet of paper -- 8 1/" by 11" is fine. The poster is due on Thursday. Read pp. 258-267. Do #1-2, p. 264. Do #1-3, p. 267.
• Wednesday, February 27 - Take up homework. Complete group presentations. We inserted a look at grade 12 options in Social Studies, which delayed our originally planned material today. The introductory material for the Judiciary is therefore moved to Thursday. Read pp. 270-275. Do #1-3, p. 275.
• Thursday, February 28 - Hand in poster assignments. Take up homework. Take up #1-3, p. 275. Overview of the Judiciary. Video’s on the court system. Comparison of Adversarial vs. Inquisitorial court systems. If time, begin PowerPoint on the Judiciary -- a segment of the Government of Canada PowerPoint. Read pp. 277-288. Do #1-3, p. 280, & 1 & 4, p. 288.
• Friday, February 29 - Note: today's class has been edited and changed from what was originally posted. Take up homework. Complete PowerPoint on Judiciary. If time, begin PowerPoint on the Constitution. Read pp. 292-297. Do #1-3, p. 297. Prepare for the unit test on the Legislative/Executive/Judicial branches next Monday.

Social Studies 11 (Honours)

Your Geography textbook is also available online at http://www.design4effect.com/soc11/ . Though we will use some material from the other text, most will be from this e-text. Be aware that this text is now a few years old and many hyperlinks are broken. Rewriting is a massive job that I have not had time to take on yet.

There is an ongoing essay assignment that is the culmination of our work in the Essay Writing Workshop. Construct a research essay, based on a thesis of your choice. Be sure to have at least three strong supporting points. Cite at least three sources and have a proper bibliography with at least three references. Be sure to use a standard format, such as MLA. Value: 24 marks (1 x 6 for composition and 3 x 6 for content). Due: the week we return after Spring Break (by Friday).

The next test will include material on both Population and Standards of Living. You will write it on Tuesday, though we will start chapter 4 material on Monday. It is likely to take the following shape: 65 multiple choice questions (1 mark each) and a choice of 3 from 10 long answer questions (6 marks each). 30 flash cards are the required minimum to earn 5 bonus marks.

• Monday, February 25 - Complete the Gwynne Dyer film The Bomb Under the World and address the questions posed: How is consumerism changing India? What are the positive and negative consequences for this developing country and for the world? Begin ch. 4 PowerPoint. Read pp. 83-84. Do #1-3, p. 84.
• Tuesday, February 26 - Unit Test on chapters 2 & 3 -- Population and Standards of Living. Read pp. 84-86. Do #1-4, p. 85 & #1-2, p. 86.
• Wednesday, February 27 - Take up homework from Monday and Tuesday. We inserted information on course selection in today's class, which meant that we were unable to progress as far along in the PowerPoint as we intended. Read pp. 86-91. Do #1-3, p. 87, #1-4, p. 89, & #1-5, p. 91.
• Thursday, February 28 - Take up homework. Video: History’s Harvest and questions. Read pp. 91-97. Do #1-5, p. 93 and #1-6, p. 97. Be sure to investigate the CBC Archives material on the GMO debate. Identify arguments for and against producing genetically modified foods. See Genetically Modified Food; Panacea or Poison? for an anti-GMO presentation (54 minute documentary).
• Friday, February 29 - Note: On Thursday we worked through more PowerPoint and only saw the first half of History's Harvest. We will complete it today. This means we may or may not complete the video scheduled for today and could continue it into next week. Take up homework. Video: Conservation of Natural Resources (access at http://www.unitedstreaming.com/ ) and questions. Read pp. 97-105. Do #1-7, p. 102 & #1-6, p. 105.