Saturday, September 20, 2008

September 22 to 26


















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/

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 Education'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

Students who have not yet written the first unit test must make immediate arrangements to do so. Zero scores are recorded until they are replaced with what is earned on the test. Those who want to look at their papers can do so outside of class time when Mr. Benoy is present.

We have only just started our new unit on the Legislative/Executive/Judicial branches of government, so you can expect the new test in a little more than a week from now. Expect a test of similar size to the first one. The mark breakdown will be posted when we are a little closer to test day.


  • Monday, September 22 - Take up homework - what to do with the Canadian Senate. Review handout - How a Bill becomes a Law. Video - Government in Canada; Citizenship in Action; Our National Parliament; the Inside Story and questions. Read pp. 47-54 in Red Government text. Do #1-4, p. 48 and #1-5 and 7 on p. 54.
  • Tuesday, September 23 - Introduction to the executive branch. Role of the Queen, Governor General and Prime Minister. Read “Constitutional Monarchy” on p. 222-224 & "The Governor General" on p. 234. Identify points for and against getting rid of the Queen and Governor General. Should Canada become a Republic? Why or why not? Identify 3 reasons for and 3 reasons against doing so. Look at the Monarchist League of Canada and the Canadian Monarchist Online websites for arguments supporting the monarch; see Citizens for a Canadian Republic for arguments against retaining the monarchy. There has also been an active debate in Australia and New Zealand on this topic. Web searches would yield useful information.
  • Wednesday, September 24 - Take up homework. 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.
  • Thursday, September 25 - 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 (due Monday) . Read pp. 258-267. Do #1-2, p. 264. Do #1-3, p. 267.
  • Friday, September 26 - Take up homework. Complete group presentations. Overview of the Judiciary - PowerPoint - go to the section on the Judiciary. Read pp. 270-275. Do #1-3, p. 275.

Comparative Civilizations 12

***Your Greece package is to be handed in on Thursday, September 25 (note: this date is an extension). The unit test is still a couple of weeks away and it will cover all of the Ancient World, including: Egypt, Greece, Rome & Byzantium.

If you have some time and would like to check out some additional video material, check Mr. Benoy's Online Video Directory.

History 12

***Please note: The Terry Fox run and a short class Friday derailed us somewhat. We need another class to complete the material on the vital Paris Peace Conference and the treaties that came out of it. Your test is, therefore, pushed to Tuesday, and with it, the due date for your Topic #2 questions. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Your nationalism essay is due on Friday, September 26 ( See the bottom of the Topic #1 Plan). It is valued at 20 marks (note: this is evaluated using a 5 point scale, with 1 x 5 marks for composition and 3 x 5 marks for content. Later essays will be marked on a multiple of the 6 point scale -- like provincial exam essays.

Here at last is the Unit Test breakdown for Tuesday. 60 multiple choice questions @ 1 mark each; 10 map items -- identifying countries on a 1914 map @ 1 mark each; 5 definition items (I give you the term and you define it) @ 2 marks each; and 2 long answer questions @ 10 marks each. The total value of the test is, therefore, 100 marks.

Topic #2 Questions are currently underway -- follow the plan as handed out in class -- or modify. However, be ready for a unit test and to hand in your work on Tuesday, September 30. Click here for a blank map of Europe in 1919.

If you have a little time to do so this week, have a look at the online videos I list in my online video directory. The visuals are quite wonderful in bringing to life the lecture material and I wish I had unlimited class time to show them too.

Be sure to look at World War One: 1914-1918 Map - a multimedia map presentation on Youtube that very nicely summarizes the main events of the war.

I suspect the plan below is a little over-ambitious. We are likely to have to insert another lecture to complete the War. Note that the AV day on Friday may have to be put to other use.

  • Monday, September 22 - World War I; 1914-1916ish. (Base notes - section 1 & section 2).
  • Tuesday, September 23 - World War I; 1916ish to 1917ish) (Base notes - 1916, 1917).
  • Wednesday, September 24 - The War concluded. (Base notes to 1917 and 1918).
  • Thursday, September 25 - Total War; the German Experience (base notes).
  • Friday, September 26 - World War I AV (TBA - depending on availability. This will most likely be segments from The Guns of August or something listed on my online video directory).
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