April 12-16

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

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 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 too ill to work while away, be sure to attach a note from home to any overdue work when you hand it in and I will most likely waive any late deduction.If you can't read the PowerPoint material on your computer, download PowerPoint Viewer from Microsoft. It is free.

Cool tech tip for Google searches. Did you know that Google allows you to search in a mind-map format -- with the standard search still showing in a sidebar on the right. Here is a quick introduction toGoogle's "Wonder Wheel" search.

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://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm . Use the passcode posted in the classroom. I cannot post this online, but you can confirm the new number by looking at what is posted in the classroom.

Please note: North Vancouver schools have a hold-back imposed on our supplies budget. As a result, I shall be handing out far fewer paper handouts in class than in the past. Fortunately it is all available here, online. Paper copies will be made available for many items only to those students who specifically request them because they have difficulty accessing online material. Help me save money for the school and also preserve forests by using online material as much as possible.

History 12

Here are the Topic #3 Plan and questions. Essay #2 is also available here.

Here are the Topic #4 Plan and questions.

Save trees and school money by using the online versions. I will print copies for you, if you ask, but stick to the digital if at all possible.

We are a long way off from the next test. I will publish the breakdown when we get a little closer to it

• Monday, April 12 -The Spanish Civil War (base notes). Be sure to listen to some of the music of the Spanish Civil War - written at the time and inspired later. If you are interested in the Spanish Civil War and have the time, there is a good British documentary from Granada Television, The Spanish Civil War; Prelude to TragedyPart 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6) - note, each part is about 52 minutes long.
• Tuesday, April 13 - Introductory slideshow - Posters & Music of the Spanish Civil War. Complete the Spanish Civil War (base notes). Begin the World War II chronology (base notes). To understand why France collapsed in 1940,be sure to watchBattlefield; Fall of France (part 1,part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9,part 10, part 11, part 12) Shorter, and less specialized in dealing with military tactics, is The World at War; France Falls (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6).
• Wednesday, April 14 -Video: Twentieth Century History: Britain Alone (If available) . World War II chronology (base notes). Interested in the Battle of Britain? Be sure to watch the 1969 movie by the same name. Aircraft used were surviving models from the time - watch the climax scenes here; watch the whole movie on Youku. Probably the best documentary on the subject isBattlefield; The Battle of Britain - (part 1, part 2, part 3,part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12). A much shorter documentary is Battlefield Britain; The Battle of Britain. For a Canadian viewpoint on the battle, watch the 20 minute nfb film Churchill's Island. A US wartime perspective can be found at Why We Fight; The Battle of Britain.
• Thursday, April 15 - Introductory slideshow: Coventry Cathedral. World War II chronology (base notes). 2/3 of the land fighting of WWII took place on the Eastern Front. Be sure to watch some video material on this important area. One of the best documentary series on World War II is The World at War. Watch Operation Barbarossa (part 1, part 2, part 3,part 4, part 5). Watch this video on the Battle of Stalingrad (47 minutes). Of course, if you can, watch the movie Enemy at the Gates, set in the battle for Stalingrad - try your local video store.
• Friday, April 16 - Video The Road to Berlin (not available online). World War II chronology (base notes). Don't bother with the movie Pearl Harbour as it is historically poor; do watch Tora! Tora! Tora! however. Watch World War II; War in the Pacific, from the World at War series.

Comparative Civilizations 12

The next unit test is still around two weeks away - as we have one more package to complete on the Middle Ages.

For all of you folk struggling to identify floorplan and interior elevation features of a cathedral -- use these diagrams, borrowed from David Macaulay's excellent work, Cathedral.

• Monday, April 12 - Video- Faith in Numbers (Available in parts on Youtube: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5). This is a quirky but fascinating film that covers far more than what we are looking at in this unit -- but, like all of the other films in James Burke's Connections series some of the best documentary viewing around. Burke sees History as moving forward because of strange and quirky connections being made between ideas, generating revolutionary changes. New Package, Romance & Reality assigned. Great Thaw package, is to be handed in by 4:30 p.m on Wednesday..
• Tuesday, April 13 - Watch Romance & Reality - the 50 minute video accompanying Clark's Civilisation ( In one piece on Youku, but with subtitles in both English and Chinese, or in smaller chunks on Youtube - part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5). Work on package(s). The Great Thaw is due Wednesday, by 4:30 p.m. Work on Romance & Reality.
• Wednesday, April 14 - Gothic Painting PowerPoint. Sister Wendy video segment - sorry, unavailable online. Work on Romance & Reality package. If you have the time and inclination, do watch Bill Moyer's interview of Sister Wendy -a humble genius of art analysis and a cult heroine in Sutherland's Comp. Civ. 12 class. Your Great Thaw package is due today by 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 15 - Begin with video introduction. Sister Wendy on Giotto and other Gothic painters. Work on package. Click here for the Webmuseum description of Giotto.
• Friday, April 16 - Gothic Sculpture PowerPoint.Work onpackage.

Social Studies 11

Mr. St. Laurent remains with us for a couple more weeks, so enjoy him while you can.

Find Mr. St. Laurent's lesson plans at: http://mrstlaurent.blogspot.com/ .