Thursday, April 05, 2012

April 10-13



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

So you just want to see photos of Sutherland activities? Click here to see my Picassa Albums.

Things that are static -- not requiring regular change -- can be found at my website:http://sites.google.com/site/kbenoy/.

Notice to Parents: During the current labour dispute, only grade 12 marks were to be provided on report cards. Written comments were proscribed. This does not mean that we were 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.

Further Notice to Graduates and Parents: I regret to inform you that I am withdrawing from voluntary activities until further notice. My reasons are two-fold, relating to the current labour dispute and concerns for my personal health. I cannot legally say much more than this to students, but would be more than willing to explain my concerns to parents if they e-mail me. The 86% Club will not meet for the remainder of this year (fortunately we have covered the most important material in earlier meetings) and Mr. Benoy is no longer co-chairing the Sutherland Scholarship Committee, nor is he sitting as a member of the committee. Please direct any scholarship questions to Principal McGowan and the Sutherland Administration. I will still help any graduating students who ask me for individual help.

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

A quiz on the Byzantine, Eastern Orthodox and Islamic Civilizations will take place on Wednesday, April 11. Expect the mark breakdown to be as follows: 30 multiple choice questions (1 mark each), 5 definitions from a choice of 10 (2 marks each) and a choice of 3 from 5 long answer questions (6 marks each). The test is out of a total of 58 marks. 25 flash cards -- done as I require them -- will result in 5 bonus marks. It is possible to score 63/58 on this test!

To help students who struggle with reading, I have adapted readings and questions from a simpler text for them. Only do this material if you have been asked by Mr. Benoy to do so. These students will not do the regular homework when this alternative is given.


  • Tuesday, April 10 - Take up #1-5, p. 110. Watch the video: What the Ancients Did for Us - The Islamic World and take notes on what exactly Islamic Civilization passed on to us. Complete PowerPoint on Islamic Architecture. Study for the test - be sure to make and use flash cards.
  • Wednesday, April 11 - Unit Test - Byzantine and Islamic Civilizations. Read pp. 40-45. Do #1-6, p. 45. Adapted reading & questions: Read The German Kingdoms. Make flash cards for the important terms on p. 24 and also make flash cards for the names in #1 of the "Do You Remember These People and Events? section on p. 29. Do the "What Do You Think?" questions on p. 29.
  • Thursday, April 12 - Take up #1-6, p. 45. Video:Europe After the Fall of Rome; 476-1066 AD. Focus Questions: What happened to Britain after the Romans left? How did life change? How did Christian missionaries change the Germans? Who were the Vikings and how did their threat affect Western Europe? Handout:Charlemagne. Do the questions on the handout for homework. Interested in watching a documentary on the Saxons? Try Barbarians; The Saxons. Interested in post-Roman Britain in the period called the Dark Ages? Find out why the whole concept of Dark Ages is "complete rubbish." See Britain AD (Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3). Do note that this is not the generally accepted view of British history.
  • Friday, April 13 - Take up homework. Video: The Dark Ages; Part 8; The Greatest King . What made Charlemagne a great ruler? How did he keep tight control over his subjects? How did the Roman Catholic church help him? Why did his efforts eventually collapse? If you want to see the rest of this video, The Dark Ages, click here for the entire 1 1/2 hour show. Read pp. 45-48. Do #1-6, p. 48. Adapted reading & questions: Read The Growth of Feudalism. Make flash cards for the important terms on p. 36 and do the "What Do You Think?" questions on p. 41. Also read Feudal Life in the Castle. Make flash cards for the terms on p. 42 and answer the "What Do You Think?" questions on p. 47. Interested in the Franks? Watch Barbarians; the Franks. Interested in the Vikings? Why not watch the following as a bonus: Ancient Warriors: The Vikings or Barbarians; the Vikings. Find out about the Viking discovery of North America by watching: The Vikings; Voyage to America. Are you fascinated by Vikings and have 4+ hours to watch a good documentary? If so, try Blood of the Vikings.

Social Studies 11

Our first history unit is coming to a close soon. We will finish this unit on Thursday of this week, but I will hold off on the unit test until Tuesday, April 17. This will allow anyone needing extra time to write into lunch break. This test will cover all of the History material up to the end of World War I. The mark breakdown will be roughly as follows: 40 multiple choice questions (1 mark each), 5 definitions or names (2 marks each) and 4 long answer questions (6 marks each) from a choice of 5. The total is, therefore, out of 74 marks. 5 bonus marks are available for a minimum of 25 flash cards. It is possible to earn 79/74.


  • Tuesday April 10 - Introductory music: Callin Doon the Line, and The Green Fields of France. Take up #1 & 3, p. 42. Video segment from Canada; A Peoples' History; Ordeal By Fire; Turmoil on the Homefront and handout. While watching the episode answer the following board questions: 1) Why was opposition to the war strongest in Quebec? PowerPoint: Was Conscription the Right Choice? Assignment: Create a poster favouring or opposing conscription in Canada (please restrict yourself to regular paper size). Be sure to employ both text and images. On the back, be sure to identify yourself and provide a short written description of what your intentions are with the poster -- why do you write say what you say on the poster and what do you intend the graphic elements to convey? 10 marks. Due next class. If you have time, look at In the Trenches (part 1 and part 2).
  • Wednesday, April 11 - Hand in poster assignment. Introductory music: On the Road to Passchendaele and Passchendaele. Video - The 1917 Federal Election. Questions: 1. What key political issue divided Canadians in 1917. 2. What changes did Borden make to election laws before the next election? Video: The History of the Vote; Women's Right to Vote. 1. What arguments were made against women getting the vote? 2. How did Nellie McClung fight against these notions? 3. Why did some women get the vote in Federal elections in 1917? 4. How long did it take before all women had the same voting rights as men? Discuss whether our current voting rules are fair for all people. Literature of War Assignment. Handouts and library resources. 10 marks, due Monday. Read pp. 42-46. 1) Do you think that the the peace arrangement arrived at in 1919 was workable? Why or why not? 2) How serious was the flu epidemic of 1918-1920?
  • Thursday, April 12 - Take up homework. Video Clip from Canada; A Peoples' History; Ordeal by Fire on the great influenza pandemic. Note pandemics are an ongoing concern and that they have had a huge influence on history. (Watch Patrick Blower's How Pandemics Spread if you get the chance. If there is time at the end of class I will show it, but I think time will run out before we can do so.) Discuss historical examples. Lecture: The End of World War I & the Paris Peace Conference. Video Make Germany Pay (Part 1, Part 2) Do board questions: 1) Who were the main participants in the Conference and what did they want? 2) What important powers were not invited to attend? 3) What were the key outcomes of the Conference? Do #1 sidebar, p. 44, 1. Explain how Canada’s role in the world was different in 1919 to 1914. 2. What limited the effectiveness of the League of Nations from its very start? Prepare for the unit test next class.
  • Friday, April 13 - Introduction to Post-War Canada. The Winnipeg General Strike. Lecture and video,On Strike! - with questions. Read pp53-56. Do #1-3, p. 56.