February 3-7

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

This blog provides lesson plans for each week.  Look ahead to see where we are going.  Look back to see what you might have missed. All assignments are provided here.  If anything is underlined, click on it to bring up the document or, in the case of videos, link to an online version of what was scheduled for seeing in class or as enrichment.  
So you just want to see photos of Sutherland activities? Click here to see my Picasa Albums. 

Things that are static -- not requiring regular change -- can be found at my website:http://sites.google.com/site/kbenoy/.  Admittedly, I do not update this site regularly, so there may be dead links.

Supplies needed for all class:

-A binder (I do not mind if it is also used for other classes, but if so you must have subject dividers to keep course work together). You could use duotangs for each unit if you wish. 

-Pens. 

-HB pencils (required for map-work and for any tests with multiple choice sections).

-Coloured pencils for map work.

-A USB drive for storing any computer work on (again, this can be used for other subjects too).

-Small index cards (or paper cut to index card size) for vocabulary flash cards.

-A functioning brain with room for expansion.

Social Studies 8

We will begin with a Geography unit. Expect a unit test at the end of this, worth around 75 marks. This will be in roughly 3 weeks. It will be based on map reading and the use of Canadian Oxford World Atlas (7th edition). We will also have a number of quizzes worth from 5-30 marks throughout the unit. You will not always be warned ahead of time about quizzes -- so it is important to keep up.

If you are struggling, be sure to see me outside of class for extra help!

You will need the following material for this class: a ruler, pens, pencils, and coloured pencils, erasers, whiteout, a portable computer storage device (USB key, with at least 1 GB of space on it -- which you can use in all of your other classes too), and lined paper.

Keep all of your material in order in either a section of a bigger binder, with work from other courses, or a smaller Social Studies binder. The choice is yours. You should also have section dividers to separate units. Keep all work to study from for the final exam at the end of the course. After unit tests, you can take this work out and leave it safe at home if you do not want to keep carrying it around -- just don't lose it.

National Geographic has some nice overview PowerPoints for this unit. See Map Elements and Map Skills.

• Monday, February 3 - Introduction and Expectations.    We did not get as far as expected today -- so homework and texts were not assigned.  Texts assigned.  Tuesday, February 4 - Complete text sign out, if not finished Tuesday.  Hand in map assignment, if given Tuesday.  Mind Map - explained in class and not for marks. Complete to #15 on the Atlas Worksheet. If the Canada; Political; Map Assignment (10 marks) was not assigned on Tuesday, it is assigned today and due Thursday.
• Tuesday, February 4 - Complete the Introduction and Expectations.  Text sign out.  Mind Map - explained in class and not for marks. Complete to #15 on the Atlas Worksheet. The Canada; Political; Map Assignment (10 marks) was not assigned on Tuesday, so it is assigned today and due Thursday.
• Wednesday, February 5 - Countries Game. Take up #1-15 of the Atlas Worksheet.  Complete the remainder of the questions for next class.
• Thursday, February 6 - Take up homework (the Atlas worksheet).     Look at Geographical Essentials text, pp. 4-11 - "Map Basics."  The Basic ingredients of all maps - Outlines, Direction, Colour and Symbols  (and a key or legend, Scale. Scale Worksheet. If you have trouble grasping how scale works, get the basics from this BBC elementary school level site on the subject. A really nice advanced summary can be found at this National Resources Canada site.
• Friday, February 6 - District Professional Day.  No classes in session.

Social Studies 11 

We will begin with the Government unit and start with the old red text to deal with ideologies. You will get the Counterpoints text, which we will use for most of the semester, once we get past ideologies -- which Counterpoints does not deal with well.

Expect your first unit test on Ideologies/Parties/Elections to be on Wednesday, February 15 -- or thereabout. The mark breakdown is most likely to be as follows: 30 multiple choice question (1 mark each); 4 items to label on a diagram (1 mark each); 5 definitions - you write a sentence or two about each term or name (2 marks each); 2 long answer questions from a choice of 4 options (6 marks each). The test should, therefore, be out of about 66 marks.

• Monday, February 3 - Outline and Expectations PowerPoints.    Final Exam table of specifications (link from here to additional exam material.  Handout: What is Government?  Complete the questions for next class.
• Tuesday, February 4 - Hand out textbooks.  Complete anything missed from yesterday's introduction. Take up answers to What is Government.  Discuss whether government is or is not necessary.  Introduction to the three branches of government -- Legislative, Executive and Judicial.  Read pp. 2-6 in the red Government text.  Do #1-4, p. 6 for homework.  Note:  We did not get the text books out in block 3,  we will add this material to the homework for the next day for this class and books will be issued at the start of Wednesday's class.
• Wednesday, February 5 - Take up #1-4, p. 6.  Introduction to ideologies.  Origin of the Political Spectrum - see this version as a line, and this version as a quadrant -- showing where Canadian political parties could be found in 2011.  Read pp. 7-15.  Do #1-5, p. 11 and #1-6, p. 15.  To identify your own ideology, take the online Political Compass Quiz.  Why not listen to some ideological tunes.  The Political Compass people have put together a links list to ideological music that you can click to from here.  Look elsewhere around this site if you are interested in politics.
• Thursday, February 6 -  Take up #1-5, p. 11 and #1-6, p. 15.   Continue with the origins of ideologies looking at ideologies as shown on a left/right line and also look at showing them on aquadrant.  Remember, any time you show a complex world in a graphic model, you are simplifying reality.  Here is a handoutcovering this material for your notes.  If you took the Political Compass quiz, you can now compare your personal ideological position with main viewpoints -- and with each other. Ideology identification worksheet.   The following reading is completely optional: For an interesting American article on the difference between Lefties and Righties, see Patricia Cohen's New York Times Article: "Across the Great Divide; Investigating Links Between Personality and Politics."
• Friday, February 7 - District Professional Day.  No classes in session.