Wednesday, May 31, 2006

May 31


You continued working on Part 2 of your Topic B Outline in class today. Some of you have already finished Part 2 and have moved on to Part 3, which is great, since I would like to be able to do some Social 20 course review before classes are finished.


You wrote your in-class position paper today in the Blenheim room. If you missed today's class, then you need to make arrangements with me to write this essay on another day (if your absence today was excused). If your absence was unexcused you will be looking at a zero out of 30 for this essay.


  1. UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  2. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (know the different types of rights, for example democratic rights, mobility rights, fundamental freedoms)
  3. The War Measures Act (WWI, WWII, the October Crisis of 1970)
  4. Internment of Japanese-Canadians in WWII
  5. FLQ Crisis of 1970 (study handout)
  6. Emergencies Act of 1988 (study handout)
  7. Native Rights
  8. Young Offenders Act/Youth Criminal Justice Act



At first glance this picture may seem to be a bit out of place, unless of course you knew that today was my 300th post on this blog. Plus, I'm a fan of the Simpsons. D'oh!

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

May 30


We played a review game in class today. Too bad if you missed it. Don't forget to go directly to the Blenheim lab tomorrow for your last in-class position paper!


You worked on your Topic B outline today, specifically Part 2. I think that you should be able to finish this part very soon (tomorrow) and be able to move on to the last part of the outline this week, which would be nice since that would free up more time to review for your final exam.

Monday, May 29, 2006

May 29


We did a little brainstorming today in class about potential arguments and examples that could be used in your upcoming in-class position paper. As well, I talked a little bit about multiple choice test-taking strategies. I would like to remind students that received a 28 or better out of 30 on the last position paper to send me a copy of it as I would like to send out some examples to your fellow classmates before our last position paper. As of right now, I've only received two exemplar essays. I would also like to remind you that you have a homework assignment tonight, and that would be to send me 3 Jeopardy! questions tonight via e-mail (if you haven't already done so)so that I can start putting the game together.



We finished watching the video "China Revs Up" in class today. As well, you worked on Part 2 of the Topic B outline in class today. This Part of the outline needs to be finished this week.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

May 28


I have sent to you the remaining parts of our Topic B Outline worksheets. Please print them off at home. I will not be giving you a copy at school, it is your responsibility to print it off before class tomorrow!

Friday, May 26, 2006

May 26


You were given time to finish off the worksheet on the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Young Offenders Act today in class. If you didn't finish it off please visit this website. Please start working on your essay preparations for Wednesday's in-class position paper! Have a great weekend!
We watched part of a video today called "China Revs Up" which is part of the two-part series called "World in the Balance" (a permanent hyperlink to this website is under Social 20 Links). We will finish the video on Monday. Please check your e-mail this weekend as I will be sending out the other parts of the outline. Please print it off when you receive it, and it wouldn't hurt to start working on it either! Have a great weekend!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

May 25


You wrote your in-class position paper today. You have to finish Part A of your Topic B Outline. We'll be moving on to the next topic tomorrow.


In class today you working on a fill in the blanks type activity comparing the Young Offenders Act to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. You'll have some class time tomorrow to finish this activity off.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

May 24


Today I showed you some selections from a video entitled "The People Bomb". I collected your WWI Dossier Assignment as well. You have an in-class position paper tomorrow, so please remember to go to directly to the Blenheim computer lab.


I have sent to you the essay topic and outline sheets for your next and last position paper. I have sent to you the reading on the War Measures Act (it's the same one that appeared in the booklet that I've already given to you) as well. You have a homework assignment tonight: complete the questions on Native Rights. The questions on this worksheet can be answered by reading your textbook. By Friday, we will have finished the core course content material for Social 10, and we'll be able to start reviewing for your Rights and Responsibilities Unit Final and your social 10 Final. Here is the hyperlink to the CBC Archives on the FLQ Crisis.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

May 23


We watched a video and completed a video study sheet on the FLQ Crisis today in class. Your homework tonight is to complete the Document Analysis fill in the blanks exercise at the beginning of the booklet that I gave you today.


You wrote your WWI Unit Final today in class. Don't forget that your World War I dossiers are due tomorrow.

Friday, May 19, 2006

May 19


We finished watching "The Tides of War" in class today. I would also like you to visit the following website and watch the following video clips from the CBC Archives, it's called Relocation to Redress:The Internment of Japanese-Canadians.

We watched a video on "China's One Child Policy" today in class.

  • International Conflict (WWI) Unit Final is on Tuesday, May 23rd
  • WWI Dossier Assignment is due on Wednesday, May 24th
  • In-Class Position Paper (WWI) is on Thursday, May 25th (in the Blenheim lab)

Thursday, May 18, 2006

May 18


We watched a video for most of today's class, called "World in the Balance: The People Paradox", there is a permanent hyperlink to the show's companion website under Social 20 links. We also talked about Thomas Malthus, population pyramids as well.

I gave you a reading on the internment of Japanese-Canadians in WWII. Please make sure that you have all questions completed in this booklet. We will finish watching the video "Tides of War" tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

May 17


I handed out the first part of an outline that covers Topic B. I would like you to complete the front side of that outline tonight for homework.


We looked at the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms today in class. If you didn't finish the worksheet in class, please use the hyperlink on the right hand side of the blog to finish this assignment. Don't forget that your Alberta Human Rights Commission assignment is due tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

May 16


I have sent you the Human Rights Internet assignment via the e-mail distribution list. If you didn't receive it, let me know. This assignment is due on Thursday. If you missed class today, you missed a couple of handouts that you will need to get from me.


We started Topic B today. I gave you a list of glossary terms that you need to write out. Please make your own glossary of terms for this Topic. Here is the study guide for your International Conflict Unit Final (which covers World War I):


This unit final is on Tuesday May 23rd. Please prepare for it! This test is entirely multiple choice and consists of 50 questions.

  • Causes of World War I
  • Results of World War I
  • Leaders of Major European Powers
  • Alliances (systems, members)
  • Battle Plans/Tactics (Schlieffen Plan, Plan 17)
  • Key Events in WWI
  • Map of Europe (1914)
  • Map of Europe (1919)
  • Zimmermann telegram
  • Treaty of Brest-Litvosk
  • Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points
  • reparations
  • disarmament
  • war debts
  • "war guilt clause"
  • Treaty of Versailles
  • positions of the "Big Four" (Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau in particular) vis a vis Germany post WWI
  • self-determination
  • plebiscites
  • collective security
  • League of Nations


Monday, May 15, 2006

May 15


We started our new unit "Rights and Responsibilities" today. I also collected your Government Poster Project as well.


We talked about responsibility for the outbreak of World War I today in class. We will be starting Topic B tomorrow. Please start bringing your textbook "World Prospects".

Friday, May 12, 2006

May 12


Please don't forget that your Government poster project is due on Monday May 15th.


Please have read all articles that were handed out today in class for Monday. Also, make sure that you have finished all three of the assignments that were part of the package that you received today. We will be discussing the issue of responsibility for the First World War on Monday.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

May 11


I delivered a presentation on "The Allied Victory in WWI". I have already sent this presentation to you. You are to read all of Chapter 15, and take point form notes on the following parts:

  • Germany Surrenders
  • The Paris Treaties



You wrote your in-class position paper today. If you missed class today with an excused absence you will have to make arrangements with me to write this essay.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

May 10


You had some time in the library to do some research for your WWI Dossier Assignment. This assignment is due on Wednesday, May 24th. Today was the first and only class period that you will get to work on this assignment.


We started Citizen Participation today. We will finish this unit on Friday. Yes, it'll be over that quickly. Next week we'll start the Rights and Responsibilities unit. You will NOT have a unit final for Citizenship. Remember, that you will be writing your second in-class position paper tomorrow in the Blenheim computer lab. Go directly to the lab tomorrow afternoon.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

May 9


You wrote your Politics and Government Unit Final today. I am available during tutorials tomorrow and Thursday if you want to drop in and have me check over your work for the in-class position paper that is on Thursday. Check yesterday's post for useful links on the essay topic.


I gave you a couple of homework assignments that are due on Thursday. First, I want you to read and take point form notes on the following topics in Chapter 14 of Century of Change, entitled "Total War":

  • Battle of Verdun
  • Battle of the Somme
  • Battle of Jutland
  • Brusilov Offensive
  • Undersea Warfare
  • the Zimmermann telegram

Next, I want you to complete the key terms worksheet that I gave you that covers Chapter 14.

I also gave you an assignment today in which you can work individually or with a partner. The topics vary, but they all cover different aspects of World War I. We will be meeting the classroom first tomorrow and then we will be heading down to the library to do some research.

Monday, May 08, 2006

May 8


I gave you your next in-class position paper topic today in class, plus I gave you some notes on minority governments (the focus of the essay topic). Here are some hyperlinks which may be helpful to you in your research of minority governments:

This is just a start, you can probably find other articles as well. I will also send you the essay outline via the e-mail distribution list.


I delivered to you a presentation on "Total War" which covered some key battles of WWI. I will send this presentation out to you later tonight. I also showed you a video on the Battle of Jutland.

Friday, May 05, 2006

May 5


I gave you some time today in class to plan out your government poster project. Please remember that this assignment is due on May 15th. For this weekend, please remember to study for your Politics and Government Unit Final which is on Tuesday, May 9th.

I delivered a presentation today on start of the First World War to the stalemate that ensued. I will send this presentation out soon. I also showed you a website on the First World War, I will put some hyperlinks here, as well as in the permanent links which will help you improve your understanding of WWI. Here are the hyperlinks:


Thursday, May 04, 2006

May 4


I gave you a couple of assignments today that are due on Monday. I gave you a map of Europe circa 1914 that you need to color and label. As well I gave you key terms worksheet that covers material from Chapter 13. Don't forget that your chart from Chapter 13 is due tomorrow. I would like you to check out a hyperlink that I have on the blog. It's under Social 20 Links on the right-hand side of the blog, and it's called PBS: The Great War. This is a truly fantastic website, that will definitely help improve your understanding of the First World War.




This map should help you a bit, it's in Italian, but you'll be able to figure it out.



We talked about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms at the beginning of class, and then I had you write a short opinion piece on a related issue to the Charter. I then distributed the Politics and Government project assignment sheet, and had you break into groups to do some brainstorming for project ideas. I'll give you some time tomorrow to do this as well. Your 2006 Election campaign chart is due tomorrow. You need to check yesterday's post for the hyperlink.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

May 3

I showed you a video entitled "Trench Warfare" today. I also wanted you to read in Chapter 13 the following pages 234-241. I want you to take point form notes on:

  • the Western Front
  • the Eastern front
  • Trench Warfare

I am also sending you a chart that I would like you to complete for Friday.


You wrote your second Pop quiz on Politics and Government today. We then talked about "first past the post" and "proportional representation". There are a few websites that I would like you to visit tonight. The first one is part of the CBC website, which might help you see which Canadian political parties you agree with most. Please click on the link here to go to the Vote By Issue Quiz. There is no way for me to tell if you ever actually visit this site, but I stronger encourage you to do so anyway, you might learn something about the political issues that you feel are most important and you'll get to see if the major parties do as well. Next, I would like you to create a chart of the Election 2006 party platforms. For each of the parties, I want you to write down one or two bullet points on their positions on various issues, ranging from Health to the Environment to National Defence. Here is the hyperlink for this homework assignment. It's due on Friday.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

May 2


You wrote you first pop quiz in the Politics and Government theme today. You'll have another one VERY soon on the floor plan of the House of Commons and "How a Bill Becomes a Law".We also did a mock election in class today. I have sent out the Internet based assignment to your e-mail accounts, so let me know if you didn't receive it. This assignment is due on Thursday.


1. Key Concepts/Key Terms (see outline)

  • most of these concepts can be found in the PowerPoint presentations that I delivered with this theme
  • also check out the Parliamentary Key Terms (know the basics!)

2. Structure and Function of Government (see outline):

  • focus on PowerPoint presentations!
  • study from notes that you took from the videos!
  • executive, legislative, judicial branches
  • BNA Act (1867)
  • Constitution Act (1982)
  • powers and responsibilities of the branches of government
  • federalism/federal system
  • how a bill becomes a law
  • House of Commons and Senate
  • roles of the constitutional monarchy (Queen, Governor General, PM and Cabinet)


3. The Role of Pressure Groups and the Media (focus on second PowerPoint presentation) in the Government



We did a simulation today on the outbreak of World War I. I hope that you enjoyed it.

Monday, May 01, 2006

May 1


I collected your Political Cartoon assignment today in class. It looks like there is a wide variety of cartoons that have been selected, which is nice to see. I showed you a video entitled "Our Constitution". This will be the last video that I will be showing in this series. How sad. I also returned your position papers today as well. If I made the comment that I need to see you before our next position paper then you need to come and see me in tutorial time this week! I also shared with you some upcoming important dates which will be outlined below.

  • Politics and Government Unit Final is on Tuesday, May 9th (a study guide will be posted tomorrow on the blog)
  • Politics and Government In-Class Position Paper is on Thursday, May 11th (the topic will be on minority governments in Canada)
  • Politics and Government Group Project (Poster) is due on May 15th (more details this week)

You wrote your Imperialism Unit Final today in class. By now you should have read and taken notes on the following in Chapter 12:

  • Dual Entente
  • Weltpolitik
  • Foreign Interventions
  • The Balkan Wars
  • The Schlieffen Plan
  • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

I would like you to read the following pages in Chapter 13, and take notes on the following topics. Please read pages 234-241 in your textbook. Next, please take point form notes on the following topics:

  • The Western Front 1914
  • The Eastern Front 1914
  • Trench Warfare

You should have had an opportunity to do some reading and note-taking after the unit final.