Friday, September 30

Early out day!

Students will learn how federal courts are organized by levels.

finish Perry Mason authenticity video.

NO HOMEWORK

Thursday, September 29

Students will learn which types of cases originate in federal courts.

Perry Mason authenticity video (part 2)

Homework: Chapter 8, SEc 1 & 2 content vocabulary definitions (11)

Wednesday, September 28

Students will learn basic concepts of the Judicial Branch: "Innocent until proven guilty" and "Equal Justice For All".

Authenticity video: Perry Mason episode (Part 1)

Friday is snack day to finish video!

Tuesday, September 27

Chapter 7 Test! 17 MC & Matching questions.

Students will organize Civics binders. (These were getting very sloppy and incomplete.)

Monday, September 26

Some students did NOT turn in their literacy policy article reviews...ALL worked on it in class Friday...where did it go? Parents, I sent a number of letters home regarding missing assignments. Homework is not an option - students MUST turn in completed homework on time to be successful.

Chapter 7 content vocabulary terms were also due...several students did not have these either.

Students reviewed for Chapter 7 Test on Tuesday, they were supplied with a focus list of the 17 items that will appear on the multiple choice/matching test (on Smartboard, they had to write them down and add them to their Civics binders), and we discussed and dissected each item in class.

Authenticity film for Executive Branch studies: "Ronald Reagan, an American Journey"

Friday, September 23

Learning Goal: Students will read literacy policy article and complete supplied form. [“The Corrupt Bargain” – presidential election of 1824] 

Authenticity videos (Ronald Reagan)

TE Page:  (Glencoe) “Civics Today” pages 218-230 

Assignment : complete literacy article assignment, and write all Chapter 7 content vocabulary definitions for Monday

plan on Chapter 7 Test on Tuesday!

Thursday, September 22

Students took notes from powerpoint presentation: The Executive Branch, emphasizing the duties and roles of the president.

authenticity video: Seinfeld TV clip

Wednesday, September 21

Students took notes and summarized information from Smartboard outline for Chapter 7, Sec 1.

Video presentation from JFK featuring Zapruder Film and the Magic Bullet Theory.

Tuesday, September 20

Students completed Chapter 6 Test,

begin reading Chapter 7 - The Executive Branch

Monday, September 19

Students reviewed definition list for Chapter 6 Test on Tuesday.

Several students submitted late posters! Good job for accepting responsibility for your grade!

Tuesday, September 13 - Friday, September 16

I apologize for the missing posts. Our network and servers at school have been on and off all week, and I have not been able to post on a timely basis. Here's what we have accomplished this week:
We finished reading and taking notes on all of Chapter 6, "The Legislative Branch".
Students were provide with a list of 30 content vocabulary definitions to prepare for the Chapter 6 Test on Tuesday, September 30.
We spent Tuesday in the computer lab doing social studies work on Study Island.
Students were introduced to THREE videos to help them remember the steps of how a bill becomes a law.
On Friday, students submitted their project posters. (Several students did not turn in a poster and received a "0" on that 50 point assignment...hopefully they will get their posters in SOON.)
That's it...all caught up and ready for next week!

Monday, September 12

Chapter 6, Section 1: Students will learn how Congress is organized, and how work is done in committees.

POSTER PROJECT DUE FRIDAY

Civics Posters, Legislative Branch, Chapter 6

Students will create a poster in flow-chart format, showing how a bill becomes a law.

1.      Poster must be at least 16” x 24”

2.      Must be neat, illustrated, and utilize colors for effect

3.      Must show all steps of how a bill becomes a law in a way that both entertains and educates.

 OR

Students will create a poster that compares & contrasts the powers of the House of representatives and the Senate.

1.      Poster must be at least 16” x 24”

2.      Must be neat, illustrated, and utilize colors for effect

3.      Must show both similarities and differences of the two houses of Congress in a way that both entertains and educates.

Friday, September 9

Students completed Chapter 5 Test.

Authenticity video: (Discovery Channel) Killing Bin Laden

Monday: begin Chapter 6, Section 1 - the organization of Congress

POSTER PROJECT DUE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16:

"How a Bill becomes a law"

This is a major project assignment, and is worth 50 points!

Thursday, September 8

Chapter 5 Review for test on Friday:

Be able to define or identify the following terms in:

 short answer, multiple choice, or matching situations. 

1. bureaucracy
2. charitable organization
3. consent of the governed
4. duty
5. income tax
6. Peace Corps
7. responsibility
8. tolerance
9. volunteerism
10. welfare

authenticity: videos - United Flight 93

                     article - ESPN.com

Wednesday, September 7

Working in small groups, students will formulate 5 examples of how volunteerism makes our communities better places to live.

THEN, students will read the supplied article "The Importance of Volunteerism", and write a three-paragraph summary and review to turn in on Thursday.

There will be a test over Chapter 5 on Friday.

Tuesday, September 6

Progress report grades will be figured on Friday! If you have anymissing assignments, they must be turned in by then.

This week, we will finish Chapter 5 (only two sections), and also have an authenticity lesson every day to commemorate the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

Today, take notes over Chapter 5, Section 1, then read graphic novel, pages 9-14, and write a brief review.

Friday, September 2

TEST was a little disappointing. Students struggled with the expressed, reserved, and concurrent powers, and with the Bill of Rights amendments. Some of us need to learn better study skills, and some of us just need to read the material!


No homework over the weekend, begin Chapter 5 on Tuesday.

Thursday, September 1

Students will learn about the Civil Rights struggle

authenticity video: Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech

Review for Chapter 3 and 4 Test

Friday is an early-release day.