Friday, February 18. 2011

Today's schedule is D-C-A-B

D & A - Criminology 12 - Today we start with your questions from yesterday's class on victim theories (active & passive victimization; deviant place & high risk lifesytles; and routine activities) and school (from page 72 in the text). We'll work on that for the first half hour or so and then we'll watch the Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit episode "Closure" This episode deals with the short and long-term effects of a sexual assault on a victim.

From TV.com "Benson does her best to help a rape victim who is able to describe her attack in perfect detail, yet unable to properly identify her attacker when push comes to shove. When the detectives revisit the case a few months later, they find the woman even less willing to talk about what happened, as she claims she has moved on." I want you to think hard during this episode and pay careful attention to what happens with Harper's character.

What are the short and long term impacts on victims of Crime? Use Harper in the Law & Order episode you watched today and Chapter 3 pages 54-7 in Criminology: The Core textbook to help. This will form the basis of your blog entry on Monday.

C - Geography 12 - Today in class you’ll look at tectonics and plate boundaries. You’ll have to take down a few notes on divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries along with hot spots and then you'll need to work on two questions on geothermal energy and the effects of the Juan de Fuca plate and ridge just off our shores.

For more on Plate Tectonics check out:

Earth Floor: Plate Tectonics
UCal Berkeley Plate Tectonics animated Gifs
NASA: Our Restless Planet animation library
Plate Tectonics Earth View
Plate Tectonics animations - University of Kentucky
UCAR - University of Michigan - Plate Tectonics
Essentials of Geology textbook Plate Tectonics animations

B - Earth & Space Science 11 - You're back in the library today for your second day to work on the major project for the year. Don't forget that it is your responsibility to create a review of the Earth & Space Science curriculum for a student in grade 7 (12 to 13 years old). Your review can be made in many different formats. You may:

1. Create an Earth & Space Science book in a Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness format

2. Create a series of Earth & Space Science flash cards in the style of Professor Noggins or Brain Quest

3. Create a series of Earth & Space Science Minute videos or podcasts

4. Create an Earth & Space Science webpage

5. Create 11x17 Earth & Space Science placemats (for learning while at the dining room table)

6. Create an Earth & Space Science game (complete with rules, board pieces, and box)

7. Create an Earth & Space Science Quick Study Guide

Please check in with me to let me know your chosen format by Monday.

Thursday, February 17. 2011

Today's schedule is A-B-C-D

A & D - Criminology 12 - Today we'll continue our look at crime victim studies. After a brief discussion of the impacts of crime on victims (both short and long term) you'll need to read through the next section in Chapter 3 on "Theories of Victimization" (dealing with Victim Precipitation, Lifestyle, and Routine Activities) - pages 61-64. Your work will be to explain and compare the three theories (as a silo chart) and answer questions 2 & 3 on page 72 in the Criminology: The Core text. This will set you up for your Law & Order Special Victims Unit episode tomorrow and journal entry for Monday.

B - Earth & Space Science 11 - Today we will continue our look at mining in Canada; again focusing on ores, minerals, and fossil fuels (mineral and energy resources). We'll start by continuing the Powerpoint I began yesterday with you on Geologic Resources (yesterday we looked at what metallic, non-metallic, and energy resources and reserves are). After, you'll need to work on the questions from yesterday; For Review 3, 6, 7, 8, & 9 and For Discussion 8 on page 120 in the Earth Science and the Environment textbook in class today.
Mining Association of Canada
InfoMine - Mining in Canada
Mining Association of BC Mining in Canada
Atlas of Canada Mining Sites
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Mining and Minerals
Canadian Minerals Yearbook
Minerals of Canada poster

C - Geograhy 12 - Yesterday we looked at magma, igneous rocks, and plutonic (intrusive) igneous rock features (both concordant and discordant). Today we will focus on sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. We'll take down a cross section diagram of the geology here in south western British Columbia. We'll collectively define compaction, cementation, recrystallization, clastic sedimentary rock, and non clastic sedimentary rock. You will define contact, regional, and dynamic metamorphosism and you'll also have question 15 from page 366 in your Geosystems text for homework.

Check out the Dynamic Earth Interactive Rock Identification site here
Check out the Flash animation of Metamorphic Rock Creation here.

Wednesday, February 16. 2011

A & D - Criminology 12 - Today we'll wrap up the work from the first Chapters (1 and 2) in the Criminology: The Core textbook with a quiz...your first quiz in the course! After we mark the first two sections together, I'll give you a few minutes to wrap up yesterday's questions from the text and then we'll try to undersatnd what a victim of crime is. For the last part of the class we'll discuss victims of crime and victimology. We'll look at the Holly Jones murder case in Toronto (2003) and try to find out what impact that would have on her family, her classmates at school, her neighbourhood, and really the entire greater Toronto metropolitan area.
CBC News InDepth: Holly Jones
Holly Jones Memorial Site
We'll have a few notes to take down on the problems of being crime victims (economic loss, system abuse, long term stress, fear, and antisocial behaviour).

B - Earth & Space Science 11 - Today we will briefly look at mining in Canada; specifically we'll focus on ores, minerals, and fossil fuels (mineral and energy resources). You'll need to work on For Review questions 3, 6, 7, 8, & 9 and For Discussion question 8 on page 120 in the Earth Science textbook in class today.
Mining Association of Canada
InfoMine - Mining in Canada
Mining Association of BC Mining in Canada
Atlas of Canada Mining Sites
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Mining and Minerals
Canadian Minerals Yearbook
Minerals of Canada poster

C - Geography 12 - Today we'll transfer some notes into our week 3 package on the rock cycle and then we'll focus on igneous rocks and plutonic features. We'll have a diagram to complete and then there will be three questions to work on (12, 13, & 14 from page 366 in your Geosystems textbook). If time permits we will look at some sweet footage of Kilauea and try to understand the type of lava (rhyolite? andesite? peridotite? basalt?)
You can check out current conditions and watch videos (including some cool footage of the Pu'u 'O'o vent) at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory here

Tuesday, February 15. 2011

B - Earth & Space Science 11 - Yesterday we finished our identifying minerals lab. Today we'll briefly go over mineral families (Silicates, Oxides, Carbonates) and then spend time briefly looking at ore minerals, industrial minerals, native elements, and gems. talong with the hazards associated with mineral extraction. We'll look at the Berkeley Pit in Butte Montana to better understand acid mine seepage (an important concept for us to understand). Check out the Waterblogger's explanation here. We'll then look at Cat Face Mountain in Tofino and Selkirk Metals Corporation application to conduct exploratory drilling for copper and molybdenum and the effects of the Mount Washington copper mine on the Tsolum River. For the rest of the class I'll have you work on For Review questions 13 & 16 and For Discussion question 7 from page 43 if the Earth Science and the Environment text (for Q 13 use Table 2.3 on page 34).
MSA's Minerals in your House
Mine Engineer's Minerals in Your House
Mineralogical Association of Canada Minerals in Canada Poster

A & D - Criminology 12 - Today I'll start the class with a quick powerpoint on crime trends in Canada which will help you with your blog entry from yesterday. The crime data indicate that rates have declined significantly in the past few years and are now far less than they were a decade ago. Suspected causes for the crime rate drop include an increasing prison population, more police on the street, the end of the crack epidemic and the age structure of society. The data sources show relatively stable patterns in the crime rate. Ecological patterns show that crime varies by season and by urban versus rural environment, however there is evidence of gender patterns in the crime rate: Men commit more crime than women. Age is one of the largest influences on crime; young people commit more crime than the elderly (and there are fewer young people in society). Crime data show that people commit less crime as they age, but the significance and cause of this pattern are still not completely understood. Similarly, racial and class patterns appear in the crime rate. However, it is still unclear whether these are true differences or a function of discriminatory law enforcement.

Tomorrow we have a quiz in Criminology which will include today's work on crime patterns and trends. I will be asking you to work on questions 2 and 4 from page 51 in the Criminology: The Core textbook.

C - Geography 12 - Today we'll finish our look at the interior structure of the Earth. We'll watch a Brain Pop video on this along with the rest of the Amazing Planet DVD from National Geographic. You may use the Earth Interior web page to help with questions 7 & 8 from page 366 of your Geosystems text (answers can be found between pages 334 and 336 of the text). We'll then discuss the differences between Sial and Sima (continental and oceanic crust) along with figuring out what buoyancy and isostasy are. You'll need to complete question 9 from page 366 of the text (isostasy, isostatic rebound, and crustal equilibrium). If you need help look at the Geology for Kids web page, the flash animated movie on the Kids Know It network, or the enotes Isostasty: World of Earth Science page. If you missed it here's part of the the DVD

Monday, February 14. 2011

Today's schedule is D-C-A-B

D & A - Criminology 12 - Today we will be in the library working on our second journal / blog entry. Over the weekend I asked you to watch some television news broadcasts and see how many and what kind of crime stories they show. I asked you to do this because there is a direct link between perception of crime and what the news media portrays of crime. Remember the statistics I showed you about crime trends here in BC? So today I would like you to tell me what you think about crime trends here in Canada / B.C.

I want you to tell me if you think crime is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. I would like you to be specific in your thoughts (ex: if you think crime is increasing what kind of crime? what age group? where? why?) Outline the current trends in crime (age, economy, social problems, firearms availability, gangs, drug use and justice policy - p.37-8 in Criminology: The Core) and crime patterns (ecology, social class, age, gender, and race p.42-9 in Criminology: The Core). You may want to throw in a reason or two why you think that violence is over reported in the media and maybe consider explaining why that hurts rather than helps deal with crime. Next find a news story that helps to explain your ideas about crime trends, make a link to the news article on your blogsite and then tell me all about how that story exemplifies your thoughts on crime trends.
Stats Can Crime Trends (pdf document)

So on the weekend I asked you to watch the first ten minutes of local news broadcasts to check out crime related stories...
From KING5 (NBC Seattle) here are the top news stories from their website this morning:

Woman found dead in Tacoma apartment
Baby boom at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Suspected DUI driver crashes car into front yard
Fire races through homes on Yakama reservation
Obama sends Congress $3.73 trillion budget
Woman dies in Camano Island house fire
Clothing prices to rise 10 percent starting in spring
Still no sign of kayaker missing on Lake Washington
Produce prices skyrocket with freeze in Mexico, Southwest
FTD, Groupon offer flower refunds after getting complaints
Lady A wins record, song of year at the Grammys
Mom, baby critical after fire that killed two children
Liz Taylor remains hospitalized for heart failure
Man's body found 'stuffed' into car in Renton, police say

That would be 3 crime stories and 4 crime related stories

For Global BC here are the top stories from their website this morning:

Bouncer shot at Vancouver nightclub
Average BC home price jumps 11 per cent in January
PetroChina making $5.4-billion gas investment in NE BC
Fraser Valley inmate bites back after teeth pulled
Hotels and restaurants soaked by telephone prank
Bedbugs push athletes out of housing at Canada Games
Prince William chooses Harry as his best man: palace
Tories fast-tracking immigration applications, says MP
Obama unveils U.S. $3.73 trillion spending plan

That would be 1 crime story and 1 crime related story.

C - Geography 12 - Today we'll do a brief review of your first topographic map assignment. Here are a few webpages to help:
Natural Resources Canada Toporama
Reading Topographic Maps
Mount Union College Reading Topo Maps
United States Geological Survey Reading Topo Maps
Idaho State University Interpreting Topo Maps
Montana State University Interpreting Topo Maps
Natural Resources & Water Queensland Australia Interpreting Topo Maps pdf

After our review we'll shift into tectonics. OK Lets get this out of the way right now....No the movie the Core is not possible. We do not have the technology to burrow our way to the core of the earth and detonate a nuclear device in order to start the liquid outer core rotating. Today we start with tectonics and the internal structure/composition of the earth. We'll take some notes down in the week 3 package on core, mantle, and crust

University of Kentucky Earth Science Animation of Earth's Internal Structure
Annenberg Media Dynamic Earth Interactive

B - Earth & Space Science 11 - Thursday we started our first lab for the course (identifying minerals). Most of you finished the analysis of the minerals on the identification sheet. Today we'll finish the identification section and then work on the questions for the lab. The lab is due today (February 14) and it is IMPERATIVE that you get your work handed in. If you are having difficulty please see me before the end of class. Some of you also need to hand in your questions from page 43 in the text that I assigned earlier on last week (For Review q's 6-7-8-10-11-12)