Thursday, January 19. 2012

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

D Block Social Studies 11 - Yesterday I had a chance to watch a brilliant commercial about access to fresh water from World Vision

FYI: World Vision is a non-profit organization (however it is denominational - Christian) that works in three areas for the developing world: disaster management, development assistance and advocacy (human rights, economic justice and peace).

Today we'll take a look at the Human Development Index which focuses on health, poverty and hunger, education, and environmental issues in countries around the world. Don't forget a good resource is the UNDP HDI Report. We'll take a few notes down on HIPC's (Highly Indebted Poor Countries) and the cycle of poverty looking at two power points about material wealth and food (based on photography from Peter Menzel). Later we will make a connection between the social problems (gender, health, children, etc.) in HIPC's with economic development. We will examine traditional economies which are based in primary industries and subsistence farming and compare those with developing and developed economies.

There is an excellent news story on the CNN Freedom Project called Chocolate's Child Slaves.

From the CNN site: It may be unthinkable that the chocolate we enjoy could come from the hands of children working as slaves. In the Ivory Coast and other cocoa-producing countries, there are an estimated 100,000 children working the fields, many against their will, to create the chocolate delicacies enjoyed around the world.

This story is a good example of the social problems associated with development and the reliance upon monoculture for economies in developing countries. More on this tomorrow.

C Block Law 9/10 - Today we'll continue our work from yesterday on trials in BC and courtroom procedures. After we'll review the three court levels in BC (Provincial Court, Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeals). As a class we'll collectively complete questions 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, and 26 of the assigned question handout. Don't forget that on Monday you’ll have your final quiz. While you work on the questions, I will put on a video to help you with the answers .

B Block Geography 12 - Today we've got the portable lab back in the class for our second day for your final small project. Remember that you need to create a case study and I'd highly suggest that you look at previous examples on the Ministry of Education Exam Site. Take a look at yesterday's blog site entry to find out more information on the questions and how you need to ask them...

Using your understanding of Geography and the Data provided:

1. Describe the (physical and natural characteristics of your chosen area or the factors that lead to the problem at hand)
2. Explain how humans have (contributed to the problem or have affected the environment)
3. Suggest (solutions to the problem or reasons why the problem is so difficult to solve)