Friday, December 16. 2011

Aaah today is the last day before Christmas Break here at Vanier. We have an altered schedule for the day that looks like this:

C Block 9:05-10:00
AG 10:05-10:15
D Block 10:20-11:15
Assembly 11:20-12:20
Lunch 12:20-1:00
A Block 1:05-2:05
B Block 2:10-3:15

C Block Law 9/10 - Today we will continue our look at crime scene investigation and you'll have time to work on your assignment in class; then we will watch the CSI episode "Burden of Proof" (Season 2 Episode 215). Don't forget that your Clue Us In crime scene assignment is due today.

D Block Social Studies 11 - Your "Cold War Flashpoints" activity where you will analyze the following four conflicts through a W5H approach: Korean War, Vietnam War, Suez Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis is due today. Remember that W5H = Who (countries & people) was involved; What happened during the conflict; When did the conflict take place; Where did the conflict break out and spread to; Why did the conflict occur; and How was Canada involved and affected by the conflict. While you're completing this we'll continue with the Atomic Cafe movie that we've been watching in class.

B Block Geography 12 - Today we will begin watching Twister; one of the greatest yet dumbest disaster movies of the 1990's. Your job is to identify as many errors in meteorology as possible AND you'll need to figure out which character is MOST like Mr. Young.

Some errors are easy - NO! It is not possible to survive an EF5 tornado strike above ground tethered to drainage pipes. Some are more subtle - the Fujita scale was introduced in 1971 and in the 1969 flashback scene (at the beginning of the film) the weather reporter on the television (portrayed by Oklahoma City KWTV 9 meteorologist Gary England) said an F5 tornado was about to strike...two years before the scale was introduced by Dr. Ted Fujita!

Now as to characters...as I said above there are bits of Mr. Young in most of the characters in the movie your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to figure out who Mr. Young is most like. The mission is not impossible so is it Dr. Jo Harding? Bill Harding? Dustin 'Dusty' Davis? Robert 'Rabbit' Nurick? Jason 'Preacher' Rowe? No, Mr. Young is not like Dr. Melissa Reeves or Dr. Jonas Miller so let's get that over with now :) Let's have some fun with the movie

Alan Ruck is Robert Nurick "Rabbit" (and Ferris Bueller's friend Cameron too!)
Bill Paxton is Bill Harding "the Extreme"
Helen Hunt is Dr. Jo Harding
Philip Seymour Hoffman is Dustin Davis "Dusty"

Thursday, December 15. 2011

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

D Block Social Studies 11 - Today we'll examine the Cold War in greater detail. We'll learn about the economic and political ramifications on Canada of an ideological conflict between the two superpowers. I hope you got a sense of the fear associated with nuclear war and communists (Senator Joseph McCarthy's communist witch hunt - the House Un-American Activities Committee which became known as the ideology of "McCarthyism"). We also took a look at the Truman Doctrine (President Truman pledged assistance to "free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures") which helps you understand your "Cold War Flashpoints" activity where you will analyze the following four conflicts through a W5H approach: Korean War, Vietnam War, Suez Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Remember that W5H = Who (countries & people) was involved; What happened during the conflict; When did the conflict take place; Where did the conflict break out and spread to; Why did the conflict occur; and How was Canada involved and affected by the conflict.

C Block Law 9/10 - Today we are back in the library to do one of two things...Either you may use the block to finish your Clue Us In crime scene reconstruction activity (which I'll be taking from you tomorrow) or you may work on the Rookie Training section of the Rice University CSI Web experience site. Don't forget that you should complete the training for Forensic Biology (DNA), Toxicology, Firearms and Toolmarks (Ballistics), Medical Examiner (Pathologist) and CSI Ethics FIRST. Eventually I'd like you to work through the intermediate case (Canine Caper). Rice University CSI Web Adventure site.


B Block Geography 12 - Today you have a unit final on weather...No problems! I am certain that you will do well on this test as you've shown me that you can read and interpret a weather map with greater ability than most news "weather forecasters". Tomorrow we watch the movie "Twister" and in the time remaining after the test you may work on your Okanagan Valley topographic map assignment that we began on Tuesday.

Wednesday, December 14. 2011

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

B Block Geography 12 - Today we will spend the entire class finishing our work on the Okanagan Valley topographic map out of the Canadian Landscape Air Photo & Topographic Map textbook. The map can be found on pages 27-31 of the text and you will need to work on questions 1 a-c, 2 i, ii & c, 3 a & b, 5 a, b, c, & d, 8, 9 a, b, c, and 11. This work needs to be finished for tomorrow's class and please do not forget our unit final tomorrow as well.

D Block Social Studies 11 - Today you have your World War Two unit final quiz. We'll mark the first two sections in class and then you will be working on a "Cold War Flashpoints" activity where you'll analyze the following four conflicts through a W5H approach: Korean War, Vietnam War, Suez Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. You'll have the next two classes to work on this and you'll have a few handouts to help. NOTE: W5H = Who (countries & people) was involved; What happened during the conflict; When did the conflict take place; Where did the conflict break out and spread to; Why did the conflict occur; and How was Canada involved and affected by the conflict.

We'll examine the Canadian involvement in the Korean War (from Vetrans Affairs Canada...The year is 1950. The Second World War is over. The United Nations has been in place for just five years, and is working to promote global peace and security. Canada is brimming with optimism as Canadians look forward to a prosperous and peaceful second half of the 20^th century. Suddenly, an international crisis is brewing in the Korean peninsula and people, the world over, are holding their collective breath. What happens next is history).

We'll then look at Lester B. Pearson the Suez Crisis and the creation of the UNEF (from the Dominion Institute Project...Although Canada had no direct economic, military or political stake in the crisis, Canadian Foreign Minister Lester Pearson became a front line player at the United Nations. Working intensely from the end of October into early November 1956, Pearson proposed the world’s first ever peacekeeping force at the UN General Assembly. Using his vast web of connections and decades of experience, he persuaded the world assembly to make the UN force a reality).

Next we'll look at the Cuban Missile Crisis (from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum...For thirteen days, the world waited, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. No one was sure how the Soviet leader would respond to the naval blockade and U.S. demands. Recognizing the devastating possibility of a nuclear war, Khrushchev turned his ships back. The Soviets agreed to dismantle the weapon sites and, in exchange, the United States agreed not to invade Cuba).

Last we'll look at the Vietnam War (from American Experience...in 1964 president Lyndon B. Johnson has the Gulf of Tonkin resolution passed that allows the US to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." The Resolution allows Johnson to wage all out war against North Vietnam without ever securing a formal Declaration of War from Congress). CBC has a good site dedicated to Canadian involvement in the war and you can find it HERE.

C Block Law 9/10 - Today we'll start with your next quiz in the course on crime scene searches and crime lab technicians. After the quiz we will continue our look at criminal forensics by looking at how investigators estimate time of death, how fingerprints are "lifted" at a crime scene (including what AFIS is), what the "Four T's" are for marks at a scene, how fibres are used, and what ballistics is. Friday we'll do our fingerprinting activity and Thursday we'll go to the library to work on the Rice University's CSI: The Experience Web Adventure.

Tuesday, December 13. 2011

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

C Block Law 9/10 - Today we'll be in the classroom and we'll examine the people who work in a forensic lab. The forensic scientists we'll look at today are:

Forensic Anthropologists
Forensic Biologists
DNA Specialists
Forensic Serologist
Forensic Botanists
Forensic Dendrologists
Forensic Chemists
Forensic Toxicologists
Forensic Odontologists
Forensic Entomologists
Forensic Geologists
Forensic Pathologists
Forensic Physicists
Ballistics Specialists
Forensic Psychologists
Fingerprint Analysts
Voice Identification Specialists
Forensic Artists
Document Examiners
Computer Forensic Specialist
Forensic Photographer

Check out SFU's "So you want to be a Forensic Scientist" webpage or check out the "All you ever wanted to know about Forensic Science in Canada but didn't know who to ask" booklet compiled by Dr. Gail Anderson and posted by the Canadian Society of Forensic Science. When we're finished you may continue working on your "Clue Us In assignment" (due on Thursday this week) and prep for your quiz tomorrow.

D Block Social Studies 11 - Today we'll finish our look at World War 2 by examining the effects of the war on Canada and then we'll prepare for tomorrow's unit final quiz. I'll have you work on three questions from the Counterpoints textbook and then watch the American Civil Defense video "Duck and Cover" along with a bit of the Atomic Cafe movie in class. The Atomic Cafe contains civil defense movies from the 1940's through the 1960's and will help you understand the culture of fear that developed throughout the Cold War. Today we'll watch the first few sections that deal with the Manhattan Project and the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

B Block Geography 12 - Today we will spend the entire class working on Okanagan Valley topographic map out of the Canadian Landscape Air Photo & Topographic Map textbook. The map can be found on pages 27-31 of the text and you will need to work on questions 1 a-c, 2 i, ii & c, 3 a & b, 5 a, b, c, & d, 8, 9 a, b, c, and 11. For an on line version of the map check out http://yellowmaps.com/topo/_kelowna_bc/index2.htm You will have today and Thursday to work on this assignment.

If you need help with topographic interpretation check out the following websites:
Understanding Topographic Maps
Topo 101 - Natural Resources Canada
Introduction to Topographic Maps - Idaho State University
United States Geological Survey Topographic Map site
Reading Topographic Maps Chapter 2 in NWCG PMS 475 "Basic Land Navigation"

Monday, December 12. 2011

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

B Block Geography 12 -

C - Geography 12 - Today is our LAST DAY in the library for our severe weather power point project. Remember that Discovery Channel has a great series called Raging Planet with some cool video footage that you could embed in your power point presentation here: Discovery Channel Raging Planet Your project will need to be submitted into the assignments directory at school NO LATER than Thursday, December 15th. This will give me enough time to have them marked before the Christmas Break. If you have completed the project or have some time during this block then I'd like you to take half an hour to play the game stop disasters. The scenario I would like you to work on is the Caribbean Island Hurricane. There is a population of 180 people in your town and you will need to develop some housing, a hospital, a school, and secure the boats in the harbour. You have a budget of $50,000 to work with and don't forget to develop some defenses to protect people, buildings, and livelihoods. When you click on an object square you will likely get three choices: info, develop, & defences. Read through your options and try to uncover all 15 key facts (which will give you extra points). When you finish keep a track of your highest score (you might get through two or three games) and respond to this post with things you learned and what your scores were. Have fun playing and learn something.

C Block Law 9/10 - Today we will spend the entire class in the library working on our crime scene reconstruction project. Don't forget that both the library and I have many books that you can use for your project. Please note that you have a quiz on crime scene searches on Wednesday and I would spend a bit of time reviewing pages 9-12 in the class booklet.

D Block Social Studies 11 - Today we'll begin with the last section of Schindler's list that we didn't get to on Friday. We'll then talk about the end of the war in Europe and switch our focus to the Pacific. We'll look at the Manhattan Project and the use of nuclear weapons in Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). This takes us to V-J Day and the end of World War Two. You'll have a unit final quiz on Wednesday in class and we'll review our chapter tomorrow.