Friday, February 21. 2014

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

A Block Social Studies 11 - Yesterday we began a discussion on leadership and today it will be your job to create a job wanted poster / advertisement for the office of Canadian Prime Minister. Included in this will be an explanation of roles and responsibilities (including powers), qualities and characteristics, and experience. You'll have the class and some time tomorrow to work on this "Job Wanted" advertisement for the Prime Minister of Canada. On your wanted ad you will need to include:

1. Job description (role and powers that the PM has)
2. Job requirements (expectations and necessary capabilities)
3. Preferred personal characteristics (choose five qualities of leadership that we discussed and explain what they mean for a PM) and
4. Symbols (of Canadian identity)

This assignment is due Monday (February 24) so use your time wisely this weekend. For help look at:
Prime Minister of Canada
Canada Online Role of Prime Minister
All Experts Prime Minister of Canada

B Block Geography 12 - Yesterday we looked at magma, igneous rocks, and plutonic (intrusive) igneous rock features (both concordant and discordant features). 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. We will define contact, regional, and dynamic metamorphosism and you'll 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.

D Block Social Studies 10 - Today you can continue working on your five themes physiogeographic chart and then I'll have you work on questions 1-4 from page 28 of the Horizons text. After this we'll try to look at a big picture five themes question: How do people affect the natural regions of Canada? I'll have you work on questions 1 & 4 on page 32 of the Horizons text. Our focus will be on the Alberta Oil Sands and here are some web pages to help:
Government of Alberta: Alberta's Oil Sands
Canadian Geographic Alberta's Oil Sands
Greenpeace Canada Alberta's Oil Sands
Pembina Institute: Oilsands 101
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: What are Oilsands?

Explain the positive and negative impacts of oil extraction/production in northern Alberta. Do you think we should increase exploration and extraction of the oil sands? Why or why not?

Thursday, February 20. 2014

The schedule for today is D-AG-C-B-A

D Block Social Studies 10 - Today we will apply what we learned yesterday in class to the physical geography of Canada. I'll give you a five themes organizer / chart for the six physiogeographic regions of Canada. You'll need to use the Horizons textbook (pages 18–23) and I want you to consider which of the five themes of geography is being described for each region. On the handout I give you, categorize the information into the correct theme. Be sure to include at least one piece of information in each category. Some information may be appropriate for more than one category and may be reused, but be prepared to defend your decision. Let me give you an example...in the Appalachians section it indicates that the region covers the maritime provinces. So on the chart for the Appalachian region in the location column you'd put "the maritime provinces". That simple!

B Block Geography 12 - Today we'll work in our week 3 package 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). Before we do that let's see what Bill Nye has to tell us about Rocks and Soil...Bill?


A Block Social Studies 11 - Yesterday we looked at the qualities of leadership. I asked you to think about people who you would follow and describe what makes a good leader. Try to avoid confusing leadership with success and popularity. So in partners you brainstormed a list of people who you think make good leaders and today I need you to identify the qualities or traits of leadership that you admire or think are important. We'll pick up our discussion from yesterday and when we're finished going over your ideas work on the following questions:

1. What are your top five qualities of leadership? Explain them with examples to help.
2. How can leaders motivate people to follow them and get people to be involved in social issues?
3. What is the worst fault a leader can have? Why?
4. Can you be a good leader but not be a good communicator? Why or why not?
5. Why is it important to have a good leader as the Prime Minister of Canada?

Wednesday, February 19. 2014

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

B Block Geography 12 - Don't forget, you may use the Earth Interior web page or the Dynamic Earth webpage 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). After, we'll 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). We'll also transfer some notes into our week 3 package on the rock cycle and then we'll focus on igneous rocks and plutonic features.

If you need help look at the Geology for Kids web page, the flash animated movie on the Kids Know It network, or the e-notes Isostasty: World of Earth Science page.

A Block Social Studies 11 - Yesterday we looked at the Senate of Canada and you had a few questions on the Senate and Senate Reform to look at. Remember that the Senate plays an important role in the leadership of this country - just not as pronounced as the executive headed by the Prime Minister. Today I'd like to begin a discussion on the qualities of leadership. In essence I want you to think about people who you would follow and describe what makes a good leader. Try to avoid confusing leadership with success and popularity. So with a partner brainstorm a list of people who you think make good leaders and identify the qualities or traits of leadership that you admire or think are important. After we'll discuss your answers and if there is time, you may finish working on questions 1 & 2 from page 233 and question 7 from page 247 in the Counterpoints textbook on the Senate.

D Block Social Studies 10 - Today we'll continue to work on the foundations of Geography focusing on the Five Themes. In order to understand the increasingly complex and interconnected world we live in we need to find a way to make sense of information in a way that doesn't overwhelm us. The Five Themes (Location, Place, Human-Environment Interactions, Movement, and Regions) are a framework for making sense of geographic data. Yesterday we talked about Location and Place and today we'll finish the explanation of the themes. Lastly we'll deal with systems and spheres of geography and you should be caught up to grade 10 for geographic skills and content for Social Studies.

Tuesday, February 18. 2014

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

D Block Social Studies 10 - Today we'll continue to work on the foundations of Geography focusing on the Five Themes. In order to understand the increasingly complex and interconnected world we live in we need to find a way to make sense of information in a way that doesn't overwhelm us. The Five Themes (Location, Place, Human-Environment Interactions, Movement, and Regions) are a framework for making sense of geographic data. So today I'll go through the themes with you in the mapping essentials handout I gave you last week. Lastly we'll deal with systems and spheres of geography and you should be caught up to grade 10 for geographic skills and content for Social Studies. We'll be in the library on Monday through Wednesday next week to start work on our first project of the year (the physiogeographic regions of Canada).


A Block Social Studies 11 - Today we'll continue our look at the government structure we have here in Canada. Last Thursday I asked you to complete a cartoon of the legislative process (how a bill becomes a law) and today, if you need it, I'll give you time to continue this activity (it is due today). For the rest of today we'll finish our look at the legislative branch by examining the Senate. We'll understand the role of the Senate, figure out what patronage is and review the concept of senate reform. You'll need to work on questions 1 & 2 from page 233 and question 7 from page 247 in the Counterpoints textbook on the Senate. In order to help with question 7 we'll watch a short Brain Pop video on the "Branches of Government" in the U.S.A. in order to understand how their senate is different than ours. For a simple explanation you can look here or here or here.


B Block Geography 12 - 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 and then we'll watch the first 20 minutes of the Amazing Planet DVD from National Geographic. You may use the Earth Interior web page or the Dynamic Earth webpage 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).

Use this diagram for your notes in the week 3 package.