Tuesday, November 19 - Friday, November 22. 2019

Hi Family.

As you already know, I will be in Ottawa for the rest of the week doing some pretty awesome geography things. Mr. Morgan will be with you for this week and he's pretty stoked to work with you. Here's what to expect:

A Block Physical Geography - Tuesday is a work block to get caught up on your gradation unit in preparation for your unit final...you know your Medicine Hat topographic map lab along with your work on glaciers, deserts and oceans too. Wednesday is your Gradation unit test. Your first order of business is to relax and then dazzle me with what you know. Answer every question and if you're confused about anything ask for clarification. Make sure you understand what each question is asking of you. Breathe. You have the entire block if you need it (you won't) and if you need to write into lunch you may do so. Friday we'll look at the composition and vertical structure of the atmosphere focusing on the bottom two layers (Troposphere and Stratosphere) through this we'll complete the Atmosphere in the Vertical activity along with a few questions on the atmosphere. The atmosphere can be divided into layers based on the atmospheric pressure and temperature profiles (the way these quantities change with height). Atmospheric temperature drops steadily from its value at the surface, about 290K (63°F; 17°C), until it reaches a minimum of around 220K (–64°F;–53°C) at 6 mi (10 km) above the surface. The atmosphere has 4 layers: the troposphere that we live in near the surface of the earth; the stratosphere that houses the ozone layer; the mesosphere, a colder and lower density layer with about 0.1% of the atmosphere; and the thermosphere, the top layer, where the air is hot but very thin.

B Block Human Geography - On Tuesday we'll look at the Key Question: Why Do Religions Organize Space in Distinctive Patterns? We'll look at places of worship, organizational structure, holy places, calendars, and cosmogony. Generally speaking universalizing religions are more likely to consider places holy that are associated with key events in the founder’s life, whereas ethnic religions’ holy places are tied to physical features present in their hearths, such as mountains, rivers, or rock formations. So here are a few things to consider:




On Wednesday and Friday we'll look at the key question "Why Do Territorial Conflicts Arise Among Religious Groups"?  It probably comes as no surprise that various conflicts have occurred between religions and governments and between governments or ethnicity using religion as an excuse. On Wednesday we'll watch the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown episode on Jerusalem

Bourdain's words...

“One can be forgiven for thinking, when you see how similar they are, that two peoples, both of whom cook with pride, eat with passion, love their kids, love the land in which they live or the land they dream of returning to, who live so close, who are locked in such an intimate, if deadly, embrace, might somehow, someday, figure out how to live with each other? But that would be very mushy thinking. Those things, in the end, probably don’t count for much at all.”

We'll try to understand religious conflict on Friday with four examples:

1. Hinduism, the Caste System and social equality (tradition vs modernism);
2. The "Troubles" in Northern Ireland (sectarian violence Catholic vs Protestant);
3. Jerusalem (symbolic significance); and
4. China, Tibet and the Dalai Lama (religion, culture, language, environment, oppression and control)

C/D Blocks Environmental and Social Sciences - On Tuesday I would like you to look through the linked articles on the pros and cons of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (below)

For Trans Mountain Expansion
TMX benefits us all
TransMountain Project Benefits
Economic Benefits of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

Against Trans Mountain Expansion
Georgia Strait Alliance
Wilderness Committee No Trans Mountain
Faces of the resistance: Six pipeline opponents on why they oppose the Trans Mountain expansion 
Globe & Mail What the Trans Mountain pipeline will mean for the coast
The Narwhal Trans Mountain Pipeline
Ecojustice
Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust initiative

Balanced (for and against)
The cases for and against approving the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
Trans Mountain pipeline: Some of the main arguments for and against it

I also have you watch the Living Salish Sea video from the 37-minute mark to the 1 hour and six-minute mark.

This Living Salish Sea from Oceanus on Vimeo.

You'll have a brief discussion on the video after determining point of view and perspective (clearly it is anti-Trans Mountain expansion). Your activity will be to write a formal opinion letter to your Member of Parliament (either Rachel Blaney or Gord Johns) concerning your opinions on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion...and yes, we really will be sending them! You should consider how to craft a formal letter, so what do you need to include (it should include hard data to back up their opinions) and what kind of language should you use (your rough draft will be due when I return next Monday).
DOs and DON'Ts of academic writing
Writing a Letter to Your MP
Contact Your MP or MLA

On Wednesday, you're with Benton for the double block. On Friday, for the first block you'll be in the library/learning commons to do research/prep for next block’s classroom discussion. The second block you'll will be engaging in a conversation/discussion on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion which Benton will prep you for on Wednesday and will lead you through on Friday.