Thursday July 19th 2013

Today's block order is F E H G

F/E Blocks  Criminology 12

Today we discussed the role of television and violence. It shocks me to this day some of the stuff that I watched as a child. The amount of violence is shocking. What were my parents thinking! We looked at some examples of videos that I watched as a child compared to what is on tv now for kids.

Students were responsible for the following assignment:

Find a individual who has been linked to a serious crime (ie. murder) who has blamed it on some form of media:

1. Give the name of the individual
2. What was the crime
3. What sentence was handed down
4. What evidence was used in court to convict this person
5. What was the defence used by the accused (how was the media blamed)
6. your opinion....do you think it was legit?

Homework   Post your response to this work on your blog!!!

H block  Socials 10

Collected the homework on the Perfect Vacation Brochure.
We discussed the use of climographs and then the students worked on Climographs for three local cities.
Due next class

G block  Socials 9

Today we had a discussion on the divisions that were appearing in the Catholic Church. The result of people being upset with the Catholic Church resulted in the beings of the Protestant Church. We discussed the differences between the two. Then the students wrote an open book quiz on the Middle Ages...or Chapter 1 as I call it.  The students were allowed to use their notes.
Finally we began the next chapter by having the students work on a map of England.

Wednesday September 18 2013

Today's block order is B A D C

B block   Socials 9

Today we discussed what society is like in our times. We separated society into three categories: Upper class/Middle class/Lower class. The students brainstormed what kinds of occupations/wealth/lifestyles would be accompanied in each category. It was a lively discussion on how to ascend from one category to the next.
We then started to look at what kinds of professions were available to people in the 16C. There was a comparison to the times during the English Revolution. The students were then given a Chapter 2 booklet and instructed to finish the first page for the next day.
We will look at society and religion next class.

C/D blocks    Law 12

Today the students worked on the Survivor Island project.

Tuesday September 18 2013

Today's block order E F G H

E/F Blocks

We had a discussion on the shooter in Washington that took the lives of 12 innocent people. We wondered why somebody would do something so horrible. Students did a great job of coming up with reasons to try and explain this rash behavior.
Today we focused on how and why the media misrepresents violence. Most Canadians learn about serious crime through the media rather than from first-hand experience. Stories in radio, tv and newspapers shape our views about crime and criminals. Writers of tv shows and movies use violence to attract viewers and to sell tickets. Newspaper editors and tv reporters select crime news to maximize ratings.

Today we looked at this media misrepresentation.

• top 10 list of most violent movies/video games
• search through local newspaper to find articles skewed for violence
• discuss the question....can the media cause crime/violence

G Block  Socials 9

Today we had a discussion on the divisions that were appearing in the Catholic Church. The result of people being upset with the Catholic Church resulted in the beings of the Protestant Church. We discussed the differences between the two. Then the students wrote an open book quiz on the Middle Ages...or Chapter 1 as I call it.  The students were allowed to use their notes.
Finally we began the next chapter by having the students work on a map of England.

H Block   Socials 10

Students continued to work on their Vacation Brochure Assignment. Due next class

Monday September 16 2013

Today's block order is A B C D

B Block   Socials 9

Today we had a discussion on the divisions that were appearing in the Catholic Church. The result of people being upset with the Catholic Church resulted in the beings of the Protestant Church. We discussed the differences between the two. Then the students wrote an open book quiz on the Middle Ages...or Chapter 1 as I call it.  The students were allowed to use their notes.
Finally we began the next chapter by having the students work on a map of England.

C/D Block   Law 12

Students were probed on their knowledge of the Rights that they feel they have in Canada. We discussed the purpose of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada. I made a list of the ten most important rights and freedoms and had the students rank their importance to them. This sparked an interesting debate as to which right should be the most important....it was Equality Rights... Next the students broke up into groups and worked on a Desert Survival assignment. This was a precursor for the project is coming later in the week. Let's just say that not many of us would survive any time in the desert.
Finally we went over the Survivor Island Project. I gave instructions of how I would like it to be completed along with a few examples from previous years. The class will have the next 3-4 periods to work on it.

Friday September 13 2013

Block order today is A B C D

B Block   Socials 9

Students were given some time to finish their Chapter 1 worksheet. We discussed all the different changes that occurred during the Renaissance. Students put these ideas into the four major headings:
Religious Change
Economy Change
Cultural Change
Science Change

Students then chose one of these four categories and explained which one they felt had the biggest impact on the Renaissance and why.
We also watched a video on the Middle Ages:




Block C/D  Law 12

Today students handed in their immigration write up. We talked about the different categories of law. The students were given a set of notes on the different categories. Then a Current Events Project was given. Students were given the rest of the class to work on it. Due date is November 15.

Thursday September 12 2013

Today's block order is F E H G

Block F/E  Criminology

Started the class by collecting the Venn Diagrams assigned last class.
Discussion on the following theories of crime:  Hargan's Varieties of Deviance, Consensus Theory and Conflict Theory.
Continued discussion on what is considered deviant. Students make a list of acts that are deviant but not criminal. Then made a list of acts that are criminal but not deviant.
Interesting discussion around this topic.
Finally we had a discussion around the topic of underage criminals. This was sparked by the murder of a 6 year old boy by a 11 year old by on a reserve near Regina. Newspaper article.

Block H  Socials 10

Finished our discussion on Scale and Latitude and Longitude. Students took notes from a powerpoint on the 5 Themes of Geography:

Location:  Absolute and Relative
Physical:  Physical and Cultural landscape
Regions
Movement of People, Ideas and Objects
Human/Environmental Interactions

Students were then given an assignment to choose a perfect vacation spot and create a brochure that incorporates all the 5 themes. Students will have next class to work on this as well.

Block G  Socials 9

Students were given some time to finish their Chapter 1 worksheet. We discussed all the different changes that occurred during the Renaissance. Students put these ideas into the four major headings:
Religious Change
Economy Change
Cultural Change
Science Change

Students then chose one of these four categories and explained which one they felt had the biggest impact on the Renaissance and why.
We also watched a video on the Middle Ages:

Wednesday September 11 2013

Today's block order: B A D C

B Block    Socials 9

Collected the map of Canada that was assigned last class. We are starting the first chapter of the year and it happens to be a look at the Modern Age. We discussed the word Change. The students created a top ten list of inventions/inventors.
We discussed this list and examined the impact some of these inventions have had on our lives. Next the students watched a youtube clip on inventions.
I handed out a worksheet on Chapter 1 that the students worked on for the remainder of class. It is not due next class. Students will have a bit more time to work on it.

D/C Block   Law 12

Today we went over the Canadian Criminal Code worksheet from last class. We then carried on our discussion about morals and the law. The students worked in small groups on an immigration assignments. The purpose of it was to discuss the reasons for allowing somebody to stay in the country or to deport them.
Once that was complete, the students were given a hand out to read on the Tamil Tigers who were were aboard a boat heading to the Canadian coast in 2010. The students were to read the article and decide what to do with these potential refugees. The assignment is to write a half page to three quarters page on why the people aboard this ship should be allowed to stay in Canada or be deported.