World-Civics-13th Sem

World History:  You received your graded QUEST today, it is also posted on power school. We went over the quest and then began the topic of expanding networks of exchange and population growth.  I have posted the power point that we will be using for the next couple class periods as we contemplate the BIG questions related to trade and population growth.  See the website for today's handouts and the BIG questions.  Cornell notes for Rome are due on Wed., and Han (China) on Thursday).  The pages to read are on the Cornell note taking document.  While we are focusing on our big questions in class, you need to be reading the text and completing the note taking for Rome and Han China this week.  Please adhere to the due dates.

Civics: You received your graded QUEST today, it is also posted on power school. In class we revisited the content from the foundations of government and continued with our coverage.  In class we formulated a time line for government evolution and looked at democracy in what is referred to as the, "Arab Spring."

The health care debate continues.. We will pick up with our topic on Tuesday.  Read the news, learn about the gridlock related to Obama care.. What is the position of the House & the Senate on the topic?

13th Seminar:  Trip to LTU today Meet at the Taubman Center off 10 mile road. The center is located at the back of the campus.  Our tour guide is Mark.

World-Civics-13th Sem

World & Civics:  You completed a quiz today. If you were absent you will make it up at lunch at an arranged time next week.  Grades are posted as of today.  Nice work!

No homework over the weekend.  Enjoy!

13th Sem: Career Cruising and draft essay.

Have a great weekend!

World- Civics-12th Focus

World History & Civics

Your first QUEST is tomorrow.  Check Monday's blog for stated topics and materials. World, add GGS.  You're ready to do fantastic work. Be sure to prepare and have usable materials organized.

World:  Informative assessment due when you enter.

Bring a #2 pencil and a pen.

12th Focus:  Mentoring is Friday. Today you received mentoring assignments.  Reflect on mentoring training.  You'll do great!

World-Civics

World History:  You viewed a segment from Jared Diamond's, Guns Germs & Steel. Think about the BIG question presented by Yali: Why do you white men have so much cargo and we so little?"  At the same time consider why the world over time has become so unequal.  The segment reveals some roots of inequality and ties that that to the type of farming, productive and non productive farming, and ultimately, geographic luck!  You were asked to complete film questions during the film.  Bring your completed questions to class tomorrow.

Be sure to work on your Informative assessment, it's due on Friday.  Also, there is a QUEST on Friday.  See blog post on Monday for details.

Civics: Our focus today was on public good and health care...we will continue this again after the quest.  Due tomorrow is the handout related to forms of government systems. Also, you should be preparing for Friday's Quest..  Check the blog from Monday for details.

World-Civics, 12th, Focus

World:  Great job deciphering the documents related to civilization.  As a result of the activity you should have a solid handle on what it takes to be a civilization while being able to produce some examples using Mesopotamia and Egypt.  You received an informative assessment to complete for Friday.  This INFORMATIVE is to be used as a study guide for Friday's QUEST.  See yesterday's blog post for your focus as you prepare and for details related to the format.  Review the material to date and begin preparing and completing the INFORMATIVE so that you are ready for Friday's Quest.  We will cover one final topic related to our current material tomorrow when we experience Jared Diamond's Guns Germs & Steel.
Civics:  Principles of Govt material was due today, you received credit.  Be sure to check yesterday's blog post for details about Friday's quest.  There are details and format information posted.  Nice job debriefing today.  Continue to review you material to date.  You were given a handout to day to use for part of chapter 2 in your text.  Actually 2.3-2.5: government systems & economic systems.  Complete that material for THURSDAY, you will receive credit and it is further application of what was covered today.  Remember to take control of YOUR learning journey.  We finished class by switching gears and addressing another preliminary step with health care for our public good focus. More on that tomorrow in class. For now, focus on reviewing the material to date and completing the systems assignment for Thursday.

12th Focus: Mentoring is on Friday. You completed mentoring training today and received mentor assignments.  Begin thinking about what your first mentoring experience will look like.  You also had a little more time to work on your career cruising.  If you have not turned in required forms (blue, yellow, green), please do so.  Next class is Thursday.

World:  In class today we discussed HOW to analyze primary source documents, then you were assigned a number from the Document package (receive last Friday), to complete according to the CHART categories.  The chart allows you to analyze the document according to some form.  Once the chart was completed for YOUR ASSIGNED documents, you were to answer the document questions on a separate piece of paper.  In addition, you were to answer I & II at the top of the handout..it reads HOMEWORK FOR EVERYONE.  Come to class tomorrow with your analysis and questions completed.  We will debrief and more on.  Remember, the framing question is:  What does it take to be a civilization? Do you see the TENANTS of civilization in the primary source documents?

If you were absent today, just pick a number 1-4 off the document sheet to complete. (we counted off in class).  With your assigned number and having to complete I & II, you will have 4 columns on the chart completed for tomorrow.

Friday there is a quiz/test on the material to date. Begin preparing.  You should review and study:
1. Cornell notes (PERSIAN) chapter 2
2. Reading and annotations from in class materials, and included discussion questions
-The Beginnings
-The Foragers
-Goucher
-What it takes to be a civilization
3. The positive and negatives of farming "T" chart.
4. Primary Source document analysis related to comparing civilization (river valley's)

The quiz/test (quest), will be in the format:  Some objective (multiple choice, matching), and some short answer essay. (typically the short answer essay look like the questions and entry/exit slips we do in class).

Civics: Due tomorrow is the reading & Cornell from Principles of government reading packet. Be sure you have fully completed the material.  In class today, we began exploring public good and whether or not health care is a public good.  Is it the charge of the government to provide health care to its citizens?  We headed to the lab to search for 5 health related headlines from credible news sources. Upon returning to class, we shared to obtain a pulse on the issue. Our discussion prompts were: What do you know about the health care reform law passed by Congress?, What are people most concerned about?, and What are the current challenges facing the American health care system? We will continue this journey tomorrow as we begin to acquire knowledge that will be eventually transferred in to a debatable topic.

On Friday there is a quiz/test (quest).  Be sure to begin your preparations by reviewing all materials to date.  Our topics thus far have been Power and Authority, and the Principles of Government.  Along with the text reading we have done a number of activities and reading to support the topic. Dig those materials out and review, and study the concepts. Be sure to review the power quotes, the philosophers along with any thought questions covered and exit slip content.

The quiz/test (quest), will be in the format: Some objective (multiple choice, matching), and some short answer essay. (typically the short answer essay look like the questions and entry/exit slips we do in class).

13th Seminar: College essay drafts were collected today, after small encounter of peer feedback.  We were briefly in the lab for career cruising and WSU came today for a college presentation.  You received documents to be signed and returned.  Technology form, bullying policy and concussion form.  All require signatures and must be returned. 

There is class on Friday!

World, Civics, 12th Focus

World: Our focus today was on What it takes to be a civilization.  After revisiting your poster overviews, we debriefed the reading and few questions; then identified the tenants, there are 7.  We will continue to work in the civilization context.  Plan for a quiz late next week, end of the week.  By Monday, you need to read the documents provided in class today. Our next step is to learn about civilization from the people who where there.  Come to class on Monday with the documents I asked you to read.  DO the BEST you can. 


Civics: Today we concentrated on developing our understanding of the principles of democracy.  We used Locke to gain understanding and used the terms; equality, inalienable rights, natural rights, & liberty.  Credit was given for reading, annotating and doing the 3 questions related to the biography on Locke.  (See website to access locke materials)  At the end of class you received an exit slip to check for understanding; in addition, you received a reading that is being put in place of chapter II; however you may consult with Chapter 2 for information. The material is on the principles of government. There are Cornell notes that go with the reading. The notes contain vocabulary.  The reading and Cornell Notes must be completed for full credit on TUESDAY.  Plan for a quiz end of next week.  Check the website for uploaded documents.  If the reading is not posted, it's not electronic and you will have to pick it up in the classroom.

12th Focus:  Continued with mentor training today and the career cruising.  You also received power school  updates.

World, Civics

World:  Our concentration today was on our framing question; What does it take to be a civilization.  You accumulated the remaining information for you PERSIA chart by journeying around the room and obtaining information from the visual snapshots of the river valley civilizations.  Prior to debriefing, you analyzed your chart and came up with a bulleted list of what you think it takes to be a civilization.  For this evening, I want you to continue to contemplate the framing question.  In addition, READ & ANNOTATE the handout, What Does It Take To Be a Civilization.  After reading and annotating, complete PART I only, the Debriefing questions.  DUE TOMORROW for credit  (If absent today, you can find the reading on the website).

Civics: In class we debriefed Machiavelli and implemented the terms of state of nature, natural rights, soveriegnty,.... we also revisited the philosophers to discuss whether or not people could be trusted to govern based upon their theories.  Consider power: How to get it, use it and keep it.  Finally, in class we began taking a closer look at LOCKE.  For tonight READ/ANNOTATE the LOCKE biography and complete the 3 bullet questions.  Due for homework credit.  We will finish up with Lock tomorrow.  Be sure to review your material to date. Plan for a quiz on the material NEXT WEDNESDAY.
Have a nice day.

World-Civcs-12th Focus

World: Upon entry, you completed an entry slip on farming.. whether or not is was a good idea.  You made a claim, and supported that with detailed evidence.  It was collected, read, commented and returned.  The focus today was, PERSIA(N), related to the River Valley's.  You collaborated in your small team, then formulated a visual snapshot of your assigned river valley. Our framing question is:  What does it take to be a civilization?  We will continue tomorrow.  There will be a brief time in class to put finishing touches on your visual, then you will begin to accumulate the necessary information as you interpret the other visual river valley's.  For tonight, review material to date.  Be prepared to show an solid understanding of the river valley's tomorrow in class.

Check power school for grade updates!

Civics:  We continued with POWER today and viewed it through the the lens of Machiavelli and some of the concepts present in his book known as the Prince.  We debriefed the quotes and  your interpretations and you showed an understanding of Power, where you get it, what to do with it and how to keep it from Machiavelli's perspective, then you viewed a short video clip on the PRINCE so that you could see the application of the concepts to real world politics.  For tomorrow you are to complete the questions that followed the Machiavelli quotes. Also, review the vocabulary in the packet containing power quotes (state of nature, natural rights...) .  Finally, be sure you have an understanding on the "philosophers" regarding whether or not people can be trusted to govern.  Ie:  Consider Hobbes, Locke... Check your chart. Be able to support your claim related to whether or not people can be trusted to govern.

12th Focus: 1/2 Mentoring prep - Awareness of Self/Self Image, Lab for career cruising & google account.  There was discussion related to Fun Friday.  See Ms. R. Vinter for info.

World History, Civics, 13th Seminar

World: Our framing questions today: Was farming a good idea?  What does it take to be a civilization?  We read together and annotated a reading, Was Farming A good Idea?  We then complied a "T" chart indicating the positives and negatives of farming.  Nice job with this. Be sure you can respond to a prompt: Was farming a good idea?  You should be able to take a position and support that position with details.  For tomorrow, you are to review your material to date on river valleys.  Today you were assigned ONE OF THE FOUR River Valleys.  You are to do a PERSIA analysis on the chart provided on your assigned river valley.  COME TO CLASS WITH THAT COMPLETED.  Yes it is homework. 

* (1st period only) YOU WILL BE MEETING IN ROOM G221 (WITH MR. BASHI) FIRST PERIOD ONLY.  I have a  meeting to attend in the morning, and Ms. Bashi is covering my class.  When there, you will work in your assigned river valley team to collaborate on the information you complied on your chart.  Together you will begin to create an informational poster which reflects the tenants (PERSIA)(N) of your civilization.  You will be provided with necessary materials.  Work diligently and complete your task in class tomorrow.

Cornell notes were credited and returned today.  Some were good, others were not.  Check power school end of today/tomorrow, for grade updates.

Civics: We continued with power and authority today.  What it is, how to get it and how to keep it.  In class you deciphered the philosophers related to the foundations of power, considered the state of nature and natural rights.  Framing question from this activity: Can people be trusted to govern themselves?  For this evening, read and complete the Machiavelli quote and interpretations due tomorrow for class.  Please review the material to date. We will continue with this material tomorrow, please come prepared.


13th Semiar:  Internship inventory was taken today. Also a CMU rep was here.  See you Friday.  Remember, it is a special event day and you are asked to be here for the day, although you are only required to attend 12:50-2:50.

World, Civics, 13th Seminar

World:  Cornell notes were collected today, I will return them on Monday.  We continued to discuss and explore why farming is important and why if, hunting and gathering was so great, Farming developed.  In class, we used the Goucher reading about early agriculture to learn and embrace a theory about agriculture, how it was an accident and how it developed in places other than the river valleys.  We wrapped up by reviewing the focus questions for the reading.  There is no homework, except in 4th period, we did not finish the debriefing, so could you please do finish those questions.  On Monday, we will pick up with an analysis of farming and hunting & gathering and the river valleys. (Handout, please pick up on the classroom.)

Civics:  Cornell notes were credited today. We also debriefed the content.  Although we are moving on, we will continue to develop the ideas set forth related to power-authority and politics.  At the end of class, we began exploring the questions, can people be trusted to govern?  You received a packet of information for analysis and you were assigner one philosopher. Please take the time to read your bit, answer the 3 focus questions and transfer the information onto the chart provided at the back of the packet.  We will continue with this quest on Monday.  Philosophy Document can be found on the website.

13th Seminar:  Received info related to Senior photos, internship, teach-ins.... If you were absent, :(, you missed out.  Class again on Monday.

World, Civics, 12th Focus

World History:  Due tomorrow for homework credit are the Cornell Notes for Ch. 2.  If you need additional sheets to write on, just use your own paper and attach. Remember, the goal is to gain an understanding of What it takes to be a civilization.  We completed the foragers reading and discussion and compiled a preliminary list on what it takes to be a civilization. I made clear that the list will be modified and condensed, so be patient.  Nevertheless, you have a start point. 

Civics: Due tomorrow for homework credit are the Cornell Notes for Ch. 1. We continued with power and authority today.  By analyzing the "power quotes" you were to gain a better understanding of the relationship between power and authority.  Consider the current situation with Syria and today's NYT OP ED from Russian's Vladimir Putin. (Provided the reading in class for you to read.  We will explore that first thing tomorrow.  If you don't have it, google it).  We discussed the significance of the United Nations, looked at the structure and function, (World peace and security) and zoomed in on to the Security Council.  15 members, 10 rotate, 5 permanent (US, UK, France, Russia, China).  ONLY the five permanent members have veto power. Also, we provided an understanding related to the significance of the Security Council (politics-power-authority), and compared it & the entire UN to the failed League of Nations.  We will finish up power and authority tomorrow and prepare to begin a new topic for Monday.

12th Focus:  Building and Helping Relationships, communication.  Also lab work related to establishing a Gmail contact list,  career cruising & Power School.  See you on Tuesday.

World History, Civics

World:  In class we spent time sharing with a partner the reading and annotations related to the Prequel.  You then compiled a main idea list which we debriefed while gaining a pulse on annotations.  We spent time on modeling the foraging reading and will continue tomorrow as we move into our focus on farming (agriculture). Continue working on the reading and Cornell for chapter 2.  The assignment is due on Friday.

Civics:  We continued with power and authority today.  Taking time to listen and analyze the Presidential speech with respect to power, authority and the Constitution was an excellent teachable moment for Art.2: Executive Power. We had a spirited discussion related to Syria and the government's current foreign policy and push for diplomacy.  There was time to begin interpreting with a buddy the power quotes but you probably have not finished, but we will do so in class tomorrow.  Continue to work on your reading assignment and Cornell notes due for Friday.  More on power and authority tomorrow.  Remember, pay attention to your world!

Have a great day!!

World-Civics-12th Focus

World History: Today we continued with Subsistence and Adaptation.  We discussed food getting patterns (posted), and began to think about civilization.  You viewed seven minutes of Gods Must Be Crazy to obtain a visual about civilization and to begin contemplating what it takes to be a civilization. In 4th period, we need to finish the segment.  For tomorrow, you should have the prequel reading read and annotated.  Although we began an in-class annotation on Foraging... it is NOT homework. We will continue with that in class too.  In addition, you should be working on your Cornell Notes for the Ch. 2 Assignment.  I will provide further explanation tomorrow. 

Civics:  Today we focused on POWER and AUTHORITY.  You finished viewing the Lord of the Flies Clip to gain an understanding of Power, it's form, how to gain it and how it becomes evil.  The understanding of power is essential for Civics.  Be sure to view the President's speech on Syria tonight at 9:00 p.m.  Think about how the use of power is being utilized. Due Friday are the Cornell notes for Chapter 1 (1.0-1.5).  Be certain that you are working on that assignment.

12 Focus:  Meet in the classroom first, then it's off to J294.  More on Mentoring next time.

Enjoy your day!

World History, Civics

World History: Today we finished up introducing the idea of scaling (zooming), periodization... We also began exploring the concept of subsistence. Do you remember what the terms mean and why they are important?  We will continue with Subsistence tomorrow.  In the meantime, begin reading and annotating the Prequel reading. It's completion is due on Wednesday at the start of class.  The reading is not electronic, so you will need to come to class to fetch it.  Have a nice day!

Civics: Today we began exploring POWER.  (WE WILL REVISIT THE CITIZENSHIP SURVEY SOON).  We began with a power assessment, then, you viewed a segment from Lord of the Flies to gain a visual of POWER.  You might be able to get the 27 min clip on YouTube. We used discovery education streaming. If you cannot access it from home, you can in school because I have an account.  The handout given in class today will be posted on the website later today.We covered the warm-up and group collaboration.  You received a CORNELL NOTE ASSIGNMENT related to learning and processing information.  That too will be posted.  Reading, chapter 1.0-1.5 & Cornell notes will be due on Friday.  More on POWER tomorrow.  Enjoy your day!

13th Seminar: Meets in B108 today

Welcome to the 2013 school Year

Welcome to World History, Civics, Seminar and 12th Focus. It's going to be a fantastic year.  Beginning next week I will post to the blog daily so that you remain informed about what we are doing in class.  Until then, have a fantastic weekend.