Citizenship Test

Friday October 29, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                               Monday November 1, 2010 – Period 2

Today ends our second 4-week cycle. You need to have completed the following for your class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads). All posts must be completed by Saturday 10/30 afternoon.

Today we took a sample 35-question citizenship test. We corrected our answers in class and compared our results. Scoring would be as follows: 21 answers correct = 60%, 25 answers correct = 71%, 28 answers correct = 80%, 32 answers correct = 91%.

We ended class with an introduction to political parties. Political parties serve to link the public with its elected leaders. The United States has two major parties, Democratic and Republican parties. Minor parties do exist in the United States but they have been unable to compete successfully for governing power. We examined the state of New York’s governor race. In the New York Governor campaign, all seven major and third-party candidates faced off at Hofstra University on Long Island. Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Cuomo debated with Republican candidate Carl Paladino, Charles Barron of the Freedom Party, Kristin Davis of the Anti-Prohibition Party, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, Warren Redlich of the Libertarian Party, and Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party. The candidate who stole the show in the gubernatorial debate was Jimmy McMillan. Below is a short video produced by the New York Post on the debate and who is Jimmy McMillan?

Chapter 7 Civic Participation

Wednesday October 27, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                      Thursday October 28, 2010 – Period 2

Reminder to post to our class wiki. This week is week 4 of our second 4-week cycle. Class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads). All posts must be completed by Friday 10/29.

We completed our coverage on political socialization with peer groups which help to maintain existing opinions, political leaders and institutions can guide opinion formation, and churches which can shape political and social perceptions.

We read “A School for Iqbal” article and identified forms of civic participation found in the article. We watched a short video clip on Craig Kielburger, who created an international human rights movement called Free the Children after reading a story about Iqbal.

We ended the class period with an exercise that applied the 15 forms of civic participation to six different situations.

Chapter 7 Notebook Guide Homework: 7.4 and Processing

Political Socialization

Monday October 25, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                            Tuesday October 26, 2010 – Period 2

Reminder to post to our class wiki. This week is the beginning of week 4 of our second 4-week cycle. Class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads). All posts must be completed by Friday 10/29.

Each student had their Chapter 5 Notebook assignment graded while the class worked on the Chapter 7 preview activity.

For our Capter 7 preview activity we looked at a form of civic participation that helped draw attention to a societal problem in the 1960s: the lack of civil rights for African American citizens. In this chapter, we will examine the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and look at how some Americans have effectively used civic participation to address problems facing their communities, their country, and the world.

We took notes on the process by which individuals acquire their political views and opinions called political socialization. This process begins in childhood, when, through family and school, Americans acquire many of their basic political values and beliefs.

Parent Teacher Conference

Thursday October 21, 2010 & Friday October 22, 2010

Thanks to all the parents and guardians that came to our parent teacher conference.

Amendments 1-10

Wednesday October 20, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                      Thursday October 21, 2010 – Period 2

Reminder to post to our class wiki. This week is the end of week 2 of our new 4-week cycle. Class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads). Chapter 5 notebook guide is due on Monday 10/25. Wiki is due on Friday 10/29.

We took notes on the first ten amendments of the Constitution.

Chapter 5 Bill of Rights

Monday October 18, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                            Tuesday October 19, 2010 – Period 2

Reminder to post to our class wiki. This week is the end of week 2 of our new 4-week cycle. Class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads).

Chapter 5 notebook guide was distributed and will be due on Monday 10/25.

We took notes on how the Bill of Rights protects individual civil rights and civil liberties. In our activity, we  will examine some cases that involved a conflict of rights between two individuals or between an individual’s rights and the government’s need to protect society. Students were to complete the table on Notebook Handout 5 in class.

Chapters 3 and 4 Quiz

Wednesday October 13, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                      Thursday October 14, 2010 – Period 2

All late assignments and make up tests/quizzes are due tomorrow 10/14. Reminder to post to our class wiki. This week is week 2 of our new 4-week cycle. Class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads).

Today the class took a quiz over chapters 3 and 4.

We concluded the period with a follow up to our SSA Research citation lesson/activity. Today we practiced writing citations with the author in reference and the author in text.

Chapters 3 and 4 Review

Monday October 11, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                            Tuesday October 12, 2010 – Period 2

All late assignments and make up tests/quizzes are due on Thursday 10/14. Reminder to post to our class wiki. This week is week 2 of our new 4-week cycle. Class wiki: author 2 news article posts, author 1 thread (can be on a news article, current event, or topic covered in class), and author 3 comments (reply to three of your classmates’ threads).

Chapter 4 notebook guide was graded while the class did a review worksheet over chapters 3 &4.  There will be a quiz over chapters 3 and 4 on Wednesday 10/13.

We did a SSA Research lesson on MLA intext citations for the last half hour of class.

Chapter 4 Seven Articles of the Constitution

Monday October 4, 2010 – Periods 1, 5, 7                                                                              Tuesday October 5, 2010 – Period 2

Students completed their Constitution worksheet by identifying the article and section of the Constitution that would answer 20 given scenerios. We then corrected our worksheets and put the handout into our notebooks. This activity will acquaint us with the rules and operations of the U.S. government as enumerated in the U.S. Constitution.

We continued with our social science analysis work and looked at research. Students were introduced to the components of research with a sample short essay.

Students were assigned Chapter 4 notebook guide and reminded this week begins a new 4 week cycle for our class wiki.