Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Today, you explored the media, pressure groups and lobbyists and their role in a democracy. We also touched on media bias and then had to write an editorial where media bias was present. This assignment is due tomorrow. If you weren’t here read your green book to get this info (pages 1 – 30). Keep in mind that you have a democracy and interwar year exam on Thursday, March 12. Also, News Bureau happens tomorrow.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Monday, March 9, 2009

Today you will examine the role of political parties within a democracy. You will examine the platforms of political parties (see the website http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/2008-election-campaign-political-party-platforms
You will then be asked to create a political party based on the following criteria: economy, environment, health care, social justice.
You will also have to answer the following questions:
* where would you fit your party on a political spectrum
* What are your justifications for the stance you take on the issues
* Would you expect party members to “tow the party line?”

Friday, March 6, 2009

Friday, March 6, 2009

Hand in news bureau hard copy and then discuss the one most important thing they remember from their own country.
The lesson today is on American forms of government. If you miss the lecture, consult your green paged booklet and read/study pages 26 to 29.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Today, many buses are not running. If students are here, we will discuss the U.N.s decision to lay charges on a sitting public official in Darfur.. If you are not here, see what you can find (the announcement came out yesterday in the news so was probably actually decided on March 3).

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Wednesday, March 3, 2009

The buses are not running today; however, we are still doing news bureaus and looking at some of the major news of the day. Additionally, your first exam will be on Thursday, March 12 (M.C) and an essay on March 16. To do well, you need to have studied pages 1 to 29 in the handout booklet (green with gray cover) that I provided you, as well as the history of WWI up to but not including WWII. You will also need to study and consider the notes given to you by Mr. Hutchison.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Create party trading cards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p6T8A6sHR4 coalition video
httr)://www.voutube.com/watch?v=vilyhp- x7A&feature=related

Objectives and Purpose:(Alberta ed, curriculum outcomes; expectations)
-work effectively with others in a group setting to reach consensus or compromise
- Intellectual curiosity , open-mindedness and interest in current issues related to political
and economic systems
- Students will model the actions of our parliament gaining a better understanding of how it
works

Materials:
Party trading cards
You tube video
Notes hand out
Anticipatory Set: ("Hook"; motivation to learn the lesson; activate prior
knowledge) We will watch the you tube video (mercier)

Modelling :( implement the lesson, material, strategy, etc.) I will then give
the class a brief lecture.
(e.g. The purpose of the coalition, reasons it fell apart) We will then watch
the you tube video on coalition Students will then be given different colour cards (3\8th will be blue,2/8th green,
2\8th red, 1 \8 orange) each card will have an objective on the back,
teams will have to form a majority in order to meet that objective. Each color team will work together and negotiate with the other color teams until a majority is formed
Guided Practice: Each color team will work together with another color team to pass there bill until a majority is formed.
Independent Practice: Students will then be given a reflection sheet. This sheet will help guide student learning and reflection and aid them in processing the lesson and concepts to be learned
Closure: I will conclude the lesson by reviewing the lesson and conducting a discussion with the class about their reflection paragraphs

Reflection Questions

1) Through this process what were some advantages and disadvantages you
were able to see with a minority government?
2) Do you think that in a minority government the government is held
accountable?
3) Do you think that the opposition parties have a voice in the House of
Commons?
4) Are coalition governments a good or a bad thing? Explain

Monday, March 2, 2009

Monday, March 2, 2009

Today, you will learn about philosophers who were important to the development of political systems. These include Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu. As an assignment you wre asked to relate these philosophers and their ideologies to political figures, countries and parties today.