February 11

IB 30/35

We watched a documentary on the usage of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Don't forget that you have a test on Wednesday on the Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars Test, which covers the Interwar Years, WWII, the Chinese Civil War, and the Spanish Civil War. You were given a study guide for this test last week.

SOCIAL 10-1

I went through the Unit 1 Infographic Assignment today (its' due on February 21st). We also started the film study of "Whale Rider", which is an excellent film for demonstrating the concept of collective identity. Your Chapter 2 Key Terms and Questions are due on Wednesday, February 12th. On Wednesday, you're writing the World Geography Test on Wednesday, please see the study guide below.

SOCIAL 10-1 WORLD GEOGRAPHY TEST STUDY GUIDE:

This test will take place on Wednesday, February 12th. It is simply a country and capital cities identification test. You will be given a world map with certain countries, capital cities, and places identified and you need to be able to write out what country it is. Here are the countries that may appear on the test:

• any of the EU countries (there are 27 countries in the EU)
• any of the NATO countries (there's some overlap here with the EU, but not all EU countries are members of NATO)
• any of the G8 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom
• full members of MERCOSUR: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and other associate members or countries that are achieving membership in MERCOSUR, such as: Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador
• to ask you to know ALL of the countries in the African Union would be cruel, so we'll focus on countries that came up last year or will likely be in the news this year: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan
• other very important countries that will be in the news this year, or that we'll be talking about, or get mentioned in your textbook: Cuba, Mexico, China, India, Myanmar (Burma), Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel
• **BIG HINT: if a country is a member of a few of these international organizations then there's a STRONG possibility that they will be on the test!!**

Please use the following links for studying for this test:

• World Geography Games
• Test Your Geography Knowledge
• Maps.com Online Games (the "Find It" games are excellent!)

SOCIAL 30-1

We finished a film study today on "Sicko", which we should be able to finish tomorrow. I collected the  Unit 1 WRA I Chart Assignment is due on Tuesday, February 11th. On Wednesday, you will be writing the Chapter 1-2 Test on Wednesday, February 12th, please see the study guide.

CHAPTER 1-2 TEST STUDY GUIDE:

The Chapter 1-2 Test is on Wednesday, February 12th. It is a mixed format test, it will have a matching section and a short/long answer section. Here is what you should review/study for this test:

Chapter 1 and 2 Key Terms/Concepts:

• ideology
• Thomas Hobbes
• John Locke
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• representative democracy
• individualism
• collectivism
• private property
• public property
• ideology
• radical
• liberal
• moderate
• conservative
• reactionary
• communism
• socialism
• liberalism
• conservatism
• fascism
• adherence to collective norms
• economic freedom
• economic equality
• rule of law
• competition
• individual rights and freedoms
• cooperation
• self-interest
• Adam Smith

Other Study Tips:

• you must know the 19th century political spectrum and the 20th century political spectrum
• know similarities and differences between communism and fascism
• what are the differences between communism and socialism
• be able to label political and economic spectrums and the values associated with these ideologies
• be able to label the political-economic grid and know examples of the ideologies in the quadrants (study the Ideology Notes and the notes I gave you in class)
• know the differences between individualism and collectivism, be able to apply your understanding of these concepts
• know the key ideas associated with Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau (for example, view of the nature of human beings, etc.)

Unit 1 Final Exam Study Guide:

The Unit 1 Final is a 55 question multiple choice test. It will be written on Tuesday, February 18th. Make sure that you study the following:

• Chapter 1 and 2 Key Terms (please see the Chapter 1-2 Test Study Guide for a list of terms) 
• Study the Ideology Notes (Black Gold School District PDF file, on the Social 30-1 wiki, and in your study booklets)
• Study the 19th Century Political Spectrum
• Study the 20th Century Political spectrum
• Study the political-economic grid
• Know the values and ideas associated with the various ideologies (on the 19th century and 20th century spectrums)
• Study the principles of individualism (PRICES) and principles of collectivism (PRINCE)
• you need to be able to apply your knowledge and understanding of these concepts/ideas
• there are a lot of source-based questions on this exam! (there are references to Nazi Germany, the USSR)
• know the key ideas associated with Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau (for example, view of the nature of human beings, etc.)

November 14

Social 20-1

You finished watching "White Light/Black Rain" today. You had time to work on your Chapter 7 Key Terms and Questions, they are due on Monday, November 18th. If you had finished these key terms and questions, you could have moved on to working on your Chapter 8 Key Terms and Questions.

Social 30-1

You wrote your Chapter 7 Test today. Once I'm back in Calgary, I'll post the results on PowerSchool.

IB 30/35

You worked on your Paper 1 Assignment today in the Red Lab. You'll also be working on this tomorrow. Please remember that the Paper 1 Assignment is due on Friday, December 6th.

November 13

Social 30-1

You started your film study of "Good Night, and Good Luck" today. You'll finish off this movie on Friday. Please remember that you have your Chapter 7 Test tomorrow, see the study guide below.

CHAPTER 7 TEST STUDY GUIDE:

It is a multiple choice test with 50 multiple choice questions. Please make sure that you have read Chapter 7. Here are some other study tips:

• study "The Origins of the Cold War" (ppt)
• study all notes on the Origins and Causes of the Cold War
• study notes on the Korean War
• study notes on the Cuban Missile Crisis
• study notes on the Vietnam War (see notes package and Vietnam War booklet, and the notes that I sent to you on the Vietnam War)
• make sure that you know all the Cold War Concepts (deterrence, detente, brinkmanship, etc.)
• know the chronology of events of the Cold War (study the Cold War timeline)
• know key events that we've emphasized in class (for example: Berlin Airlift, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War) plus other key events from the timeline
• know major arms reduction agreements (bilateral agreements and multilateral agreements)
• know about the formation of alliances (NATO, Warsaw Pact) and the formation of "spheres of influence" (Eastern Europe for example)
• anything that I gave you as a handout in your Social 30-1 coursebooks is testable material and should be reviewed!!
• know how the Cold War ends and its results/consequences

Social 20-1

You started your film study of the HBO documentary "White Light/Black Rain" today. You'll finish this movie off tomorrow. As you're watching this movie you should be completing the film study in your Social 20-1 course books.

IB 30/35

If you didn't finish off the "Nanking" movie yesterday you probably did today. You also watched a movie on "The Road to War: Japan". Please go to Room 111 tomorrow on and Friday. You'll be working on your Paper 1 Assignment.

April 17

Social 30-1

We finished off the documentary from the Turning Points in History series on the Korean War. I went through the origins of the Cold War again, a timeline of key events in the Cold War. Tomorrow you'll get to work on the Cold War Events Notes charts that are in your coursebooks. You should start working on your Chapter 7 Key Terms and Questions, it will be due next week.

Social 20-1

We finished watching the HBO documentary "White Light/Black Rain" today in class. I gave you the remainder of class time to work on your Chapter 7 Key Terms and Questions, which are due on Tuesday, April 23rd.

April 19

Social 20-1

You finished watching "White Light/Black Rain" today. The film study questions are due on Monday. You should also start working on your Chapter 7 Key Terms and Questions.

Social 10-1

You finished off the "Expansion of Economic Globalization" today, and had some class time to work on your Chapter 11 or 12 key terms and questions. The Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday. You were also given a booklet on the WTO (and IMF and World Bank) that you should read, highlight and annotate. We'll be working with this information next week.

IB 30/35

You should have finished "American Experience: 1964" today. You should have taken notes on this video too! Make sure that you're ready for next week's Paper 3 on the Civil Rights Movement (Tuesday, April 24th).

April 18

Social 10-1

You started the "Expansion of Economic Globalization" PowerPoint lecture today. You had class time to work on either your Chapter 11 or 12 key terms and questions.

Social 20-1

You started watching "White Light/Black Rain" today. While you were watching this video, you should have been answering the film study questions. You need to submit those questions on Monday, so they need to be completed on a separate piece of paper.

IB 30/35

You started a film study for "American Experience: 1964". As you watched this film, you should have taken notes. You will finish it off tomorrow.

January 15

IB 30/35

Luckily we finished off the HBO documentary "White Light/Black Rain" today in class. Please make sure that you answer all of the questions on the film study sheet. We when we get back from the exam break, we'll be getting ourselves organized for a debate on the U.S. decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan to end the Pacific War.

I will also be giving you a World War II test in February, more details about this in February.

Social 10-1

No classes today for Social 10-1 students. I will see the Period 3 class tomorrow at 8:50 am, with Period 4 to follow. Here's my tutorial schedule for Social 10-1 students in class you want to come in and look over your old unit exams:

• Monday, January 15th: not available
• Tuesday, January 16th: available from 12:25 pm to 3:10 pm
• Wednesday, January 17th: 8:10 am to 11:40 am, 12:25 pm to 3:10 pm
• Thursday, January 18th: same as above (Grade 9  tours are happening, but I'm supervising in my classroom)
• Friday, January 19th: Final Exam Part "B" (not available)

January 10

Social 10-1

I had you fill out the scantron sheet for your Final Exam Part "B", you were also assigned your seat for the exam. Please remember that this final exam will be written on Friday, January 19th from 9 am to 11 am in the Main Gym. If you miss this final exam, you will NOT be given a second chance to write it. Make sure that you show up by 8:45 am with your textbook (drop it off in the bins outside the Business Office). Depending on which class of mine you're in you would played a different review game that took the entire period. I'll see you in class again on Tuesday. I will post a schedule of my availability here on the blog tomorrow. I won't be available tomorrow because I am supervising the English 30-1 Diploma Exam. You NEED to start reviewing for your Social 10-1 Final Exam. 

IB 30/35

I showed you the video "Blitzkrieg to the Bomb" and gave you a notes package to go along with it. We started another video called "White Light/Black Rain" that we will finish off on Monday of next week. I'll be breaking you into debate groups next week. We'll be debating the usage of the atomic bomb to end the war in the Pacific in 1945.

April 21

Social 20-1

You should have finished watching "White Light/Black Rain" today, and you should have answered all of the film study questions. No homework this weekend.

Social 10-1

You continued going through the "Expansion of Economic Globalization" PowerPoint today. Your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday, April 24th.

April 20

Social 10-1

You started a PowerPoint lecture today called "Expansion of Economic Globalization". You also had some time to work on your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions.

Social 20-1

You started watching "White Light/Black Rain" today, and you should be able to finish this documentary and film study questions in tomorrow's class. While you were watching this HBO documentary you should have been answering the film study questions from your Social 20-1 workbook.

November 17

Social 20-1

We finished off "White Light/Black Rain" today, and then I moved on to the "Eight Stages of Genocide". You will have to finish off the rest of this PowerPoint on your own time. You can find the presentation on the Social 20-1 wiki under "Unit 2 Presentations". Tomorrow, I will show you a documentary of genocides in the 20th and 21st centuries called "Scream Bloody Murder".

IB 20 HOTA

I picked up where I left off yesterday, by going into greater detail on first past the post (FPTP) system and proportional representation (PR) by looking at the 2008 Canadian federal election and recasting it using the PR system. I then showed a video that summarized the Canadian political system quite succinctly.

November 16

Social 20-1

We started our film study of the HBO documentary "White Light/Black Rain" today. We'll be able to finish it off tomorrow.

IB 20 HOTA

I finished off the electoral college video with you today. I'll probably have to go back to the American system to teach you the formation of the American political parties at a later date, but I needed to move on to the Canadian political system today. We covered the Canadian government structure today, similar to what we did with the American government structure yesterday. We'll continue with the Canadian political system tomorrow.

February 5

IB 30/35

We finished watching "White Light/Black Rain" today, and you should have also finished the film study sheet that went along with the documentary. I gave you a reading on the decision to use the atomic bomb, which you need to read over the weekend. The reading is connected to a debate that we will be doing on Tuesday. You have been split into three different option groups for the debate, and each group has its own Google Doc to organize arguments, evidence, and counter-arguments. You will have some class time on Monday to organize with your group members face-to-face.

Social 10-1

Your Global Connections Map is due on Monday, February 8th. Your Chapter 1 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday, February 9th. Please check out the instructions for your Global Connections Map below.

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS MAP ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

Here are the instructions for the map (which is due on Monday):

• your map must have a title ("Global Connections Map")
• you do not need compass directions on your map
• you do not need a border for your map
• you must have a simple key on the front of the map and a detailed key on the back on the map
• your simple key will consist of the following: 5-6 colored boxes (depending on how many categories you had for your 25 item chart) which will be labeled-food, clothing, electronics, entertainment, household goods, miscellaneous AND you must also draw a colored dot and label it "people" (for the information from the Global Bingo game that we played)
• you will only color countries and label ones that you have a connection to through the 25 item chart (for example, you own a sombrero that is from Mexico, you would color Mexico and label it "Mexico")
• there will only be 5-6 colors on the map, you don't need to have 25 different colors for each of your 25 items
• you also have to label the 16 people that you talked to during our Global Bingo game, they will be represented by colored circles (pick a common color for all people) and numbers (1-16, if you didn't talk to 16 people, you label as many as you talked to)--you do not color the countries that are represented on your Global Bingo card, you simply draw a circle on the country, color it, put a number beside it, and label the country (for example, if the only connection you have to Australia is that one of your classmates went on a vacation there, you draw the circle, write the number beside the circle, and label the country "Australia"-- you don't color the country)
• on the detailed key on the back of your map, you will be recreating your 25 item chart (make sure that you have the categories clearly colored and matching the simple key on the front of the map) and the information from the Global Bingo card (clearly identify people by number) Your Global Connections Map is due on Monday, February 8th.

Your Chapter 1 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday, February 9th. I gave you some class time to work on your Chapter 1 work, and you could have started on your Chapter 2 work as well. 

Social 30-1

I did a homework check on your Chapter 1 Key Terms. Please complete your Chapter 1 Questions for Monday. Please read the Ideology Notes (pages 12-17 in your workbooks), you should highlight the reading, and make annotations in it. I started the PowerPoint presentation "Identity and Ideology" (which I probably won't finish), because I like to draw out the political and economic spectrums (which I'll do on Monday). I taught you the principles of individualism and the principles of collectivism. I also got you to sign up for the Social 30-1 wiki (check you e-mail inboxes for the invitation, it may have gone into a spam or junk folder), please let me know if there are any issues with this.

February 4

IB 30/35

We finished up the activity from yesterday, so you should now have jot notes on the results of World War II. One of those results was the origin of the nuclear age, which begins during WWII, and obviously the work to build the atomic bomb leads to its usage to end the war in the Pacific. We started an HBO documentary today called "White Light/Black Rain", which we will finish off tomorrow.

Social 30-1

I gave you back the results of the Social 30-1 diagnostic test today. I gave you the course workbooks today as well, and started teaching the course content by looking at the ideas of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. As I lectured from the PowerPoint presentation "Introducing Government", you were to take notes in your workbooks. Please remind me tomorrow to get you signed on to the Social 30-1 wiki. Once you're on the wiki, you can find all of the PowerPoint presentations that I'll be delivering in class.

Social 10-1

We played a fun game of global bingo today, where you were asked to circulate around the room and meet 16 new people and get information from them. Eventually you will use this information and put it on a world map. You have a homework assignment tonight that is due tomorrow: you must find 25 items from 25 different countries. these items could be put into different categories, such as: food, clothing, electronics, household items, vehicles, musical instruments, entertainment, beauty products/make up, etc. The smart way to put together your chart would be to classify your items into categories in your chart right from the start. Once again, you will eventually have to put all of this information into a map. I will be doing a homework check on this chart tomorrow. I also gave you time to work on your Chapter 1 Key Terms and Questions, which are due on Tuesday, February 9th.

February 5

Social 10-1

We finished looking at the graphics from yesterday's activity and their connection to globalization. We played a game of global bingo today, and collected information from classmates. DON"T LOSE THIS INFORMATION!! You have a homework assignment tonight: find 25 household items from 25 DIFFERENT countries. Some potential categories for the items that you will probably find in your house includes: food, clothing, electronics, entertainment, and miscellaneous. Please record all of your information in a 3 column chart. I will be doing a homework check on this 25 item chart tomorrow.

IB 20

We continued looking at issues related to historiography today. I talked briefly about primary versus secondary sources, and we also discussed your personal timelines. Our discussions led us into a film study of "Vantage Point" which looks at an assassination of the President of the United States from 8 different perspectives (vantage points). As you're watching this film please think about what limitations there might be from their perspective. We'll finish this film off tomorrow.

Please remember that your IB learner profile reflective essay is due on Friday. It might be a good idea to pick the 3 attributes from the IB learner profile tonight and start brainstorming ideas/examples of how you have demonstrated that attribute in your academic career. Try to write a rough draft of essay as well tonight.

IB 30/35

I did a homework check on the "White Light/Black Rain" film study sheets. You had time in class today to prep for Friday's 3 option debate on the decision to use the atomic bombs at the end of WWII. You got the results of your IA back today. You'll have all of tomorrow's class to get your TOK group presentations organized.

February 4

IB 30/35

We finished off "White Light/Black Rain" today, the film study is due tomorrow. I showed you some video from when I visited Hiroshima when I lived in Japan. I also gave you the "Decision to use the Atomic Bomb" debate booklets. We'll have a four options debate on this topic on Friday, February 7th.

IB 20

You have some handouts that you need to print off from the IB 20 wiki tonight and read: the 8C's of Historical Analysis, Primary Sources vs. Secondary Sources, and Why Study History? With this last reading (Why Study History?) there are NOT any questions included. Perhaps my memory is failing me, I thought that there were questions included. We'll talk about it in class tomorrow. Don't stress about it. I went through a PowerPoint presentation that was designed to introduce you to history and TOK. I'll post it on the wiki tonight. You have a homework assignment due tomorrow: create a timeline. Please remember that your reflective essay is due on Friday.

Social 10-1

We did an activity today where we looked at various definitions of globalization today and tried to classify them as being either a positive, negative or neutral definition. We'll finish off this activity tomorrow. No homework tonight.

February 3

IB 30/35

We picked up where we left off before the exam break, namely with WWII. We started a documentary film study called "White Light/Black Rain", which we should be able to finish tomorrow. The film study sheet will be due on Wednesday.

Social 10-1

I started today's class by doing a short self-introduction, and going through some classroom rules and expectations of behavior. I also went through the course outline and told you how the course would be assessed. On the right-hand side of the blog you will find a link to the Social 10-1 wiki. Please click on the link, and request access to the wiki. Please make sure that you include your name and class to gain access.
You have a homework assignment which is due tomorrow: the friendly letter. Please make sure that you write your letter in paragraph form with each of the paragraphs having some overarching theme. Some topics that you might wish to address in your friendly letter are:

• family
• hobbies
• extracurricular activities
• sports
• favorite TV shows
• favorite movies
• academic course load this semester
• academic goals in Social Studies this semester

IB 20

I did a brief self-introduction at the beginning of class, and we do some "housekeeping items" (completing the information sheet, academic integrity policy). We also looked at the course outline as well, and I talked a little bit about what your May 2015 IB exams would entail in Grade 12. If wish to see me in tutorial, please note that I have tutorial sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the 8:50 am. You have a reflective essay assignment due on Friday, which requires you to describe how you have exhibited three attributes of the IB learner profile thus far in your academic life. I want you to reflect on yourself as a learner, and learn how you see yourself as a IB student.

November 6

Social 20-1

You finished off the film "White Light/Black Rain" today. Afterwards, Mr. Fitz should have led you in a class discussion on whether the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki could be considered a war crime. You're going to be in the Library tomorrow for your Unit 2 Research Project.

Social 30-1

You watched a video that covered the construction of the Berlin Wall today. You also started to look at the Cuban Missile Crisis, with some handouts, and by watching a video from the BBC 20th Century History series called "Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Khrushchev".

IB 30/35

You wrote a matching quiz on the Emergence of the Americas unit, specifically World War I. Afterwards, you tied up some loose ends on the Treaty of Versailles, and its ratification in the USA. Please remember that tomorrow you will be writing the Emergence of the Americas Unit Test.

November 5

IB 30/35

You finished off your WWI Battle Presentations today. After the presentations Mr. Fitz went over the fight to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in the United States.

Social 30-1

You wrote your Nazi Germany Quiz today. You watched a couple of videos from the BBC 20th Century History series: "The Road to Berlin" and "Cold War Confrontation". You should have also started the Cold War Events booklets. The Cold War Events Notes will be due on Thursday.

Social 20-1

You started a film study of the HBO Documentary "White Light/Black Rain". While you were watching this film, you were supposed to answer the film study questions.

July 18

Social 20-1

We finished off looking at the Holocaust today by watching excerpts from "Schindler's List". We then moved on to our final topic of World War II, the usage of atomic bombs against Japan to end the war. We watched an HBO documentary called "White Light Black Rain" which covered the bombing and destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As you watched the film you should have been completing the film study questions from your Unit 2 study booklet. I did a class check on this film study. Tomorrow, we'll be watching a CNN special called "Scream Bloody Murder" to look at genocide in the 20th and 21st centuries. You'll also be writing your Unit 2 WRA II Essay tomorrow from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm in the Blenheim Room. Don't forget that your Chapter 7 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday, and your Chapter 8 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday. Your Chapter 7-8 Test is on Tuesday (July 23rd), please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it). Your Unit 2 Final Exam is on Wednesday, July 24th, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it).