January Week 4 Update

This week, students were assigned a weekend update based on CNN10s Monday report. You can find the report in CNN10s archives Three stories included the caucus process in the United States, Kobe Bryant's tragic story from the weekend, and the power of Super Bowl ads. The three big questions that are associated with each story are:

1. How does the process of selecting a party leader in the United States differ from the process in Canada?

2. Who, in your opinion, is the greatest NBA player of all time?

3. What is your favorite commercial of all-time? Why?

A special shout out to Ernest Morrow can be viewed in Thursday, January 30th's episode of CNN10. Here is a link to the webcast: CNN10 Ernest Morrow

We also began our studies on different Economic Systems, starting with the Economy Game on Monday. Students participated in lessons and a vocabulary task throughout the week. Here is a link to the power point used during lessons: Economics PPT.

Parent Teacher Interviews are Thursday and Friday this week. Please book online through the school website or call the office (403-777-7800) to reserve a time slot.

January Week 3 Update

This week, students finished their studies on Collective Rights. We will have a multiple choice quiz on Friday, January 23rd. Here is a link to the Power Point that was used in class: Link Please see the post from January week 1 for access to the primary sources that will be used for the quiz.

January Week 2 Update

This week, students finished their New Years Resolution writing assignment. Please see the previous post for assignment details.

On Monday, students completed their first Weekend Updated assignment for January based on that day's CNN10 newscast.

They also began looking at primary and secondary sources pertaining to collective rights that are guaranteed under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Students have been creating vocabulary lists from each set of sources, for which they find definitions. These lists can be used during a quiz on Collective Rights, which will be next week. 
Link to sources: Collective Rights Sources

January Week 1 Update

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a well rested and enjoyable break. We have a short first week back.

Mr. Duss will be away until Friday, January 17th, to recover from surgery. Mr. Byrka will be in, until then.

Some students did not present their group projects on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, prior to the break. They were scheduled to present immediately upon return from break. However, this will be postponed until Friday, January 17th. Students are expected to be prepared, since the assignment was technically due December 19th.

This week, students will be reflecting on 2019, and making New Year's Resolutions for 2020. Reflections and resolutions are to be completed on lined paper or via Google Docs and sent to jjduss@educbe.ca

Some things to think about when writing:

1.     What were some good things that happened to you in 2019?

a.     Did you have control over the good things that happened?

2.     What were some challenging situations?

a.     Did you have control over the challenging things that happened?

3.     Resolution

a.     Make a resolution for 2020. Make sure the resolution allows you to have control over its fate.

b.     Provide a minimum 3-step plan for achieving your New Year’s resolution.

c.     Identify at least 1 person that can help support you in reaching your resolution. Why did you choose that person and how can they help?

December Week 2 Update

On Monday, this week, students worked on their second and final Weekend Update for December. It was based on a two part CNN10 report on the 15th Anniversary of Facebook. The reports were from December 5th and 6th. The question presented was: What are the pros and cons of social media services, such as Facebook and Instagram? In your opinion, does social media do more harm or good? Why?

Students also finished a unit on the components and functions of the Federal Government, which included roles and responsibilities of federal branches of government and the impact of lobby groups and media bias on policy. Our learning culminated on Wednesday with a PAT-style unit test. 

On Thursday, students began exploring Canada's Charter of Rights and Responsibilities. They began working on a project, for which they are exploring an event (present day or history) where people's rights or freedoms were violated, had Canada's Charter been applied. They are working independently, in pairs, or groups of 3. The assignment will culminate in a presentation on their findings next Thursday.

December Week 1 Update

Students began the week with their first weekend update assignment for the month of December. It involved a CNN10 story from November 20th with regard to Beyond Meat products. The question associated with the story is, "Would you consider switching to an all-plant diet by replacing meat with alternative proteins, such as Beyond Meat? Why or why not? 

Students also learned about the Federal Government structure in Canada, with a focus on how government's are formed, how citizens are represented, and how new laws are passed. There will be a multiple choice quiz to end the unit early next week. 

November Week 4 Update

This past week, students did a weekend update report on one of two news stories, viewed in class. They reported on the five w's of the story and then answered a question related to the story. Here are the two questions with the link to the appropriate video:

November 25 CNN10 Bubonic Plague: The bubonic plague is one of many diseases, thought to have been eradicated, that has made a comeback in recent years.  Should a new law be passed that makes it mandatory to get vaccinated (except for special circumstances)? Why or why not?

November 7 CNN10 Self-Driving Automobiles: Should non self-driving vehicles be banned from public roads in the near future? Why or why not?

Students also finished their short stories, which are due Friday November 29th, via lined paper or Google Docs.

Next weeks, students will begin a social studies unit, looking at federal government structure in Canada and the process in which new laws (bills) are passed.