Classroom Activity Log: January, 2014
Date

Civil Government- FIFTH PERIOD, SIXTH PERIOD, SEVENTH PERIOD

Monday

1/06/14

WELCOME BACK! SEMESTER PREVIEW.

BRIEF, BUT THRILLING LECTURE TODAY: Freedom of Assembly, Petition and Association. This comes with 6 more case studies! As usual, I NEED TO SEE EVIDENCE OF THOUGHT BEHIND THESE ANSWERS! This will be due at the end of class tomorrow and we will be discussing these cases in class.

Tuesday

1/07/14

WORK DAY: Freedom of Assembly, Petition and Association- This comes with Six Freedom of Assembly Case Studies! As usual, I NEED TO SEE EVIDENCE OF THOUGHT BEHIND THESE ANSWERS! This will be due at the end of class today and we will be discussing these cases in class. Students who are NOT working will be asked to leave the room and will receive a zero on the assignment.

IN OTHER NEWS:

 

Wednesday

1/08/14

Review of our Freedom of Assembly Case Studies.

LECTURE TODAY: The Second Amendment, including videos from either side.

OUR UPCOMING LEARNING OPPORTUNITY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Due Friday, January 17th.

Thursday

1/09/14

STARTING TODAY: A look at both sides of a controversial gun rights topic: RIGHT TO CARRY-

PREVIEW OF OUR UPCOMING LEARNING OPPORTUNITY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Due Friday, January 17th.

Friday

1/10/14

MR. B. IS OUT TODAY! I do NOT want to hear any bad reports from our substitute regarding students that were not working in class!

WORK DAY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Due Friday, January 17th. Start by deciding on your topic and which side of the argument you will be on. Then, start your research on background information and supports for your argument. You will need AT LEAST THREE PIECES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL. These should be expert testimony, scientific research, historical data, personal emotional stories, etc. MAKE SURE TO SAVE AND PRINT ALL OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL!

Monday

1/13/14

 

STARTING TODAY: Both sides of the issue: Kids and Guns- From 20/20 "If I only had a gun, Part two: When older children find guns". From Barcroft TV: "Kids with Guns- A family defends their rights to bear arms."

After we view the documentaries, please respond to them by replying to the "Children and Guns" BLOG Posting. We will discuss this issue in class afterwards.

WORK DAY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Due Friday, January 17th. Start by deciding on your topic and which side of the argument you will be on. Then, start your research on background information and supports for your argument. You will need AT LEAST THREE PIECES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL. These should be expert testimony, scientific research, historical data, personal emotional stories, etc. MAKE SURE TO SAVE AND PRINT ALL OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL!

Tuesday

1/14/14

STARTING TODAY: Please review and respond to the news article in the "Common Sense Zero Tolerance Act" BLOG Posting. We will discuss this issue in class afterwards.

WORK DAY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." I am willing to extend the deadline on this paper until Tuesday, January 21st (students do not have school on Monday), to help students prepare a better paper; however, I will be VERY strict on the late penalty!

We will spend some time today discussing the Position Paper Rubric. Make sure that you are incorporating all necessary elements into your paper.

To complete the paper- start by deciding on your topic and which side of the argument you will be on. Then, start your research on background information and supports for your argument. You will need AT LEAST THREE PIECES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL (see the rubric). These should be expert testimony, scientific research, historical data, personal emotional stories, etc. MAKE SURE TO SAVE AND PRINT ALL OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL!

Wednesday

1/15/14

STARTING TODAY: A quick video clip regarding Gun Control in America.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST, A WORK DAY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Extended deadline for this paper will be Tuesday, January 21st (students do not have school on Monday), but I reserve the right to move it back to Friday if students are not using their time wisely today to get research and writing completed.

Here is the Position Paper Rubric. Make sure that you are incorporating all necessary elements into your paper.

To complete the paper- start by deciding on your topic and which side of the argument you will be on. Then, start your research on background information and supports for your argument. You will need AT LEAST THREE PIECES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL (see the rubric). These should be expert testimony, scientific research, historical data, personal emotional stories, etc. MAKE SURE TO SAVE AND PRINT ALL OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL!

Thursday

1/16/14

A short break from all of the 2nd Amendment discussions today!

STARTING TODAY: Freedom of Speech, Assembly and Association have been directly in the news lately. Below are three different news reports from yesterday afternoon, all relating to the First Amendment. We will listen to and discuss these in class today:

WORK DAY: The balance of class will be a work day on "The Second Amendment Position Paper."

Friday

1/17/14

STARTING TODAY:

A WORK DAY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Extended deadline for this paper will be Tuesday, January 21st (students do not have school on Monday), but I reserve the right to move it back to Friday if students are not using their time wisely today to get research and writing completed.

Here is the Position Paper Rubric. Make sure that you are incorporating all necessary elements into your paper.

To complete the paper- start by deciding on your topic and which side of the argument you will be on. Then, start your research on background information and supports for your argument. You will need AT LEAST THREE PIECES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL (see the rubric). These should be expert testimony, scientific research, historical data, personal emotional stories, etc. MAKE SURE TO SAVE AND PRINT ALL OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL!

ALTERNATE APPROACH FOR TODAY: Should students NOT be taking advantage of the work time being given today, Mr. B. will be happy to haul out a new lecture on the Fourth Amendment- Search and Seizure.

Monday

1/20/14

 NO SCHOOL TODAY FOR STUDENTS. TEACHERS, HOWEVER, GOT TO COME TO SCHOOL ALL DAY LONG.

Tuesday

1/21/14

STARTING TODAY: An interactive poll regarding the Rights of the Accused. Please answer these poll questions one at a time, so that we can see how the class votes on each issue.

CASE STUDIES FOR TODAY: Today, we analyze two landmark cases BEFORE we learn about their amendments- The Rights of the Accused- Mapp v. Ohio and Miranda v. Arizona.

LECTURE (If we have time): Fourth Amendment- Search and Seizure.

DUE TODAY: "The Second Amendment Position Paper." Here is the Position Paper Rubric. Papers that are not submitted by 4:00 p.m. today will be considered late and will lose 10 percent of total points possible for each day late. Papers that do not have a proper cover sheet, paper formatting, spell checking completed, citations page or hard copies of source material will be handed back tomorrow and will also be LATE.

Wednesday

1/22/14

 

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will learn about the rights of the Fourth Amendment.

LECTURE: Fourth Amendment- Search and Seizure.

LANDMARK CASE STUDIES: Please review and analyze the following two landmark cases regarding the Rights of the Accused. I would like to have them submitted by the end of the day on Friday. The Rights of the Accused- Mapp v. Ohio and Miranda v. Arizona.

Thursday

1/23/14

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will learn about the rights of the Fourth Amendment.

LECTURE: Fourth Amendment- Search and Seizure. We finish up the last two 4th Amendment exceptions today, then...

THINKING FOR TODAY: We discuss surveillance in the United States and whether or not we feel that this is a 4th Amendment issue. In addition, we will be watching a summary of President Obama's Speech from last week regarding the National Security Administration and their surveillance of American citizens through their phone records and data usage. When we are done, reply to The President Obama NSA Speech BLOG Posting.

LANDMARK CASE STUDIES: Please review and analyze the following two landmark cases regarding the Rights of the Accused. I would like to have them submitted by the end of the day on Friday. The Rights of the Accused- Mapp v. Ohio and Miranda v. Arizona.

Friday

1/24/14

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will learn about the rights of the Fourth Amendment.

STUDENTS THAT WERE NOT HERE YESTERDAY, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NOTES FROM THE Fourth Amendment- Search and Seizure Lecture. You are also responsible for completing The President Obama NSA Speech BLOG Posting. You will need to watch the 3:00 minute video linked on the BLOG post to be able to answer the questions included.

LANDMARK CASE STUDIES: Please review and analyze the following two landmark cases regarding the Rights of the Accused. I would like to have them submitted by the end of the day TODAY. The Rights of the Accused- Mapp v. Ohio and Miranda v. Arizona.

Monday

1/27/14

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will critically analyze cases regarding the Fourth Amendment.

STARTING TODAY: We have a discussion about the importance of the 4th Amendment.

THE DAY EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR! For our next project, students gt to create their OWN case study reviews, including thought provoking questions to fool their peers! Woohooo! The Create Your Own Case Study Project. These completed Case Studies will be due at the end of class on Tuesday. We will be reviewing these in class later in the week.

Students who wish to thank me for my awesomeness in giving this assignment should note that I enjoy chocolate, roller coasters, purple flowers, historical fiction and money.

Tuesday

1/28/14

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will critically analyze three stories regarding social and political activism, as well as cases regarding the Fourth Amendment.

CURRENT EVENT TUESDAY: We analyze three different current event stories and discuss being politically and socially active.

Complete the "CURRENT EVENT TUESDAY- ACTIVISM THINKING SHEET" as we go. This will be a graded writing assignment, worth 25 points for thorough and thoughtful answers.

WORK DAY WITH THE TIME WE MIGHT HAVE LEFT: Complete your background research and summaries of your selected cases, then work on creating your FORM with thought provoking questions for the Create Your Own Case Study Project. These completed Case Studies will be due at the end of class on Tuesday. We will be reviewing these in class later in the week.

Wednesday

1/29/14

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will constructively comment on the President's State of the Union address in real time.

FOR TODAY: We will be watching the President's State of the Union Address from last night.

While we watch, students will be expected to COMMENT on the speech a MINIMUM of three times on Mr. B.'s new Civil Government Forum. Here is a link to The State of the Union Forum Thinking Sheet Post. Please use your FIRST NAME when posting, you will have to give your valid email address to post, I recommend using your school email. BE PROFESSIONAL AT ALL TIMES WITH YOUR COMMENTS!

Thursday

1/30/14

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will constructively comment on the President's State of the Union address in real time.

FOR TODAY: We will be watching the President's State of the Union Address from last night.

While we watch, students will be expected to COMMENT on the speech a MINIMUM of three times on The State of the Union Forum Thinking Sheet Post.

Test Link.

Friday

1/31/14

Mr. B. is out today!

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY: Students will critically analyze a Republican response to the State of the Union Speech and a case regarding the Fourth Amendment.

WORK DAY- Here is your priority list:

  1. Complete the Republican Response to the State of the Union Speech BLOG POSTING. Respond to at least TWO issues mentioned in the article, using complete sentences and proper grammar.
  2. Work on (preferably complete and share with Mr. B.) The Create Your Own Case Study Project.