Monday – 21 March 2011

Current Events

The following headlines made up today’s news:

1. Fukushima nuclear plant has begun spewing radioactive smoke. Radiation levels are rapidly rising and the work crews have been evacuated.
2. UN approved coalition has begun enforcing a “no-fly zone” over Libya. Canadian CF-18s are in Sicily and waiting to be brought into operations.
3. The Canadian Juno Music Awards are 40 years old. Andy Kim won the first male vocalist award, and was interviewed.
4. Expectations are rising for a May election. A motion of contempt of Parliament, or the defeat of the budget are expected to bet he triggers.
5. Coalition air strikes have hit Gadhafi’s compound and its command and control centre. It is unclear who launched the missile and if Gadhafi was in the compund when it struck. Coalition planes also bombed Government forces moving on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
6. One legged athlete, Anthony Robles, has won the NCAA National Wrestling tournament. He believes that his lack of a leg from birth wasn an advantage in his sport.

History 20

Class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by time to complete and take up “Soviet Foreign Policy.” This was followed by notes on “Mussolini and the Authoritarian State” in period one.

History 30 All Year

The class began the World War Two 50 point assignment. The assignment was explained and time was given to begin the research.

History 30

Class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by a comprehensive oral review on the key elements from the unit.  The class will begin the third unit tomorrow.

History 10

Class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by introducing the concept of the political spectrum and reviewing how French political groups from the revolution are reflected on it.

Friday – 18 March 2011

Current Events

The following stories made up the headline for today’s news:

1. Japan held a moment of silence to commemorate the earthquake and tsunami one week ago. The exodus of people from Tokyo and other northern cities continues.
2. The nuclear situation has been upgraded from a 4 to a 5. Though both Japanese and independent officials say the risk is still localized to the plant.
3. The U.N. has approved a “no-fly” zone over Libya. Canada said it will send six CF-18s to help patrol the skies. The move has led to celebration by anti-Gadhafi rebels.
4. Two Ontario firefighters, Raymond Walter (30) and Kenneth Raya (56) were killed while fighting a fire. Investigators are looking into the cause of the deadly blaze.
5. An 82 year old Quebec woman had to wait five hours for an ambulance. She had fallen and her son called 911. The situation was thought to be not desperate enough and ambulance resources wee unavailable for some time.
6. An investigation into the crash of a float plane in 2009 has led to new safety recommendations including that windows and  doors should open automatically after the crash and that all passengers where life jackets for the duration of the flight.
7. In Winnipeg a local Dairy Queen was hit by a drunk driver. The store was fortunately closed during the crash a 25 year old man faces charges of impaired driving.

History 20

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by a PowerPoint on Stalin and ended with the “Soviet Foreign Policy” guided reading and review assignment.

History 30

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by notes on “British North America on the Eve of Confederation.” There was then time to complete the assignment on “Defeats, Act of Union and Triumph of the Moderates.” The unit two exam will take place on Wednesday, March 23rd.

History 10

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. The class then completed the notes began yesterday on “Thermidor and the Directory.” This was followed by the “Thermidor and the Directory” guided reading and review assignment. The assignment is due at the start of Monday’s class.

Thursday – 17 March 2011

Current Events

The following headlines made up the news portion of today’s classes:

1. People are scrambling to leave Japan as fear of a nuclear meltdown grows. Thousands are lining up at Tokyo airports and train stations, the exodus is not part of a government planned evacuation, but just panic. Aftershocks continue to impact the region.
2. The Japanese military and firefighters have joined the battle to cool the reactors and are using helicopters and water hoses to spray the reactors.
3. The nuclear power station at Pickering Ontario had a leak of demineralized (distilled) water from its facility into Lake Ontario raising fears among local residents. Officials say there was no radiation leakage into the environment.
4. Toyota is slowing production in plants in Canada and other countries as parts from its Japanese factories are growing scarce. The company halted all production in Japan to focus on the relief efforts for the millions of homeless.
5. A Netherlands based pedophile ring has been broken by police. 184 people were arrested including two Canadians, one of whom lived in Abernathy, SK.  230 children were rescued by investigators.
6. Hilary Clinton has announced her intention to retire from politics in 2012. She will not seek another position regardless of Obama’s success in the next election.
7. An Ohio jail has begun charging prisoners a daily fee to cover the costs on incarceration. The average is between $12-14 per night. It has already made $2,500 for taxpayers.

History 20

The period one class watched the news and began a PPT presentation on Josef Stalin. The period two class was lost due to career fair.

History 30 All Year

The class had a work period as all but two the class were in grade eleven and at the career fair. One of the two grade twelves didn’t show up.

History 30

The class began with the news and was followed by time to work on the “Defeats, Act of Union and Triumph of the Moderates” assignment. The class concluded with an explanation of the differences between responsible and representative government.

History 10

Class began by writing the quiz on the Moderate and Radical Revolutions. following the quiz the class viewed and discussed the day’s news. The class ended with notes outlining “Thermidor and the Directory.”

Wednesday – 16 March 2011

Current Events

The following headlines made up today’s news:

1. Technicians continue to race against time to prevent a meltdown of the reactors at the Fukashima Daiichi power plant. There is growing fear and panic as far away as Tokyo, however, radiation leakage still remains low. Fifty workers are struggling to keep the cores cool enough not to melt. People have fled Tokyo over radiation concerns but levels are lower than those of a dental x-ray.
2. The Canadian Medical Assistance Team has left Japan amid concerns over potential radiation. The team will be redeployed when the situation has stabilized.
3. Five anti-government protesters have been killed by the police and army in Bahrain after the King declare a state of emergency giving wide-sweeping powers to authorities for a violent and brutal crackdown.
4. Moammar Gadhafi, embattled Libyan leader has blamed the unrest in his country on the West saying the disturbances are motivated by the desire to control his country’s oil. Britain, France and many Arab states are pushing for the creation of a “no-fly” zone as Gadhafi forces push back the rebels.
5. William Melchert-Dinkel, of Minnesota, was convicted of two counts of encouraging suicide including the death of Ottawa girl Nadia Kajouiji,  who killed herselfd after talking with Dinkle who was posing as a nurse on the internet. He is also charged in Britain and being investigated for 12 other suicides.
6. A Missouri hospital has agreed to perform a tracheotomy on baby Joseph from Ontario which is suffering from an fatal neurological condition.
7. The Canadian sledge hockey team has returned from a tournament in Nagano Japan where they placed 2nd. The team was on the ice during the earthquake that shook the country.

History 20

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. Followinf the news the class viewed the BBC program “Stalin and the Modernization of Russia.” This was followed by a whole class discussion highlighting important information from the program.

History 30

The class began by completing the Rebellion in the Canadas quiz. This was followed by viewing and discussing the day’s news. Members of the class were then given an opportunity to complete the flow-chart on Responsible Governemtn from yesterday. Those that were finished started on the final assignment of the unit.

History 10

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. Following the news the class had time to complete the assignment on the “Radical Revolution.” Class concluded with a discussion highlighting the important systems and leadership brought about at each stage of the revolution prior to the Directory. The class will write a quiz on the Revolutionary period to begin tomorrow’s class.

Tuesday – 15 March 2011

Current Events

The following stories made up today’s news:

1. There are growing reports that the Fukushima nuclear power plant has begun to melt down as a fire hits the spent fuel storage reactor. The crisis is now rated as six on the seven point scale. The U.S. Three Mile Island disaster was a five and Chernobyl in 1986 was a seven.
2. There are stories of miraculous survival as a 20 year old man and a 75 year old women were pulled from the rubble. People are lining up for food, water and other limited supplies. As fear, anger and panic spread in the affect regions.
3. The official death toll has now reached 2,400 with 3,000 declared missing. It is believed that final death tolls in the tens of thousands can be expected.
4. Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister is in the second day of G-8 meetings. The foreign ministers are discussing a possible “no-fly zone” over Libya, but Germany is resisting such interference in another country’s affairs.
5. The NHL has brought forward new guidelines for the treatment of concussions. The league now requires players to see a doctor, not just a trainer before resuming play.

History 20

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by taking up the “Soviet Domestic Policy” assignment. The class then read, answered questions on, and discussed the case study on the “Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33.”

History 30 All Year

Class began by writing the jigsaw quiz on “From Boom to Bust.” The class then began to work on “Canadians on the Battlefields of World War Two. ” The item review for the unit was also handed out.

History 30

Class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by 15 minutes to complete the “Rebellions in the Canadas” assignment. This was followed by notes and a flow-chart detailing the concept of responsible government and the impact of the Durham Report. The class will write a quiz on the “Rebellions in the Canadas” to begin Wednesday’s class.

History 10

The class completed the notes on “From Moderate to Radical Revolution.” This was followed by time to work on the “Radical Revolution” guided reading and review. The class worked very well and will be given more time to complete the assignment tomorrow. A quiz on both the moderate and radical revolutions will take place at the start of Thursday’s class.

Monday – 14 March 2011

Current Events

The following headlines made up today’s news:

1. Japan continues to recover from Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. Thousands are presumed dead as a looming nuclear crisis hits Fukashima. Thousands of bodies washing ashore. Areas of the country are still cutoff and under water. There have been hundreds of aftershocks.
2. The disaster in Japan and the growing violence in Libya will top the G-8 foreign ministers meetings that are on going at this time.
3. Canada has begun to send aid to Japan with a victim ID team heading to the country. The Canadian Red Cross has raised $1 million for relief.
4. The sister of former Drumheller inmate William Bicknell has been arrested for helping him to escape from custody. She will appear in court today. Bicknell is armed and dangerous.
5. NDP leader, Jack Layton, says a spring election appears inevitable, as Stephen Harper appears unwilling to compromise on budget items with the NDP.
6. Reports are now emerging that government ads for “Canada’s Economic Action Plan are costing $26 million for three months. Higher than any private advertiser spends in a year.
7. Mary Gorner of Winnipeg is the oldest women in Canada at 104 years old.

History 20

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news before having time to work on “Soviet Domestic Policy.” The class ended by looking at Stalin.

History 30

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by notes on the lead up to the 1837 Lower and Upper Canada Rebellions. An assignment comparing the two events concluded the period.

History 10

Following the news, the class completed taking up the assignment on the Moderate Revolution. This was followed by notes on the Radical Revolution and a guided reading and review assignment.

Friday – 11 March 2011

Current Events

The current events portion of each class was taken up by our biweekly quiz.

History 20

The class began with the current events test. The class then took notes on the key idea of “Totalitarianism.” This was followed by time to complete “The Year of the Revolution” assignment which is due on Monday. Those done were given “Soviet Domestic Policy” looking at the transition from Lenin to Stalin.

History 30 All Year

The class began with 25 minutes to complete the “Boom to Bust” jigsaw. The jigsaw quiz will take place during Tuesday’s class. The class concluded with a brief presentation on the causes of the Second World War.

History 30

Class began with the current events test. This was followed by time to complete the “Key Players of 1837.” There was plenty of time to complete the assignment which is due at the beginning of Monday’s class.

History 10

Class began with the current events quiz. Chapter 3: Introduction and Summary was handed back and taken up n class. This was followed by time to complete the Moderate Revolution assignment. The class began to take up the “Moderate Revolution” at the conclusion of the day.

Thursday – 10 March 2011

Current Events

The biweekly current events test will take place tomorrow. The following headlines are part of today’s news:

1. Fans are calling out the NHL after a hit severely injures a player and no suspension was given by the league to Zdeno Chara.
2. The Dalai Lama has announced that he will resign as the head of the Tibetan government in exile for a democratically elected leader for the government in exile. Tibetan refugees face unemployment and a high level of poverty.
3. There is a growing controversy over the fate of seven Green Sea Turtles in B.C. UBC has plans for the dissection of the animals which is being criticized as cruel and unnecessary.
4. Talk of a spring election is increasing amid two rulings by Speaker Peter Milliken in which he says  violated Parliamentary privileges and kept important spending information from MPs.
5. The cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai was killed during a NATO night raid outside of Kandahar.
6. NATO and European Union leaders are meeting to discuss options to address the growing crisis. Colonel Gadhafi still blames the unrest on Al Quaeda and says the West is only interested in Libya’s oil.
7. Storms and three tornadoes have devastated areas of Louisiana, and Alabama. The Governors have declared states of emergency allowing the U.S. federal government to provide emergency aid.
8. Actress Lindsay Lohan is back in court facing charges of grand theft for stealing a $2,500 necklace. Lohan dismissed a plea deal that would have seen her back in prison for the fourth time in four years.

History 20

The class completed the viewing and discussion of the A&E biography of Lenin. This was followed by time to complete the year of the revolution by the period two class. The period one class was shortened because of student lead conferencing times.

History 30

The class began with viewing and discussing the day’s news. Following the news the class discussed the questions on “The Loyalists and Upper Canada.” This was followed by a presentation and discussion of the system of Representative Government established in the Constitutional Act of 1791.

History 10

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by completing the taking up of the unit one exam before working on the “National Assembly” guided reading and review assignment.

Wednesday – 9 March 2011

Current Events

The following headlines made up today’s news:

1. Twenty-six U.S. states face flood warnings amid melting snow and heavy rain.
2. Canadian musician, K’naan, has called on the Canadian government to aid developing countries with drugs to treat AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
3. Charlie Sheen’s saga continues to spiral as he appeared in public waving a machete and drinking “Tiger Blood.” Concerns that he needs treatment but will not take it.
4. Calls for Moamar Gadhafi to resign are rising. Gadhafi blames the unrest in Libya on Al Quaeda and European governments.
5. There are news concerns around the actions of Jason Kenney. The Immigration Ministerial Award for excellence was given to an Ottawa restaurant with the Conservative Party logo emblazoned on it.
6. Disgraced Colonel Russell Williams is being pursued by a collection agency over an $8,000 fine imposed by a judge following his conviction for murder, sexual assault and multiple break and enters.
7. The man that attempted to assassinate U.S. Congress Woman Gabrielle Giffords, Jared Loughner, faces 50 new charges and may face the death penalty for his actions.
8. The social networking site Facebook has announced plans to offer movies for sale or rent on its popular site. People would pay $3, or 30 Facebook credits.

History 20

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by the A&E biography of Vladamir Lenin. The biography will conclude tomorrow and the questions will be taken up.

History 30 All Year

The class began with several minutes to complete the first page of the “From Boom to Bust” jigsaw. This was followed by 12 minutes to compare answers in expert groups. The class was then divided into sharing groups to work and complete the activity.

History 30

The class began with the Dividing the Continent jigsaw. This was followed by the news and time to complete the questions on the “Loyalists and Upper Canada.” The class concluded with a new assignment on the “Key Players of 1837 Rebellions.”

History 10

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by notes on “The National Assembly” of the French Revolution. Class then worked on “Chapter 3: The National Assembly” guided reading and review. The class concluded with the unit one exam being handed back.

Tuesday – 8 March 2011

Current Events

The following headlines made up the current events portion of today’s classes:

1. Charlie Sheen release long internet rant after being fired from “Two and a Half Men.”
2. Prince William and his finance Kate Middleton are on their first official visit to Northern Ireland.
3. Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau is in Ethiopia to promote access to clean water.
4. Government air strikes target rebel controlled oil port in eastern Libya. NATO is considering a no-fly zone over the country and Canada is talking about officially contacting the rebels.
5. An explosion at an oil field west of Edmonton injured 12 men, one critically.
6. Over 70 cm of snow has fallen on eastern Quebec and New Brunswick. There are more than 2,000 people without power.
7. President Obama has ordered the resumption of military trials in Guantanamo Bay Cuba.
8. Conflict over a planned casino for downtown Vancouver. Supporters say it will bring thousands of jobs ans $17 million year to the city. Opponents say it will cause increased problems due to gambling addiction.
9. Subway has passed McDonald’s as the world’s largest fast food chain with 34,000 restaurants. McDonald’s is still does the most business with sales of $24 billion compared to $15 billion for subway.

History  20

Classes began by viewing and discussing the day’s news. This was followed by taking up the Chapter 5 guided reading assignment on the background to the Russian Revolution.

History 30

The class began by viewing and discussing the day’s current events. This was followed by looking at the impact of the Loyalists on Canada and the Constitutional Act of 1791.

History 10

The class began by watching and taking up the day’s news. This was followed by taking up the Chapter 3 :Introduction and Summary guided reading and review. This was followed by a reading comparing the French and American Revolutions. Class concluded by taking up the questions. The comparison at the bottom of Chapter 3:Introduction and Summary are due tomorrow.