Mrs. Madrigal’s Social Studies Blog

I. Journal

II. Study Guide

Quiz Tomorrow

Study Guide Questions to be collected before the quiz

1. What is a democracy? What are some features of a democracy?
2. What were the social divisions in Greek society?
3. What is a polis and how do you think it helped in the development of Greek philosophy?
4. Why do you think Greeks developed democracy? (What forms of government did they have before?)
5. Describe a dictatorship and provide examples.
6. Socrates was a Greek philosopher that …
   1. What did he value? b. what were his ideas of government? c. what was his final end?
7. How are Plato’s ideas of government different from Socrates?
8. How are Aristotle’s idea of government relate to his teachers, Plato and Socrates? (How are his ideas similar/different to Socrates and Plato).
9. What is philosophy? How did our discussion on Friday relate to philosophy?

How do your ideas of creating a government relate to the ideas of either Plato/Aristotle/Socrates?

Homework Collected: Period 1, 3 Current Events Due on Thursday (Last day for credit is Monday) and Period 4 Current Events was due Friday (Last day for credit Tuesday).

I. Journal (Not Collected)

II. Finish Presentation

Reflection Questions (Collected)

1. How do you feel you did in your presentation? How do you feel your group did?

2. How was the group process? How did you get along with your group members?

III. Cornell Notes : Greek Civilization and the Rise of Democracy (Finished on Friday)

*Scheduled quiz for Tuesday*

IV. Philosophical Chairs

I.Journal: Describe what you KNOW about Greek culture and society? What do you know about the philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle?

II. Presentations

III. Reflections

Reflection Questions

1. How do you feel YOU did in your presentation? Judge your individual contribution and your performance.

2. How did you feel your group did? Judge what your group did well and areas you think your group could improve.

3. How did you feel working with your group? How comfortable did you feel interacting, talking and sharing your ideas with members of your group. Any problems?

I. No Journal – Prep Time for Presentations

II. Presentations

III. Reflections

Reflection Questions

1. How do you feel YOU did in your presentation? Judge your individual contribution and your performance.

2. How did you feel your group did? Judge what your group did well and areas you think your group could improve.

3. How did you feel working with your group? How comfortable did you feel interacting, talking and sharing your ideas with members of your group. Any problems?

I. Journal: Describe you previous experience with working in groups.

a. How do you feel about working with others. ExplaiWhat specific assignments have you done in the past in groups.

b. Describe your feelings about public speaking. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most comfortable, how do you feel about talking in front of a class. Explain.

II. Skill Builder: Two Brains are Bigger than One

III. Creating a New Government (If  you were absent, answer these questions on your own and be prepared tomorrow to present

Imagine that your group has successfully taken over an abusive and destructive government and is now trying to replace it with a new government. Discuss and answer the following questions below using your best judgment for a new system. Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper, one per group. Every member of your group must be prepared to explain and defend the responses.

1. 1. Leadership
   1. What qualities does a leader need to have to work in your government? In other words, describe the character traits (at least 3) and level of education that your group thinks will qualify a person to serve in a leadership role. Make sure you explain your response.

1. 2. Nationalism
   1. Nationalism, pride in one’s own country, is often successful when a government uses items and symbols that people can be proud of. Create a national flag that symbolizes what your group hopes to establish in a new government. You may also create a national anthem instead of a flag. Lyrics must be 5 lines or more.

1. 3. Taxes

   1. Taxes = Money that people pay directly to the government.

      Will your tax system be equal to all classes of people or will you more heavily tax one group? If so, make sure you explain how your government will deal with potential problems.

1. 4. Free Speech
   1. Will your government grant the people the freedom of speech? Explain
   2. How will your government deal with various groups of people who openly oppose your government? Make sure your response includes your government’s reaction to the following:
      1. Critics in a newspaper or Television Network
      2. High School and College Protestors
      3. Criticism from politicians within your own government

1. 5. Government Expenditures
   1. Your government will need to make decisions on how to spend money. Today, the U.S. federal government makes decisions to spend in various areas. In your group, decide from the following categories which will receive more money and why. From 100% of your revenues, what will be the percentage that you spend on:
      1. i.      Military
      2. ii.      Health Care (Decide if you want to provide healthcare for all or copy the U.S. system of providing health care for only the poor and senior citizens.)
      3. iii.      Education

1. 6. Economy
   1. Should your country have no economic differences among its people? In other words, do you think your country will be better off if all the people earned the same amount of money and therefore there are no rich or poor? Explain your answer and the benefits of your choice.

July 1, 2009

1. Introductions, Overview of Class Rules and Expectations

Class Contract Due Tuesday July 7, 2009 – Signed

2. Student Interest Survey (To be collected with essay on tomorrow)

3. Who Am I? Essay – Write a 1.5-2  page written response introducing yourself.

Make sure to include:

1. Personality Traits
2. Family and Cultural Background
3. Immediate Goals (this year) and Long-term goals
4. Academic and Personal Achievements
5. Academic and Personal Struggles

July 2, 2009

1. Current Events Practice

a. MLA Practice : Pick 5 different articles from a news magazine and practice the MLA citation only. The “section” will be missing from your citation because it’s ok because its a magazine not a newspaper, only write the page # (Newsweek was used in class but if you were absent you can go online to LA Times and use articles online.)

b. Summary and Analysis Practice: Once you’re done with the MLA practice, you will receive an article to begin to practice your homework. You are only required to do Section 3: Summary and analysis (see current events handout). This writing assignment will help me review your writing and give you advice for next week’s current event assignment.