The First Big Test - October 3

If it was on the Maps and Globes Quiz and/or the Cultures and North America Quiz, it will most likely be on the test.  The big exception is that I am not TESTING anything from North America specifically - it might be used as examples, but not as what you need to know.

So...study your graded quizzes and quiz review sheets!  You will also get a test review for practice on Friday.

Pages in the ISN worth looking at again: 1-14!  I am not trying to trick you in any way.  If you "got it" on the quizzes, you are going to do well on the test.  If you "missed it" on the quizzes, study what you missed so you can get it on the test!

The test has about 35 matching, multiple choice, and fill-in-the-blank questions covering: PERSIA, TODALSIGS, landforms, latitude and longitude, time zones, continents and oceans, "Who Rules" - types of governments,. cultural vocabulary. You're going to do great!

Culture and North America Quiz - 9/28/18

What should I study for the North America and Culture Quiz?  You could re-read pages 96-101, 155-160, 182-187 in the textbook. You’ll want to look over pages 1, 8, 11-12, 14, 15, 16-18 in the ISN – especially page 17. And, the stuff below (which is from those pages):

1. What is a cultural value?____________________________________________________________________________

2. What is a cultural trait?_____________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the six broad categories of cultural traits we will study this year?

P___________________                            S___________________

E___________________                            I____________________

R___________________                            A___________________

4. A cultural region is an area of the world in which many people share similar _______________________,

________________________, and ____________________________.

For 5-14, identify the following elements common to all cultures:  (Page 8 in your ISN might be helpful, hint, hint.)

5. _____________________ instruments used to do work

6. _____________________ organized collection of beliefs that relate to the meaning of life

7. _____________________ moving people, goods, and materials from one place to another

8. _____________________ leaders/courts/laws

9. _____________________ producing, distributing, and consuming goods

10. ____________________ the process of imparting knowledge, skills and cultural values

11. ____________________ sports, games, and other play activities

12. ____________________ the exchange of ideas and information

13. ____________________ a group of persons, usually related, living in one household

14. ____________________ an outlet of human expression presented so that anyone can view, hear or experience it

For 15-19,   identify the type of government. (Pages 11-12 in your ISN might be helpful, hint, hint.)

15.___________________________ The world’s smallest country, Vatican City, is ruled by the Pope – who is both the governmental and spiritual leader of the country.

16. ___________________________ This type of government was the most common in human history until modern times.  One person ruled with complete authority.  Power was usually passed down through families.

17. ___________________________ For almost 50 years Anastasio Somoza (and his sons after his death) treated Nicaragua as if it was their own playground.  They took money from the government treasury, land and buildings from the people,  and gave all the powerful jobs to their friends and family. They were never elected into power, but had complete control of the military and country.

18. ___________________________ From the mid 1500s to the late 1700s, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was governed by a group of wealthy landowners from both regions.  They took power away from the former king.

19. _____________________________ Both modern day countries in the North American Cultural Region enjoy this type of elected government.

20. List four reasons that the Canadian/U.S. border is undefended. 

21. Which two countries have had the greatest impact CULTURALLY on the North American cultural region?

22. What is the Continental Divide? 

23. Which physical feature of North American has had the greatest impact on the financial success of the continent?

24. Do more North Americans live in big cities (urban) or in the country (rural)? Why do you think that is?

25. When it comes to entertainment like movies, music and television shows, it is often difficult to tell if they were made in the U.S. or Canada.  Why is that? 

26. Why did the American founding fathers created THREE branches of government? 

27. In both the U.S. and Canada, there are still cultural conflicts based on decisions made hundreds of years ago. In American, the decision not to address slavery in order to pass the U.S. Constitution into law lead to what in the mid-1800s and still causes social strife in our culture today? __________________ In Canada, the decision to allow Quebec to keep French cultural, language and religious traditions in British held Canada has led to modern social strife between provinces and a Quebec voting on whether or not to become its own country in the 1980s and 1990s.  Based on these examples, we see how closely what areas of PERSIA can be related? 

               

28. Be able to identify physical features as political borders in North America.  Give some examples.

              

DAVs Homework - Due Monday, Sept. 24

Dominant American Values Homework

Cultural values are the behaviors and standards a society expects of its members.  The following is a list of some of the Dominant American Values – beliefs that are widely admired and held in modern American society.  While there will always be exceptions, these are valued by the majority Americans.

1. Achievement and Success – In our competitive society, stress is placed on personal achievement. This is measured in accomplishments, such as economic ones.  Success lays emphasis on rewards.  Success is involved with activity; failure is often assigned to character defects.  Success is often equated with bigness and newness.

2.  Activity and Work – Americans also value busy-ness, speed, bustle, action.  The frontier idea of work for survival is still with us, as is the Puritan ethic of work before play.  Work becomes an end in itself.  A person’s worth is measured by his performance.

3.  Moral Orientation – Americans think in terms of good and bad, right and wrong – not just in practical terms. Early Puritan ideals of working hard, leading and orderly life, having a reputation for integrity and fair dealing, avoiding reckless display, and carrying out one’s purposes still holds weight.

4. Humanitarianism – Much emphasis is placed on disinterested concern, helpfulness, personal kindness, aid and comfort, spontaneous aid in mass disasters, as well as impersonal philanthropy. 

5. Efficiency and Practicality – Germans refer to our “Fordismus” or belief in standardization, mass production, and stream lined industrialism.  We like innovation, modernity, expediency, getting things done.  We value technique and discipline in science. We enjoy it when things work out well.

6. Progress – Americans look forward more than backwards.  We resent the old-fashioned, the outmoded. We seek the best yet through change. Progress is often identified with the Darwinian idea of survival of the fittest and with the free private enterprise system.

7. Material Comfort – Americans enjoy passive gratification – drink this, chew that, take a vacation.  We prefer happy endings in movies.  We enjoy consumption, and heroes before 1920 were more from social, commercial, and cultural worlds of production; but after 1920 the heroes came more from the leisure-time activities of sports and entertainment. Yet, Americans also enjoy culture and “work” at do-it-yourself hobbies and vacations.

8. Equality – Our history has stressed the quality of opportunity, especially economic opportunity.  We feel guilt, shame, or ego deflation when in-equalitarianism appears.  While discrimination exists, there is much lip service to formal rights, legal rights. Equality is not a pure concept, but largely two-sided: social rights and equality of opportunity.

9. Freedom – American also seek freedom from some restraint, having confidence in the individual. Freedom enters into free enterprise, progress, individual choice and equality.  It has not meant the absence of social control.

10.  External Conformity – Americans also believe in adherence to group patterns, especially for success. Economic, political, and social dependence and interdependence call for some conformity.  The thinking is: if all men are equal, each has a right to judge the other and regulate conduct to accepted standards.

11. Individual Personality – We protect our individualism by laws and by the beliefs in one’s own worth.

12. Science – Americans have faith in science and its tools. Science is rational, functional, and active. Science is morally neutral. It adds to our material comfort and progress.

13. Nationalism-Patriotism – Americans feel some sense of loyalty to their country, its national symbols and its history.  Foreigners observe how we value our flag and our national anthem; how we believe that America is the greatest country in the world.

14. Democracy – Americans have grown to accept majority rule, representative institutions, and to reject monarchies and aristocracies.  We accept law, equality and freedom (as long as we have a say in the laws).

 Reminder: IMDB.com will help you figure out if it's made in the USA or Disney.  Star Wars fans, yes, you may use a Star Wars movie that was PRODUCED by Disney, but not one that was made before they bought the franchise.

Homework: Select ONE of the following activities to do and bring to class on ____________:

a. Clip ads from newspapers and magazines (print or online) that represent at least 5 of the D.A.V.s – label with values they represent and explain (in detail) how they represent those values. These must be current advertisements.

b. Watch a domestically produced (made in the USA) children’s cartoon.  Tell the name of the show, the time it aired and the channel it was on or when it was produced and how you accessed it.  Write a one page analysis of the D.A.V.s being transmitted or reinforced in that show (You must identify and discuss at least 5 D.A.V.s.)

c. Watch one local news program. Keep track of how long each story is and what it was about.  Write a one page analysis on how the D.A.V.s are reflected in the program i.e. the order of presentation, the time given to each story, the use of graphics, the use of on-the-spot reporting.  Be sure to tell the time it aired and the channel it was on.  (You must identify and discuss at least 3 D.A.V.s.)

d. Some cultural observers claim that Walt Disney has created our American Dream, our mythology.  Watch any Disney movie or show and write a one page analysis of the D.A.V.s being transmitted or reinforced in that show.  Be sure to tell the name of the movie/show and the year it was produced. (You must identify and discuss at least 5 D.A.V.s.)

e. The faces of heroes and heroines are often found on the covers of popular national magazines.  Read any cover story from a national magazine (like Time, People, Sports Illustrated, Reader’s Digest, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek) and analyze (at least one page) the hero in terms of the D.A.V.s.  Which values do they seem to have/represent?  How do you know?  Be sure to give the: title of the magazine and article, author or the article, and publication date. (You must identify and discuss at least 4 D.A.V.s.)

Create A Culture - Major Grade - Due Monday, 9/17

Create a Culture

This is your chance to create a completely new and unique culture.  You need to work cooperatively with your group to complete this assignment.  FIRST, work together for the group assignment.  Second, complete the individual assignments WHILE consulting with each other.  Third, work cooperatively to assemble the poster, plan and practice your presentation. Last, present your culture with enthusiasm, flair, and hats!

Group Assignment

Decide on a location on the globe for the country where your culture is found.  It must be located where there is no land.  Write up a brief description of the weather and major geographical features.

Create the culture of your country.  Fill out a P.E.R.S.I.A. sheet for your country – be detailed and specific.  Under the S in P.E.R.S.I.A include 2 or 3 dominate cultural values. You must do these two things together before beginning the Individual Assignments.

Individual Assignments

Each individual in your group will complete one of the following individual assignments.  As a group, decide who will be responsible for each assignment.  Consider the strengths and talents of you and your members as you decide who should be responsible for each assignment.  Each group must have a person responsible for numbers 1-3.  Select from the remaining choices based on the number of people in your group. Remember, cooperate.

1. Physical map

     Draw a physical map of your country.  Name and correctly label at least 15 landforms that are illustrated on pages RA36 and RA37 in your social studies book or are on the LANDFORMS sheet in your ISN.  Also include:

·       Lines of latitude and longitude to locate your country on the globe

·       Compass rose

·       Scale

·       The name of surrounding ocean(s) and country or countries

·       Your national capital city

·       Natural points of interest (For instance in Texas I might highlight: beaches, lakes, hiking trails, rivers, forests.)

2. Political map and thematic map (2 maps)

     The political map will show state borders or other governmental borders.  Locate capital city for your country and other major cities.  Include TODAL elements.

     The thematic map should cover any theme, such as roads, waterways, or tourist sites, other than natural resources, that is important to your country.  Include TOAL elements.

3. Symbols of your country

     All group members should decide on the following elements of your country’s culture, but one of your members should create them.  This will definitely require compromise.

·       Flag of your country

·       Traditional hat of your country for each group member

·       National anthem (All group members will sing the anthem in your presentation.)

·       National motto

·       Currency of your country

4. Newspaper or magazine article with map

     Create a newspaper or magazine article that describes natural resources in your country.  Be sure to include the 5W’s and H in the first paragraph of your article (who, what, when, where, how).  Include information on how these resources can be used and how they can aid the economic development of your country.  Draw a thematic map showing the location of the natural resources.

5. Travel brochure

     Create a travel brochure that showcases your country’s highlights for potential tourists from other parts of the world.  Include pictures and illustrations of major holiday and/or religious celebrations, typical dress (including traditional headdress), homes, towns, and cities, recreation, and other cultural aspects of your country.  Be sure to include captions or write-ups for each picture.

6. News article

     Write a news article that reports on one of the following events that happened recently in your country.  Remember to include the 5W’s and H (who, what, when, where, how) in the first paragraph of your article.  The rest of the article provides details and additional information about the event.  Possible events are:   religious holiday, political election, major art exhibit, reorganization of the country’s school system, and any other important event to your country

Group Presentation

Arrange the completed assignments above on a poster board.  Add a title (the name of your country) and the names of your group members on the front of the poster.  Present your country by sharing the information on the individual assignments as well as interesting cultural traits you developed in the planning. Don’t forget to include the hats and anthem and other requirements of #3. Your group’s presentation of your country should be about 10 minutes. 

Evaluation

Each person in the group can potentially earn a different grade for this project.  It is a major grade.

_____(20)  worked cooperatively with your group, focused/on-task, respectful, contributed to the general success, daily participation

_____(50)  individual assignment meets all requirements as listed on this sheet, matches other components in the presentation and on the poster, shows depth and thoroughness of thought and planning, legible/neat

_____(30)  poster is neat and coordinated (shows planning); presentation is smooth and logical in order (shows planning); contents of poster and presentation show depth and thoroughness of thought and coordination in your planning; poster and presentation meet all requirements as listed on this sheet.