September 23-27

Monday 9/23

1. Go over North American Cultural Region - Physical Reading and Questions - put in ISN on page 11.
2. Introduce Cultural Values and the DAVs Homework assignment - due Thu. 9/26, BOC

Tuesday 9/24

1. Quick review and questions about DAVs
2.  Compare/Contrast US and Canada on a historical timeline
HMWK: Quiz review sheet

Wednesday 9/25
1. Check review sheet so  you know what you know and what to study :)
2. North America map analysis

Thursday 9/26
1. Turn in DAVs homework and debrief
2. National Parks and the DAVs they represent

Friday 9/27
Culture Quiz

DAVs

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).

Homework: Select ONE of the following activities to do and bring to class on Thu. 9/26:           They may be hand written or typed.

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.)

Updated Major Dates for the remainder of the 1st Nine Weeks

Updated for the remainder of the Nine Weeks -

Wednesday, 9/25 -  Friday, 9/27 Culture Quiz
Wednesday, 10/2 - Friday, 10/4 -Maps/Geography and  Cultures Test
Thursday, 10/3 - Picture Day - taken during Social Studies classes
Monday, 10/14 - Columbus Day, no school
Thursday, 10/19 - Last day of the Nine Weeks grading period.

How to get to the Online Textbook

FIRST - log into your ItsLearning account.

NEXT - use the link below for step by step instructions on how to get to the Social Studies Textbook inside the ItsLearning environment. You can not get it directly from McGraw Hill because that would be unprotected and violate copy write.

How to use the link:

https://www.iorad.com/player/138849/Using-the-McGraw-Hill-LTI-tool#trysteps-2

If the McGraw Hill LTI Tool fails to open, check to see if the pop-up blocker has blocked the page. 

Look for the pop-up blocker icon in the address bar.

Change the settings to Always allow pop-ups from itslearning.

September 16-20

Monday 

Present Create a Culture – start reflection as time allows

Tuesday - Constitution Day

1. Finish presenting, then Reflect/Debrief  C a C as needed

Wednesday
1. Constitution  Brainpop and MiniPage notes

HMWK – Read HMWK – Due Tomorrow, BOC “Life in the United States” and “Life in Canada” Venn diagram pages 152-161 and 182-187 in the textbook

Thursday

1. Debrief homework
2. North American Cultural Region -Physical Reading and Fill in the sheet - pages 130-137 & 170-175 in the textbook.
2. Map Analysis Day 

3. US and Canadian history on parallel timeline Then US timeline

Friday  

1. Finish #3 from yesterday

2. Introduce DAVs – homework due next Friday, BOC

September 9-13

Monday

1. PERSIA practice

2. Start PERSIA with your C a C group

HMWK: Culture Scramble, due tom., BOC - use textbook reading from last week to help figure out words as needed.

Tuesday  - Activity First Schedule

1. Check Culture Scramble - put in ISN
2. Who Rules?
3. Work on C a C
HMWK: PERSIA Practice, due tomorrow, BOC

Wednesday – Patriots Day

1. Check  Who PERSIA Practice Homework

2. C a C work time

Thursday
1. C a C work time

Friday
1. Mini-lesson: Culture Regions Map
2. C a C work time - Project are due and should be presented on Monday!

Create a Culture - Due 9/16/19

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 and/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. Include TOL- maybe I.

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), 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, major geologic event, or 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.