HAVE A FANTASTIC BREAK!

HOMEWORK: Current events writing assignment

1. research a current event (a news story)


2. your job is to create a summary of the news story. Start by creating a plan using the writing recipe.


3. write a 3 paragraph summary of your current event. Your three paragraphs are: introduction, supporting paragraph (body) and concluding paragraph.

WHAT WILL YOU BE HANDING IN? a. writing recipe b. final copy of your current event
* be prepared to present your current event to class

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO ON THE BREAK FOR HUMANITIES?

• Re-read chapter 8 in Voices and Visions; it is an important chapter and you will be tested on it after the break


• READ A BOOK. Try to read an entire book over the break. I suggest reading for 30-60 minutes each morning. If you are sick of books, purchase an exciting magazine like National Geographic for kids, and read it!


• Using your letter writing skills, write a letter to a newspaper, or the government about a concern you have; see the post below for details and links on how to do this
• Check out the ZENN car company and tell your family and friends. Follow this link and watch the Mercer report clip about the ZENN car: http://www.zenncars.com/

I really enjoy this poster of Terry Fox that one of you made. Can you find the spelling mistake?

SPRING BREAK IS ALMOST HERE

LAST WEEK IN HUMANITIES:

• Social Studies: We read about the Metis people up to page 184 in the Voices and Visions textbook
• Homework: you completed the "think it through" questions on page 179 and page 184; if you did not finish for the homework check, it is your responsibilty to show Mr. Mang
• We continued reading "Sees Behind Trees" and we began working on the assignments for the book
• Passport to Canada: we watched this excellent video that explores Canada's cultural diversity, physical geography and provided a synopsis of Canada's history
• Metis: to support our learning about the Metis, we watched a video about Metis people living in Alberta; your work was to brainstorm challenges that Metis and First Nations people face today
• Science and Technology: We learned about how science and technology has affected our society; your work was to make a list of positive and negative aspects of science and technology
• Writing work: you were assigned a writing assignment about a job you would like or places in Canada you would like to visit; if you did not hand this you will get zero
• Mid term exams were marked and handed back
• Congratulations to our students for their fine letter that was published in the Calgary Herald

PLEASE GET YOUR MID TERM EXAM MARK SIGNED AND HANDED IN

Congratulations to those of you who worked hard and received the mark you wanted on the exam. If you did not score as highly as you would have liked, you can talk to me about study strategies any day after school, I would be happy to help you!

THIS WEEK IN HUMANITIES:

• We will read chapter 3-5 in "Sees Behind Trees" and continue the comprehension work
• Social Studies: We will read the rest of chapter 8
• Canada a Peoples History: We may watch this video and or a video on Sir John A Mcdonald, depending on how much time we have left each day

HOMEWORK DUE WEDNESDAY: Sir John A Macdonald worksheet and worksheet on verbs.

LETTER WRITING OPPORTUNITIES:

You have learned how to write letters in grade seven. If you are passionate about an issue such as: the decision to cull wolves, health care, support for school (education) or the environment, than I urge you to write a letter to our provincial government. YOU CAN make a difference.

There are a few choices when it comes to contacting the government with your concerns:

1. email them through the government website: http://alberta.ca/home/Feedback.cfm
2. contacting your (MLA) local governmental representative who is Darshan Kang: http://dkang.ca/
3. Calling the toll-free province-wide feedback/comment line at 310-4455
4. Mailing a letter to:Government of Alberta, PO Box 1333, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N2

All of the above options are good ways to voice your concerns. You can of course write a letter to the editor of a newspaper such as the Calgary Herald or Calgary Sun.

Grade sevens, you are becoming active citizens and you make your teacher very proud!

TRAVEL PLANS OR JOB PLAN WRITING ASSIGNMENT
DUE THURSDAY

You have two choices for your writing assignment. It is due tomorrow at the start of class for a homework check.

A) What are three places you recognize in the movie? Pick one place that you would like to visit and write 3-5 paragraphs about why you would go there and what you would do on your travels. USE THE WRITING RECIPE to plan your paragraphs.


B) There are many jobs shown in the video. What job would you enjoy when your older? Why? Where would you work? USE THE WRITING RECIPE to plan your paragraphs.

Example of writing recipe for this assignment:

Intro Paragraph:
I.
1.
2.

Body Paragraph:
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Conclusion Paragraph:
I
1.
2.
3.

STUDENT VOTING GUIDE

Please vote for who you truly think will lead Alberta in the right direction. Only the major 5 political parties in this years election are featured. You can check out the political parties websites by following the links below. Being an informed voter is important, that way you will vote for who most accurately represents your own ideas.

Here is the CBC Alberta Votes 2008 website:
CBC News Article

Here are links to the major political parties:
Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Progressive Conservative Party
Alberta NDP
Wildrose Alliance
Alberta Green Party

MID TERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE

I reviewed the mid term exam and the learning outcomes addressed by the Alberta Program of Studies. I have created some questions that you should know the answers to, and also a list of important vocabulary words. I have also included the names of people, places and events that are important to know about for your exam on Thursday. Good luck studying!

1. Who were the first peoples in North America?
2. What were the two main countries that fought over North America? Were the wars only in North America?
3. Why did Europeans want to expand into the "New World"?
4. Are all First Nations Cultures the same?
5. What kind of relationship did Samuel de Champlain have with First Nations peoples?
6. Who were the key players in the fur trade?
7. Why did so many First Nations people die after Europeans arrived?
8. Did Europeans depend on First Nations for anything?
9. Why was Hudson's Bay a suitable location for trading posts?
10. Who built Halifax? When and why did they build it?
11. What was the Acadian deportation, also called the expulsion of the Acadians?
12. What was the Constitutional Act of 1791? What did it do?
13. When was the War of 1812 (just joking)...why did the Americans invade? What was the outcome of this war? What Treaty ended it? Were First Nations people involved?
    
14. Why were there rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada between 1837-1838? Who led these Rebellions and what was the British Governments response?
    
15. What was the Act of Union of 1841? What did it unite? What was the new colony called?
16. When/What/Where were the conferences in 1864 held that discussed Confederation?
17. What reasons or factors led the colonies to think about Confederation?
18. What colonies originally joined in Confederation? What Provinces were formed from Confederation?
    

Important events, places and people to know about (think who, what, when, where, why, how):
Samuel de Champlain
The Wendot (Huron)
The Haudenosaunee (The Iroqois)
The Fur Trade
Ruperts Land
New France
The 13 Colonies
The North West Company
The Hudson's Bay Company
The Acadians
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Treaty of Paris
The Royal Proclamation
The Quebec Act
The War of 1812
Tecumseh
The Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences
Joseph Howe
Sir John A. Macdonald

Vocabulary to know (practice by defining these words and testing yourself with a partner or family member):
Metis
treaty
culture
Confederation
federal
migration
representation by population
empire
responsible government
alliance
refugees
sovereignty
ethnocentric
mercantilism
colony
stereotype
bi-cultural
consensus