Day Thirty-Seven

Literacy Test. No class.

Day Thirty-Five & Thirty-Six

Political Party Speeches and Debates!

On Wednesday we will cast our votes...

Day Thirty-Four

To get a sense of who you would vote for in the May 2nd federal election, try the survey at: http://www.cbc.ca/votecompass Some of the questions may help you develop your own political party platform! Don't forget to include the following for tomorrow's class election:

1. Party name (linked to your ideology)


2. Party logo and slogan (both linked to your party's ideology)


3. Party platform (at least 5 solid promises ... explain why you've chosen them, and how you plan to make them work ... $$$!)


4. An election flyer to 'advertise' your party


5. Party leader (and a biography)


6. Speeches ... everyone must participate


7. A campaign song?


8. Plan your wardrobe!

Day Thirty-Three

Today was a work period for your political party assignment.

Please be reminded that we will be having our Class Election on Tuesday!

Here is a link to find out how you might vote in the upcoming Federal election:

http://www.cbc.ca/votecompass

Day Thirty-Two

Please review the Powerpoint I presented at the start of class.
Will Friday's proceedings in the House of Commons spark a spring election?

Key terms and concepts (and some general political infomation!) include:

- Jim Flaherty, MP (Tuesday's budget release)
- Leaders of Canada's mainstream political parties
- Political party logos
- House of Commons (compared to Britain's House of Lords)
- Electoral Districts / Constituencies / Ridings
- Your federal electoral district (Wellington - Halton Hills)
- How many electoral districts are in Canada?

Rick Mercer's Sleepover with Stephen Harper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FGIQpdtS_Y&playnext=1&list=PLFA941430A86FA713

Link to MP's salaries:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/lists/Salaries.aspx?Menu=HOC-Politic&Section=03d93c58-f843-49b3-9653-84275c23f3fb

Link to political party seat distribution in the House of Commons:

http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/govt10a-eng.htm

Day Thirty-One

Three and a half students = snow day!

Day Thirty

Please find time in your busy schedules to phone your charity and schedule a time when your entire group can go and conduct the interview. We don't have much time in this week's classes for YPI. Take the initiative, and find the time outside of class!

Today we began our study of Canadian Political Parties.
Please be familiar with the following concepts: Federal vs. Unitary states.
We discussed the 3 levels of government in Canada: Federal, Provincial, and Municipal.

You completed a fill in the blank handout on the Purpose of Political Parties.
I handed out the Political Party group assignment ... and we should have time to work on that tomorrow.

Keep thinking about YPI!!!

Day Twenty-Nine

Thank you goes out to Dana for her presentation this morning on the referendum happening in Egypt.

We discussed the two big items in the news: Libya and Japan

Students are beginning to connect with their charities by phone to arrange their YPI interviews. Please get the ball rolling and have everything arranged by the end of the week!

I handed out sample interview questions ... remember, no more than 7-8 questions should be prepared for your meeting.

Good luck!

Day Twenty-Eight

Today we discussed the YPI assignment sheet. I will scan this document and make it available as a link through the blog after March Break.

In the meantime, please be sure to review the 'language of YPI' from my Power Point presentation. There was a corresponding handout for you to review the definitions. Please click here to find the P/P presentation.

We reviewed some of the problems/obstacles you may encounter when trying to get in touch with your charity to arrange an interview time. Remember that charity workers are very busy people! Before you 'make the call', please be sure to have a short script ready in case you get nervous.

On the Monday after break we will discuss interview skills and each group will have time to prepare their interview questions.

Have a wonderful March Break!

Day Twenty-Seven

Current Events: Amanda and Ben

A summary of the Homelessness topic ...

We discussed the YPI in a bit more detail. If absent, you will need to pick up a 'Definitions' sheet from me. You need to be able to understand and incorporate the language of YPI into your final presentation (ie: terms such as advocacy, volunteerism, philanthropy, grassroots, local).

We also addressed problems you may encounter when trying to make contact with your chosen charity. Tomorrow we will begin to make phonecalls to set up your interview times... and begin to develop your interview questions.

Day Twenty-Five & Twenty-Six

Wow! What an action-packed few days it has been.

We continued our discussions on the topic of Homelessness in Canada.
Students were asked for form small groups (3-4 people) and develop an Acton Plan (to eradicate homelessness in Canada ... no easy feat!).

Please see the handout linked to Homeless Reading 3.

Groups were given time to develop their Action Plans before they made presentations to the class. We had some interesting debates ... some students staying firm that it is not society's responsibility to care for the homeless ... others passionately arguing that indeed it is our responsibility.

I hope that we can carry this discussion into our Political Party project after the March Break...

Day Twenty-Four

Thank you to Mrs. Boychuk who filled in for me today while I was at a conference!

Today you were asked to complete the Homelessness Reading 2. We will discuss these personal stories in tomorrow's class.

Here is a valuable link to The Soloist, dispelling some of the myths in our society surrounding Homelessness:

http://www.metowe.com/speakers/the-soloist/about/

Day Twenty-Two & Twenty-Three

Social Issue Case Study: Homelessness

From our PowerPoint lecture:

With a partner, or in a small group, write down all the thoughts and images that come to your mind when you picture a homeless person.

Create a physical description of the person (age, ethnicity, gender, cloth- ing, hair, etc.).

Where do you think you acquired this mental picture? For example, did these ideas come from your parents, the media, your personal experience, or something else?

How many of your points are based on fact? How many are based on stereotypes?

Where do we get these stereotypes? Discuss.

Please see the following link to the reading and handout for the lesson:

Homelessness in Canada - Reading 1

Day Twenty-One

Today we discussed some of the expectations of the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative.

You need to:

- work in groups of between 2 and 4 members

- research a local, grassroots, social service charity

- make contact with the charity (via phone or email) and arrange an interview time

- prepare interview questions

- visit and conduct an interview with a charity worker

We discussed a number of local, social service charities in the area including:

P.O.S.S.E., Links2Care, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, STRIDE, Halton Women's Place, S.A.V.I.S., Off the Wall, Cancer Assistance Services of Halton Hills (among others)

We also looked at and evaluated a number of YPI display boards from past classes. You were to evaluate two on your forms (to hand in).

Day Twenty

Current Events by Jon and Neil. Topics: Alligators and Oman??

We finished our E.Q. (Equality) Quiz.
It's important to keep in mind the five social groups identified by the Canadian government to be a 'high risk' to live in poverty in our society. We will certainly circle back to these as we go deeper into the YPI project.

Diamond Ranking Activity: In pairs/trios, you tried to identify and rank nine social issues that affect our school and community. Interestingly, it appeared that the top three included: drug abuse, unemployment, and alcoholism.

Start thinking about:
(i) who you will work well with for the YPI project (in groups of 2-4)
(ii) which social issue you would like to learn (more) about.

I hope that everyone will have their groups and charities chosen by Friday!

Day Nineteen

Happy Monday!

Today we start into our Youth and Philanthropy Initiative.

See http://www.goypi.org/CA/#skip for more details.