JA 8 A Civics: Nov. 30-Dec. 4

This week we will continue to discuss how the media influence how we choose our government officials and how the media plays the role of "watchdog" for the citizens. We will also investigate the problem of bias in the news media and how it can play a role in shaping our opinions about political issues. We will continue to discuss the influence of special interest groups as well.

US History: Nov. 30-Dec. 4

This week we will continue our investigation of World War II. We will discuss some of the turning points of the war, including D-Day, Iwo Jima, and the dropping of the atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that essentially ended the war. We will discuss whether or not the United States should have dropped the bombs on the cities. Finally, we will investigate the lasting impact of WWII on the United States and the rest of the world.

American Govt./Econ: Nov. 30-Dec 4

This week we will continue our investigation of needs and wants, consumers, and money. We will discuss how these play a role in everyday economic decisions that WE make. We will look at the opportunity cost involved in making decisions. We will also discuss how we determine the value of money. We will also begin to discuss how people use credit in our economy.

JA 8 A Civics: Nov. 23-27

This week we will look at the different people and groups that influence government in the United States. We will discuss how public opinion helps shape the decisions of our government officials and how public opinion is measured by opinion polls. We will investigate the importance of the mass media and how it influences the public opinion and the government. We will also discuss the "watchdog" role that the media can play. Finally, we will discuss interest groups, and how they influence government as well.

US History: Nov. 23-27

This week we will begin our investigation of the impact of American involvement in World War II. We will discuss the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, which was the event that finally brought the United States directly into the war. We will also highlight the new roles for minorities and women during the war years. We will discuss the turning points of WWII, as well as internment camps, and the effect that the war had on the United States economy.

American Govt./Econ: Nov. 23-27

This week we will continue to investigate the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. We will discuss resources, and how their scarcity is a huge factor in the study of economics. We will look at the production and distribution of goods and services and how that relates to the needs and wants of people. We will investigate and discuss consumers, who are the true guiding force of the economy, as well as the role of government in the economy.

JA 8 A Civics: Nov. 16-20

This week we will begin investigating the voting and election process of the United States. We will discuss how candidates are chosen by their party and eventually elected. We will discuss the importance of advertising and the power of the media in the process as well. We will discuss the Electoral College in detail and describe just how the president of the United States is elected to office.

US History: Nov. 16-20

This week we will continue looking at the Roaring Twenties and the Stock Market Crash that followed. We will discuss how President Hoover dealt with the Great Depression vs. how President Franklin Roosevelt handled it. We will investigate how people's lives were forever changed by the Depression and how Roosevelt's "New Deal" transformed the way government interacts in the lives of citizens. We will discuss the creation of government programs as well as the brewing tensions in Europe during the depression years that eventually led to the outbreak of World War II.

American Govt./ Econ: Nov. 16-20

This week we continue our discussion of scarcity and how it effects everything in economics. We will also investigate opportunity cost, trade-offs, and cost-benefit analysis. As consumers we must realize we can't always have what we want, and so we must make tough decisions in the process. We will also begin looking at the two branches of economics; Macroeconomics and Microeconomics.

JA 8 A Civics: Nov. 9-13

This week we will begin our investigation of political parties and their role in the process of government. We will look at the development of political parties in the United States. Then we will look at the role of political parties today. We will discuss the platforms that each party supports and investigate the major functions of political parties as well.

US History: Nov. 9-13

This week we will continue looking at the period of American Imperialism and the implications it had on the history of our country. We will investigate how the United States began to get involved in world affairs and eventually enter the war "over there"... World War I. We will discuss America's involvement, as well as how people supported the war effort on the homefront. Towards the end of the week we will investigate the "Roaring Twenties" and discuss the glamorous decade that ended on such a low note with the Stock Market Crash of 1929.

American Govt./Econ: Nov. 9-13

This week we will complete our group projects and present them to the rest of the class as if they were investors. After presentations we will begin investigating the "problem" of economics: unlimited wants vs. limited resources. We will discuss the issue of scarcity, the factors of production, and look at the people involved in the economic process. We will investigate producers, consumers, and investors as well as their roles in the system. We will also reseach the economic implications of current events.

JA 8 A Civics: Nov. 2-6

This week we will continue our look at the Judicial Branch of government. We will look closely at the Supreme Court, how it developed, and how the justices are chosen. We will discuss what exactly the justices do, and we will look at some historical Supreme Court cases as well. We will discuss the importance of an independent judiciary and why it is so vital that we all have "Equal Justice Under Law."

US History: Nov. 2-6

This week we will continue our investigation of the birth of "Modern America." We will begin to look at the problems created by all of the new wealth generated by the American Industrial Revolution. We will discuss the problems of unsanitary conditions, child labor, and worker's rights. We will also begin to investigate the political machines that developed in places like New York, and how they played a role in the lives of people. This shall take us to the development of the Progressive Movement. We will also look at some of the famous political cartooons created by Thomas Nast, who creatively described the political corruption of the day.

Robber Baron Links:

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=429#LESSON2

Robber Baron or Captain of Industry?

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=429

Thomas Nast Cartoons:

http://www.greatcaricatures.com/articles_galleries/nast/html/00_nast_list.html

http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/

http://www.thomasnast.com/TheCartoons/NastCartoons.htm

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/exhibit/nast_cartoons.htm

http://www2.truman.edu/parker/research/cartoons.html

American Govt./ Econ: Nov. 2-6

This week we will continue looking at the role of the United States in the world. We will continue to discuss the organizations that influence the politics of the United States and the rest of the world. We will begin to focus more on how economics plays a role in the political process. We will begin to investigate the basic fundamentals of economics as well. We will also discuss the different types of economic systems that are found throughout the world.