JA 8 A Civics: Oct. 31-Nov. 4

This week we will continue our investigation of the Executive branch of government. We will discuss the duties & powers of the president & vice president, as well as what other member of the Executive branch do on a daily basis to help make government run smoothly. We will also cover checks & balances & the role they play for the president. We will also discuss why the Constitution does not grant as many specific powers to the president as it does to the Congress. Why did the framers do this? We will examine how presidential power has grown over the course of our nation's history from Washington to Obama. Later in the week we will begin our study of the Judicial Branch of our Federal government.

Click the link below to access the SAS Activity for this week. Student username is away9details

NO PASSWORD REQUIRED

http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch?id=617&bhcp=1

World History: Oct. 31-Nov. 4

This week we will conclude the Reformation era & begin our investigation of the Age of Exploration. We will focus our efforts on the effects it had for peoples in the Old & New Worlds. We will look closely at Columbus, Pizarro, & Cortes. We will discuss the issues of the Columbian Exchange, including the transfer of culture, religion, & disease. We will investigate the interactions between conquerors & the conquered. Towards the end of the week we will shift our focus back to the Old World by discussing the Age of Absolute Rulers in Europe, along with the lasting impact some of these rulers would have for future generations.

American Govt./ Econ. Oct. 31-Nov. 4

This week we continue our investigation of the American legal system. We will also examine some of our legal rights & responsibilities. We will examine the rights we are entitled to if we are arrested, as well as the rights we are entitled to during a trial. We will also examine the history of how the American legal system & our laws developed over time. We will also continue to discuss the steps in the trial process & the similarities & differences between civil & criminal law.

JA 8 A Civics: Oct. 24-28

This week we will conclude our investigation of the Legislative branch & begin the Executive branch. We will discuss the qualifications for becoming President, the many roles & duties of the Preseident, as well as the Executive branch departments. We will also look closely at how exactly the President is elected; through a complicated system called the Electoral College. We will also investigate the role that checks & balances through Presidential vetoes and judicial appointments.

World History: Oct. 24-28

This week we will discuss the Renaissance & Reformation, which led to many changes throughout Europe & the globe. What led to these major events? We will discuss the causes & effects of each this week! The Renaissance was a rebirth for culture & learning after the Dark Ages in Europe. We will focus on the many advancements in art, science, & technology. The Reformation began with challenges to the superiority of the Catholic Church, which held massive amounts of power in the medieval world. Emphasis will be on the roles of Martin Luter (Left) & King Henry VIII of England (Right), as these two men would play a vital role in the transformation of religion during the Reformation.

American Govt./ Econ: Oct. 24-28

This week we will begin our investigation of the Judicial branch of government. We will take a close look at the role of the courts in the United States, as well as a look at the checks & balances that are involved in the Judicial branch. We will discuss the role of the Supreme Court, as well as lower courts in the U.S. legal system. We will also investigate the differences between Criminal & Civil Law, as long with a review of our individual rights that we are entitled to if arrested, or in a court of law.

Click on the link below to access the SAS Activity for this week! Student username is: away9details NO PASSWORD REQUIRED.

http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch?id=617

JA 8 A Civics: Oct. 17-21

This week students will present their Volunteerism projects to the rest of class and then we will continue our look at the Legislative branch of the Federal government. Our focus for this week will be on the work that Congressmen and women actually do, most importantly, creating laws. We will place much focus on the process of how a bill becomes a law, and how the committee system works in Congress.

World History: Oct. 17-21

This week students will present their Middle Ages projects to the class and we will continue our investigation of the time period. This week our focus will be on the effects of the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War on the continent of Europe. Towards the end of the week we will begin our investigation of the Renaissance and Reformation period in Europe, which ended the "Dark Ages" of Europe.

American Govt./ Econ. Oct. 17-21

Welcome back from Fall Break! This week we will continue our investigation of the Executive branch. We will continue to discuss the different roles of the President, along with some of the legislative and judicial powers that the president holds well. We will also investigate the different offices that are a part of the Executive branch andthe role of the president's cabinet in making government policy. We will look closely at the president's role in foreign policy and economic policy as well.

JA 8 A Civics: Oct. 3-7

This week we will begin our investigation of the Legislative Branch of our Federal Government. We will discuss the many roles of the Legislative Branch, along with how checks & balances affect it as well. We will investigate how members of Congress are elected, & what the men & women of Congress actually do when they go to work! Emphasis will be placed on how a bill becomes a law. We will discuss how bills move through Congress, are voted upon, & can eventually become law in our nation. We will also investigate the similarities & differences between the House of Representatives & the Senate this week as well!

World History: Oct. 3-7

This week we will begin our investigation of the European Middle Ages. The beginning of the Middle Ages is known as the "Dark Ages," due to a sharp cultural decline after the fall of the Roman Empire. We will discuss the growing power of the Catholic Church during this time period as well as the role of Charlemagne (below). Charlemagne was able to unite several small germanic kingdoms into a vast empire, known as the "Holy Roman Empire" that would lead to the development of Western Europe. We will also discuss medieval society & how the system of feudalism impacted people. Towards the end of the week we will focus on the Black Death- The Plague- which wiped out over 30% of the population of Europe. We will also investigate the causes & effects of the Hundred Years' War- which would set the stage for conflict between England & France for years to come.

American Govt./ Econ. Oct. 3-7

This week we will continue our investigation of the Legislative Branch with an in-class Congressional Simulation in the beginning of the week. Students will be divided up into either House or Senate committees with the responsibility of writing up bills, debating them, and attempting to pass them into law. This simulation is a project grade based on participation, so all students must make a point of being involved in the process. Towards the end of the week we will shift our focus to the Executive Branch of our national government.

JA 8 A Civics: Sep. 26-30

This week we will finish up our investigation of the Bill of Rights & begin our discussion of citizenship & the role that citizens play in the political process. We will investigate the rights & responsibilities of people as well as the importance of citizens being actively involved in our democratic process. We will focus on many of the major rights & responsibilities, but our main focus will be the right to vote and to be an active participant in our government.

World History: Sep. 26-30

This week we will investigate the rise of Islam & its expansion through the Middle East. As Christianity began to dominate most of Europe, Islam spread to the Middle East. We will discuss the effects that Islam had on culture & politics as well. We will also discuss the Byzantine Empire, which was the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire that lasted long after the Western Roman Empire fell. We will discuss the contributions of the Eastern Empire, as well as the mixture of Eastern culture that made it unique & different from the Western Empire.