5/26/10 - Political Music Project

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Click HERE to access the Master List of approved songs.

Click HERE to access a copy of the assignment guide.

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Need to know more?  Having trouble picking a song?  Check out these links....

Click HERE for a good overview of what Political Music is.  This article contains many links and song suggestions.  If you are having trouble wrapping your head around this project, read this article.

Political Studies Association list of "Greatest Political Songs of All Time" (be warned, this organization is British, so some of the issues and artists might not be as familiar to an American audience).
 
In 2009, the Guardian (a British newspaper) published this list of political/protest songs.  This is a BIG list - lots to choose from here.

PopMatters list of the 65 Greatest Protest Songs.

Wikipedia's List of Great Protest Songs.

About.com list of 10 Best Social/Political R&B Songs.

About.com list of Best Classic Anti-War Songs.

RethinkingSchools List of Political Music organized by issues.

Micheal McCann's list of Soldier Music - music written from the soldier's point of view.  Check out his resources page for links to other songs about soldiers and war from the Civil War to the present.

Click HERE for a very complete list of political music from the Vietnam War era from all points of view.

If you like country music, check out this article about country music with political themes.

If you like rap and hip-hop, check out this article - and this one too.

If you like metal, check out this Top 10 list.

5/26/10 - Political Music Project

Click HERE to go to the Master List of songs.

5/7/10 - Current Events Day

Instructions:

1.  Please read all of the six posts below dated 5/7/10.

2.  Post a comment to ANY 3 of the six posts.

3.  You may also use time today to complete any uncompleted missions from the redistricting game.

Have a great weekend!
:-)

5/7/10 - Technology

Ten Simple Google Search Tips

Almost everyonoe uses google for at least some of our internet searches.  However, many people are not aware of some simple ways to make using the popular search engine easier and more productive. 

Read this article and answer one or more of the following questions in the comment section:

How many of these simple tips do you already knwo about?  How many do you use?


Did you learn anything from this article that will help make your internet searches easier?

5/7/10 - National News

Gulf Oil Spill Update

This article answers many of the questions being asked about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

This article describes BPs plan to stop the massive oil leak that is adding 5,000 gallons of oil a day to the Gulf.

This article describes the incredible ordeal of the crew of the oil rig immediately after the explosion that caused the rig to collapse and sink.

Answer one or more of the following questions in the comment section:

What are your thoughts on this disaster?

How will it impact the Gulf of Mexico?  The wildlife?  The people who live on the Gulf Coast? The US economy?

Does it change your views of offshore drilling or oil consuption?  Explain.

5/7/10 - National News

A Break in the Bomb Case

Go to this related article and answer the following 6 questions in the comment post:

1.  WHO has been arrested for driving a car bomb into Times Square?

2.  WHEN was the car bomb discovered?

3.  WHERE was the suspect arrested?

4.  WHAT was found in the S.U.V.?

5.  HOW did police trace the S.U.V. to the suspect they arrested? (For further detail on this question, see this article.)

6.  WHY has control of the investigation now shifted to the international terrorism branch of the Joint Terrorism Task Force?

5/7/10 - National News

Times Square Bomb Scare (cont.)

The failed car bombing in Times Square raised security alerts in the area and reminded many people in New York and elsewhere to be vigilant about suspicious activity. 


The New York Times reported on heightened anxiety near Times Square in the wake of a manhole fire two days after – and mere blocks from the site of – an attempted car bombing.


Do you ever worry about terrorist attacks? Or do you generally feel safe? 

5/7/10 - Science

Don't Talk to the Aliens!

World famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said recently that he believes that alien life very likely exists – but that any contact with aliens would be “risky” because they would probably consider Earth as a conquest.

Read this article about Hawking's opinions about alien life forms and respond to the questions below in the comment section:


Do you think intelligent life exists on other planets? Do you welcome or fear an alien invasion?

5/7/10 - Redistricting Game

So what is Gerrymandering anyway?

The Redistricting Game is designed to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting. By playing the game, you will learn about redistricting fundamentals, gerrymandering, the Voting Rights Act, and potential reforms.

The game was developed by the University of Southern California (USC) Game Innovation Lab, part of the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Interactive Media Division.

Your assignment is to complete mission 1,2,3 & 5.


In the comment section please share your opinion on the educational value of this game.  

Did it help you to better understand gerrymandering and redistricting?  Do you think I should continue to use it in Civics next year?  Why or why not?

4/23/10 - Current Events Day Instructions

Directions:


This week everyone is required to answer the Week in Review post (the next post).  

In addition to this post, you must choose 3 of the 4 other posts dated 4/23/10 and make comments.

The week in review post will be worth 10 points (one point for each question) and the other posts will be worth 2 points each.

Have a great weekend!

4/23/10 - Week in Review Questions

Search the internet for answers to the following questions about recent events in the news.  Post your answers in correct numbered order in the comments section:

1.  In what US state did a mine disaster occur on April 5 in which 29 miners were killed?

2.  What was the name of the volcano that erupted recently in Iceland, sending plumes of ash into the air that disrupted flights in and out of Europe for several days?

3.  The United States recently negotiated a treaty with which country to limit the number of nuclear weapons in the world?  Bonus: How many nuclear weapons will each country have after the treaty goes into effect?

4.  The President and many top leaders of which country were killed in a plane crash on April 4?

5.  Which Supreme Court justice recently announced his intention to retire before the beginning of the court's next term?

6. What country was hit with a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on April 14, killing at least 2,000 people?

7.  In what year was Earth Day founded?

8.  For how many games did the NFL suspend Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?

9.  On April 20th the Supreme Court struck down an 11 year old federal law which banned the sale or trading of what type of pictures and videos?

10.  This week Congress is debating a set of laws designed to set tough new regulations for which US industry?

4/23/10 - The New Benjamin

On Wednesday the Treasury Department unveiled a newly designed $100 bill.   Check out this interactive site about the new bill and answer these questions in the comments:

1.  What are the new features does the redesigned $100 bill?

2.  Do you like it?  Why or why not?

4/23/10 - Sports

OK football fans, here's your opportunity to analyze the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Which team made the best pick in the first round?  The worst?

How do you like your team's first round pick?

4/23/10 - Earth Day 2010

How much of an impact does you and your household have on the environment.  Take a few minutes to calculate your carbon footprint.

In the comments section, share your score.  Are you above or below the US average.  How does your score compare to the global average?

4/23/10 - The Week in Pictures

This NASA photo shows the first images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, a NASA spacecraft on a five-year mission to study the sun.  


This and other amazing images can be seen in this Week in Pictures feature.  Look at the images and vote for your favorite at the end of the slideshow.


In the comments discuss your favorite photo(s) of the week.

4/14/10 - What Can We Learn From Public Opinion Polls?

Using Polls to Learn About America

Objective: 


Use data found in public opinion polls to teach the class about a particular issue or topic and how Americans view the issue/topic that you chose.


Procedures:  


1.  Use the links below to view lists of public opinion poll topics.  After browsing all the topics, make a list of the top 3-5 that you would like to learn about.  You will need to have several backup choices because no more than two individuals or groups in the class will be allowed to work on the same topic.

Use these four indexes to help choose your topic(s):

Roper Poll Index

Gallup Topic Index

Pew Research Center Topics

Pollingreport.com

Once you've decided on a topic, you can also check out these other polling websites for data:

CBS News Polls
Marist Polls

ABC News Polls

Pollster.com

You may also use search engines to help find data, but the data you use MUST be from a poll that follows the 5 step scientific polling process that we studied in class (NO internet straw polls!).  If you doubt the reliability of a poll, DON'T USE IT.

2.  Use the data you find to create either a poster or a power point presentation that will teach the class about your topic and about the public's opinion(s) on this issue.

3.  Your project should use data from as many different polls as possible, preferably from different polling organizations.

4  When choosing a topic, make sure that there is more than one poll available on that topic.  If the issue or topic that you choose is narrow, please chose another related topic to make your presentation complete.

5.  Based on the data that you found from the various polls, you must draw some kind of a conclusion(s) about the public's opinion(s) on the issue of your choice

6.  Your presentation should be visually appealing and free of grammar / spelling errors.

7.  I would like at least some of the projects to be presented to the class.  Individuals or groups who are chosen to present will receive extra credit.

4/1/10 - April Fools Day!

Yes, today is April Fools Day!

The Museum of Hoaxes has a cool list of the top 100 April Fool's Day hoaxes of all time, as judged by notoriety, creativity and number of people duped.  Check it out here.

(Pictured above is an ad for the 1996 Taco Bell hoax in which they claimed to have purchased the Liberty Bell and renamed it the Taco Liberty Bell).

Browse through the list and comment on your favorite April Fool's Day hoax.

4/1/10 - National News

Don't Forget!

Today is the deadline to do something very important...send in your US Census Form.

What is the census?  First, read this to find out.  

Does the 2010 Census asks lots of intrusive, personal questions? Is it true that the Census Bureau has no constitutional authority to ask us these things?  Lots of claims have been flying around the internet about the Census.  Check out this video below from factcheck.org for the real scoop:


After watching the video, answer the following questions in the comment section:


1.  What is the main purpose of the census?
2.  Why should every American household fill out a census form?

4/1/10 - National News

Making Sense of the Health Care Law

Confused by the new health care law?

Read three or more of the articles that can be found by following the links below. All of these links summarize the changes that will take place as a result of the new law:

New York Times special Health Care section links to numerous articles about how the law will impact the country.

The Washington Post has an online tool that estimates what the new law could mean for your health coverage and taxes based on your income, family size and current insurance status.

The Washington Post also has a chart that gives an overview of how the changes will impact different groups of Americans

The Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news organization committed to in-depth coverage of health care policy and politics, has a Consumers Guide to Health Care that answers many questions about the new law. 

When you are done reading, answer the following questions in the comments:

1.  Three things I've learned about the new health care law are...

2.  One question I still have about this law is...

4/1/10 - National News / Teen Issues

9 Teenagers Are Charged After Classmate’s Suicide

Last week in Massachusetts, nine high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 were charged with various felony crimes in the suicide death of 15 year old Phoebe Prince (pictured above).

Prosecutors said that the students charged were responsible for taunting and physical threats that led the freshman to hang herself from a stairwell at her home in January.

Read this story about the charges brought against the students who were bullying Phoebe Prince. This story links to a video on which you can see photos of the students charged in the case.  Also, read this story, which is about bullying what can be learned from Phoebe Prince's suicide.

After reading the stories linked in this post, respond to one or more the following question(s):

1. Do you think the students involved in bullying Phoebe Prince should be prosecuted for their actions?

2. Why do you think students bully others?

3. How can bullying be lessened or stopped? What, if anything, can teachers do?

4. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied other kids?

5. What is the climate like at our school – are students harassed and taunted often? What can you do when you see another student being bullied?

Important Note: Please post as usual, using your full name - but if you don't want me to post your comments for others to see let me know in the post and I will keep your comments private.