What is a Democracy?

Goal: Discuss the principles of democracy and examine the different democracies of which we are a part

Agenda: 

Journal 

CNN Ten 

Google Classroom Questions
Graphic Representation 

1. Journal 

Based on what you already know, what is a democracy? 

2. CNN Ten 

Let's check out today's news.

3. Check in: Let's Review Our Google Classroom Questions! 

• There is an assignment in Google Classroom called "1.1: Purposes and Origins of Government"
• Only a few people finished this yesterday, so let's review it as a class.

4. Principles of Democracy 

• A country is not a constitutional government just because they have a constitution written down - they actually have to follow that constitution to be considered a constitutional government. 
• We're going to read about principles of democracy in our constitutional government. 
• Click HERE to get a copy of today's reading. (You'll click "make a copy" to add it to your Drive) 

5. Rate our Governments 

• You're working with your table groups again. 
• You are going to work to rate a specific government institution on each principle of democracy from 1-10 and provide a reasoning.
• Blue table: United States Government 
• Purple table: California Government 
• Green table: San Diego Government 
• Yellow table: United States Government 
• Make a chart in your journal that shows a) the principle of democracy, b) your rating, c) your reason why you gave it that rating 
• You each need this chart in your journal! 

Reminders: 

This week is Halloweek! Dress up accordingly:

• Tomorrow: Wear school colors! 
• It's Dia de los Muertos so we're going to have activities like sugar skulls at lunch. 

Purposes and Origins of Government

Goal: Answer questions about the different functions of government and create a visual representation of different government theories

Essential Question: What is government, and what are its basic functions? 

Agenda: 

Journal 

CNN Ten 

Google Classroom Questions
Graphic Representation 

1. Journal 

In your opinion, should a government be able to limit the products private businesses sell? 

2. CNN Ten 

As we watch today's news, consider your answer to the journal question.

3. Google Classroom Questions 

• There is an assignment in Google Classroom called "1.1: Purposes and Origins of Government"
• You need to join our Google Classroom first
• Class code: v3y8iz

4. Graphic Representation

• Yesterday you created this chart in your journal: 

• Today you are going to work with your table to create a graphic representation of one of these theories 
• Blue: Evolutionary Theory 
• Purple: Force Theory 
• Green: Divine Right Theory 
• Yellow: Social Contract Theory 
• Work with your table mates to create a visual on the paper I'm handing out 
• The visual should be done in color 
• You will present your work to the class

Reminders: 

This week is Halloweek! Dress up accordingly:

• Tomorrow: Wear costumes! (School-appropriate is a must) 
• Bring $2.00 for nachos or hot cheetos with cheese 
• Music and activities tomorrow for extended lunch 
• Friday: Wear school colors (Maroon and Gray) 

What is Government?

Goal: Read lesson one about different theories behind government and create a graphic organizer to understand our ideas 

Essential Question: What is government, and what are its basic functions? 

Agenda: 

Journal 

CNN Ten 

Hypothetical Partner Questions 

Set Up Graphic Organizer 

Read the Chapter 

Set up Google Classroom 

1. Journal 

What is the purpose of government? 

2. CNN Ten 

Let's check out today's 10 minutes of news. 

3. Hypothetical Partner Scenarios 

- I am going to give you three scenarios to consider. 

- With your partner, write the following on your whiteboard table: 

• 2 adjectives that describe the situation
• How you might feel if you were in this situation
• What kinds of people or groups might “do well” in a situation like this? 
• Propose a way that the situation may have been prevented or controlled AND by whom

4. Set Up the Graphic Organizer

Create a table in your journal that looks like this: 

You will fill out the chart as we read through the text. At the end of our reading, there will be questions to answer.

5. Read the Chapter 

• I am handing out the chapter on paper. 
• You will each get a copy to read (although sometimes in this class we will use digital texts, today we are using paper texts to get the hang of it). 

6. Google Classroom

• There is an assignment posted in Google Classroom called "1.1 Purposes and Origins of Government" 
• You should complete this before the end of the period. 
• The code to join our class is v3y8iz

Reminders: 

This week is Halloweek! Dress up accordingly:

• TOMORROW: Pajama Day 
• Thursday: Halloween Costumes 
• Friday: School Colors (Maroon and Gray) 

Welcome to Government!

Goal: Get to know each other and set our learning intentions for the quarter

Agenda: 
Welcome
Nametags
Expectations
Government Journals
About You
Syllabus Review

1. Nametags
Grab a piece of paper and markers. We are going to create name tags so we can get to know each other.

2. Government Journals

• We're going to set up our Gov Journals.
• You will use these journals each day in class for your Daily Journals (at the beginning of class) 
• I will give you a brand new journal and you will set it up as follows: 

3. About You Forms  

• Please fill out this About Me Form to help me get to know you before we start the year. 
• I want to know what technology you're already familiar with, especially since we use technology a lot in this classroom. 
• This also helps me with where you need to sit, especially if you have glasses or have a hard time seeing from far away. 

4. Syllabus Review 

• I have uploaded a copy of the syllabus HERE. 
• You can preview it or make a copy and save it to your drive. 
• It is also linked in the "Syllabus" tab of the blog above. 
• I am going to ask you questions and you will write down the answers on your whiteboard tables (get used to doing this - it will happen often!) 

5. Expectations 
Let's set our expectations for the quarter together.

Reminders: 

• Wednesday: Pajama Day 
• Thursday: Halloween Costumes
• Friday: School colors (maroon and silver)

Government Final

Goal: Complete Government final exam

Agenda: 
Journal
Final
Reminders

1. Journal 
How do you feel you did in this class? What would you change if you could do it again?

2. Final 

• Remember, during the final there is NO talking to one another. 
• You may use your own notes or look back at stories if it helps you. 
• You may NOT use anyone else's notes or stories to help you.
• Ms. Natheos will give you the entry code. 

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE GOVERNMENT FINAL

*You can recycle your stories and papers when you finish. Leave your journals in class though, because I have one more week to grade.*

Reminders:

• Have a fantastic weekend and I hope to see you in a future class! 

Case Presentations and Test Review

Goal: Present cases and review tests

Agenda: 
Journal
CNN 10
Case Presentations
Test Review

1. Journal
What is something you want to improve about yourself next quarter? Explain why.

2. CNN 10
There are protests happening ALL OVER the world. Find out more here.

2. Case Presentations 

• You have been working on court case presentations in Google Classroom
• Today you will present them to the class. 
• Tomorrow there will be a few questions on your test based on these presentations, so I would take notes in your journals. 

4. Test Review

• I will not be here tomorrow, but you are taking a final exam. 
• You are working independently and you may use notes, but if you talk to your peers your score will be disqualified. 
• I have practice questions on Quizziz that we can take together - I'll give you a join code in class.

5. Other Topics

Do you think anything else will be covered on the test? Let's brainstorm topics we've covered in class this quarter. 

Reminders: 

• Look at your grades in Powerschool and make sure everything is caught up. 
• Today is the LAST DAY to request any regrades! 
• LGBTQ+ Students apply for the SD Pride Youth Leadership Academy HERE! Ask me if you have questions. 

Court Case Research

Goal: Research a landmark Supreme Court Case and create a presentation

Agenda: 
Journal
CNN 10
Choose a Case
Read About It
Create Case Presentations

1. Journal
Now that we are at the end of the quarter, how are your grades? Explain.

2. CNN 10
Canada just had their major election yesterday, and the people were on the edge of their seats to see who would get elected. Find out more here.

2. Choose a Case 
Choose a case from this list of cases that you find interesting:

• Marbury v. Madison, 1803 
• Issue: Who can ultimately decide what the law is?
• Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857
• Issue: Does Congress have the constitutional power to prohibit slavery in free territories? Also, does the Constitution give African Americans the right to sue in federal court?
• Brown v. Board of Education, 1954 
• Issue: Do racially segregated public schools violate the Equal Protection Clause?
• Miranda v. Arizona, 1966
• Issue: Are police constitutionally required to inform people in custody of their rights to remain silent and to an attorney?
• Loving v. Virginia, 1967
• Issue: Did Virginia's law against interracial marriage violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
• Tinker v. Des Moines, 1969 
• Issue: Does the First Amendment prohibit public school officials from barring students' from wearing black armbands to symbolize anti-war political protest?
• Roe v. Wade, 1973
• Issue: Does the Constitution prohibit laws that severely restrict or deny a woman's access to abortion?
• Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015 
• Issue: Is same-sex marriage valid across all 50 states, or just in the 37 states that allow same-sex marriage? 
• Fisher v. University of Texas 
• Issue: Does the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment permit the consideration of race in undergraduate admissions decisions?

3. Read About It 
Read the page linked above and Google other information about it. Some more helpful sites you can consider using are:

• USCourts.gov: See more detail on your case 
• Supremecourt.gov: See the actual opinions written by justices

4. Create a Case Presentation 

• There is a slide template in Google Classroom called "Landmark Supreme Court Case"
• Use the template to inform the class about the case you chose. 
• You are working independently.
• You will be presenting these out loud to the class TOMORROW.
• Do NOT choose the same case as your friends/table mates. 

Reminders: 

• Look at your grades in Powerschool and make sure everything is caught up. 
• Today is the LAST DAY to request any regrades! 
• LGBTQ+ Students apply for the SD Pride Youth Leadership Academy HERE! Ask me if you have questions.