Executive Branch, Day 3 - Class Recap

Then Senator Barack Obama when he visited Portland near the start of his Presidential campaign in 2007.

Dear class,

Today, we started the Cabinet Project. The Presidential Cabinet is a very important part of how the Executive Branch functions. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Knowledge LT 2: I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different branches of U.S. government.
Critical Thinking and Reasoning LT 3: I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
Communication LT 5: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Research LT 5: I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited. Intended as a pump up song for Friday, the Cabinet Project, and the playoff football game tonight! Here's a link to the version I played in class, from ESPN's "Jock Jams" CD.

AGENDA 11/6/15:
Wildcat News Brief - Amogh
The Presidency
Cabinet Project
Computer Lab S219

Homework: Read the blog. Study the cabinet descriptions reading. You might want to download the pdf and then rotate the page (because it is in landscape format). Or, just turn your head, I guess)! Continue working on Cabinet project. Next news brief: Ashley.

News Brief: Amogh had the news brief today, and selected this article to talk about with the class: TIME.com - President Obama: Bomb on Russian Jet a ‘Possibility’. This relates to the U.S. government as we are trying to help figure out what happened. We talked about possible reasons why, if this theory about the bomb turns out to be true, ISIS would want to bring down an airliner full of Russian people (possibly in retaliation for Russia beginning airstrikes against ISIS in Syria).

Ashley was selected to do the next news brief.

Here's Wildcat News for the day if you missed class, or wanted to see it again:

The Presidency: We finished going through The Presidency reading and questions:

Google Drive - The Presidency Reading

These are the questions that go along with the reading:

Google Drive - The Presidency Questions

Cabinet Departments: For this section, we went over what the various different presidential cabinet departments are responsible for. We also watched this video, so everyone could see what it looks like in real life:

We will be doing a similar sort of activity in class, with me playing the role of the President and the class taking on the various department heads!

Cabinet Project: Here's a link to the cabinet project (advising the President) that we worked on in class today:

Google Drive - Presidential Cabinet Assignment Handout

Here are the sign ups for each of the cabinet positions:

Agriculture: Gabe and Tristen W.
Commerce: Jesus and Jace
Defense: Reilly and Nathan
Education: Lizette and Ezrie
Energy: Keir
Health and Human Services: Natalie B. and Finn
Housing and Urban Development: Janet and Emma
Interior: Jon and Hector
Justice: Giovanny and David // Ellimay and Natalie S.
Labor: Saggad and Nhi
Transportation: Amogh and Laila
Treasury: Tristen H. and Alex
Veteran’s Affairs: Dru and Morris
Homeland Security: Katie and Madelin
Environmental Protection Agency: Istanbul and Ashley
US Mission to the United Nations: Kaytie and Lindsay

If you missed class, please see where you are on the list and who your partner is!

Computer Lab S219: We spent the second half of class in the lab. We will also spend much of next class in the lab, and the cabinet project assignment will likely be due next Friday

See you next week!

Executive Branch, Day 2 - Class Recap

Inside the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo taken in 2010.

Hi everyone,

Today, we heard from Deputy Jamie Hallford, our Student Support Officer here at Westview, and also went through more introduction to the Executive Branch. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 3: I can demonstrate an understanding of how individuals and non-governmental institutions interact with each other and the government in shaping politics.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: "Born in the U.S.A" by Bruce Springsteen. Selected for today because the song is typically seen as representing patriotic themes, but a closer look at the lyrics (as we did in class) show that the song is really about a deep dissatisfaction with American culture and government.

AGENDA 11/4/15:
News Brief – Nhi/Saggad
Deputy Hallford
CRLE Forms
Review Legislative Test
The Presidency

Homework: Read the blog. Next news brief: Amogh.

News Brief: Nhi had the news brief today and selected this article to talk about in class: CNN.com - Muslim teen Ahmed Mohamed creates clock, shows teachers, gets arrested. This was an article we had discussed in class previously, but it was good to revisit, as I updated everyone with the news that Ahmed is moving to Qatar, because he was given a prestigious scholarship there.

Saggad talked about the recent development in Syria, where the United States is sending up to 50 ground combat/special forces troops. Here is an article about that: CNN.com - Syria: Obama authorizes boots on ground to fight ISIS.

I selected Amogh to do the next news brief, in the interests of time, because Deputy Hallford had arrived in the room.

Deputy Hallford: Much of the rest of class was devoted to Jamie Hallford, who is the officer here at Westview. Here are all the questions that were handed in, that he went over:

Google Drive - Questions for Deputy Hallford

Jamie talked about his experience with being the Student Support Officer here for the past five years. Hopefully, you enjoyed hearing him talk with the class, because I always do!

CRLE Forms: As a part of the guest speaker coming in, students filled out a Career Related Learning Experience form (I believe you need to have 4 of these completed as a graduation requirement). I did turn all of these into the counseling office, and the counselor didn't say anything about needing a resume as well, so I think you are good to go! I will try to have my mom come in near the end of the semester for a second opportunity, as well.

Review Legislative Test: We went through the test from last class together, and I pointed out where students tripped up. Grades have been updated on that back wall and in Student VUE, so please know where you are at and what you need to do in order to improve, if possible!

The Presidency: To start this last section, I played this video from Election Night 2000, when nobody really knew who won the election for President:

At the end of class, we went through The Presidency reading and questions:

Google Drive - The Presidency Reading

These are the questions that go along with the reading:

Google Drive - The Presidency Questions

We ended around question 9 or so, and will pick back up next class, then start the Executive Branch project, which involves selecting a cabinet department to research. See you on Friday!

Executive Branch, Day 1 - Class Recap

The White House, in Washington, D.C., where the President (the head of the Executive Branch of the United States government) lives. Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

Today was the Legislative Branch test in class, as well as the start of our unit on the Executive Branch. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Knowledge LT 1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between citizens and their governments.
Knowledge LT 3: I can demonstrate an understanding of how individuals and non-governmental institutions interact with each other and the government in shaping politics.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. Selected for today because this past weekend was Halloween. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 11/2/15:
News Brief – Istanbul
Legislative Test
Executive Branch Overview
The Presidency
Questions for Deputy Hallford

Homework: Read the blog. Next news brief: Nhi.

News Brief: Istanbul had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about in class: CNN.com - Chipotle closes dozens of stores in Washington and Oregon in E. coli scare. This story obviously impacts us, as a few students were worried that they might have E. coli in class! The government has food safety inspectors and can advise companies about shutting down operations in order to protect consumers. Thanks, Istanbul! Nhi was drawn as the next news brief.

We also checked in about the weekend and what people were up to. I have to say, my freshmen are much more eager to share than your class. I wonder why? :-)

Legislative Test: I was generous in the lead up to this, as I went over basically the exact questions from the test and gave some study time before I passed it out. I should have grades for it available by next class (fingers crossed).

Executive Branch Overview: The next part of class was learning about the Executive Branch. Here are the answers to the sheet I passed out to start the unit:

Google Drive - Executive Branch Overview Notes

As part of going through this, I explained that the 2000 Presidential Election was decided by the Electoral College, not the popular vote (Gore got the most votes in the country, but still lost the election). We will look more into this soon.

The Presidency: Here is the reading that we ended class with. It is not homework to complete (unless you missed class), but be familiar with the basics, as a future test will be based on it!

Google Drive - The Presidency Reading

These are the questions that go along with the reading:

Google Drive - The Presidency Questions

I am fully aware that this was not the most interesting class as far as new content goes. I think it will be more engaging soon!

Questions for Deputy Hallford: At the end of class, we made some questions for Jamie Hallford, who is the officer here at Westview. Here are all the questions that were handed in:

Google Drive - Questions for Deputy Hallford

Next class, Jamie will come in and answer your questions, and talk about his experience with being the Student Support Officer here. In the past, this has been an awesome experience in learning more about law enforcement (directly related to the Executive Branch) and filling out a Career Related Learning Experience form (I believe you need to have 4 of these completed as a graduation requirement). I am looking forward to it! See you next class.