Showing posts with label lesson planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lesson planning. Show all posts

Oct 4, 2012

FREE Election 2012 Resources from iCivics - Repost


As the election grows closer I wanted to repost this information in case anyone missed it the first time through -

Election 2012! | iCivics:


Teachers, register for a free account and choose from a variety of specially-designed materials including games, lesson plans, and more to bring this year's election into your classroom!

The primaries, the conventions, the campaign trail... November 6th, 2012 is growing ever closer so iCivics has put together special election-focused curriculum packages to bring the presidential election into your classroom. Choose from a three or five day approach, or even run your own mock election using iCivics' proven lesson plans and games. We've also put together a selection of one-day activities and additional resources for you and your students.

Three Day Election Curriculum
Day One: The Electoral Process
Take a peek into the electoral process- from party primaries to the general election. Students will learn the distinctions between the popular vote and the Electoral College, and exercise their critical reasoning skills to analyze the differences between the presidential and congressional elections. Students will also contrast the various nomination processes and learn about the role of party conventions in American politics.

Day Two: Candidate Evaluation
Students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials. Through a variety of activities, students assess candidates based on their qualifications, experience, campaign speeches and campaign materials. Students track campaign promises, explore voting records and evaluate the legitimacy of information resources. The role of the media, fundraising and opinion polls in the electoral process are also discussed.
Day Three: Win the White House (game)
In Win the White House, you get to manage your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. Keep a close eye on the map as you battle over electoral votes and popular support. 



Five Day Election Curriculum

Day One: The Electoral Process
Take a peek into the electoral process- from party primaries to the general election. Students will learn the distinctions between the popular vote and the Electoral College, and exercise their critical reasoning skills to analyze the differences between the presidential and congressional elections. Students will also contrast the various nomination processes and learn about the role of party conventions in American politics.
Day Two: Candidate Evaluation
Students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials. Through a variety of activities, students assess candidates based on their qualifications, experience, campaign speeches and campaign materials. Students track campaign promises, explore voting records and evaluate the legitimacy of information resources. The role of the media, fundraising and opinion polls in the electoral process are also discussed.
Days Three and Four: One Big Party
After taking a broad picture look at the different hats parties wear, students take a quick look at the impact of political party systems. On day two, guide students through the impact of the two major political parties in the United States. From examining the political spectrum to analyzing their own stances on several current issues, students will walk away understanding the complexity of the two-party system. 
Day 5: Win the White House (game)
 In Win the White House, you get to manage your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. Keep a close eye on the map as you battle over electoral votes and popular support. 


Mock Election (Three Days)
Overview
Day 1: Party Formation and Nominations
Assign students to a party and hold a primary election.
Day 2: Campaigning
Students create campaign materials for their party and nominee.
Day 3: Rules, Election and Reflection
Students create election rules, review ballot options, vote, and reflect on the election process.



One Day Activities
Voting Rights 
Explore the evolution of voting rights in the Unites States through an interactive PowerPoint presentation highlighting landmark changes. Following the presentation and class discussion, students apply the new knowledge of voting legislation to individual scenarios through a class activity. 
Cast Your Vote (game)
What issues do you want to ask candidates about? In Cast Your Vote, choose the questions in a debate, rate responses, and vote for the candidate of your choice.

Additional Resources
Election Glossary
A glossary of election-related terms ranging from acceptance speech to voting age.
Election Resources
Resources including nonpartisan candidate evaluation and information, the presidential debate calendar, and a compendium of political advertisements from the 1950s onward.


'via Blog this'

Aug 16, 2012

Election 2012! | iCivics - FREE Resources

Election 2012! | iCivics:


Teachers, register for a free account and choose from a variety of specially-designed materials including games, lesson plans, and more to bring this year's election into your classroom!

The primaries, the conventions, the campaign trail... November 6th, 2012 is growing ever closer so iCivics has put together special election-focused curriculum packages to bring the presidential election into your classroom. Choose from a three or five day approach, or even run your own mock election using iCivics' proven lesson plans and games. We've also put together a selection of one-day activities and additional resources for you and your students.

Three Day Election Curriculum
Day One: The Electoral Process
Take a peek into the electoral process- from party primaries to the general election. Students will learn the distinctions between the popular vote and the Electoral College, and exercise their critical reasoning skills to analyze the differences between the presidential and congressional elections. Students will also contrast the various nomination processes and learn about the role of party conventions in American politics.

Day Two: Candidate Evaluation
Students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials. Through a variety of activities, students assess candidates based on their qualifications, experience, campaign speeches and campaign materials. Students track campaign promises, explore voting records and evaluate the legitimacy of information resources. The role of the media, fundraising and opinion polls in the electoral process are also discussed.
Day Three: Win the White House (game)
In Win the White House, you get to manage your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. Keep a close eye on the map as you battle over electoral votes and popular support. 



Five Day Election Curriculum

Day One: The Electoral Process
Take a peek into the electoral process- from party primaries to the general election. Students will learn the distinctions between the popular vote and the Electoral College, and exercise their critical reasoning skills to analyze the differences between the presidential and congressional elections. Students will also contrast the various nomination processes and learn about the role of party conventions in American politics.
Day Two: Candidate Evaluation
Students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials. Through a variety of activities, students assess candidates based on their qualifications, experience, campaign speeches and campaign materials. Students track campaign promises, explore voting records and evaluate the legitimacy of information resources. The role of the media, fundraising and opinion polls in the electoral process are also discussed.
Days Three and Four: One Big Party
After taking a broad picture look at the different hats parties wear, students take a quick look at the impact of political party systems. On day two, guide students through the impact of the two major political parties in the United States. From examining the political spectrum to analyzing their own stances on several current issues, students will walk away understanding the complexity of the two-party system. 
Day 5: Win the White House (game)
 In Win the White House, you get to manage your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. Keep a close eye on the map as you battle over electoral votes and popular support. 


Mock Election (Three Days)
Overview
Day 1: Party Formation and Nominations
Assign students to a party and hold a primary election.
Day 2: Campaigning
Students create campaign materials for their party and nominee.
Day 3: Rules, Election and Reflection
Students create election rules, review ballot options, vote, and reflect on the election process.



One Day Activities
Voting Rights 
Explore the evolution of voting rights in the Unites States through an interactive PowerPoint presentation highlighting landmark changes. Following the presentation and class discussion, students apply the new knowledge of voting legislation to individual scenarios through a class activity. 
Cast Your Vote (game)
What issues do you want to ask candidates about? In Cast Your Vote, choose the questions in a debate, rate responses, and vote for the candidate of your choice.

Additional Resources
Election Glossary
A glossary of election-related terms ranging from acceptance speech to voting age.
Election Resources
Resources including nonpartisan candidate evaluation and information, the presidential debate calendar, and a compendium of political advertisements from the 1950s onward.


'via Blog this'

May 18, 2012

2012-2013 Ed Outline

KM has been quite under the weather over the last few weeks and feeling like she didn't want to go anywhere, which gave me a TON of time to get next year's education outline completed for both kids - YIPPEE!!! AS I ALWAYS SAY - I don't have this carved in stone, but I feel SOOOOO much more confident when I have it all planned out. DN will be 11th grade next year and KM will be 10th grade, however since KM is a bit ahead and DN has some remedial work to catch up on, there a few areas where they are working on the same things and a number of areas where KM is actually doing higher level work than DN. DN will also be working this summer and therefore will have a more intense schedule over the fall, winter and spring sessions.


Education Outline
Summer 12 – Spring 13 Sessions

Subject
Summer '12
Fall '12
Winter '13
Spring '13
ELA -
Literature
&
Writing
Historical Fiction - K


Steck-Vaughn G: Language Arts, Writing  - K

Glencoe Literature - D
Movies as Literature -    Both


Movies as Literature -    Both


Math





Science

Chemistry (Science) -    Both



Health & P.E.
Bowling - K
ExerBeat - K
Bowling – K
ExerBeat - K
Bowling - K
ExerBeat - K
Bowling - K
ExerBeat - K
Social Sciences –
Current Events,
U.S. History
& Geography









Living Books & Historical Fiction - D



Election Study




Living Books & Historical Fiction - D







Living Books & Historical Fiction - D



Elective

Cosmetology - K 


Stossel in the Classroom - Civics - D    
Cosmetology - K 


Stossel in the Classroom - Civics - D 
Cosmetology - K 


Stossel in the Classroom - Civics - D 


Here is what the planned schedules will look like -

KM - Summer Schedule ~~~


KM - Fall Schedule ~~~~~~~~



DN - Fall Schedule ~~~~~~~



Mar 15, 2012

U.S. History Lesson Plans - Screenshots

As I have gotten a number of emails after posting the resources that we have used for our U.S. History study from people asking about how we implemented it I figured the easy thing to do would be to take screenshots from the Homeschool Tracker program to show exactly what we are doing and here they are --

Just a few notes --- We have all reading and worksheets assignment due on Wed, but we tend to spread them out over the course of the week which allows for extra flexibility in our schedule. Some experiments, activities and movies are listed on Mondays so that KM and DN could work on or watch them together, as they are both following the same time line, but DN is not using the Story of US textbooks at all. We take a two week book break in March - starting this next week - but KM decided that she wanted to keep watching Liberty Kids during this time and so that is why there is two weeks of just the show listed. The "Book 2 Part 3" references are based on the break down used in the Assessment Book and has worked really well for us. I will be adding additional historical movies and documentaries on things like Lewis and Clark, Westward expansion etc. as they come along in the Story of US series. I had been trying to read ahead, but just have not had time to do that so I get a general idea and plug in something ahead, but for the most part we read a section together and then once I know what it is fully covering I will look up on netflix or in our library for corresponding and relevant materials. Hope that makes sense. I am more than happy to answer any questions anyone has, but it is really helpful to others if you leave them in the comments section!

Mar 14, 2012

U.S. History Resources - PART 1

So I have been asked by several people to put together the list of resources that we have been using for our U.S. History course. I am splitting this topic up over 2 years because I really felt like it would be far too rushed if we did it in one. I have all our Part 1 resources complete and this period goes from pre-history to 1850 and the main spine that we revolve all other materials around is A History of US: 11-Volume Set. Many of the following resources will be used during both years of our study. I would also like to mention that though I have teenagers, they are at very different levels and have had varied exposure to the topics so there is a wide selection of content and approaches covered here. I will also be periodically adding to this listing and will repost accordingly but the entire list will also be located - HERE.

Television and Video Resources -
NOVA: America's Stone Age Explorers
National Geographic: The Great Inca Rebellion
Christopher Columbus Interactive DVD
Disney History Connections: Colonial America
National Geographic - The New World: Nightmare in Jamestown
NOVA: Pocahontas Revealed
Saints and Strangers
Yours and Mine: The Lesson of 1623
Salem Witch Trials (History Channel)
The History of Warfare: French & Indian War
America: The Story of Us
The Liberty Kids
The History Channel Presents The Revolution
Johnny Tremain
The Crucible
George Washington Interactive DVD
The Louisiana Purchase (History Channel)

Non-Fiction Reading Resources -
The Discovery of the Americas: From Prehistory Through the Age of Columbus (The American Story)
Who Are You Calling A Woolly Mammoth (America's Funny But True History)
Awesome Ancient Ancestors!: Mound Builders, Maya, and More (America's Horrible Histories)
Cranky Colonials: Pilgrims, Puritans, Even Pirates! (America's Horrible Histories)
Revolting Revolutionaries, 1750s-1790s (America's Funny But True History No. 5)
Westward, Ha-Ha!, 1800-1850 (America's Funny But True History)
You Wouldn't Want to Sail With Christopher Columbus!: Uncharted Waters You'd Rather Not Cross
You Wouldn't Want to Travel with Captain Cook!: A Voyage You'd Rather Not Make
You Wouldn't Want to Explore With Sir Francis Drake!: A Pirate You'd Rather Not Know
You Wouldn't Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century!: Diseases You'd Rather Not Catch
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower!: A Trip That Took Entirely Too Long
You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Colonist!: A Settlement You'd Rather Not Start
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Salem Witch!: Bizarre Accusations You'd Rather Not Face
You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink

Historical Fiction Reading Resources -
Mary, Bloody Mary
Beware, Princess Elizabeth
Doomed Queen Anne
A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 (Dear America Series)
Witch Child
My Name Is America: The Journal Of Jasper Jonathan Pierce, A Pilgrim Boy
The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds: The Donner Party Expedition (My Name is America)
The Secret of Sarah Revere

Supplemental Text, Workbook, Worksheets, Etc.
A History of US: Assessment Book: Books 1-10
Explorers Thematic Unit
Cartoon History of the United States (Cartoon History of the Modern World)
Colonial Days: Discover the Past with Fun Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes (American Kids in History Series)
U.S. History: Inventive Exercises to Sharpen Skills and Raise Achievement (Basic, Not Boring)
Hip-Hop U.S. History: The New and Innovative Approach to Learning American History (Flocabulary Study Guides)
25 Map Crosswords: Ready-to-Go Reproducible Maps With Crossword Puzzles to Teach Key Geography Skills and Build Content-Area Vocabulary (Teaching Resources)
The American Revolution (History Comes Alive)
U.S. Government & Presidents: Know-the-Facts Review Game: 100 Must-Know Facts in a Q&A Game Format to Help Kids Really Remember Standards-Based Social Studies Information
Pioneers (History Comes Alive)