Lesson 63: Tuesday, January 25th

Good morning, students! Today's lesson is self-paced (i.e., you'll work through it at your own speed) and very independent, which means that the room should be very quiet for most of the period. Here's what you need to get through today, in order:

1) e-learning module on the many roles of a member of Congress:

• click this link and scroll down to the module entitled "The Many Roles of a Member of Congress"
• using headphones, watch all six parts of this module --> be sure to take notes (on binder paper) 
• make sure you turn these notes in when you are done with this activity: you will receive a grade for this activity and I will give you points based on the quality of your notes

2) When you are done with this activity, you should turn your computer off and immediately begin working on your Chapter 12 vocab cards. If you do not finish them during this class period (and you should, because you're being given plenty of time), you will need to come back after school to check out a book from me, unless you already have one at home. Notecards are due this Thursday, when I see you for the very short period.

3) With about 20 minutes remaining in class, Steve will stop you and ask you to put your notecards away and close your textbooks. He will then take you through a short activity in which you will create your own BINGO card for the State of the Union address. You MUST turn your BINGO card in before you leave class today in order to participate in the competition and have a chance at winning some fancy baked goods :)

HW: Finish your Chapter 12 vocab cards and bring them to class with you on Thursday. There will be no extensions given (duh!), so it's up to you to come after school if you need to borrow a textbook.

Lesson 62: Monday, January 24th

Today's objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to identify the differences between the "textbook" legislative process and the way laws are really passed in Congress.

Agenda:

Students, please follow the instructions below for class today:
1) Click this link to go to the Center on Congress e-learning modules.
2) Scroll down to the module called "The Dynamic Legislative Process" and click on it.
3) Click the arrow in the circle to begin the e-module.
4) After you've listened to the introduction, click on the 2nd part of the module (called "The Textbook Legislative Process") and watch it. Follow along and fill in your own chart as you go along. Please be sure to summarize what happens in each step of the process in your own words.
5) Please do the same thing as in #4 above with the 4th part of the module (called "The Dynamic Legislative Process).
6) If you want to watch part 3 ("Public Criticisms"), you may do so after you finish all of the parts listed above.
7) In any time you have left over, you may work on creating vocabulary cards for Ch. 12 (Congress)

HW: none, but don't get too used to it :)

Lesson 61: Thursday, January 20th

Today's objectives:
By the end of today's lesson, students will be able to explain the three models of representation (trustee, delegate, and politico) and develop their own position on which model of representation is preferable in American politics.

Agenda:
1) Do-now: respond to Unit 4 essential question
2) SAC on models of representation
3) Begin reading Ch. 12
4) What's coming up in AP Gov in the next few weeks?

HW: Bring blank index cards to class on Monday.

Lesson 60: Tuesday, January 18th

Today's objectives:
By the end of today's lesson, students will understand the purpose and historical process of a filibuster and how the filibuster reflects the differences between the legislative culture of the House of Reps and that of the Senate. Students will also reflect on their performance during the first semester and provide suggestions to improve the course.

Agenda:
1) Finish Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
2) Finish video viewing guide
3) Students will receive semester grade reports and begin writing mid-year reflection

HW: Complete mid-year reflection. This assignment will be entered as the first AK grade of the 2nd semester!

Lesson 59: Thursday, January 13th

Today's objectives:
Students will start to become familiar with the functioning of the Senate and will be given an opportunity to decompress, relax, and celebrate their success in the first semester.

Agenda:
We will begin watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), a classic movie about the Senate.

HW: We will finish the movie and the video viewing guide on Monday. Please bring the video viewing guide back to class with you then.

Lesson 58: Tuesday, January 11th

Today, students will sit for the free-response portion of the final exam. They will have approximately 60 minutes to respond to five FRQs.

HW: Study for your other final exams.

Lesson 57: Monday, January 10th

Today, students will sit for the multiple-choice portion of their final exam. They will have approximately 60 minutes to complete 50 multiple-choice questions. This portion of the exam will be worth 15% of each student's 2nd quarter grade.

HW: Study for the free-response portion of the exam.

Lesson 56: Thursday, January 6th

Today's objectives:
By the end of today's lesson, students will have demonstrated their understanding of the workings of -- and interactions between -- the executive departments by successfully participating in a simulated cabinet meeting focused on emergency planning and crisis response.

Agenda:
1) Three rounds of cabinet meetings: emergency preparation and planning; managing the public response; and clean-up and disaster response.
2) Students will have time to study individually or in small groups for the final exam on Monday and Tuesday.

HW: STUDY for the final exam!

Lesson 55: Tuesday, January 4th

Today's objective:

By the end of today's lesson, students will be able to successfully represent their assigned bureaucratic department in a roundtable cabinet discussion to problem-solve a fictional domestic crisis.

Agenda:

Introduction to crisis and work time in GIA departments.

HW: Study like crazy for the exam! Bring all of your exam prep materials to class on Thursday and come ready for your role in the roundtable discussions.

Lesson 54: Monday, January 3rd

Today's objective:
By the end of today's lesson, students will understand how their semester grades will be calculated (and how this has changed since last school year), have a good sense of how they are doing this quarter/semester in AP Government, and create a goal for the Semester Final Exam (and a study plan to get themselves there!). Students will also begin reviewing the big ideas examined in the first semester in preparation for the Semester Final Exam.

Agenda:
1) Grade reports distributed, graded work passed back, brief grade conferences as necessary.
2) Jigsaw activity with four Washington Post articles (on the GOP and the Constitution, the NRA as a lobbying group, the EPA, and frustrations with TSA).

HW: Study like crazy for the exam!