Thursday 12-17-15

Link to Personal Financial Literacy Quiz

Tuesday 12-15-15

Budgeting Activity - How Much Will It Cost Me When I Grow Up?

1.  Select an occupation that you are interested in.
   - Determine what the starting salary would be.
   - Find out what tax bracket you will be in using this link.
   - Deduct the appropriate amount to come up with you final total.

2. Select where you would like to live.
   - How does the cost of living compare to where you live now?
   - Use the Cost of Living Calculator to determine the difference in costs.

3.  Complete a Budget worksheet with the following information:

Net Income (After Taxes)

Fixed Expenses:
Housing
Car Payment
Car Insurance
Health Insurance
Electricity
Water
TV
Internet
Cell Phone

Variable Expenses:
Gas
Food
Entertainment
Personal Shopping
Occasional Spending (Gifts, Repairs, etc.)

Savings:  If you have any money left

Conclusion:  Write a paragraph summary of what you have learned while completing this activity.

Friday 12-4-15

Use the following link below to join my Quizlet Class.

https://quizlet.com/join/vq6AGryUw

Tuesday 11-24-15

Link to the History of Thanksgiving

Friday 11-13-15

We will continue to discuss political parties today.

Link to VoteMatch Quiz

Link to Politics for Dummies: Left & Right Video

Link to Mind Control in American Politics Video

Thursday 11-12-15

I will be out of class today attending a workshop.  Your assignments are as follows:

First you will be given an opportunity to complete the test from Tuesday.

Then you are to get a book and read Chapter 9 about Political Parties and complete the following:

Link to assignment for today.

Thursday 11-05-15

Studying American Legal Systems

Link to Role Play Activity

Wednesday 11-5-15

Today we are continuing our study of the Judicial Branch and the legal systems.

We will complete our discussion of the landmark Supreme Court Cases that we have been studying.

Mapp v. Ohio (Josh)
Baker v. Carr (Gavin)
Engel v. Vitale (Andrew)
Tinker v. Des Moines School District (Aleah)
Roe v. Wade (Gabby)
Texas v. Johnson (Brooke)
Cruzan v. Director of Missouri Dept of Health (Hannah)
Veronica School District v. Acton (Lauren)

Link to Writing Activity

Then we will move to Chapter 15 and discuss Legal Rights and Responsibilities

What are the Sources of our laws?

What are the different Types of Laws?

We will do a Roll Play Activity to understand laws.

Tuesday 10-27-15

Today we will begin our study of the Judicial Branch.

Link to Judicial Branch Slideshow.

Link to clip - 50 years after Gideon

Tuesday 10-20-15

We are continuing our look at the Executive Branch today with a study on choosing a President.

Link to Activity

Then we will be going over a slideshow about the Electoral College.

Thursday 10-15-15

Today, I will be out of class attending a workshop in Morganton.  Mrs. Hildebrand will be the substitute.  Today, you guys will be continuing our study of the Executive Branch.

1. 1. You will be given a study guide with some questions that you need to answer about the Executive Branch.  You need to complete these on the back of the Study Guide.  You will need to use a textbook or any other reliable source to answer these questions.
2. During the second half of class, you will go to lab 409 and you are to log in to iCivics.  You need to click join iCivics to create an account and then join my class.  The Class code is Jay8027    The password to join the class in wildcat2015
3. Once you are logged in, I want you to click PLAY to access the game titled Executive Command.  You are to play the game until the end of the class period.  The objective is to score as many points as you can and you do that by making wise decisions.  Follow the directions and use your best judgement.

Tuesday 10-13-15

Current Events Article
The Robin Hood Index - What would happen if we rob the rich and give it to the poor?

Today we will be taking a test on the Legislative Branch.

Monday 10-12-15

Link to Legislative Branch Review

Friday 10-9-15

Link to vote for the bills discussed in class today.

Tuesday 10-6-15

We are continuing our study of the legislative branch today.

Link to Legislative Branch Video on YouTube

Monday 10-05-15

Today we will begin our study of the Legislative Branch. 

Key terms:

Friday 10-2-15

As we finish the classic film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, you will need to answer some questions to demonstrate understanding.

Link to the Movie Assessment

Make sure you answer the questions in complete sentences.  Take your time and do not rush through it.

Thursday 10-1-15

We will finish Mr. Smith today and then go to the computer lab to play a game on passing laws.

Link to iCivics

Scroll down to LawCraft game and follow the instructions.

Wednesday 9-30-15

We will continue with our study of the Congress today.

We will start by watching this Crash Course Video on the Bicameral Congress

And then we will continue with Mr. Smith

Tuesday 9-29-15

We will be starting our study of the Legislative Branch

We will also begin watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Monday 9-28-15

Today we will be discussing Duties, Rights and Responsibilities.

Link to Slideshow

There is an assignment linked to the slideshow.

Thursday 9-24-15

Review with Study Guide

Test today on the Constitution and foundations of American Government.

Monday 9-21-15

We will be continuing our study of the Bill of Rights as well as all of the amendments to the Constitution.

Link to Bill of Rights Slideshow

Pear Deck Current Event Activity
Link to Chain Reaction Article

Thursday 9-17-15

Today is Constitution Day!!!  And to honor that, we will begin our study of the Bill of Rights.

Assignments for today are as follows:
You are to work independently!

1. Get a textbook and read pp. 121-132
2. Answer the following questions:
1. p. 124  2-5, 6
2. p. 125  1,2,4
3. p. 131  2-5
4. p. 132 1-2
3. Begin activity on “Drawing the Bill of Rights”
1. Your are to get a sheet of paper in the back of the room and divide it into 10 boxes using the front and back. You can draw lines to divide the boxes if you want.
2. Then I want you to draw and label a picture that represents each of the first 10 amendments. Be creative and imaginative.
3. Don't rush through it. Make it look good.

Tuesday 9-15-15

Continuing our study of the Constitution.

Link to Barney reciting the Preamble

Link to Schoolhouse Rock - We The People

Link to Questions

Monday 9-14-15

EQ: How did the current US Government get established?  What were the growing pains?

Articles of Confederation Slideshow

Constitutional Convention Slideshow

Link to Crash Course episode on the Constitution and Articles of Confederation

Tuesday 9-8-15

EQ: Who are the people that influenced our Founding Fathers?

Beginnings of America Slideshow

Declaration of Independence Activity

9-4-15 Friday!

EQ - What have I learned the first two weeks?

Today we will be taking our first quiz.  It will cover types of government, citizenship, sources of our rights, and duties and responsibilities.

We will have a quick review before the quiz.

Link to Quiz

9-3-15

EQ:  How would you describe the rights that we have in America?

Discuss Handouts in groups

What is an American Mannequin Activity

Rights of Citizens

First quiz tomorrow

Unit 1 Study Guide

9-2-15

Crash Course Government and Politics #1

EQ - What is an American?

Feminism Reading Activity

What is an American? Reading with a Partner, J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur Handout

9-1-15

EQ - What are the sources of our rights?

Democracy and Citizenship

Duties and Responsibilities

Does Feminism Deserve its Bad Rap?

8-31-15 Monday Day 6

Today we will conclude our "Doing Democracy" Activity as you will finish your posters that portray images that demonstrate democracy.

Democracy is...

Next, we will do an activity to help us learn a little more about politics and the political spectrum.

The Political Compass

8-28-15 Friday!

Today we will be concluding Chapter 1 with finishing up Section 3: Government and the People.

Essential Question:  What is the Purpose of Government?

- DEMOCRACY -
What images come to mind when considering this word?
What does democracy look like? Sound like? Feel like?
What actions do you relate to democracy?
Who is included in or constitutes democracy?
Who is responsible for democracy?

“Democracy is never finished. When we believe that it is, we have, in fact, killed it”

“There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult – to begin a war and to end it.” Alexis de Tocqueville (French Historian and Political Scientist, 1805-1859)

“Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either [aristocracy or monarchy]. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” John Adams (Second President of the United States)

“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.” Abraham Lincoln (Sixteenth President of the United States)

“Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright and Essayist, 1856-1950)

Doing Democracy Activity

You will need to complete the above activity with a partner.  The poster will be a graded assignment.

8-27-15 Thursday Day 4

Today we will be finishing the 30 Days Video where we see a self appointed border guard who does not like the number of illegal aliens that enter our country.  He is tasked with going and living with a family of illegals for 30 days.

Next we will take a sample Citizenship Exam to see just what the exam is like.

Then we will continue with our study of Chapter 1 with an overview of Government.

Key Terms:
Government:

Community:

Purpose of Government:
-
-
-

Public Policy:

Budget:

Types of Government:
     democracy:


     direct democracy:


     representative democracy:


     republic:


     monarchy:


     constitutional monarchy:


     majority rule:


     authoritarian:


     totalitarian:


     dictatorship:

8-26-15 Day Three

Today we are covering section 2 of Chapter 1

Who Are America's Citizens?

Key Terms:
Natural Born Citizen
Dual Citizenship
Aliens
Immigrants
Naturalization Process
Immigration Reform

3 Ways to Lose Citizenship:
Denaturalization
Expatriation
Punishment For A Crime
-Treason
-Participation in Rebellion
-Attempt to overthrow Government by Violent Means

How many immigrants are allowed to enter the US every year legally?

Illegal Aliens
Deport
US Border Patrol

Legal Aliens
-Resident Alien
  "Green Card"

-Nonresident Alien
-Refugees

How Many Illegals Are Here?

30 Days Episode on Immigration

8-25-15 Day 2!

Chapter 1 - The American People
Section 1 - The Diversity of Americans
Key Terms:
Diversity
The Office Clip Michael Scott's School of Management
The Great American Melting Pot - School House Rock
"We were Them" - President Obama
Civics
Citizenship
Immigration
A Nation of Immigrants - Graphic
Rights
Duties
Responsibilities
Rights, Rules, Responsibilities - Graphic
Ethnic
Service Economy
Principles
Values
Popular Sovereignty
Institutions

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Civics and Economics

Hello and welcome to Mr. Jensen's Civics and Economics class.  This is the last required Social Studies course that you will need to graduate!  So what is this class all about?  A lot of it will be a review of things that you have already learned in your history courses.  Basically, we will learn about various forms of government while concentrating on America's various levels of government.  At the national level, we will take an in depth look at the Presidency, the Congress, and the Court systems.  Then we will look at those same branches of government at the State and Local levels.  We will conclude the course with an introductory study of economics. This course will help prepare you to be a more involved citizen as you approach adulthood.

Civics & Economics Syllabus

Student Information Sheet for Civics



Remind Sign Up
Once again I will be using the Remind App to send you instant reminders and notifications.  You will need to sign up to receive either text messages or emails.

You can sign up by sending the text message @yjcivics to 81010


http://blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/quiz-which-founding-father-are-you

What is Government?

What Do You Need For This Class?

Materials you will need for this class:
Loose leaf notebook or binder (1.5 - 2 inch)
Paper
Pencil (Mechanical preferred) or pen

Other recommended items:
Some type of electronic device (SmartPhone, Tablet, or Laptop)
Access to the internet
Ear buds or headphones.

Requested classroom items:
Boxes of Tissue
Copy Paper