Mr  Mats   n
jmatson@westbranch.org

8th Grade Civics

Law Related Education

Sociology

Teen Court Advisor

Student Assistance Program

 

Quote of the Day:  Live Life in the Present Tense

 

In The Spotlight

Students of the Week

Mackenzie Scaife

Brittany Heichel

Sandy Moore

Chelsea Mann

Jen Tarbay

 

Mr. Matson's Hobbies/Interests

#1 Spending time with family--Kris, Parker, and Chloe

#2 Running (I've finished first in the Moshannon Valley during the

past two years at the Black Moshannon 10k--training for a 3-peat)

#3  Watching contact sports including football and boxing

 

Good Luck to all fall sports programs and extra-curricular activities. 

 Always set your goals high.

 

Video Waiver for Lexus Challenge

 

Homework for the week of September 2, 2008

Civics Studies
 

Monday

 

Tuesday

Students will get their folders out of the filing cabinet and finish working on the leaf mobiles that they started last week.  Afterwards, we will read two quotes from the leaves and select a student to be in the spotlight for the week and hang their pictures up on the bulletin board.

1.      Students will be asked to answer the question why is it hard to read textbooks?  After they jot down a response, they will pair with their neighbor and share their responses. 

2.      Students will scan pages 252-258 and complete the ABC brainstorm worksheet in order to identify new vocabulary.  Afterwards, students will get with a partner, guess at what the words mean, and share those thoughts with their partners.

3.      Students will discuss the meanings of the following vocabulary terms:  political party, nominate, candidates, two-party system, third parties.  Afterwards, students will write a paragraph using all five of the terms at the bottom of the ABC brainstorm worksheet.

 

Wednesday

Students will get their folders out of the filing cabinet and review the meaning of the following vocabulary terms:   political party, nominate, candidates, two-party system, third parties

1.      Students will review the meaning of the afore-mentioned ABC vocabulary terms. 5.3.9.E.

2.      Students will be assigned an anticipation guide for pages 252-258 of the textbook.  As a class, we will read each statement and chart the responses of students.  5.3.9.E.

3.      After charting the guesses of students, students will be asked to read the section and complete the corresponding anticipation guide.  5.3.9.E.

Thursday

Students will get their folders out of the filing cabinet and take out their anticipation guides. 

1.      As a class, students will review the anticipation guide that they completed yesterday for pages 252-258 of the textbook.  We will chart the responses on the board.  5.3.9.E.

2.      Following the review of the anticipation guide, students will be asked to think-pair-share and answer what challenges they face while reading texts and what strategies they could use to help them comprehend difficult texts.  We will share responses as a class.

3.      Students will look at the bulletin board and attempt to explain what the key terms for each strategy means. 

 

Friday

Students will get their folders out of the filing cabinet and will get a political parties checklist off of the island. 

1.      Students will complete a checklist that explains the general beliefs of what democrats and republicans believe in.  5.3.9.E.

2.      Students will check which party they side with for each issue.  5.3.9.E.

3.      Students will be asked to write a paragraph explaining which party they would most likely support and why.  5.3.9.E


 

 

 Sociology

 


Randy Paush's Home Page

 

Finish the "teaching a lesson" presentations
 

 

Law Related Education
For the week of
 

Monday

 

Tuesday

1.      Students will discuss what law is . 

2.      Students will think, pair, and share responses to problem set 1.2 of the textbook (case of the shipwrecked sailors).  

3.      In pairs, students will write arguments for both sides of the situation as if defending or prosecuting the men in court. 

4.      Students will act as attorney�s for each side in the case and will present arguments in front of their classmates.

Wednesday

  Students will read pages 6-8 of the textbook and complete problem sets 1.3 and 1.4 of the textbook. (universal rights). 

Thursday

1.      Students will scan pages 252-258 and complete the ABC brainstorm worksheet in order to introduce vocabulary.  Afterwards, students will get with a partner, guess at what the words mean, and share those thoughts with their partners.

2.      Students will take a vocabulary quiz for pages 11-17.

Friday

1.      Students will correct the  vocabulary quiz responses that corresponded to pages 11-17 of the textbook.

2.      Students will review responses to the vocabulary quiz. 

3.      Students will read the Chicago v. Morales case information and complete a corresponding teacher generated support material.  

         

Helpful Civics Links

·         Court TV

·         Presidential Trivia

·         Presidents

·         Bill of Rights Institute

·         History Channel

·         The U.S.Government Manual

·         House of Representatives

·         Historical Documents

·         Explore PA History

·         Education World

·         Field Guides

 

·         U.S. Senate

·         House of PA

·         Federalist Papers

·         PA Constitution

·         U.S. Congressional Directory

·         CNN

·         Supreme Court

·         CNN Student News

·         P.I.A.A.

·         Freep News Trivia

·         www.npr.org

 

 

·         Measuring America

·         World News Network

·         Geo History

·         The History Net

·         Constitution Analysis & Interpretation 

·         Whitehouse History 

·         Whitehouse Government 

·         Issues PA

·         CIA World Fact Book

·         U.S. National Parks

·         www.foxnews.com

·         www.pbs.org