Music and Social Studies

Just thinking back over Jasons lesson on the use of music to teach and inspire stuents in the classroom, why is it that it is rarely used? I don't know if this is true to all areas of education but during my schooling we were never exposed to music. The only lesson I can think of where music was used was in the Battle of Hastings and the bayeux tapestry. We actually had to sing in one of the lessons and the words still haunt me to this day---well more so the pitch in which the teacher sang. That was many moons ago and I still remember it, so I believe we should try to use it more often. Anyway, I was wondering how to incorporate music into our lessons and how to use it in a motivating way. It seems like such a great resource that is not used enough.
Are there any resources to help link certain music/songs with certain subject areas?? Is Jason going to post the website that he spoke of in class??

National Geographic

Hey Everyone!

This may be a little obvious, but I just thought the other day about how much I loved the National Geographic magazine as a kid. So, I thought I would see if their website was any good. I just took a look, and it seems to be jam packed with tons of resources that we can use as Socials teachers.

There are great pictures and articles that cover both history and geography, as well as various maps. They also have short video clips (2-10 minutes) that are free after you watch a short commercial. There are videos about animals, the environment, travel . . . they even have some music videos about important world topics! The website also has a whole subsection called the "Green Guide" which gives advice about being more environmentally friendly in your every day life.

I would definitely recommend that you check this site out (if you already haven't).

ANOTHER HEADS UP....

something else to check out...

AFRICA, PEACE AND CONFLICT
occurs on Thursday November 19 2009 in the
BOB WRIGHT CENTRE,Room 150
3800 Finnerty Rd


Approximate running time 120 minutes
Peformance Notes

AFRICA, PEACE AND CONFLICT: Dr. Jean-Bosco Butera is director of the Africa Programme at the University for Peace (UPEACE). The programme focuses on the necessity to stimulate and strengthen Africa's ability to teach, train and conduct research in areas of peace and conflict studies. In his Nov. 19 University of Victoria President's Distinguished Lecture entitled "Building Capacity for Peace in Africa," Butera will discuss how the programme contributes to a better understanding of conflicts in Africa, their prevention and the creation of an environment for lasting peace to ensure the sustainable development of Africa.
From 1995 to 2003, Butera was vice-rector at the National University of Rwanda. He is currently the patron of Never Again Rwanda, a chapter of Never Again International, a collaborative international network that aims to promote a constructive exchange of ideas to prevent violent conflict and remedy its effects. For more information about the UPEACE Africa Programme visit www.africa.upeace.org.
This President's Distinguished Lecture will take place on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. in the Bob Wright Centre, room B150. Although this event is free of charge, seating is limited and tickets should be booked in advance . An evening parking permit of $2 can be purchased in advance when booking tickets.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHT

hi there,

just thought you might be interested in this...

TO: U Vic Students, the schools of Greater Victoria and the general public

FROM: Victoria Restorative Justice (RJ) Resource GroupRE: Films and Free Pizza

DATE: Starting at 4 pm, Wed. Nov. 18, 2009, running until 9 pm

LOCATION: Auditorium, Murray and Anne Fraser Law Bldg. at U Vic. Drop in and catch any one the 6 DVD's, professionally produced, presentingreal cases of adults and youth sharing their experiences in restorativejustice and circle practices.

WEST PHILLY STORY (11 mins.) - students in one of the worst high schoolsfor violence in Philadelphia tell how using the "circle process" has uppedits rating to one of the best schools.

THE REENA VIRK STORY (27 mins.) - Reena's parents, Suman and Manjit Virk,meet with youth in schools, and gently persuade them to see the signs andlearn the ways to prevent the bullying which led to Reena's murder. Warren Glowotski, one of her murderers, shares his journey forforgiveness.

BEYOND ZERO TOLERANCE (15 mins.) - Instead of detentions and suspensions,teachers and administrators build a constructive climate for learning bytaking take time to address problems through the regular use of the"circle process". Those affected by a problem are drawn together todiscover What happened? Who is affected and how? and What's to do torepair the harm? CONCRETE,

STEEL AND PAINT (55 mins.) - Men in a prison art class agreeto collaborate with victims to design a mural about healing. At times thedivide seems too wide to bridge. But as they work together, mistrust givesway to genuine moments of human contact and common purpose.

IN SEARCH OF HEALING JUSTICE (50 mins.) - In British Columbia, two braveFirst Nations women challenged convention, bureaucracy and themselves todiscover a healing process which included face to face reconciliationbetween them: one the family survivor of the murder committed by theother.

And if time permits, ENDEAVOUR HIGH SCHOOL STORY, Hull, England, (16mins.) - features how the use of restorative practices changed this schoolwith over 40 cultures represented, from a "failing" school" to "a placewhere respect and safety are the norm".

Rethinking Social Studies Education: Remembrance Day

Rethinking Social Studies Education: Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day

my peeps,

so i was planning some things to do at my work (i work at an after school care) this past month and was looking at the key themes. and well November has Remembrance Day. This got me on the internet and then into some teaching ideas. Anyways, i found a pretty wicked website. And some SWEET activities.

the following is part of one lesson plan... if you scroll down under 'lesson plans' (its the adobe one). [http://sd71.bc.ca/sd71/edulinks/Remember/remember.pdf]

- anyways, i think its pretty good stuff. easily something you could just talk about in a socials class or spend a class or part of one on.

This sheet is designed to help you understand Remembrance Day. Follow
the instructions carefully and do not go anywhere that you have not been
instructed to on this sheet or by your teacher.
1. Please type in the following address www.vac-acc.gc.ca/youth/ or click on
Veteran Affairs Youth Page on the Remembrance Day links page.
Click on A Day of Remembrance and then click on Why Remember. Read the
first paragraph.
Why do we celebrate Remembrance Day? ____________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Read the fourth paragraph (As Canadians...). What were Canadian soldiers
fighting for? _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. Click on the BACK arrow at the top of the screen and then click on Whom Do
We Remember. Why did Canadians voluntarily sign up to go to war?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. Click on the BACK arrow at the top of the screen and click on What Should We
Remember. What three wars did Canadian soldiers participate in?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5. Click on the BACK arrow at the top and then click on How Do We Remember.
How do we remember? __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6. What do the poppies stand for and why do we wear them? ________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________


FROM
http://sd71.bc.ca/sd71/edulinks/Remember/#teachers

Making a difference

So while I was on observation I sat in on an English class. The teacher had given out an assignment at the beginning of the year called Making a Difference. Basically every student had to start making changes in their life starting with small changes in their personal lives and building to changes within the community. She led by example and had already made changes such as using a to-go mug for coffee and walking or biking to work three days a week. The students had to keep track of their changes and make some sort of record of them, such as photographs or videos. She got the students to report to the class what progress they had made. I thought this was awesome because the kids got excited about each others changes and encouraged those that were finding it hard. For example, one student who had decided to start eating more vegetarian meals a week was giving out recipes to those that felt this was too difficult. Another student had started peer tutoring a younger student. Another had taken up running.
During the class that I sat in on one student had mentioned doing a food drive and volunteering at a local soup kitchen. It was amazing because even before she had finished speaking she had managed to convince the class to do it together.
I was impressed that an English teacher would make this an assignment in her classroom and thought to myself how easy it would be to implement in a social studies class. What a way to teach kids that they can make a difference not only in their lives but in the the community. I recommend to everyone that we try this in our classrooms.