Happy Weekend

As you are enjoying your weekend remember you can play the review games by downloading the free Zondle app for you phone and using your log in information created in class!  You can also play on a computer by clicking on the review games link on the side of this page.  

As an added bonus I added a stream of updates so you can see what others are doing on the site!

Reminder: any username other than your s# has had its access to the review questions for my class removed.  If you did not follow instructions you will have to create a new account with your s#.  See me for details.

Mid-Unit Review!

February 27th, 2015

Warm Up

1. What is the role of the media in our society?

2. How does the media make money?











Learning Objective: Students will review what we have learned so far.

Success Criteria: Students can successfully complete the review games.



Today we are 1/2 way through our unit on political parties, public opinion, and mass media.  As such it is a good idea to check your understanding thus far with some review games of test questions you should be able to answer by now.



Instructions:

1. Log on to chromebooks
1. username: your s#@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
2. password: your school password
2. go to www.zondle.com
1. if you created an account last time log on using
1. username: your s#
2. password: your school password
2. if you have not created an account as for a handout with directions
3. use of the chromebooks for anything other than checking your grades or playing the review games provided for you will result in loss of chromebook privileges.  

Guest Speakers

February 26th, 2015

Warm Up

1. What is the role of the media in our society?

2. How does the media make money?













Learning Objective: Students will understand the importance of civic engagement.

Success Criteria: Students can explain how to be an active member of our democracy.

Today We took a break from our regular lessons to listen to the messages of two guest speakers.  The first, Sean Orr, who helps organize Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) at various schools around Milwaukee & Racine, came to promote the new chapter of YES at Bay View.  

The second, Kathy Arciszewski, a former elected member of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors (the legislature for our county) and community advocate who promotes civic engagement in communities.

Packet work graded

Just an update.  Last night I went through all your packets and corrected what has been completed.  The vast majority of students and groups are FAR behind where they need to be to finish on schedule.  We only have a few more days left of working on this current packet before they are due.  Make sure you make the most of your class work time!

As a side note, several students are not keeping their packets in their groups folders. If you are not keeping your work in class like directed and lose your work, you will be required to start from the beginning of a new packet.

Chapter 11 Section 2 The Mass Media

February 25th, 2015

Warm Up

What are the 4 sources of public opinion, which has the biggest influence over what you believe, and why?


















Learning Objective: Students will understand the role of the media in our system.

Success Criteria: Students will be able to explain the dangers of the media not fulfilling its role.


I. What is mass media?

• any form of communication that reaches a lot of people

II. What special role does the media have in our democracy?

• watchdogs of democracy
• if the government does something wrong they are supposed to let us know because they don't have prior restraint (the requirement to ask the government permission to publish/write something)

III. How does the media decide what to show us?

Read Chapter 11 Section 2: The Mass Media and in your groups complete pages 8 of your packets today.  When complete with a page, have your ambassador check it with me.

Chapter 11 Section 1 Forming Public Opinion

February 23rd, 2015

Warm Up

What are the 4 factors that create public opinion?  Which one influences opinion the most?
















Learning Objective: Students will understand what public opinion is.

Success Criteria: Students can explain how public opinion is formed.




Read Chapter 11 Section 1: Forming Public Opinion and complete pages 6 & 7 of your packet.  Once you complete it, have your ambassador get it checked off by me.

Public Opinion & Mass Media

February 23rd, 2015

Warm Up

Describe how political parties help candidates get elected.

















Learning Objective: Students will understand what public opinion is.

Success Criteria: Students can explain how public opinion is formed and how it is used in our system.

Public Opinion

Public Opinion: How people feel about specific issues or people.

I. What creates it?

1. personal background: your life experiences
2. mass media: what you hear, read, see on tv/radio/internet/books/newspapers, etc.
3. public officials: what political leaders, or leaders in the community say
4. public interest groups:groups that intentionally try to change the way we think about things

II. Why is it useful?

• who do politicians work for? how do they know what we want them to do?

What does this tell us about likelihood of politicians supporting legalization in the future?

What do they poll?

Everything.

III. What do politicians want to know about it?

• 3 features of public opinion

1. direction: do people like/agree with it or dislike/disagree with it
• if you like it politicians are more likely to do it. why?
2. intensity: how strongly do people feel about it
• why would they want to know how strongly people feel?
3. stability: how likely people are to change their minds
• why would politicians want to know how likely you are to change your feelings?

IV. What is mass media?

• any method that allows communication with a lot of people at once

V. How much influence does it have?