Executive Branch, Day 3 - Class Recap

Then Senator Barack Obama when he visited Portland near the start of his Presidential campaign in 2007.

Dear class,

Today, we started the Cabinet Project! The Presidential Cabinet is a very important part of how the Executive Branch functions. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Knowledge LT 2: I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different branches of U.S. government.
Critical Thinking and Reasoning LT 3: I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
Communication LT 1: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Research LT 1: I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Step in the Name of Love" by R. Kelly. Selected for today because of us stepping on over to the Computer Lab later in class. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 4/12/16:
News Brief - Anna Mr. Fritz
The Presidency
Cabinet Project
Computer Lab S220

Homework: Read the blog. Study the cabinet descriptions reading. You might want to download the pdf and then rotate the page (because it is in landscape format). Or, just turn your head, I guess)! Continue working on Cabinet project. Next news brief: Riley.

News Brief: I had the news brief today because Anna was absent, and selected this article to talk about with the class: WWeek.com - A Vancouver Charity is Funding a Group Backing North Carolina’s Anti-Transgender “Bathroom Bill”. This brought up a pretty interesting conversation in class about gender identity, "religious freedom" type laws, and the backlash to recent laws passing in North Carolina and Mississippi. We also talked about the Westview QSA which meets on Wednesday across the hall from our classroom, after school.

Riley was assigned to do the next news brief.

The Presidency: We finished going through The Presidency reading and questions:

Google Drive - The Presidency Reading

These are the questions that go along with the reading:

Google Drive - The Presidency Questions

Cabinet Departments: For this section, we went over what the various different presidential cabinet departments are responsible for. We also watched this video, so everyone could see what it looks like in real life:

We will be doing a similar sort of activity in class, with me playing the role of the President and the class taking on the various department heads!

Cabinet Project: Here's a link to the cabinet project (advising the President) that we worked on in class today:

Google Drive - Presidential Cabinet Assignment Handout

Here are the sign ups for each of the cabinet positions:

Agriculture: Henry and Alimar
Commerce: Daniel and Donovan
Defense: Kate and Joseph
State: Hannah and Renee
Education: Chase and Nicole
Energy: Stephanie and Alexis
Health and Human Services: Paola and Kaale T.
Housing and Urban Development: Jonny
Interior: Steven
Justice: Jen and Ivan
Labor: Amsilley and Mo
Transportation: Jordan R. and Nathan
Treasury: Monet and Daria
Veteran’s Affairs: Kourtney
Homeland Security: Jordan N. and Catie
Environmental Protection Agency: Riley and Elijah
US Mission to the United Nations: Xander

If you missed class, please see where you are on the list and who your partner is!

Computer Lab S220: We spent the second half of class in the lab. We will also spend much of next class in the lab, and the cabinet project assignment will be due on Monday.

See you next class!