1. Social Studies Mr. Muenker

2. 9/9: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to four out of the five question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask me how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL FIVE! 1. What major health concern is mentioned for students going back to school after summer break this year? How can you avoid these risks? Who is especially at risk for this virus? Why do you think students are more at risk than other people? 2. How does Back to School Time impact the government? Why do you think school supplies might have gotten more expensive this year? What is one way parents plan on saving money on their Back to School purchase costs? 3. What natural disaster is taking place in India and Pakistan? Many people have had to evacuate their homes. If you had to leave your home due to a natural disaster, what would you bring with you and why? (Assume all family and pets are alright). What transportation related factors make the situation especially dangerous? 4. In India, many people don’t have electricity. How would your life be different if you didn’t have access to electricity? How is Green Peace attempting to counter the problem of a lack of electricity in India? 5. What natural disasters are taking place in California? How are California Emergency Responders attempting to counter draught and wildfires? What are some of the features of the vehicle? What advantages do these vehicles provide over traditional airplanes?

3. 9/17: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to four out of the five question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask me how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL FIVE! 1. Where are wildfires destroying forests and homes? How far along are they in conquering the fires? Wildfires are a common danger in California, what are some common natural dangers in Quito, Ecuador? 2. What disease is causing a threat to many African nations? What is the United States doing to help stop the spread of the disease? What would the money be used for? 3. What is NASA doing regarding space taxis? What companies will be making the space taxis? If you could go up in space to the International Space Station, would you? Explain. 4. Which country is deciding whether or not it should become an independent country? What economic consequence could follow if they decide to separate from Great Britain? Do you think they should separate? Explain. 5. What is 3D printing? What kind of things can you make with 3D printing? What are some dangers to having 3D printers available in the average consumers? If you had a 3D printer and could only print one thing, what would you print?

4. 9/24: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to four out of the five question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask me how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL FIVE! 1. Who is the United States at war with? How did the United States begin their armed conflict with them? What other countries were allies with the United States? How can conflicts in one country affect another? 2. What group other than ISIS is the United States targeting? What is unique about the weapons they are planning on using? What argument is going on regarding President Obama’s right to use military force against them? Do you think a President should ask for permission from the rest of his government to do what he or she feels is best? Explain. 3. What is one major side effect to the fighting in the Middle East? How many refugees have fled Syria? If your country was in danger, would you leave your home? Explain. 4. What happened at the Syrian-Israel border yesterday? What is the IDE? How many active military personnel are a part of the IDE? In Israel military service is required by all citizens, both male and female. Do you think every citizen should be required to serve in its country’s military? Explain. 5. How much money does the “King Fire” in California cost to fight every day? What strategy is California using to create a barrier between spreading fire and forests? Why are the fires so bad this year in California?

5. 9/30: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the four question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask me how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Four! 1. What major medical event has many people scared? What makes this event unique? How did the patient get sick? 2. What was the original mission of the Secret Service? What are some of the ways the Secret Service protects the White House? What are some government officials suggesting to prevent future security breaches? 3. Why are protests taking place in Hong Kong? What large country is Hong Kong affiliated with? What is Universal Suffrage? What kind of people are protesting? Why do you think people like that are often the most likely to protest political events? 4. What college majors did the report say made the lowest earnings? What college majors did the report say earned the most? How many students are attending college in the United States? Do you want to go to college in the United States or another country? If so, where? What job do you want to have when you are an adult?

6. 10/6: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to four out of the five question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL FIVE! 1. What is significant about the timing of recent the US job report? What are the general opinions of Republicans and Democrats on the report? Before the report was released, what percentage of American citizens approved of the job President Obama was doing with the economy? What is President Obama’s economic plan? If you were President, what would you do to improve Ecuador’s economy? 2. Who is Corporal Jordan L. Spears ? Why is he in the news this week? What did he do that led him to that fate? If you went missing in a dangerous area, what one sentence message would you want sent to your family? Why? 3. According to the report, why don’t many athletes share information about their own head injuries? What recent tragedy has brought this issue to the attention of United States society? What are the chances that a player who plays American Football gets a concussion? What are some things people are doing to try to minimize the risks of playing American Football? If you had a family member who played American Football, what would you tell them to do in order to be safer? 4. According to the report, what are some health benefits of laughter? How often does the average person laugh every day? What are some ways you can make sure to take a break each day to laugh? 5. What historical evidence was found this past week ? Where was it found? How old is it? Is it a primary or a secondary source? How do you know? Why is it important to keep old historical sources such as that safe?

7. 10/15: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the four question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Four! Starting today, if you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. 1. What are midterm elections? How long do U.S. Representatives serve for? Which political party is currently in majority control of the House of Representatives? Why does it matter who has majority control in Congress? 2. What message did nurse Nina Pham have regarding her diagnosis? What medical treatment did Pham receive? What makes that treatment unique? What makes Ebola especially dangerous for medical workers? 3. What is the X37-b? What makes it unique? What kind of information could it be collecting? Why can they stay in space for so long? 4. What is Air Racing? What is the speed of the average Air Races now? Would you ever consider Air Racing? Why or why not?

8. 10/22: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the four question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Five! Starting today, if you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. 1. What news came out of North Korea yesterday? What was the prisoner accused of? Why was what he did a crime? How do you feel the U.N. and the world should handle Human Rights violations like this? 2. Why are tensions high in Ferguson, Missouri in the United States? They mention that there were some peaceful and some violent protests in Ferguson, why do you feel violent protests are ineffective? Why are non- violent protests usually effective? 3. What dangerous event happened with a comet this week? How far away was the comet? How did NASA protect the satellites? 4. What is the leading cause of death for American teenagers? What age group has the highest likelihood for car crashes? What are graduated licensing laws? Is it fair to limit the driving privileges for teenagers? Why or why not? 5. Who is Chris Downey? What medical condition did he have? What was the side effect? How has he been able to overcome his personal and professional challenges?

9. 10/29: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to two out of the three question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Five! Starting today, if you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. If you finish with time left, work on your DBQ assignments to make sure you are staying up to date. 1. What restrictions have been put in place for people traveling to countries under the threat of Ebola? Do you think these restrictions should be in place or do they go too far? Are there any historical cases that show similar actions? Explain your answer. 2. How many cases of Ebola have been reported in the world this year? How many people in the U.S. die from the Flu every year? Do you think people are over-reacting about Ebola? Explain your answer. 3. What is happening in Hawaii right now? Who is in danger? What are residents doing in response? Since we live in an area with volcanoes, do you and your family have an emergency plan in case one erupts?

10. 11/12: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the five question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Five! If you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. If you finish with time left, you may read quietly. 1. What is a data breach? What large organization was hacked and suffered a data breach? Do you think the idea that your personal information is vulnerable to hackers change how you plan on using the internet? (Ex: No more online shopping?) 2. Why are people preparing for a grand jury’s decision in Ferguson, Missouri? How are they preparing for potential dangers? How can protests impact an area’s economy? 3. What is a veteran? What scandal took place at the US Department of Veterans Affairs last year? How many veterans were affected by the scandal? 4. What is the purpose of Veteran’s Day in the United States? What flowers symbolize Veteran’s Day? Why should veterans be celebrated? 5. What are drones? What is a new way some people are planning on using drones that would help people? How far can the drones deliver their medical equipment and how quickly can it get there? Should drones be allowed to fly through the city in public? Explain.

11. 12/3 For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the four question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Four!v If you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. If you finish with time left, you may read quietly. 1. What current US Supreme Court case raises the question of whether or not someone should have their freedom of speech protected online? What did he say that was offensive? (Don’t literally write the bad stuff please) Do you think people should have violent speech limited online? Explain. 2. What holiday was December 1? What is the purpose of the holiday? How many people worldwide are living with HIV? 3. What happened in Chernobyl, Ukraine? What were the lasting impacts in that area? What other area was affected by a similar disaster? Why do people give tours there? 4. What health related benefits were discovered in a study about when you wake up? What are three of the tips given to wake up early? Are you going to take that advice? Explain.

12. 12/9 For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the four question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Four! If you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. If you finish with time left, you may read quietly. 1. What is profiling? How is the U.S. government expanding a ban on it? What are some organizations that are still able to profile? Should they be able to? 2. What was the U.S. unemployment rate in October and November? Why were so many jobs added in the past month in the U.S? What are four specific ways the economy has improved this month? 3. What is poaching? Why do people poach rhinos? Why are some rhinos being transported in South Africa? How are they being transported? 4. Write one famous example about the failures of famous historical people. What is the “Transition”? Why should we celebrate failure?

13. 12/916For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to three out of the four question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Four! If you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. If you finish with time left, you may read quietly. 1. What event took place this week in Australia? How many people were taken as hostages? How did the event end? 2. Why are people searching the ocean floor? How many passengers disappeared? What are some challenges in searching for the plane? 3. What major studio company was hacked recently? What kind of information was released by the hackers? What are some dangers of keeping your personal information online? 4. What is Spaceport America? How much will commercial space flights cost? What is point to point travel? Would you travel in space if you were given the opportunity? Why or why not?

14. 1/7: For today’s Current Events assignment, watch CNN Student News and respond to four of the five question prompts below. Make sure to answer each part of each question and answer them in complete sentences. If you ask how many you have to answer, you will have to answer ALL Five! If you don’t answer all parts of each question and if you don’t answer in complete sentences, you will have to re-do the whole assignment. If you finish with time left, you may read quietly. 1. What search is taking place in near Indonesia? How many people were aboard? What is the “black box?” What are some challenges the search party is facing? 2. In the story about the search boat, how far is the search party from the crash site? When a crew member spots something, how do they investigate what it is? (Hint: the electronic tools they are using) What is the specific mission of this boat? 3. Sanctions are economic penalties. What are sanctions used for? What countries are involved in a sanction situation right now? Why? Do you think this is an effective strategy to punish or persuade a country? Explain. 4. What is the driest inhabited continent on the planet? What natural disaster is taking place in Australia right now? How much land has been affected? 5. What are some concerns involved with American Football? What is the biggest youth football program in the United States? What is happening to the number of young people playing American Football? Why do you think that’s happening? Would you risk potential serious injury to play your favorite sport? Explain.