RAFT and movie!

Today, we did some verb practice and then reviewed the RAFT assignment that we began yesterday. Over the break, students need to complete the rough draft of their RAFT assignment and bring this with them when they return on Wednesday, January 6th. Then, we watched a movie on the Aztec Empire and took notes.

Have a great break!

Verbs, exploration & RAFT

Today we talked about helping verbs and main verbs and how when they come together it makes a verb phrase. Students have a helping verb practice sheet for homework. Then, we assessed our work on our pen pal letters and then turned them in. Miss Devine will send these off during the break.

Then, we reviewed the topic of exploration that we began reading about yesterday and we reviewed key figures of exploration. Miss D. explained the RAFT assignment that students will be working on over the break. Students chose their ROLE, Audience, and format and began brainstorming for this writing assignment. We will work more on the RAFT assignment in class tomorrow and the rest will be completed over the break.

Homework: Helping verb practice sheet.

Review, assessment & exploration!

(3 days till break!) Oooh- is that me counting?

Today students filled in what they learned about each group of indigenous people on a KWL chart. We reviewed the notes we took yesterday with our table-mates and then took an assessment to demonstrate learning about the Aztecs, Incas, Mayas & Inuit. Then, we began to look at what happened to these great civilizations and groups of people. We read about European colonization, highlighting important facts as we read and tracing exploration paths on a world map. Then, we filled in a graphic organizer to answer the Who, What, Where, When, Why and Consequences of exploration. Tonight's homework is to finish the graphic organizer. Don't forget that pen pal letters are due tomorrow, too!

Homework: Finish Exploration graphic organizer using the reading passage. Pen Pal letter!

Advisory reminder: Don't forget snacks, cookie decorating supplies and a "white elephant gift" for Friday's party!

Project presentation day!!!

Today, students did a KWL activity to record what they already knew and wanted to know about all of the groups of indigenous peoples. Then, they both presented and visited each others' exhibits to learn about each group of people and took notes as they learned. The exhibits were very interesting- I sampled some delicious guacamole and talked to some Inca ladies about their daily life. Well done, kiddos!

Homework: none.

Verbs, Honduras and project prep

Winter Break is almost here!

Today, we practiced with linking verbs. Students have a linking verb practice sheet for homework. Then, Miss Devine showed the students a slideshow of pictures from living and teaching in Honduras so that they would have a better understanding of their pen pals. Reminder: pen pal letters are due on Thursday.

Then, students used the rest of the class period to work on their indigenous peoples project. Exhibits and books will be presented tomorrow.

Homework: Linking verb practice sheet. Make sure all is ready to go for book exhibit and museum tomorrow.

Project work day

Today, we practiced with linking verbs. Students have a linking verb practice sheet for homework. Then, we brainstormed a list of possible artifacts we could make for our museum exhibit on Tuesday. Then, we used the day to work on our project.

Homework: Work on indigenous peoples project, due Tuesday. Linking verb practice sheet.

Devine Advisory Announcement!

Miss D's advisory will be having a holiday celebration next Friday, December 18th, during extended advisory from 8:30am-10:00am. Students should bring in a wrapped "white elephant" gift to exchange with their classmates and may also bring in holiday snacks and/or supplies to decorate sugar cookies. Here is a copy of the letter going home to families to explain the event.

Mock CRCT, pen pals & projects

Today is a sunny and cold Thursday. Here's what we did in class today:

We practiced with transitive and intransitive verbs and then learned about state-of-being verbs. There are 8: be, being, been, was, were, is, am, are. Students have a state-of-being verb practice sheet for homework. Then, we took a mock ELA CRCT created by Atlanta Public Schools in order to assess students' learning of the standards at this point in the year.

Then, Miss Devine explained the pen pal exchange project, where students will be pairing with students at Centro Escolar Santa Clara in Olancho, Honduras. Students chose their pen pals. Letters in an envelope, with the student's picture and a small trinket are due next Thursday, December 17th. Here are the pen pal pairs.

Homework: Verb practice sheet. If your indigenous peoples page is not yet complete, you need to do that for homework. Tomorrow we will have only a short amount of time to work on projects.

Verbs and projects

Today, students did more practice with verbs and also learned about transitive and intransitive verbs. They have a practice transitive/intransitive sheet for homework. Then, they worked on their projects. By now, students should be done doing their research and they should either be writing their informational piece or designing their page. Tomorrow we will have a mock ELA CRCT and then we will use the rest of the period for a project work day.

Homework: Transitive/intranstive verb practice.

Verbs and indigenous peoples project

Today we started our work with ACTION VERBS! Whoo-hoo! Students have an action verb work packet for homework.

Then, we used the rest of the class period to continue our research, writing and page-making for our indigenous peoples project. Tomorrow will be a work day as well.

Homework: Action verb practice packet. Go!

Economic development- Latin America & Canada

Today we... reminded each other about economics! Remember when we studied economics long, long ago?

We began with a chalk talk and then looked at a map of world income distribution to discuss what we noticed about Latin America and Canada. We looked at the books What the World Eats and The Material World to make observations about economic development in Latin America and then discussed our observations. Then, we watched a movie introducing Latin America and took notes and discussed what we learned.

Homework: Be prepared to work on your indigenous peoples project tomorrow!

Mapping and indigenous peoples project

Today, students finished up their Latin America and Canada mapping activity from yesterday. We went over it, checking each other's work. Then, Miss D explained the project we'll be starting next: The Aztec, Inca, Maya & Inuit: A study of the indigenous peoples of Latin America and Canada. Here is the rubric for each student's page and for the group book and museum exhibit.

Homework: none

New Unit! Latin America & Canada!

Today, we began our new unit on Latin America. See unit overview here. We spent time reading over the unit overview and writing down things we're excited about, worried about and questions we have.

We made a KWL chart on the wall to record the things we already know about Latin America and Canada. Then, we did a class mapping activity, mapping out locations of certain countries and physcial features in Latin America and Canada. We will finish this mapping activity in class tomorrow.

Homework: You may choose to work on your mapping activity tonight.

Portfolios continued...

Today we continued to work on our 5 portfolio submissions for the Europe unit. Students were responsible for submitting an entry slip and artifact for each of the 5 Humanities skill areas. When they finished, students wrote thank you letters to the two companies who donated jump drives to our class for computer projects, Tekla and Trimble Navigation Limited.

Homework: Complete your 5 portfolio submissions if you did not do so in class today. Complete your 2 thank you letters if you did not do so in class today.

Tomorrow we start a new unit!