Presenting our Myths!

Today we...

Presented our myths in small, myth circles and then reflected on what we heard in those myth circles. Then, we shared out with the whole class what we heard/liked/enjoyed in the myth circles.

Then, we had individuals share their myths with the whole class.

Finally, students took a quiz on direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nouns and predicate adjectives.

Homework: None. Tomorrow, we will take a CRCT benchmark assessment in class. Don't forget that Friday is food day!

Peer revision and editing!

Today, we did some more practice with direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nouns and predicate adjectives. Students will have an assessment on these tomorrow.

Then, we did the last portion of our myth packet- grammar. We chose 2 boring sentences from our writing, highlighted those in our writing and then rewrote them using vivid nouns, proper nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs.

Then, we paired up with a peer reviser and editor and peer revised and edited each others' myths. For homework, students need to write their final version of their myth.

Due tomorrow in class:
Final myth (w/ extra credit- optional)
1st and 2nd draft
Myth packet
Revision packet

Homework: Final myth with extra credit option if you choose to do it.

Myths: Expanding our writing!

Today we reviewed predicate adjectives and predicate nouns. We shared out some of the first draft myths that we had written. Then, we looked at an example of a student's myth and discussed how we could expand our writing to DESCRIBE and not SUMMARIZE a myth. We looked at ways we could add description and dialogue to expand our writing. Then, we began to write our 2nd draft of the myths.

Tonight's homework is to finish the 2nd draft of the myth and to complete the self revision section of the revision packet. We will be revising and editing myths tomorrow in class. Final copies are due on Wednesday when we present! Don't forget the multitude of extra credit options!

Homework: Listed above.

Myth drafts and plot charts!

Today, students learned about predicate nouns and predicate adjectives. They have 4 practice sheets for homework.

6B shared the drafts of their myths and then they completed their plot charts. Afterwards, they had the option to: work on homework, independent read, work on independent reading project, do the myth extra credit options or do some thinking and research about food day next Friday.

6A worked on the first draft and completed the plot chart for their myth.

Homework: Predicate Noun and Predicate Adjective worksheets. Have a great weekend!

We're writing our own myths!

Today, students wrote thank you letters to our two visitors from this week. Then, we did some independent reading with our independent reading books and found direct and indirect objects in our reading.

Miss Devine explained that during Spring Break, students will be required to do a Multiple Intelligence book project and they will present these after Spring Break. She gave out the packet explaining the project and we will talk more about it next week.

Then, students had time to work on their myth project. 6A completed the purpose, characteristics, setting and character portion of the prewriting. If they did not complete it in class, it is for homework. 6B worked on their first draft of the myth. The first draft is due tomorrow.

Homework: 6A- myth packet portions listed above
6B- first draft of myth is due tomorrow

A visit from a real Australian!

Today, we reviewed direct objects and introduced indirect objects.

Both classes learned about Australia and ate yummy Australian treats when Mark from the Australian Bakery visited and did a presentation.

Class 6B also had the chance to work on the purpose, characteristics, setting and main character of their myth.

Homework: Indirect objects practice sheets from grammar packet.

Writing Myths: Purpose, Characteristics & Setting

Today, students learned about direct objects and how to identify them in sentences. We did some practice together in class and then students worked on their homework practice sheets.

Then, we shared our freewriting that we did for our myth last night for homework. Several students shared about their topic and then shared their freewriting ideas for how they might write their myth. Then, Miss Devine explained the order of events for the work that took place in class:

Students were to:

1. Decide the purpose and 4 of the 7 myth characteristics that would appear in their myth. They used this PURPOSE and CHARACTERISTICS sheet.
2. Get these approved by a teacher.
3. Begin to use a computer or book to research the setting of the myth. They used this SETTING sheet.

Homework: Complete the 3 direct object practice sheets for homework. Be sure that you have had your myth's purpose and characteristics approved by tomorrow's class. All folks who have not yet brought $2.00 for tomorrow's program need to do so by tomorrow!

Writing our own myths: here we go!

Today, students chose the topics that they would be writing their myths about and received information sheets about their topics to start them in the writing process. Students took a quiz on interjections and conjunctions and then began to freewrite about their topic from the perspective of an indigenous person. Students need to bring their freewriting to class with them tomorrow and be prepared to share what they have written.

For the second half of the class period today, we had a visit from speakers, Estela and Lourdes, who lived in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship. They talked about their experiences and answered our questions stemming from our reading of Before We Were Free.

Homework: Bring in your freewriting about your myth topic. Reminder: Money for the Australia program is due THIS WEDNESDAY (See posting with letter link to the right)! Bring it in!

Teaching our classmates about myths!

Today, we finished working in the myth groups that we worked in yesterday. We finished up our posters to teach the class about our specific Oceanic myth and then we presented these to the class. As a class, we took notes on each others' myths using this sheet. We revealed the 7 characteristics of myths which are:

1. Myths are early man's desire to explain the universe. (Ex.: Apollo, the son of Zeus, drove the chariot of the sun across the sky.)
2. Many gods and goddesses are present in myths.
3. The gods, goddesses, and heroes are super human in nature. (Ex.: Atlas bore the weight of the world and heavens on his shoulders.)
4. Human emotions are experienced by the gods. (Ex.: Hera was jealous. Demeter mourned the loss of her daughter when her daughter was abducted.)
5. Magic is often present in myths. (Ex.: Athena came full-grown out of the forehead of Zeus.)
6. Gods sometimes appear in disguised form. (Ex.: Zeus came to Hera as a poor bird caught in a storm. Athena appeared as an old woman and challenged Arachne to a weaving contest.)
7. A metamorphosis may occur. (Ex.: Smyrna is turned into a myrrh tree.)

Then, Miss Devine gave out the Writing a Myth project packet. Here is the choice sheet. Students are to use this to rank their top choices for what they would like to write their myth about. Students will be able to choose their myth topics on Monday.

Homework: Rank your myth topics using Myth Project packet.

Myths from Oceania!

Today we shared out the plot of our IR books from yesterday. We talked about interjections and brainstormed as many as we could come up with. Then, we got into groups and read myths from the Oceania region and completed a group activity to go with it. We will finish making the posters from this activity tomorrow and we will present them, revealing the Elements of Mythology as we do.

Homework: Complete interjections practice sheet. Find examples of 2 sentences with interjections in your book and write them down on your sheet.

***See announcement to the RIGHT about next week's Australia program.

Independent book time and PLOT!

Today, we did some more practice with conjunctions. Then, we did a mythological creature matching game to learn about mythological characters and creatures from around the world. Students may choose to use what they learned as they begin to create their myth at the end of the week.

Students had time to read their independent reading books. Then, we learned about the different parts of plot and together we mapped out the events of the plot of Persephone. Then, students used the plot graphs to map out the events of the plot in their own books.

Homework: none

What's the purpose of a myth?

Today, we did some more practice with conjunctions. Then, students got together in reading groups to read a myth from a specific region of the world. Students read the myth together, discussed what the myth was about, what the purpose of the myth was and why and what this myth might demonstrate about something that myths "do." Students created a poster to teach the class what they had discussed and then presented these.

Then, we discussed the 6 purposes of myths:
1. To explain natural phenomena or an occurrence.
2. To explain the creation of the world.
3. To teach people moral lessons.
4. To explain some historical event.
5. To explain some ancient religious practices.
6. To reveal the common hopes and fears of mankind.

Tonight for homework, students are to complete "Exercise 5" on conjunctions from their grammar packet.

Homework: Conjunction work.

Mythology and conjunctions

Today, we discussed what we thought myths were and brainstormed a list of myths that we already knew. Then, we read the Greek myth Persephone as a class and discussed what we thought the purpose of the myth was as well as what about a myth was similar and different from a regular fiction story.

Then, we introduced conjunctions- both correlative and coordinating. Students have conjunction practice: worksheets "The Conjunction" and "Correlative Conjunctions."

Homework: Conjunction practice sheets. Bring in any myths you have at home!

Preposition quiz and prediction essays

Today was a 1/2 day of school.

Today we took a preposition assessment. Students had time to finish their prediction essays that they began yesterday about their independent reading books and then we shared these out loud. If students did not finish their essay, they need to do so over the weekend.

Remember: Your prediction essay will have 2 paragraphs. Paragraph one should answer these questions: what book are you reading? What has happened in your book so far? Describe the events. Paragraph two should answer these questions: What do you predict will happen in your book? Use at least one piece of evidence from yesterday's graphic organizer to support your prediction.

Homework: Finish prediction essay. Read your IR book.

Prepositions and predictions

Today in class, we did some more practice with prepositions. There will be a preposition assessment tomorrow. Then, students had time to read their independent reading books. Students shared out about what they were reading and we made predictions supported by evidence (quotes from text, connections or book cover observations). Tomorrow will be a shortened class period and we will write mini-prediction essays based on what has happened in the book so far and evidence that we have to support our predictions.

Homework: Bring IR book again tomorrow! Be ready for preposition assessment.

Prepositions, History of Oceania

Today, we did some practice with prepositional phrases and learned how to find the object of the preposition. Tonight, students need to finish their preposition packet for homework.

Then, we broke off into the same groups that we were in yesterday to finish reading and talking about the history of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. We reflected on how Oceania has changed over the past hundreds of years and had a trivia game to determine which group had learned the most from the history reading.

Homework: Be sure to bring your independent reading book with you to class tomorrow. Finish up preposition packet.

History of Australia, Oceania and New Zealand

Today we reviewed the geography activity that we did yesterday in class. Then, we introduced prepositions and did some practice with these in class. Students have a preposition practice sheet (front and back) to complete for homework.

Then, together, we did some reading and discussing about the history of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

Homework: Complete 1st page of preposition packet- practice one and practice two.

Welcome to a new unit!

Welcome to Australia, New Zealand and Oceania! This will be an exciting unit.

Today, we introduced the unit by looking at the unit overview, discussing things in this unit that sounded exciting, not-so-exciting and answering any questions we had. Then, we did a geography study with a partner using the atlases in class. Here is the geography study.

Homework: Students need to create a KWL chart about Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, filling in 5 notes in each category of the KWL.

Rabbit Proof Fence

Thank you to those of you who came to Humanities Night last night! Our visitors were excited to see your work.

Today, we watched Rabbit Proof Fence to introduce our unit on Australia/Oceania and New Zealand. We used this movie viewing sheet to actively watch the movie.

Homework: None. Get excited for Australia and Oceania and New Zealand!

HUM Night Prep work

Today, students received an independent reading book calendar. They are to fill it out, mapping out the chapters they will read each day to be finished with their IR books by March 31st. Devine will check reading calendar tomorrow in class.

Tonight is Humanities Night and we used the rest of the class period to plan our projects so they are ready for the event. Students need to be at the school at 6pm to set up their projects and visitors will meet in the gym at 6:30pm. This is a mandator event for students. See you there!

Homework: Come to Humanities Night & present. Complete reading calendar.

Prep for Humanities Night

Today we began officially preparing for our Humanities presentations for tomorrow's Humanities Night. We shared our presentation preparation sheets with one another and then each student conferenced with Miss Devine about what he/she would be presenting. Then, students had time to work on making their current projects the best they could be and they wrote the presentation speech notecard.

Tomorrow we will do some more work to prepare for Humanities Night.

Homework: Bring in anything you need to prepare for your Humanities Night presentation tomorrow.

Finishing portfolio entries & review game!

Today, we continued to review the grammar we've studied this year as we reflected on current events.

Then, students had half of the class to finish up their 5 portfolio submissions and when that was completed they worked on creating the cards for our Mix it up! review game (encompassing trivia, pictionary, taboo and charades).

For the last part of class, we did a review game of all we've learned in unit 3.

Homework: Complete this sheet to prepare you for Humanities Night on Thurs. Bring it with you to class tomorrow.

Reflecting on Unit 3 and Portfolio Artifacts

Today, we reviewed parts of speech that we've studied this school year and we discussed the earthquake that took place in Chile.

Then, we continued our reflection on Unit 3 and chose 5 artifacts for our portfolios, doing a portfolio entry slip for each artifact.

Homework: Work on entry slips for portfolio.