Cinquains

Cinquains are five line poems.

Line 1: Topic
Line 2: Two adjectives to describe the topic
Line 3: Three verbs to describe the topic
Line 4: Short sentence about the topic
Line 5: A synonym for the topic


Sample:

Puppy
playful, fuzzy
biting, chewing, yipping
Will she ever stop?
Daisy



Try to create three of your own!

Couplet Poetry

Create five couplets -- that ten lines of poetry -- on a topic of your choice.

Be ready to share them in class tomorrow.

Epilogue

Make sure to answer the questions handed out in class.

Start thinking, too, about what you think would happen if we were to check in with Brian years after the plane crash. What would he be like? Would his time in the woods have a long-lasting effect on him?

Final Essays Due

Make sure to take the edits and create a final draft of your paper.

All papers should have a proper heading on them. Make sure you pay attention to your presentation.

Due on Wednesday.

The Proof

... is in your notes. Make sure you are keeping on top of the work necessary to complete your Social Studies projects.

Bring in your notes -- either in the organizer handed out in class, or in your notebooks -- that proves you are getting the work done necessary for you to meet the final deadline.

Drafting

We've started our essays and we will continue writing again tomorrow.

In the meantime, keep up with the reading schedule for Hatchet.


May 26
Read Chapter 11-12

May 27
Read Chpts 13-17

Essay Topic: Hatchet

When Brian, the main character in Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet," finds himself stranded in the wilderness, he must find the strength and the tools he needs to adapt and survive.

Tonight, fill out the graphic organizer that will help us with our drafts tomorrow in class.

Imagery

Finish any of the activities that you weren't able to complete as a group for Monday.

Connectors, you will be leading the groups on Monday.

Be prepared by reading Chapters 5-8.

Literary Luminaries

Our Literary Luminaries should be ready to talk about specific passages in tonight's reading. Fill out your forms.

Group members: Finish your character maps ... and read!

We're starting a new book!

Hatchet is a great adventure novel that reminds us that we posses a strong will to live and courage beyond what we think we're capable of.

Get a taste for the book by reading Chapter one and answering the questions that go along with it.

Also, write the definitions of your words. Quiz on Friday.

Here's the reading schedule for the book below:


May 19
Read Chapter 1

May 20
Read Chapter 2-3

May 21
Read Chapter 4

May 22
Read Chapter 5-8

Famous Greeks visit the Grade 6 class

Liora plays Solon, the Athenian lawgiver who restored democracy in Athens.










Jordan brought The Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, to life as he explained his theories on 'modern medicine'










Natalie channels Pythagorus and explains how he discovered his famed Pythagorean Theorem.









Please complete tonight's worksheets on nouns. And be prepared for your presentation as well.

They're Here!

We're testing this week, so we won't be meeting as a class.

However, you should be getting your Ancient Greece presentations together to present next week.

We'll be recording them, so be prepared!

Stanford Practice

Being in Israel with Grade 8, and then away for Pesach break, means that I've been out of the classroom for almost a month!

Mrs. Forster reports that you have been hard at work, though, on your Ancient Greece project. I'm looking forward to seeing the results!

Conferences are tomorrow, and I have assigned you some Stanford practice while we're away. Please complete the Stanford worksheets handed out from Mrs. Forster in class today. I'll be there on Thursday to check the answers with you.

Stanfords

We will not be meeting again until Thursday.

Please complete questions 1-48 in your Stanford practice sheets handed out in class. Come and see me if you were absent so you can get the work.

Good luck at Sports Day!

Personal Narratives

We've worked on your personal narratives for two days in class. Now, it is time to take them home and work on the current draft.

Make sure to bring them to class on Monday so we can do some peer reviews of your work.

Your deadline is extended since we missed some classes this week with Annual Dinner reheasal and filming.

Revision, Round III

The memory essays are getting better, but they are still not perfect. Many of you did not use proper headings and you are still not watching out for capital letters and end marks. Look below at some of the correction areas you should be watching for.

READ, READ, READ your work before you hand it in!!


Some of you will also be revising your China projects. Make sure that you are submitting your BEST work. These products should reflect your WEEKS of hard work.

Editing and Projects

While we didn't get to do Thursday's edit in class, I would like you to complete it tonight for homework. Add a topic sentence to the start of the short, descriptive paragraphs. Then write your own topic sentences for the subject given.

And, of course, I'll be looking forward to seeing your projects tomorrow!

Work at the basics

I've sent you home tonight to re-write your essay on your favorite memory. I just felt that too many of you rushed through the assignment and didn't concentrate on some of the basics that make up a good essay.

Use the checklist I sent home with you as correction points.

Here they are again:

Do I have …
o A topic sentence?
o Capital letters at the start of sentences?
o End marks?
o Proper nouns capitalized?
o Complete sentences?

Did I …
o Put a heading on my paper?
o Use my best handwriting?
o Use ‘a lot? What could I use instead?
o Reread ALL my sentence?

Revise Yearbook Essays

Final drafts for your yearbook essays are due tomorrow.

Please remember to questions your writing. Who is that? When was that? Why did that happen? Answering these questions as you write will help add more details and make a wonderful, complete piece.

We'll be typing these in the computer lab on Thursday.

Part B of China Project

As you know, the second part of your China project is due next Friday. I'm reposting the instructions below in case any students need access to this information.

PART B:

ART-- Minimum 20 points required:
1. Make a paper cutout (10)
2. Make a scratch-through of a Chinese scene you’ve drawn (5)
3. Draw pictures showing how to make one Chinese product from beginning to end (10)
4. Make a mask used in a traditional Chinese play (10)
5. Draw one of the religious figures of China (5)
6. Draw replicas of modern China’s coins and give their value in U.S. dollars (10)
7. Build a pagoda, replica of the Great Wall, etc. (20)
8. Draw an illustrated alphabet of words about China: A=ancestor, B=bamboo, etc. (20)
9. Make a Chinese screen (10)
10. Draw a traditional Chinese landscape (10)
11. Make a typical “jade” carving out of Ivory soap. (15)
12. Reproduce one of China’s inventions (20)
13. Draw or reproduce ancient Chinese instruments (20)
14. Choose one of the minority people of China and illustrate the things that set them apart (houses, clothes, etc.) (5)
15. Illustrate the development of money in China (10)


GENERAL-- Minimum 30 points required
1. Plan a two-week vacation visiting points of interest from Ancient China.(20)
2. Bring to school and share with the class things from China. (5)
3. Put up a bulletin board about Ancient China. (20)
4. Find 5 newspaper articles that deal with China today. Write a brief summary of each. (10)
5. Create a brochure listing things that are imported from China today (10)
6. Create a one-page report on an aspect of China. (10)
Great Wall of China
The Himalayas
Yangzee River
Huang He River
Gobi Desert
Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square
Summer Palace
The Grand Canal
Lantern Festival
Lunar New Year Festival
Dragon Boat Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
Hungry Ghosts Festival

PART B Due date is February 27, 2009.

Bibliographies

Many of you were handed back your projects to correc the bibliography section of your project.

Check out Easybib to help you format them tonight.

What is relinquished? What is lost

Jonas' community has given up many things -- animals, colors, climate -- all in the name of creating Sameness. But what has really been lost by relinquishing these things?

Fill in the chart and put it in your English books for Thursday

Leaders for peace

This Yearbook Committee has asked Grade 6 students to write essays about which person or leader symbolizes peace.

Not sure who to choose? Look at these sites that we explored in class. They'll also help you find real data and dates that will make your essays more impressive.

First drafts are due on Wednesday.

Peacemakers

My Hero - Peacemakers

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates

Ancient China - Resources for project

I'll add some more as I find them, but start with these.

Dynasties

Timeline of Dynasties

General Information 1.

General Information 2.

Crossword Puzzle Maker

Venn Diagram Maker


Other Websites
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/ancientchina.htm
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/time_line.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/

What will it mean?

Jonas has just been given a folder containing the rules for his new job. Most of them have Jonas puzzled. Will he ever have free time? What if he's hurt by his new assignment? And just how many people in the community are permitted to lie?

Figure out how each new rule might change Jonas' life going forward. We'll talk about it tomorrow in class.

Poll: Do you think Jonas got a good assignment? Why or why not?

Ancient China Project

Over the next few weeks, you will be studying one dynasty in great detail. Think carefully about which dynasty you wish to choose.

You will then need to complete mini-projects in the various categories, accumulating the minimum number of points listed. Additional points accumulated will be considered bonus credit.
There are two parts, with two different deadlines for this project. MAKE SURE YOU MEET ALL DEADLINES.

Tonight, look closely at the following dynasties:

Tang
Shang
Qin
Han
Zhou
Ming

Choose one, and bring back your permission forms for Wednesday. You might also want to start doing some preliminary research on Answers.com.

Elements of the Novel

Time, place, characters mood and conflict are all basic elements of a novel.

Answer the questions handed out in class in your English notebook tonight.

We'll review the elements of our novel tomorrow.

Job Assignments

Architect? Teacher? Musician?

Most students today have a choice of what they want to be. But not Jonas. His future will be determined by The Elders.

How would it feel to have your career chosen for you? In class, we handed out 'assignments.' Answer the questions about your assignment on a separate sheet of paper to be handed in on Thursday.


Feel free to leave a brief comment about your job assignment here, too.

Shi Huangdi

He was kind of a nasty fellow, and he only had a short reign as emperor. No matter, he did leave a mark. For one, Shi Huangdi united China on two fronts:

1. He developed a common writing system

2. He standardized measurements

But wait, there's more. In addition to those two great achievements, Shi Huangdi is also credited with starting construction on The Great Wall.

For Wednesday, find eight great facts to share with the class about The Great Wall.

Editing and Philosophy

English:
Edit and revise the sentences handed out in class (due Friday)

Social Studies:
Think of a problem you face. Explain how the three teachers would answer you: Confucius, Lao-Tze and Buddha. (due Monday)

Vocabulary - The Giver

For Monday, complete the vocabulary worksheet. You should have synonyms, antonyms and sentences for each word.

A perfect day

We're about to start the novel The Giver. In the book, a perfect society is created. We often call this a utopia.

Creating a perfect world is a difficult task ... but how about a perfect day?

In one page, tell me what you would do on a perfect day.

Blog Response

Calendars. Bronze. Writing.

The Shang may have been the first dynasty of China, but they left many important contributions.

Which was the most significant? Tell us your opinion and why you think so.

Sentence Practice: Run ons and Expanding

RUN ON SENTENCES
Run on sentences occur when you have two complete sentences (subjects and predicates) together.

Me and my friends went to the movies, we saw Twilight.

You can break up these sentences in two ways:
1. Put a period between the two sentences.

Me and my friends went to the movies. We saw Twilight.

2. Use a conjunction to separate the two sentences

Me and my friends went to the movies, and we saw Twilight.

The acronym FANBOYS can help you remember all the conjunctions.



EXPANDING SENTENCES
You may need to expand your sentences, though, if you don't have enough information in your sentence. Compare the difference.

It dragged him down. (Who? Where?)

The 'Wool Pooh' dragged Kenny down into the murky water.

For Thursday finish both sides of the handout given in class. Be prepared to share your answers.

Ancient China Geography

Please complete the map handed out in class. Color it, and glue it into your notebook. We will be referring to it as we study our new unit, Ancient China.