Monday, December 22, 2009

General Announcements:

• Copies of Eighth-Grade Project documents for phase one available for download here.
• Take home pokeberry pouches from display board.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math:

• 7th Grade:
  • Due Tues., 12/22:
    • Complete 1.1 on p. 7 of new CMP book (Covering and Surrounding) about designing layouts for a bumper car ride given specific requests and materials, as begun in class today. For parts A, B and C, you should have three possible sketches that fit the criteria for each - no half-tiles.
    • Read through 1.1 Follow-Up (you may want to do this before doing the main part of 1.1) and complete 1.1 Follow-Up, questions 1 & 2.
• 8th Grade:
  • Due Tues., 12/22: Complete #14-20 in handout packet according to directions (more practice with determining slope & y-intercept and writing equations to describe a linear relationship using the form y=mx + b, given data points that lie on that line). Each line must be graphed on a separate set of axes, but each page may have more than one set of axes. Show how you got your answers and explain where necessary.

Social Studies:

• None assigned

Science:

• Due Tues., 12/22: Challenge assignment from handout (copy of p. 320 from science book), begun in Study with Grace
  1. Graph average distance from the sun and surface temperature for each planet based on table on the other side (p. 317, using temperatures in gray box on p. 320 for inner four planets). All parts of graph must be properly labeled (Title, axes (with units!), planets).
  2. Answer questions a, b, c in gray box on p. 320 either on the back of your graph or on separate paper.
• Due Tues., 12/22: Write one ¶ about two things you found interesting on our field trip Friday. Use supplied paper.

Language Arts:

• None assigned.

Spanish:

• Nada ¡Que tengan buenas vacaciones!

Moment of Zen: The work of Lego sculptor Nathan Sawaya. Click the picture to visit his website.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

General Announcements:

• Friday, Dec. 18: Field trip to Amherst College (Bassett Planetarium & Amherst Natural History Museum) still needs a few more drivers. We will leave Hilltown right after All-School (~9:30 a.m.) and be returning about 2:30 p.m.
  • All students must bring their own lunch, even if you usually get pizza or a lunch from Blue House on Fridays.
  • Please dress warmly, as some parts of the field trip will not be heated. Dressing in layers is recommended.
• Copies of Eighth-Grade Project documents for phase one available for download here.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math:

• Note: All assignments should be turned in to Grace first thing, before 8:30
• 7th Grade:
  • Due Fri., 12/18: Make-up work only
• 8th Grade:
  • Due Fri., 12/18: #1, 2, 3 on p.166 of Additional Practice (photocopy from Teacher's Edition, handed out in class today) — more practice with determining slope and y-intercept for linear equations in the form y=mx+b

Social Studies:

• None assigned:

Science:

• None assigned :

Language Arts:

• Note: All assignments should be turned in to Grace first thing, before 8:30
• Due Fri., 12/18: On separate paper, typed or neatly handwritten, write a one-¶ response to your beginning experience with Shakespeare's play. Be certain the paragraph is edited and has a main idea sentence as its first sentence.

Moment of Zen: For those of you who have been folding pieces to make a 12-piece spiky ball ("stellated octahedron" in geometry-speak), there's a lot more to do with them besides. The pieces are called Sonobe units, named for their creator, Mitsonobu Sonobe, and there are many websites out there with other ideas of 3D figures to make with them and plenty of pictures of these sometimes-boggling constructions. Click the picture above (featuring a 30-piece spiky ball or stellated icosahedron) to visit one of these sites.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

General Announcements:

• Friday, Dec. 18: Field trip to Amherst College (Bassett Planetarium & Amherst Natural History Museum) still needs a few more drivers. We will leave Hilltown right after All-School (~9:30 a.m.) and be returning about 2:30 p.m.
• Copies of Eighth-Grade Project documents for phase one available for download here.
• All students must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math:

• 7th Grade:
  • Due Thurs., 12/17:
    • Finish Math's Mate 2.2 begun in class today, with work for * problems shown on separate sheet of paper.
    • Bring colored pencils to class 12/17.
• 8th Grade:
  • Due Thurs., 12/17:
    • Finish Math's Mate 2.2 begun in class today, with work for * problems shown on separate sheet of paper.
    • Quiz on definition of "slope" as defined in glossary of CMP book

Social Studies:

• Due Thurs., 12/17: Write a story summary of either Horatius at the Bridge or The Decision of L. Junius Brutus. Illustrate it with a ½-page, colored pencil drawing.

Science:

• Due Thurs., 12/17: Read Physical Science, p. 311-317 and answer questions 1-8 on p. 320. Group 2 has the textbooks tonight (Wed.). Group 1 should ask about a copy of questions if not finished.

Language Arts:

• None assigned

Spanish:

• 7th Grade:
  • Due Thurs., 12/17: Finish your 8 drawings representing Ch. 4 in Pobre Ana

• 8th Grade:
  • Due Thurs., 12/17: Finish your drawing of two favorite scenes from Piratas

Moment of Zen: This picture, of a family from Bhutan, is part of a photo series of families from around the world and a week's food for them, from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio. Click the picture to see a number of other examples from around the world from Germany to Sudanese refugees in a camp in Chad, with a whole lot in between. It's interesting not just to see how much food and cost, but also what's included.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

General Announcements:

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• Copies of Eighth-Grade Project documents for phase one available for download here.

Math:

• 7th Grade:
  • None assigned
• 8th Grade:
  • Due Wed., 12/16: Study the definition of "slope" in the glossary and be ready for a quiz on it on Thursday. I will type it and leave works out that you have to fill in.

Social Studies:

• Due Thurs., 12/17: Write a story summary of either Horatius at the Bridge or The Decision of L. Junius Brutus. Illustrate it with a ½-page, colored pencil drawing.

Science:

• Due Wed., 12/16: Write a 1-¶ reflection on what the Relative Planet Size activity showed you and what surprised you most in this activity.
• Due Thurs., 12/17: Read Physical Science, p. 311-317 and answer questions 1-8 on p. 320. Group 1 has the textbooks tonight (Tue.). Group 2 will have the textbooks tomorrow (Wed.) night.

Language Arts:

• Due Wed., 12/16: Bring independent reading book.

Spanish:

• 7th Grade:
  • Due Thurs., 12/17: Finish your drawing representing some part of Ch. 4 in Pobre Ana

• 8th Grade:
  • Due Thurs., 12/17: Finish your drawing of two favorite scenes from Piratas

Moment of Zen: The Bacon Cake Is a Lie... ...Or at least so claims Seattle-based home food-artist "Ms. Humble," who runs the food blog Not So Humble Pie, and has not only made "bacon cake" (which both contains and is styled to look like bacon) but also the edibles constructed in the pictures above (the sushi are actually cupcakes, and contain no actual fish). This biological anthropologist turned food artist also has a penchant for science-related food, her collection of which includes gingerbread scientists, cookie Drosophila melanogaster, chocolate atoms and a periodic table fashioned out of cookies. The whole thing is worth checking out, but I recommend her Gallery of Weird Food, containing some of her most adventurous creations, as a jumping off place.

Eighth Grade Project Documents

I know you are all keeping track of the information about eighth grade projects very carefully, but in case of shark attack, alien invasion or parents wanting a copy, here are digital copies of each: (unfortunately, these are not easy right-click/Ctrl-click->Save as downloads, you must follow the link and then download - I will see about getting .pdf versions of these on the school server soon) Added 12/15/09

• Assessment Rubric for Phase One
• Dec./Jan. Calendar with project deadlines
• Sample journal entries with scores

Added 1/20/10

• Assessment Rubric for Phase Two (with expectations)
• Assessment Rubric for Phase Two (Recording Form)

Added 1/22/10

• January Project Calendar
• February Project Calendar

Added 3/24/10

• Calendars for Phase 3 of Project (March-June)
• Thesis Proposal Guidelines

Monday, December 14, 2009

General Announcements:

• Ancient Greece Museum Exhibits are ready to go home if they have not already. They are in the 3rd floor classroom and hallway.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Tue., 12/15: Work for 20 min. in grade-level Math League.

Social Studies:

• None assigned

Science:

• Due Tue., 12/15: Answer Qs on worksheet about relative planet size. Exension p. 2; #1-3 + Extension on p. 3 (Answers on back, in complete sentences).

Language Arts:

• Due Tue., 12/15: In your LA journal, record a fact about Julius Caesar that you found interesting and a fact about William Shakespeare that you found interesting. Be certain to record the source of your facts in journal as well and using standard bibliography form (Use the style sheet given to you by John for the bibliography). Citation Format Guide with examples (.pdf)

Moment of Zen: Beyond Whining: The Complaints Choir The Finnish word valituskuoro, which translates as 'complaints choir' describes the sound of a number of people complaining all at once. This sparked the idea of an actual choir, singing complaints set to music, for Finnish artists Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen and Tellervo Kalleinen. Shortly thereafter, the Helsinki and Birmingham (UK) Complaints Choirs were born in 2005, in very short order. The Helsinki Complaints Choir—dozens of people, dressed in formal wear—sang in a concert hall about what flat-out annoyed them: everything from people talking on their cell phones too loud to losing to Sweden in hockey. The idea caught on, and there have since been a number of complaints choirs in cities all around the world. You can see a comprehensive list of complaints choirs - many with videos - by clicking the picture above or reading this article describing the development of the art.

Friday, December 11, 2009

General Announcements:

• Monday, Dec. 14: School will begin an hour later for a staff meeting. Doors will open at 9:15 and assembly will begin at 9:30.
• Ancient Greece projects are ready to take home.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Mon., 12/14: Work for 20 min. in grade-level Math League handed out today.

Social Studies:

• Due Mon., 12/14: Typed bibliography listing sources (formatted according to directions on handout) of information and images for your Ancient Greece Project.

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Mon., 12/14: Write an entry in LA Journal of one page— well-developed ¶ or ¶s— reflecting on "My Experience In The Puppet Show." This should reflect on the writing and rehearsal process as well as the performance itself.

8th Grade Project:

• Due Mon., 12/14
  • Have a Project journal and 1" Project binder.
  • Have a general topic you think you would like to explore through an eighth-grade project.

Moment of Zen: I know you heard about Liu Bolin from John in Science class today, but I've also been wanting to post about him. Liu Bolin is an urban camouflage artist from China who specializes in how not to be seen. Liu spends up to 10 hours setting up for a single shot, blending in with everything from graffiti to policemen to collapsed homes. Both the statement about the Chinese government's repressive treatment of artists (they shut down Liu's studio in 2005) and the effect are breathtaking. Click the picture to see more photos of Liu's work.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

General Announcements:

• Wed., 12/9: Bring black performance wear to school and check it in with Grace before AM assembly. Then store in cubby. If these are still in your cubby from the last performance, you still need to check them in.
• Thurs., 12/10: Ancient Greece Museum Exhibits: 8:30-10:30 AM in 3rd Floor Classroom and Tech Lab (adjoining). Families welcome!
• Thurs., 12/10: The Il Teatro of the gods! 2:00 PM in the all school space.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Test this Wednesday, 12/9: Review past homestudy, text and notes to prepare for unit test.

Social Studies:

• Due Wed., 12/9: Final, edited, mounted text explaining your project (4 questions).
  • Title: 72 pt or larger
  • Section headings: 28 pt. bold
  • Body text: 22 pt, single spaced. Use page breaks for each new section.

Science:

• Due Thurs., 12/10: Sketch the Earth's phases as seen if standing on the moon.

Language Arts:

• Due Wed., 12/9:
  • Read for 20 minutes and complete a Reading Log entry.
  • Make sure lines for il Teatro sketch are memorized.

Spanish:

• 7th Grade:

• 8th Grade:

Moment of Zen: Who knows what this guy is up to? There is something remarkable about what he is, though, as a Nerpa or Baikal Seal. The nerpa, which lives in Siberia's Lake Baikal (Turk. "Rich Lake" — bai - rich; kal - lake), is one of only two species of seal to spend its entire life in freshwater, and the only one to be a distinct species (the others, found in Lake Saimaa, Finland, and Lake Ladoga, Russia are subspecies of Ringed Seals). It also has one of the longest seal lifespans at 50-56 years. No one is really sure how the seals ended up in the lake, hundreds of miles from any ocean or other species of seal. Russia also named a nuclear submarine Nerpa after the seal.

Monday, December 7, 2009

General Announcements:

• Tue., 12/8: Bring black performance wear to school and check it in with Grace before AM assembly. Then store in cubby. If these are still in your cubby from the last performance, you still need to check them in.
• Thurs., 12/10: Ancient Greece Museum Exhibits: 8:30-10:30 AM in 3rd Floor Classroom and Tech Lab (adjoining). Families welcome!
• Thurs., 12/10: The Il Teatro of the gods! 1:30 PM in the all school space.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Test this Wednesday, 12/9: Review past homestudy, text and notes to prepare for unit test.

Social Studies:

• Due Tue., 12/8: Project due. Consider orienting page horiztontally.
• Due Wed., 12/9: Final, edited, mounted text explaining your project (4 questions).
  • Title: 72 pt or larger
  • Section headings: 28 pt. bold
  • Body text: 22 pt, single spaced. Use page breaks for each new section.

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Tue., 12/8:
  • Read for 20 minutes and complete a Reading Log entry.
  • Make sure lines for il Teatro sketch are memorized.

Spanish:

• 7th Grade:
  • Due Tue., 12/8: Make flashcards for the 10 given vocab words and study.

• 8th Grade:
  • Due Tue., 12/8:
    • Completed wordsearch
    • Completed Ch. 5 questions
    • 10 sentences about what you do on the weekend using the given 1st person plural (we) forms of verbs (ending in -mos)

Moment of Zen: Sure, we all know that the adjective to describe something catlike is feline (from the Latin word for cat, felis - almost the same as the Latin word for luck -felix - which is the possible source of the myths about the luck of cats), and that something doglike is canine (from the Latin canis), but did you ever wonder what adjective you might use to describe something armadillo-like? Or bat-like? Follow the link for an extensive (but by no means exhaustive) list of animal adjectives - almost all of which draw heavily from Latin or Greek roots.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

General Announcements:

• Sat., Dec. 5 Winter Fair!
• Tues., Dec. 8: Black performance wear must return to school to be ready for Thurs. performance.
• Thurs., Dec. 10: God/Goddess Puppet show (1:30 PM) and Ancient Greece Museum Exhibits (AM)
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Fri., 12/4: Complete 5.1 Follow-up on p. 62-63 of CMP book. Be sure to show how you got your answers and explain.

8th Grade:

• Due Fri., 12/4: Do #4-6 on p. 54 of CMP book. Use the symbolic method to solve and show all steps. Do not use a graphing calculator.

Social Studies:

• Fri., 12/4 will be a work period, so please bring in some part of your project that you can work on at school for about 45 minutes.
• Complete list of Museum Exhibit Project due dates leading up to Dec. 8

Science:

• Due :

Language Arts:

• Due Fri., 12/4:
  • Bring in any props, music, etc. needed for your Il Teatro act.
  • Finish script for puppet show if not already finished.

Moment of Zen: People Who Have Named Months After Themselves in the Past 10 YearsSaparmurat "Turkmenbashi" Niyazov headed up the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan from 1985 (as head of the Turkmen SSR) to 2006. However, after the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 and Turkmenistan's independence, Niyazov's leadership approach became increasingly absurd. As if to fill the void left with the end of the cult of personality held in the images of former Soviet leaders like Lenin and Stalin, Niyazov was suddenly everywhere: towering gold statues, all of the money (which had to be recalled and reissued when he dyed his hair). He was "democratically elected with 100% of the vote" as president for life. He started going simply by "Turkmenbashi" which translates as "Head of the Turkmen." He wrote a book, called Ruhnama (Persian for The Guide) which he intended to be treated on par with the Bible and Qur'an, awarded himself a prize for poetry and started sponsoring Ruhnama-memorizing competitions. In 2002, he renamed the months of the year after himself, his family and other Central Asian historical figures. He renamed bread after his mother. He also was trying to build an ice palace in the Karakum Desert, which would include a penguin exhibit, but was unsuccessful in completing this before his death in 2006.

• List of Turkmenbashi's "acheivements" — with pictures
• Interview with a Turkmen journalist from the New Yorker, which describes the press under Turkmenbashi

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

General Announcements:

• Wed., Dec., 2: Parent Meeting in Prisms 3rd Floor Classroom 6:30-8:00 PM. Topics will include Coffee House organization, 8th Grade Project, and Graduation Responsibilities of 7th Grade parents.
• Sat., Dec. 5 Winter Fair!
• Tues., Dec. 8: Black performance wear must return to school to be ready for Thurs. performance.
• Thurs., Dec. 10: God/Goddess Puppet show (1:30 PM) and Ancient Greece Museum Exhibits (AM)
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 12/3: Do #11 on p. 58 of CMP book (more with writing equations from given information). Staple this assignment to last night's (#7, p. 55).

8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 12/3: Do #1-3 on p. 59 of CMP book (more practice with using symbolic method of solving equations). Be sure to show all steps in the symbolic method applied to solving these problems. Refer to your notes and to p. 55 example.

Social Studies:

• Due Thurs., 12/3Submit a photo of your project so far.
• Complete list of Due Dates leading up to Dec. 8

Science:

• Due Thurs., 12/3: Read p. 157-163 of handout about eclipses. On one side of a sheet of plain paper, draw a careful diagram (use straightedge) of how a solar eclipse occurs. On the other side of the paper, draw an equally careful diagram of a lunar eclipse. Label both diagrams carefully as in the handout.

Language Arts:

• Group 1 only: Make significant progress on your knit/crochet project for Buddies meeting this Thursday.

Spanish:

• Due Thurs., 12/3: Complete Pobre Ana worksheet, part B only.

Moment of Zen: A drawing from David Macaulay's book The Motel of the Mysteries which presents a humorous perspective on both modern American culture and how we interpret the past based on artifacts. In the book, archaeologists a thousand years from now uncover a motel which had been buried in junk mail in the late 1980s. The researchers assume their find to be a sacred tomb and interpret everything inside to be religiously important. The book also parallels and, by that token, mocks Carter's discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

General Announcements:

• If you have not done so already, sign up for a shift at the Winter Fair this Saturday, December 5. Do not sign up for 12:20 or 1:00 shifts, as it conflicts with our performance. You may sign up with two Prisms on a line if there is only one slot available for the shift. If you have a serious scheduling conflict which prevents you from coming to the Winter Fair, have a parent write a note about this and bring it in. The schedule will be checked on Wed., Dec. 2. If you have not signed up or brought a note by this point, you will get an orange sheet.
• Wed. Dec. 2: IOWA testing for both 7th & 8th grades (AM)
• Wed., Dec., 2: Parent Meeting in Prisms building 6:30-8:00 PM. Topics will include Coffee House organization, 8th Grade Project, and Graduation Responsibilities of 7th Grade parents.
• Tues., Dec. 8: Black performance wear must return to school to be ready for Thurs. performance.
• Thurs., Dec. 10: God/Goddess Puppet show (1:30 PM) and Ancient Greece Museum Exhibits (AM)
• Every day: You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Wed., 12/2: Get a good night's sleep and eat before testing. Bring independent reading book to math in case you finish early.
• Due Thurs., 12/3: Do #11 on p. 58 of CMP book (more with writing equations from given information). Staple this assignment to last night's (#7, p. 55).

8th Grade:

• Due Wed., 12/2: Get a good night's sleep and eat before testing. Bring independent reading book to math in case you finish early.
• Due Thurs., 12/3: Do #1-3 on p. 59 of CMP book (more practice with using symbolic method of solving equations). Be sure to show all steps in the symbolic method applied to solving these problems. Refer to your notes and to p. 55 example.

Social Studies:

• Due Wed., 12/2: Final drafts of answers to questions due. These need to be typed, 12 pt font, double spaced (1.5 space is okay)
• Due Thurs., 12/3Submit a photo of your project so far.
• Complete list of Due Dates leading up to Dec. 8

Science:

• Due Wed., 12/2: Read p. 157-163 of handout about eclipses. On one side of a sheet of plain paper, draw a careful diagram (use straightedge) of how a solar eclipse occurs. On the other side of the paper, draw an equally careful diagram of a lunar eclipse. Label both diagrams caarfeully as in the handout.

Language Arts:

• Group 1 only: Make significant progress on your knit/crochet project for Buddies meeting this Thursday.

Spanish:

• Due Thurs., 12/3: Complete Pobre Ana worksheet, part B only.

Moment of Zen: One of the few classical operas written in English, Purcell's Dido & Aeneas adapts a story from the Aeneid of Aeneas's visit to Carthage (on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa), falling in love with the widowed queen Dido (cf. historical "Elissa"), and leaving to settle in Italy, which caused her such grief that she killed herself. The shot above is from a recent production of the opera in Amsterdam, which included choreography in water. Also look up its most famous aria "When I Am Laid In Earth" also called Dido's Lament.

Monday, November 30, 2009

• If you have not done so already, sign up for a shift at the Winter Fair this Saturday, December 5. Do not sign up for 12:20 or 1:00 shifts, as it conflicts with our performance. You may sign up with two Prisms on a line if there is only one slot available for the shift. If you have a serious scheduling conflict which prevents you from coming to the Winter Fair, have a parent write a note about this and bring it in. The schedule will be checked on Wed., Dec. 2. If you have not signed up or brought a note by this point, you will get an orange sheet.
• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Tue., 12/1: Do #7 on p. 55 of CMP book (writing an equation for total lunch cost and using it to find the cost of lunch given different numbers of people). Show how you got your answer, including showing all operations you did with a calculator (copy the table given on your homestudy paper). See your notes for expecations and conventions about what your equation should include, and make sure to write a statement defining each of your variables (i.e. "Let M=the total number of bananas in bunches").

8th Grade:

• Due Tue., Dec. 1: Do 23-26 on page 49 of CMP book (about solving equations using symbolic method practiced in class today). #25 & 26 are to the right of #24. Explain how you got your answers and use math vocabulary (Refer to your glossary).

Social Studies:

• Due Tue., 12/1: Submit a list of steps with time allotment showing how you will complete the project by the following Tuesday, 12/8. Make sure it includes all the information on the template handed out today (with Dec. calendar at the top).
• Due Wed., 12/2: Final drafts of answers to questions due.
• Due Thurs., 12/3Submit a photo of your project so far.
• Complete list of Due Dates leading up to Dec. 8

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Tue., 12/1: Read for 20 min in your independent reading book and complete the next entry in your reading log.
• Group 1 only: Make significant progress on your knit/crochet project for Buddies meeting this Thursday.

Spanish:

• Grade 7
  • Due Thurs., 12/3: Complete Pobre Ana worksheet, part B only.

Moment of Zen: Brazilian artist Nele Azevedo has recreated her installation "Melting Men" in several different very public locations around the world since 2005. Azevedo creates and sets up 1,000 small human figurines made of ice, which melt over the course of a few hours. Although Azevedo's intent was to comment on the role of monuments in public space, most installations have been sponsored by environmental groups to draw attention to global warming. The picture above is from the most recent installation of the piece which took place this September in Berlin, Germany on the steps of central Gendarmenmarkt square. Temperatures were about 75 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of installation.

November 26- December 1 Social Studies Ancient Greece Independent Project: You are to work on the museum display over the break. Begin gathering materials and designing your main demonstration (ppt, drawing, sculpture, diorama, etc.). You can also look ahead to the due dates: the final draft of the 4 Questions are due on Wed, Dec 2. Your list of "to dos" and time allotments are due Tues. Dec 1. For reference, here's the full list of project due dates leading up to the Dec. 10 museum exhibitions. Email John with questions: jvanbeckum -AT- iglide (dot) net (address mangled to protect against spambots - that last part will be @iglide.net) Have a great Thanksgiving holiday! John

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

General Announcements:

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• This Wednesday, Nov. 25, is the next day to turn in money students have earned towards their DC Trip share. Money should be turned in to Grace before 8:30 am on 11/25 either as cash or as a check made out to HCCPS. The recommended amount for this collection is $20, but please refer to your plan.

Math:

• None assigned

Social Studies:

• Due Wed., 11/25:
  • Make a cover for this Social Studies unit: "From Hunter Gatherers to Ancient Greece."
  • Test reflection: You should turn in your whole test with the blue rubric sheet and your reflection stapled to the back.

Science:

• Due Wed., 11/25: Metric/Imperial Conversion worksheet 1-14. Show your work, using the conversion ratios at the top of the page and the method used for the last sheet on Imperial conversions.

Language Arts:

• Due Wed., 11/25:
  • Bring in magazines, brochures, etc., that have colorful photos that can be used for collage making with residents at Overlook in the future. Place into box in LA classroom with tour name on the front cover.
  • Take home all costuming used in the myth scenes to wash as necessary. Have them ready to bring back to school on Monday, Dec. 7th. Those who need further costuming parts—in black—please find and bring in.

Moment of Zen: The Cooper's Hill Cheese Roll is an absurd but hardcore event that takes place every May in Gloucester, England, and has for hundreds of years. During the event, a 7-8 lb. wheel of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down a very steep hill. Competitors, who come from all over the world for the event, chase the cheese down the hill. Broken bones are common and dozens of contestants from the several heats end up receiving medical attention for injuries sustained during the race. The winner's prize? They get to keep the cheese. Occasionally, they get to reclaim some of their dignity. Yes, there are videos of this fast and furious race on YouTube.

Monday, November 23, 2009

General Announcements:

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• Open Studio this Tuesday, 11/24 from 3-4 PM to work on puppets.
• This Wednesday, Nov. 25, is the next day to turn in money students have earned towards their DC Trip share. Money should be turned in to Grace before 8:30 am on 11/25 either as cash or as a check made out to HCCPS. The recommended amount for this collection is $20, but please refer to your plan.

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/24: Complete 4.2 part (a) only on p. 52 of CMP book about traveling from Williamsburg, VA to Philadephia at different speeds. You will need grid paper and three different colored pencils (one for each speed - 50 mph, 65 mph and 55 mph). Graph all lines on same coordinate grid.

8th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/24: Complete #5 on p. 44 (about revenue/cost/profit of candy bar fundraiser) and #22 on p. 48-49 of CMP book (about different methods of using a graphing calculator to solve for 22=100-3x). Do not use a graphing calculator, but show your knowledge about how to use one when writing responses.

Social Studies:

• Due Tues., 11/24: Sketch a detailed layout of your museum exhibit. See the rest of the due date checklist for this project. Note changes in schedule during first week of December.

Science:

• Due Wed., 11/25: Metric/Imperial Conversion worksheet 1-14. Show your work, using the conversion ratios at the top of the page and the method used for the last sheet on Imperial conversions.

Language Arts:

• Due Tue., 11/24 and Wed., 11/25: Bring in magazines, brochures, etc., that have colorful photos that can be used for collage making with residents at Overlook in the future. Place into box in LA classroom with tour name on the front cover.
• Take home all costuming used in the myth scenes to wash as necessary. Have them ready to bring back to school on Monday, Dec. 7th. Those who need further costuming parts—in black—please find and bring in.

Spanish:

Moment of Zen: This one's for you, Ben. Today marks the 46th anniversary of the airing of the first episode of Dr. Who on Nov. 23, 1963 on BBC1. This makes it not only the longest-running science fiction TV show, even with its 16-year hiatus from 1989-2005, but one of the longest running non-news programs in the world.

Friday, November 20, 2009

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• Open Studio this Tuesday, 11/24 from 3-4 PM to work on puppets.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• None assigned

Social Studies:

• Monday, Nov. 23: Typed drafts of answers to the list of questions provided that are required for this project.
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: Detailed layout sketch of what your poster/model/board will look like
• Comment on this blog post with the address and a brief description of any websites you find that you think might be helpful to others. (Comments are open to anonymous posting, but will be screened).

Science:

• Due Mon., 11/23: "Units of Length" conversion worksheet, part II - Do #1-18 according to instructions. Use conversion factor handout for both conversion factors and examples of method demonstrated in class.

Language Arts:

• Due Mon., 11/23: Read for 20 minutes in your independent reading book twice and complete the next two reading log entries.

Spanish: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Mon., 11/23: Choose one article from the ¿Qué tal? magazine. Read the article and look up any new vocabulary. Be able to talk about it to the class in English and teach any new Spanish vocabulary to the class.

Moment of Zen: Bailey and Ben play a well-balance game of chess in Homework Club.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Fri., 11/20: Work on Math League for 20 min. past what was completed in class today. Show all work on separate sheet of white paper.

Social Studies:

• Due Fri., 11/20: Present your notes addressing the required questions (handed out today on yellow paper). See the rest of the due date checklist for this project

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• None assigned

Spanish: 7th Grade:

• Due Fri., 11/20: Finish Pobre Ana crucigrama.

8th Grade:

• Due Fri., 11/20: Finish Piratas questions.

Moment of Zen:

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• OPEN STUDIO: Next Tuesday, 11/24 from 3-4 PM, Puppetwork Open Studio in the Atelier with Joy to work on god(dess) puppets. There is very little class time remaining for this project, especially with the field trip on Wednesday Afternoon.

Math:

• None assigned

Social Studies:

• Due Fri., 11/20: Present your notes addressing the required questions (handed out today on yellow paper). See the rest of the due date checklist for this project

Science:

• Due Thurs., 11/19: "Units of Length" conversion worksheet (metric prefixes).

Language Arts:

• Overdue: If you have not yet, bring in your black top & pants for Thursday's performance. Check this in with Grace in the morning, then keep in your cubby.
• Due Thurs., 11/19: On white, lined paper, write a well-developed ¶ describing why you chose your current independent reading book. Title of entry = Title of book + Author. Edit all.

Spanish: 7th Grade:

• Nada

8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 11/19: Translate 3 "adjective ¶s" in the Johnny Depp article.

Moment of Zen: "Starry Night" redux, part ii: Starry night Lego mosaic. (click for artist's description of the process and more pictures)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• FIELD TRIP tomorrow Wednesday, 11/18 to the Smith College Art Museum to see their Greek Art collection. We will be riding over on a bus after lunch. Please wear good walking shoes and neat clothes.
• OPEN STUDIO: Next Tuesday, 11/24 from 3-4 PM, Puppetwork Open Studio in the Atelier with Joy to work on god(dess) puppets. There is very little class time remaining for this project, especially with the field trip on Wednesday Afternoon.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Wed., 11/18: Complete Math's Mate Term 2, Sheet 1, with work for * problems on a separate sheet of paper.

Social Studies

• Due Wed., 11/18:
  • Read Roman Republic handouts and answer attached questions.
  • Athens/Sparta letter rewrite.

Science:

• Due Wed., 11/18: Metric Worksheet II

Language Arts:

• Overdue: If you have not yet, bring in your black top & pants for Thursday's performance. Check this in with Grace in the morning, then keep in your cubby.
• Due Wed., 11/18:
  • Read for 20 min. in your independent reading book and complete first entry in reading log.
  • If you are an actor (not a shadow), bring in an accessory item that communicates your character (e.g., crown=Zeus).
• Due Thurs., 11/19: On white, lined paper, write a well-developed ¶ describing why you chose your current independent reading book. Title of entry = Title of book + Author. Edit all.

Spanish: 7th Grade:

• Nada

8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 11/19: Translate 3 "adjective ¶s" in the Johnny Depp article.

Moment of Zen: Who knows where the idea for extreme ironing came from? Maybe because ironing and irony sound so similar. Regardless, extreme ironers have pressed their clothes in all kinds of hard to get at locations around the world. The sport's inventor, British knitwear factory worker Phil Shaw, describes it as, "the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt." Yup. Follow the link for more on extreme ironing. Also, Leonids still at their peak tonight if you're up late enough.

Monday, November 16, 2009

• You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go.
• FIELD TRIP this Wednesday, 11/18 to the Smith College Art Museum to see their Greek Art collection.
• OPEN STUDIO: This and next Tuesday, 11/17 and 11/24 from 3-4 PM, Puppetwork Open Studio in the Atelier with Joy to work on god(dess) puppets. There is very little class time remaining for this project, especially with the field trip on Wednesday Afternoon.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/17: Bring your independent reading book into class.

Social Studies:

• Due Tue., 11/17: Bibliography for Ancient Greece museum project
• Edit Athens/Sparta letter if handed back.

Science:

• Due Tue., 11/17:
  • Read handout on "History of the Metric System."
  • Make a diagram of how the meter was first determined.

Language Arts:

• Due Tue., 11/17: Bring in your black top & pants for Thursday's performance. Check this in with Grace in the morning, then keep in your cubby.
• Due Wed., 11/18: If you are an actor (not a shadow), bring in an accessory item that communicates your character (e.g., crown=Zeus).
• Due Thurs., 11/19: On white, lined paper, write a well-developed ¶ describing why you chose your current independent reading book. Title of entry = Title of book + Author. Edit all.

Spanish: 7th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/17: Read & review capítulo 3 of Pobre Ana

8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 11/19: Translate 3 "adjective ¶s" in the Johnny Depp article.

Moment of Zen: This picture was taken with a long exposure time, so you can see the changing positions of the stars in the sky through the night, as they seem to rotate around Polaris in the North. Leonids tonight!

Friday, November 13, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Other:

• Due Mon., 11/16: Bring in Fundrasing packet and all payments collected.
• Sign up for one shift at the Winter Fair (Sat., 12/5). Sign up for a time slot other than 12:00 or 1:20.

Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Mon., 11/16:
  • Turn in Math's Mates 1.8, already corrected in class on Thursday.
  • Complete your work for fundraiser sales.
  • In LA journal, write a one-page entry titled "My Participation Experience with the Fundraiser." (These will not be shared with the class)

Social Studies:

• Due Mon., 11/16: Finish illustration of Alexandria.

Science:

• None assigned.

Language Arts:

• Due Mon., 11.6: Using reference books, encyclopedia, Internet, collect more information about the god(dess) whom you are researching to create your puppet. Record the information on the form provided. Be certain to state where each fact can be found (URL or book ref. with page number) and use quotation marks around material copied directly from your sources.
• If you find any websites that you think will be useful for others, comment on this post with the URL and a brief description of for whom you think it will be useful (you can comment even if you don't have a Blogger/Gmail account).

Moment of Zen: Start watching the sky tonight, folks! This year's Leonid meteor showers are predicted to run from 11/13-11/21, with a peak on Tuesday night, when there may be as many as 500 meteors per hour! Follow the link for information about where in the sky to look.

Ancient Greece Independent Project - Due Date Checklist

• Friday, Nov. 13: On worksheet, precisely describe what you are going to make that you will present at the Museum to teach others about your topic.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17: Have a minimum of 3 sources for your information (using at least one book source) written as a bibliography, according to the format provided.
• Friday, Nov. 20: Present your notes addressing the required questions.
• Monday, Nov. 23: Typed drafts of answers to the list of questions provided that are required for this project.
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: Detailed layout sketch of what your poster/model/board will look like

Thanksgiving Vacation Nov. 26-Nov. 30

• Tuesday, Dec. 1: Submit a list of steps with time allotment showing how you will complete the project by the following Tuesday, 12/8
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: Final drafts of answers to questions due.
• Thursday, Dec. 3: Submit a photo of your project so far.
• Friday, Dec. 4: Work on project day. Bring in work (typing or constructing) on your project.
• Tuesday, Dec. 8: Your projects are due in class today. Project peer feedback day: We will spend some time giving you feedback on the museum display you have made. All text needs to be typed, except for certain headings.
• Thursday, Dec. 10 Museum Presentations, 1:30 PM

Thursday, November 12, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Test tomorrow, Fri., 11/13, on Math's Mates Term 1. Use completed, corrected MM sheets for review.

Science:

• Due Fri., 11/13: Read Mesopotamian Science handout and answer attached questions.

Social Studies:

• None assigned.

Language Arts:

• Due Fri., 11/13: Reread the Prometheus poem several times to become very familiar with it. Memorize the lines you have been assigned to know by heart for Thursday's performance.

Moment of Zen: Camels graze next to a ship abandoned in the Aral Sea bed. (click picture for larger version) Follow this link to see satellite photos of the Aral each year from 2000 to the present. I was there in 2002, visiting the city of Aralsk, Kazakhstan, not marked on this map, but on what was the Northeast coast in the 1960s. While the dramatic evaporation of the lower section is the most striking change, note that the upper section actually has expanded some. (NASA Earth Observatory) You can also see satellite shots of the Aral from 1964, 1973, 1987 and 1999 by following this link. (U.S. Geological Survey) Along this link are photos from Moynaq, Uzbekistan, another former coastal fishing city. (October 2008)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 11/12: Math's Mates, Term 1, Ex. 8. No need to turn in corrections for 1.7 this week, but you should start 1.8 with the numbers you missed on 1.7. As always, show work for * problems on a separate sheet of white, lined paper.
• Fri., 11/13: Term 1 test for Math's Mates

Social Studies:

• Due Thurs., 11/12: Empire of Alexander the Great Map Activity

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Thurs., 11/12: Finish Goddess of Yesterday
  1. Read to the end of the book (Chs. 14-17, 44 pages or about 15 pages/day)
  2. For each chapter, on white, lined paper, compose a chapter title. In one or two sentences, explain why you chose that title. Quality is expected.
• Due Thurs., 11/12: Significant progress made on knitting a hat or scarf for buddies' project. Have in school and at home. See Grace and/or Jane before school or at lunch time before Wed. for assistance, if needed.
• Musicians playing with Nick will be rehearsing on Thursday from 12:45-1:25. Bring your instruments!

Moment of Zen: I cannot overstate how amusing this collection of old photos is

Monday, November 9, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/10: Complete 4.1 (about the return van trip from Williamsburg to Philadelphia) on p. 50-51 of CMP book - part (a) only. You'll make your own table and graph on separate paper.

8th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/12: Complete 3.2, parts (a), (d) and parts of (b) not completed (everything but the tables), on p. 39 of CMP book, continuing exploration of proposed walkathon pledge plans. Write in complete, edited sentences.

Social Studies:

• None assigned.

Science:

• Due Tue., 11/10: Revise the "Shackleton to Ice Core" summary if it was handed back today, either typed or neatly handwritten on a separate sheet of paper.

Language Arts:

• Due Thurs., 11/12: Finish Goddess of Yesterday
  1. Read to the end of the book (Chs. 14-17, 44 pages or about 15 pages/day)
  2. For each chapter, on white, lined paper, compose a chapter title. In one or two sentences, explain why you chose that title. Quality is expected.
• Due Thurs., 11/12: Significant progress made on knitting a hat or scarf for buddies' project. Have in school and at home. See Grace and/or Jane before school or at lunch time before Wed. for assistance, if needed.

Spanish: 7th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/10: Read Ch. 2 in Pobre Ana and write a list of new words in the chapter.

8th Grade:

• Nada

Moment of Zen: More in this photoblog dedicated to strange, old, black and white photos

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Tomorrow, Friday, November 6, will be a late start day for students. School will begin one hour later. Doors will open at 9:15, and assembly will begin at 9:30. You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Fri., 11/6: Complete 3.4 in CMP book on p. 40-41 according to directions except make 7 columns at the very beginning.

8th Grade:

• Due Fri., 11/6: Complete 3.2 on p. 39, B only, tables only.

Social Studies:

• Test tomorrow, Friday, 11/6

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Mon., 11/9: Chapter 13 in Goddess of Yesterday
  • Read Ch. 13 (22 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz
  • On blank, 8½ x 11" paper, draw a symbol for the chapter. Your symbol should be large enough to be seen by the class.
  • On the back of the same page with your symbol, write a brief explanation of your symbol (a few sentences).

Moment of Zen: What's your caption?

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 11/5: Complete Math's Mate, Term 1, Sheet 7 and corrections for Term 1, Sheet 6. Write out your corrections for 1.6 and your work for * questions on 1.7 on the same sheet of white, lined paper.

Social Studies:

• Test this Friday, 11/6: Study (=read over) your notes: do you know all the key terms, personalities and places?

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts: <

• Due Thurs., 11/5: Chapter 12 in Goddess of Yesterday:
  • Read Ch. 12 (21 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz.
  • On an index card, write a question you have about what you read and a short passage copied from the chapter that you would like the class to discuss.
• Also for Thursday: Bring instruments into school to practice with Nick Kachulis from 12:45-1:25.

Moment of Zen: Plate tectonics in action: Recently published geology research suggests that a rift recently opened in the Ethiopian desert will likely become a new sea over the next million years. Follow link for full article.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Wed., 11/4: Complete 3.3 on p. 39-40 of CMP book about potential profit from the bike tour. Show how you got your answers, and be certain to restate the question in your answer. Remember that you can write on the photocopy of p. 39 handed out in class, and write in your answer to see the attached sheet. Staple the copied sheet to your work.

8th Grade:

• Due Wed., 11/4: Complete 3.1 on p. 36 of CMP book. Show how you arrived at each answer and be sure to restate the question in your answer. You will need graph paper.

Social Studies:

• Test this Friday, 11/6: Study (=read over) your notes: do you know all the key terms, personalities and places?

Science:

• Due Wed., 11/4: Read Science World handed out yesterday: answer the questions and make a bar graph of the data - use a ruler!

Language Arts:

• Due Thurs., 11/5: Chapter 12 in Goddess of Yesterday:
  • Read Ch. 12 (21 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz.
  • On an index card, write a question you have about what you read and a short passage copied from the chapter that you would like the class to discuss.
• Also for Thursday: Bring instruments into school to practice with Nick Kachulis from 12:45-1:25.

Moment of Zen: Snow monkeys relax in a hot spring on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Snow monkeys are notable in their hot-tubbing habit and their practice of seasoning their food by washing it in salt water instead of fresh water.

Monday, November 2, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/3: Complete 3.2 on p. 38-39 of CMP book about the number of customers who would sign up for the tour at a given price. Write in complete, edited sentences that explain your thinking and show your work. Be sure I know the question from your answer. You will need graph paper.

8th Grade:

• Due Tue., 11/2: Complete #22 on p. 33 of CMP book about the populations of four towns over eight years. Graph the data for the first three towns (Deep Valley, Nowhere and Swampville) on the same coordinate grid, and the data for Mt. Silicon on a seperate sheet of graph paper. If you began graphing all four on the same paper, you can leave the data for the first three there, but you need to make a seperate graph of them as well. You will need two sheets of graph paper and at least three colored pencils. Please use colored pencil instead of symbols to show the different lines on the grid. Be careful choosing your scale. Write in complete, edited sentences that explain your thinking and show your work.

Social Studies:

• Due Tue., 11/3: Write a letter as a Spartan or Athenian. Detailed instructions are on the last page of the "Two City-States" handout.

Science:

• Due Wed., 11/4: Read Science World handed out today: answer the questions and make a bar graph of the data - use a ruler!

Language Arts:

• Due Thurs., 11/5: Chapter 12 in Goddess of Yesterday:
  • Read Ch. 12 (21 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz.
  • On an index card, write a question you have about what you read and a short passage copied from the chapter that you would like the class to discuss.
• Also for Thursday: Bring instruments into school to practice with Nick Kachulis from 12:45-1:25.

Spanish: 7th grade:

• Due Tue., 11/3: In the Ahora magazine, read one article to tell the rest of the class about on Tuesday.

8th grade:

• Nada

Moment of Zen: This edition of Dinosaur Comics: Greek myth with a little bit of Vonnegut for good measure?

Friday, October 30, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Mon., 11/2: Work on fundraiser wrapping paper sales this weekend.

Social Studies:

• Due Mon. 11/2: Read "Two City-States" handout. Be ready for a quiz.
• Due Tues., 11/3: Write a letter as a Spartan or Athenian. Detailed instructions are on the last page of the "Two City-States" handout.

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Mon., 11/2: Familiarize yourself with the cast of characters given for Odyssey, part 1 and scenes from th Odyssey. Have the form in your LA binder for Monday.

Wellness:

• Due Tues., 11/3: "Tell Me About Stress" sheet: Interview an adult.
  1. What are three things that cause stress for you?
  2. How can you tell when you have too much stress?
  3. What do you do to manage he stress in your life?

Spanish:

• ¡Vengan todos a nuestra fiesta para El Día de los Muertos hoy a las 6 en el espacio de toda-escuela!
• (Come to our party for Day of the Dead tonight at 6 in the All-School Space!)

Moment of Zen: Read a traveler's reflection on celebrating El día de los Muertos in rural Mexico.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Fri., 10/30: Complete #1 on p. 42 of CMP book, answers in complete, edited sentences. Show work.

8th Grade:

• Due Fri., 10/30: Complete #18 on p.30 of CMP book. You will need graph paper.

Social Studies:

• Due Fri., 10/30: Your topic for Independent Study about Greece with reasons. The topic must connect clearly to what we have been studying together and can include the areas of Drama, History, Politics, Cultural Life (education, trades, economic life), Philosophy, Military, Democracy/Politics. As you think of a possible topic, consider:
  • Does this topic connect clearly to what we have studied?
  • Something that is important about the topic (an important question that arose for you, for example, as we were looking at the way democracy working in Ancient Athens)
  • How you will present this information, so as to teach others about what you have learned.
  • The particular think I find important or especially interesting about this topic that I would like to share with others is:
  • The way I'm thinking about presenting this information is (for example, model, poster, powerpoint, drawing, large map, simple game, etc.):

Science:

• Due Fri., 10/30: Summarize Eratosthenes's method of calculating the circumference of the Earth and copy diagram.

Language Arts:

• Due Fri., 10/30: Chapter 11 in Goddess of Yesterday
  • Read Ch. 11 (19 p.)
  • Be ready for a quiz on the chapter.
  • On the index card provided, write an edited question which you would like discussed in class and an accurately copied short passage from the chapter itself upon which you want to focus.

Spanish: Come to our celebration for El Día de los Muertos tomorrow (Fri., 10/30) at 6 PM in the All-School Space. Bring a dish for pot luck!

• Go through ofrenda checklist.
• Permission slips for setup on Friday

Moment of Zen: What's your caption?

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Thurs., 10/29:
  • Correct any errors from last week's MM (Term 1, Ex. 5) on white, lined paper.
  • Complete Math's Mate, Term 1, Ex. 6. Show your work for problems marked with * on the same white, lined paper you used to show your corrections from last week.

Social Studies:

• Due Thurs., 10/29: Number the Persian War events on the sheet from class today 1-12 in chronological order.
• Due Fri., 10/30: Your topic for Independent Study about Greece with reasons. The topic must connect clearly to what we have been studying together and can include the areas of Drama, History, Politics, Cultural Life (education, trades, economic life), Philosophy, Military, Democracy/Politics. As you think of a possible topic, consider:
  • Does this topic connect clearly to what we have studied?
  • Something that is important about the topic (an important question that arose for you, for example, as we were looking at the way democracy working in Ancient Athens)
  • How you will present this information, so as to teach others about what you have learned.
  • The particular think I find important or especially interesting about this topic that I would like to share with others is:
  • The way I'm thinking about presenting this information is (for example, model, poster, powerpoint, drawing, large map, simple game, etc.):

Language Arts:

• Due Fri., 10/30: Chapter 11 in Goddess of Yesterday
  • Read Ch. 11 (19 p.)
  • Be ready for a quiz on the chapter.
  • On the index card provided, write an edited question which you would like discussed in class and an accurately copied short passage from the chapter itself upon which you want to focus.

Spanish:

• Go through ofrenda checklist.
• Permission slips for setup on Friday

Moment of Zen: This tomato looks like a duck. Hidden ducks are everywhere. Find them at ThisPeanutLooksLikeADuck.com.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• None assigned

Social Studies:

• Due Wed., 10/28: Write two ¶ based on "The Ring of Gyges."
  • Part 1 (one ¶): If you had such a ring, how would you use its power.
  • Part 2 (one ¶): Do you agree with this opinion: "People, left to themselves, would act without concern for others; the only reason a person acts for good is because he or she can't get away with doing evil, or doing whatever he or she might want to do."
• Due Fri., 10/30: Your topic for Independent Study about Greece with reasons. The topic must connect clearly to what we have been studying together and can include the areas of Drama, History, Politics, Cultural Life (education, trades, economic life), Philosophy, Military, Democracy/Politics. As you think of a possible topic, consider:
  • Does this topic connect clearly to what we have studied?
  • Something that is important about the topic (an important question that arose for you, for example, as we were looking at the way democracy working in Ancient Athens)
  • How you will present this information, so as to teach others about what you have learned.
  • The particular think I find important or especially interesting about this topic that i would like to share with others is:
  • The way I'm thinking about presenting this information is (for example, model, poster, powerpoint, drawing, large map, simple game, etc.):

Science:

• Due :

Language Arts:

• Nothing new assigned
• Due Wed., 10/28: For Chapter 10 in Goddess of Yesterday:
  • Read Ch. 10 (16 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz.
  • Journal Entry: Write an edited poem of at least 10 lines (the ones you skip don't count) that expresses what life was like for any of the following characters in Ch. 10: Anaxandra, Pleis, Rhodea, Zanthus. Be ready to share your poem with the class.

Spanish:

• Go through ofrenda checklist.
• Permission Slips

Other:

• This Wednesday, October 28, will be the first day for collection of money towards your $75 share of the DC trip. We are expecting about $10, but refer to the plan you made.

Moment of Zen: Human Descent: Photoshop bringing together what nature never could

1 cm graph paper link

Apologies for continued trouble with getting a stable link to a .pdf of 1 cm graph paper. Please let me know if the current link doesn't work. Additionally, if you remove the portions of the URL after /graphpaper/, the site will let you generate your own graph paper based on measurements you provide. This may prove useful for your own purposes or for future use. They also will generate other kinds of paper forms like paper with music staves.

Monday, October 26, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math:

• All: Make sure you have all materials for math class:
  • Ruler
  • colored pencils
  • calculator
  • textbook
• 7th Grade:
  • Due Tue., 10/27: Read & do "Think About This" questions about bike tour cost planning on p. 36 of CMP book. Write in complete, edited sentences (you may make a list for the first question). Be thoughtful in your estimates- maybe look up real life data on which to base them. Be ready to share tomorrow.
• 8th Grade:
  • Due Tue., 10/27: Complete #9 on p. 162 (handout). Write edited responses in complete sentences to 9b on the back of the paper. You will need graph paper.

Social Studies:

• None assigned

Science:

• Optional: Complete sheet begun today about Thales method of estimating heights by using shadows and ratios.

Language Arts:

• Due Wed., 10/28: For Chapter 10 in Goddess of Yesterday:
  • Read Ch. 10 (16 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz.
  • Journal Entry: Write an edited poem of at least 10 lines (the ones you skip don't count) that expresses what life was like for any of the following characters in Ch. 10: Anaxandra, Pleis, Rhodea, Zanthus. Be ready to share your poem with the class.

Spanish:

• Get a picture of the person who you are honoring on your ofrenda.

Other:

• This Wednesday, October 28, will be the first day for collection of money towards your $75 share of the DC trip. We are expecting about $10, but refer to the plan you made.

Moment of Zen:

Friday, October 23, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math:

• None assigned.

Social Studies:

• Due Monday, 10/26: Finish your illustration of a historical event.

Science:

• Due Monday, 10/26: Write summary paragraph about what we've studied in Science so far:
  • Shackleton's Journey
  • Navigation techniques using stars (quadrants)
  • Latitude and longiture
  • Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World"
  • Ice core analysis
• Draw a cover for your Science notebook that includes an image or theme from this unit.

Language Arts:

• Due Monday, October 26:
  • Read Ch. 9 in Goddess of Yesterday
  • Be ready for a quiz
  • Journal Entry: Describe one important decision made in this chapter. Then, state what the positive and negative consequences of the decision were. Include evidence from the story to support your opinions.

Moment of Zen:

Thursday, October 22, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Fri. 10/23:
  • Math's Mates, Term 1, Sheet 5
  • Bring a calculator, a ruler, and a free reading book for the second part of your test.

Social Studies:

• Due Mon., 10/26: Finish your illustration of a historical event.

Language Arts:

• Due Friday, 10/23: Read Ch.8 in Goddess of Yesterday. (19 pages) On white, lined paper, write four quiz questions plus their answers that would be appropriate for a quiz I will give on Ch.8. Be sure all is edited well. These will be used for a lengthier quiz on the reading of Ch.8. (I will read the questions orally and you will answer with short answers.)

Moment of Zen: Believe it or not, this is a cake. See other interesting and, occasionally, disastrous cakes at Cake Wrecks.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th & 8th Grade:

• Due Thursday, 10/22: Be ready for test on Investigations 1 and 2 both Thurs., 10/22 and Fri., 10/23. Use the following materials to help you prepare:
  • Your returned homework assignments from Inv. 1 & 2
  • Your CMP textbook
  Make sure you have a book with you in Math in case you finish early!
• Due Friday, 10/23: Complete Math's Mate, Term 1, Ex. 5, begun in class today. Show any written work/computation, especially for problems with a *, on a separate sheet of white, lined paper.

Social Studies:

• Due :

Science:

• Due :

Language Arts:

• Due Friday, 10/23: Read Ch.8 in Goddess of Yesterday. (19 pages) On white, lined paper, write four quiz questions plus their answers that would be appropriate for a quiz I will give on Ch.8. Be sure all is edited well. These will be used for a lengthier quiz on the reading of Ch.8. (I will read the questions orally and you will answer with short answers.)

Spanish:

Moment of Zen:

(photo credit: Gabe F.) This slithery fellow was curled up in a bush outside the Prisms yesterday after Homework Club on Tuesday.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Wed., 10/21: Complete #4 on p. 28-29 and #6 on p. 30 of CMP book according to directions. Show how you got your answers. Write responses in complete, edited sentences. Use relevant math vocabulary. You will need graph paper.

8th Grade:

• Due Wed., 10/21:Complete #5 (parts a and c only) and #6 (all parts) on p. 26 of CMP book. Show how you got your answers. Write responses in complete, edited sentences. Use relevant math vocabulary. You will need graph paper.

Social Studies:

• Due Wed., 10/21: The pg. 2 questions (handed out today) about the Solon/Democracy reading.

Science:

• Due Wed., 10/21: Your finished pouch made from the felt we dyed

Language Arts:

• Due Wed., 10/21:
  • Read Ch. 7 in Goddess of Yesterday (12 pages).
  • On white, lined paper, write four quiz questions that would be appropriate for a quiz I might give on Ch. 7 and answer them.

Spanish:

• Correction: As stated in Deena's letter, and not in yesterday's homework blog, the Prisms' Día de los Muertos celebration will be at 6:00-7:30 PM on Friday, October 30 in the All-School Space.

Moment of Zen: What's your caption?

Monday, October 19, 2009

You must have an independent reading book every day. If you are getting close to the end of one, have the next one at school and ready to go. Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Tues., 10/20: Complete all parts of #2 on p. 27 of CMP book according to directions. Write your responses in complete, edited sentences. Show how you got your answer. You will need graph paper.

8th Grade:

• Due Tues., 10/20: Complete #1, 2 and 3 on p. 24 of CMP book. Treat these like test questions. Write your responses in complete, edited sentences. Show how you got your answer. You will need graph paper.

Social Studies:

• Due Tues., 10/20: Read "Solon/Democracy" reading and answer questions on p. 1
• Due Wed., 10/21: Answer the p. 2 questions about "Solon/Democracy" reading.

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Wed., 10/21:
  • Read Ch. 7 in Goddess of Yesterday (12 pages).
  • On white, lined paper, write four quiz questions that would be appropriate for a quiz I might give on Ch. 7 and answer them.

Spanish:

• Bring home the note about our Día de los Muertos celebration, which will take place on Friday, 10/30/09 at 6:00 PM

Moment of Zen:

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Mon., 10/19: Complete 2.4 on p. 23-24 of CMP book. Follow directions, except, instead of just sketching the graph, actually make graph on graph paper. Write responses in complete, edited sentences. Show how you got your answer, including all calculations, even if done on a calculator.

8th Grade:

• Due Mon., 10/19: Complete #13 (all parts) on p. 29 of CMP book (ACE section) according to directions. Write responses in complete, edited sentences. Show how you got your answer, including all calculations, even if done on a calculator. You will need graph paper.

Social Studies:

• None assigned

Science:

• None assigned

Language Arts:

• Due Mon., 10/19:
  • Read chapters 5 and 6 of Goddess of Yesterday (30 pages).
  • Be ready for a quiz on the reading.
  • In your LA journal, write a one-page or more response that describes Helen as a person with certain personality/character traits. Be certain to provide evidence from Chapters 5 & 6 to support your descriptions of her. You may use the scoring rubric as a guide.

Moment of Zen: What's your caption for this picture?

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Math: 7th Grade:

• Due Fri., 10/16: Complete 2.3 on p. 22-23 of CMP book according to directions (note change in label for y-axis on handout to "distance from Lewes in miles"). Remember to answer in complete, edited sentences. Show all calculations. Avoid beginning sentences with pronouns unless its antecedent (the noun to which it refers) is in a prior sentence.

8th Grade:

• Due Fri., 10/16: Complete 2.5 on p. 22 of CMP book according to directions. Write responses in complete, edited sentences. Avoid beginning sentences with pronouns unless its antecedent (the noun to which it refers) is in a prior sentence. You will need grid paper and two colored pencils.

Social Studies:

• Due Fri., 10/16: Draw a Minoan motif on your notes about Minoan Crete.

Science:

• Due Fri., 10/16: Write a two-paragraph summary of our pouch dyeing/making project and draw a color illustration of some part of the process.

Language Arts:

• Due Fri., 10/16:
  • Read Ch. 4 of Goddess of Yesterday (15 pages).
  • Be sure to review Ch. 4 vocabulary.
  • Be ready for a quiz
  • Write an edited one-page journal entry starting from one of the following prompts:
    • "If I were Anaxandra in Chapter 4, I..."
    • "While reading Chapter 4, I had very strong feeling about..."

Spanish: Bring in boxes for your altar! Moment of Zen: Inner City Snail: Very Slow-Moving Street Art "No snails were harmed in this project, their homes were just vandalised."