Sunday, February 28, 2016

When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb.



March "comes in like a lion, out like a lamb," or so the saying goes.  It's a charming little cliché that originated in the 17th century, but is it a predictable forecasting guide?  
Well. . . no. . .
I must say, though a little sheepishly, that this is no more than another piece of endearing weather lore.  There is no evidence that indicates stormy weather at the start of March is a harbinger of pleasant weather at its end. 

Let's call it what it is. . .

March is a transition time between winter and spring. It'll be...

A little snowy, a little rainy,
A little windy, a little muddy--
A little raw, a little dreary
Back roads a little rutty.

A little blustery, a little drizzly,
A little dark, a little cruddy, 
A little turbulent and changing 
March weather's a little nutty





. . .I got sick last week.  Man, who'd 'a thought I'd be at a loss for words?? I've  finally returned but my voice hasn't, so please "bear" with me till I get my groove back.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR 
THE WEEK OF 
FEBRUARY 29--MARCH 4
SCIENCE



 CATCHING UP FROM LAST WEEK

LET'S  TALK CONSERVATION!  While I was gone, did you look over the 50 ways to conserve water (found HERE)  (Even more water conservation tips can be found HERE.) Did you choose one & create an eye-catching poster or bumper sticker that included WHAT you can do to concerve water and HOW you can do it?

I was particularly intrigued by #46, which stated that 28 billion gallons of water are used to produced all the unwanted paper in junk mail.  I deplore junk mail. This provided a website for anyone interested in taking their name off direct-marketing lists: dmachoice.org   It's worth checking out!   


The Story of Bottled Water was released in 2010 on World Water Day. "It tells the story of manufactured demand—how to get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows virtually free from the tap.  . . .the film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces." Finally, it poses a compelling question. . .


Discuss "The Story of Bottled Water" from last Friday and share any interesting findings from Thursday.

Tuesday:  Draw the water cycle. Label each vocabulary word, and learn its meaning. (Enormously huge hint: This will be on the BHT.) Color would be lovely.


A Review of the Water Cycle:

Wednesday:  Let's create a representation of how much water there is on earth in the activity "All the Water on Earth." and engage in a little interesting discussion.
Thursday:  We'll watch and discuss "Earth: The Biography - Oceans," & complete associated activities (Can be found HERE). You ought to watch this; it's pretty amazing!

Friday:  Water Unit Review  -- Look over information from previous weeks' blogs.  Review Vocabulary, water cycle (HERE'S  a little toe-tapping review) -- Another Interactive Water Cycle can be found HERE), -- Conservation, Oceans, and Bottled Water   Check your Drive for your very own personal study sheet.  Woo-hoo!                                        


Take THIS interactive quiz on the Water Cycle!  Great test prep--you'll see some of this information again on your BHT!

Here's 8 minutes of engaging vocabulary review in a great video format:


     

NASA/THE WATER CYCLE:  "Water is the fundamental ingredient for life on Earth. Looking at our Earth from space, with its vast and deep ocean, it appears as though there is an abundance of water for our use. However, only a small portion of Earth's water is accessible for our needs. How much fresh water exists and where it is stored affects us all."



Take this Interactive Question & Answer Game *- A flash animated game that gives the Answer.  You have to choose the correct Question from three possible answers. The game lets  you know instantly if you have the right answer. Play the game as often as you'd like to improve your score. When you're done, click on "print" to save to Google Drive and send it to me.


Want to learn more?  Check out these 6  Drinking Water Bloopers. Write each of them in a sentence
(or two) explaining why each one is a blooper -- as part of your test grade. Can you think of any more?



INTERESTING, INTERESTING, INTERESTING. . .
Water Facts of Life - Amazing facts about water.    
Water Trivia Facts - Fun water facts continue - how long can you live without water.
Want to be puzzled? Click HERE!





SOCIAL STUDIES

Farewell, Gift of the Nile
Pyramids, mummies, tombs, and kings
Thousands of years ago, these things
Were part of life in an area
Upon the sands of Africa.
On the banks of the Nile a valley lay
Narrow, fertile - it gave way
To one of the earliest civilizations in history
"Kemet," Egypt, it came to be
The innundation every spring
Brought nutrient-rich black silt for planting 
Most people lived on the river's shore
In simple mud huts and nothing more
They served their Pharaoh--god and king--
Their link to the afterlife. Everything.
So they cared to preserve his body, you see;
In elaborate tombs they'd rest his mummy
An expensive and time-consuming process it was
To dehydrate and wrap in 20 layers of gauze 
As long as the body existed, thought they
The pharaoh would live and their service repay 
Far less is known of the common man
Who buried their dead in the desert sand
Except for the artistry, craftsmanship
They left behind on this narrow strip
Through hieroglyphs carved into stone
Their ancient story became known
A glorious look into the past
At a civilization unsurpassed
Land of the Nile, it's time to go--
We'll take a test on what we know
And share our newfound expertise
Before we enter Ancient Greece 
xoxo,
Mrs. M. 


Tuesday:  Wrapping up (Ha! another pun!)
Wednesday:  BHT

OK, OK. . . We'll watch one final video--of an actual mummification! Ewww!




ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME:
COMPARISONS & CONTRIBUTIONS

Thursday:  3-Part Assignment: Ancient Greece: Geographic Setting (4 constructed responses); "Where in Ancient Greece?" map activity; label & color a map  Due Friday.

Friday:  Correct work from yesterday, then. . .

JUST FOR FUN!
HORRIBLE HISTORIES--GROOVY GREEKS





LANGUAGE 
ARTS

HEY: HERE's another great search engine for students.  Check it out!
Monday:  Sacred Writing Time for "Leap Day" -- On the next "Leap Day," what will you remember about today?
Tuesday: Finalize Research Reports and submit.
Wednesday:  Poetry (tba)
Thursday: "Foul Shot," by Edwin Hoey --what a great poem to explore, especially during basketball season!  We are going to read, analyze, write about and replicate this poem in the next few days (particular attention to alliteration and action verbs).
Friday:"




                                  Poetry notes from julieha














MATH
Monday:  Unit 6 Test
Tuesday:  Unit 6 Test, cont. & Corrections
Wednesday: Hmm. . .Time to Reflect and Retest
Thursday: Correct tests, then on to a preview of Unit 7 & Show What You Know
Friday:  7.1  Exponents. Share & Show, pgs. 357-358.  Practice & Homework, pgs. 359-360.

Essential question:  How do you write and find the value of expressions involving exponents?





      Resources
Introduction to Exponents
(aka Indices)








Complete Unit 7
Test on Friday





Time is running out. . .
The Marking Period ends 
on March 9.
Everything done?
Dear Class, 
It's three o'clock already; the bus will soon be here
You must write down assignments and organize your gear
Get out your homework folder; it's orange and hard to miss--
Your work that's "almost finished" is what you put in this.
Before you leave, just ask yourself, "Do I have the stuff I need?
Do I know what I'm supposed to do? Do I have a book to read?"
Make everything you work on the best you've ever done
And when your homework's finished, go out and have some fun!
Just a word of caution as you zip up your backpack
Don't forget to do it, and for Pete's sake, bring it back!
Love,
Your devoted teacher