April 1 "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." ~Christopher Reeve

http://www.crayola.com

Hello families-

The sixth grade is about to embark on a different kind of research paper. Today we completed an introductory survey titled, "What Makes a Hero a Hero?" as a way of framing our thinking about the many heroes/courageous people who have shaped history.

Students will choose one of these people to showcase in a web page that will include the following:

• a biography
• a quote that somehow demonstrates the the values and beliefs of the person of choice
• a summary of his/her accomplishments
• a photo album
• a page describing how his/her accomplishments changed this person's life, and
• how the world has changed or can be changed because of him/her
• a bibliography
• Options: Videos, Podcasts, Interesting Facts

I will put links on this blog in the next day or so that will direct students to Public Domain images, video, audio, primary source documents, etc. For today, I want everyone to peruse the following sites and be thoughtful in choosing a hero or courageous person with whom they can "connect". (After all, they're going to be spending a considerable amount of time together in the days to come...)

Please help your child sift through the sites below as they conduct their search:

• Explorers of Land or Sea
• Explorers of Ideas
• Explorers of the Skies
• Explorers of the Arts
• Inventor Heroes
• Science Heroes
  
• Environmental Heroes
• Earth Day Heroes
• Earthkeeper Heroes scroll down to find thumbnail descriptions
• Heroes Around the World
• Heroes of History
• Female Heroes
• Site Map of Many Heroes-(A good site to start with since you there are so many categories to choose from--just refer to the "Directory" on the left side of the page.)

For later:

Citation Machine--for online help making bibliographies (click on MLA style)

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"Heroes" was also introduced in Grade 5 today. We'll explore heroes in another creative way on our webpage. I will provide more information on this tomorrow.

Social Studies: Pilgrim worksheets (that were completed through the links on my last blog) are due tomorrow. So are the "Exhibit" pictures/captions.

FYI: The 6th grade had a discussion today about the Puritans and how they differed from the Pilgrims. Of historical significance was a discussion of the terrible injustices of the Salem trials. Putting it in perspective, we explored how the stresses of Puritan life--impending attacks by Indians and French Canadians (the French), polarization of the more affluent part of the community and the poorer farming section of town, and the extremely strict religious doctrine that was intolerant of differences--all played a role in a most horrific human tragedy. Our conversation led to spin-off discussions about conformity, vindictiveness, "mob mentality"--and the Puritan belief that you were guilty until proven innocent. Many lessons.

Check out the "7-Day-Forecast" link on the "important Websites" for a preview of...well...the next 7 days. Holey moley! Enjoy this warming time...

Teri

We listened to this today as part of our "Heroes" introduction. The kids wanted me to post it so that they could hear it again... It's a song by Bette Midler called, "Wind Beneath My Wings"-- from the movie, Beaches.

Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings @ Yahoo! Video

March 28 "Indoors or out, no one relaxes in March, that month of wind and taxes, the wind will presently disappear, the taxes last us all the year."

Hello families--

I beg your pardon for my absence; I have been working long and hard on a rather monumental "differentiated instruction" unit for one of my courses. It was a push to the end, but the result is a labor of love--something wonderful to share with your children after April vacation. Anyway, it's good to be back!

In Social Studies, we're moving on to a brief interactive tour of Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims who inhabited it. Below are sites we'll explore. I encourage you to check them out; they're pretty interesting! (Some of this work will be independent, and everything will be due on Friday, April 2.)

You Are The Historian--Investigating the First Thanksgiving

Excellent Interactive Site! (There is an activity to complete at the end, which each student will print off and share.)

Independent Assignment:

(I will provide a worksheet to accompany the following two activities):

First:

Go to this site and answer the following questions...

• Who were the Pilgrims?
• In what year did they begin to come to America?
• According to early Plymouth records, what were the names of the first four ships to sail to America?
• Pilgrims weren't called "Pilgrims" until the 1800s. What were the passengers from the first four ships called back in the 1620s?

Second:

Continuing the worksheet above, answer questions by reading this interesting, fun article in Muse Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 9, November 2001, from the publishers of Cricket and Smithsonian Magazine. You can find it by clicking on:

The True Story of the First Thanksgiving.

FYI: Check out what it was like living on "Plimouth Plantation".

For Fun (and extra credit!):

Write a short conversation between two Pilgrims by visiting this site. Talk Like a Pilgrim

Make It At Home --two colonial games to make and try!

Try this recipe for Fresh Ginger Cake inspired by A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620

Math Connection:

A pilgrim used 65 yards of fencing to enclose a rectangular garden plot. He then used an additional piece of fencing, 10 yards long, to divide the plot exactly in half into two smaller rectangles. What were the dimensions of the field?

Write out your answer on the end of the worksheet (you'll see where I've left a place for it). Show your work!

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In Language Arts, we're off on another Writing adventure, which I'll introduce tomorrow. Suffice it to say we'll be doing a little research... I'll fill you in on everything tomorrow.

Be well, stay warm... It's been rather "March-like" lately.

Teri

March 15 "Beware the Ides of March" -- Shakespeare

Hello everybody-

For those of you who were able to make it in on Friday for conferences, thanks for dropping by! It's always good to see you. I also appreciated your kind words about this blog. It's been a labor of love--a way for us to stay connected. I hope your families continue to find it interesting, fun, and informative. More and more, I'll be incorporating links from this site into my lessons, to enrich both Social Studies and Language Arts and make them more engaging for your children. As I learn more, I'll continue to develop the blog's capabilities as an interactive learning tool for all of us. Should you happen to have a idea or suggestion, please feel free to let me know!

As we begin picking up speed toward the end of the year, we'll need to think about getting together again--this time to discuss our end-of-the-year class trip to Pok-O-MacCready. I'll gather the necessary information and plan that in the next month or so. It will be a good time to begin organizing our thoughts about graduation, too. (For your information, the class trip will be on the 2nd and 3rd of June--that's a Wednesday and a Thursday. Graduation is scheduled for Monday, June 14th at 7:00 PM. By scheduling it on a Monday, we don't interfere with other area graduations.)

As for today's assignments:

Because we had ART today, there was not enough time for 6th grade Language Arts. They did receive a "Spelling and Vocabulary" packet, however, and will receive a Grammar packet tomorrow when we have time to go over it together. For grade 5, we did a grammar activity and turned it in. Each child also created a fun activity booklet to review basic skills. (Each week they will receive a new one, which will be due on the last day of the week.)

Today my 6th grade did a Social Studies activity based on the first link listed below. They had fun and learned a few things in the process. Ask them about it! On Wednesday, I've planned something that should be REALLY fun; stay tuned. For you fifth grade parents, tomorrow your students will complete this activity. Handouts will be provided, although they are also available by clicking on the link at the bottom of the website. (FYI: Social Studies activities are ALWAYS due on the next class day unless otherwise stated here.)

Social Studies Sites to Visit:

What Do You Know About Jamestown? Today's assignment for Grade 6 --Tomorrow's assignment for Grade 5. Can you find the answers to these questions? (If you lose your activity sheet, you can find another at the bottom of the site. Also, there is a link to help you find the answers... Just saying...)

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Journey to Jamestown--We're going to have fun with this. I'll have stuff to give you soon.

Amusements in Colonial New England

A Guide to the History of Jamestown--which has tons of other links for Colonial America

Take Online Quiz about Jamestown Colony

I hope your evening is a pleasant one. Take care-

Teri

March 10 "Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" =} Calvin and Hobbs

Just keep saying to yourself, "We can do this..."

FINAL UPDATE:

Friday, March 12
7:35-7:55--Josh	1:25-1:45
8:00-8:20--Tyler	1:55-2:15
8:25-8:45	2:20-2:40--Zac? (phone)
8:50-9:10	2:45-3:05--Nicole
9:15-9:35	3:10-3:30--Brad
9:40-10:00	3:35-3:55
10:05-10:25	4:00- 4:20
10:30-10:50--Dylan	4:25- 4:45
10:55-11:15	4:50- 5:10
11:20-11:40	5:15- 5:35
11:45-12:05	5:40- 6:00--Britney
12:10-12:30	6:05- 6:25--Korbin
12:35-12:55	6:35- 6:55
1:00-1:20

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See you Friday, everyone!

Teri

March 9 "The afternoon is bright, with spring in the air, a mild March afternoon..." ~Antonio Machado, 1875-1939

Ahhh, Vermont in March....
beautiful picture by Michaela Harlow found at @ www.michaelaharlow.com/blog

Happy Tuesday! Here's an updated schedule for Friday:

Friday, March 12
7:35-7:55--Josh	1:25-1:45
8:00-8:20	1:55-2:15
8:25-8:45	2:20-2:40--Zac? (phone)
8:50-9:10	2:45-3:05--Nicole
9:15-9:35	3:10-3:30--Brad
9:40-10:00	3:35-3:55
10:05-10:25	4:00- 4:20
10:30-10:50--Dylan	4:25- 4:45
10:55-11:15	4:50- 5:10
11:20-11:40	5:15- 5:35
11:45-12:05	5:40- 6:00--Britney
12:10-12:30	6:05- 6:25--Korbin
12:35-12:55	6:35- 6:55
1:00-1:20

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Other news from the Cave:

Fifth grade had Social Studies today. Please refer to Sunday, March 7th's blog to find (really cool) web links in case your child brought the worksheet home to complete. It was a fun interactive exploration of Jamestown; you should check it out!

In writing, we're all finishing our responses to literature. Fifth grade is also working on a persuasive piece. My class will do this tomorrow. Gosh, we're busy! We DID take the time to get outside to enjoy some warm March sunshine this afternoon. Good for the body; good for the soul....

I hope you all have a restful evening. I'll be in touch tomorrow with more conference updates.

Teri

March 8 "Like an army defeated the snow hath retreated, and now doth fare ill on the top of the bare hill..." Longfellow

Hi everybody. The first of the conference forms have trickled in. Here's what we have so far:

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Friday, March 12
7:35-7:55--Josh	1:25-1:45
8:00-8:20	1:55-2:15
8:25-8:45	2:20-2:40
8:50-9:10	2:45-3:05
9:15-9:35	3:10-3:30--Brad
9:40-10:00	3:35-3:55
10:05-10:25	4:00- 4:20
10:30-10:50--Dylan	4:25- 4:45
10:55-11:15	4:50- 5:10
11:20-11:40	5:15- 5:35
11:45-12:05	5:40- 6:00--Britney
12:10-12:30	6:05- 6:25--Korbin
12:35-12:55	6:35- 6:55
1:00-1:20

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Responses to Literature should be completed and turned in no later than Wednesday. Your child should not bring this home to work on; it's so natural for us to offer support and assistance, but for writing portfolio pieces, it is vitally important that the work is done entirely by the student.

Check out yesterday's blog for the Social Studies assignment for grades 5 & 6; my class completed it today and thought it was fun and informative. That's the whole idea! Grade 5 will work on this tomorrow.

Remember, no GVS this week since we have a short week.

Enjoy this beautiful evening!

Teri

IMPORTANT: I know a lot of you are interested in knowing about potential placement for your son or daughter next year. Normally, much of conference time is given to these conversations; unfortunately, I will be unable to provide much of any information THIS year. There are lots of rumors circulating about ways in which the middle school intends to restructure for the 2010-2011 school year.... Middle School folks have been meeting and exploring different configurations, but as of this moment, no determinations have been made. I was informed via email that they will let everyone know as soon as decisions are finalized. I encourage you to contact Peter Reynolds (preynolds@anwsu.org) or Jay Stetzel (jstetzel@anwsu.org) by phone (802-877-2938) or email for more information. Parent letters/questionnaires will hopefully go out in the next few weeks, at which point they hope to have more concrete information for all of us. Sorry, everyone; I'm out of the loop! In the meantime, if you'd like to get a flavor for what's happening down the road, check out this copy of VUHS Middle School News.