NEXUS: “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself; I am large -- I contain multitudes.” ― Walt Whitman

Capturing the Mood of Vermont
Beautiful photography by Gary Stanley

The old adage, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute," must surely have been written about Vermont in the early Spring. We had a snowstorm on the 6th, waking up to heavy wet snow blanketing the ground and clinging thickly to tree branches, bending them low beneath the weight. No matter; it was gone by day's end. More often you'll see days like the one captured so beautifully in the photograph above as the season tentatively transitions. It is, after all, a season of awakening, and these things take time.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR

13th - 17th

SCIENCE

OK, guys, I know that some of you are probably feeling a little nervous about our next topic. Got it. Been there. But you're probably a little curious, too, right? Just relax! We're going to learn some interesting stuff this week!

Hey, did you know that your body grows faster during puberty than at any other time in your entire life (except for when you were an infant)? Yup, and you have hormones to thank for that--way to go, endocrine!

"Can't Wait to Grow Up"
by Cathy Carson

When was the last time you said I can't wait till I grow up? Well, you're now officially on your way to getting your wish! Puberty defines the time when your body changes from a child to an adult. You will grow physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. (Makes you want to take a nap just thinking about it, huh?)

Just remember, as different as we all are across this wonderful planet, every single grown-up has been where you are now and every single middle school and high school, no matter the location, is, as we speak, teeming with glorious, pituitary-induced adolescence. You're not alone! We all go through puberty. There's no strict timeline to it, either. All the changes we experience occur according to our own wonderfully unique internal clock.

Here's what I mean: puberty starts earlier for girls -- usually between the ages of 8 and 13. For boys, it generally kicks in between the ages of 10 and 13.

AHA! So that's why some of your friends look like they belong in high school, and others look, well, pretty much the same. All perfectly normal, guys. . .

People usually love surprises, but this is definitely an exception. As far as puberty (and all the wonderful changes it causes) is concerned, it's probably a good idea to know what to expect before it happens. Capiche?

Monday:

ESTABLISH GROUNDRULES FOR THE WEEK (sample HERE)
INTRODUCE THE QUESTION BOX (Provide handout) Students can submit questions throughout the day as they occur to them. Q & A will begin each class

Self-Esteem involves celebrating all of who we are, including our differences.

Self-Esteem (PPT & accompanying worksheet)
Communication Game "I Am Good At. . ."
One-Way Communication (to demonstrate the difficulties that arise without dialogue or clarification) Notice how what someone says isn't always what they mean. . .

Tuesday:
Puberty--stuff you know, stuff you don't know

BrainPOP video, PUBERTY, graphic organizer, & t-chart
Introduction to Puberty activity

Wednesday:

Puberty continues--

Video: You, Your Body, and Puberty (in 5 chapters)
DVD Handout
DVD Rewind Quiz and Match-up Activity

Thursday & Friday:

BrainPOP video, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM & activities
Reproductive system discussion/worksheets
Reproduction wordsearch
Puberty/Reproduction Review

REMEMBER. . .

You are the amalgamation of 200 trillion little body parts. . .

and perhaps just a little MAGIC!

"Do you believe in magic?" Loving Spoonful

LANGUAGE ARTS

MONDAY: Traits -- we are the same; we are different.

Traits video & activity (An Inventory of My Traits)
Online test for seeing the colors red & green.

TO SUM IT UP. . . SOME COOL STATISTICS. . .

Tuesday & Wednesday:
OK, so not surprisingly, we've got a lot of things in common, and some things that are unique to us. (Thank goodness for THAT!) What does all this have with puberty? Glad you asked! Remember I mentioned that everybody enters the big "P" at different times? Awk-wardddd!

Once upon a time, you were all pretty much the same; suddenly, you look different than everyone else--or you could be the one who hasn't changed much at all. Kids can be unkind for lots of reasons, and so, it behooves (cool word, huh?) us to talk about a real concern regarding emotionally charged adolescents: BULLYING.

A TOUCHING ANIT-BULLYING FILM

BY 6TH GRADE STUDENTS IN GUATEMALA

Read more about BULLIES

Another form of bullying? GOSSIP & RUMORS!
A real threat: ONLINE BULLYING
Play "Beat the Bullies" HERE!
FYI: Here's some helpful information about WHEN FRIENDS FIGHT

Assignment:

BrainPOP CYBERBULLYING video and activity
Create a poster about bullying/cyberbullying for display in the hallway. Focus on these points:

What is bullying/cyberbullying?
What does bullying/cyberbullying look like?
How does it make you feel?
Where does it happen?
How can we keep kids (and each other) safe from bullying/cyberbullying?

~

DON'T LET ANYBODY EVER TELL YOU THIS;
DON'T BELIEVE IT;
IN FACT. . .

Thursday & Friday: DEDICATE THIS TIME TO COMPLETING YOUR GREEK AMPHORAE (SEE BELOW)

SOCIAL STUDIES

Ancient Greece

For the people of ancient Greece, vases were designed for function as well as beauty. These terra-cotta vessels were used in nearly all aspects of daily life--for storage, carrying, mixing, serving, drinking, and for holding perfume or cosmetics. See HERE. Creating amphoras was a hot, dirty, and laborious job, and although they served a real purpose, they were elaborately shaped and decorated--a skill often handed down from father to son.