Sunday, January 3, 2016

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson




A new year and a blank canvas to create a masterpiece; 
may love and compassion be your song, your poem, your story.  
Douglas H. Wheelock




Well, I dusted off my treadmill in preparation for another shot at fulfilling at least one resolution this year when I suddenly thought better of it.  I was watching the news, you see--all the problems of the day laid out in soundbites--and it made me think.


More and more often in this crazy-busy world we occupy, we limit our experiences and interactions to those involving folks who look like us, act like us, think like us, live like us.  In fact, in the imperfection of our humanity, we often make assumptions about people who don't. Those assumptions can play out in mistrust, bias, and, at its worst, even hatred and violence.


There are people in our communities, human beings just like us who are also not like us -- different ages, incomes, races, religions, philosophies, political affiliations, lifestyles. . .


If only. . .

If we could let go of stereotypes and treat others the way we would like to be treated, and if we could "walk a mile in their moccasins" before speaking or acting unkindly, what a wonderful 2016 this would be.

Oh, I'm still going to get going on that treadmill.

 As for you. . .
Time for New Year's Resolutions




We're going to do a few things with resolutions this week.  Get ready!



 FYI: 
Mid-Year Testing Schedule:
Monday: Typing Pal & Spelling
Tuesday:  Fast Math (9:30)
Thursday:  SRI (9:00)
Friday: Fast Reading (9:00)

ASSIGNMENTS FOR 
THE WEEK OF 
JANUARY 4-8

SCIENCE

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

"Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get." – Mark Twain 



    Tuesday:  What is the difference between Climate and Weather?  Watch THIS video to find out. Begin Interactive Notebook activities.
    WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES CAN BE FOUND HERE.
    Wednesday:  Extended Social Studies class.
    Thursday:  "Weather and Climate" packet. Check  HERE  for additional helpful information. 


    Friday: Complete Weather & Climate packet & turn in.

    WEATHER VS CLIMATE







    LINKS FROM BRAINPOP:

    What Is Weather?  
    Clouds
    Air Polution
    Humidity


     SOCIAL STUDIES


    ANCIENT EGYPT
    Monday: Pyramid, by David Macaulay, pages 42-59 (and associated activities)
    Tuesday: Pyramid, by David Macaulay, pages 60-79 (and associated activities)
    Wednesday: Video, Pyramid, by David Macaulay and questions.


    Thursday:  Introducing Independent Egyptian Book Project. Lots of opportunities to create!
    Friday: Independent Egyptian Book Project. 

    VIDEO WORTH WATCHING!




    WAY COOL PLACES TO INVESTIGATE!  . . .

    Whatever you want to know about ancient Egypt, you'll find HERE!
    Another site to get lost in is HERE! Wow!
    Look HERE to see an interactive 3-D Illustration of the Giza Pyramids. Explore Khufu's pyramid HERE.
    Lots of links at VIRTUAL EGYPT for those of you wanting to know more (...and more...and more...)
    Free time?  HERE are a few Egypt-related games to try!
    Want to know how mummies are made?  Check out THIS interactive!


    LANGUAGE ARTS

    Monday:  Let's talk about resolutions. What are they? Where do they come from? Why do we have them? let's brainstorm potential good resolutions and bad resolutions.





    List three resolutions you have for 2016. Turn your list in.  Our January bulletin board is destined for greatness!

    Tuesday:  Introduce Pharaoh's Research Project (handout). Go over information (with me) and review the list of Pharaohs.  Time to choose!
    Wednesday:  Set up (1.) a Google Doc to store information and (2.) Google slides. THEN complete Slides #s 1 & 2 today. Don't forget to copy any [annotated] urls onto your Google Doc (to store for later).
    Thursday: Information for Slide 3 today. Find research on your Pharaoh's early life and type it into your Google Doc.
    Friday: Slide 3 -- Are you ready? (Show me!) Create your slide.  
    MATH

    Monday:  4.3: Equivalent Ratios and Multiplication Tables.  Share & Show, pgs.225-226.  Practice & Homework, pgs. 227-228.

    Tuesday:  Fast Math.  

    Wednesday:  4.4: Problem-Solving: Using Tables to Compare Ratios.  Share & Show, pgs. 231-232. Practice & Homework, pgs. 233-234.

    Thursday:  4.5: Using Equivalent Ratios. Share & Show. pgs. 237-238.  Practice & Homework, pgs. 239=240.

    Friday:  Mid-Chapter Checkpoint, pgs. 241-242.  Correct errors.
    RESOURCES

    4.3: Equivalent Ratios 
    and Multiplication Tables
    Essential Question:  How can you use a 
    multiplication table to find equivalent ratios?


    4.4: Problem-Solving
    Use Tables to Compare Ratios
    Essential Question:  How can you use the strategy
    find a pattern to help you understand ratios?


    4.5: Use Equivalent Ratios
    Essential Question:  How can you use tables 
    to solve problems solving equivalent ratios?


    . . .and another!





    READING  

    Turn in your independent book project if you haven’t already.  Hopefully, you've picked out your next book! Fill out your new contract. Remember to have your book and contract with you wherever you go!


     Because of Winn Dixie

    Monday:  Read Chapters 9 & 10 (and answer questions)
    Tuesday:  Read Chapters 11 & 12 (and answer questions)
    Wednesday: Read Chapters 13 & 14 (and answer questions)
    Thursday:  SRI (9:00) & Silent Study Hall
    Friday:  Fast Reading (9:00) & Silent Study Hall 


     Just a little extra!



    Please plan to work on Typing Pal for at least 15 uninterrupted minutes each day. Let's give ourselves a January challenge!
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