Sunday, March 6, 2016

"Wisdom begins in wonder." ~Socrates



I was cleaning out the hall closet recently and noticed a cardboard box tucked back in a corner. In it was a small net, the kind for scooping up aquarium fish, a long-lost hammer, some rusting finish nails, and several dusty mason jars whose unattached lids were peppered with a dozen or so jagged holes. The dried remains of leaves and grass clippings were still evident in the jars.  



Not much of a find by adult standards, but I knew a childlike treasure when I saw one. 

I tried to remember the last time the sound of children's laughter punctuated the summer twilight in my back yard, little bare feet padding across the dewy lawn, the twinkling of a thousand tiny moving lights fueling their utter joy and fascination. 


I wonder when it was that I started thinking of fireflies more like bugs and less like magic? 


I think as we get older we become desensitized to the things that once brought us joy. How many adults do you see running around the yard playing tag or trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues? 

There was a time when life seemed mysterious and exciting; anything and everything was possible. We were filled with the wonder of existence, with no expectations about how the world was supposed to be. We trusted. We played. Life was simple and uncomplicated. 

There's a lot us grown-ups can learn from the children we used to be. . .






 So where did our sense of wonder go? Well, nowhere. We just forgot where to look for it.  






We need to consciously re-engage our senses.  We were born to be curious, to use our imaginations, to play, to live in the moment and revel in new experiences. 



I think about these things every time I look at my students.  For all that I want them to learn and know, I so hope they appreciate that wonder comes from NOT knowing everything--but being open to the wonder of possibility. 

Tuesday, March 8
Let's get together!


Oh. . . and


SBAC PRACTICE
this week!

SBACs will be administered on the first week of April. 

ASSIGNMENTS FOR 
THE WEEK OF
March 7 - MAY 11


SCIENCE


Let's start with some pretty amazing facts. We'll do this together:

Tuesday:  Space PPT & Notetaking activity (see your Drive)

Wednesday:  Our Solar System PPT & Notetaking activity (See your Drive again.

15 BONUS POINTS: Watch this Bill Nye video 
and complete the accompanying worksheet 
(Check your drive for "Bill Nye: Outer Space")


Friday:  No school!


Look familiar?  We didn't get to this last week, but hold onto your hats; this is going to be fun!



SOCIAL STUDIES
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME:
COMPARISONS & CONTRIBUTIONS
Monday:  3-Part Assignment: Ancient Greece: Geographic Setting (4 constructed responses); "Where in Ancient Greece?" map activity; label & color a map  Due Thursday. 
Tuesday:  Click on THIS link to complete an Ancient Greece Webquest.
Wednesday:  Finish Webquest & turn in activity from Monday.
Thursday: No school this afternoon (1/2 day inservice)
Friday: No school!
JUST FOR FUN!
HORRIBLE HISTORIES--GROOVY GREEKS




LANGUAGE ARTS
"Foul Shot," by Edwin Hoey

 Focusing Question:  How does the poet's use of literary techniques help us experience the suspense and excitement of these last moments in the game?

 Focus Statement:  The poet uses a number of literary techniques to help us experience the suspense and excitement of these last moments in the game. Two of these techniques are alliteration and strong action verbs.

WRITING FOR UNDERSTANDING
Monday: Review "Foul Shot" from last week and the two literary techniques we'll analyze in our B.E.E.s.

Tuesday:  Review B.E.E.s (aka Painted Essays) and begin filling in graphic organizer. 
Wednesday: Pair-share organizers and begin first drafts. 
Thursday: Share first drafts out loud at your table group. Hear any mistakes? Begin polishing (revising) and editing.


MATH


Monday:  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?
Tuesday:  7.2  Evaluate Expressions Involving Exponents.  Share & Show, pgs. 365-366.  Practice & homework, pgs. 367-368.
Essential Question:  How do you use the order of operations to evaluate expressions involving exponents?
Wednesday:  7.3  Write Algebraic Expressions.  Share & Show, pgs. 371-372.  Practice & Homework, pgs. 373-374.
Essential Question:  How do you write an algebraic expression to represent a situation?
Thursday: Correct and Repair


Resources
(Watch & watch again. We learn what we repeatedly do.)


7.1 Introduction to Exponents
(aka Indices)

                              7.2 Writing and Evaluating Expressions 
Involving Whole Number Exponents



7.3  Writing Algebraic Expressions



FYI:
Some of us are still having trouble with CONVERSIONS (how many ounces in a pound, etc.). Look HERE for conversion charts. (Click on "measurements," then "US conversions.") Make it a point to learn these! Yikes!

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