Class work and Homework |
September 2009 |
| September 1 |
Social Studies:
Today students took Cornell notes on the social studies brochure for Mrs. Nicholas's class. This will help students to understand the purpose for some of the activities they will be engaged in throughout the year.
Homework:
Complete the Cornell notes that you began in class today if they were not completed.
Language Arts:
Today we were in the computer lab for MAP testing.
Homework: Review your prepositions. |
| September 2 |
Social Studies:
Today students evaluated others in their group for their performance in regards to the standards project. There will be a quiz tomorrow on the notes that you took on the brochure.
Homework:
Review your notes from class on the brochure.
Language Arts:
Today students were introduced to the last group of prepositions. We used the number 1453 to help students remember the words. 1=since 4=through, throughout, to, toward 5=under, underneath, until, up, upon 3=with, within, without. Then sutdents began a letter to Mrs. Nicholas.
Homework: Review your prepositions. |
| September 3 |
Social Studies:
Today we took a quiz on the Social Studies brochure and completed the reflection on the group work.
Homework:
If you received a "D" or an "F" on the quiz you need to make sure your notes are complete and turn them in.
Language Arts:
Today students reviewed the last group of prepositions. We used the number 1453 to help students remember the words. 1=since 4=through, throughout, to, toward 5=under, underneath, until, up, upon 3=with, within, without. Then students completed their letter to Mrs. Nicholas. Next we completed an information page for Mrs. Nicholas.
Homework: Review your prepositions for the quiz tomorrow. Complete the letter and information page. Both are due tomorrow. |
| September 4 |
Social Studies:
Today we brainstormed on ways that mankind interacts with rocks both past and present. Mrs. Nicholas read us a poem/book entitled If You Find a Rock about finding different types of rocks.
Homework:
Make a memory worth keeping and maybe you'll find a memory stone too.
Language Arts:
Today we had our final preposition quiz. Then we discussed how MAP test scores can help us make thousands of dollars. Mrs. Nicholas shared some MAP data with us. We will use this information to make goals for ourselves this year.
Homework: Complete your letter to Mrs. Nicholas as well as the Student Information Form. Both should be turned in. Complete the parent book interview. Your first book should be completed by Tuesday, September 8. |
| September 8 |
Social Studies:
Today we began to take notes on the chapter about Early Man. We took Cornell notes on page 9 of the textbook
Homework:
Study your notes for a quiz tomorrow.
Language Arts:
Today we continued our unit on courage as Mrs. Nicholas read us a book called The Story of Ruby Bridges. We began to summarize the book. Tomorrow we will finish the summary and begin our commentary.
We turned in our parent interview forms.
Homework: No homework tonight. |
| September 9 |
Social Studies:
Today we continued our notes on the Stone Age and early man.
Homework:
Review your notes.
Language Arts:
We completed the summary for The Story of Ruby Bridges. We took notes on prepositions in our folder.
Homework: Grammar 1.1. If you bring this work back completed tomorrow, you will have the opportunity to redo it for an improved grade. |
| September 10 |
Social Studies:
Today Mrs. Nicholas began the class by showing us a brief film clip of the cave paintings that a young girl named Maria found. Then she highlighted a couple books in her classroom that we might want to look at if we want to know more about the cave paintings or neolithic man. Then she coninued to model how to take notes from our texbook. There were lots of questions as we read, learned, and took notes. She told us about carbon dating. She told us to always question.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Today we corrected the grammar worksheet. Then we began to work on the commentary for the book about Ruby Bridges. The commentary will be due by Monday. Students will need to complete this outside of class.
Homework:
Complete the commentary for the book about Ruby Bridges. Redo the grammar worksheet for an improved grade.
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| September 11 |
Social Studies:
Today we finished our notes for pages 9-11 with a partner. Then Mrs. Nicholas showed us her notes so that we could compare and see how well we did with our own notes. We were to highlight what we had in common and add what we were missing.
Homework:
If you did not finish the notes in class, then check out the notes on the "documents" link of the website to make sure they are complete and accurate.
Language Arts:
Today we added a vocabulary component to the courage folder. In period six we started reflecting on quotes about courage. Then we did a prewrite. Mrs. Nicholas gave us three topics to write about for three minutes each. One topic was about a time that we encouraged someone else or someone encouraged us. The second topic was about a time when we went out of our way to help someone or someone went out or their way to help us. Finally we wrote about a time when we stood up for ourselves, an idea, or for someone else. We could also write about a time that someone stood up for us.
Homework:
Complete the commentary for the book about Ruby Bridges.
Grammar redo is due by Tuesday.
Parent interview is due on Monday.
|
| September 14 |
Social Studies:
Today we looked at the textbook and considered the various geographic features that impacted Paleolithic man. Then we began to formulate a paragraph in response to an essay response that Mrs. Nicholas posed for us.
We turned in our parent interview forms.
Homework:
You need to complete the paragraph that was begun in class. The paragraph should follow the graphic organizer that we completed in class. Be sure to end the paragraph with a concluding sentence that wraps up the paragraph.
Language Arts:
Today we checked one another's binders to make sure that they were in order. Several people have not been placing their old parent interview forms in the binder. Next we began to put the courage folders in order. These will be checked on Wednesday.
Homework:
Grammar redo is due by Tuesday.
For the courage folder:
Courage in the Fire: heading, title, two predictions, summary, commentary
Pink and Say: heading, title, two predictions, summary, commentary
Ruby Bridges: heading, title, two predictions, summary, commentary
Bell work
Prewriting (three, three minute writings on the following topics)
- a time when you encouraged someone or someone encouraged you
- a time when someone went out of their way to help you or you went
of your way to help someone else
- a time when you stood up for yourself, an idea, or someone else |
| September 15 |
Social Studies:
Today we read about Neolithic man. We took notes in our SBoL for pages 13-15. We turned in our paragraph about Paleolithic man.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:Today we viewed an excerpt from the movie about Ruby Bridges. Then we began a new book entitled Teammates. We made two predictions and then Mrs. Nicholas read the beginning of the book to us.
Homework:
Courage folder due tomorrow.
For the courage folder:
Courage in the Fire: heading, title, two predictions, summary, commentary
Pink and Say: heading, title, two predictions, summary, commentary
Ruby Bridges: heading, title, two predictions, summary, commentary
Bell work
Prewriting (three, three minute writings on the following topics)
- a time when you encouraged someone or someone encouraged you
- a time when someone went out of their way to help you or you went
of your way to help someone else
- a time when you stood up for yourself, an idea, or someone else
|
| September 16 |
Social Studies:
Today students finished their notes on Neolithic man. Anyone not finished with notes needs to finish them at home. Then we read simulations about Neolithic man.
Homework:
Finish notes for pages 13-15.
Language Arts:Today we finished Teammates. We also put a new resource on our Language Arts folder. Then we reviewed prepositional phrases. We started Grammar 1.2.
Homework:
Complete Grammar 1.2. |
| September 17 |
Social Studies:
Today students compared their notes with Mrs. Nicholas's notes for pages 13-15. They highlighted anything that they had in common and added anything they missed.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Today we recorded the quote "What is popular in not always right; what is right is not always popular." Then each student wrote two to three sentences explaining what they though it meant. Next we recorded two more words on the back of our courage folder.
apathy-a lack of interest, concern, or desire
intimidate-to make fearful by threats
Finally, we graded the grammar worksheet(1.2) and recorded the grade.
Homework:
No homework. |
| September 18 |
Social Studies:
Today we added the vocabulary word "revolution" to our SBoLs. Then Mrs. Nicholas introduced us to a new group procedure called Team Talk. This is a collaborative routine intended to promote group thinking on a text. A group of four students attempted to model the procedure for the rest of us. We will use this routine to review what we have learned about early man.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Today we were in the computer lab for the language usage portion of the MAP test.
Homework:
Parent interview. |
| September 21 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 21-Today we added our next vocabulary word to our SBoL. Then we discussed the words. Next we worked on Team Talk. Finally we watched a five minute video on Mesopotamia.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today we copied the quote "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." We discussed its meaning and added the vocabulary word "minority" to our courage folder. Then we completed the summary for Teammates. Next we started our commentary. Finally we began to watch a ten minute video about Jackie Robinson. We turned in our parent interview today. |
| September 22 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 22-Today we added our next vocabulary word to our SBoL. Then we discussed the words. Next we began to take Q-notes on Mesopotamia while Mrs. N. quizzed members of the Team Talk groups.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today we copied the quote "Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." We discussed its meaning and added the vocabulary word "pioneer" to our courage folder. We watched fifteen minutes of a video about Jackie Robinson's life. Next we listened to several people share their commentary. Finally we talked about how courage is not just something for big events like racial integration or saving lives in a fire, but it is for every day of our lives. We discussed how we need courage to tell the truth about ourselves or to speak up for someone being bullied, or speak up for our own beliefs. .
Homework:
Complete the commentary if not finished.
|
| September 23 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 23-Today we recorded our new vocabulary word in our SBoL and determined our next five words. Then we read a book about a student moving to a new school in a new country that didn't speak her language. We discussed the difficulties this creates. The reason for this conversation is that we have a new student on our team by the name of Ben. He comes from Korea
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today we copied the quote "Courage is not freedom from fear, it is being afraid and going on." We discussed its meaning and added the word "brave" to our folder. Then we completed a graphic organizer for the vocabulary word "brave." Finally we began to work on Grammar 1.3. Please use your folder to help you complete the worksheet.
Homework:
Grammar 1.3. |
| September 24 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 24-Today we recorded our new vocabulary word in our SBoL. We completed the notes for Mesopotamia and began to read simulations related to the Mesopotamia civilizations.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today we copied the quote "The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise." We discussed its meaning and added the word "risk" to our folder. Then we graded Grammar 1.3. Finally we completed two prewriting sessions about courage.
Homework:
Redo Grammar 1.3 if you need to. |
| September 25 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 25-Today we recorded our new vocabulary word in our SBoL. Students compared their Mesopotamian notes with Mrs. Nicholas's notes to see if they are similar. Then we read a play in the Mesopotamian simulation book.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today we copied the quote "If you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth." We discussed its meaning and added the word "adolescent" to our folder. Then we wrote a predition for a book entitled Thinking Big. Next we wrote a second prediction after seeing the book cover. Finally, Mrs. Nicholas began to read us the book about a young girl who is a dwarf.
Homework:
All students should complete a parent interview over the weekend. The parents interview is due on Monday.
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| September 28 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 28-Today we recorded our new vocabulary word in our SBoL. Students worked in Team Talk groups to guarantee comprehension of the Mesopotamia notes. Then we answered the questions with the class.
Homework:
No homework.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today we copied the quote "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." We discussed its meaning. Then we discussed the various characters in the books we have read.We identified the risks they were willing to take and tried to determine the reason they were willing to take these risks. Parent interviews were turned in today.
Homework:
Make sure your reading document is completed for R/S. |
| September 29 |
Social Studies:
Class Work for September 29-Today we recorded our new vocabulary word in our SBoL. Students worked in Team Talk groups to guarantee comprehension of the Mesopotamia notes. Then we finished answering the questions with the class. Finally, we took notes on pages 20 and 21 in the textbook.
Homework:
No homework.
Finish the notes for pages 20 and 21. These notes can be found on the link for September's work. Go to September 29.
Language Arts:
Class Work:For bellwork today all students recorded five questions that they have about courage. We finished reading "Thinking Big" and began writing the summary in class.
Homework:
Make sure your reading document is completed for R/S.
Textbook pages 20,21
A Skilled People
The Sumerians left a lasting mark on world history. Their ideas and inventions were copied and improved upon by other peoples. As a result, Mesopotamia has been called the "cradle of civilization."
Why Was Writing Important?
The people of Sumer created many things that still affect our lives today. Probably their greatest invention was writing. Writing is important because it helps people keep records and pass on their ideas to others.
People in Sumer developed wrting to keep track of business deals and other events. Their writing was called cuneiform. It consisted of hundreds of wedge-shaped marks cut into damp clay tablets with a sharp-ended reed. Archaeologists have found thousands of these cuneiform tablets, telling us much about Mesopotamian life.
Only a few people--mostly boys from wealthy families--learned how to write. After years of training, they became scribes, or record keepers. Scribes held honored positions in society, often going on to become judges and political leaders.
Sumerian Literature
The Sumerians also produced works of literature. The world's oldest known story comes from Sumer. It is called the Epic of Gilgamesh. An epic is a long poem that tells the story of a hero. The hero Gilgamesh is a king who travels around the world with a friend and performs great deeds. When his friend dies, Gilgamesh searches for a way to live forever. He learns that this is possible only for the gods.
Advances in Science and Math
The Mesopotamians' creativity extended to technology too. You read earlier about Sumerian irrigation systems. Sumerians also invented the wagon wheel to help carry people and goods from place to place. Another breakthrough was the plow, which made farming easier. Still another invention was the sailboat, which replaced muscle power and wind power.
Sumerians developed many mathematical ideas. They used geometry to measure fields and put up buildings. They also created a number system based on 60. We have them to thank for our 60-minute hour, 60-second minute, and 360-degree circle.
In addititon, Sumerian people watched the skies to learn the best times to plant crops and to hold religious festivals. They recorded the positions of the planets and stars and developed a 12-month calendar based on the cycles of the moon.
Linking Past & Present
Education
Then: In ancient Mesopotamia, only boys from wealthy and high-ranking families went to the edubba, which means "tablet house." At the edubba--the world's first school--boys studied reading, writing, and mathematics and trained to be scribes. For hours every day, they copied the signs of the cuneifrom script, trying to master hundreds of words and phrases.
Now: Today, both boys and girls go to school. They study reading, writing, and mathematics, but also many other subjects. As students advance in their education, they have a great number of career choices and are able to choose the career that fits their talents.
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