Monday, April 27, 2009

Math Fractions links

BLUE GROUP - Adding Fractions

www.brainpop.com
http://nlvm.usu.edu/EN/NAV/frames_asid_106_g_2_t_1.html

ORANGE GROUP - Ordering Fractions

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/fractions.swf
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/fracorder.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/fractiondecimalpercentage/fractions/comparingfractions/game.shtml

GREEN GROUP - Adding Mixed Numbers and Improper FRactions

www.brainpop.com

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Language Arts final Bone project

April 21, 2009 - Bone response projects

You are to choose one of these projects. Your final project will be presented on May 21-22. These are not group projects. You will be given some SSR for reading the books, but the projects are to be completed at home.

On April 27, I will collect a one-paragraph description of the project you have chosen. This paragraph needs to indicate what materials you will use, what scene is included, and any other ideas you have about the project. It MUST be more than “I’m doing a sculpture”, for example. You must include details that indicate that you have thought this project out.

These are possible projects:

Project 1: Sculpture
Create a sculpture of a character in the story. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object you chose. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture.
This project will be graded as follows:
50pts- Sculpture of one of the characters in the story.
25pts- Explanation of how this character fits into the story in correct paragraph form.
25pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and explanation of sculpture.

Project 2: Character Description
Write a description of three of the characters in the book. Each description should be three paragraphs long and contain information on both the physical appearances of the character and an emotional description. Draw a colored portrait of each character to accompany each description.
This project will be graded as follows:
50pts- Description of characters in three complete paragraphs each.
25pts- Colored portraits drew of each of the characters.
25pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, the setting, and description of the three characters.

Project 3: Newspaper
Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover the weather in another, do a featured story on one of the more important characters in another. Include an editorial, at least four ads that would be pertinent to the story, and one picture about the story.
This project will be graded as follows:
15pts- Write an article summarizing the plot of the story using correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write an article covering what the weather is like in the setting of the story using correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write a featured story on one of the important characters in correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write an editorial giving your opinion of the story in correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write 4 ads which would be pertinent to the story.
5pts- Drawing of one picture about the story.
20pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and explanation of newspaper.

Project 4: Mobile
Create a mobile about the story. The mobile must include the title of the story, the name of the author, setting, and characters of the story. The mobile must have at least 5 moving parts and each part must have a paragraph explanation of each part in correct form.
This project will be graded as follows:
25pts- Mobile with at least 5 moving part.
25pts- Must include the author, title, setting, and characters of the story.
25pts- Explanation of each part in complete paragraph form.
25pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and explanation of mobile.

Project 5: Song or Poem
Write and perform an original song that tells the story of this book. The song must include the title of the story, the name of the author, setting, and characters of the story.
This project will be graded as follows:
50pts- Writing of the song/poem must include the title of the story, the author, the setting, and characters.
50pts- Performance of the song/poem

As well, we will have a literature circle to discuss the story. All students are expected to participate in the discussion. I will ask questions based on the big ideas of the story. This discussion will be held May 20 during class time. Be prepared!

Finally, prepare 1 question that you would like to have us ask Jeff Smith in an e-mail. This is due April 30.

TIMELINE:
April 27 – summary paragraph
April 30 – question for Jeff Smith
May 20 – literature circle discussion
May 21-22 – class presentations of projects

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Cell Phone reminder

Just throwing this out there...

Middle school students are not to have cell phones, Ipods, MP3 players, etc. at school. They can bring them, but once they arrive, they are to go into lockers.

If a teacher sees one of these devices, he or she can confiscate it.

Monday, March 23, 2009

March 23

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling words, derived from our new unit in Science...
hypothesis, variable, amoeba, microscope, organism, characteristic, biologist, magnifying, tweezers, scissors

AS WELL...

Several students do not have calculators. Could you please confirm that your child has one? I have bought several, but they are not enough for the demand in the class.

On March 31, Theatre New Brunswick will be here. Grade 7 will atttend at 1PM. The cost is $2. Thank you for your cooperation.

We are working on making movies in Art class. Each group needs a box. Please confirm that your child's group has one.

Thank you for your support. This year has been a real learning curve for me, and I appreciate the occasional note of affirmation I receive. I am considering an end-of-year trip, so if you have any ideas, send them along... patrick.cook@nbed.nb.ca .

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Week of March 16

SCIENCE
Working periscope due Wednesday
Test on Thursday - students can use the test preview given and completed Tuesday afternoon

MATH
Fractions to percent worksheet - the previous word problems worksheet is on hold for now as I back up and re-teach certain components. These questions are more in line with where the students are.

ART
The students are making movies with claymation. Each group needs a box for a background for Thursday.

Several students need calculators. Please make sure that your child has one. Please understand that even if they began the year with a calculator, that doesn't mean they still have it.