Assignments for Week of September 26-30

Monday
In class today we took our first Wordly Wise Test and learned fire evacuation procedures. We then discussed the literary element of setting and discussed the importance of setting in "Pool in the Desert." Finally we completed the Water Resources Puzzle using the Texas Almanac.

Tuesday

• Under line the simple subject of each sentence in today's copywork once and the simple predicate twice. Unless you are absolutely certain you know what simple subjects and simple predicates are view the presentation available online at http://208.183.128.8/la/activities/pptresources.html. Click on "Subjects and Predicates." Be sure to read the instructions for viewing the presentation on the main page.
• Read "Exploring Setting" handout and answer the questions at the bottom in your journal.
• Write one paragraph establishing the setting for a short story. Choose either the area around the Canadian River or the Red River as you location. Choose any time you want. Use the techniques described in "Exploring Setting."
• Read "Learn About Texas: Texas Panhandle" at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/about_texas/index.phtml. Click on Panhandle. Then answer the following questions in complete sentences, on a looseleaf piece of paper with a proper heading.

1. What is a mesa?
2. What is a playa?
3. How is the eastern part of the Panhandle different from the Western part?
4. Describe in one to two sentences two of the animals that live in the Panhandle.
5. Who was Cynthia Ann Parker?

Wednesday

In class today we discussed point of view in literature, reviewed nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, and we worked together on the River Worsheet: Sabine.

Thursday

• Read "Exploring Theme" & answer the questions in your journal (Note to Parents: This is a difficult concept. We will discuss it in class, but please take the time to discuss it with your child at home as well.)
• Using the picture you chose in class write 5 nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs suggested by the picture. Use these to make 5 sentences. Diagram the sentences. Do all of this on a scrapbook page.
• Finish River Worksheet: Sabine
• Read "Learn About Texas: Pineywoods" at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/about_texas/index.phtml. Click on Pineywoods. Then answer the following questions in complete sentences, on a looseleaf piece of paper with a proper heading.

1. How is the Big Thicket different from the Piney Woods?
2. List five animals common to the Piney Woods.
3. What is the most widespread type of pine tree in the Piney Woods?
4. The first newspaper in Texas was published in what city?
5. Describe the kind of house that the Caddoan people lived in.

• Journals will be collected and graded on Monday.
• Late assignments must be turned in by Monday to receive credit.

Friday
Fab Friday -- See newsletter for details. Remember that you are required to complete 50 hours of community service during the school year. You may complete this on your own or as a part of the Fab Friday activities. In either case you will need to complete a Service Learning Report that will be included in your Portfolio for ILT. You can print out the report at http://www.lewishall.org/slr.pdf. There is also a MS Word version that you can complete on your computer at http://www.lewishall.org/slr.doc.

Assignments for Week of September 19-23

Monday
In class today we introduced the rivers of Texas by finding streets on an Austin map that are named after rivers. We learned that downtown north-south streets are named for Texas rivers in the order that they empty into the Gulf. We also began working on our river questionnaire for the Canadian River.

Tuesday

• Read Writers Inc., p. 518-519 (yellow section, "Using the Language," the section about subjects and predicates). Underline the subject of each sentence of your copywork work once and the predicate twice.
• Wordly Wise 1 E; study for test.
• Finish River Questionnaire: Canadian River.

Wednesday
In class students will take Wordly Wise Test 1, discuss "The Sea King's Son" and begin diagramming sentences. We will also work together to complete Water Resources Magic Puzzle worksheet.

Thursday

• Wordly Wise 2A and 2B
• Take CNN quiz online at http://school.discovery.com/quizzes8/jkh5804/student_news1.html PRINT THE PAGE THAT COMES UP WHEN YOU CLICK SUBMIT AND BRING IT TO CLASS!!!
• River Questionnaire: Red River. Before working on your scrapbook page, click the link to the left labeled "Geography Syllabus." It contains instructions and examples of scrapbook pages.
• Read Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits, "A Pool in the Desert," pp. 208-266

Friday

Fab Friday -- Pioneer Farms, 9AM

Assignments for Week of September 12-15

Monday --
After our opening routine activities, students research the four regions of Texas and worked in groups to prepare a collage of each of the region, which they then presented to class. We also reviewed key word outlining.

Tuesday --

• Read Writer Inc., pg. 502,, #502.1 & 502.2. Label each of the nouns in today’s copywork as singular or plural. What is the gender of each noun? If there are any genders that aren’t represented, what are they? Give an example of each.
  5th and 6th graders and new students – Finish keyword outline (due 9/14)
• 7th & 8th graders – Read Writers Inc., pp. 202-204. Write a five-paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the region you live in with another region of Texas. (due 9/19)
• Read the handout “Exploring Character & Characterization.” Reread “Water Horse,” underlining in the book examples of characterization & labeling in the margins “direct” or “indirect.”
• Wordly Wise 1C

Wednesday --

Will be posted after the fact.

Thursday --

Assignments

• Read Writer Inc., pg. 503, #503.1 & 503.2. Circle the pronouns in red and draw an arrow from each pronoun to its antecedent.
• 5th -6th & new students: Finish summarizing the article given in class.
  7th – 8th: Finish 5 paragraph essay.
• Read “The Sea King’s Son,” which is found on pp. 30-77 of Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits. Read the handout “Exploring Conflict and Story Structure.” In your notebook answer the questions at the bottom about “The Sea King’s Son”
• Wordly Wise 1D; study for test.

Friday --

Community Service at Pioneer Farms

Assignments for September 5-9

Monday, September 5
No assignments

Tuesday, September 6
No assignments

Wednesday, September 7
In class today we introduced our opening classroom routine, which is:
1. Write asssignments in Agenda
2. Copywork (copying passage from the current reader, which will be used for grammar instruction)
3. Essential 55
4. CNN Student News

Then we introduced the water theme with a discussion of the properties of water as well as its impact on life. We also talked about water as a symbol in literature and religion. Afterwards we introduced/review keyword outlining by outlining together in class a passage from the Encarta Encyclopedia about water. Finally, we discussed the uses of Almanacs and began using our Texas Almanacs to answer some introductory questions about Texas.

Thursday, September 8
1. Read Writers Inc., pg. 501 (If you have an older edition, this will be in the yellow pages and talks about the types of nouns.) Label each of the nouns in today's copywork as "proper or common" and "concrete or abstract." Use the following website to list 10 collective nouns on the page below your copywork. (http://rinkworks.com/words/collective.shtml) Now, look at your copywork. Are any of the nouns collective?
2. Use the Texas Almanac, pp. 12-14 & 509 to complete the State Symbols Worksheet. (Available here.)
3. Choose one of the following activities to complete, using the Texas Almanac. No matter which activity you choose it should be on 8 1/2" x 11" sized paper. It should be neat and show attention to detail. This will be included in your portfolio.

• Using page 509, create an illustrated calendar of holidays, anniversaries, and festivals in Texas.
• Construct a scrapbook page that includes state symbols and/or holidays.
• Create a colorful billboard to welcome visitors to Texas as they cross the state line, using the state flag and symbols on pages 12-14

4. Read "Water Horse," which is found on pp. 119-169 of Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits. Think about: If you were an evacuee of Hurrican Katrina, how would you react to this story?

5. Wordly Wise 1A & 1B

Friday, September 9
No assignments -- Attend Fabulous Friday!