Saturday, May 23, 2009
Book Reports
The final day to turn in a book report will be Thursday. Students have had two weeks to complete their reading and get started on their projects. This is a gentle reminder to get 'er done.
6th Grade Graduation
6th Grade Graduation will be held on Wednesday, May 27th, at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium. Come join us to celebrate all our their hard work!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Book Reports
In reading students have a selected a book that is new to them. They are reading this during school rather than meeting as reading book clubs. When students have completed their books, they are to choose an idea from the list to complete at home. Their project will need to be brought to school so they can share it with the rest of the class. There are lots of choices and I look forward to some creative, interesting projects.
1. Create a life-sized poster of two of your favorite characters and dress them as they are dressed in the book. Crouch down behind your character and describe yourself as the character. Tell what your role is in the book and how you relate to the other character you have made.
2. Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture.
3. Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thought and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you.
4. Write a diary that one of the story's main characters might have kept before, during, or after hte book's events. Remember that the character's thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary.
5. Dramatize a scene from the book. Write a script and have several rehearsals before presenting it to the class.
6. Prepare an oral report of 5 minutes. Give a brief summary of hte plot and describe the personality of one of the main characters. Be prepared for questions from the class.
7. Give a sales talk, pretending the students in the class are clerks in a bookstore and you want them to buy this book.
8. Build a miniature stage setting of a scene in the book. Include a written explanation of the scene.
9. Make several sketches of some of the scenes in the book. Put them on a poster and label them.
10. Construct puppets and present a show of one or more interesting parts of the book.
11. Dress as one of the main characters and act out a characterization.
12. Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and hte actors to play the various roles. YOU MAY ONLY USE BOOKS WHICH HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN MADE INTO MOVIES.
13. Write a book review as it would be done for a newspaper. (Be sure to read a few before writing your own.)
14. Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and animals) of one of the main events of hte book. Include a written description of the scene.
15. Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story of the book as it might be found on the front page of a newspaper in the town where the story takes place.
16. Write a letter (10-sentence minimum) to the main character of your book asking questions, protesting a situation, and/or making a complaint and/or suggestion. This must be done in the correct letter format.
17. Read the same book as one of your friends. The two of you make a video or do a live performance of MASTERPIECE BOOK REVIEW, a program which reviews books and interviews authors. (You can even have audience participation!)
18. If the story of your book takes place in another country, prepare a travel brochure using pictures you have found or drawn.
19. After reading a book of history or historical fiction, make an illustrated timeline showing events of the story and draw a map showing the location(s) where the story takes place.
20. Create a mini-comic book relating a chapter of the book.
21. Make three posters about the book using two or more of the following media: paint, crayons, chalk, paper, ink, real materials.
22. Write and perform an original song that tells the story of the book.
23. Be a TV or radio reporter and give a report of a scene from the book as if it is happening "live."
24. Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover weather in aonther, do a feature story on one of the more interesting characters in another. Include an editorial and a collection of ads that would be peritnent to the story.
25. Do a collage/poster showing pictures or 3-D items that related to the book, and then write a sentence or two beside each one to show its significance.
26. Construct a treasure box for your story. Use a shoe box and fill it with items that are important to your story. Include a written explanation of your items and why they are important.
27. Write about what you learned from the story.
28. Write a different ending for your story.
29. Write a different beginning for your story.
30. Write a letter to the author of the book. (Remember to use correct letter format.)
1. Create a life-sized poster of two of your favorite characters and dress them as they are dressed in the book. Crouch down behind your character and describe yourself as the character. Tell what your role is in the book and how you relate to the other character you have made.
2. Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture.
3. Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thought and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you.
4. Write a diary that one of the story's main characters might have kept before, during, or after hte book's events. Remember that the character's thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary.
5. Dramatize a scene from the book. Write a script and have several rehearsals before presenting it to the class.
6. Prepare an oral report of 5 minutes. Give a brief summary of hte plot and describe the personality of one of the main characters. Be prepared for questions from the class.
7. Give a sales talk, pretending the students in the class are clerks in a bookstore and you want them to buy this book.
8. Build a miniature stage setting of a scene in the book. Include a written explanation of the scene.
9. Make several sketches of some of the scenes in the book. Put them on a poster and label them.
10. Construct puppets and present a show of one or more interesting parts of the book.
11. Dress as one of the main characters and act out a characterization.
12. Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and hte actors to play the various roles. YOU MAY ONLY USE BOOKS WHICH HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN MADE INTO MOVIES.
13. Write a book review as it would be done for a newspaper. (Be sure to read a few before writing your own.)
14. Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and animals) of one of the main events of hte book. Include a written description of the scene.
15. Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story of the book as it might be found on the front page of a newspaper in the town where the story takes place.
16. Write a letter (10-sentence minimum) to the main character of your book asking questions, protesting a situation, and/or making a complaint and/or suggestion. This must be done in the correct letter format.
17. Read the same book as one of your friends. The two of you make a video or do a live performance of MASTERPIECE BOOK REVIEW, a program which reviews books and interviews authors. (You can even have audience participation!)
18. If the story of your book takes place in another country, prepare a travel brochure using pictures you have found or drawn.
19. After reading a book of history or historical fiction, make an illustrated timeline showing events of the story and draw a map showing the location(s) where the story takes place.
20. Create a mini-comic book relating a chapter of the book.
21. Make three posters about the book using two or more of the following media: paint, crayons, chalk, paper, ink, real materials.
22. Write and perform an original song that tells the story of the book.
23. Be a TV or radio reporter and give a report of a scene from the book as if it is happening "live."
24. Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover weather in aonther, do a feature story on one of the more interesting characters in another. Include an editorial and a collection of ads that would be peritnent to the story.
25. Do a collage/poster showing pictures or 3-D items that related to the book, and then write a sentence or two beside each one to show its significance.
26. Construct a treasure box for your story. Use a shoe box and fill it with items that are important to your story. Include a written explanation of your items and why they are important.
27. Write about what you learned from the story.
28. Write a different ending for your story.
29. Write a different beginning for your story.
30. Write a letter to the author of the book. (Remember to use correct letter format.)
Monday, April 6, 2009
We Have a New Student!
A big welcome to our new student Sophia! We hope she enjoys the rest of the year with our fun and crazy bunch.
Testing Dates
We have our dates for end of year testing. It is very important that students be in school on these days. Please make necessary arrangements so that your child is not absent. Thanks!
Science:
April 24th & 27th
Language Arts:
May 1st, 4th, 5th
Math:
April 30th, 13th, 14th
Science:
April 24th & 27th
Language Arts:
May 1st, 4th, 5th
Math:
April 30th, 13th, 14th
Friday, April 3, 2009
Social Studies
The middle ages have begun! (again) We learned about the feudal system, which is not the easiest way to live. We looked at so many fun websites-these can be accessed through my UEN page. We are really looking forward to learning about castles and the Crusades!
Science
I am really glad that the microorganisms unit is over. Our class had fun looking at mold and germs, but the classroom was starting to smell.
Students have been learning about heat. They can tell you all about insulators, conductors, and convection.
Science tests are coming up soon, so we will start reviewing after this week.
Students have been learning about heat. They can tell you all about insulators, conductors, and convection.
Science tests are coming up soon, so we will start reviewing after this week.
Literacy
We started Book Clubs again. We are working on synthesizing non-fiction and fiction texts. Students are working on a project where they are reading a non-fiction and fiction book about the same topic. We are learning so much and having great discussions about our schema and connections. Keep it up kids!
In writing we are working on organization. We created secret shortcuts and are working with a partner to write a story. We can't wait to share our creative ideas (and trust me, some of them are more than a little creative).
We are plugging along in spelling. I am impressed with how familiar students are becoming with our vocabulary words. We sound so smart!
In writing we are working on organization. We created secret shortcuts and are working with a partner to write a story. We can't wait to share our creative ideas (and trust me, some of them are more than a little creative).
We are plugging along in spelling. I am impressed with how familiar students are becoming with our vocabulary words. We sound so smart!
Math
Math is a whirlwind right now as we hurry to finish before testing. Last week we learned about customary and metric measurement. This week we will explore the relationships found in circles. We have such bright mathematicians in our class and I really enjoy listening to their thinking and reasoning!
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