Camp Reflections

We did SO much while we were at Camp Warm Beach last week. Take some time to reflect upon what you did. Please describe at least three things that you learned while at camp. These can be things you learned during our classes, but they can also be things you learned during cabin time, meal time, or even free time. Please write an organized, detailed, complete paragraph for your response.

America by Ben, Abigail, & Mariana

America by Annie, Cameron, & Kaitlyn

America by Brandon, Jack, & Kunal

America by Noah, Nolan, & Cory

Camp is Coming!

5th grade camp at Warm Beach is about a week away. What are you looking forward to? What questions or concerns do you have? Please answer with thoughtful, complete sentences.

America by Matt, Lucas, & Max

America by Brooke, Lucy, & Noelle

America by Ashley, Ryan, & Annika

America by Bradley, Morgan, & Connor

America by Jill, Hannah, & Natalie

Loyalist or Patriot?

PLEASE WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO POST YOUR ANSWER TO THIS BLOG ASSIGNMENT.

We have been learning about the events that led up to the Revolutionary War. We have also looked at these events through the eyes of the Loyalists and the Patriots of the 13 colonies. Imagine that you were one of the first American colonists. Would you have been a Loyalist or a Patriot? Please explain your answer with detailed support and at least one complete paragraph.

#1 Moms

You know your mom is great...I know your mom is great...now explain to the rest of the class why your mom is great. Please respond with a thoughtful, detailed, complete paragraph. And make sure you share it with your mom!

Poetry Response #4

Now it is your turn to write a poem. You may choose any topic you like, and your poem can be rhyming or free verse. Your poem must be at least 6 lines long, and it must be titled.

Poetry Response #3

Read this week's poem carefully and answer the questions below. You will be graded on the completeness and thoughtfulness of your answers. The title of this poem will be revealed after the class has responded to it.

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;

close to the sun in lonely lands,

ringed with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

he watches from his mountain walls.

And like a thunderbolt he falls.

1. What/who is the poet describing (i.e. paraphrase the poem)?

2. Where do you think this poem takes place? How do you know?

3. What is your reaction when you read this poem - how does it make you feel?

Poetry Response #2

Read this week's poem carefully and answer the questions below. You will be graded on the completeness and thoughtfulness of your answers.

Words Like Freedom

By Langston Hughes

There are words like Freedom

sweet and wonderful to say.

On my heartstrings freedom sings

all day everyday.

There are words like Liberty

that almost make me cry.

If you had known what I know

you would know why.

1. What is the poet communicating in this poem (i.e. paraphrase the poem)?

2. How can words make people have joy or pain or sadness?

3. The poet tells his reaction to the words freedom and liberty. What is your reaction to those words?

4. Finally, tell another word (any word!) that you have a strong reaction to (positive OR negative) and explain why.

Poetry Response #1

April is "National Poetry Month." In honor of that, the next three blog assignments will be responses to poetry. Read this week's poem, then answer the questions below. You will be graded on how thoughtfully and completely you answer the questions.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

- William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

that floats on high o'er vales and hills,

when all at once I saw a crowd,

a host, of golden daffodils;

beside the lake, beneath the trees,

fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

and twinkle on the milky way,

they stretched in never-ending line

along the margin of a bay:

ten thousand saw I at a glance,

tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

1. Tell me what you think the poet is talking about (i.e. paraphrase the poem).

2. What season is the poet describing? How do you know?

3. How does this poem make you feel? Why?

Quote of the Week #7

We have begun learning about how the American colonists were able to make new homes in a new land. Consider the following quote:

"Home is not where you live, but where they understand you."

-Christian Morgenstern

Expectations: After you have read the above quote carefully and thoughtfully, respond to it using the following prompts. In an organized paragraph, answer these questions:

1. What do you think the quote means? Use your own words to paraphrase it.
2. Do you agree with the quote? Please explain why or why not.
3. Make a connection between the quote and real life.
- If you agree with the quote, give an example of when you have seen it to be true in your life, another's person's life, or for a character in a book.
- If you disagree with the quote, give an example of when you have seen it to be disproved in your life, another's person's life, or for a character in a book.

Remember that your paragraph needs to include an introduction sentence and a conclusion sentence.

Pulmonologists

Orthopedic Surgeons

Neurologists

Infectious Disease Specialists

Gastroenterologists

Cardiologists

Who's to Blame?

At the end of The Double Life of Pocahontas, the author tells us that the Native Americans never really had a chance of saving their land and keeping peace with the Jamestown settlers.

"In the long run, the Indians didn't stand a chance. They were pushed back and pushed back until no room was left for them."

-Jean Fritz, The Double Life of Pocahontas

The Jamestown settlers were not the only people to have conflict with Native American tribes in North America. Thinking about what we've learned in social studies and the books we've read together, answer the following questions:

1. Why was there so much conflict between Native Americans and Europeans?
2. Who is most to blame for the conflict that occurred? Why? Be specific!
3. What could the Native Americans or Europeans done differently so that conflict didn't happen?

Remember that your paragraph needs to include an introduction sentence and a conclusion sentence.

Simple Machines Movie by Jill, Kaitlyn, Lucy

Simple Machines Movie by Annie, Brooke, Natalie

Simple Machines Movie by Kunal, Lucas, Ryan

Simple Machines Movie by Annika, Mariana, Morgan

Simple Machines Movie by Connor, Max, Noah

Simple Machines Movie by Bradley, Cameron, Hannah

Simple Machines Movie by Ben, Brandon, Nolan

Simple Machines Movie by Abigail, Ashley, Noelle

Simple Machines Movie by Cory, Jack, Matt

Movie Maker

You've recently learned how to use Windows Movie Maker for your simple machines video essay. Please answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Name at least one thing you liked about learning the Movie Maker program and/or working on your simple machines video essay.

2. How might you use Movie Maker in your real life?

Olympic Aspirations

In the spirit of the Olympic Games...please create your own Olympic athletic event at which you would win the gold medal. Give your event a name, describe it, and explain why you would be its gold medal winner. Read Mrs. Page's example below (notice that your event does NOT have to be related to the real Olympics at all):

Example: If I could create an Olympic event, it would be Diet Coke Guzzling. Competitors would be timed for ten minutes and asked to drink as much Diet Coke as they can. Diet Coke athletes would judged on the following: number of cans finished, politeness of execution (spilling or burping will be points deductions), and a post-event gut check (deductions for stomach aches or heartburn). These three components would be added together for an overall score. I would definitely be a gold medal winner at this event because of my many years of Diet Coke drinking experience.

To Explore or Not to Explore

As you have been researching an explorer for your explorer report, you have learned about what an explorer's life was like hundreds of years ago. Knowing what you know, if you had lived in 16th century Europe, would you have volunteered for a New World exploration voyage?



Please clearly state your answer, along with at least three reasons to explain your answer. Be specific with information you have learned about New World exploration. Remember to include an introduction sentence AND a conclusion sentence.

Middle School

On Friday and Monday you learned about things that happen at Beaver Lake Middle School.

Please answer these three questions in complete sentences. Please number your answers.

1. What are you most excited about middle school?
2. What are you most nervous about middle school?
3. What is at least one question you have about middle school? (You can ask more than one question if you have them.)

Quote of the Week #6

The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Expectations: After you have read the above quote carefully and thoughtfully, respond to it using the following prompts. In an organized paragraph, answer these questions:



1. What do you think the quote means? Use your own words to paraphrase it.
2. Do you agree with the quote? Please explain why or why not.
3. Make a connection between the quote and real life.
- If you agree with the quote, give an example of when you have seen it to be true in your life, another's person's life, or for a character in a book.
- If you disagree with the quote, give an example of when you have seen it to be disproved in your life, another's person's life, or for a character in a book.


Remember that your paragraph needs to include an introduction sentence and a conclusion sentence.

New Year's Resolutions/Goals

For many people, the start of a new year is a time when they make resolutions or goals about what they will do during that year. Take some time this week to think about what you would like to accomplish in 2010. This can be as simple as, "Do a better job filling out my Reading Log," or something more complicated like, "Become a better basketball player for my team." You can choose something related to school or your life outside of school.

For your response, please:
- Clearly state your resolution or goal.
- Explain WHY you decided on this resolution or goal.
- Explain HOW you are going to accomplish your resolution/meet your goal.
Remember to write a complete paragraph with an introduction sentence AND a conclusion sentence.