Looking back & looking forward

Janus is the Roman God of doorways and gates.  He is often depicted in statues with a double face that looks in both directions.  The month of January takes his name because it is  a time of new beginnings.  This is the time of year when many people think about what they have done well and what they would like to change.  So, what about you?  What have you done well this year, and what would you like to improve in 2010?

Who would you take to the South Pole?

On December 14, 1911, the South Pole was discovered.  If you were able to travel to the South Pole, who would you want to take along with you and why?  You can choose from anyone – someone you know, someone famous, someone alive, someone who is no longer living, anyone.

Think creatively! Invent something new.

Eli Whitney was born December 8, 1765.  He invented a cotton gin that automatically separated cottonseed from the cotton fiber.  His invention had a tremendous impact on cotton production in the South, and cotton became a profitable crop for farmers.  Almost everything we use had to be invented by someone.  Think of and write about something you could invent that would be helpful or entertaining.  Learn more about the cotton gin, history, and science at this link:www.historyforkids.org

Beware of the joker! He has two teasers to tickle your brain.

1.  Paul wants to go home but can't, because the man in the mask is waiting for him.  What's happening?

2.  Paul's mom has four children.  She named the first one Monday, the second one Tuesday, and the third one Wednesday.  What did she name her fourth child?

C is for Cookie. That's good enough for me!

Hey boys and girls!

Friday, December 5, is National Cookie Day, and I want to know what is your favorite cookie and why.  Is it chocolaty? Does it have nuts in it?  Is it the kind that your grandma makes on special occasions?  Please share.    Who knows?  Maybe, I'll bring in some cookies if there are good comments.  Happy blogging!

Have you seen any good movies lately?

The holiday season is a time when lots of new movies come to the theaters.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday, did you watch any movies?  Share some of your thoughts about the movies you've seen recently.  Be sure to include important details like the title, what the story was about, who the actors were, and why you liked (or disliked) the movie. 

This is a picture of a cornucopia---a horn of plenty.  This symbol  is associated with Thanksgiving, but originated in Greek Mythology, and we'll talk about that after the break.  We all have plenty to be thankful for.  I am thankful for the love of my family and friends, my good health, and also for having the opportunity to work with so many wonderful students!  Take some time to think about what you are thankful for.  Make a list.  You might be surprised to see how rich you really are! 

Do you have triskaidekaphobia?

Hello Everyone!
It's Friday the 13th, and, for some people, this means bad luck. Mathematicians say there is no logical explanation for this fear of the number 13. Some experts say to think good thoughts, have a good attitude, and chances are that you will have a good day.
So what do you think? Is triskaidekaphobia a reasonable fear? Please explain your thoughts on this topic and add any personal experiences you may have had with the number 13.

How about a little brain massage?

Try to solve these short riddles. Go ahead! Give your brain a little massage.

What are the answers to these riddles?

1.You can't keep this until you have given it.  

2.You answer me, although I never ask you questions. What am I?

3.What grows when it eats, but dies when it drinks? 

4.What goes up and down without moving?
5.Your mother’s brother’s only brother-in-law is asleep on your couch. Who is asleep on your couch?

Now, before you search the internet for the answers and cheat your brain from getting the massage it so desperately needs, give yourself a chance to figure these out!




 

"Freedom isn't Free" Why is freedom worth fighting for?

November 9, 2009 was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.  We learned about the sacrifices and the risks some Germans took to attain freedom.
The USA is a nation of immigrants. Most of us are here because our ancestors came to this country seeking a better life. 
What if you couldn't: speak, read, write, practice spiritual beliefs, associate with certain people, the way that you wanted to?  (I'm not talking about parents/teachers helping you to do the right thing.)  I'm talking about the government taking away these rights.
Think about the video "Escape from Berlin" or click on the link to watch it again.  What would you do to fight for freedom?     "Escape to Berlin"

Discovery Education: English & Language Arts Homework Help

Discovery Education: English & Language Arts Homework Help

Hello Everyone!  This is a great link for practicing grammar and writing skills.  Check out a few videos and let us know which ones were helpful.  

Assignment for November 5, 2009

http://www.biography.com  Click on the link to the left.  It will take you to biography.com.  Check out the site and read a few biographies.  Write a paragraph about a person who you find really interesting.  Who is the person?  What does she/he do for a living?  When and where was she/he born?  Is she/he married? Does she/he have children?  What are his/her achievements?  Answer these questions and add some more information.  For example, why do you think this person is interesting?  The more information you provide, the better your paragraph will be.

Blog Prompt for Thursday, November 5, 2009

Graffiti is a controversial.  (If you don't know what controversial means, look it up in a dictionary, please.)  Some people believe that murals such as the one to the left is art, and others believe it is defacement.  Defacement is when you destroy property that doesn't belong to you.  But, what if someone wanted their walls spray-painted and hired a graffiti artist to do it, would that be art?  Is graffiti ever art?  If you think it is, explain why and when graffiti is art.  If you think no, do you think graffiti is always defacement?  Please explain your thoughts as clearly as possible.

Yummy rice dishes...

Jambalaya (picture on left) is a typical rice dish native to South Louisiana.  It is made with onions, peppers, tomatoes, rice, and either meat and/or seafood.  Many cultures have a dish like Jambalaya. For example, the Spaniards make Paella which is very similar.  What about your culture?  Does your country have a rice dish that combines a mixture of simple vegetables and maybe meat, chicken, pork, or seafood?  If yes, please share.  Tell us some of the ingredients and if there are special occasions when it is made.  Jambalaya is a word of the day.  So make sure you read the definition and copy it into your notebooks.  Happy blogging!

Fun Fact Monster Activity!!!

http://www.factmonster.com/analogies  Click on the link to the left.

What did they do? Another tickler for your brain...

Two friends were driving on the highway when they got a flat tire. First they took off the hubcap. Then they unscrewed the four lug nuts — the screws that hold the tire in place. They put the inverted hubcap down on the road and carefully placed the lug nuts inside the hubcap. Then they removed the flat.As they were in the process of putting on the spare tire, another car came along, hitting the hubcap and scattering the four lug nuts where they could not be found. The driver of the other car felt sorry, so he stopped to help. The two friends followed his advice, and in a little while they were back on the road again. What did the man tell them?

What's your Halloween I.Q.? Take this quiz & find out!

http://holidays.quiz.kaboose.com/74-what-s-your-halloween-i-q

A brainteaser

Twenty people attend a party.  There's a basket filled with twenty apples by the door. When the party is over, as each person leaves, he/she takes an apple from the basket.  Each person takes one, but one apple is left in the basket.  How can that be?

Prompt for Monday, October 26, 2009

Hi Everyone!  I know you are so bored at home today, so here is a prompt to make you think:  If you could have any superpower what would it be?  What would you do with your amazing powers?  Also, can anyone identify the "people" in the picture?  What powers do they possess?  

What is this video about?

Click here to view the introduction to the Dark Marker

Hi students! Watch this video segment.  Make a prediction about what will happen next.  Stay tuned!

Prompt for October 21, 2009

Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and way.  Along came a spider, who sat down beside her and scared Little Miss Muffet away.  Think of a time when you were scared.  What happened?  Where did it happen?  Who was involved?

Students in periods 2 & 6 follow the directions below.

On Wednesday, October 21st my students in the 2/6 period classes will use the link comets & asteroids to complete a graphic organizer. I will give you the graphic organizer in class. You can also check out information on kidsastronomy.com (see link under "Fun Stuff") for more information on comets & asteroids.

Click on the link to the left to complete the graphic organizer. After you click on the link, click on the teacher pdf to view the information you will need.

Brain Booster - Use Your Noggin to figure out this Puzzler

Once a boy was walking down the road, and came to a place where the road divided in two, each separate road forking off in a different direction.
A girl was standing at the fork in the road. The boy knew that one road led to Lieville, a town where everyone always lied, and the other led to Trueville, a town where everyone always told the truth. He also knew that the girl came from one of those towns, but he didn't know which one.
Can you think of a question the boy could ask the girl to find out the way to Trueville?

Optical Illusion--Look at the picture below. What do you see?

 

Today is National Grouch Day

A grouch is someone who complains a lot or is  irritable most of the time.  If someone around you is being a grouch, what are some ways you can cheer him or her up and help them be in a better mood? 

Knowledge is Power! How strong is YOUR brain?

Our words of the day so far this week are: linger (verb) coward (noun)  acrimony (noun) plus Tuesday's word of the day (wod).  Go ahead and flex your brain!  Don't be a coward!  You can do it!  Don't linger too long or else you will lose your courage.  Be sweet and be smart!  (It feels so much better than acrimony!)  Write some of your own sentences using your new words. 

Attention all ESL 8th graders!

 LEAP tutoring is now available after school.  We can only have 6 students at a time, so if you are interested in doing your best on the LEAP, start preparing now.  (You don't want to spend your summer in school, do you?) See Ms Ines for more details.

Be the first to correctly solve the problem below and win a prize!

The Master's family has a problem, and you need to help them figure it out!  Read the situation below.  The first student to figure it out correctly, gets a prize! Moving Day The Masters family is moving to a new house. They have a dog, a cat, and a pet mouse, but the animals don't get along in the car, so they can take only one at a time.Then there are other problems. They can't leave the dog alone with the cat, because the dog chases the cat if no one is watching. And they can't leave the cat and the mouse together, because...well, you know what would happen if they did. How can the Masters family get all three of their pets to their new house?

Prompt for Friday, October 9, 2009

If you could create a new US holiday that celebrates a person or event, what person or event would you celebrate?  Include at least 3 reasons why your new holiday should be celebrated in the United States.

If you could only take 3 people with you on a trip around the world, who would you take and why? 

Blog Prompt for October 6, 2009 - Write about the weather.

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Or if you can you get to the end of a rainbow?  Go to weatherwizkids.com and find out more about the weather.  Share what you learn on the blog. www.weatherwizkids.com/ 

Writing Prompt for October 1, 2009

Make believe you have wings.  Where would you go in your life?

Prompt for September 28, 2009

Today is Love Your Neighbor Day. Make a list of everything you can do to be a good neighbor for those who live around you.

What do you like to do?

www.bls.gov/k12/

Hey Kids! Check out this website to discover careers you might be interested in!  

Leave a comment letting us know what interests you. 

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

Click here to watch video
After watching the video, please leave a comment.  Remember to use standard English.

Quote of the Day

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."              

                                           Henry Ford

What do you think Henry Ford meant when he made this comment?

Howstuffworks

Hello everyone!  This is a really interesting link that will bring you to a menu where you can browse different subjects such as:  animals, adventures, science, food, health, geography, and more.  Check it out and let me know what you think.
Ms Lyons


Howstuffworks "Video Channel"

Shared via AddThis

TeacherTube Videos - Obama's Message

TeacherTube Videos - Obama's Message

Shared via AddThis

Emmanuel's Gift

In the documentary film, Emmanuel's Gift, Emmanuel went to Accra, the capital of Ghana, to make money for his family. He could have made $10 a day begging.  Instead he chose to make $2 shining shoes.  Why do you think he decided to shine shoes instead of begging?  Do you agree with his decision?  Why or why not?

NOTE TO STUDENTS: HOW TO USE THIS BLOG

Hello to all my ESL students!

 READ the postings & RESPOND to them.  We all know each other.  Introductions are not necessary.  This is NOT your "myspace" , twitter, or facebook account.  Please check the blog as I will be adding more interesting links, polls, and contests.  Everyone needs to blog a RESPONSE at least once a week.  Remember to RESPOND to my POSTINGS.  If you don't understand this message, please see me in class.

What are you reading? Do you like it? Why or why not?

Warm-up for September 18, 2009

It's Friday!  The weekend is upon us.  If you could do anything this weekend, what would you do?

   

Blog Prompt for September 16, 2009

 September 13th was Positive Thinking Day.  Oops!  We missed it because it was Sunday.  So, today, make a list of the top 10 ideas we can use to stay positive when times are tough.