Biography Genre Projects

Today's biography genre projects were excellent!  I am so proud of our boys & girls!  I can tell that they are going to do a great job with their CPA presentations.

1/30

Study for Ch. 5 science test!

Finish biography project and spelling/vocabulary worksheet.

The Cold War and the Space Race

Click HERE for a video about the Space Race during the Cold War.

Help in Successmaker Math

Some of you are struggling with adding and subtracting with positive and negative numbers.  Try watching the following video:
Khan Academy: Adding Integers with Different Signs

Math Playground also offers a lot of videos on different topics.  Scroll through to see if there's a video that might help you.  Click HERE to see the different topics.

4-H CPA Timeline

CPA is an important part of our 4-H program and our language arts curriculum (listening, speaking, viewing, and writing standards).  Today, Mr. Jennings presented his lesson on CPA at our 4-H meeting, and it's time for the kids to get started!  I will begin signing up students for their topics.  Have a few ideas in mind, because only one boy and one girl can compete in each of the 40 or so categories.

Here's a copy of the handout that each child received today:

     Your job is to become the expert on your topic.  You will be writing a report and then giving a speech with visual aids to teach the class what you’ve learned.  This project will count as a test grade in English and either science or social studies (depending on your topic).

1/17            Mr. Jennings presents 4-H lesson to introduce CPA. 

1/23            Topic due!  You must get your topic approved before you begin your research.  Learn all that you can about your topic as soon as it is approved.  Find some interesting facts that very few people already know.  Taking notes about what you learn will be very helpful.  Remember to take notes in your OWN words.  Do not copy directly from books and/or the Internet.  Organize your information as you go.  What are the three (or more) main ideas you will teach us?  What would you include in the beginning of your report/speech, in the middle, or at the end?  Remember to use at least three different sources for your information (encyclopedias, books, internet sites, interviews with experts, etc.).  Printing a website does not make a CPA project!

1/29          Turn in a copy of your outline of the three main ideas you will teach us with at least three supporting details for each main idea.  Continue to work on your research and your report.  Write your

INTRODUCTION:

1.     Hook your audience! 

*Ask a question, state an interesting or amazing fact, or share an anecdote (personal short story).

2.     Introduce yourself and your topic.

3.     Share your three main ideas or most important things. 

2/5            Your written introduction is due. (The body of your speech is not due at this time.) 

Continue to work on your speech. Rewrite your introduction with the revisions. Use your outline to write the body of your report.  You will write more than one paragraph about each of your three main points because your report will be the basis of your five-minute speech. Make sure you have transitions between each of your three main points. Include at least one simile in the writing. Then wrap it up with your CONCLUSION:

1.     Use a wrap-up word or phrase (Finally, In conclusion, To summarize, Remember…).

2.     Restate your main ideas from your introduction in a slightly different way.

3.     Tie your report back into your hook.

Thank your audience. (Do NOT say that’s all I have, or the end…)

2/15            Your entire written report is due. 

2/16 – 21 Work on your two (or more) posters.  Be certain they are neat. Also, they need to be legible from the back of the room. Stay away from light colors because they are harder to read from a distance.  Make your note cards and practice your speech. Write your speech on numbered note cards.  Practice your speech and using your posters during your speech.  Do not wait to share the posters at the end.

2/22            In-class presentations (Be sure to bring your completed posters!)

2/23 – 26 Make any corrections to your cards, practice at home, feel confident, and be ready for the judges!!! You’ll feel more confident if you practice at home. Good luck.  You can do it!

2/27            CPA presentations for 4-H judges

Themes in Literature

Here's an infographic about some of the common themes in literature.  We added love, friendship, and good vs. evil as common themes.

(originally posted on Scholastic.com)

My Access Writing Program

We have started our computerized writing program, My Access.  (You can access it by click on the program name.)  Students work through all steps of the writing process at their own pace to complete an assignment which the computer will then score.  After receiving feedback, students will revise their work to improve.  You can even work on it at home!

I have added the link to our writing tab at the top.