Wednesday, October 14, 2009

BLOG-O-RAMA!

What kinds of conversation starters do you think we should be blogging about?  Favorite foods?  Favorite sports?  Polls of some kind?  Let's get creative!  What would you like to know about your classmates?  Ask your questions here!


Newsworthy Events

The Des Moines Register newspaper

We've been studying various forms of courage in reading lately.  We'll soon be collecting monthly current events articles citing examples of courage or character (respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, and fairness) as seen in the news.  Remember: your article may reflect stories from around the globe, or be as close as our own Waukee community or school.

A second assignment option is to choose an article that shows our global connectedness.  This type of article would need to show how cultures from across the world and our own, although different in many ways, do indeed share cultural commonalities.  I have graphic organizers or other options for reflecting if you'd like to try this option.

Feel free to get a head start if you'd like!  Post your article and reflection here.  I'll give you more details in person as needed.

Quotin' Quotables Challenge

People have said--and will say some incredibly creative and inspiring things, capable of changing our lives, or at least making us laugh. :-)

My challenge to you is to list a great quote that has changed your thinking, made you smile, or inspired you in some way.  That's not all, though!  You'll need to find an image--whether it be from google images or flickr that relates to your quote in some way.

Don't forget to give credit where credit is due!  The author will need to be listed as well.  Thanks so much!


"No matter what I do my dentist always hurts my fillings."
 Alberto Nikas , Computer Scientist





Just for Kicks




You may have noticed that I appreciate the artistry of a great pair of SHOES.  What are your favorite kind of shoes?  Post a google image of a fun, zany, outlandish, or genuinely favorite pair--JUST FOR KICKS! :-)



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The Great Debate




I just wanted to thank both of my Language Arts classes for the incredible debates that you conducted this week in regards to Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki.
                                              
I was so proud and amazed by your incredible reasoning, creative thinking ability, and willingness to respond respectfully, even in the "heat of battle!" :-)

Based on your reflections after this activity, we'll definitely find other ways and reasons to try to debate again this school year!  You were too good at it to pass up!  Way to go, sixth graders!

Social Studies: The Ice Man visits our classroom!?


Great Ice Man Information!

Students--here's your challenge!  Teach your parents and family members about the Ice Man, Otzi!  This is just one website I located documenting Otzi's ability to teach us, even though he cannot actually tell us how he passed away.

Like we did in our fantastic classroom discussion, talk with your parents and family members about how you think Otzi arrived where he did, how he died, and how he managed to be preserved so well for over 5,000 years.  What an amazing discovery!

Course Two Book Clubs: How's your reading going?









Course One Book Clubs: Tell us about what you're reading!