Timeline of Steve Squyres's Life

Let's look back at what we've read about Mr. Squyres's life.  To do this, we will create a time line of his life.  As you create it, think about how the experiences in his life led up to him creating the Mars Rovers.  When you are done, share your timeline with me.

Link to timeline

Why are we doing this?  Well, by doing this, we are working on: 

 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.3 Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

Mariner 9? Viking 1 and 2? What were they?

Reading Class

The Mariner 9 and Viking 1&2 Missions to Mars laid the foundation for the Mars Rover Program.  Both in the information they gave to us, and the inspiration they gave to Steven Squyres.  But.... what were those missions like?

Let's take some time to learn about them by completing a bridge activity.  It's a little different than the ones we've done before, so I will explain it in class.

When you're done, you will hand it in to me by sharing it.  Then, you will answer one of the questions on the blog.  It will be a reply to a comment (like we did with Rosa Parks).  I will assign a question to you.

Bridge Activity

Who was Nelson Mandela?

Glog Activity

In this activity, you will be investigating different aspects of Nelson Mandela's life.  When you are done, you will be answering one of the questions listed on the glog.  You need to read about all of the topics, but you will write a summary of only one.

Your options are:  Who was Nelson Mandela?  What was Apartheid?  What is South Africa Like? and What's the ANC?

After you write your summary, post it on the blog.  You might want to put your summary on paper first just because Google and our internet connection have been a little iffy lately, and you don't want to lose all of your hard work!

Space Science Web Quest

Web Quest - Huge thanks to Ms. T for making this for us so that we can learn about the Universe.

Follow the directions on the webquest.  We will have time Tuesday and Wednesday to finish up the assignment.  When you are done, share the assignment with me.

Write a blog entry about the most confusing thing you read about.

This will be due Wednesday at the end of the hour.

Amazon Prime Air Delivery

Reading Class - Digital Literacy

Amazon announced recently that it will be offering 30 minute drone delivery in some areas.  Below you will find links to two different article options. 

USA Today

CNN

1.   Choose one article and read it carefully.  You may want to use Scrible to annotate the article so that you can stay focused during your online reading.

2.  Find someone who also read the same article as you and discuss your confusion and thoughts on the article.

3.  Complete the close reading questions.  Please don't look at these before you get to this point.  You can work on this together, but you each need to share a copy with me.

4.  Reaction to the article.  Post a comment on this blog with your reaction.  Should Amazon deliver this service?  Write a short argument similar to the cloning argument we wrote on Wednesday.  

5.  Reply to other students' comments.

Astronomers vs. Astronauts

Science

Both Astronomers and Astronauts play a vital role in helping us understand the Universe. Today we will study both and write some notes in the Blue Space section of our binders.

Astronomers study Astronomy.  Astronauts are people who are trained to travel in a spacecraft.

What's Astronomy?  Take some time to look at this site.  Write both a basic definition and some bullet points about astronomy.
Famous Astronomers  While at this website, check out who the leaders in astronomy are and what they do.  Choose two to add to your notes.  For each,  include their name and their contribution to astronomy.
Famous Astronauts 
Another Astronaut website  While at these websites, check out who our famous astronauts were.  We've heard a few of these names from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.  Here you will also choose two astronauts to add to your notes.  For each one, tell their name and what they did to further the study of space.

When you're done, post a summary of either one famous astronaut or one famous astronomer.  This blog will be graded using the rubric that we came up with together in class.  If you need a reminder, look at "Blog Post Rubric" in the pages on the right hand side.  Reply to others' comments.

Explore Space with a K-W-H-L

Science Class

On Wednesday, we will begin our Space unit in science.  Today, I want you to do a little exploring.  The directions for our activity are on the top of the Google Doc linked below.  Be sure to save a copy before you get started!

When you are done, post the most interesting thing you learned today in class.

Space K-W-H-L

Rosa Parks

December 1 was the anniversary of the arrest of  Rosa Parks.  She was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus.  This event is very important to American history.  Let's take some time to explore what happened.


Who was Rosa Parks?

Why was her arrest important?

Now, I'd like you to read through the different pages of the website.  I will give each of your groups a set of questions related to one of the pages later in the hour. 

Rosa Parks Website

Video Link for Boycott and Dr. King's Speech Questions

It's beginning to look a lot like......

We've got a new class mascot!  Check out the rest of the changes in class on Monday!

Thanksgiving

Reading Class

As we continue to work on our nonfiction reading abilities, let's take some time to learn more about Thanksgiving.  For this activity, we will be filling in a K-W-H-L chart.  I'll explain it to you in class.

When you're done, comment with the most interesting thing you learned about Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving K-W-H-L Activity

Food Chain Project

Science
As a wrap-up for our study of food chains and food webs, we are going to create our own food chain models using LucidPress.  This program will help us make a visual representation of a food chain.  We will be able to use photos, arrows, and words to connect our images.

Before you begin, check out the grading guide.  Then follow the project instructions to complete your food chain.  When you are done, comment on this blog, and put the link to your food chain here.
These will be due on Wednesday, November 27.

Project Instructions

Grading Rubric for Project

Tutorials from LucidPress

Hanukkah & Thanksgiving on the same day?

Reading Class
This year, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving will occur on the same day.  Why is that special?  Well, the last time it happened was 1888, and the next time it happens will be 79,811.  That event got your 6th grade teachers thinking it might be interesting to learn a little bit more about Hanukkah this year.
It seems like we know a lot about Christmas and it's traditions, but do we really know a lot about the holiday of  Hanukkah?  We will be doing some reading activities using the I-Chart link to learn more about Hanukkah.

News Report about Hanukkah and Thanksgiving

I-Chart Activity for Hanukkah

When you finish the I-Chart, you will need to write a comment on this blog.  I'd like you to comment about the most interesting fact that you learned in your research.

Why did Rodman Philbrick write The Last Book in the Universe?

In Language Arts, we are currently working on essays to answer the question:

• In an essay, please explain the purpose the author may have had in mind, cite specific passages to reinforce your thesis.  Discuss why this purpose is relevant to the modern reader.

We started out by figuring out what the question meant.  Then we looked at the lessons that we can all learn from the book.  Now it's time to pick why you think he wrote the book. 

Take some time to write a comment about your choice for the author's purpose.  Tell why you think he wrote the book and give a little bit of evidence as well.  I've got a sample done for you.

 Remember, there are lots of right answers.  However, not every single answer will be correct.  

Space Shuttle Challenger

Space Shuttle Challenger Glog Activity

Reading Class

Follow the directions on the above activity.  There's a spot right under the title that says, "Click Here for Directions".  You really need to do that because the directions for this activity are sort of intense.  In fact, you may need to read them a time or two.  I will also explain it in class using the SmartBoard.

When you've completed the activity, I want you to comment on this post.  You comment can either be a reaction to what you learned, or one of the most interesting facts you learned while completing the Glog activity.  When you are done, you can reply to other students' comments.  Remember "cool" is not actually a reply :)

Your blog comment will be a part of your grade, so keep in mind what makes a good blog entry.  If you've forgotten, check out the pages on the left.  One of them is called "Blog Post Rubric".

Science Vocabulary Activity

Today, we're going to look at 6 new vocabulary words that connect with food chains and food webs. Click on the link below to be connected with the activity. There are detailed directions at the top of the Glog.  Write all 6 of your captions on a piece of paper and hand them in to me.  Choose your best caption and post it to the blog.

Glogster Activity

Create Your Own Ecosystem...

We're going to work with an ecosystem simulator in class today.  The simulator has producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.  You can make connections between the trophic levels and then see what will happen to the population of the ecosystem.  We will begin by following the directions in the Food Web portion of the simulator.

When we're done with that, I want you to explore connections.  On the blog, I want you to choose one of the more interesting connections you made and describe it. When you share, tell:

1.  What you were curious about
2.  What you tried
3.  What happened/results
4.  What you think it means

I have a sample done for you as the first comment.

 Ecosystem Simulator

RSS Feeds

What's an RSS feed and why in the world am I talking about it?  Well, and RSS feed stands for Really Simple Syndication.  This means, I can simply find the headlines and top articles from different sources and look at them whenever I want without searching for them.

If you look on the left hand side, I've added two RSS feeds to the blog.  You'll find them right under my profile.  The first one is just a link to the Stevens Point Basketball team's feed.  I probably don't need to explain that one, right?

The second one is for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory or JPL.  These are the people responsible for the Mars Rovers.  We will be starting the book The Mighty Mars Rovers - The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity soon.  This book will follow both the scientists at JPL and the first two Mars Rovers.  Take some time to check out the videos that JPL has put on it's RSS feed.

A Sequel to The Lonely Hearts Club!

Elizabeth Eulberg recently announced that she will be writing a sequel to The Lonely Hearts Club.  Why is she so special?  Well, she grew up in Portage, and she went to school in this very building.  She is also a really talented writer.  In fact, a lot of 6th graders have said that The Lonely Hearts Club is their favorite book!

To keep up with Elizabeth Eulberg, click on this link and be connected to her blog:  http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/blog/?p=1451

Last Book in the Universe Play

We're writing plays based on Last Book.  Each group is writing a play of something that we didn't see in the novel.  The play has to be based in the reality of the novel, meaning it COULD have happened, we just didn't find out about it.  For example, a group could write a play about Latch West, what happened when the Great Gorm took over the Monkey Boy Latch, etc.

Your job:  One person from each group please share the basic idea for your play.  Don't give away all of the details, but share the basic idea.

Preview of Food Chains and Food Webs Unit

Skim pages 198-202 in your science textbook.  Be sure to look at the headings, vocabulary words, visuals and diagrams.  What do you think will be the most interesting part of this unit?  What might be the toughest?  After you comment, reply to at least two other students' comments.  Use my comment as a guide for setting up your comment.

My Essay will be about.....

Take some time to share your essay topic.  Include your main topic as well as the body paragraph topics.  Once you are done, I'd like you to look at other students' topics and give some feedback.

The best book I ever read....

We all have books that we absolutely love, right?  A book that we could read over and over again and not get sick of.  What book was the best you ever read?  Include the Title, Author, a brief summary that includes why you love the book so much.  No Spoilers!

Is it ever ok to drop a book?

Recently, I got some advice from one of my fellow teachers.  She said, "Life is too short to read a bad book.  I've got way too many good books to read in my lifetime and I won't waste any time on a bad book."  This got me thinking.  I really don't like the book I'm reading.  I love to read, but I just can't force myself to read this one.  What do you think?  Is it ever ok to drop a book?

Want help picking a new book?

The first place to look might be the first blog post on this page.  You friends are writing down the books they are reading now.  Browse through what they have to say about their books.  There are also lots of really good websites that you can use to help you find a book.

One good website to use is Good Reads  it will give you lots of useful information about the novels you are curious about.  People also post their comments/opinions about the novel there as well.  The editors are really good about including the words "Spoiler Alert"  so that the book is never ruined for you. 

Another good place to look is Novelist. Remember, this is the place we looked at with Mrs. Werner in the LC?  You can search for books, but you can also start with a book that you like and click on "Title Read-Alikes" or "Author Read-Alikes" for books that are similar.  How cool is that?  I hope that the link works, but Novelist is a website that we pay for, so I don't know if you can get there with just a link.  If not, just go to the virtual library, click on quick links, and go to the Novelist area in the middle of the page.

This post is for teachers who are taking the class with me!

My students have great plans for our classroom blog.  In fact, they have 29 different ideas of what they would like to see me do on this blog.  I'm not 100% positive if this particular blog will be able to handle all of their requests or not. They did have some pretty interesting ideas that I wouldn't have ever come up with on my own.  They range from "The Best Book I Ever Read" to "At home Science Experiment of the Week"  to about a million different versions of "Student of the Week". 

The article I read, "Blogging as a Means of Crafting Writing," by Lacina and Griffith,  had some very practical tips for teachers just getting started with their classroom blogs.  The very first one was BABY STEPS.  I will need to keep remembering that.  Hopefully, by the end of the year we will be at a place where we have several of their ideas up and running.  The rest of the article really talked about how to model effective writing using blogs.  That's one of the biggest frustrations I have had with blogs.  Sometimes the posts students make aren't exactly what we as teachers want to see.  The article goes through step by step how to teach students to be effective digital citizens. I plan on using it's advice as we work on this blog.   (If you are one of my 6th graders reading this - that means that we're going to be working on how to write a good blog post.)

Here is a link to the article:  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.www.remote.uwosh.edu/doi/10.1002/TRTR.01128/pdf

Lacina, J., & Griffith, R. (2012). Blogging as a Means of Crafting Writing. Reading Teacher, 66(4), 316-320. doi:10.1002/TRTR.01128

What are you reading?

In your response, share the author, title and a little bit about it.  The idea here is we want to make a list where others can go to for ideas.

****When you comment, don't worry if it doesn't show up right away.  It goes to my e-mail first and I have to approve it before it publishes!  I didn't know that before, so I didn't tell you.  Sorry!