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