Super Trees

Read this National Geographic Kids interview about a conservationist and explorer.

Answer the following questions.

1. How long does it take to walk a mile in the forest? WHY?

2. Name 2 things kids can do to help redwoods and forests.

3. How old can some redwoods live for?

4. What substance makes redwoods resistant to fire?

5. What substance makes redwoods resistant to "decay-causing fungi?"

6. Write a complete sentence explaining what you thought was interesting about this article.

Homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and different meanings. Look at this a list of homophones and create a short story or rhyming sentences using pairs of homophones. You can look up the meanings of the words using this online dictionary.

Who's the Fatsest Jaw on the Draw?

Which animal has the fastest snapping jaw? If you're guessing a shark or an alligator, then you'll have to think smaller. Read this article to find out and answer the following questions.

1. What is another word for "mouth parts"?

2. To explain how a trap-jaw ant's mouth moves so quickly, they compare its jaw to a _______.

3. About how fast can an ant move its mouth?

4. Who is Sheila Patek and what is her job?

5. How does a slow-motion camera help scientists better understand how a trap-jaw ant eats?

6. Use 3 adjectives (describing words) to describe the trap-jaw ant. *Use the picture*

Under the Sea

Scientists spent the past 10 years studying life under the ocean. Read this Time For Kids article (right-click, open in new tab) to find out the results of this study. Then answer the following questions:
1. How many scientists participated in this study?
2. What type of species was found in the Indian Ocean?
3. Name the two underwater areas that had the most sea life.
4. Why do we need to protect the oceans?

National Geographic Kids

Read this story on Slow Down for Calvin the Right Whale! (right-click and open new window). Then read this story titled Mission Blue (right-click and open new window).

1. Compare and Contrast these two stories: what do they have in common and how they are different?

2. Write 3 opinions about the "Calvin" story.

3. Write 3 facts about the "Mission" story.

4. How do you personally feel about any of these stories?

Welcome Back!

Welcome. This will be practice for the class blog. When responding, only write your first name - NEVER your last name.
1. Tell us what your favorite animal is and why it's your favorite.
2. Tell us about a book you read over the summer and if it was good or not.
3. Read this National Geographic Kids story [right-click and open in new tab]. Summarize what you've learned using 3-5 sentences.

All I Really Need To Know...

Read this poem and post your responses.

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
by Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need

To know about how to live

And what to do and how to be

I learned in kindergarten.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life -Learn some and think some

And draw and paint and sing and dance

And play and work everyday some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world,

Watch out for traffic,

Hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.

1. Which of these is the most significant to you?
2. In a second paragraph add to it your ideas on"All I Really Need To Know I Learned In 5th Grade." Have fun, it's the last blog entry!

Questions about Middle School

Next year many of you will be going to middle school. Take a few minutes to brainstorm any questions you may have for the counselors tomorrow. If you want, check out the sites to Twin Towers and Monhagen to brainstorm your questions. Possible questions could be related to:

How does a locker work?

How big are the lockers?

How long is the school day? When does it start and when does it end?

What is study hall? What do you do there?

What kinds of sports are there?

What will our schedules look like?

How long is each class?

Please write any other questions you may have.

Spring Break Work

Hello students and parents.

I am using the class blog page as a resource for you and your child to complete their Spring Break work.

I have found that holiday/vacation work can be hit or miss. In previous years I have given out whole packets to students to complete over break just to find them in the trash can at the end of the day. On the other hand, some students (and parents) are eager to have work to complete over vacation/break. Whatever the case may be, as a teacher, I feel it is necessary to provide work for students who wish to continue to excel. With that being said, I have compiled a list of assignments for students to complete while on break to prevent their brains from "turning to mush." Some students will complete it, while others will do nothing - the choice is theirs (and yours). I understand that it is a lot of work - you don't have to complete everything, just complete what you can.

1. Complete at least 5 blog assignments that other students have created. http://www.tomasulo411.blogspot.com/

2. Read your library book and complete a book report. Here is a link for a book report template. Either hand write the book report or type it in Word, then send to class email.

3. Math: Go to Compass Learning http://compass.dcboces.org/childu/index.html, go to math, then to the folder titled "Spring Break 2010 - Math(4)" and complete assignments in any order you wish. You can complete assignments in any order.

Again, it is more than enough work, so complete what you are comfortable with. Keep in mind that we have the State ELA Test at the end of April and the State Math Test in the beginning of May.

Have a great break!

Mr. Tomasulo

Dolphins - Oceana

Use this article on Dolphin's Social Life to answer these questions.

1. Name three things that the researchers agreed about the dolphins.
2. What are the two dolphins that are in the multi – species group?
3. Why do dolphins toss seaweed back and forth?
4. Typically, dolphins live and travel in groups and ranging from ______ dolphins.
5. Compare and Contrast two things about the Spinner dolphin and the Spotted dolphin.
6. What behavior indicates a close friendship between a dolphin and another dolphin species? Dolphins also have been watched doing what?
7. If you where a scientist that studied on dolphins , what’s something new that you would discover ?

genets/Chelsea

Use this article to answer the following questions.

1. Will a genet live peacefully with all pets?
2. How long can A GENETS TAIL GROW?
3.DO YOU THINK GENETS LOOK FUNNY? WHY OR WHY NOT?
4.HOW DO GENETs MARk their territory?
5. Can a genet be a house pet?
6. Can you train a genet like a cat?
7. Is a genet a mixed breed?

Boxing - Nia

Watch this boxing video and read this article and answer the following questions.

Questions:

1. Why do you have to throw a straight punch? And what effect does it have?

2. If you have the option to do boxing, would you or would you not? Explain.

3. Is it important to position your feet while boxing? What happens if you don't position it the right way?

4. What do you think boxing is more about, skills, self defence, or being healthy and strong? Explain why.

5. In the last paragraph, does the author inform or persuade you to get a coach to train you to be a boxer?

6. Why is Sparring important?

7. Name all the reasons why it is important to wear the right gear.

8. Do you think boxing is a violent or 'OK' sport.

Cassidy

Esparto sandals

Yoga sandalsRead this article on Sandals and answer the following questions.

1. Where was the oldest pair of shoes found?
2. What did the ancient Greek use to make sandals?
3. How do you get athletes foot?

4. Compare how the sandals long ago are alike and not alike from the sandals we wear today.
5. Explain how the sandals are made for outside. What kind of stuff do they do to make it comfortable for outside?
6. Explain how different the sandals here are from the ones found in Esparto in 6th or 5th millennium B.C. for yoga sandals?
7. What if you were in a company and you were a assigned a job to make your very own sandals. What kind of special features would it have and would you sell them or give them out free, and why?

Marguerite

Use this article to answer the following questions.

1. How tall is Venus Williams?
2. Do you think that Venus Williams Is a good tennis player, why or why not?
3. Where was Venus Williams born?
4. What is Venus Williams Favorite color?
5. Do you think Venus Williams is a better tennis player than her younger sister Serena?
6. If you were Venus Williams What would you spend your money on?
7. What would you do if Venus Williams came to your house saying you won 1 million dollars?!

Richard - The Amazing Galaxy!

Use this article to answer the following questions.

1. What star is in the milkyway galaxy?

2.What kind of galaxy is the milkyway galaxy?
3.What number is parsecs in diameter?
4.What are small galaxies also referred to?

5. What do you think is cool about the galaxy?

6. What is your favorite galaxy explain why?
7. If you we able to go to space and look at the galaxy what would you do?

Bryant

Use this article to answer these questions on tigers.

1. What were the 8 species of tigers, and which 3 species are extinct?
2. How many pounds of meat does a tiger need to survive?
3. How many tigers are left in the whole world?
4. How are female’s tiger’s territories different from male tigers and how they are the same?
5. If you were being attacked by a tiger what would you do?
6. If you were the tiger that defended other tigers how would you defend them from hunters?
7. What would do if you wanted to save an endangered tiger?

marissa

Read this artical on gatorade and answer the folling questions.

1. What year was Gatorade made?

2. What university was Gatorade made in?
3. What schools were buying a lot of Gatorade?
4. Why do you think they named it Gatorade?
5. What was the difference from when there was no Gatorade to now?
6. Do you like Gatorade? Why or Why not?
7. What if they stopped selling Gatorade? What would you do?

Joey

Use this article on Chris Angle to answer these questions.

1. What is the name of the TV show Chris Angle has now on A&E?
2. How old was Chris when he first started magic?
3. What did Chris do as a kid for fun?
4. How is Chris Angle different and alike from a clown?
5. If you had a TV show what would it be about and why?
6. If you had to make a deal with a hotel to sponsor your show which would you pick and why?
7. What if Chris Angle was at the performing at the mall would you ask him?

PRINCE

Use this article to answer the questions below.

1. How tall is Allen Iverson?
2. What high school Allen Iverson went too?
3. When did Allen iverson go to the NBA?
4. Do you think Allen Iverson will goo in the hall of fame? Which sentence from the article explain this?
5. Was Allen Iverson the most Valuable Player?
6. When did Allen Iverson beat Shaquille O'Neal?
7. Compare Allen Iverson to Shaquille O'Neal?
8:Compare how Allen Iverson is different from the beginning of his career to the end?

Jose Reyes-Christian

Use this article to answer these Questions on Jose Reyes.

1. What is Jose Reyes’s middle name?
2. How old is Jose?
3. Name one of the two scouts that brought Jose on the Mets roster?
4. How would you compare and contrast Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes?
5. If you met Jose how would you react?

6. If Jose came to your house what would you do?

7. What would you do if Jose Reyes gave you a signed baseball bat?

Emily - Wolves

Use this article and this article to answer the following questions.

1. Why does the mother put the babies in a den?

2. How long does a wolf live?

3.What is a wolves diet?

4.What is the cause of wolves howl? Explain.

5. Do wolves attack each other? Explain.

6. How does wolves attack animals? Explain.

7. If you were a deer surrounded by a pack of wolves what would you do ?

Klaus- cats

Use this article to answer the following questions.

1. What color eyes do cats have when there first born?
2. How many toes do cats have on there back paws?
3. What do cats use to see if they can fit is a space?
4. Pet owners live longer, and happier lives and they live longer than people that people don’t have pets. Is that true? Why or why not?
5. How do you feel about someone killing a cat?
6. Would you help a cat in need? Why or why not?
7. What if there were no more cats in the world?

Jazmyn

Read this artical on Jennie Finch and answer the following questions.

Were did Jennie finch go to collage?
Who is Casey Daigle and what baseball team did he play for?
When Jennie Finch struck out 119 batters and only walked 10 what year, what team did she play for, and how many games did she play?
What if softball never came back to the summer Olympics what would that do to some of the fans?
Compare and contrast what the difference is between softball and baseball.
Did you think that it was cool that Jennie struck out 119 and only walked 10 in seven games? Why or why not?
Did you think it is shocking that reporters called Jennie to talk about her, NOT Arizona Softball? Why or why not?

Yo-Yo ma By Daniel

Use this article to answer the question below on Yo-Yo Ma.

1. Yo-Yo Ma is the best cello player of our generation. When did he become a professional at the cello?
2. How many Grammys has Yo-Yo Ma received?
3. What world famous city was Yo-Yo ma born in?
4. How would you compare and contrast Yo-Yo Ma’s style of music to Taylor swift’s style of music?
5. What style of music do you like most and why?
6. How would you describe yo-yo Ma in your own words?
7. What would you do if you were a world famous classical musician?

Compare and Contrast

When you compare two things, you see how they are alike.

When you contrast two things, you see how they are different.

Read this article on anacondas, then read this article on alligators. Then compare and contrast the two animals USING COMPLETE SENTENCES.

What is the cause?

"SHE LOWERED THE KNIFE AND IT GREW EVEN BRIGHTER"

The above image and caption is from the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg. What is the cause for the pumkin to grow brighter?
You have 6 minutes to write your answer - be creative!

Tigers

The wild tiger population is at an all-time low. Governments and conservation groups are working to save them. Is it too late? Read this Time For Kids article and answer the following questions.
1. What are some of the causes for the decline in the tiger population?
2. The largest population of Bengal Tigers is located on the coast of India and Bangladesh. What will the effect be if sea levels rise too high?
3 & 4. Read this paragraph from the article:
"Last month, leaders from 12 Asian nations and Russia met to discuss plans to save the tiger. They are cracking down on hunters and adopting bans on the sale of tiger products. They are also looking for ways to protect the tiger habitat."
For number 3, write the sentence that tells the effect. For number 4, write the sentence that tells the cause.

If you have time read about tigers by clicking this link.
5. What are your final thoughts on the declining tiger population?

*A cause is a person, event, condition, or reason that is responsible for an action or result.
*An effect is a result brought about by a cause.

Chinese New Year

More than one billion people around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year. Read this article and answer the following questions.

1. Give 3 facts from the story.

2. Give 3 opinions you have about the story.

3. What is this story MOSTLY about?

4. Write 3 questions from the story for other students to answer (1 easy, 1 medium, 1 hard).

Your Thoughts...

For the past two weeks we've been watching CNN Student News and having discussions on the stories from around the globe. Because of time, not everyone gets a chance to chime in on topics that interest them. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE! Write about some of the topics that we've been discussing and tell the class how you feel. Yes, you can be opinionated. You can write about any topic that has been on CNN Student News.

*Do not retell the story, GIVE YOUR OPINION.*

(Past topics included: Toyota recall, Haiti, the economy, Winter Olympics, Black History, the education system, Black History Month, war, national security, etc, etc, etc...)

State of the American Kid: 2010

This TIME For Kids article wanted to know: What's it like to be you? To find out, we went straight to the source. We asked 1,000 kids, ages 9 to 13, about life here in the United States.

After you've read the article, click this link to take a survey on what it's like to be a kid living in the U.S. After the survey, blog about your results and anything else that you found interesting.

*When completing the survey, only use your first name.

On the Road to Civil Rights

This Time For Kids link shows historic photos of some important events in both the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the struggle for civil rights. Look over the 7 slides and read the description of each slide. Pick 2-3 slides and write about how YOU feel about that slide and description. BE OPINIONATED! Don't put something basic like, "I like slide ___ because it shows Martin Luther King Jr. fighting for Civil Rights." That's boring - this is a blog post where you can tell the class how you feel about a topic, not just retell the facts from a story. If there is something you don't understand, then write about that in your blog entry and we can answer it as a class.

Australia Sightseeing Guide

Take a virtual voyage through Australia's most amazing sites by checking out this website. Click on the different areas to view the pop-up and answer the following questions.

1. Name two significant structures that are located in Sydney.

2. Describe what it would be like to swim in the Great Barrier Reef. (Use your own descriptive words).

3. If you went to Uluru National Park and visited the Aborigines, what would you say to them about Ayers Rock (the big red rock).

4. Give three facts about Kangaroo Island.

5. Name 5 different animals that are found on Tasmania.

BONUS: Check out this creature feature. Read about the Tasmanian Devil and write about anything you found interesting or cool.