Did this speech motivate you?

What were your thoughts on this speech? Did it motivate you or did you think it was boring? Share your thoughts and see what others thought, too.

Text Dependent Question - Avocadoes

The farm laborers live in two different types of camps. Re-read pages 192-193. 

• What is Marta and Ada's camp like? What does the author mean when she writes that Marta’s new camp was a “great jumble of humanity and confusion.”?

Be sure to cite evidence from the text. (Say it, Show it, Explain it)

Esperanza Rising and Holes connections...

How does Abuelita's blanket in Esperanza Rising compare to Stanley carrying Zero up the mountain in Holes? Any similarities? Any connections? What does it symbolize?

This is open ended but I've very curious to see the connections you all can make.

Close Reading of Carmen's quote...

On page 76, Carmen says:

“I am poor, but I am rich. I have my children, I have a garden with roses, and I have my faith and the memories of those who have gone before me. What more is there?” 

 
This quote is pretty deep and has a lot of meaning. What is your analysis of this quote? What do you think it means? Post your response.

Guiding questions that you may want to include in your response:

• How can she be poor and rich?
• Is it ironic that she uses "roses" and "memories" in the same sentence?
• Is there more to life than children, gardens, and memories?

Metaphors...

On pages 131-133, Marta is using kittens as a metaphor for the farmers.
How are the farmers like the kittens?
How does Marta suggest they fight being “like kittens”?

Esperanza Rising thoughts...

How do you feel about the book Esperanza Rising? What are you thoughts? Post your response.
If time, respond to other's responses.

Practice with Blog

Welcome to the class blog. I will post questions to this blog and you will have the opportunity to respond to them. Whenever you repond, ONLY PUT YOUR FIRST NAME!!!

A link to the class blog is on the S: drive. Go to the class blog, find the correct article, then click "Post a comment. The click "See original post" and answer the following questions:

1. What's your favorite animal?
2. What's your favorite car?
3. What's your favorite team?
4. Tell us something interesting about yourself.

After writing your comments in the box, click "Name/URL" and ONLY PUT YOUR FIRST NAME. Complete the security information (numbers/letter) and click "Publish your comment".

Mexico: Rich versus Poor

Throughout Mexico’s history, there have been small villages in the countryside. For generations families have lived and worked on the farms that surrounded these villages. The families who worked the land did not own any part of the farms. This meant that they did not make very much money, because they are paid low wages to work for the landowners. In fact more than 70 percent of Mexico’s population in the 1920s was extremely poor. Look at the pictures below. The three pictures are all from 1920s Mexico.

• What is being shown in these pictures?
• Compare and Contrast what is shown in these pictures to what we've read about in Esperanza Rising.

Post your reponses.

Should Schools require P.E. Class Every Day?

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Should Saggy Pants Be Banned?

Read the Debate of the Week in Scholastic News and sound off with your opinion.

The Environment

Read the 3 articles on the class blog. Write your responses to the questions on a separate piece of paper. Be neat, organized, and fully explain your answers.

Water Bottles

Facts on Fish

Green Tips

Should Schools Assign Homework on the Weekends?

You will be assigned which side of the debate to "argue". State your opinion and give reasons to support your answer.

• YES, schools should assign homework on weekends: Andrew, Tristen, Ashley, Xavier, & Jenea (5).
• NO, schools should NOT assign homework on weekends: Natalie, Noe, Kristian, Abel, Myles, & Jamien (6).

Should Schools Require Students to Volunteer?

Read both sides of the debate in Scholastic News and sound off with your opinion. Be sure to give examples to support your opinion.

Ten Cool Archaeological Sites

Archaeologists are scientists that study objects from the past to understand human history. Sometimes they find amazing things. Read this article and learn about some cool archaeological sites from around the world.


1. Read about all 10 archaeological sites. Which one is the most interesting? Why?
2. Easter Island's statues are known as ______. (Look at pictures)
3. How are archaeologists able to better understand daily life in the Roman Empire?
4.What is threatening Manchu Picchu?
5. Looking at the picture with the caption "This skeleton was found at Pompeii", what do you think this is a skeleton of? Give evidence that supports your answer.
6. Describe what you see in the pictures.

Should Students Have to Learn a Foreign Language?

Should Students Have to Learn a Foreign Language? What do you think?
Be sure to back up your opinion by giving valid reasons.

Should Schools Stop Selling Chocolate Milk?

Read both sides of the Debate of the Week in Student News and sound off with your opinion.
*Just put your name - NO nicknames!*

11-3-11

*Remember to hit "refresh" and to right-click to open links in new window. If you want, open Word and type your answers there. *

Read the Time For Kids article on school and answer questions 1 and 2.
Then, read the National Geographic article on Thanksgiving and answer questions 3,4, & 5.
Use information from the articles!

1. Which scores have gone up and which scores have gone down? By how much?
2. Why is reading tougher to learn in the class than math?
3. [The Celebration] How did the Puritans and the Native Americans celebrate the first Thanksgiving? Give 3 examples from the reading.
4. How did the Puritans and the Native Americans dress for the first Thanksgiving?
5. Using information from the Thanksgiving article, how can we improve in ELA by learning about Thanksgiving?

Schould the U.S. Continue to Explore Space?

Read the Debate of the Week in Scholastic News and sound off with your opinion of the US space program.

Should Kids Be Required to Wear School Uniforms?

Read the debate of the week and post your opninion on whether students should have to wear school uniforms. SUPPORT your opinion.

Dino Death Pit!

Although dinosaurs have been extinct for over 65 million years, scientists are still learning a lot about them. Read the Kids National Geographic article called Dino Death Pit! and answer the following questions. Remember, You only have 30 minute at this station - work quick and give concise answers. If you have trouble with a question, skip it and then come back to it.

1. In your own words, describe what "quickmud" is.
2. Dinosaurs that lived 230 million years ago were about the size of what animal? (2)
3. Page 3 of the the article talks about a "bizarre toothless meat-eater called a ceratosaur." Why is this dinosaur "bizarre?"
4. How was Guanlong's arms different from the Tyrannosaurus Rex's arms? (5)
5. Would you want to play in "quickmud?" Why?