Let's Save the Earth

Read this link on pollution and answer questions 1-4.

Then read this link on bottled water and answer questions 5-8.

#9 is an extra - be honest with this one!

1. What is Cammy Holmes doing along the Anacostia River ?

2. What does the organization called the Ocean Conservancy do?

3. How many tons of trash did volunteers collects along coastlines in 2006? Why do you think they had to collect so much trash?

4. About how many volunteers came out in Washington, D.C. for the International Coastal Cleanup? Is this a high number or low number? Why?

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5. So why don’t more people drink water straight from the kitchen faucet?

6. What natural resource is used to make plastic water bottles?

7. How many bottles of water do Americans buy per year?

8. Out of every six bottles of water Americans buy, how many bottles actually get recycled?

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9. Americans are "trashing" the Earth today. You all, as students, will have to deal with it when you grow up. Be honest - how do you fell about "adopting" a trashed Earth?

Chomp! Meat-Eating Plants

Plants are nice because they only absorb the sun's light for energy, right? Nope - not always true! Read this National Geographic article on plants that "eat" at this link and answer the following questions.

1. What is the name of the place that has a new exhibit about plants?

2. What are meat eating plants called?

3. Name two types of carnivorous plants and tell how each one traps its victim.

4. Why do you think an insect can't climb out of an Asian pitcher plant?

5. In what types of areas do most carnivorous plants live?

6. Do you think carnivorous plants can trap small animals? Why or why not?

Freaky Fish!

Look at the fish in the above picture. What do you notice about it? Yep, you guessed it - it's head is transparent, meaning you can see through it. Go to this National Geographic link and read page one of the article. After you read page one, watch the video clip titled "Fish With Transparent Head Filmed" and then proceed to read the rest of the pages of the article (four pages total). Answer the following questions.

1. What was your immediate reaction to looking at the Pacific Barreleye Fish?
2. What is MBARI?
3. What does pivot mean? Explain.
4. What species of jellyfish do the barreleye fish steal food from?
5. When swimming in the ocean, would you ever get to see a barreleye fish? Why or why not? (Hint: look on page 4)
6. Would you like to have a Pacific Barreleye as a pet? Why or why not? (At least 3 sentences)

Shakespeare!

William Shakespeare was one of the greatest playwrites of all time. His plays were written over 500 years ago and are still talked about today. Right click and open this brainpop link. Watch the video on William Shakespeare and answer the folllowing questions. (To login to brainpop, the username is E2t2 and the password is grant)

1. When was William Shakespeare born?

2. 14-lined poems are called _______.

3. What was the name of Shakespeare's theater?

4. What is a comedy?

5. What is a tragedy?

6. What is your favorite Shakespearian play and why? If you've never seen one of his plays, think of a play you would like to see and why.

Remembering Lincoln

On February 12, Americans will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. All across the nation, there will be celebrations to honor the life of the great President. Read this article on Abraham Lincoln and answer the following questions. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE BEFORE YOU ATTEMP TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!

1. What character traits best describe Lincoln?
2. In your own words, what does this quote from Lincoln mean? "If slavery is not wrong, [then] nothing is wrong."

3. Lincoln is considered to be one of the greatest Presidents. Why?

4. When and where was Abraham Lincoln born?

5. What can kids do every day to honor Lincoln’s life?

6. In what order was Lincoln the president?

Middie Wrestler Doesn't Quit!

Wrestling is one of the world's most physically demanding sports. Good wrestlers have great balance, coordination, strength, stamina, and endurance. Read this Times Herald Record article on one of Middletown's wrestlers, Eddie Donohue, and answer the following questions.
1. What is every local wrestler's goal?
2. Summarize the article. Was Eddie a good wrestler when he first started? How has he changed?
3. In the article, it mentions that Eddie has an older brother who wrestled. What is his name? Was his brother a good wrestler?
4. True or False: Eddie wants to place third or fourth in sections (the Section 9 wrestling tournament.
5. Why do wrestlers have to watch what they eat?
6. If you were to meet Eddie, you would tell him...

An Inauguration Like No Other

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. Many memebers of the media and close to 400,000 poeple attended his inauguration. Time For Kids send two of their student reports to attend the inaugeration and to write about it. Sydney Turner wrote this article and Harrison Gilman wrote this article. Read both articles. Compare and contrast the two articles on the class blog. In addition, respond to their articles by stating your own opinions.