Happy Holidays!!!! You're not bored yet are you???

Hi everyone! I just want to again say Happy Holidays and I hope the days off that you've had so far have been fun and relaxing.

In case you are bored (I know -- ha ha!), I just want to remind you that you could be using some of this time off to work on your Science portion of your exhibition. You need the following things for Science:

• Animals -- Find 3 animals that live in your country. For each one, you need to have a picture (make it as big as half a page). At the bottom of the page with the picture, give a brief description of the animal -- unique characteristics, what it eats, where they can be found, etc.
• Plants/Flowers -- Find 3 plants or flowers that are native to your country. As with animals, you need to show a picture of the plant or flower and give a brief description of the flower -- where in the country it can be found, any specific things the flower is used for -- anything interesting you find.
• General weather/climate -- You will be expected to have a brief description (about 1/2 page typed) regarding the overall weather (called climate) of your country. Usually if you search for "climate in __________" (insert your country in the blank) you will find it. Remember, everything must be written in your own words.

If you are out and about over break, you might also want to find a binder and more page protectors for your project.

Also, if you have any difficulty finding information regarding the plants and/or animals you found for your country, try searching for the specific name itself. For example, if you know that a common flower in India is a "lotus" but your website didn't give any information on the lotus, then you can go to google and search "information on a lotus flower" and you should get something then. If you have any questions on how to find information for your country, let me know by commenting on this post and I will try to help!

Again, Happy Holidays everyone!

PS -- For those of you with Math homework, don't forget to be working on it!

Weekly News

In Math this week, we will officially begin Bits and Pieces II. In this book, the students will work with solving story problems relating to fractions. This week, we will focus specifically with adding and subtracting fractions.

In Science this week, we will continue looking at Boomtown, a city that we are studying as part of our "Erosion and Deposition" unit. We will look at how construction affects the environment and that land that is formed.

In Advisory on Monday, I will be checking that all students have their 5 math projects done. They should have the following: 1) bar graph of average temperatures for each month, 2) pie graph of ethnicity, 3) pie graph of languages spoken, 4) pie graph of religions, and 5) 3 problems using the country's currency exchange.

** Students that do not have these five projects done WILL NOT be able to go to the skating party on Thursday or attend the dance on Friday.

In class, students will continue to have time to work on the computers getting information regarding their country's animals, plants/flowers, and general weather. These three pieces of information will be due after returning from the holiday break.

FANTASTIC FRACTIONS!!!

The following students have done an outstanding job with their fractions and received over an 80% on today's quiz involving adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions:

• Christina (90%)
• Richard (90%)
• Nate (85%)
• Trinity (100%)
• Bekkah (100%)
• DaShawn (90%)
• Leah (80%)
• Deacon (85%)

Way to go everyone! Keep up the great work!

2nd Trimester Exhibition Information

Parents and Students --
I know it is early still, but I really want to make sure students are ahead of the plan for 2nd trimester exhibitions this time. In class, students have had time to work on 4 of their projects already. By Monday, the following projects MUST be done, in order to go to the dance next Friday, December 18th:

• Bar graph of average high and low temperatures throughout the year
• Pie graph of ethnicities (using percents that should add up to 100%)
• Pie graph of religions (using percents that should add up to 100%)
• Pie graph of languages spoken (using percents that should add up to 100%)

Students will have some extra time on Thursday and Friday to complete these items in class, but printing will be up to them. I did print some graphs off for those students done by Monday of this week, but I am unable to continue doing that, so it is up to the students to get their graphs printed and turned in to me by Monday. Please do not come into class on Monday and say that you have them but they are on a flash drive, in your email, or at home. You MUST have them printed off and ready to physically give to me by Monday.

If you have finished these four graphs, the next things to be completed are:

• Currency -- find the "exchange rate" in your country, using $1 US. In other words, you will look for something that says $1 US = ________ (fill in the blank with the money of your country)
• Plants/flowers -- minimum of 3 -- pictures and a description of each are necessary
• Animals -- minimum of 3 -- pictures and a description of each are necessary
• General weather -- seasons, rainfall, snowfall, does the country get hurricanes/earthquakes/typhoons/monsoons, etc.

Can you believe once we get our four graphs done and the next four topics that were mentioned above, that we'll be almost half way done????

FYI -- Students will need a binder and page protectors for their final "book" they will make with all their information.

Weekly News

This week in Math, it is my hope that all students will master adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. We will review how to multiply and divide, as those were the most recent concepts I taught. We will then review all four operations and have a quiz over all four operations later in the week! Remember, I do have tutoring from 3:30-4:30 after school on Monday only for those students that want extra practice.

In Science, the students will begin their third unit entitled "Erosion and Deposition". Students will begin to look at the affects of construction on the land and how if affects soil, rocks, and the rest of the environment.

In Advisory, students will continue to have time to work on their math graphs for their country. By the end of the week, it is assumed that all students will have their graphs for ethnicity, religion, language, and temperature. Any students that do not have these projects done will be at risk of not being able to attend the dance that will be taking place next week Friday, right before holiday break!

Parents, please don't forget that we will be having an Honor's Assembly on Tuesday from 9-10am in the school gym to honor those students that did an excellent job last trimester. Students that will be receiving an award were notified last week and given a note to take home, so feel free to ask your child if you are unsure if your child will receive one.

Science Superstars!

I am very pleased to announce the following people for passing the Science Unit Test on Rocks, with an 80% or higher!

• Christina (88%)
• Richard (88%)
• Nate (85%)
• Bekkah (100%)
• DaShawn (96%)
• Leah (85%)
• Khaila (92%)

I appreciate the hard work you all put towards studying for this test. It was a bit harder than past tests and your studying paid off! Congratulations!

Friday's Taste-off

On Friday, we will be having a "taste-off" of healthy foods. On Monday, students got a booklet with the information, but in case you forgot, here it is again. Students are asked to bring in a healthy dish, along with the recipe, to share with their class. Students only need enough for each student in their class to have a small taste. There will be judges to judge the taste and healthiness of their food as well, and small awards will be presented. This will take place from 10:30-11am Friday morning, so I hope to see some students participate. Who has the best-tasting and healthy food?