Summertime

Have a good summer, and read some--it will do you a lot of good! Also, get outside and enjoy nature.

3/24

Tuesday:
6th graders watched current events, then labelled their Europe maps. Know your 15 countries for Friday's quiz!

8th graders also had CNN Student News, then read about Reconstruction (the South after the Civil War). Homework was only if you did not finish the reading, questions, and sheet with the map comparison questions.

3/23

Monday:
6th graders had CNN Student News, then labelled their Europe maps. Know your countries--map quiz next Monday.

7th graders had current events, then practiced labelling their South Asia maps--quiz on Wednesday, so know the countries and features!

3/20

Friday:
6th graders had current events, then read about Renaissance, Revolutions in Government, and the Industrial Revolution. We answered questions about sections 15-2 and 15-3 in class. Homework was to check edline and get outside.

7th graders had student news, then labeled maps of South Asia. We will have a map quiz next Wednesday. After labelling the maps we explored the map games on Funbrain and maps.com (use the Asia ones--they will help you with the map test!).

3/19

Thursday:
6th grade had current events, then read about the Industrial Revolution in the text and answered its questions. We had no homework.

8th grade had CNN, then finished the "putting order of American History events" assignment. We had no homework.

3/18

Wednesday:
6th grade watched Student News; did research on a Renaissance person; then explored two other Renaissance websites. There was no homework.

7th graders completed the Everest program and assignment, did some online research about climbing Everest, and (if time) explored the Discovery Channel's interactive Climbing Everest site. There was no homework.

3/17

Tuesday:
6th grade had student news, then read section 15-2 from the text (about Renaissance and Revolution). We answered questions about the section in class. No homework was assigned.

8th graders did an assignment researching the dates of important events in American history and putting them in chronological order. We will finish these on Thursday.

3/16

Monday:
6th grade had student news, then completed the Italians program. We turned in our notes/essays about the program, and had no homework.

7th grade had CNN, then watched Everest and worked on their journal entries for it. There was no homework given.

3/13

Friday:
6th grade had homework due (Renaissance and Revolution questions); we watched current events, then had our wrapup on Mona Lisa and the Renaissance. No homework was assigned.

8th grade had CNN, then explored a civil war website from the History Channel. Glory questions must have been turned in by today. No hw.

3/12

Thursday:
6th grade had student news, then researched two famous Renaissance people and did a written assignment about them.

8th grade had homework due; we finished watching Glory and turned in our written questions about the film.

3/11

Wednesday:
6th grade continued our wonderful world of Italy (after student news). There was no homework today.

7th grade finished their atlas activities by using both the print (book) and online atlases. Those who had time also worked on "Which one does not belong: Asia" using the atlases and wikipedia. There was no homework.

3/10

Tuesday:
6th grade began with Student News, then did two web activities.
First, we researched two Renaissance people--what they did, and why it was important; Secondly, we explored Leonardo's workshop through a time machine to save the Mona Lisa and other da Vinci treasures. There was no homework given.

8th grade had current events, then continued Glory and its writing assignment. We should finish the film on Thursday. Homework was the reading and questions about the Civil War.

3/9

Monday:
6th grade began the awesome progam about Italy and its writing assignment. Homework was to find Italian things at home and write down some of them.

7th grade turned in chapter 30 questions and Coorain homework if they did not do so on Friday. We had current events, read the story "The Coconut Tree," and did an atlas activity (How High and Find a Mate).
For information that we could not find in the books, we looked online at:
Encarta online atlas
For the mountains, you may also use Wikipedia.

3/6

Friday:
6th grade looked at Madrigals--the original "Pop" music--from the Renaissance. We ended class working on our Mona Lisas. No homework.

7th grade finished the questions from Chapter 30 section 2, then made up any missing work. We also turned in our "Road From Coorain" homework. There was no new homework assigned.

3/5

Thursday:
6th grade had CNN Student News, then we looked at the first "pop" music--Renaissance madrigals. We read some of the lyrics, and also listened to three songs. Homework was to check edline to make sure that all of your work is in.

8th grade also had current events, then 1) did a short quiz on the Gettysburg Address and 2) continued watching Glory. Homework was also to check edline to make sure that all of your work is turned in.

3/4

Wednesday:
6th grade reviewed the Renaissance, had current events, and worked on their Mona Lisas. Homework was to be artistic.

7th grade had CNN Student News, then we read Chapter 30, section 1 out loud together--about Australia--and tried to finish the questions for that section. Homework was to check edline for any missing work & turn it in.

3/3

Tuesday:
6th grade had current events, then explored a bit of Florence, Italy (one of the birthplaces of the Renaissance). Lastly we did a web activity involving a time machine trip and mystery to save the Mona Lisa for Leonardo da Vinci. There was no homework.

8th grade had current events, discussed the Gettysburg Address, looked at the causes of the Civil War and how it split the nation, and began Glory. Homework is to look at the Gettysburg Address and think about why it is considered to be such a great speech.

2/27

Friday:
6th grade had current events and worked on Mona Lisa. There was no homework; Renaissance music and art next week.

8th graders retook their states quiz if needed, read about child labor and the Republican Party right before the Civil War (and answered questions), and lastly had the Gettysburg Address for homework. Memorize it--it's short!

2/26

Thursday:
6th grade had CNN student news, read pages 4-6 of the Renaissance packet, and worked on our da Vinci masterpieces. There was no homework.

8th grade had student news, a short quiz on the homework from last class (which we checked), and (lastly) read 52-55, then answered page 58. Any extra time was devoted to our Language Arts novels.

2/25

Wednesday:
6th graders had current events, then explored French cuisine. There was no homework.

7th graders also had current events, then had a mind-bending activity about Australian slang--we tried to figure out real terms and what they mean Down Under.

2/24

Tuesday:
6th grade explored French culture through a rat. There was no homework; we shall return to the Renaissance on Thursday.

8th grade had current events, read their slavery essay homework to their neighbor, and read a short bit of information about why people moved westward during the 1840s. There will be a quiz on that material Thursday, so study!

2/20

Friday:
6th graders took a quiz on the first half of the Renaissance packet, then watched current events.

7th graders had current events, then finished, printed out, and turned in their research & essay on an Australian animal. There was no homework.

2/19

Thursday:
6th graders started off with an open-notes quiz on the first half of the Renaissance packet; afterwards they explored a nifty website about (the genius and Renaissance man) Leonardo da Vinci's workshop. Read the directions carefully on the website, and have fun with it!

8th graders began with their 50 states quiz, which we checked in class. We then worked on a choice of two essays about slavery in the United States; homework was to finish these essays if you did not do so in class.

2/18

Wednesday:
6th graders watched CNN Student News, then read about the marvelous beginnings of the Renaissance. Study pages 1-3 for Friday.

7th graders had current events, then worked hard on their Austalian animal research and short paper. We will finish these in class on Friday; make sure they are well written. Homework was to complete the Australian flag and Australian animals wordsearch (due Friday).

2/17

Tuesday:
6th graders watched CNN student news, then read about how the Renaissance began in Europe, ending the Middle Ages. Homework is to read (carefully!) pages 1-3 of the Renaissance packet.

8th graders watched current events, then either worked on studying for their quiz Thursday or gave their skits and then read pages 23-26 and answered pages 30 & 39. Study for your states quiz Thursday!

You may play any of the games below, and also any other geography games that are on those sites (directly). Use them to study!

Interactive Map of the US
US Map and Puzzle
Match the States Quiz
Click on the State
Jayzee Bear's Wacky Match the States Game

2/13

Friday:
6th graders watched current events then discussed the end of feudalism and the Middle Ages. There was no homework.

8th graders either presented their early America skits or studied for their quiz next week.

2/12

Thursday:
6th grade had current events, then read about the Magna Carta and how it took away power from King John. We turned in our fact/opinion questions.

8th grade either read pages 23-26 and answered pages 30 & 39, or worked on their early America skits. Quiz next Thursday on the 50 states!

2/11

Wednesday:
6th graders turned in their Middle Ages Business signs, watched student news, read about the Magna Carta (Great Charter) where the meanie King John lost a lot of his power, and finished with a summary of why the Middle Ages and feudalism ended. Next Wednesday we will begin the Renaissance! No homework today.

7th graders had their Australia/New Zealand map quiz, watched current events, and began working on a Oceania animal project. No homework was given.

2/10

Tuesday:
6th graders watched current events, read about medieval towns, and began designing signs for businesses in the Middle Ages. Homework was to finish these signs (in color).

8th graders watched CNN Student News, had a short reading assignment about 1815-1825 and a quiz, then had time work on their historical skits. No homework was given.

11/9

Monday:
6th graders had current events, read about medieval towns, and began designing signs for medieval businesses. The sign designs are due Wednesday.

7th graders watched current events, did some map review on Australia, received a practice map for Wednesday's quiz, and began working on a short packet about New Zealand. The packet is due Wednesday, and the Australia/New Zealand map quiz is also Wednesday. Study hard and study often!!

2/6

Friday:
6th graders watched current events, read about medieval food, and had a Robin Hood acrostic poem which we turned in.

7th graders received and labeled their Australia/New Zealand maps; your map quiz is next Wednesday.

2/05

Thursday:
6th graders had current events, read about what people ate in the Middle Ages, and created their own acrostic poem about Robin Hood. Illuminated art homework was also due today; no homework for next class.

8th graders watched Stuent News, checked papers about 1800-1820, and then began working on their skits in small groups. Star Spangled Flag Art was due today.

2/4

Wednesday:
6th graders did not have my class, due to Mother Nature and her snowflakes.

7th graders began Australia/New Zealand/Oceania today. We read the Activity Atlas in the textbook (pages 544-549 and answered questions from it--we will check these on Friday); afterward students could explore National Geographic's website about Australia. There was no homework if you finished the atlas questions.

2/3

Tuesday:
6th grade classes watched Student News, discussed illumination (the colorful, detailed decoration of something written during the Middle Ages), and then began working on their own name in an illuminated form. The name art is due on Thursday--make them look spiffy!

8th graders read about the time period from 1800 (Jefferson's election as President) to 1820 (after the War of 1812 was over) and answered questions about the reading. Homework was to finish the assignment about the Star-Spangled Banner, including your U.S. flag with the lyrics to one verse written on the stripes. These are due Thursday.

2/2

Monday:
6th graders watched Student News; shared one of their questions for King Richard the Lion Heart, and worked on their Middle Ages story, including its artwork (illumination). Make them look good, and they are due Wednesday.

7th graders had their last day to work on Africa projects. Please make sure that you clipped ALL of your group's work together before placing it in the class drawer. No homework today.

1/31

Friday:
6th graders discussed why Israel is called the Holy Land, read about the Crusades, and completed the questions to ask King Richard the Lion Heart (and the crusades word jumble). No homework was given.

8th graders completed a Louisiana Purchase webquest after current events. No homework!

1/30

Happy Friday!
6th graders went over the Crusades--what they were, when they happened, and their results. Afterwards we had time to choose from the following sites:
Life in the Middle Ages
Mr. Dowling's Passport to the Crusades
What was it really like to live in the Middle Ages?
Art of the Middle Ages (click on the gallery pictures on the left)
No homework!

8th grade classes had their Lewis and Clark sketch due, then we finished the L & C program and its questions. No homework.

1/29

Thursday:
6th grade classes took their Middle Ages vocabulary quiz, checked it, and then had some time to work on extra stained glass window designs. If you did not do well on your quiz, be ready to make up for it tomorrow--study harder!

8th grade classes turned in or showed their Lewis and Clark wildlife sketches, then finished the L & C program. Anyone who did not finish answering their discussion questions should be ready to turn them in tomorrow.

1/28

Wednesday:
6th graders took their Middle Ages vocabulary quiz; had current events; and read about the Crusades. We finished with the questions for King Richard the Lion Heart and the crusade word scramble. We will go over these next Monday; otherwise there is no homework.

7th grade: I only had the Bell homeroom today, for two class periods, and it was the last time we will work on African country projects. We have had many hours to work on them, and they should be great. No homework, and this homeroom has the writing test with Mrs. Hartle next Monday for both afternoon periods.

1/27

Tuesday:
6th grade classes watched current events, then received their Middle Ages vocabulary list. We went over the words, and also how to study for Thursday's quiz. Afterwards we looked at medieval art and how it was religious and usually more 2-D than 3-D. Study for the quiz!

8th grade classes had current events as well, then worked on and turned in their "Describe an Animal Like Lewis & Clark" assignment. This was typed on MS Word, and included both a detailed description of the "new" animal and also a picture of it. Thursday we will finish Lewis & Clark.

1/26

Monday:
6th grade watched CNN, checked our questions about the Middle Ages, and went over the Middle Ages vocabulary and ways to study it. Homework is to study for Wednesday's quiz.

7th grade worked on Africa projects, which are due next week. Be ready to present on Monday; remember that you only present the highlights/most interesting things about your country.

1/23

Friday:
6th grade read about Music and Art in the Middle Ages, answered three questions about what we had read, and looked on the smartboard at medieval art. No homework was assigned.

7th grade worked on Africa projects after watching student news. No homework.

1/22

Thursday:
6th graders had a spiffy presentation about Medieval music by Brother Brad; stained glass window design homework was due, and your homework for next week is to listen to music.

8th graders continued the Lewis & Clark program, along with its questions. Remember to work on your sketching wildlife assignment between now and next Tuesday.

1/21

Wednesday:
6th graders had a great presentation about Music in the Middle Ages by Brother Brad. Stained glass homework was due, and Friday's homework was to listen to (non-deafening) music.

7th graders worked on their country projects; remember to follow all steps in order and do your best on them. No homework.

1/15

Thursday:
6th grade classes watched Student News; took notes, read about, answered questions, and discussed monks and hermits during the Middle Ages; homework was the reading about cathedrals and your stained glass window art design, due next Tuesday.

8th grade classes continued Lewis & Clark and the questions that go with the program. No homework!

1/14

Wednesday:
6th grade classes discussed what a monk is and what a hermit is, then read some about why some men in the Middle Ages chose religious communities or separation. After turning in the questions about these two professions, we had some time to work on the homework, which was 1) reading about medieval cathedrals, and 2) creating our own stained glass window design. The window art is due next Wednesday, when we have a guest speaker coming to teach us about medieval music.

7th grade classes continued working on our Africa projects. Please remember to do the steps in order, focus, and do a great job on each part. No homework.

1/13

Tuesday:
6th grade classes watched Student News, read about the system of feudalism & answered questions about it, and then got to explore a couple of websites about the Middle Ages.
The websites were:
Step back in time
Ghosts in the Castle

1/12

Monday:
The 6th grade class viewed current events, finished their text questions about the Greeks, Romans, and Middle Ages, and had homework (that some people finished) about feudalism. The feudalism questions are due Wednesday if you did not finish.

7th grade classes also watched CNN, then began their African country projects. These may be either by a single person or with someone. Remember to do the steps in order and get each finished step approved by Mr. Griffith before moving on; there is a grade each day on how you focus and work. No homework!

1/09

Friday:
6th grade watched CNN student news, then worked on their typed comparisons of life in a castle versus life today. Homework was the "What a Life!" peasant journal entry, due Monday.

7th grade classes both *just* finished Duma and turned in its questions--thank goodness we finished just in time. There was no homework.

1/08

Thursday:
6th grade classes watched Student News, then finished writing and typing up their list about how living in a castle during the Middle Ages is different from life today (& also the question about how your life compares to that of a lord's son or daughter).
After finishing and turning in the assignment, students could either read or play any of the three games listed on Monday's blog entry.
No homework was assigned.

8th graders also watched current events, then did an assignment about the Bill of Rights, which were the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. If you did not finish all parts of the assignment (including the picture), they are due for homework next Tuesday.

1/07

Wednesday:
6th grade covered our Latin terms, watched CNN Student News, read a section about Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Middle Ages, and finally began answering questions about the reading. No HW.

7th grade discussed and turned in our African poetry hw, then continued Duma and writing its questions. No HW.

1/06

Tuesday:
6th grade watched CNN Student News, then read a section about the transition from Ancient Greece to Ancient Rome to the Middle Ages. We answered and turned in questions about the section. Thursday we will type up our list about living now compared to living in a medieval castle. No HW.

8th grade also watched CNN, then took brief notes about the US and its first law-creating document, the Articles of Confederation (and how it was a failure). Finally we read pages 43-46 about the early US government and answered questions which were turned in. No homework if you finished the questions.

1/05

Monday:
6th Grade finished their Latin (Roman) terms, and if they had time, they could also access the following sites:
Dress the Roman Soldier (go to Roman Empire, then Dress the Roman Soldier)
Fling the Teacher
Ancient Roman Streets: What Does Not Belong?
There was no homework.

7th grade classes read a section about modern Kenya and answered questions about the reading (questions were turned in). Afterward we began viewing Duma, with the assignment to write your own factual questions about the film/story. Homework was to read and answer questions about a poem written by an African poet.