Literature 6-3

Friday's classtime was spent defining mythology, writing down many natural events that occur in our world, and looking at examples of how stories can be used to explain natural events.  This is a story students were given as an example:  When the Earth was being formed, an underground goddess named Magma found her husband with a human girl and she was so mad that she punched a hole through the earth upwards and thorugh the hole she spit out fire because of her anger.  She left her husband and wanders the world in sorrow.  Everytime she remembers this event, another volcano erupts.  This is why volcanoes erupt around the world.

ASSIGNMENT: students were given class time to choose two natural events and write a myth explaining how each event came to be, how/why it occurs, etc.  Each story only has to be ONE paragraph (around 5 sentences -- NOT full-length story) and must include at least one god or goddess and may include humans.

FOR EXTRA CREDIT: (L.A.)EACH EXTRA STORY THAT THE STUDY CREATES THAT HAS ALL THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS IN THE DIRECTIONS.

(SKILLS/SOC. STUDIES) STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE 5 BONUS POINTS FOR EACH GRADE-LEVEL APPROPRIATE BOOK DONATED TO THE "WALKER FOUNDATION" (MY CLASSROOM LIBRARY).  THE BOOK MUST BE IN FAIR ENOUGH CONDITION THAT IT IS NOT FALLING APART, WITH COVERS AND PAGES INTACT. 

4th pd Social Studies:Colonialism and Slavery in Africa  Video Notes and Fill-in-the Blank answers will be due along with the video's  4 discussion questions that will be counted as two test grades.  The handouts with the Fill-in-the-Blank questions and discussion questions will be attached in the "files" section of this web site. 

CAREER DAY LANGUAGE ARTS ASSIGNMENT DUE TUESDAY:

1^ST PARAGRAPH : Information  about how to gain education/experience for a career .  Include at least two speakers’ names (or the organization they were from) and the specific steps one must consider when trying ot reach any career

2^nd PARAGRAPH: School subjects and the skills related to those subjects that are needed/used/required for each of the five career speakers that you heard today.  Be detailed and give examples of how the subject area would be used or help to be successful in the career field.

SKILLS: 2ND chapter book summaries/analysis of characters based on the questions I gave students to guide them in including important details in the summaries and not every single detail of each chapter.  Main character details and reflections on how the character changes throughout the novel, the conflicts they go through, the theme of the book, etc. are expected to be present in the summary.

3rd chapter book due by May 9th; 4th chapter book due by May 16th.  Any additional fictional books completed will be added as extra test grades (extra credit) and non-fiction books may be done for extra credit IF they are approved by me first.

Soc. Studies: African Colonialism and Slavery Video 1: notes and fill-in-the-blank questions will be a classwork grade and will be handed in with the four discussion questions that will be counted as TWO TEST GRADES. ALL OF THIS IS DUE NEXT TUESDAY.

1pd: finish making 10 compound sentences done in class to continue activity tomorrow (and h.w. grade).  Bracket individual clauses to be sure that you have the appropriate # of clauses (2) and type (both independent).  *Be sure the conjunction is not subordinating!

2pd: same as above EXCEPT have AT LEAST 7 sentences. 

SS:--> lFinish labeling/coloring map worked on in class today.

• Skills class: Chapter book summaries should reflect each student's (1)understanding of the characters (main and minor), how they change emotionally or physically/psychologically, (2)provide details on the setting and how it affects the story or characters, and most importantly, (3) provide the main, important events that lead up to the climax of the story in each chapter.  IT IS NOT NECESSARY for students to include every minute detail that occurs unless it is an important event.  For instance if the main character goes to school and has a bad day because of trouble with her friends, but this event does not have any true importance or significance, the student may not include it, or if they do they may simply write, "Main character's bad day made her sad the rest of the day, causing her to be a little depressed about her friends".  MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.  QUALITY IS BETTER THAN QUANTITY.

Every student MUST read/complete summaries for the book Z for Zachariah which has been in class since last nine weeks and is available for student check-out through me daily.  It must be turned in by the last due date or may be turned in sooner.

DUE DATES: 2ND SET OF SUMMARIES DUE 4/27 3RD SET OF SUMMARIES DUE 5/4 4TH SET DUE 5/16.

• SOCIAL STUDIES: CRCT is coming Wednesday.  Students were given some informational maps and info. on Australia and the Pacific.  They are to read Section 3 in the packet and write at least 13 interesting things they learn or facts from the pages.  They may write it on the back of their handouts or on another sheet of paper. DUE TOMORROW THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ALSO EXPLORE THE REST OF THE PACKET AND REVIEW THE JEOPARDY LINKS ON MRS. LIX'S WEB SITE.