6th Grade ELA: Using Homophones

Go to Homophones Matching Game

Go to Homophones Quiz


Note: These websites seem to work better with Firefox.

6th Grade Social Studies: The Diaspora

Answer the following question using complete sentences. You will probably need three to five sentences to adequately express your opinion using evidence.

What do you think of the Roman policy that some Jews could not live in Jerusalem and had to move to other parts of the Roman Empire? Was the Diaspora a good idea to help the Romans keep control, or was it unfair to the Jewish people? Give your thoughts and opinions.

7th Grade: Mongol Empire Blog Response

Answer the following question in four to five sentences.

Was Mongol rule good or bad for China? Explain your opinion using evidence.

7th Grade Social Studies: China

Click on this link to take a virtual tour: The Forbidden City

Click on this link to experience an interactive map: Map of the Forbidden City

6th Grade Poetry TEST

Choose a poem from the booklet, read it, complete the Semantic Features Map and then post the following:

1.) Name of poem:
2.) Literary Devices:
3.) Most important Literary Device:
4.) How does the most important Literary Device help the poet communicate meaning?
5.) What is the tone of this poem?
6.) Why?
7.) What is this poem about?

Agenda for the Week of November 10-14, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - None.
SS - Study for test for 30 minutes and get your agenda signed by a parent or guardian. Finish your review packet for Egypt.
Tuesday:
ELA - TBA
SS - TBA
Wednesday:
ELA - TBA
SS - TBA
Thursday:
ELA - TBA
SS - TBA
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Finish verb tenses packet.
SS - Review packet on West Africa.
Tuesday:
ELA - TBA
SS - TBA
Wednesday:
ELA - TBA
SS - TBA
Thursday:
ELA - TBA
SS - TBA
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None.


Have a great week!

Agenda for the Week of November 3-7, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Budget Vocabulary Matrix
SS - Egyptian art project
Tuesday:
ELA - Finish chapter markers and pictures for podcast.
SS - Get visuals for Flow Map
Wednesday:
ELA - Aaron's Gift context clues
SS - Hatshepsut iWeb project
Thursday:
ELA - Context Clues worksheet
SS - Ramses iWeb project
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Budget Vocabulary Matrix
SS - Finish Super-Sized Summary
Tuesday:
ELA - None.
SS - Review Worksheet on Lesson 2
Wednesday:
ELA - "Skinny Trees" reading companion
SS - Visuals for Tree Map
Thursday:
ELA - Figurative Language worksheet
SS - None.
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None.


Have a great week!

7th Grade Ticket Out the Door

Answer this question:

How did Islam influence Ghana, in West Africa?

Carve a Pumpkin

Wanna carve a pumpkin? Check it out! You can carve a virtual pumpkin here: Pumpkin Carving


Have a fun and safe holiday!

6th Grade: Poetry

Post a comment to answer this question: How do literary devices give meaning to poetry?

Next, choose a poem we have read and write what you like about it. Include both of these answers in your comment.

6th Grade: Pyramids

Go here to visit the pyramids and take a virtual tour. Have fun!

When you are finished touring, come back and post a response to this question: What are the pyramids and why were they important to Egyptian society? Your answer should be three to five sentences in length.

Agenda for the Week of October 27-31, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Budget Vocabulary.
SS - Budget Vocabulary.
Tuesday:
ELA - Figurative language worksheet (2-sided).
SS - Picture Dictionary for the words "pharaoh" and "mummy." (This is on paper.)
Wednesday:
ELA - "Walrus and the Carpenter" poem and questions.
SS - None.
Thursday:
ELA - "April Rain Song" poem and questions.
SS - Egyptian Pyramid Project
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - None.
SS - Finish and color map.
Tuesday:
ELA - Budget Vocabulary
SS - Come to tutoring to finish Comic Life. (This afternoon or tomorrow morning.)
Wednesday:
ELA - Finish reading companion for "Seventh Grade"
SS - None.
Thursday:
ELA - Finish writing summary of "Seventh Grade" and turn in a final copy tomorrow.
SS - Review worksheet.
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None.


Have a great week!

Agenda for the Week of October 20-24, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Finish writing the beginning, middle, and end on your narrative template (prewriting worksheet).
SS - Study for benchmark for 30 minutes using your flash cards and get a parent signature.
Tuesday:
ELA - Finish your draft in Word. Be ready to begin revising tomorrow.
SS - Finish your poster on the Nile River.
Wednesday:
ELA - Finish your revisions on your narrative. Be ready to keep working tomorrow.
SS - Finish illustrating your social pyramid for Egypt.
Thursday:
ELA - Edit your narrative using the editing checklist.
SS - Write your name in hieroglyphics and color your cartouche.
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - None.
SS - Study for the benchmark for 30 minutes and get a parent signature.
Tuesday:
ELA - Finish persuasive research and the first page of your narrative wizard prewriting worksheet. Finish your Budget Vocabulary Matrix if not done in class.
SS - None.
Wednesday:
ELA - Create an outline of your persuasive essay.
SS - None.
Thursday:
ELA - Have a draft of your persuasive essay ready to type into MyAccess tomorrow.
SS - None.
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None.


Have a great week!

Research For Persuasive Letter: 7th Grade

Students,

You are writing a persuasive letter to convince people that giving boys and girls separate classrooms is either a good idea or a bad idea. (Your position is your choice.) Here are some websites that are for or against single-sex classrooms. This is a good starting point for your research.

Websites and research in favor of separate schools:

Advantages of Single-Sex Education
Benefits of Single-Sex Schools
Single-Sex Education: What Does the Research Say?



Website and research NOT in favor of separate schools:

California Study: Single-Sex Schools No Cure-All
School District to Separate Boys and Girls
The Trouble With Single-Sex Schools

Homework for 7th Grade Social Studies

Answer the following questions in complete sentences. You will probably need to write 2-3 sentences for each question. Number each question accordingly.

Question #1: How does the excerpt of the Qur'an (which we read in class) describe the afterlife?

Question#2: How should a person deal with orphans and beggars, and why?

Go to these sites for FREE clip art:

Discovery Clip Art

and

More Clip Art

Parent Conferences

Hello Parents, Guardians, and Students!

An exciting event takes place this week - JWMS Parent Conferences. I strongly encourage you and your student to attend Conferences on Wednesday, October 15th, any time between 12:00-3:00pm. You are also able to attend Conferences on Thursday, October 16th, any time between 12:00-3:00 and 4:00-7:00om. No appointment is necessary. Simply bring your student(s), arrive in Room 201 within the designated time frames, and you will be able to speak to me (Mrs. Pack) about your child's academic and behavioral progress through the 6th or 7th grade.

I look forward to seeing you at Parent Conferences!

-Mrs. Pack

Agenda for the Week of October 13-17, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Write each spelling word three times. Complete foreign words worksheet.
SS - Study for test at least 30 minutes. Get a parent signature to say that you studied. (Write signature in Agenda.)
Tuesday:
ELA - Spelling homework (spelling pyramids)
SS - Test today. No homework.
Wednesday:
ELA - Spelling homework (three times each)
SS - Map of Egypt
Thursday:
ELA - Spelling homework (spelling pyramids)
SS - Map of Egypt
Friday:
ELA - Spelling test today. No homework
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Adjectives Worksheet
SS - Finish Qur'an Map and post on the Blog.
Tuesday:
ELA - Spelling homework
SS - Islam board game question cards
Wednesday:
ELA - Word Roots and Affixes practice, spelling homework
SS - Islam board game playing board, cube, and tokens
Thursday:
ELA - Spelling homework
SS - Study for test at least 30 minutes and get a parent signature
Friday:
ELA - Spelling test today. No homework
SS - None.


Have a great week!

Grammar Ninja

Play Grammar Ninja here!

6th Grade Technology

Go to Discovery Clip Art to find clip art pictures of people. Browse through the people pictures and click on the pictures to enlarge them. Drag and drop onto your project.

Foreign Words in English

Go to this Palm Springs Italian restaurant: Al dente

OR

Go to this Palm Desert French restaurant: Cuistot

We will be using these websites in class to look for frequently used foreign words in English. (Standard R.1.4) Can you find any other foreign words used in English? Write them down and bring them to class for discussion!

Agenda for the Week of October 6-10, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Finish interview in Pages
SS - Get pictures for timeline.
Tuesday:
ELA - Complete irregular verbs practice.
SS - Complete Budget Vocabulary Matrix
Wednesday:
ELA - Complete "ie/ei" spelling practice
SS - Find pictures for the timeline.
Thursday:
ELA - None
SS - Review Worksheet
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Write the final draft of your narrative and bring everything to turn in tomorrow. (Including all worksheets and prewriting.)
SS - The Hajj Journal
Tuesday:
ELA - Proper Nouns worksheet
SS - The Hajj Journal
Wednesday:
ELA - Reading Companion for "Was Tarzan a Three-Bandage Man?"
SS - The Hajj Journal
Thursday:
ELA - None
SS - None
Friday:
ELA - None.
SS - None.


Have a great week!

Saudi Arabia and California

Your assignment was to compare and contrast Saudi Arabia and California for 7th grade social studies. What did you find out that was a surprising similarity? What did you find out that was a surprising difference? Comment on this post and share your thoughts.

Take a Virtual Tour of Catal Huyuk

Click the link below to tour the archaeological dig site at Catal Huyuk (in modern day Turkey) and explore an ancient residence. Have fun!

Virtual Tour of Catal Huyuk

Tour the Hagia Sophia

Virtual Tour of the Hagia Sophia

6th Grade Question on Setting

Answer this under-the-surface question in about four or five sentences. Use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Check over your writing before you post your comment.

How would the story change if Walt Masters did not live in the Yukon?



Remember, answer in complete sentences.

Back to School Night

Tomorrow evening is Back to School Night at JWMS. I strongly recommend that you and your student attend, as it will give you a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers and find out about how JWMS classrooms function. Tomorrow night is also the perfect time to get information and ask questions regarding tutoring, expectations, the computer, and more. Please plan on attending Back to School night at JWMS from 6:30-8:00pm

See you there!

Agenda for the Week of September 15-19, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework. TBA means To Be Announced (in class).


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Catch up on Inspiration, if needed.
SS - Catch up on Comic Life, if needed.
Tuesday:
ELA - Budget Vocabulary
SS - None
Wednesday:
ELA - None
SS - Poster on irrigation using Pages. Be in my classroom for tutoring if you need time to find pictures for your project.
Thursday:
ELA - Finish Reading Companion
SS - Illustrate and color the Cycle Map you made in class.
Friday:
ELA - None
SS - None


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Finish Budget Vocabulary Matrix.
SS - Make a board game with 9 questions on the fall of Rome.
Tuesday:
ELA - Pages in the Companion (the ones we read in class).
SS - Finish board game, if not done last night.
Wednesday:
ELA - Reading Companion pages
SS - None.
Thursday:
ELA - Finish your Reading Companion.
SS - Justinian Code worksheet and finish/color your Picture Dictionary.
Friday:
ELA - None.
SS - None.


Have a great week!

7th Grade: Word Roots and Affixes

Use the links below to find out what a variety of affixes mean:

Website #1

Website #2

7th Grade: Question of the Day

Share your ideas on the following under-the-surface question: How can Rome's problems be solved?

6th Grade: What Do You Think?

Write a response to the following two under-the-surface questions. Answer in complete sentences with proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.


Why were tools important to Early Man?


What tool do you think was most useful to Early Man?

6th Grade Links for Today

Click on the appropriate link to navigate to the proper website:

6th Grade Technology Survey

6th Grade Early Man Toolkit

6th Grade Compound Nouns Matching

6th Grade Compound Nouns Practice

Lascaux Cave Paintings

BBC Caveman Challenge

Agenda for the Week of September 8-12, 2008

Hello, Students and Parents,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here is the Agenda for this week's classes. Please read carefully to make sure you are reading the homework for your grade level. Feel free to email me with any questions on homework.


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Budget Vocabulary Matrix.
SS - Create a poster on Lucy including text and visuals. Use your own words and the "Big Question" organizer as a reference. Posters should be colored and ready to turn in tomorrow.
Tuesday:
ELA - Vocabulary/Spelling exercises.
SS - Lucy poster, if not finished and turned in to the box.
Wednesday:
ELA - Tree Map, if not finished.
SS - None.
Thursday:
ELA - None.
SS - Finish toolkit worksheet.
Friday:
ELA - None.
SS - None.


7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
ELA - Finish Budget Vocabulary Matrix.
SS - Complete map activity (Roman Empire)
Tuesday:
ELA - Finish Story Grammar Map if needed.
SS - Complete unfinished classwork, catch up on timeline, if needed.
Wednesday:
ELA - Complete all of the Reading Companion. (Read and answer all questions.)
SS - Complete “The Big Question.”
Thursday:
ELA - Finish summary, final copy form to be turned in tomorrow.
SS - None.
Friday:
ELA - None.
SS - None.


Have a great week!

Welcome, Students and Parents!

I would like to welcome the sixth grade students in the 24/7 Program, and also welcome back the returning seventh grade students to the 24/7 Program. It is a pleasure to be involved with JWMS's laptop project again, and I look forward to a great new year! As some of you may already know, the purpose of this Blog is to communicate with Students and Parents outside of school. You can find homework assignments, homework help, anchor papers, useful Internet links, and more. Please find the Agenda below for the first week of school. (Students: Make sure you are either looking at the Sixth or Seventh Grade Agendas. Read carefully.)


6th Grade Agenda
Monday:
-No School
Tuesday:
ELA - Get Parent Letter signed.
SS - None.
Wednesday:
ELA - None.
SS - Map Worksheet
Thursday:
ELA - None.
SS - Create a map of an imaginary land and include all the features of a map.
Friday:
ELA - Paragraph to compare and contrast the first and last days of school (if not done in class)
SS - Finish map of an imaginary land (if not done last night)



7th Grade Agenda
Monday:
-No School
Tuesday:
ELA - Get Parent Letter signed.
SS - "Using Map Scale"
Wednesday:
ELA - Finish Word Mapping
SS - Latitude and Longitude Practice
Thursday:
ELA - Finish essay to compare and contrast the first and last days of school (writing sample)
SS - "Europe and the World"
Friday:
ELA - Last chance to finish the essay to compare and contrast the first and last days of school (if not done in class)
SS - None.

For 7th Grade

Play the Latitude and Longitude Game to practice your skills!

Agenda for the Week of May 27-30

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Period 2 - Finish Keynote. Period 6 - Finish and color drama Flip book.
Wednesday: Finish Budget Vocabulary (first three words).
Thursday: Finish Budget Vocabulary and Flow Map (with colored illustrations)
Friday: Bring props on Monday and have your lines memorized by Monday.


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Finish your Map (Period 7 - Also finish your achievements Flip Book if not done.)
Wednesday: Finish your Tree Map using pages 431-435 in the textbook.
Thursday: Review worksheet for Chapter 13, Lesson 1 (page 92), and finish your visuals for the Contrasting Vocabulary Map on patricians and plebians.
Friday: None.

Yet Another Survey for 24/7 Students...

If you are in the 24/7 Laptop Program, then today it is your job to take another survey for the school district. Thanks, guys!

Survey for Laptop Program

If you are a student in the JWMS 24/7 Laptop Program, please complete the following survey.

Thank you!

-Mrs. Pack

Roman Government Quiz

Now that you have learned about Roman society and government, answer the following questions:

1.) What are the two classes in Roman society?

2.) How many "branches" of government share the power in Rome?

3.) Which branch is in charge of making laws?

4.) Which branch are judges a part of?

5.) Besides ruling the people, what did the two consuls control?

Folk Tales for Class Today

Work with your partner to choose one of the following links to a folk tale. Read the folk tale carefully and begin working on your Folk Tale Keynote. Have fun!

Lord of the Cranes (A folk tale from China.)

Senor Coyote and the Cheese (A folk tale from Mexico.)

The Unfruitful Tree (A folk tale from England.)

How Selfishness Was Rewarded (A folk tale from Alaska.)

Agenda for the Week of May 19-23, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: P.2 - Budget Vocabulary Matrix P.6 - None.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: Finish your Reading Companion for tomorrow.
Friday: Finish whatever you did not finish in class with the substitute.


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: P.2 - Finish the Alexander Profile P.7 - Finish your "A Famous Greek" Profile for Alexander
Tuesday: P.2 - Mapping Activity P.7 - Bring any Alexander pictures you would like to add to your project tomorrow.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: Do NOT finish your Flip Book or Comic Life tonight. Save it for class tomorrow.
Friday: Finish your Flip Book (Period 7) or Comic Life (Period 3) and be ready to turn it in tomorrow. Flip Books should have colored pictures and Comic Life projects should have related images from the Internet.

Agenda for the Week of May 12 - 16, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish (draft, revise, edit) your Response to Literature essay and have a final copy (including all of your paperwork) ready to hand in tomorrow.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: Period 2 - None. Period 6 - Reading Companion for "Dragon, Dragon."


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Period 2 - None. Period 7 - Review Packet for the TEST tomorrow.
Tuesday: Period 2 - Review Packet for the TEST tomorrow. Period 7 - Study for the TEST tomorrow.
Wednesday: TEST today! No homework.
Thursday: None.
Friday: Period 3 - Finish your Alexander the Great Profile in iWeb. Period 7 - None.

Need Help Bustin' A Rhyme?

If you need help writing your Peloponnesian War Rap (or any other song you've got on your brain), try using this rhyming website:
RhymeZone

Simply type your word in the box, and RhymeZone will give you a list of rhyming words for it! Cool, huh?!

Now, go bust a rhyme...

Agenda for the Week of May 5 - May 9, 2008

Students at James Workman will begin taking the California State Tests on Tuesday. Testing will continue through Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no testing on Friday. Testing will resume Tuesday of next week. Sixth grade students will test in Language Arts on this Tuesday and Wednesday, and test in math this Thursday and next Tuesday. Good luck!



Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish your essay and have a final copy (including all of your paperwork) ready to hand in tomorrow.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: TBA
Thursday: TBA
Friday: TBA


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Color and illustrate Flow Map for the Peloponnesian War (between Athens and Sparta).
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: TBA
Thursday: TBA
Friday: TBA

Persian Wars Music Video

Persian Wars Flow Map Slides

Here are the slides from today's lesson. Use them to complete your Flow Map if you missed a slide. You can click on the slides to make them bigger so you can read the writing. Don't forget to color and illustrate your Flow Map tonight.

Agenda for the Week of April 28-May 2

Students at James Workman will begin taking the California State Tests on Tuesday. Testing will continue through Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no testing on Friday. Testing will resume Tuesday of next week. Sixth grade students will test in Language Arts on this Tuesday and Wednesday, and test in math this Thursday and next Tuesday. Good luck!




Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: None.
Tuesday: If you did not finish your Circle Map to brainstorm ideas for why civilizations depended on a river, then do it tonight.
Wednesday: Finish your essay Tree Map
Thursday: Finish drafting your essay
Friday: Make corrections to your essay based on the suggestions from your peer-editor.


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Color and illustrate Flow Map
Tuesday: Color and illustrate your first Circle Map ("strengthening democracy") using pages 393-394.
Wednesday: Color and illustrate your first Circle Map ("expanding the empire") using pages 393-394
Thursday: Color and illustrate your first Circle Map ("beautifying Athens") using pages 393-394
Friday: Finish and color MyPlace Profile.

Twist Text Online Game

This is my newest, favorite online word game. Make words from jumbled up letters and see how many points you can get! Team up with a friend or family member and do twice as well. Beat our (Mr. Pack and I) best score: 40,100 points!

Twist Text Online Game

Winners will be posted on my Blog and receive a special treat! (You must bring proof of your win.)

Have fun!

Agenda for the Week of April 21-28, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Create a Tree Map with examples of personal, demonstrative, and indefinite pronouns. (At least five for each branch.)
Tuesday: Worksheet page 230
Wednesday: Worksheet page 162, Parts of Speech Tree Map (verbs, nouns, pronouns, conjunctions)
Thursday: Standards Practice packet
Friday: None.


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Finish and illustrate your Double-Bubble Map on Direct and Indirect Democracy
Tuesday: Lesson 2-3 Review Worksheet.
Wednesday: Finish Athens Tree Map using page 381
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

CONGRATULATIONS!

The first annual Middle Schools of the Desert Film Festival was held in La Quinta this evening, at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School. Students from our class entered two of the three festival categories (Academic and Short Film), and supplied 10 of the 41 submissions in the festival as a whole. Workman students dominated the Academic movie category, and swept ALL of the awards!

First Place Academic Movie: Danielle C. and Jaclyn S.
Second Place Academic Movie: Isabel O.
Third Place Academic Movie: Katie B. and McKenna B.

If you see any of these students, shake their hand! Congratulations, Bighorns! :)

Play Grammar Ninja!

Go HERE to play the awesome grammar review game called Grammar Ninja!

Agenda for the Week of April 14-18, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.


Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish and color your Budget Vocabulary (French and Italian words).
Tuesday: Finish and color your Budget Vocabulary (Latin and Spanish words).
Wednesday: Finish writing a paragraph using foreign words correctly (Word Splash). Two-sided worksheet on foreign words.
Thursday: TBA
Friday: None.


Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Period 2 - Finish your Circle Map on the word "polis." Period 6 - Finish and color your Greek Religion Picture Dictionary. Have it ready to turn in tomorrow.
Tuesday: Period 2 - Finish your Comic Life on myths, epic poems, and fables. Period 6 - Finish your Circle Map on the word "polis" and draw illustrations.
Wednesday: Finish the entries we worked on today in your Greek Government Picture Dictionary.
Thursday: TBA
Friday: None.

FOR CLASS ON MONDAY

Go to this Palm Springs Italian restaurant: Al dente

OR

Go to this Palm Desert French restaurant: Cuistot

We will be using these websites in class to look for frequently used foreign words in English. (Standard R.1.4) Can you find any other foreign words used in English? Write them down and bring them to class for discussion!

Have a myth-related question?

Visit Myth Man, my favorite myth website! :)

Agenda for the Week of April 7 - April 11, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: None.
Tuesday: Take home a section of the newspaper. Choose an article (try to choose one with a picture or other visual), and cut out the WHOLE article (including picture). Read the article and highlight the main ideas (important information). Be ready to make a poster in class tomorrow!
Wednesday: Worksheet (p.14-15)
Thursday: Double-sided worksheet on popular media and finish your newspaper poster project. DUE TOMORROW.
Friday: None.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Period 2 ONLY - Redo or finish your Geography Practice Map. All Periods - p.33 Worksheet to Review
Tuesday: Period 2 - Finish the entries for "Zeus" and "Mount Olympus" in your Picture Dictionary. Color your visuals. Period 6 - Finish the entries for "Zeus," "Mount Olympus," and "myths" in your Picture Dictionary. Color your visuals.
Wednesday: Storyboard for "Persephone" (you must use between 6 and 8 boxes on your worksheet or in Pages).
Thursday: Storyboard for "Cyclops Cave" (you must use between 6 and 8 boxes on your worksheet or in Pages).
Friday: None.

Agenda for the Week of March 31 - April 4, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish your simile/metaphor poster.
Tuesday: Finish your personification project.
Wednesday: Finish your idiom poster.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Finish your Map of Greece.
Tuesday: Finish your flipbook and create a Circle Map on the geography of Greece.
Wednesday: Finish your List-Group-Label worksheet.
Thursday: Finish and color your Trade Tree Map using page 357 in the textbook.
Friday: None.

Agenda for the Week of March 14 - March 17, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish Budget Vocabulary Matrix and Vocabulary Map.
Tuesday: Finish page 85 worksheet on foreshadowing. Make sure you have chosen one character trait and explained it on your Tree Map for a character from "Lob's Girl."
Wednesday: Study for the benchmark test by completing the Review Packet for Language Arts.
Thursday: BENCHMARK in class today! No homework.
Friday: NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Finish and color Silk Roads map (with a key)
Tuesday: Finish your Tree Map for the Silk Roads. (Classify the information you highlighted in your reading packet.)
Wednesday: Study for Benchmark test tomorrow by completing the Review Packet for Social Studies.
Thursday: BENCHMARK in class today! No homework.
Friday: NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

Technology: Period 5

Monday: Create your iMovie.
Tuesday: Create your iMovie.
Wednesday: Create your iMovie
Thursday: Create your iMovie
Friday: Finish your iMovie over Spring Break.

Continuing Your iMovie Project...

Students,

Once your script has been approved by Miss Plutschuck or myself, you may begin collecting photos and visuals for your iMovie. Remember, when you are trying to find photos for use on the Internet, you need to find photos that are NOT under copyright. (Copyright is when words, visuals, or music are protected by law. No one may use them but the person who created them.) If you are drawing your own pictures, please remember that your drawings must be as perfect as possible and should be colored. Use visuals from the Internet for inspiration and choose what you want to draw carefully. If you are searching for materials on the Internet, please watch out for the following symbol, which means that something is under copyright:




If you have any questions, comment on this post during this period and I will answer your comment. Also, you can email me at any time and I will get back to you. Good Luck!

-Mrs. Pack

Technology Class Assignment for the Week of March 10th

Hello Students,

Thank you for working so hard and being such good students while I am recovering from my emergency surgery. I don't know if anyone has told you, but I had to have my gallbladder removed last week. A gallbladder is a small organ inside your body that helps digests food and mine was sick, so the doctors took it out. I hope to be back in school next Monday. In the mean time, remember to be good and follow these directions, please:

You should still be writing your iMovies for the film festival. I am worried that I am not there with you to give you more guidance, but you need to go back and read the requirements if you have any questions. Remember, we are going into this film festival as the underdogs, and there is no room for us to make any mistakes. Writing your film is the most important stage of production. You should have a finished Circle Map, with your original idea, and a completed Tree Map that outlines all your main ideas. Now, you need a very detailed script that tells EVERYTHING you will do for your movie and EXACTLY what it will look like. Write your script on paper or on the computer, but remember that every member of your team needs to have written a copy in case someone is ever absent.

Scripts tells exactly what pictures, voice overs, or music you will try to use. Your script needs to be approved by Miss Plutschuck or me before you can begin taking/collecting pictures or creating music. If you have a social studies or language arts script, you can have a parent email your script to me as an attachment (so it might be better if you type it out in Word) and I will give you approval to begin the rest of production. If you are math or science, you need to work approval out with Miss Plutschuck. ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR YOUR SCRIPT, CAN YOU BEGIN THE REST OF PRODUCTION.

Notes About Scripts:
1. Every time the topic changes or a new person speaks, you need a new paragraph.
2. Be specific about what pictures you will show for each scene.
3. Make sure your title, name, and period are on the top of your script.

Questions? Post a comment to this post and check back for a response. I will be online today during fifth period, checking this Blog. Please post only if you have questions. Also, email is always a good way to get questions answered.

Other Things to Remember in My Absence:
1. No iChat or other applications.
2. Be on-task and work as if I am in the room with you.
3. Treat your substitute with respect this week. You should have the same person all week. They are my special guest, so mind your manners, please.

Talk to you soon,

Mrs. Pack

Film Festival iMovies

Students,

This is a friendly reminder that you are not to begin taking pictures or filming your iMovie yet. You are still working on the most important stage of your iMovie process, which is brainstorming and writing a general timeline for what you plan to show in your video. It is very important that you do not begin putting your movie together until you have had a Tree Map timeline approved by Mrs. Pack or Ms. Plutschuck.

Following approval, you will be able to write your script. Only after your script has been approved will you be able to begin filming or collecting images. Please stay focused and follow these directions to ensure that you iMovie is a quality production and worthy of being entered in the Middle School Film Festival.

See this website for contest rules, prizes, and other information.

Click on the images below to enlarge them and see my example Tree Map for my example iMovie.

Thank you,

Mrs. Pack

Double Bubble Pattern for Homework on 02/27/08

**Click on the picture to make it bigger.**

Ticket Out The Door Question For Class on 02/27/08:

Answer the following two-part question by commenting on the Blog with your response. Use facts to support your opinions:


Why do you think that the Huang-He (Yellow) River Valley was the most settled place in China? Why do you think it continues to be the most settled place today?

We Made The News!

Last Friday, shortly after the JWMS roll-out of laptop computers for students to take home, the Cathedral City Sun published a short article on the JWMS program. Check it out here on MyDesert.com. A few of our students are even quoted! :) How exciting...

Zhou Tree Map categories for tonight's homework:

**Click on the photo to make it bigger. You will be able to see the headings for your Tree Map.**

Agenda for the Week of February 25 - February 29, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Budget Vocabulary (Words: horde, tentative, halfhearted, and apparatus.)
Tuesday: Budget Vocabulary (Words: unseasonable, incredulous, pantomime, zeal)
Wednesday: Two character traits for Luke on the Knowing a Character Log.
Thursday: Finish your Budget Vocabulary and your Knowing a Character Log.
Friday: None.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Shang Dynasty Tree Map
Tuesday: Finish your Zhou Tree Map. (See above post for categories.)
Wednesday: Double-Bubble Map to compare the Shang and Zhou Dynasties of China.
Thursday: None.
Friday: Finish your note cards on China if you did not do so in class.

Technology: Period 5

Monday: None.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: Finish as much of your two Circle Maps as possible for your Film Festival iMovie.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Introduction to China

Go here to experience the Earth Album for Social Studies!

Thank You, Parents!

Dear Parents,

Thank you for taking an active interest in your son or daughter’s academic progress by choosing to attend parent conferences on February 13th and 14th, 2008. It was great to talk with all of you, and it was a pleasure to meet those of you whom I had not met before. I really appreciated having the opportunity to discuss your child’s behavior and academic welfare.
I would like to invite you to keep track of the Agenda and class announcements for Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology by visiting my Blog at the following address:

http://www.packwoman.blogspot.com

I also invite you to email me with any future questions or concerns. You may reach me at the following email address: jpack@psusd.us

Thank you once again for your continued support of your child’s academic progress!
Sincerely,


Mrs. Pack

Agenda for the Week of February 19 - February 22, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish your Budget Vocabulary Matrix. Spelling pyramids.
Tuesday: Period 2 - "Spotted Cats" CST Practice and Finish your Budget Vocab. Period 6 - Spelling pyramids and Budget Vocabulary Matrix.
Wednesday: Period 2 - Spelling pyarmids and spelling 5 times each. Period 6 - Spelling five times each
Thursday: Snapshot visuals and your choice of spelling homework.
Friday: Period 2 - "The Leaning Tower" CST Practice. Read the questions, highlight important information, and answer the questions. Flip back and forth between the selection and the questions.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday: Period 3 - Finish podcast as much as possible. Periods 3 & 7 - Finish review worksheets.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: Map of China
Friday: Finish your Tree Map on Geography of China.

Technology: Period 5

Monday: None.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Parent Conferences

Parent Conferences will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, February 13, from 12 to 3 and 4 to 5:45PM in Room 208. From 6 - 7:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room, Ms. Plutschuck and I will be attending the 24/7 Laptop Roll-Out Celebration.

Additional Parent Conferences will be held Thursday, February 14, from 12 to 3PM in Room 208.

Agenda for the Week of February 11 - February 15, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish your Budget Vocabulary Matrix. Spelling pyramids.
Tuesday: Period 2 - Finish worksheet page 71-72 and spelling five times each. Period 6 - Spelling five times each and finish worksheet from class.
Wednesday: Spelling pyramids. Worksheet page 257.
Thursday: Spelling five times each. Finish worksheet.
Friday: None.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday: Period 7 - Brochure sections on geography, the caste system, and the cover. Period 3 - Finish your script if it's not done.
Wednesday: Period 7 - Brochure sections on Buddhism and Hinduism. Period 3 - Finish collecting pictures for your enhanced podcast.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Technology: Period 5

Monday: None.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Buddhism WebQuest:

The search begins here.

A search engine you might use is Google.

Pay attention to KEY WORDS and search the Internet carefully!

Have fun!

Agenda for the Week of February 4-February 8, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Finish your Budget Vocabulary Matrix. Spelling pyramids.
Tuesday: Finish the one or two questions in your Companion. Spelling words five times each. Page 83 worksheet.
Wednesday: Finish the questions in your Companion. Spelling pyramids.
Thursday: Spelling words five times each. CST Practice - "Letter the the Editor"
Friday: Period 2 - India Podcast Script. Period 6 - None.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Finish and color your Vocabulary Pre-Teach visuals. Make a Double-Bubble Map to compare Buddhism and Hinduism.
Tuesday: Draw and color illustrations for your Tree Map on the Mauryas.
Wednesday: Draw and color illustrations for your Tree Map on the Guptas.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Technology: Period 5

Monday: None.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Tutoring

Extra help with assignments, make-up work time, and answers to questions will be available most mornings before school from 7:00-7:40AM. (There are some exceptions to availability, and a sign will be posted on the door if help is unable to be offered.)

Otherwise, tutoring is offered on an individual basis in the form of an extra Language Arts class on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons until 2:45PM. This is called Invitational Tutoring and students must be invited to attend.

Please send me an email with any questions you may have about my tutoring times.

Agenda for the Week of January 28-February 1, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: Period 2 - None. Period 6 - Finish the one or two questions left on the yellow worksheet.
Tuesday: Finish Budget Vocabulary Matrix
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: TBA
Friday: None.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: Period 3 - Finish and color both worksheets on the caste system and Aryans. Period 7 - Finish the front side of "The Aryans Move Into India" using page 228 and the rules for the caste system discussed in class.
Tuesday: Finish visuals on your Tree Map on Hinduism.
Wednesday: Make a final version of your Double Bubble Map (to compare and contrast Hinduism and another religion). Include visuals and color them, please. Due tomorrow.
Thursday: TBA
Friday: None.

Technology: Period 5

Monday: None.
Tuesday: TAKE HOME YOUR PARENT LETTER ABOUT UPCOMING 24/7 MEETINGS.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Indian Folk Tale

Go here to listen and watch a folk tale from India. It is called "The Rupee Tree." Check it out!

Agenda for the Week of January 21, 2008

Hello Students! Please find your Agenda listed in the space below. All homework for the week so far is shown. "TBA" is an abbreviation that means "To Be Announced." If you see TBA, then you know that I will tell you what the homework is in class.




Language Arts: Periods 2 & 6
Monday: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday: Finish your Budget Vocabulary ("Thunder Butte") and answer the first question on the Companion.
Wednesday: Read and finish pages 1 and 2 in your Companion.
Thursday: Do pages 5 and 6 in your Companion.
Friday: Do pages 7 and 8 in your Companion.





Social Studies: Periods 3 & 7
Monday: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday: Finish and color your map of India
Wednesday: Finish and color your flipbook and tree map on pages 219-220.
Thursday: None.
Friday: Harappan Cube Project. Due Monday.

Technology: Period 5

Monday: None.
Tuesday: None.
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: None.

Jerusalem

Go here for a photo gallery of Jerusalem. Click on "Old City" and browse.

Go here for an interactive map of Jerusalem. Click on the blue balloons to see pictures and summaries of the locations.

Have fun! :)