Day #87 - 1/28/16 - Unit 3: Critical Analysis & Evaluation of Informational Texts & Poetry

Good Morning Sixth Graders,

          I hope you all are having a great day. Today is a B day, so we will go to Art. 
Please...

• Sharpen your pencils
• Order your lunch
• Get your writing Folder

                                     Thank you

                                     Mr. Trumble

Point to Ponder:  

Take out your homework and review your answers with your elbow partners. Work together to underline the evidence from the text that supports your answer.

Activity #1

Writing with Mrs. Isham

Addressing the people who disagree with you 

& 

Drafting a Conclusion

Activity #2
Building Background Knowledge: 
What was life like during the Great Depression?

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: During the Great Depression
Protagonist: Bud Caldwell

Building Background Knowledge:
Read the Informational text to help build background knowledge about the key details pertaining to life during the Great Depression. Write the gist of each section in the margin.

How do you think the Great Depression affected children? 
What would you do if you found yourself living as an orphan during that time period?

Chapter 1: Hear we go Again
Assign books

Vocabulary Word Catcher
Record challenging or unknown words to your word catcher as we read aloud.

Track Bud’s Rule’s

Throughout the novel Bud shares his “Rules”

What do you think these rules are for?

__________________________________

__________________________________

After reading chapter 1 can you make an inference about Bud.

Use Evidence to support your thinking.

Homework: Finish Exit Ticket describing what you know about Bud and using evidence to support your thinking

Day #86 - 1/27/16 - Unit 3: Learning Stations

Good Morning Sixth Graders,

          I hope you all enjoyed your snow day yesterday. Today is an A day, so we will go to Gym. 
Please...

• Sharpen your pencils
• Order your lunch
• Check your mailbox
• Pick up your Reading Folder

                                     Thank you

                                     Mr. Trumble

Point to Ponder: Pick up a word catcher. Glue it into your vocabulary section. Also, Pick up a Tracking sheet for Bud's Rules. Glue it into your Reading Notes Section. 
Then...Finish the questions below!
1. What do you know about the great depression?
2. What does it mean to be an orphan?
3. If you were an orphan living during the Great Depression, what 5 items would you carry with you in your suitcase? Why?
*If you are done with these questions, begin creating a Frayer Poster for 1 of your vocabulary words.

#1 Guided Reading (We do)

&

#2 Independent Reading (You do)

• Each group is at a different point in their guided reading book. It is our goal to finish these books by the end of the week. 
• For each group of pages, please complete a set of Cornell notes.
• You should focus on the main idea and key details that prove how your protagonist is on the Hero's Journey.
• You should write a summary for each reading.

Block #1

#1 - Loot - See Mrs. Sargent for assignment

#5 - Tangerine Pg 280 - 294

#4 - Tangerine Pg 280 - 294

#3 - Taken Pg 215 - 232, & then Pg 233 - 247

#2 - Taken Pg 215 - 232, & then Pg 233 - 247

Block #2

#1 - Loot Pg 198 - 217, Pg 218 - 240, Pg 241 - 266

#5 - Taken Pg 215 - 232, Pg 233 - 247

#4 - Taken Pg 205 - 214, Pg 215 - 232, Pg 233 - 247

#3 - Taken Pg 205 - 214, Pg 215 - 232, Pg 233 - 247

#2 - London Calling Pg 220 - 232, Pg 233 - 248, Pg 249 - 269, Pg 270 - 289

#3 Word Work (You do)

• Finish reading, and writing a summary
• Frayer Poster

#4 Work on Writing (You do) Mr. T

• Go over Station work from Monday

#5 Computers
1. Finish the publishing process of your analytical essay
2. Go to Open Ed and continue mastering the different activities. 

Homework: Great Depression Activity

Be sure to read 20 minutes each night!!!!

Day #85 - 1/26/16 - Unit 3: Critical Analysis & Evaluation of Informational Texts & Poetry

Good Morning Sixth Graders,

          I hope you all had a productive day with the guest teacher yesterday. I am glad to be back. Today is an E day, so we will go to Music. 
Please...

• Sharpen your pencils
• Order your lunch
• Get your writing Folder

                                     Thank you

                                     Mr. Trumble

Point to Ponder: Today we are starting a new unit in Language Arts. The book we will be reading out is titled, Bud, Not Buddy. It takes place during the great depression. On scrap paper please answer the following questions.

1. Would you rather have 3 younger sisters or 1 brother who is two years older than you? Explain your thinking.
2. At what age do you think you become an adult? Explain why.
3. What do you know about the great depression?
4. What does it mean to be an orphan?
5. If you were an orphan living during the Great Depression, what 5 items would you carry with you in your suitcase? Why?

Activity #1

Writing with Mrs. Isham

Addressing the people who disagree with you 

& 

Drafting a Conclusion

Activity #2
Publishing our Essays
Analyzing and Evaluating Harry Potter as a model of the Hero's Journey

Transitions

Insert transition words & phrases to make your writing flow.

How will your writing be evaluated?

Assignment = Harry Potter Analytical Essay

Do's & Don't's for your Essay

Do...

• Change Font Size to 14
• Give your essay a title
• Use "Tab" to indent each new paragraph.
• Save your work frequently. The first time you save your essay, be sure to save it in your folder, and title it, "Harry Potter Analytical Essay"

Do not... 

• Change the Font type
• Use the space bar or tab key to center the title
• Use the "Return" key at the end of the line. The computer will automatically scroll down to the next line for you. 
• Spend time talking to a friend. Remember you are in the lab to type!!!

When you are finished: 

• Proof read your own writing. 
• Use the Revising checklist to make sure your introduction and conclusion have all the required parts. 
• Make sure all of your body paragraphs have all 5 parts. 
• Get your writing checked by a teacher.
• Print two copies. 1 for the teacher and 1 for you to keep for a gallery walk we will do on Monday

Last:

• Highlight your entire essay and "copy" it
• Open up a new post on our ELA Kidblog and create a new post
• Give your entry a title. Perhaps, Harry Potter analytical Essay
• Paste your essay into the body of your post.
• Make sure that you indent each paragraph again. (sometimes when you copy and paste into kidblog, you loose your indents. 
• Publish your entry so other students can read and comment on your writing. 

Activity #3
Building Background Knowledge: 
What was life like during the Great Depression?

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: During the Great Depression
Protagonist: Bud Caldwell

Building Background Knowledge:
Read the Informational text to help build background knowledge about the key details pertaining to life during the Great Depression

How do you think the Great Depression affected children? 
What would you do if you found yourself living as an orphan during that time period?

Chapter 1: Hear we go Again

Vocabulary Word Catcher
Record challenging or unknown words to your word catcher as we read aloud.

Track Bud’s Rule’s

Throughout the novel Bud shares his “Rules”

What do you think these rules are for?

__________________________________

__________________________________

After reading chapter 1 can you make an inference about Bud.

Use Evidence to support your thinking.

Homework: Finish Exit Ticket describing what you know about Bud and using evidence to support your thinking

Day #84 - 1/25/16 - Unit 3: Non-Fiction Reading for Information - Learning Stations: Intro to Ancient Egypt

Good Morning Sixth Graders,

          I hope you all had a very fun weekend. Today is a D day, so we will go to Library. 
Please...

• Sharpen your pencils
• Order your lunch
• Check your mailbox

                                     Thank you

                                     Mr. Trumble

Point to Ponder: Madlib Monday. Pick up a madlib from the brown table and work with the people at your table to fill it in.

#1 Guided Reading (We do)

Reading for information

• Read chapter 4: Lesson 1 Pages 68 - 73 in your "World" textbook
• On lined paper, Answer the Think about It Questions # 1-5 on page 73
• Use a proper heading

#2 Independent Reading (You do)

• Read "Mummies of Egypt"
• Answer questions #1-8 in complete sentences

#3 Word Work (You do)

• Complete the "River Nile" activity.
• Page 1 - Read the informational paragraphs then use the map to complete the passage
• Page 2 - Use the outline map and textbook pages 70 - 73 to write your answers.

#4 Work on Writing (You do)

• Page 1 - Read the short article titles "Daily Life"
• List 5 ways daily life was different in Egypt from what it is today.

• Page 2 - Read about 'Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt'.
• Answer the True/False questions #1-9
• Complete the short answer response question telling me if you would have enjoyed living in ancient Egypt. Be sure to explain why or why not. If you need more room, use lined paper.

#5 Computer - Open Ed
Watch the Crash Course World History Video
Complete the Main Idea Graphic Organizer. 

Homework: Finish any of the Station Work that you were not able to complete during station time. (Except the Think About it Questions - If you are not done with the Think about it Questions, I want you to come back to the classroom on Tuesday to finish them)

Day #83 - 1/22/16 - Publishing Analytical Essays

Good Morning Sixth Graders,

         Today is a C day, so we will go to Gym. Today we will be going back to the lab to work on our essays.We have the lab from 9:00 - 10:30 & 12:30 - 2:00. We will also be taking our Social Studies Unit test on Mesopotamia. Let's make it a fabulous Friday. 
Please...

• Sharpen your pencils
• Order your lunch
• Get your Writing folder

                                     Thank you

                                     Mr. Trumble

Point to Ponder: Today s the absolute last day to participate in Harry Potter trivia. Pick up a trivia card and take turns asking and answering questions. 

Activity #1

Persuasive Writing: Drafting Body Paragraphs

Activity #2
Analyzing and Evaluating Harry Potter as a model of the Hero's Journey

Analytical Essay 

(One type of Pattern for Writing Body Paragraphs)

• 1. Intro sentence
• Ex: Harry Potter receives a call to adventure.
• Ex: Harry has allies and helpers that assist him along the Hero's Journey.
• 2. Sentence describing the stage of the Hero's Journey.
• Ex: According to the Hero's Journey....
• 3. Sentence about your detail
• 4. Sentence explaining your evidence
• In the text it says...
• According to the Author...
• 5. Sentence connecting your detail and evidence. 
• Ex: This shows...
• Ex: This evidence proves...
• Ex: This demonstrates how...

Transitions

Insert transition words & phrases to make your writing flow better.

How will your writing be evaluated?

1. Use the rubric to make final revisions to your writing, based on the traits that will be evaluated? 

2. Make sure your writing meets the expectations that are required for Mastering Level writing?

• You will know you got it when...you and your writing partner both agree that your writing meets the mastering level criteria. 
• You should both be able to rate each writing trait as "Mastering level."

Congratulations! You are now ready to begin the final publication process. Be sure to Include a proper heading. 
Assignment = Harry Potter Analytical Essay

Do's & Don't's for your Essay

Do...

• Change Font Size to 14
• Give your essay a title
• Use "Tab" to indent each new paragraph.
• Save your work frequently. The first time you save your essay, be sure to save it in your folder, and title it, "Harry Potter Analytical Essay"

Do not... 

• Change the Font type
• Use the space bar or tab key to center the title
• Use the "Return" key at the end of the line. The computer will automatically scroll down to the next line for you. 
• Spend time talking to a friend. Remember you are in the lab to type!!!

When you are finished: 

• Proof read your own writing. 
• Use the Revising checklist to make sure your introduction and conclusion have all the required parts. 
• Make sure all of your body paragraphs have all 5 parts. 
• Get your writing checked by a teacher.
• Print two copies. 1 for the teacher and 1 for you to keep for a gallery walk we will do on Monday

Last:

• Highlight your entire essay and "copy" it
• Open up a new post on our ELA Kidblog and create a new post
• Give your entry a title. Perhaps, Harry Potter analytical Essay
• Paste your essay into the body of your post.
• Make sure that you indent each paragraph again. (sometimes when you copy and paste into kidblog, you loose your indents. 
• Publish your entry so other students can read and comment on your writing. 

Homework: 

but seriously....

Read at least 20 minutes each day!!!

Day #82 - 1/21/16 - Publication of our Analytical Essays

Good Morning Sixth Graders,

         Today is a B day, so we will go to Art. Normally we would have stations today, but instead we will be going to the lab to work on our essays. Let's make it a Stupendous Thursday. We have the lab from: 9:00 - 10:00 & 12:30 - 1:30
Please...

• Sharpen your pencils
• Order your lunch
• Get your Reading folder

                                     Thank you

                                     Mr. Trumble

Point to Ponder: Answer the following questions on lined paper.

1. What would modern civilization be like if we did not have a set of rules for people to follow? 
2. Why was the development of cuneiform writing so important? 
3. What were the most important sumerian inventions? Why?
4. What were some ways farmers changed their environment to help them grow crops and domesticate animals?

5. Which of the five themes of geography does the sentence below BEST fit into? Ancient Sumerians built levees.

A.	Absolute Location

B.

Region

C.	Human-Environmental Interaction

D.

Movement

6.	Which of the five themes of geography does the sentence below BEST fit into? Ancient Mesopotamia is located on the continent of Africa.

A.	Absolute Location

B.	Relative Location

C.	Physical Characteristics of Place

D.	Human Characteristics of Place

7.	Which of the five themes of geography does the following sentence best fit into? Merchants in Babylon traded with different city-states.

A.

Movement

B.	Human Characteristics of Place

C.

Region

D.

Location

8.	Which of the following themes of geography does the sentence below BEST describe? Ziggurats could be found in the city-states of Mesopotamia.

A.	Human Characteristics of Place

B.

Movement

C.

Location

D.	Human- Environmental Interaction

9.	Which of the five themes of geography does the sentence below BEST descibe? Mesopotamia had two main rivers.

A.	Physical Characteristics of Place

B.	Relative Location

C.

Movement

D.

Region

Activity #1

Learning Stations: We are sorry to interrupt your normally scheduled agenda at this time. Instead of Learning Stations today we will be working on the publication of our analytical essays. We will return to our regularly scheduled agenda once our essays are finished. Thank you & have a great day!!!

Activity #2
Analyzing and Evaluating Harry Potter as a model of the Hero's Journey

• Today I will use a revising and editing checklist, so that I can improve my essay showing how Harry Potter fits the pattern of the Hero's Journey. 

1. What is the difference between revising and editing?
2. Why should you take the time to revise your writing?
3. How does editing affect your writing?

1st - Revising

Revise by yourself first, then revise with a  partner.

If you are struggling, use this pattern to help you evaluate your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should have all these parts.

Analytical Essay 

(One type of Pattern for your Writing)

• 1. Intro sentence
• Ex: Harry Potter receives a call to adventure.
• Ex: Harry has allies and helpers that assist him along the Hero's Journey.
• 2. Sentence describing the stage of the Hero's Journey.
• Ex: According to the Hero's Journey....
• 3. Sentence about your detail
• 4. Sentence explaining your evidence
• In the text it says...
• According to the Author...
• 5. Sentence connecting your detail and evidence. 
• Ex: This shows...
• Ex: This evidence proves...
• Ex: This demonstrates how...

Transitions

Insert transition words & phrases to make your writing flow better.

2nd - Editing

Use the Peer Editing checklist, along with the help of your writing partner to edit your essay. 

How will your writing be evaluated?

1. Use the rubric to make final revisions to your writing, based on the traits that will be evaluated? 

2. Make sure your writing meets the expectations that are required for Mastering Level writing?

• You will know you got it when...you and your writing partner both agree that your writing meets the mastering level criteria. 
• You should both be able to rate each writing trait as "Mastering level."

Congratulations! You are now ready to begin the final publication process. Be sure to Include a proper heading. 
Assignment = Harry Potter Analytical Essay

Do's & Don't's for your Essay

Do...

• Change Font Size to 14
• Give your essay a title
• Use "Tab" to indent each new paragraph.
• Save your work frequently. The first time you save your essay, be sure to save it in your folder, and title it, "Harry Potter Analytical Essay"

Do not... 

• Change the Font type
• Use the space bar or tab key to center the title
• Use the "Return" key at the end of the line. The computer will automatically scroll down to the next line for you. 
• Spend time talking to a friend. Remember you are in the lab to type!!!

Remember your writing goals

Base Writing (5 - 7 paragraphs)

• Introduction paragraph
• 1-2 paragraphs per Act
• Conclusion paragraph

Advanced Writing (8 - 11 paragraphs)

• Introduction Paragraph
• 2 - 3 paragraphs per Act
• Conclusion Paragraph

Expert Writing (12 Paragraphs)

• Introduction
• 1 paragraph per stage of the Hero's Journey
• Conclusion

Homework: Study for Test on Ancient Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent