Voki-How Scrooge Changes

Create two monologues--Choose two scenes that show what Scrooge was like at the start of the play and how he changed.  The second scene can be from his visits from the ghost or the end.  You may use exact words from the play or rewrite Scrooge's speech in your own words.
Click here to go to Voki Classroom

Civil War Thinglink

Task:
1) Identify three causes of the civil war.
2) Why was Abraham Lincoln assassinated?
3) What was the significance of the Massachusetts 54th regiment? What was the symbolism of their division?
4) What were some of the disadvantages of the Confederate army?

Before you begin:

• Create an account on Thinglink (use your Barnardschool.org account-write down sign-in info on your Tech passwod sheet)

• Download the image above (a copy of it can be found in your US History Google Classroom) onto your Thinklink

• When you finish your task, embed your Civil War Thiunklink on your blog

Add a tag on this thinglink- You can Log in using Ms. Casassa's account:
scasassa@barnardschool.org
barnardla

Ted Talk-The Power of Introverts

In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated. 

After you watch this Ted Talk, please complete the graphic organizer to prepare for our class discussion.  Click here to access the graphic organizer.

"Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Rorschach Test Here is your first job: in your "Case File"  create a heading called "Rorschach Test." Rorschach Ink Blot As you view these ink blots, write what comes to your mind when you view each picture. After "taking" a Rorschach tests, share your responses and show each other the visions that you see in the blots.  We will come back to this later.
Article about Rorschach Testing
NYT Article "What's in an Inkblot?  Some Say, Not Much"

Write an entry in your "Case File"
After "taking" a Rorschach test and reading about the validity of the testing system, evaluate the test. What do you think of such a test and why do you think it has hung around for so long?  Based on your own very limited experience, what do you think the problems with the test could be, other than those posited in the article?

Click here for PDF copy of abridged "Flowers for Algernon" (version we are reading in class)
Click here for the original novella

In your "Case File" record your initial impressions of Charlie Gordon in your notebooks. (After we read the first few pages of the story, stopping before Charlie's writing begins to change-just after the operation.)

Multiple Intelligences-
Click here to take  the Multiple Intelligence Assessment 
This quiz asks 24 questions and will take less than five minutes to complete. Try not to think too hard -- just go with your first thought when describing your daily activities and interests. By the end, you may have some new insights into the way you think.

Link to Powerpoint on Multiple Intelligences

For more information about the theory of Multiple Intelligences, check out this article: Multiple Intelligences: What Does the Research Say? You may also want to watch an interview with Howard Gardner: Big Thinkers: Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences. (taken from Edutopia)

 

Ted Talk-How to Have a Conversation

"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury

Today you are going to watch the film version of Ray Bradbury's short story "All Summer in a Day." Add to the chart in your reading notebook, listing the difference you observe in the movie.  You will be writing a compare/contrast essay so pay attention and take good notes!

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

We read the poem "The Raven," now you will have a chance to see how the Simpson's interpreted the famous poem.
Click here to read "The Raven" 

Click the image below to read "The Raven"online.  Use the interactive tool to enhance your understanding of the poem. It will help you answer the questions in "The Raven" packet.

On Writing-an interview with Jack Gantos

Watch this interview with Jack Gantos to get ready to write your own memoir!

Introducing the expert of horror: Edgar Allen Poe

EDGAR ALLAN POE

 "Poe is the supreme short story writer of all time."

     ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"What a strange, though enormously talented writer, that Edgar Poe!"
     ~Fyodor Dostoevsky

"You might call him the Leader of the Cult of the Unusual."
     ~Jules Verne

Today you are going to begin learning about the great American Short Story writer, Edgar Allan Poe. He is best known for his horror stories and his haunting poems.


You can also watch this biography from Scholastic

Use the resources below to complete the Scavenger Hunt.
Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe has most of the answers.  DO NOT USE GOOGLE!
 
Resources
Poe Museum Student Page
Poe Museum Poe's Life
Knowing Poe
Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe 

The Tell Tale Heart-
How well do you know the story?  Click here to take this trivia quiz to find out!

"The Most Dangerous Game" Setting Map

Examples of Setting Maps

Debate-"Should Fidget Spinners Be Allowed at School?"

In October's issue of Scope Magazine, the topic of Fidget Spinners is explored and debated.  Read the article and decide which side you are are.  Complete the Argument Writing Graphic Organizer to prepare for a debate.  Use the resources below to strengthen you argument.
Click to go to Scope Magazine
Student Login-68Barnardla

 

Additional Texts for “Yes”

• “How one school surrendered to the fidget spinner craze” 
• “Fidget spinners aid teaching in Newtownards school”

Additional Texts for “No”

• “Schools are banning fidget spinners, calling them nuisances and even dangerous” 
• “Schools ban fidget toys as classroom distraction”

Click Links for Graphic Organizer and other Resources:
Write an Argument Essay 
Argument Writing Checklist
Great Transitions

Historical Context-The Explosion of the Hindenberg

When you read, having an understanding of the historical context, the historical events that are referred to in a story,  helps to more fully understand what you read.
1937 NY Times Newspaper Article  reporting on the crash.
Learn more about the Hindenburg and see images of the famous dirigible
Below you will watch a couple video clips of the explosion of the Hindenburg.
Theories about why The Hindenburg burned:

Watch Herb Morrison report live on the crash of the Hindenburg:

Lottery Survey

Elements of Short Story

We are beginning to read short stories.  Please review the elements of short stories below.  You should be able to identify and discuss all the terms and literary elements listed.

Click here to play the quizlet games to review

Click here to see the terms and definitions 

Scope Magazine- "They Failed (and so can you)"

You read the Scope article "They Failed (and so can you)" last night.  Today you are going to discuss the article and learn more about some famous people who failed many times before they finally succeeded.

Click here to watch the presentation

Click here to view the Constructed Response worksheet
Click here for some tips on how to write a Constructed Response!

Click here to go to Scope magazine to reread (or listen to) the article- Student access code is 68barnardla

We've discussed the article, you've watch the presentation and thought more about the topic. Now it's your turn to defend your claim.  Using your graphic organizer, write a final response to answer the question "Why Should We Be Willing to Fail." This is your first writing assignment of the year.  Be sure to show what you know about good writing and what you remember from last year.  Write and turn in your response in on Google Classroom.

Tech Integration 7/8: How Does Social Media Affect Your Mood?

Do you spend much time using social media?  Ever wonder if it effects your mood?  Watch this short video and see what you think?

Does Social Media Affect Your Mood?

Now, click here to complete the discussion questions.  

Grade 7-Fiction/Nonfiction Unit

before we begin the unit on Fiction an Nonfiction, let's review some of the important terms.  Click here to see the important vocabulary for the unit.

Welcome Back! It's Going to be an Awesome Year!

What do YOU think kids need to know?

Grade 4 & 5 Biographies

Grade 7 Beowulf Reenactments

Reading Beowulf

Final Project on Holocaust Unit- Raising Awareness of Modern Day Genocide

After the Holocaust, the United Nations created laws to prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again.  The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was held in 1948 and declared that genocide was a crime under international law and would be condemned by the civilized world.  Since that time, however, there have been other acts of genocide.  For your final project, you will familiarize yourself with other modern day acts of genocide.  

Assignment:  You will create a brief video educating people about the dangers of genocide, informing them about modern day examples of genocide and calling them to action.  

Possible Genocide to research:
Armenian Genocide
Rwanda Genocide
Darfur
Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
The Killing Fields: The Cambodian Genocide

Consider these questions:
What can we do to prevent further acts of hatred and violence towards a race of people?  Why do these acts continue to happen despite our knowledge and education?  
How can you make a difference?  

Use the resources below to learn about the modern day examples of genocide.

Confront Genocide

Survivors Stories from genocide in Darfur, Bosnia and Rwanda 

The Rwanda Genocide

PBS Resources on Genocide 

Amnesty International 

Facing History, Facing Ourselves:  Be the Change -Upstanders for Human Rights

Prevent Genocide International

View the you tube videos for an example of what you can do with our final project. 

Watch this You tube video that raises awareness and tries to get people to stop genocide.

A more general You Tube video about the Holocaust and acts of genocide

View former 8th graders' final projects:
Caleb
Cloud

Love That Dog-Learning about Walter Dean Myers

We just read Love That Dog.  Jack loves the poetry of Walter Dean Myers.  Listen to the brief video below.

Epic Legends- Perseus and the Gorgon

Watch the video of "Perseus and the Gorgon" below.  Click here to complete the graphic organizer comparing the three versions of the myth you have read and watched.

Download one of these QR Code eaders to view student work

Download this QR Code Reader if you have an iPhone

 

 

 

 

 

Download this QR Code Reader if you have anAndroid

 

Learning About Concentration Camps during World War 2

Learning About Concentration Camps during World War 2

Create 2 slides in our Concentration Camp presentation

Your slides should include:

1.  Name of Concentration Camp

2.  Location

3.  Map of Country

4.  Images of Concentration Camp (please don't put images on slide that are excessively graphic)

5.  Date it was opened

6.  Important facts/information about Camp should tell us where the concentration camp was.

 Click here to go to the Presentation 

Camps to Choose from:

Dachau

Buchenwald

Mauthausen

Auschwitz

Chelmno

Treblinka
Bergen-Belsen
Theresienstadt

Research Sites:
United States Holocaust Museum has a lot of good resources-
Concentration Camps 1933-1939
Concentration Camps 1939-1942
Killing Centers-an overview
Other sites to consider-
Thought Co-The Holocaust "The Camps and Other Killing Facilities"

Greek Mythology

We are going to begin a unit on Greek and Roman Mythology.  Before we start consider the question of what is a myth?  Why do people and cultures tell stories?  How do the gods a culture worship tell us what that culture values and thinks is important?  Finally, where do we see these ancient myths and gods in our world today?  Ever heard of a brand called Nike?  Hermes? Atlas?  To start, let's watch this brief overview.

Myths are a way of understanding the world. This lesson has been about Greek mythology, but every culture has myths. Myths define social customs and beliefs, explain natural and psychological phenomena, and provide a way for people to discuss things that cause anxiety. Mythology is all around us.
Create a Greek God Trading Card
What is Mythology? Powerpoint 
Famous Greek Myths Class Presentation
Here are just a few examples of places we find myths today.

• Days of the week Wednesday (Woden or Odin – Norse god); Thursday (Thor – Norse god); Friday (Freya Norse goddess); Saturday (Saturn – Roman god who ruled before Jove)
• Shoes Nike

• Cars-Toyota Avalon and Cressida, Cadillac El Dorado, Honda Odyssey, Mercury 
• Tires Midas  
• Astronomy  Constellations like Orion, the Argo, all of the planets and the Pleiades. The Milky Way itself was supposedly the road over which the stars traveled to Jupiter’s palace.
• NASA  The first part of U.S. space program was Project Mercury, named after the messenger of the gods because the project’s purpose was to send a message to the Soviets that America was in the space race. The Gemini Project was next; Gemini is Latin for “twins,” and the project was called this because the capsule held two astronauts. Apollo astronauts rode on Saturn rockets.

 Myths also make great stories. They come up in literature all over the place, from really serious stuff like Dante to comic strips. Myths inspire music; actually the word music comes from the mythological muses who inspired art of all kinds. Painters such as Michelangelo and Botticelli were inspired by myths. Even children’s movies are a good place to look for myths; you will find them everywhere, including Snow White, Star Wars  and The Lord of the Rings. (Taken from http://www.mensaforkids.org/MFK2/assets/File/Teach/LessonPlans/Lesson_GreekMythology.pdf)



Here's another brief video overview

Web references:

•  Greek Mythology
• Some Great Greek Myths
• Mythweb
• MythMan
• Mythography
• Encyclopedia Mythica

(Taken from http://www.mensaforkids.org/MFK2/assets/File/Teach/LessonPlans/Lesson_GreekMythology.pdf)

Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day!

Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day! Celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with you, and sharing it with others throughout the day at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, and workplaces.

Put Something In

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-grumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.

-Shel Silverstein

  from A Light in the Attic

 Poem in Your Pocket Day was originally initiated in 2002 by the Office of the Mayor, in partnership with the New York City Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education, as part of the city’s National Poetry Month celebration. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets took the initiative to all fifty United States, encouraging individuals around the country to join in and channel their inner bard. In 2016, the League of Canadian Poets extended Poem in Your Pocket Day to Canada.
Poem in Your Pocket Day 2017 will be held on April 27.

Click here to read three pocket poems
Click here to get your Poetry in your Pocket template 
Another template for your pocket 
Or click here to turn your poem into a scroll 
Fold Your Poem into a cute package
Click here for directions on How to Make a Folded Swan

(text copied from https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day)

Introduction to Informational Writing

Where do you see informational writing? Number of websites created every day…in the last minute 571 websites were created. During our class over 25,000 websites have been created.  By the end of the month, you may have created your own website.

 

Padlet Timeline of the Holcaust

Writitng a Position Paper

You are going to write a position paper on whether "Role Playing Games with simulated violence are perilous or diverting for kids."  Choose a side and then use the resources below to find evidence that support your reasons.

“Do Games Like ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ Cause Real-World Violence” by Erik Kain, ForbesMagazine

“Essential Facts about Games and Violence” a brochure produced by theEntertainment Software Association

“How online gamers are solving science’s biggest problems” by Dara Mohammadi,
The Guardian

“Shooting in the Dark” by Benedict Carey, The New York Times
 
“Violent video games may stop crime by keeping criminals busy playing violent
video games” by Evan Dashevsky, TechHive

The Giver-create a voki

Click here to go in to Voki classroom.  Create an account using your user name and password.

Assignment:Explain a ritual or rule in The Giver Community. Then explain why this rule might have been created. What are the benefits. What are the negatives of this rule or ritual? 
 

Spitz Voki

The Giver- Learning about Utopian and Dystopian Societies

Your job is to research utopian and dystopian societies and report your findings to your community (teacher and class). You may divide up the work, but each member of your group needs to be able to explain the material that the group has researched--that means you need to explain what you have read and learned to everyone! You will need hard proof that these societies you are researching are utopian or dystopian.  They may even be both!

Click here to read about Utopias

Complete steps 1-4

Click here to read about Dystopias

Complete steps 1-4 (the video on step 2 does not work.)

Complete a 4-6 slide presentation on Utopias and Dystopias which shows your research and knowledge on the topic.

Click here to access the class presentation on Utopias and Dystopias

Mini-Biography

This week we are going to write a mini-biography together as a class.  We will be writing about Dav Pilkey.
Video on Dave Pilkey
Comic Autobiography
Scholastic Biography