Week 20

I can't believe we are in Week 20 already, four more weeks and we are done. Congratulations everyone for the hard work you've put in this year.  I am beyond words when I see everyone doing their very best to master their work. Keep on, everyone.  We want to finish strong. Nolan, we missed you and hope you are feeling better.

The class started with the Great Composers. Thank you Mrs. Asimos for sharing with us Antonin Dvorak and his life.  For more info on Antonin Dvorak, see below...

http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library/hey-kids-meet-anton-dvorak.htm
http://www.last.fm/music/Anton%C3%ADn+Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/dvorak.html

Presentation today was so much fun... getting to know everyone when they shared something interesting about themselves.  Since the beginning of the school year, I was always the first one to give my presentation but this time, I told them I am going to be last. I am so proud of the kids for having grown from shy and timid to confident speakers.  It was much fun to know more about each other.  Next week's Presentation is "Tell us something interesting about a Great Composer."

Science project is a preparation for Straw Bridges Construction next week.  Thank you Mr. Herson! To read more and to prepare them for making their own straw bridges, see below...

http://www.msichicago.org/fileadmin/Education/learninglabs/lab_downloads/CS_straw_bridges.pdf
http://www.technologystudent.com/struct1/model1.htm
http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/cub_/activities/cub_brid/cub_brid_lesson01_activity2.xml

Have fun!

New Grammar
History: Song - CC CD
We sang through the song a lot of times and we did hand motions to remember the words better.  And I did tell them that the History sentence today is very similar to last week's sentence, so if they know last week's sentence, it is easy to remember the sentence today and vice versa.  I believe I said Korean War a couple of times instead of Vietnam War.

·         Pres. Johnson	Johnson - J-hand.
·         US troops	Both A-hands tap on the chest (left) and lower side of the body (right). (ASL sign for military).
·         To stop	Right arm extended bent at the wrist with hand palm-out.
·         North Vietnam	Right palm-out fist is raised above the line of vision in the communist salute.
·         From capturing all	Two five-hands, palm-down. Open hands drop down while closing.
·         Of South Vietnam	Right-hand, letter V, salute by right eye, flick wrist twice.
·         Vietnam War	Right V hand transitions to palm-in curved 5-hands move from side to side.

Timeline: Song - CC CD
We sang through the song a couple of times and did the hand motions taught during the opening ceremony.

Latin: Song - CC CD
This is a review from last week.  Hint: If you receive a perfect present, you say "Yiiii".

Science: Song - NoGreaterJoy
I explained a little about the second law by an illustration (which I will send via email), and a simple statement that a hot cup of coffee left on the table will cool down that get hotter, and that a frying pan out of fire will cool down.  I did not go into "entropy" because it will be way over their head (it was over mine, hahaha). We sang through the song a lot of times and most of them knows the law, but please continue reinforcing at home.

English: Song - Mr. Nick Reid's song (which I will send via email)
I gave them an example of what an appositive is "Gus, my cat..." Gus being a proper noun, cat, another noun directly beside Gus that identify it (my cat).  We sang through the song a lot of times but I know it will help if they continue on working on it.  This is a difficult one. See hand motions below.
   appositive - make a comma using right pointer finger (appositive always comes with a comma)
   noun -flip right hand up
   pronoun - flip left hand up
   directly besides - put both flipped hands close together
   noun - flip right hand up
   explains - shake right pointer finger

   identifies - point with the same finger to the palm of the other hand

Math: Song - NoGreaterJoy
We sang through the song a lot of times while we were around the circle - indicating the Circumference (only the outside of the circle), nobody can go inside the circle.  I also explained a little bit about where pi came from.  Measure the circumference of the circle and divide it by the diameter (because technically Circumference is pi x d). I told them to do the experiment at home find any circle and measure the circumference and diameter and divide and they will always get the answer 3.14 (or close to it), which is pi. The book I suggested last week "Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi" would be a perfect read for this week.

Geography: Point and Say
We went through the five countries of South Central Asia - Long Laos, Thick Thailand, Circle (sort of) Cambodia, and then North and South Vietnam.  I forgot to mention to them that Vietnam is unified already, it is no longer divided into north and south.

Rock, paper,scissors... a game for review.  it was fun while it lasted.  And honestly, I am so proud of all of them.  Keep on... Have fun reviewing at home.

Book Suggestion for this week;
Two Scarlet Songbirds by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Vietnam War by Martin Gitlin
The Law of Thermodynamics by Rose McCarthy (same as last week)
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander (same as last week)




See you next week and have fun reviewing...

Miss Zabrina