Autobiography 50 years from now.

Thursday, December 16, 2010.
Students:
Please post your autobiography here on our class blog.  Remember: you are pretending that it is 50 years into your future.  Please have this assignment done by Wednesday, January 5, 2011.  (You have 3 weeks.)  As always, if you are not able to post it here, then send it to me in an email, and I will post it for you.  When you are done with your autobiography, please write only your first name and last initial.  I can't wait to read what you write!  This is going to be so interesting!!
~Ms. Kaplanis

Ghost of the Lagoon

photo credit: http://countriestoday.com/uploads/Bora_Bora_01.jpg

Ghost of the Lagoon (pages 124 – 133)

Q: What would you do if YOU were Mako?

Think about the following elements of the story: 

Canoe / fishing nets / night time / island / lagoon / water / dog (Afa) / shark (Tupa) / legends / ghosts / history / risk / danger / fear / courage / conflict / resolution / reward  / harpoon / spear.

While developing your answer, please utilize as many of the vocab words from the story as you can: 

• expedition;
• harpoon;
• lagoon;
• phosphorus;
• reef.  

A wildfire in Yellowstone Park.Courtesy of NOAA Paleoclimatology Program.Student poems based on "Summer of Fire."

Poem is open-ended / free form / no rules...

except to use at least 3 of the vocabulary words from the story in your poem.

These vocab words are in the "Words to Know" box.

Homework: Thursday 11/18/10.

Matthew Henson, an Arctic Explorer

Matthew Henson helped Peary explore the Arctic
CREDIT: Matthew Alexander Henson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, wearing fur hat and fur coat, 1910. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. Reproduction Number LC-USZC4-7503.


Assigned: Wednesday, November 10th, 2010.

We recently read the story in our literature book titled, Matthew Henson at the Top of the World. (pages 101-110.)

Pretend that you are an Arctic explorer. What will you pack on your sled to take with you in order to survive your expedition to the North Pole?

Please post your answer here. At the end of your message, write your first name & last initial.
If you have trouble posting your answer on the blog, then simply copy & paste your message and send it in an email to me at: ckaplanis@esusd.k12.ca.us Then I will post it on the blog for you.

Thank you, Ms. Kaplanis

"Poems of Courage"

October 20, 2010.

Parents: This class blog is intended to showcase the student poems created after reading a poem written by Maya Angelou, titled "Life Doesn't Frighten Me." We have recently finished a unit of literature with the theme of "Tests of Courage."

Students: Please post your "Courage Poem" here on our class blog. At the end of your poem, skip one line, & write your first name & last initial. (Please write only the first letter of your last name.) If you have trouble posting on the blog, you can simply copy & paste your message and send it to me in an email. I will then post it on the class blog for you.

Thank you! ~ Ms. Kaplanis
ckaplanis@esusd.k12.ca.us