12/18 Wednesday

1. Game Time-Today we will once again be using the website FitBrains.

2. Holiday Infographic - Take a look at the following infographics. You will write three EOG like questions on paper for each infographic. You will also need an answer key.

-Christmas Dinner Infographic
-Holiday Misgivings Infographic
-The Most Popular Holidays Toys Infographic

3. Holiday Fun- Below are several links which will help get you in the holiday mood!! Enjoy!

-Holiday Puzzle
-Super Holiday Displays
-Super Holiday Displays 2
-Scared of Santa?
-Make a Carol

4 Holiday Essay - You may select one of the following prompts for your essay topic.  Your essay should have four paragraphs and contain at least 25 sentences.  Please complete it on paper and proofread it before turning in.

Choice 1 -- What does it mean to have the "holiday spirit"?  You should include many examples and details to help support your views.

Choice 2 -- What are you and your family most grateful for this holiday season?  Why?

Choice 3 -- What are five things you could do to help someone less fortunate on Christmas?  

12/17 Tuesday

1. Warm-Up-Creative Writing- Look at the following picture. Write a quick short story about the picture. Be creative and try to include some of your weekly vocabulary words.



2. Weekly Vocab-Use this time to finish your sentences. If you are finished, use this time to study and play some Quizlet games.

3. NC Write-Either finish or revise your story from yesterday. Remember our goal is a score of 30!

4. Gift of the Magi-Today we will finish reading our short story. When we have finished we will complete a worksheet.

5. Christmas Word Search-Using graph paper given to you by Mr. Norman, you will select 12 Christmas related words, and then use those words to create a Christmas Word Search.

6. Christmas Across the Globe-Christmas is celebrated all over the world. For this assignment, you will research Christmas celebrations different from your own. You will then create a Christmas Tradition Google doc on which you will include at least 20 facts, pictures, videos, songs, and other things detailing different kinds of celebrations.

12/16 Monday

1. Warm-Up-In your Norman Language Arts Google doc, answer the following question. Make sure to date your post, fully explain your answer, and use complete sentences.


2. Weekly Vocabulary-This week, our Vocabulary Words come from a short story we will be reading. Take some time to get to know these words.

3. Vocabulary Sentences-This week you will need to create 3 sentences for each of your words.

4. NC Write-Today you will be using NC Write to create a short story about Christmas. Your story must begin with the sentence "It was getting late and Santa Claus was already running behind......" Your story should be creative and contain at least 200 words.

5. Gift of the Magi-Today we will start reading the short story titled "The Gift of the Magi."

6. Christmas Word Search-Using graph paper given to you by Mr. Norman, you will select 12 Christmas related words, and then use those words to create a Christmas Word Search.

7. Global Trade Review-We will use this time to review the Mughal and Ottoman Empires.

8. Christmas Across the Globe-Christmas is celebrated all over the word. For this assignment, you will research Christmas celebrations different from your own. You will then create a Christmas Tradition Google doc on which you will include at least 20 facts, pictures, videos, songs, and other things detailing different kinds of celebrations.

9. Christmas Origins-I often say that the best way to fully appreciate something is to know its origin. With that in mind, you are to use the internet to research and find the origins of the following things associated with Christmas.

-Santa Claus
-Christmas Trees
-Gift giving
-Santa's Elves
-Christmas lights

Once you have researched the above things, on a blank sheet of paper, write what you have learned about their origins. Be sure to write in complete sentences.

12/13 Friday

1. Free Rice Friday-Learn new words, donate some rice to the needy, it's a WIN-WIN situation. It's FREE RICE time!!!

2. Weekly Vocabulary-Take this time to finish those Word Boxes. You also need to be studying your words. 

3. Analyze the Quotes-Read the following quote. In your Language Arts Google doc, analyze each quote. What do you think the speaker meant? Why do you think this? How does this quote relate to you?
Remember to write in complete sentences and to fully explain your answers.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year"


"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ”


"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

4. The Outsiders-Before we read from our class novel, go to your Outsider Google doc. and answer the following prompt:

Make 3 predictions about what you think will happen in the rest of the book. Make sure these are well thought and make sense with the book (you would not predict that Pony turns out to be an alien!). Make sure your predictions are fully explained and written in complete sentences.

5. NC Write-Let's improve the scores on our newest NC Write prompt.

6. Global Trade-It is time for the arrival of King Jeremy! Make sure your groups are ready to present. 

12/12 Thursday

1. Game Time-Today we will be using a new site for our gaming. The website FitBrains contains many games designed to test and increase your cognitive abilities. You will need to create an account. We will go over all of this together. The games themselves are fun but challenging. Let's get playing!

2. Word Boxes-Take this time to work on your Weekly Vocabulary Word Boxes. They will be due tomorrow. If you have finished, use this time to study or play some Quizlet games with your words.

3. Analyze the Quotes-Read the following quote. In your Language Arts Google doc, analyze each quote. What do you think the speaker meant? Why do you think this? How does this quote relate to you?
Remember to write in complete sentences and to fully explain your answers.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year"

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ” 

"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

4. The Outsiders-Before we read from our class novel, go to your Outsider Google doc. and answer the following prompt:

Make 3 predictions about what you think will happen in the rest of the book. Make sure these are well thought and make sense with the book (you would not predict that Pony turns out to be an alien!). Make sure your predictions are fully explained and written in complete sentences. 

5. NC Write-Let's improve the scores on our newest NC Write prompt.

6. Global Trade-Let's review The Ottoman and Mughal Empires.

7. Global Trade Project-Get with your group and work on your weekly project. 

12/9 Tuesday

1. Warm-Up-Creative Writing- Look at the following picture. Write a quick short story about the picture. Be creative and try to include some of your weekly vocabulary words.


2. Weekly Vocabulary-Take this time to work on those Word Boxes.

3. The Outsiders-Our quiz is less than 4 days away! Let's take this time to read. Also, work on those Summary Sketches.

4. Outsiders Google Doc-In your Outsiders Google doc you need to summarize what you have read since your last summary. Also, describe in detail any characters you have not written about yet.

5. Study Island-Today we are going to go back and test our skills at summarization. Go to Study Island and complete the 12/10 assignment. Complete 10 questions.

6. NC Write-See if you can improve your score from yesterday!

7. Slavery Warm-Up-In your Norman Social Studies Google doc, respond to the following writing prompt:

What might be some good things that might result from trading with another country or empire? What might be some bad things that could occur? Be sure to fully explain your answers.

8. Global Trade-Today we will be looking at the Mughal Empire of India

9. Global Trade Market-This week we will be doing our Global Trade Unit. Here are the directions for your Social Studies Weekly Project:

The class will soon be visited by King Jeremy the First from the country of Normania. He is looking to enter into trade with another continent or empire. You and your group will research your assigned continent or empire and use props to represent the items which your area can trade. Your goal is to entice King Jeremy the First into entering into a trading partnership with your group. Every member of the group will speak, and the trade props must be explained. (Example-What is Silk, and why would King Jeremy need it?) Groups must have and present at least 4 trade items. King Jeremy likes to ask questions so BE PREPARED!

12/9 Monday

1. Warm-Up-In your Norman Language Arts Google doc, answer the following question. Make sure to date your post, fully explain your answer, and use complete sentences.



2. Weekly Vocabulary-Take a few minutes to get to know your new Weekly Vocabulary Words.

3. Vocabulary Word Boxes- This week you will be using all 8 of your vocab. words to create 8 Vocab Boxes. In case you forgot, here are the directions:



4. The Outsiders- Remember our second class novel quiz is coming at the end of the week. Grab a copy and your Reading Notebook and get to work. You are to create 3 Summary Sketches.

5.  NC Write-I have always been obsessed with Christmas. It has always been my favorite time of year and I have extremely fond memories of the gifts I received. You are now going to tell me about YOUR favorite Christmas gift. This should be a gift that you will remember for the rest of your life. Go to NC Write and complete the prompt titled "The Greatest Christmas Gift I Ever Received". Your essay should be at least 150 words.

6. Christmas Word Search-Using graph paper given to you by Mr. Norman, you will select 12 Christmas related words, and then use those words to create a Christmas Word Search.

7. Social Studies Warm-Up-Answer the following question in your Norman Social Studies Google doc. Remember to fully explain your answers.

What do you think the term "global trade" means? Explain your answer.

8. Global Trade Market-This week we will be doing our Global Trade Unit. Here are the directions for your Social Studies Weekly Project:

The class will soon be visited by King Jeremy the First from the country of Normania. He is looking to enter into trade with another continent or empire. You and your group will research your assigned continent or empire and use props to represent the items which your area can trade. Your goal is to entice King Jeremy the First into entering into a trading partnership with your group. Every member of the group will speak, and the trade props must be explained. (Example-What is Silk, and why would King Jeremy need it?) Groups must have and present at least 4 trade items. King Jeremy likes to ask questions so BE PREPARED!

12/6 Friday

1. Weekly Vocabulary Create-A-Quiz-We are starting out today by using our weekly words to create a quiz. Use all five of your words and try to make your quiz as tough as you can without being impossible! You will need to do this on a piece of paper.

2. Weekly Vocabulary 5x5x5-Finish up those 5x5x5s!. If you are finished you can use your flash cards to study for the quiz.

3. QUIZ TIME!

https://testmoz.com/227444


4. Benchmark-We are going to use the time left before our Christmas Break to review all the things covered on the Benchmark. First up is Central Idea. Head over to Study Island and do the Central Idea Assignment. Complete 12 questions.

5. The Outsiders-When we are done with our quiz, we will be reading from our class novel. You will also need to grab your Reading Notebooks and complete 3 awesome Summary Sketches.

6. NC Write-Those NC Write submissions from yesterday were kind of pitiful. Let's take the rest of class and improve them.

7. Social Studies Warm-Up-Answer the following question in your Norman Social Studies Google doc.

Why do you think it is so important to learn about other countries and regions of the world besides our own? Remember to fully explain your answer.

8. China-Let's finish strong! Grab a Blue Book, and knock out the rest of that China unit!

12/5 Thursday

1. Would You Rather-In you Norman Language Arts Google Doc, answer the following would you rathers. Be sure to fully explain your answers.

Would you rather be able to fly or turn invisible? 

Would you rather be blind or be deaf?

2. Weekly Vocabulary-Take this time to study your weekly words and work on your 5x5x5s.

3. The Outsiders-We are going to have some time today to read from our class novel. Remember that next week is our second quiz!

4. Benchmark-We are going to use the time left before our Christmas Break to review all the things covered on the Benchmark. First up is Central Idea. Head over to Study Island and do the Central Idea Assignment. Complete 12 questions.

5. NC Write-Log in to NC Write and complete the prompt titled "Academics for Athletics." Do only 1 draft. Do not make any revisions yet.

6. Social Studies Warm-Up-Answer the following question in your Norman Social Studies Google doc.

What is the most interesting thing you have learned so far about China?

7. China-We will continue covering the China unit in our Blue Book.

12/4/13 Wednesday

1. BONUS-The first student who correctly emails me with the answer to the following question will receive 5 bonus points on their next quiz or assignment! This should be in your OWN WORDS and not copied and pasted.

Where did the name Wednesday come from?

2. Warm-Up-Creative Writing- Look at the following picture. Write a quick short story about the picture. Be creative and try to include some of your weekly vocabulary words.

3. Game Time-We now have 7 games to choose from. Take this time to relax and have some Language Arts style fun!

Word Craze. 

Eight Letter Game 
Wordsearch.
Knoword 
Synonym Toast
Sentence Unscramble.
Popword

4. Weekly Vocabulary-Take this time to work on those 5x5x5s. The words can be found on yesterday's post.

5. Glogster-Lets finish up those Glogsters we started yesterday.

6. Benchmark-We are going to use the time left before our Christmas Break to review all the things covered on the Benchmark. First up is Central Idea. Head over to Study Island and do the Central Idea Assignment. Complete 12 questions. 

7. Independent Reading-It has been quite awhile since we read our library books. Let's break them out, shake off the dust, and get reading!

8. China-Keep reading about China in our Blue Books. You should be close to finishing Section 3 (and its assessment before the end of class.) Make sure to answer your questions with complete sentences. 

12/3 Tuesday

Thanksgiving is over.....but Christmas is closer than ever!!!!!


1. Warm-Up-In your Norman Language Arts Google doc, answer the following question. Make sure to date your post, fully explain your answer, and use complete sentences.

 

2. Weekly Vocabulary-This week you have 5 words, so naturally you are to do a 5x5x5.

*Directions: Write each word and its definition five times. When finished, create a paragraph with at least five sentences that uses all five words correctly. Make sure to underline the vocabulary words in your created paragraph.

1. aptitude -- the ability to learn or understand something quickly

2. attentive -- paying careful attention to the concerns of others; being considerate

3. banish -- to force or leave a country or place; exile

4. barricade -- an obstacle used to block

5. bluff -- using a false display of confidence to trick or deceive someone


3. The Outsiders-We have taken our first Outsiders Quiz. The results were lower than I had expected...but considering that this is the Christmas season, I am going to give you a gift. Take this time to go over your quiz and see what you missed. Correct your mistakes and I will change your grade! If you are happy with your score, then take this time to read.


4. Glogster - Today we will practice using Glogster. I think you should create your own account and make sure you add your user name and password to your password sheet.

You have options for signing up:

You may have made an account in 6th grade. Try to use that one. If you forgot your password or user name, try to sign in and click "forgot." They'll send your information to your email.
Sign up for a free student account. My educator code is 7BUCA4
Sign in with your Google Account. It's in the type right corner.
After getting signed in, please start a new glog. We'll have a little contest. Your job is to create a glog on Pamlico Middle School. Your interactive poster should be creative and highlight all of the good things at Pamlico Middle.

For today, do not use any videos on your glog. No YouTube searching is needed today.

When finished, you will put the URL to your glog in my class dropbox (I will show/model this for you). Make sure that your glog is public and can be viewed by others.

5. Independent Reading-It's time we got back to reading our library books. Take this time to quietly read your books.

6. Social Studies Warm-Up-Answer the following question in your Norman Social Studies Google doc. Remember to fully explain your answers.

What do you think the term "global trade" means? Explain your answer.

7.China-Before we begin our unit on Global Trade, it is important that we learn more about the regions involved. Grab a Blue Book from the shelf. Go to page 506 and start reading. Answer the questions found on page 509 on a blank sheet of paper. If you finish this before the end of class, then move on to Section 2 starting on page 510. Answer the section 2 questions found on page 515.