Deep Thinking Friday, 12/21

Use your powers for good, young ones, and have a great Break!

National History Day, 2019

Sources to help you with your History Day research and topic choice:

https://www.docsteach.org/topics/nhd

https://www.nhd.org/students

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/finding.html

https://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_the_United_Kingdom:_Primary_Documents

http://www.shsulibraryguides.org/worldprimary

http://guides.library.duke.edu/c.php?g=289297&p=1929346

https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog

https://www.nhd.org/sites/default/files/2019%20NHD%20Theme%20Book.pdf

https://www.nhd.org/sites/default/files/2019ThemeNarrative.pdf

Deep Thinking Friday 12/14

A few TedEd talks to blow your mind for Deep Thinking Friday:

Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body?

Does time exist?

Would you sacrifice one person to save five?

How do you know you exist?

What is the universe expanding into?

And just for fun...

A brie(f) history of cheese

Deep Thinking Friday, 12/7

More puzzlements from Ian Byrd...

WHAT DO YOU NOTICE?  WHAT DO YOU WONDER?

Stop-motion in ancient Chinese paintings

Stop motion set inside four Chinese paintings, directed by Annlin Chao. Really cool combination of art techniques and (yay!) a behind-the-scenes video.

Earth Puzzle

Here’s a puzzle of the earth that has no end, no up or down, and no fixed shape! Scroll down for a great write about how it all works. Via Kottke.org

Puzzle Montage

This is a hall of fame Puzzlement! 🥇 Jigsaw puzzle makers often use the same pattern for pieces and just print different pictures onto the puzzles. Tim Klein combines these puzzles to create ridiculously funny images.

Storm Video

Incredible footage of storms from Mike Olbinski, created by driving 15,000 miles in Arizona over 32 days. This is his fifth Monsoon video. (Original YouTube link)

Surreal Imagery

This one's hard to describe. Russian Artist Vladimir Tomin creates some fantastically surreal video clips. My favorite is the bus stop sign around 1:10. Via Colossal

Deep Thinking Friday

dddddd

Logic Puzzles

When your class is finished, how about trying some online logic puzzles?

https://www.logic-puzzles.org/init.php

http://www.puzzlersparadise.com//LPs.html

https://www.brainzilla.com/logic/logic-grid/

Writing Assignment: Temple Grandin

Think about what you saw during the Temple Grandin movie, and reflect with an in-class writing assignment.

• Choose one of the following selections.  
• Brainstorm/outline  
• What is your thesis statement?
• Write.  Use elaborated communication.  Give evidence to support your claim/thesis.
• Check over your work.  
• Do you have a conclusion?
• Did you make any noticeable comma errors?
• Hand in.

1. Temple Grandin is not a quitter.  How did this personality trait help her in her life?  How can it help you?  What other personality traits do you have that can help you succeed?
2. Everyone needs a support system.  Who made up Temple Grandin's support system, and how did they help her?  Who supports you?
3. Everyone learns in different ways.  How did Temple Grandin's way of learning and seeing the world both help her and challenge her?  How do your ways of learning both help and challenge you?
4. Temple Grandin had to advocate for herself to be successful.  How and when did she do this, and what were the outcomes?  How can advocating for yourself help you to be successful?

The Tell-Tale Heart

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe... Happy Halloween!

Read the whole story for yourself here!


And if you'd like a little soundtrack while you read... play this!  ;)

Deep Thinking Friday 10/26: Ian Byrd Puzzlements

What do you notice?

What do you wonder?

1. Giant Cross Stitch

This gorgeous outdoor cross-stitch took artist Ana Martins 760 yards of yarn to create. Let students predict how it was made before showing the close-ups of the screws (there are 2,300 of them) and yarn!

2. Light Up Piano

Almost like a real-life guitar hero, this light-up piano setup is mesmerizing! Watch Rousseau Musique play several classic pieces.

3. Butterfly Wings Up (Very) Close

Check out these photos of butterfly wings from Chris Perani! Perhaps let students see the photos first and then predict what they think they are. How does he do it?

4. Very Old Trees

Beth Moon photographs some of the oldest, rarest trees in the world on the island of Socotra, off the horn of Africa. After looking at the photos, read her artist’s statement.

5. Making Erasers

There is some striking behind-the-scenes footage of this video showing how rubber erasers are made. 

Deep Thinking Friday 10/20/18: Cryptography

Careers in Cryptography

Independent Project Brainstorm List

Need some help getting ideas for independent projects?  Look here!

Deep Thinking Friday: 9/28

Watch the following TED talk.  Think how the towns this speaker visited are similar to where you live and different from where you live.  Jot down a few things you'd like to discuss as a whole group when finished.  If you're done before everyone else, you can work on your Letter About Literature, read, or go to any site on Idleness Prevention Society.

Comma Review!

Check out the following links to quiz yourself about commas!

https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/commas_1.asp

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/punctuation-the-comma-and-the-apostrophe/introduction-to-commas/e/meet-the-comma

https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-7/commas-review

https://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/eng1001/practice_comma_quiz.htm

https://www.quia.com/rr/82028.html

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/comma-quiz/

https://www.rd.com/culture/comma-quiz/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/en29punc-game-going-to-work-with-commas

Deep Thinking Friday 9/21

What worries you?  Constant worry can lead to stress.

We'll see what stress does to the brain in this TedEd video:

Stress can cause insomnia:

So, what can you do about worries and stress?

Letters About Literature

As you craft your letters, you might need some examples of previous letters.

Click here for past national winners. 

Click here for contest rules, etc.

Deep Thinking Friday 9/14

Commas in Compound Sentences and Those Crazy FANBOYS!

Our Own Ways of Learning

Take the following personality/learning tests.  Record your results for each activity in one new blog post.

Jung Typology Test (Analyze your results here)
Multiple Intelligences Test
The VARK Questionnaire:  How Do I Learn Best?

Then, in your blog post, reflect on your results.  Answer the following:

• What do these tests tell you about yourself?
• How can this information help you in class?
• How can this information help you outside of class?
• How can this information help you advocate for your own learning?

After writing your own blog post, read the blog posts of others.  See all the different ways your classmates learn!  Comment on at least 3 posts.  When done, you may read and/or go to any site on the Idleness Prevention Society section of this blog.



Mrs. Edlin's results:
Jung: ENFP (Extroverted, Intuition, Feeling, Perceiving)
Top 3 Intelligence: Language, Musical, Social
VARK Questionnaire: Visual: 1, Aural: 2, Read/Write: 11, Kinesthetic: 2

These tests tell me that I am a reader and a writer.  I need to read the directions to understand something best.  I communicate through words.  I'm an idea person, but I'm a procrastinator too, especially if I get bored.  Knowing this can help me in school by making sure there are written directions to follow.  I also need to keep a calendar for long-term assignments so I don't wait until the last minute.  Outside of class, I think this information confirms my favorite hobbies: reading and musical theatre.  I can advocate for my own learning by knowing how I learn because I can create situations that go best with how I learn: I can work in groups, I can focus on reading & writing, and I can ask teachers to help me break long-term assignments into manageable smaller goals and deadlines.

Welcome Back!

It's going to be a great year in room 201... here's your first assignment:

1. Reading Survey:  Please complete the reading survey found at this link.

2.  Blogs:  Make sure you can get into your blog, and write your first post!  If you don't have a blog, we'll get one set up for you first thing.  Call your first post "New School Year: 2018-2019." Your first post for the year should include the following:

• What you're looking forward to this school year
• What skills you have that will make you successful this school year
• What challenges you have that might hinder your success this school year
• What your goals are for this school year... How do you want to improve yourself and change for the better?

3.  Check the right-hand margin of Mrs. Edlin's blog.  If you don't see yours there, please e-mail the url (web address) of your blog to her at tena.edlin@fairfieldsfuture.org.

4.  Goodreads Accounts:

If you DO NOT have a Goodreads account yet, we'll get you set up with one.

If you DO have a Goodreads account, you need to edit your bookshelves.

• You will need the following shelves to keep track of your books for this year:
• Science Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Poetry/Novels in Verse
• Mystery
• Historical Fiction
• Graphic Novels
• Fantasy
• Classics
• Action/Adventure
• Biography/Autobiography/Memoir
• Informational Nonfiction
• Add a shelf for "2018-2019 School Year."
• Make sure you're a part of the FMS GOAL group, and if you're not, request to join.
• Add friends from the FMS GOAL group, if you'd like to (the more friends you have, the more informative/helpful/interesting your news feed will be).
• Accept all friend requests from GOAL students in any grade.
• Adjust your notification preferences to whatever works best for you.
• Read through your updates, looking for books you might want to add to your "Want to read" shelf.

5.  UNIT INTRODUCTION

When your Goodreads account is ready to go and you've finished your blog post watch the following film to give you an introduction to our new unit to start the year.  This unit will be on Differences in Learning.  This unit is to give you an awareness of all the ways people learn.  You will develop understanding for people who learn differently from you, and you will better understand your own ways of learning.  When you know how you learn best, you can begin to advocate for yourself and take charge of your own learning and academic success.

Start by watching this video: Temple Grandin TED Talk: The World Needs All Kinds of Minds

Then, write a blog post describing what you saw, what you learned, and what it made you think about and/or wonder about.

6.  TIME TO COMMENT!

Read and respond to the blog posts of others.  But first, you need to know HOW to write good comments.  Yes, this seems obvious.  But with student blogging, it's the area which always disappoints me the most.  Even first graders seem to know how to do this better than middle school students.  Case in point: Watch the first grade video on commenting, and PAY ATTENTION to what these kids are talking about.  I know this is geared for elementary kids, but have fun with the Panda and learn from the younger generation about how to write a good blog post.

YES, I KNOW THIS MOVIE IS LAME, BUT THERE ARE NO BETTER ONES.  REALLY!  Let's MAKE a better one.  Comment to this post with at least one suggestion about how we can update this in a way that's useful and more relevant to middle schoolers than a 2-dimensional panda!

7.  Now actually read and respond to other blog posts.  Look at the righthand margin of this blog to find all the GOAL student blogs.  Read and respond to at least 3 posts about goals for the new year and at least 3 posts about the Temple Grandin video.  Try to find blogs that don't have any comments yet.  Read and edit before you post to avoid silly errors.  You may comment on GOAL blogs from any grade.

8.  Go back to your blog and see what others have said.  Respond to their comments if/when necessary.

9.  Think you're done with everything?  Make sure by submitting the checklist found here.

10.  If there are any design modifications you'd like to make to your blog (background colors, margin widths, etc.), you may do it now.

11.  When you're done with everything, you may check out books from my library and read and/or go to any of the sites on my blog along the lefthand margin under the category: Idleness Prevention Society.

The Ultimate Vacation

6th grade GOAL students:

Now that your Ultimate Vacation planning is done, write a new blog post.

Embed your YouTube video in the post, and answer the following questions:

1.  Which locations did you choose, and why did you choose them?

2.  What are a couple of interesting facts about the locations you chose?

3.  What challenges did you encounter during this project, and how did you overcome them?

4.  By doing this assignment, what did you learn about planning a trip?

5.  What part of your assignment makes you the most proud, and why?

6.  If you could improve your final product, how would you do it?

After you publish your blog post, copy its link and paste it along with the link to your itinerary into Canvas.  GOOD WORK!!!

End of the Year Evaluation!

Please go to the following link and answer the questions as thoroughly as possible.  You can look through Canvas or your assignment journal or your own blog first to remind you of some of the things we've done this year.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4SXU_gQquDr6fsYdOoI_Oh4GCoUNIP2Y10aMahXZ63s83WA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Parts of Speech Quiz

You will need a sheet of paper and a pencil.  Click this link to find your parts of speech quiz, and please write all the answers down on your paper.  Turn into the sub when finished and work on Writer's Workshop.

Images of Greatness Reflection, 2018

This quarter has been all about Images of Greatness.  Using elaborated communication, reflect and respond on a new blog post to the following:

1. Upload an image of you with your display board.  You can find the images here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mImmb61Uc2_dguN3WGRc5BX0Fo8oz-m6?usp=sharing.  Feel free to include any group pictures, as well.
2. Who was your Image of Greatness?  Why are they great, and what about them do you admire?
3. What part of your work on this unit makes you most proud?
4. What part of the unit was the most challenging?
5. How did you grow as a student/learner/person because of this unit?
6. How could you improve your work on this unit?  What would you do differently?
7. What was the best part of the actual Images of Greatness Celebration

Publish, and then comment on the posts of others in GOAL when you're finished.

Hannibal Reflection

Please write a blog post to respond to the following questions:

1.  Give a summary of the field trip for anyone who might not know about our Mark Twain unit or might not have ever been to Hannibal, Missouri. 

2.  How did your Mark Twain class work help prepare you for your trip to Hannibal?  Explain.

3.  Write 2 things you learned from the Captain of the Mark Twain Riverboat.

4.  Write 2 things you learned from the exhibits at Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum.

5.  Write 2 things you learned from Nathan, our guide at Mark Twain Cave.

6.  What was your favorite part of the trip and why?

7.  What was the most fun part of the trip and why?

8.  What part of the trip would you improve for next year's class if you could?  Explain.

Nauvoo Field Trip Reflection

Reflect on your field trip to Nauvoo this week.  Write a new blog post, and answer the following:

1. What was your favorite part of the trip, and why?
2. What is something new that you learned about how pioneers lived in the 1840's?  Explain.
3. What is something you learned about why the Mormons moved west in the 1840's?  Explain.
4. If you had to choose one thing you saw or heard in Nauvoo to research and learn more about, what would you choose?  Why?

8th Grade GOAL: Des Moines Trip Reflection

Write a blog post reflecting on our field trip last week to Des Moines to visit the Des Moines Art Center, Drake University, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, and the Science Center of Iowa (Crime Scene Lab, Dream Big IMAX film, Fire and Ice Demonstration, and Independent Museum Exploration).  Answer the following questions.  Include pictures, if you'd like, to illustrate your points.

1.  What was your favorite part of the trip, and why?
2.  At the art museum, you had to find 4 things: your favorite piece, best example of "art," celebrity award, and an example of Why is it "art?"  Give titles and artists, reflect, and include pictures if you'd like.
3.  What was the most educational part of the trip, and why?  What is something specific that you learned?
4.  What was the most fun part of the trip, and why?
5.  How does this trip fit the theme "Images of Greatness?"
6.  If you could improve the trip in any way for the group next year, what would you change?  Explain.

Publish and comment on the posts of others.

Deep Thinking Friday

Check out as many videos from http://thekidshouldseethis.com/ as you can watch.  If you have time, discuss the awesome stuff you watched!

History Day Reflection

Review the judges' form about your project for National History Day.  
On your blogs, complete the following reflection in paragraph form.  

1.  Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the category.   

2.  Do you agree with what the judges said about your project?  Why or why not?

3.  What is the most interesting thing you learned about your topic during your research?  Describe.

4.  What was the hardest part of this project, and why?

5.  How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.

6.  How could you improve your project?  Explain.

7.  What are you most proud of when it comes to the whole experience of this project?  Explain.

8.  If you have any genuine suggestions about how to improve this project or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

You can include a picture of your project or a link to your website or paper as well.

Please post and then comment on the posts of others in your class.

Images of Greatness Resources

As you 8th grade GOAL students are choosing your topics for Images of Greatness this spring, consider the following sites for reference:

Famous Biographies (Many categories)
Influential Americans
Honor Roll of Notable Women
100 Greatest Men of All Time
Time's 100 Most Significant Figures in History
100 Scientists Who Shaped World History
Great Artists in History
Spotlight: Inventors
A&E's 100 Most Influential People of the Millennium
The Most Important Leaders in World History

2018 Images of Greatness Project Requirements

Comparison/Contrast Paper

For your comparison/contrast paper, you may choose from the following topics:

• You may compare the movie to the play of The Diary of Anne Frank.
• You may compare Anne Frank to Elie Wiesel.
• You may compare Anne Frank or Elie Wiesel to any one character from one of your literature circle books.

Once you choose your topic, complete the following outline to organize your thoughts:

1. Introduction with thesis statement
2. 1st similarity
1. 1st Work
2. 2nd Work
3. 2nd smilarity
1.  1st Work
2. 2nd Work
4. 1st difference
1. 1st Work
2. 2nd Work
5. 2nd difference
1. 1st Work
2. 2nd Work
6. Conclusion

Write out your outline, and then you may compose at the keyboard or handwrite your first draft.  Take the paper through the writing process.  

Deep Thinking Friday: Are You a Giver or a Taker?

Are you a giver or a taker?

 

Geography Games

How well do you know your world?  Try some of these games to see!

Free Online Geography Games

World Geography Games

Geography Games for Kids

USA Geography Puzzle Map

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Embed your project into your blog.
• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and submit the link on the Canvas assignment (for GOAL, not for language arts).  After you publish, please comment on the posts of at least three other people.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog.

Anne Frank Introduction

We will start reading the play The Diary of Anne Frank on Wednesday.  As a prequel to this event, please watch the following videos and read the following pages to give you some more background knowledge before we begin.  You do not have to view in order.  Pick and choose according to your interest.

Take some notes on questions, comments, and/or connections you have as you view.

The Story of Anne Frank from the Anne Frank House

The Secret Annex Online (Make sure to read the directions then explore the whole space, all floors.  You might have to enable Adobe Flash to get it to work.)

Video: "Discovered and Arrested"

Video: "Otto Frank Tells His Story"

The Hiding Place

The History Channel: Anne Frank

Biography: Anne Frank

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Holocaust Encyclopedia: Anne Frank

Washington Post: Anne Frank and Her Family Were Also Denied Entry as Refugees to the U.S.

Gale Biography in Context: Anne Frank (Hundreds of hits here... explore and investigate.  You may need to log in to the online databases to see this content.)

Deep Thinking Friday: Sleeping and Dreaming

Deep Thinking Friday 1/12/18

Surface Tension Experiments

NASA + Origami


B-roll: Origami Solar Array Prototype from JPLraw on Vimeo.

Tesselations and Miura Folds

Origami Robotics

One Word

What is your word?

Watch the three videos above.  

1. Brainstorm YOUR word.
2. Make and decorate a physical copy of your word that will be posted in the classroom.  Use markers, stencils, stickers, crayons, ribbon... whatever you need to make it uniquely yours.
3. Once you have designed your word, write a blog post explaining why you chose it.
4. Find or create a digital image of your word (or take a digital photo of the physical word you made), and include it at the top of your blog post.
5. Comment on the blog posts of at least 5 other students.  Use good commenting skills.