Tuesday

Firebrands Wanted Poster Project

Someone who sparks a revolution is called a "firebrand."  Where does this name come from?  There were many important firebrands that sparked the American Revolution.  Once Declaration of Independence was written and signed, many of these firebrands would have been considered traitors by the British.  For this assignment, using Word, you will be making two "Wanted" posters for two firebrands.  You need to include the following information on each poster:
  •  Name of your firebrand
  • Wanted for (put the reasons in here, these should be specific to this person, what did they  actually contribute to the Revolution. this is the main part of your poster.)
  • approximate age during the 1770's
  • Place they were born and where they currently reside
  • Photo of firebrand (If you can't find one, use another graphic that could represent them)
  • The reward for their capture
  • Vary your font size type based on titles, and other information

List of Firebrands:  Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, Martha Bratton, Prudence Wright, Penelope Barker, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, John Adams, Benjamin Rush, John Hancock, Crispus Attucks, Dr. Samuel Prescott.

Research at least 4 firebrands before you choose your two.  Try to choose one well known one along with one you may not have heard of. 

Friday

Trash "Found" Poem Directions

Using the words from the shared word depot document, write a poem that expresses any themes from the book "Trash."  The poem could be from one or more character's point of view of could just be your own voice.  Make sure it has a title and uses some elements of poetry

Thursday

Trash Response Questions


  1. Describe the conditions in the prison.  Why do you think children would be locked up there?
  2. How were Olivia and Gardo able to get a visit with Gabriel Olondriz?
  3. What were the few things that Raphael learned about Rat that he "had never known and never asked about?" 
  4. What does the gardener tell Raphael and Rat?
  5. What would you do with six million dollars?

Wednesday

Abstract Noun Poem: Freedom

Freedom looks like my two daughters cartwheeling across the beach on a blue sky day.
Freedom smells like chocolate chip cookies just baked, filling the house with sweetness.
Freedom tastes like the last bite of a a rocky road ice cream cone.
Freedom feels like the icy waters of the salmon river on a hot August afternoon.
Freedom sounds like the alarm clock wails of Jimi Hendrix screeching the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock.

Thursday

Assignments for Jan 12 & 13

  1. Finish your Solid Matter graphic organizer and print it.  Make sure it is well organized and fonts are sized according to hierarchy.
  2. Please finish any writings you're working on for language arts.
  3. If you are completely finished with the above work you may begin researching Martin Luther King, starting at The King Institute website.  You will then make a Glogster poster about one aspect or event in King's life.  Topics could include:  non-violent resistance & Gandhi, Birmingham bus boycott, letter from a Birmingham jail.,  march on Washington, "I have a dream" speech, family life, Nobel Peace Prize, ????.  Whatever you decide, be sure to have a thematic title, graphics include quotes, dates, and other main ideas.  You can also audio and video clips.  When you are done you can post it to your blog. 

Sunday

This Week's Assignment

This week you will be making a graphic organizer using your science notes from 5.2:  "Solid Matter."  You will be using the free online mind mapping software, bubbl.us, to create your organizer.  First you will need to sign-up for an account (it doesn't require much more than an email).  Below is an example of one I started for you.

You may start by copying mine or make your own from scratch, but either way, your organizer should begin with "Solid Matter" and include all of the most important details for each main idea.  For example, what concepts would you attach to thermal conductivity?  Where would crystalline solids and polymers connect to?  Think about the relative size of each bubble and how it relates to the one above it.  You can also use color to show relationships.

Once you are done be sure to save it in your bubbl.us account and export it a jpg. file to save in your folder on the network.  You can then insert the image into a g-doc or word file and print.  You may have to use "landscape" in you page layout to get it to fit.  Also remember not to use background colors that are too dark, as it may be hard to see when you print in black and white. 





Tuesday

Happy 2012!

I hope the new year finds you rested and ready to dive in to another fun-filled class.  Assignments and homework will now be posted, exclusively, on Jupiter Grades.  So you'll need to log in with your username and password to see what's due.  If you're having trouble accessing your account let me know and I'll reset your info.  I'll keep using the google calendar on my site for class and school events.