Mystery Book Report - due 10/17 (Period 6)

Mystery
Book Report
Due 10/17/07
40 Points

On a separate sheet of paper, either printed from the computer, or created on a poster. Complete the following:

1. Heading & seat number (2 points)

2. Title of Book, author and pages (2 points)

3. Write 7 difficult or interesting words from your story following the question mark shape

provided. You can use the one given to you or make a larger version. (7 points)

4. Then use each of the 7 words in a questions about your mystery. (7 points)

5. Make a list of all the clues that led to solving the mystery. You must have a minimum of 7

clues. (7 points)

6. Write out the 5 W's of the mystery. (10 points)

What happened?
Who did it?
Where?
When?
Why?

7. If you made a radio show of this mystery, what sound effects would you need? (5 points)
You can do this by showing a picture of the sound (hand-drawn, computer generated) or you may make a list of sounds (minimum of 5 sounds)

Science Fiction Book Report due 10/17 (periods 3 & 8)

Science Fiction
Book Report
Travel Brochure
Due 10/17/07
40 points

Assignment: You will be creating a travel brochure advertising the setting of the story

1. You must include 4 pictures of your setting/events that happen within the story

2. Cover – Name of book, author and page numbers. A picture of the overall setting of the book.

3. Pages 2, 3 & 4 should contain the following:
Who are the guides of this trip
What types of things can people do while in the area
What types of adventures will the main characters take them on
Where will they stay and how will they get to the location

4. The entire brochure must be in color, either hand- drawn or computer generated.

5. Spelling, grammar and punctuation must be correct

6. Your heading and seat number should be on the back of
your book report.

Week of September 17th

This has been quite a week!

Monday - Open House Night

13 hour days are pretty much my limit, but I appreciate all of the parents who made it to Open House Night! It was great seeing familiar faces from some of my former student's parents from sixth grade as well as those that I haven't had the opportunity to meet until now. The night flew by and you were all given a great deal of information in the 10 minute periods you had with each teacher. As always, any questions, comments, concerns that I can address please feel free to send my way either by e-mail or calling me. The school year has been terrific thus far and I really am enjoying my new 8th grade position.

Thursday - Washington DC Meeting

We are only two weeks away from the 8th grade Washington DC trip! Miss Casey and I are looking forward to a successful trip with our 90 Lakeview students. The kids are going to have such a great time and learn so much in 3 days. It's amazing how much they get to see, the information they gather as well as the fun that they have. I always look forward to students sharing their pictures the weeks after the trip.

Remember

- students must be at Lakeview at 5:15 am to load onto the buses on Saturday, October 6th.

- the phone chain will begin once we land on Monday evening so you know when to pick up your son or daughter

- school dress code applies!

- school rules and behavior applies!

- check the TSA website to review restrictions for what you can and cannot bring on the plane

Any questions? Feel free to contact myself of Miss Casey

Friday

Students turned in their first book report for the year. I'm looking forward to them all and have already displayed some projects in the hallway.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!

Go Cubbies!

Diary Entry for 6th period class due Friday 9/14

Write a minimum of 2 entries
Each entry must be a minimum of 1 paragraph

An important character in the story who does not appear is Molly Deane (the fiance). Write 2 diary entries she might have composed during this story.

September 12 - IMC - Period 3 & 8

Was Grace Wiley brave or foolish to live as she did? The class has been divided into two teams to defend each side of the argument. Find facts to support your position at the following Web sites:

National Geographic: Interactive King Cobra
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kingcobra/index-ie.html

Beware! This Web site contains a life-size king cobra. Did you know that a King Cobra can stand as tall as a human adult? Or that cobras can sleep with their eyes open? Learn all about the King using the life-sized model at this site.

The Deadly King Cobra
http://www.pitara.com/discover/earth/online.asp?story=21

Information about this venomous snake, including the record length of a cobra (over 18 feet!), cobras' habits and habitats, and a description of the effect the snakes' venom has on humans.


Assignment:

Gather information to defend your position – you are trying to argue whether Grace Wiley was brave or foolish to live as she did.

Grab your readers' attention
-Begin with an interesting or powerful piece of information to draw your reader in.

State your position
-Decide what you need to prove.

Support your position (using information from the websites)
-Your opinion alone is not enough – you need to sway people opinions. Support your points
with facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions.

Anticipate objections
-What might your opponents say to support their position? Could they challenge any of your
evidence?

Conclude clearly
-Give a strong final impression. Restate your main idea and key points o listeners remember
them.

Wednesday, September 12 - Period 6 IMC

Think of some famous villains from real life, literature, movies, or television.
The following websites may help you with some ideas:

List of historical people portrayed as villains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historical_people_portrayed_as_villains

AFI's 50 top villains in movies
http://www.filmsite.org/afi100heroesvillb.html

Top 10 TV villains
http://blogs.mcall.com/tvwatchers/2007/07/oh-poor-you-10-.html

Select one or two figures and write about the following in paragraph form:

What motivates this criminal mind?
Is this person evil by nature or has something happened to turn him or her to criminal activity?
What in this person's behavior serves as clues to his or her personality?
Do you feel sympathy or understanding for this person?

Writing Activity - Period 4 - Due Wed. Sep. 12

Period 4

"Every great action is extreme when it is undertaken. Only when it has been accomplished does it seem possible to those creatures of more common stuff." - Stendhal

Write an explanation as to what this quote means. (1 paragraph minimum)
Describe a situation(s) that illustrates Stendhal's quotation. (1 paragraph minimum)
Decide whether you agree or disagree with Stendhal's statement or not and explain why. (1 paragraph minimum)

Writing Activity Periods 1 & 7, due Wed. 9/12

LA 1,7

Write a short account (3 paragraphs minimum) of a memorable event from your childhood. In order to make your account lively and dramatic, describe the background and the characters fully. You might also use dialogue to give the exact words spoken.

* Dialogue Review - English Book page 256

Journal choices for periods 3 & 8

Journal 1
Have you ever had new people move into your neighborhood? Explain what you thought about the new people before meeting them. How accurate were your assumptions?

Journal 2
Think about today's quote from Stephen King, "I guess when you turn off of the main road, you have to be prepared to see some funny houses." Explain a time when you went off the main road. Describe the experience - what was the situation - were there "funny houses"?

All journals must be 2 paragraphs with 5-6 sentences in each

This Week...

This week classes are beginning their first unit in reading. Regular classes will focus on short stories and poems that have the common theme, "Strange Goings-On." The advance class is beginning their own unit about detective/mystery stories.

Classes are completing their first essay of the school year - three goals they want to accomplish by May. Each student selected a personal, academic and extracurricular goal they want to meet.

I'm enjoying getting to know all of my students (most for a second time - since I had many in 6th grade), but it is amazing to see how much they have changed and GROWN!

Again, keep communication going parents and students - feel free to e-mail or call anytime.