Classwork: 11/12-11/13

Here's a list of common claims about the "First Thanksgiving" (adapted from ReadWriteThink.com)

Common Claims about the "First Thanksgiving" 
The Wampanoag brought popcorn to the first Thanksgiving feast. 
The First Official Thanksgiving took place near Plymouth Rock in 1621. 
The Native Americans the Pilgrims encountered lived in tipis and traveled on horseback.
The Native Americans wore elaborate head dresses with many feathers. 
The Pilgrims shared pumpkin pie, corn on the cob, and sweet potatoes (or yams) with the Wampanoag. 
The harvest feast celebrated by Pilgrims and Wampanoags in the fall of 1621 was the first of its kind in the Americas.

DIRECTIONS: Choose 5 of the 6 claims about the First Thanksgiving to research. Investigate whether the claim is truth or myth. For each of the 5 claims, write a paragraph and explain: 1). What about the claim is true? 2). What about the claim is myth? 3). Is the claim mostly a myth or truth? Share your work with me as a Google Doc: Due end of day Monday, 11/16.

These sites will be useful, although you are free to use any others you find:

http://lenapeprograms.info/celebrate-november/thanksgiving-food/
http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-11-2010/myth_buster_thanksgiving.html
https://www.plimoth.org/what-see-do/wampanoag-homesite/homesite-faqs
http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/first-thanksgiving-meal

Classwork: 11/5-6

Please create a Google Doc and do A, B and C below:

A). Choose one of the following questions and respond in character (as Odd, Buddy or Sook). Your response should include details from the film "The Thanksgiving Visitor" and should be 150 words, minimum.

1). Odd, why are you so mean?
2). Buddy, why don't you tell a teacher about the bullying?
3). Sook, why don't other people care about your opinions?

B). Choose one of the following "starters" and write a paragraph in response. Be sure to include specific details from the film (100 words min.)

This reminds me of…

I still don’t understand….

I like the part where..., because….

At first I thought…, but then…

______ made me think about ______, because….

Based on the film, and what I know, I think ________...

C). During Thanksgiving dinner, Buddy accuses Odd of stealing Sook's cameo. Predict what happens next. Be sure to include specific details from the story to support your ideas. (100 words, minimum).

Classwork: 10/21-10/22 (update)

Write a letter to one of your favorite clothing brands (or a brand you often wear).

A). Re-read the letter the sample letter Kristen Lewis wrote to the "Madewell" company.
B). Find examples in her letter where she included details from the article "Why are Your Clothes So Cheap?"
C). Look at examples of corporate responsibility websites here, here and here.

In your letter be sure to:
1). Include details from the article telling what you learned about working conditions in garment factories (see Kristen Lewis' letter).
2). Explain what you learned about your company's views on corporate responsibility. Couldn't find information like that for your company? Tell the company (politely!) in your letter.
4). Explain how you want the company to help those who make our clothes around the world.
5). Follow business letter format.


NOTE: This link will be helpful to find the address of the company that makes your favorite brand of clothes. Please include your name but NOT your home address; please use the school's address-C/O Mr. Carlisto, Saranac Lake Middle School, 79 Canaras Ave., Saranac Lake, NY 12983


DUE: share one copy via Google Doc; print one copy due Monday, 10/26.

What's New in ELA Class: Update 10/10

After reading  "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" we did some collaborative group work exploring the actual town in NY that got its name from Washington Irving's story.
The benefits of having students work in groups is supported by research, and I was impressed by how well the students did with this activity.
The week of 10/12 we'll work on writing entries for author Bruce Coville's annual Halloween Story Contest.
I promised the students I'd post some videos of Coville reading his stories from previous years, so check those out here, here, and here.
Have you asked how your student's independent reading is going? I'm progressing (a bit slowly, I admit). Since school started in September I've read Game, The Sixth Gun: Volume 1 and am now reading The Book of Laney (the author of which went to the same high school I did: Go Bulldogs!)

What's New in Grade 7 ELA: Update 10/3

September was a great month; spectacular weather and good times while getting back into "school mode" after summer vacation.

Grade 7 students have been reading, (ask about their "independent reading books") writing (ask to see their journals) and participating in some excellent class discussions (ask about our conversations regarding "successful people").

As I write this on Saturday morning, I'm reflecting on this past week. We read together a version of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Also, Jill Kennedy, library media specialist, visited class to share some book talks. The books she recommended are: The Thickety, The Jumbies, and Magonia.
This coming week we'll be doing some research about the setting of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Sleepy Hollow, (formerly North Tarrytown) NY.

Two People I Want To Be Like: a poetry writing assignment.

What does it mean to be successful?   Who do you consider a success? Who do you want to be like?

1.   Choose a role model. This must be someone who you can research.  Try this site to match your interests with someone who has achieved success. Or choose someone from this site who may fit your definition of a successful person.

2. Write a poem that emulates Eve Merriam's "Two People I Want to Be Like." In your poem, include a description of the role model you researched. Incorporate details from the person's life. Also include someone you know personally. Just like in the poem, these should be two people you want to be like.

Here's an example:

That girl just laughs.
She skips around and jokes too.
I’d never seen Mr. Adams laugh or smile.
But as soon as that girl came into town,
Mr. Adams let out a smile when those two talked,
And sometimes he’d laugh if it were a nice day.
But it was only her that could create joy out of Mr. Adam’s sadness.
Her.

That man working at the restaurant is friendly like a dog.
He talks a lot.
Always got something on his mind.
Good things like jokes and stories.
Never have I heard him complain about his life and that he deserves better.
No, no, no, no, he’s not a grump.
That man loves life,
“It’s special you know,” He tells me, “You only get one.”
That man keeps talking and enjoying life.
Forever.

I wish everyone were like them.
But I guess it’s better we’re not.
Then it wouldn’t be special.
I guess it’s just a rare gift from god.
Only for her and him.

*Taken from this website.

And here's an example I wrote based on http://www.biography.com/people/john-lewis-21305903#early-life

That non-violent protestor,
That sit-in organizer,
That heroic Civil Rights activist.

Your work was necessary but dangerous; you got arrested, beaten up,
And even though it made your mother mad, still you continued...

.You continued to do big things: the March on Washington, the March on Selma; all way while you were so young.

You're much older now,have the title "Congressman Lewis," but still leading, still achieving, still succeeding, standing up for you believe,
and inspiring us. All of us.

Sit Right Down and Write Yourself a Letter

Based on this lesson by a teacher in Canada, students will be writing a letter to their "future selves."
Ok, so it's not too far into the future (I'll be collecting these letters and returning them during the last week of school in June).
The letter should be a Google Doc and should include:
Greeting/Salutation (Dear...)
Body (my hopes, fears, dreams, intentions, goals, problems, concerns, likes, dislikes, joys, frustrations; what I like about myself; what I don’t like about myself; what I’m proud of; what I think about; what bothers me; who I am, predictions about the upcoming school year, etc.)
Closing (Sincerely, Yours Truly, etc.)

DUE DATE: Monday, 9/14. Your letter should be typed as a Google Doc and should be 500 words in length, minimum.
Here's an example of what this letter might look like: http://www.stageoflife.com/Default.aspx?tabid=72&g=posts&t=4142
Here's another: http://www.stageoflife.com/Default.aspx?tabid=72&g=posts&t=4183