WELCOME SUMMER!

I hope you are all enjoying the start of your summer break!

This is a little update for parents and kids:

Parents:

Progress reports are being mailed out today. I imagine you will receive them by Monday or Tuesday of next week. Enclosed in them are copies of the grading rubric for Teaching Academy with your child's score. The paper along with the original copy of the grading rubric will be in your child's Portfolio that will travel with him or her to middle school.

Kids:

Keep an eye on the blog for fun summer updates and cool stuff for you! As soon as the file is converted, I plan to post the video you made with Mr. Taylor on the last day of school, if I can make it private. If not, I will find another way to share it.

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OUR THOUGHTS ON THE "NEW MERIDA"

After reading about Disney's plans to change Brave's main character, Merida, we wrote our own persuasive pieces based on this issue. Here are our thoughts below:

Merida     by Allie

My opinion is that they should not change Merida because……………

1.   They would take away her bow and arrow and she would not look brave anymore

2.   She would look like all she cares about is beauty

3.   She would not stand tall anymore and with pride she would stand like a princess whose spoiled and stuck up

4.   Last but not least, she would not be a good role model anymore because she went from a brave girl to a spoiled princess. 

Merida Changes

By: Jacob

I do not like the changes that they did to Merida in the movie Brave. In the movie she does not want to become a princess. She tells her mother that she does not want to be princess, she wants to live a free life. Now she looks like she wants to be saved by a prince. She says that she does not want to marry a prince she just wants to be single. She has a sparkly dress. In her regular dress she wants to those types of dress because she does not want to look too girly girl. She is not her anymore in the changes that they made. She looks like she not strong like she is in the movie. She looks like that she does not want to do archery anymore. In the movie she loves to do archery.

Archery is her life and she will never stop doing it, but when they made the changes she looks like  

she doesn’t want to anymore.

No I don’t think Disney should change Merida’s appearance.

1)  The new Merida doesn’t show any signs of bravery and that’s the point of the character, being brave.

2)  The new Merida is the exact opposite of who she is supposed to be. How, you may ask? Because she is supposed to be brave and the new Merida doesn’t look brave. Before, she had a plain un- girly blue dress bow and arrow and no make-up. The new Merida has a sparkly girly looking blue dress no bow and arrow and make-up!

3)  The new Merida is girly and sparkly. Why is this a problem? Same reason! She’s supposed to look brave, not girly and sparkly.

The new Merida is not a good role model for kids because; by the looks of her she is bratty, snobby, mean and helpless and that wouldn’t be a good example for kids.

  The original Merida looks confident, and brave especially with the bow and arrow.  She really fits in like that. That is what makes her different from other princesses; not having to be rescued for every tiny thing and that’s why she should stay like she is.

=      

Changing Disney’s Merida; good or bad? by Caleb and Drew

We the people of Drew’s desk and Caleb’s desk think that Disney should not change Merida because; she would look weak and defenseless even though she is not because of her sparkly dress and massive amount of makeup and her dainty expression.  Disney would also take away her signature weapon, the bow and arrow which makes her not as adventurous as she is supposed to be.  Little kids would grow up with the “sassy, cute and submissive” Merida instead of the fiercer Merida.  Finally boys would think that girls can’t handle themselves, and the old Merida shows that girls can handle themselves and they aren’t helpless.

Merida

By Aidan

I don’t think she should change because she looks weak and looks like she can’t take care of herself. Also she doesn’t look tough and brave because she’s wearing a dress and her pose that takes away the whole point of the story and  she doesn’t  even have her bow that’s what makes her look brave and strong and if they take that away its basically changing the story.  That’s why I think they shouldn’t change Merida.

What Defines a Character?

I imagine many of you are familiar with the newest Pixar heroine from last summer's film, Brave: Merida.

I thought she was pretty cool.

Disney is considering changing her appearance. They want her to look more like the image on the left:

Is this a big deal? Yes? No?

An artist named Matthew Bogart wrote about this issue on his blog. He is really thinking about what defines a character - what makes someone we have created through writing or artwork come alive in a certain way. What details about characters REALLY make them "who they are?"

He takes this on through a great comparison:

Would we care if the artist who drew Batman suddenly changed how HE looks?


Read Mr. Bogart's article here: http://thedaysarelongandshort.com/post/50220183714/the-brave-and-the-bold and then be ready to tell me what you think.

I would love comments below on what you think defines YOUR favorite characters in books or movies. What makes them special? What details could we never, ever change about them?

Force and Motion Games

Hi kiddos!

I am still home sick, so expect a few more in-class blog assignments over the next few days. You can visit all these sites at home, as well. We will be starting our Civil War simulation and continuing our discussions of a variety of marching songs when I return next Monday. Teaching Academy projects are still due Monday, May 13 - bring in a copy on Thursday to conference with a partner.



Today's blog assignment is below:

Below are links to several cool interactive games and simulations related to our studies of forces and motion. Try them out, then leave a comment describing a connection you can make between one of these activities and our investigations with our Kinex cars. Be sure you read your classmates' comments so that your comments are new ideas.

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/forcesinaction.html

http://www.edheads.org/activities/crash_scene/

http://sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/gravity.html

http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/parkworldplot/parkworldplotlink.htm

This is a nice review of force & motion concepts related to a rocket launch from NASA:

Thanks to our fantastic music teacher, Mrs. Vaughn, our fifth graders had the opportunity to see the documentary Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings yesterday. This was a special schools-only screening through the Riverrun Film Festival, after which, we got a special Q & A session with director Tadashi Nakamura.

This was a perfect supplement to our curriculum, which lead to great discussions once we returned to school!

As we discussed, a great documentary can make any topic exciting, as when you watch a great documentary, the film makers' passion for the subject really shines through. We discussed how a documentary is a research project, and how the steps that Mr. Nakamura described in gathering and then whittling down footage for the film directly mirror the students' steps in developing their Teaching Academy presentations.

This film was especially appropriate because the kids have been playing ukulele with Mrs. Vaughn in music class, so they are aware of the instrument's limitations. We were all AMAZED at what Mr. Shimabukuro can do with this seemingly simple instrument! If you are not familiar with his work (I know I wasn't before the film screening), check out his website to learn more: http://jakeshimabukuro.com/home/

Mrs. Gottschalk and I are hoping to check him out in concert on June 8 in Durham. I thought I might pass that information along (the upcoming tour dates are listed on the website).

Again, this was a FANTASTIC experience. I am so grateful to Mrs. Vaughn and Mrs. McKim with the Riverrun festival for offering us this FREE film screening. I am also very proud of our kids - they were such a mature and mannerly audience. It was a pleasure to attend this film with them!

Kids, what was your favorite part of the documentary?

Our Spring Break Visit to Baton Rouge!

Hey guys!

I hope you've been having a great Spring Break! Or, for those of you not reading until after the break, I hope you HAD a great Spring Break!

As I am writing, it is a chilly, gloomy day here in Winston - we even saw some SNOW! That's very different from the weather we saw in Baton Rouge. The reasons for this relate directly to our Mystery Class studies.
This week's posting is going to be a guess - the - place sort of post. I'm going to give you details - half these facts are about Winston-Salem, NC, and the other half relate to Baton Rouge. You will determine which are our hometown of Winston-Salem and which are Baton Rouge. Some you may already know or be able to figure out from process of elimination. Only a few will require any research.

Lastly, for a bonus: Which photos found throughout this blog post are images from Baton Rouge? Which are images of our hometown? How can you tell?


1. Latitude and longitude: 30° 27' 2" N / 91° 9' 15" W

2. Latitude and longitude: 36° 5' 59" N / 80° 14' 39" W

3. Climate: subtropical

4. Climate: temperate


5. Biome: deciduous forest

6. Biome: wetlands

7. This city is known for Quakers and Moravians.

8. . This city is known for Acadians, commonly known as Cajuns.

9. This city is found on out nation's second largest river.

10. This city is located in the foothills of an isolated mountain range with unusual rock formations.








A few distance estimations and calculations before we are done:

1. Raja travelled to New York City over Spring Break. Allie travelled to Orlando, Florida. Who was further from Winston-Salem, Raja, Allie or me?

2. Who was closer to me, Raja or Allie? Which girl was farther from my location?

3. Our return flights from New Orleans to Charlotte were just slightly shorter than our trips down (flying from Charlotte to New Orleans). Mr. Taylor and I had a great discussion about what the possible reasons for this might be. Use the weather maps and links below to see if you can develop some ideas about why this happened:




http://hint.fm/wind/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/wind-map-video_n_1390149.html

The answers for this blog post are due Friday, April 19. You will write your answers on the sheet given to you in class BUT I would also like for you  to post one REALLY COOL thing you did or experienced over Spring Break.

It's the Spring Equinox!

Hey guys...

It's the equinox!

Do you remember what that means?


Check out this link to learn more: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/web-hunt-vernal-equinox

Sound to Sea!

Hi guys,

This week (March 18-22), your blog assignment is to explore the Sound to Sea webpage. You will be completing a scavenger hunt as you check out the website, to help you prepare for this AMAZING upcoming trip!

Sound to Sea Webpage

States of Matter Webquest

Hi folks!
This webquest will prepare you for some experiments we'll be doing over the next few weeks.

http://teach.fcps.net/trt8/Weaver/states_of_matter_webquest.htm

HOLES THINKQUEST

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0113061/



Which activity was your favorite and why? Leave a comment below!

Here are a few resources for those of you having trouble remembering parts of speech for the Mad Libs portion:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_e24kdjdbtw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kfnXUWJz0sE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x6dPHWemygY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Webquest Part Three

Hi kids!

This week, your assignment is to complete part three of the webquest and to respond to a question in the comments section from last week's post. You may choose whichever question you want, and respond directly to that comment by commenting on it. You do have to choose a question no one else has commented on yet. Please let me know before Thursday if you need help with any part of this week's assignment.

Webquest, Part 2

Hi kiddos!

By now, everybody should be done with part 1 of the webquest. We will be discussing it tomorrow due to the snow-less snow day Friday.

This week, you will need to complete part 2 of the webquest. You'll find it on the same link as last week's assignment, and you can record your answers on the same sheet as last week's assignment.

For your comment this week, I'd like you each to pose a question for your classmates: Give them an example of heat transfer and ask them to tell what type it is.

Happy questing!

Mrs. Taylor

HEAT ENERGY!

Hi kiddos!

This week, we will begin part one of a four-part webquest on Heat Energy!

The link below will guide you through the process. You are also getting a sheet with instructions today (Monday, February 18) in your homework folders.

Link to Webquest

Your assignment:

Complete part 1 of the webquest this week, and post one everyday example of heat energy in the comments section below. Describe your example carefully and with detail, and be sure to tell whether it is conduction, convection or radiation.

It's a Football-Related Post!

...well, sort of.

Both teams' names have interesting significance, one literary and one historical. Cool, huh? Apparently there are more than a few players on each team that DIDN'T know those connections. My goal: for you to be more knowledgeable.

Please answer the first two questions on a sheet of paper, to be turned in on Friday. Please answer the third question as a comment here on the blog.

This week, tell me (in at least 3 solid sentences per question):

1. Why are the Ravens called the Ravens? Be very specific.

2. Why are the 49ers called the 49ers? Be very specific.

3. If you could re-name the Panthers, what would you call them? Be creative, and remember to back up your reasoning with facts about our state.

I've included this graphic and poem I found for your enjoyment. There are some clues to get you started within the poem.

You guys - THUNDERSNOW!!!!!!!

Hi kids, remember thundersnow(Answering the Un-Answerable: Thundersnow)?

It's here!

We have an all-out THUNDERSNOW experience happening here in Kernersville, and Ms. Gallagher informs me it is happening in Winston-Salem, as well!

Too cool!

I'm so glad Aidan asked that question back in November & now we are all experts!

Check out these links related to thundersnow:

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2013/01/17/thundersnow-reported-winter-storm-plows-through-north-carolina

http://www.nbcchicago.com/weather/stories/Thundersnow-Chicago-Winter-Storm-184144451.html


http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wild-winter-weather-thundersnow-rare/story?id=12777219

THUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNDERSNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Ba-ack!!!!!

Hi guys!

Here it is again....

... now I want you to actually make your predictions about what this animal may be. Review your classmates' questions and answers on the earlier blog post and the picture above. Do any other research you might like to do, as well, using whatever sources you find helpful.

Once you feel confident that you know what this is, answer the following questions on a sheet of paper:

1. What is this thing?
2. What, specifically, does it eat?
3. What limiting factors affect its population?
4. What animals compete with it for food and other resources?
5. What niche does it occupy (what is its role in its ecosystem)?
6. What detail in the picture or clue from a classmate was most helpful in deciding what it was?

We will discuss the questions and your answers on Friday, January 18, and read an article about this creature.

Happy researching!

Should we ban large snakes?

Hey guys!

Some of you may have already heard that there has been a proposal to ban large, constrictor snakes in Forsyth County. Here is a link to the most recent article in the Winston-Salem Journal:

http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_fce57ba8-5079-11e2-a7b8-001a4bcf6878.html

Chad Griffin, head of the reptile rescue that I consulted before releasing our turtles (see the blog post on that here Turtle Post), is quoted in the article giving his point of view.

There has been discussion of a Federal ban on taking snakes across state borders (federal ban) after the problems in the Everglades we've discussed in class. 

What do you think?

Should Forsyth County ban specific types of snakes? Why or why not? Back up your answer with text from one or more of the linked articles. Write your answer in a complete, detailed paragraph to turn in, in class.