Past Lessons

Monday, March 31, 2014

Period 9 - Week 26

  MONDAY - Double Period  
  • Do Now...
    • 1.  TAKE YOUR ENTIRE CLASS FOLDER TO YOUR SEAT!
    • 2.  Take 1 RED or YELLOW Folder.
    • 3.  Start a New Entry Titled:  Things That Really Interest Me
      • Create a list of things about which you are currently interested in, would like to know more about, or things you have always wondered. Anything goes!
      • Sample List
      • 1.  Current Interests:  Music, mixing, sports, friends, food, making money, reading.
      • 2.  Would like to know more:  How to develop my psychic abilities; How to tile a floor; How to play the stock market; How to quit smoking; How to do cross-fit.
      • 3.  Wonder about:  Where and how does does fresh water get into my home?  Did ancient aliens live on Earth?  What supplements can I take to extend my life expectancy? What is the future of basketball?  What is the best career choice for me?

    • Learning Target - To introduce the purposes of this unit which are...
      • 1.  To develop the skills and habits used in conducting research.
      • 2.  To use those skills and habits in developing and communicating an evidence-based (CSI type) perspective on a topic.
      • 3.  To write a research paper on a topic of your choice that includes works cited and a bibliography.

    • Class Discussion/Mini-Lesson
      • Research is different from having an opinion.
      • The writing of a research paper is repetitive - you will go through the same steps in the process several times before your research paper is complete.
    • You may change your point of view as you go through the process.
    • A researched understanding and perspective serves many purposes like...
      • writing a research paper
      • developing a position on a controversial issue
      • developing business plans
      • designing and building a new invention
      • informing personal and community decision-making
      • writing fictional or historical novels
      • giving presentations

    • Guided Practice: A Student Research Plan
      • With a group or on your own, read the Student Research Plan handout.
      • Answer the following questions in your composition notebook.  Feel free to ask your teacher for ideas.
        • 1.  What is column one about?
        • 2.  How is column two related to column one?
        • 3.  Explain why column three might be titled "Tools and Handouts."

    • Assessment
      • On a half sheet of loose-leaf paper with a complete heading answer the following questions for classwork grade worth 15 points.
        • Create a scenario in which research might be required.  What are some initial questions you might ask in order to achieve your goal?
        • Example:  I want to know how to become a music producer.  
          • What skills do I need to have in order to become a music producer?
          • Who can help me achieve this goal?
          • Where is the best place to live in order to become a music producer?
          • Do I need special training or schooling?


  •   Period 8  

  • Do Now...
    • New Entry Titled:  Things That Really Interest Me
      • Create a list of things about which you are currently interested, would like to know more about, or things you have always wondered.

      • Sample List
      • 1.  Current Interests:  Music, sports, friends, food, making money, reading.
      • 2.  Would like to know more:  How to develop my psychic abilities; How to tile a floor; How to play the stock market; How to quit smoking; How to become a professional football player
      • 3.  Wonder about:  Where and how does does fresh water get into my home?  What exactly are parallel universes?  What supplements can I take to extend my life expectancy? What is the future of basketball?  What is the best career choice for me?

  • Learning Target - To introduce and stimulate thinking and interest in the topic the class will use to guide it's research.

      TUESDAY - Single Period  
    • Do Now...

    • Independently read your DIRT novel for 10 minutes.

    • Answer Reader Response - 5 minutes
    •      Select one of the following reading strategies and respond...
    •       - Make a connection (text to text, text to self, text to world)
    •       - Visualize a part of your novel and describe using imagery.
    •       - Ask a question to clarify your understanding of a part of your novel.
    •       - Determine/Explain why a part of your novel is important.
    •       - Make an Inference (logical conclusion) or a Prediction about your novel.
    •      -  Synthesize (put it together)several ideas to create an original idea about your novel.

    • Be prepared to share you reader response for a ticket for the next raffle and a participation grade.

    • Word Study - Add these words to Vocabulary List VIII
      • 7.  fidget (fidgeted, fidgeting) - make small movements, especially of the hands and feet through nervousness or impatience.
      • 8.  trinket - a small ornament or item of jewelry that is of little value.

    • Read Aloud Think Aloud - (Pages 44-48)
      • Reading Skill Focus:  Making inferences and synthesizing information.

    • Class Discussion
      • Share a "most embarrassing moment" with the class.
      • What might be some reasons it is so important that we are accepted by other people?
      • Consider the way the teacher responded to Liz's lice problem.  Were her actions justified?  Provide some evidence as to why or why not.
      • Compare Liz's embarrassment in front of her classmates (former idea) with her embarrassment in front of her parents (later idea). How does she use the later situation to her advantage.

    • Assessment:  On a half sheet of loose-leaf paper with a complete heading answer the following question.  This is a classwork grade worth 20 points. 

      • How might embarrassing moments shape or change personalities for the positive or the negative?


      WEDNESDAY - Double Period  
    • Do Now...
      • New Entry Titled:  Terms to Know
        • 1. Exploring a Topic - reading two or more texts about something you find interesting or wonder about.

        • 2. Areas of Investigation - Smaller topics within a larger topic.  (i.e.  The planet Mars is a smaller topic within the larger topic of our Solar System.)


    • Learning Target:  I can explain the reason(s) to Explore a Topic and identify Potential Areas of Investigation within that topic.

    • Class Discussion/Mini-Lesson: Exploring a Topic
      • Large Topic: Technology
      • Brainstorm Areas of Investigation within the larger topic of Technology using https://bubbl.us
      • Mr. DeGrandis will give everyone a copy of our brainstorming list tomorrow.


    • Small Group Reading Assignment:  Read, "The History of Social Networking"
      • Reading focus:  What do you want to learn more about regarding the history of social networking?
      • Your group will be assigned a section of the article to read together.
      • Individually, you will then fill out the Exploring a Topic Tool to help you practice exploring Areas of Investigation. 

    • Demonstration:  How to use the Exploring a Topic Tool

    • Guided Practice:  Fill out the Exploring a Topic Tool on your own based on the section of text assigned by your teacher.
      • NOTE:  YOU WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS FORM ON YOUR OWN. NOW IS THE TIME TO BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE IT!
      • This assignment is due at the end of the double period for a classwork grade worth 100 points.

    • Assessment:  On a half sheet of loose-leaf paper with a complete heading, answer the following question:

      • Create one question about the history of social media that you think you might enjoy exploring.  Explain why.


      THURSDAY - Single Period  
    • Do Now...

    • Independently read your DIRT novel for 10 minutes.

    • Answer Reader Response - 5 minutes
    •      Select one of the following reading strategies and respond...
    •       - Make a connection (text to text, text to self, text to world)
    •       - Visualize a part of your novel and describe using imagery.
    •       - Ask a question to clarify your understanding of a part of your novel.
    •       - Determine/Explain why a part of your novel is important.
    •       - Make an Inference (logical conclusion) or a Prediction about your novel.
    •      -  Synthesize (put it together)several ideas to create an original idea about your novel.

    • Be prepared to share you reader response for a ticket for the next raffle and a participation grade.


    • Word Study - Add these words to Vocabulary List VIII
      • 9.  symmetry (symmetrically, symmetrical) - the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis.  




      • 10.  savor - taste (good food or drink) and enjoy it  completely.


    • Read Aloud Think Aloud - (Pages 48-50)
      • Reading Skill Focus:  Determining the important idea in a passage.

    • Mini-lesson:  Modeling of how to determine important information in paragraphs.

    • Group Work
      • With a group or on your own, select a paragraph from this section OR you will be assigned a paragraph to read.
      • Read the paragraph again.
      • Discuss and determine the main idea of that paragraph and be prepared to tell the class what you decided is the important idea within it.
    •  
    • Class Discussion
      • Share out each of the important ideas from each paragraph.
      • What might be the overall important idea or lesson to take away from this section of the book?  Offer evidence from the book to back up your claim.

    • Assessment:  On a half sheet of loose-leaf paper with a complete heading answer the following question.  This is a classwork grade worth 20 points. 

      • What are some way you determine what information is important to you each day and what information is not important?


      FRIDAY - Double Period  
    • Do Now... THINK AND WRITE!
      • Entry Title: Exploring a Topic Tool
      • Find the model Exploring a Topic tool in your colored Research Portfolio Folder. It looks like this...

      • Get out your corrected Exploring a Topic tool about The History of Social Networking, then start your entry...
      • Entry Title: Exploring a Topic Tool
        • Read over your Exploring a Topic Tool again.
        • Compare the model tool with the one you did on The History of Social Networking.  Then....
      • Respond to this question in your composition notebook:
        • What are some things you need to do to improve your Exploring a Topic tool?  Pay close attention to the Potential Area of Investigation Section.

    • Learning Target: To practice how to correctly fill out the Exploring a Topic Tool.

    • Mini-Lesson:  Review of how to use the Exploring a Topic Tool or ETT.

        • What is it?  A way to organize your thoughts about a particular topic that interests you.
        • Why use it?  To help you find a more specific area of interest or question that will guide your research.
        • When do I use it?  Before you make a final decision about the topic you will use to write your research paper.

    • Read Aloud:  (In Research Portfolio Text Packet) Article: "The Negative Impact of Social Networking Sites on Society" by Dave Parrack.

      • Reading Focus:  What are some thing about this article that I find really interesting?
      • While Reading:  Mark any interesting parts of the text for later reference.

    • Guided Practice:  Using a new, blank ETT, fill out the front side.  This is a classwork grade worth 40 points!

    • Assessment:  
      • Complete the Potential Area of Investigation on the back to hand in for a grade.  AND...
      • Assessment:  Complete the My Learning Community assignment. 



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