December Writing Assignment

Now that Twelfth Night is over, we are diving right in to our next writing assignment. Students are being asked to write a 7 page book that will be bound in to a hard bound book by a professional publisher. 

Subject: 

Students are allowed to choose any subject they desire. Fiction, non fiction, poetry, or essay are all acceptable options. 

Length: The book is 7 written pages and 7 illustrations. Students may not go over, so editing will be crucial. 

Deadlines: 

12/9/14 - Topic chosen

12/9/14 - 12/18/14 - Rough draft written in class. 

Winter Break - Nothing, unless student did not finish rough draft. 

1/5/15 - Final draft in class (the final draft must be hand written onto the provided pages in fine tip sharpie)

1/6/15 - 1/7/15 - Illustrations

1/8/15 - Final draft turned in complete

Physics Midterms

To demonstrate understanding of the physics principles taught so far, students will work in groups of 6 to build a Rube Goldberg Machine. The requirements are listed below. 

Rube Goldberg Machine Requirements

1. Must stay within the boundaries of your area.

2. Must complete the stated goal.

3. Must include 8 transitions.

4. Must demonstrate the following principles:

          Kinetic energy

          Potential energy

          Gravity

          Buoyancy

          Spring force

          Tension

          Frictional Force

          Electrical Force

          Normal Force

          Magnetic Force

          Air Resistance Force

          Applied Force

          Acceleration

          Vectors

5. All principles must be labeled with free body diagrams and words.

6. Once the initial "button" is pushed, engineers may not interact with the machine in any way.

7. Teams may not purchase any materials. All materials must be scavenged.

8. Tape may not be attached to painted walls. 

Students will work in class and present their final machine at 12:30 on Thursday, December 18th. 

FACTS Class Postponed

This time of the year is crazy and a few parents brought to our attention that we have Twelfth Night this week, FACTS next week, and then the Core Knowledge Showcase. That was too crazy, even for me. 

FACTS will be rescheduled for late in January. 

Make Up Class Pictures

Joint March Field Trip

On March 12th we will be joining 7th grade for a bonus field trip the Oregon Jewish Museum. The museum is hosting a special exhibit that should not be missed. 

"Anne Frank: A History for Today (AFHT) made its North American debut at the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Created by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, this historical yet intimate exhibit consists primarily of narrative text and color photographic reproductions. The exhibit depicts Anne Frank's life story using a wide selection of family photos and passages from her diary. Her biographical narrative is enhanced by testimony from Holocaust survivors and helpers. Historical context enriches the story through documents and photographs detailing the rise of Nazi power in Germany and the tumultuous events of the Second World War and the Holocaust that followed."  We will be leaving school at 11:15 and returning by 3:00. We will not be having hot lunch, so please plan to pack a lunch that day. If you would like to join us, please let me know.

Twelfth Night Play Bills

Wow, just wow!

11 Days and Counting Until Twelfth Night

Show time is only 11 days away. It is most definitely crunch time! Now that we have completed our Irish Potato Famine unit, we will be focusing on 12th Night, more 12 Night, and even more 12th Night. 

We could use lots of volunteers at this point. Mrs. LeMay has volunteered to help with costumes but we are still in need for make up artists to teach stage make up, parents to work with students to create scenery, and volunteers to help run lines. If you can help with one or more of these things, please let me know! 

Final Countdown

November 24th - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts

November 25th - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts

                            Playbills due

November 26th - November 30th - Rehearse at home ALL LINES SHOULD BE MEMORIZED

December 1st - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts 

                         Stage Make Up Class (Parent Needed)

                         Set building during the day (Parents Needed)

                         Props created

December 2nd - Rehearse in class, both day and night casts

                           Sets and Props finished

December 3rd - Dress rehearsal, both day and night casts

                          Stage set up

December 4th - SHOW DAY

                          12:15 - Day crew in costume with make up

                            1:00 - Matinee

                             Night cast ushering

                            3:30 - Students remain at school

                            3:45 - Set up chairs in gym

                            4:30 - Dinner at school (Cast Party)

                            5:30 - Night cast in costume and make up

                                      Day cast to work concessions, hand out programs, etc. 

                           6:00 - Evening Performance

                          8:30 - End of night!