Friday, February 26th

Socials 9

Today in class we went over the Appalachian Region section of the chart, and I collected your Vocabulary Charts. We then looked at the Coastal Plains Region of North America. We started on an in class activity that looked in detail at Hurricane Katrina. Next class you will have a bit more time to finish this assignment.

There is no homework! Have a great weekend!

Thursday, February 25th

Socials 9

Today we went over the homework questions from last class, and I collected your maps.

We looked in more detail at the Appalachian Region of North America today, and worked on the Regions of North America Chart. Remember to hold on to this worksheet and bring it to every class please!

I handed out the Vocabulary Chart as well. For this assignment you need to define each word in your own words, and draw a diagram or picture that represents the meaning of the word. I will collect the Vocab Charts next class.

For homework you should complete the chart for the Appalachian region, and finish the vocabulary assignment.



English 8

Today in English we reviewed the components of a Five Paragraph Essay. You then gave feedback to your classmates on your outlines and main ideas for the essay. We then went over how to write an effective Thesis Statement, and had time to write the thesis statements in class. I will look over your outlines and thesis statements and hand them back to you with feedback before the next Writer's Workshop.

In class today we also went over the final due dates for each component of your essay. Please remember to record these dates in your agenda!

First Draft due Tuesday, March 9th*
Peer Editing Day will be Tuesday, March 9th
Final Essay will be due Monday, March 15th**

*It is important for you to meet the deadlines with this project, as you will need your first drafts done before you can move on to the next step.
**You will get more information about the format of the final essay before it is due.

For homework, please read Chapters 8-9

Wednesday, February 24th - Socials 9

Hello Grade 9s,

Today I collected your maps of North America, and we went over the homework questions as a class.

We moved on to examine the Appalachian Region of North America looking at the Topography, Climate, Vegetation and Economic Activity.

I also assigned your first Vocabulary Chart which will be due on Friday.

For homework please complete the Vocab Chart and the Regions of North America worksheet if you did not finish it in class.

Tuesday, February 23rd

Socials 9

Today in class we went over the homework from last class and I collected your worksheets.

We then moved on to looking at maps. During class you had time to work on your Map of North America assignment, and the questions about the map. The questions and the map were both for homework.



English 8

Today was Writer's Workshop #2. I handed back your paragraphs and went over the areas that the class needs to work on in their writing (Finding evidence from the novel, making transitions between your ideas, and spelling and grammar).

We took some notes on the Five-Paragraph Essay, and went over the Final Essay Assignment.
You had some time in class to brainstorm and work on your outlines. Your outline is due at the beginning of class on Thursday so that I can look them over and give you some feedback before we start writing first drafts.

ALSO I have decided to give you a THIRD OPTION to write on for the final essay. This question is more challenging as you will need to think of a thesis statement that unites the entire essay, and will have to analyze THREE quotes from the novel:

In a single, unified essay, explain the signficance of each of the quotes:
a) "To be free, a man must be free of his brothers." (Ch.12)

b) "It is my mind which thinks, and the judgment of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth." (Ch.11)

c) "And we thought that we could trust this being who looked upon us from the stream, and that we had nothing to fear with this being." (Ch.8)

Remember, you must explain all three quotes in your essay and still have a thesis statement that ties them all together.

Please continue reading the novel, as we will be wrapping up the unit in the next week or so.

Socials 9 and English 8

Socials 9

Today we went over the homework questions from last class on Geographic and Human changes to the landscape.

Then, we started discussing different uses of maps, and started working on a Map of North America

For homework please complete the map as well as the questions on the back of the instructions sheet.


English 8

On Friday the regular class was interrupted by technical difficulties! Instead of watching a documentary, both classes had a chance to work on late assignments, vocabulary charts and journal entries.

Please read to at least Ch.7 in the novel for tomorrow.

Socials 9 Block G and English 8 Blocks E & F

Socials 9

Today was the first day of the Geography Unit with Ms Brown. We did an introductory activity, and went over the unit expectations, goals, and assignments.

For next class please have your parents sign the letter and return it to me. Also, please bring your textbooks to class next day.




English 8

Today in class we did an activity to summarize the first 6 chapters of the novel. We then read two news articles and worked in partners on some discussion questions. Next class we will be working with these articles again, so please don't lose them or your questions!

Your homework for Friday is to finish the Vocab for Ch. 3 & 4, and to finish your Journal #3.

Journal #3:
Pretend you are a reporter from the society in Anthem. Write an article about the discovery Equality has made. How did the Home of the Scholars react? How would the rest of the society react? Write from the point of view of the reporter.

Geography Introduction - Block B

Hi Grade 9s,

Today was the first class of the Geography Unit. We did an introductory activity and went over the unit outline.

Please remember to have your parents sign the letter, and please bring your textbooks to class on Thursday.

See you then!

Writer's Workshop #1: Paragraph Writing

Today we looked at different types of paragraphs including Descriptive, Narrative, Persuasive and Expository paragraphs, and we started writing Expository Paragraphs on the novel.

Next class, please hand in your Paragraph Outline, Paragraph and Editing Checklist. The questions were:
1. Would you like to be friends with Equality 7-2521? Why or why not?
2. Is Equality 7-2521's new name "The Unconquered" appropriate? Why or why not?
3. What does Equality discover? How could this discovery help his society?

Your paragraph should be written on ONE of the above questions. The paragraph should include a topic sentence, three main points with examples from the novel, and a concluding sentence.

Please read Chapters 5&6 by next class which is Wednesday.

For those of you who want to get a head start, the Vocabulary Chart for Chapters 3 & 4 is due on Friday, February 19th.

Have a great long weekend!!

Individualism

English 8

Today in class we played a game called "100 Pennies" to simulate the experience in an individualist and collectivist society. We took a few notes on the definitions of Individualism and Collectivism. For the remainder of class you worked on your Individuality Posters.

For homework, please complete your Individuality Posters. They should have your name in the centre with at least three (3) images that represent things that make you unique. For example, if you like hockey, use a picture of something related to hockey!

Your journal entry is also due for homework:
Describe and Explain your Individuality Poster. What makes you an individual? Do you think it is good or bad to be an individual? Describe a situation when you were made to feel that you should not be unique?

I will be collecting the journals, posters and vocabulary charts at the beginning of class on Friday.

See you then!

Chapters 1 & 2

Hello!

Today in class we discussed our first impressions, likes and dislikes of Anthem. We read part of Chapter 1 as a class, and went over any questions or confusion. We also started working on a worksheet to identify dystopian characteristics in the novel.

Please finish the Vocabulary Chart for Chapters 1 & 2 by Friday, February 12th.
Choose THREE words from Chapter 1 and THREE words from Chapter 2. Write down the meaning of the word in your own words, and draw a diagram or picture that represents the word. You are not being marked on how well you can draw, you will be marked for how well the image represents the word.

Also, please read Chapters 3 & 4 by Friday.


Finally please remember to bring SCISSORS and GLUE to class on Wednesday so you can participate in the activity!

See you Wednesday!

Utopias and Dystopias

Hi Grade 8s,

Today in class we discussed Utopian and Dystopian societies. We brainstormed about what a perfect society would be like, and then we discussed the utopia in John Lennon's "Imagine". We also watched a film clip from the dystopian movie Children of Men.

Journal Entry #1 was assigned for homework:
If you could create a perfect world, What would it be like? How would it be similar to our world? How would it be different?

The journal entry should be at least ONE page DOUBLE SPACED.

Please continue reading, and have Chapters 1 & 2 read for Monday's class. If you have not returned your signed parent letter to me please do that as well!

I have changed the settings on this blog, so everyone should be able to leave a comment now.

See you all Monday,

Miss Brown

Novel Study Introduction

Hi Grade 8s!

Today in class we handed out the novels, went over the outline for the novel study unit, and discussed the meaning of society and its purposes.
Please start reading the novel and have Chapters 1 & 2 read by the beginning of class on Monday, February 8th.
Also, please remember to have your parent or guardian sign the letter to your families, and return it to me next class.

See you Thursday!
--
Miss Brown