Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Change to tonight's homework, it is now  pg 59-63 in  the Texas assesment Prep book.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Since most completed vocabulary already, and we could all use some extra reading practice, AND they are getting off early tomorrow, please complete pages 25-28 in the Bluebook.
The Social Studies vocab for chapter 8. The quiz will be next Friday.


1.       Plantation: A large farm with crops tended by workers who live there.
2.       Planter: The owner of a plantation.
3.       Cash crop: A crop people raised to sell to others.
4.       Textile mill: A factory in which fibers, such as cotton or wool, are woven into cloth.
5.       Auction: A public sale of goods.
6.       States’ rights: The idea that state governments have the right to make certain decisions for        themselves.
7.       Political party: A group of people in government who try to get agree with their ideas and who choose leaders who share their opinions.
8.       Candidate: A person who runs for political office.
9.       Secede: To leave the union.
10.   Confederacy: The confederate states of America.
11.   Secessionist: People who wanted to leave the union.
12.   Enlist: To join.
13.   Infantry: A group of foot soldiers.
14.   Blockade: A line of warships used to keep other ships from sailing into or out of a port.
15.   Brigade: A group of troops or soldiers.
16.   Assassination: The murder of a political leader.
17.   Reconstruction: The period after the civil war in which southerners had to reorganize their state governments in order to rejoin the union.
18.   Juneteenth: A holiday in Texas celebrating the freeing of slaves.
19.   Jury: A group of people that decide a case in court.
20.   Segregation: Keeping people in separate groups based on their race and culture.
21.   Amendment: A change in the constitution.
22.   Carpetbaggers:  A northerner in the south during reconstruction who carried their things in bags made from carpet.
23.   Sharecroppers: A farmer who used a plot of land and was paid by the landowner with a share of the crops.
24.   Credit: A way of buying something by paying for it over time.
25.   Reservation: An area of land set aside by government for use by American Indians.
26.   Buffalo soldiers: A nickname given by Native Americans to African American soldiers.


Here are the Reading lesson notes from today 02-11


Traditional Literature Notes
Traditional Literature can also be called folk tales because they were stories told out loud by the common “folk”. Later, many of these tales were turned into plays as another way for the masses to experience the story. Traditional literature has many different sub-genres.
Sub Genre
Description
Unique Characteristics
Fairytales
A story involving magic or magical/fantasy type characters Ex. Fairies, witches, goblins, etc.)
Will have some sort of magical element. Examples: Cinderella, Rumplestiltskin, Snow White
Myths
a usually traditional story of “historical” events that serves to show part of the world view of a culture or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon
Many of the ones we are familiar with have to do with Greek and Roman gods and explain how they believe things came into existence. People believed these myths to be true at the time. Examples: Stories of Hercules, Zeus, Aphrodite, etc.
Fables
a story used to teach a valuable life lesson
All have a lesson, or moral. Many have animals talking and/or acting like humans.
Legends
a story coming down from the past; many believe they are based in fact, but there is no proof
These tend to have many heroic acts. They are realistic. Examples: Robin Hood
Tall tales
A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual.
Lots of exaggeration: like people being as 10 feet tall.
Drama
the stage representation of an action or story
Lines, stage directions, cast of characters


Other questions to ask when discussing characters this week:
Characters: Traits, Relationships, Motivations, Changes and Conflicts 
•         Good vs. Evil (How are they depicted?)
•         Real vs. Fantasy (Talking animals)
•         Interaction with other characters
•         Changes in characters (how do they
•         Conflict: with self, with others, with the world