Thursday, March 21, 2013

March 21 updates


March 21, 2013

Dear Room 12 Families,

I cannot believe our 3rd trimester has began and that Spring Break is just around the corner.  

Thank you again to all of the drivers who made our trip to NASA possible.  Again I am sorry there was a restriction on the number of adults.  The kids did an amazing job there and learned a lot!!!

We have been busy working on persuasive writing.  Students should all have chosen their topic and had you sign permission to research for their topic (there is a copy of the that my blog).  This piece of writing will be done entirely in class!  We will be also working in the computer lab on powerpoint or prezi presentations to accompany our letters/essays.

Reminders
Monday, March 25th = Field trip to Cabrillo Planetarium
 We will be leaving Mar Vista to walk to Cabrillo at 12:50 (chaperones please meet in Room 12 by 12:45).  Wear comfortable shoes, we will be walking!!!

Chaperones: Julie, Leila/Billy, Melissa,  John/Rena, Rich, Jeanne/Sean                            
There is plenty of space on this walking trip… feel free to join us!
Spring break = 4/1 – 4/5
Wednesday April 17th= Persuasive Writing Publishing Party
 in room 12, 11:45-12:25  (Wednesday the March 27th)

Thursday April 25th= O’neill Sea Odyssey

This is another limited adult event.  You are welcome to drive to the trip and meet us for lunch, but I am only able to have 8 adults (in addition to myself) come on this trip.
We currently have enough drivers…official chaperone list coming soon.

*If you would like to drive but not go on the boat portion of the trip… please let me know.
Food: Please make sure your child has a good breakfast the morning of the trip.  We will be very busy and working until about 11:30.  Bring a lunch from home because we will be eating on the beach.
Clothing: Please dress comfortably and bring a warm jacket (hat and gloves on colder days). It is usually cold on the ocean, even on sunny days, so be prepared and wear layers. Life vests will be provided. You may want to bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
Shoes: Soft-soled, non-skid shoes are required! Dress shoes, platforms, sandals, high heels or slick soled shoes are not allowed. They are unsafe and you will be asked to remove them. Please wear sneakers or other practical shoes.

Wish list…
*White board markers (thin ones for students to use on white bards)  Thank you to all who continually support this cause (Abby L, Cameron, Melissa…just to name a few J)

Thank you ,
Mrs. Sara Thorington

Monday, March 18, 2013


Persuasive writing

A copy of the following was sent home Monday of last week....
Please remember that this project is to be written entirely in class.
Students might need to research at home.

Please note there was a change of dates:
Rough Drafts due  Wedneday March 27th
Final "Published Date"  will Be Thursday April 11th
Presentation/PowerPoint will be done completely in class and is due 4/12
Publishing  party Wenesday April 17th in Room 12, 11:45- 12:25

Persuasive Writing and Informative Power Point/Prezi

We have begun our persuasive writing unit.  Students have been brainstorming ideas about issues that they care about and are important to them.   They will be writing to express their opinion and to try to persuade other to see and understand their point of view.  Students will be researching their topic at school, but support at home would also be helpful, especially if students have chosen are more sensitive topic… they might need more assistance finding credible research.

Students will be working on their Persuasive Essay in class (about 5 paragraphs including Introduction, 3 body paragraphs explaining their reasons with a variety of evidence and facts and a conclusion) see rubric on reverse.


They will then (in class) create a power point or prezi presentation on their subject:
(Prezi may be accessed by any computer online @ http://prezi.com/   and they may use my account : sara_thorington@pvusd.net  password: teacher)

1. Summary about the topic/issue, including possible different perspectives and opinions on the issue.
2. Write their own opinion about the issue


Time Line:

Topic must be chosen and parent approved by 3/12  with research in class by 3/18

*we will be researching in the computer lab 3/12 if parent permission received.

Essay “published copy” due Wednesday 3/27






* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Student Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to research and write about ______________________________________________________________

Student signature    __________________________________________________

Parent signature      __________________________________________________

Teacher signature    __________________________________________________





Rubric for Essay:
Your job is to write a Persuasive Essay/letter in class that
clearly states your opinion and logically groups the reasons that support your opinion.  Those reasons are supported by facts and details.
Introduction
(5pts)

_____title
_____clear introduction
_____introduces what the paper/topic will be about
_____background information
_____thesis/topic sentence clearly states opinion
Body Paragraphs
(10 pts)

_____To get the full 10 points 4 paragraph min.
_____clearly written, make sense, flows
_____well organized
_____supports your thesis
_____accurate information
_____strong vocabulary
_____variety of transitions  used
_____reasons are supported by facts, details
(link evidence to the reasons they support)
Conclusion
(5pts)


_____clearly sums up point
_____interesting/gives a concluding message related to your opinion/claim
Grammar, Spelling,
Punctuation
(5pts)

_____Grammar
_____Spelling
_____Punctuation
Neatness
(5pts)


_____ Neatly typed or hand written
_____mistakes are erased completely
_____is in “Final” polished draft form
Total Score
(30pts)



Informative Issue Power Point Rubric
1. Summary about the topic/issue, including possible different perspectives and opinions on the issue.
2. Write their own opinion about the issue

Your Presentation will have :

___________ (8 pts) a minimum of 8 slides, with at least one image (picture) on each slide
____________(6 pts) it must have an introduction, body and conclusion (thought it doesn’t have to be in paragraph format)
_______ ( 3 pts)  a question page- where questions are given about the topic  (as part of presentation can be used to introduce or conclude presentation, the answers should be given at some point)
_______(5 pts) student opinion page
_____(3) bibliography


____________/ Total 25 points

Shark Water Vocbaulary


SHARKWATER VOCABULARY

1. pirate - a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea or on the shores of the sea

2. poaching- the illegal practice of trespassing on another's property to hunt or steal game

3. trespass- a wrongful entry upon the lands (or territory) of another.

4. gills- the respiratory organ of aquatic animals, as fish, that breathe oxygen dissolved in water.

5. lateral line- the line of sensory structures along the head and sides of fishes that allow the animal to  detect water currents, pressure changes and vibrations.

6. shark finning – refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish.

7. fact - something that actually exists; a reality; a truth

8. myth- any invented story, idea, or concept

9. predator- any organism that exists by preying (eating) upon other organisms.

10. prey- an animal hunted or seized for food

11. extinct- no longer in existence

12. endangered    - threatened with danger,  threatened with extinction

13. vulnerable- capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt

14. food web- a  group of interlinked food chains

15./16. preservation/ conservation – the act of keeping something  safe, alive or in existence

HOMEWORK:
Monday/ Tuesday:  Write sentences or a story/article that uses all vocabulary words
Thursday: Crossword Puzzle

NO TEST THIS WEEK ON VOCAB!!!
*These words will not be tested but will be important to understand in order to complete our class work this week.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Space Vocabulary

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*not all vocab will be tested...
Test will be on Thursday, March 14th 

Vocabulary
Space Science
Gyroscope - A spinning wheel that tends to maintain its direction in space.  
Momentum - The tendency of a moving object to keep moving.  
Moon - A natural object orbiting a planet.  
Orbit - The path of a satellite around a planet or of a planet around its star.  
Planet - A large, natural object that orbits a star.
Revolve - To move in a circular orbit; such as the Earth going around the sun.
Rotate - To turn around an axis or center point; which causes day and night on the Earth.
Satellite - A natural or man-made object which orbits a larger object; such as the moon orbiting the Earth.
Solar system - A system of a stars and all the objects that orbit it; Our solar system includes the sun, 9 planets, their moons, asteroids, and comets.
Space - The area above a planet’s atmosphere.
Space probe - An unmanned spacecraft that explores the solar system and sends data back to Earth.
Stability - Resistance of an object to a change in its position.
Star - A point of light in the night sky. In the daytime only one star is visible - the sun - which, like the other stars, is a ball of gas which produces its own heat and light.
Trajectory -The curve of the path of a spacecraft in flight. 
Vacuum - A space containing no matter or air.  
Velocity - The speed and direction of an object.
Aeronautics
Ailerons -The parts of the wing that control the airplane’s roll (its left and right tilting).
Air pressure - The force of air spread over a surface; it can be caused by the weight of the atmosphere above or by moving through the atmosphere.
Airfoil - The shape of a wing’s cross-section (a slice across the wing), designed to create as much lift and as little drag as possible.
Atmosphere - The gases surrounding a planet.
Drag - The force due to air that slows down the plane as it moves forward.
Elevator - The part on the tail that controls the plane’s pitch (its up and down tilting).
Force - A push or pull on an object.
Fuselage - The part of a plane which holds people and cargo and to which the wings and tail are attached.
Gravity - The force of attraction between two objects (such as the force between you and the Earth).
Lift - The force that keeps an airplane up due to the flow of air over and under the wings.
Mach - A number that compares an airplane’s speed to the speed of sound 750 mph. (At Mach 2, a plane goes twice the speed of sound).
Rudder - The parts of the tail surfaces that control a plane’s yaw (its left and right turning).
Supersonic - A term that indicates motion faster than the speed of sound (more than Mach 1 but less than Mach 5).
Thrust - The force of the engine, which pushes a plane forward.
Wind tunnel - A long tube or tunnel in which an airplane is held still and air is blown over it. They are used to test airplane designs by simulating flight while instruments measure lift and drag.
Space Station
Astronaut - A person who trains to fly into space.
Cosmonaut - A Russian astronaut.
Dehydrate - To dry out.
Engineer - A person trained to design, construct, and operate mechanical or electrical instruments.
Environment - The air, water, minerals, organisms and all other interconnected things in a particular place.
Freefall - A condition where an object is falling without being stopped or slowed down, if its surroundings are also falling at the same rate, the object appears to float. This occurs on a spacecraft in orbit.
Observation - The act of gathering information by watching or by remote sensing.
Payload - All the cargo, including scientific equipment, carried in a spacecraft.
Pressurize - To raise the atmospheric pressure to the desired level in a closed area, such as a space suit.
Pulse - A heartbeat.
Ration - A fixed amount of food or water when the supply is limited.
Recycle - To treat material so that it can be used again.
Solar panel - A device that changes sunlight into electricity; made of solar cells.
Space shuttle - A reusable, crewed spacecraft used to place satellites in earth orbit and to conduct experiments.  
Space station - A manned structure that orbits the Earth and is used for a variety of purposes, especially research.  
Weightless - Being without weight, as an object in freefall or orbit.
Mission Control
Altitude - The height above sea level.
Communications - A means of sending and receiving messages and information.
Debriefing - The discussion of the results of a mission.
Geology - The study of the earth, including rocks and minerals.
Infrared - A type of light that can’t be seen by humans but that instruments can use to measure the heat differences between objects.
Latitude - The distance north and south from the Equator, expressed in degrees.
Longitude - The distance east and west from Greenwich, England, expressed in degrees.
Lunar - A term referring to the moon.
Mission - A particular task that a person or group is to perform.
Remote - Far away.
Scientist - An expert in science.
Sensing - Seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling or hearing;The ways people, animals, and instruments perceive the things around them.
Specialist - A person who concentrates on one subject or area of interest.  
Volcanic - A term meaning formed by a volcano.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Mar Vista Auction and Reminders

The Mar Vista Auction has begun!

Thank you to all who contributed to our beautiful class baskets!  There is a lot of great stuff ... so happy shopping and helping our school!!!

Auction ends March 12th.


Field trip to the Second Harvest Food bank is this Tuesday, March 5th !!! Please have your child bring a lunch from home that day.

Have a great weekend!