Theme Homework

Read for 30 min. Identify the theme of your independent reading book. Give evidence for why you think this is the theme. For instance, write about the lesson you think the book tries to teach or the important ideas that keep coming up in the book. One paragraph in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook.

6B, 6C, 6D: due Monday, December 8; 6A: due Tuesday, December 9.

Conflict Homework

Read for 30 min. Write a paragraph about the conflict in your book. Is it external or internal? How has it been foreshadowed by the author? (This assignment should be written in your reader's and writer's notebook.)

6B, 6D: due Thursday, Dec. 4; 6A, 6C: due Friday, Dec. 5.

Evidence Chart for Character and Physical Traits

Read for 30 min. Pick a character from the book you are reading. Write down three character traits and give evidence from the book for each of the traits. Also, write down at least three physical traits and give evidence from the text. Use the chart format we used in class. (This assignment should be written in your reader's and writer's notebook.)

6B, 6D: due Wednesday, Dec. 3; 6A, 6C: due Thursday, Dec. 4.

Character and Physical Traits/Literary Terms Homework

In your Reader's and Writer's Notebook, re-write definitions for the following terms in the "Literary Terms" section of your notebook: plot, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and setting. (Most of these definitions can be found on your plot mountain and/or notebook.)

Also, pick a character from a book you are reading and make a stick figure for that character out of his/her character and physical traits. If your book does not have characters, please pick a person you know very well. (The stick figure assignment will be explained in class.)

Finally, read for 30 minutes!

6B, 6D: due Tuesday, December 2; 6A, 6C: due Wednesday, December 3.

More Scary Comic Books to Come!

HUGE CHANGE TO READING PROJECT!

Ms. Megan and Ms. Xeni have decided that the Major Independent Reading Project needs to be revised a great deal. For now, students need to continue reading--at least 1 hour over the Thanksgiving break--and to bring in their independent reading book on Monday. HOWEVER, they DO NOT have to turn in any written work at this time. Any entries that have already been completed can be turned in for extra credit.

More information will follow after Thanksgiving break!

Galileo Goes to Breakfast!

Galileo House's seventh graders enjoyed breakfast at Jimmy's Diner on November 21, 2008. Later in the day, they bid a fond farewell to Ashley Tejeda, who is moving to another section of the Bronx.

Work on the Independent Reading Major Project!

Have a safe and restful Thanksgiving break!

Final Draft of Scary Story or Comic Book!

Final draft of scary story or comic book due! The requirements for the project appear on the rubric below! 6B, 6D: due Tuesday, November 25; 6A, 6C: due Wednesday, November 26.

Scary Story Comic Book Rubric

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

Edit Rough Draft of Scary Story (Homework)

Students should edit their rough draft. They should focus on these three areas: paragraphing, spelling, and punctuation. 6B, 6C, 6D: due Monday, November 24; 6A: due Tuesday, November 25.

Synonyms (Homework)

Please work on your rough draft or comic book. Look for places to include synonyms. 6B, 6D: due Thursday, November 20; 6C: due Friday, November 21; 6A: due Monday, November 24.

Transitions (Homework)

Students will add transitions to their scary story drafts or comic books. 6B, 6D: due Wednesday, November 19; 6C: due Thursday, November 20; 6A: due Friday, November 21.

Rough Draft of Scary Story (Homework)

In class, students will cut and add to the writing they have completed on their :show, don't tell" charts. For homework, they will create a rough draft from their "show, don't tell" charts. The rough draft should be written on loose-leaf paper. Comic books should be started on comic book packets, which will be given out in class. 6B, 6D: due Tuesday, November 18; 6C: due Wednesday, November 19; 6A: due Thursday, November 20.

Complete "Show, Don't Tell" Chart for Scary Story (Major Project Preparation)

Please complete a "show, don't tell" chart for the all the "bubbles" on your Plot Mountain chart. You should take the notes from your exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution "bubbles" and expand them in the "show, don't tell" chart in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook. 6B, 6C, 6D: due on Monday, November 17; 6A: due on Wednesday, November 19.

Show, Don't Tell Chart for Your Exposition Bubble (Major Project Preparation)

Please complete a "show, don't tell" chart for the first bubble on your Plot Mountain chart. You should take the notes from your exposition bubble and expand them in the "show, don't tell" chart in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook. 6B, 6C, 6D: due on Thursday, November 13; 6A: due on Friday, November 14.

Plot Mountain (Major Project preparation)

Please choose one of the scary "What if . . ." situations from your homework and write out a plot mountain for it on the second page of the plot mountain packet. 6B, 6C, 6D: due Monday, November 10; 6A: due Wednesday, November 12.

Read at home for 30 minutes!

Plot Mountain Definitions

Copy definitions on the plot mountain packet sheet. (The definitions--of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution--appear on the front of the packet!) 6B, 6C, 6D: due Thursday, November 6; 6A: due Friday, November 7.

"What if . . ." (Major Project preparation)

Please come up with 3 of your own scary "What if . . ." situations. (An example of a "What if . . . " situation would be "What if . . . Archimedes Academy were haunted.") This assignment should be written in the Reader's and Writer's Notebook. 6B, 6C, 6D: due on Wednesday, November 5; 6A: due Thursday, November 6.

Also, read at home for 30 minutes.