language arts:
Poetry:
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MARCH MADNESS MATCH UP #1 WINNER: "Casey at the Bat", by Ernest Lawrence Thayer |
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Creative Writing:
It’s not always easy to write stories. When we watch movies and read books we are engaging with great stories that have juicy and interesting ideas. So why is it that sometimes when we have to come up with a story ourselves - we freeze? This is something that everyone deals with. Creating, telling and writing stories can be hard. Pixar Animation, the movie studio that made Toy Story, The Incredibles, Up, Monsters Inc., Wall-E and others, is famous for making incredible stories that everyone, both young and old, enjoy. Emma Coats, a story artist at Pixar, tweeted a list of ‘Story Basics’ that she learned from her job of creating GREAT stories. |
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DEBATE: The Great Tomato Debate! What is a debate? --> |
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Synopsis:
In J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels about Harry Potter, readers learn about a boy who, on his eleventh birthday, learns that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards. He too possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents' mysterious deaths. The Philosopher's Stone explores the beginning of Harry's journey as he learns more about himself, his history, and the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. |
Synopsis:
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a severe facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school.Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, Auggie wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past his extraordinary face. Wonder begins from Auggie's point of view, but soon switches to include the perspectives of his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These voices converge to portray a community as it struggles with differences, and challenges readers, both young and old, to wonder about the true nature of empathy, compassion, acceptance, friendship, and—ultimately—kindness. Auggie is a hero for the ages, one who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. |
We will begin our year with a class read aloud of "Run", by Eric Walters.
Synopsis:
Thirteen year-old Winston MacDonald - in trouble again after a suspension from school and a runaway attempt - is sent to spend time with his father - a journalist who hasn't been around much since his family split up. Travelling to Nova Scotia with his father, who is covering what he thinks is just a human interest story about a man trying to run across the country, Winston meets Terry Fox and his best friend, Doug Alward. Their determination to achieve what seems like an impossible goal makes a big impression on Winston, and he takes courage and inspiration from Terry's run. This first book for young readers about Terry and the Marathon of Hope is a blend of fact and fiction and is fully endorsed by the Terry Fox Foundations and Terry's family. All of Eric Walter's royalties will be donated to the Terry Fox Foundation. |