Delegation to China

Our delegation will leave tomorrow for the initial student exchange with our partner school in China. Students from our 7th and 8th grade, with their adult (faculty) chaperones, will be spending the next two weeks at Long Cheng Middle School. This is, we hope, only the beginning of a long, and fruitful partnership between our two schools.

We wish our delegates a safe journey. Please keep them in your prayers as they go out to do this work of changing the world through the friendships they will create.

Cells

We're studying cells; their structure and the various functions of all their organelles.

So far, we've learned the major differences between plant and animal cells. We've done some reading and students have some "coloring sheets" that should help them to learn the names of the different organelles in each type of cell.

Just in case, as they try to do that coloring, they need some pictures to go by, here are a couple of pretty good ones. There are plenty more on-line. A simple search will find lots of examples.

Africa Packet --

Social Studies – 6th grade: Chapter 10, Lesson 2 – Cultural Change in Africa
(Notes from text, C.O.W., and Discovery Education Video Segments)

Video materials –

The Sahara Desert divides northern Africa from a broad Savannah to the south. Which kingdoms grew up in the sub-Sahara?



Who lived north of the Sahara?



Show the appoximate area of Ghana on the map.

List the two key trading products involved in Ghana’s trade:



How did Ghana grow rich on the Saharan trade?




Who were the Almoravids?







Show the approximate area of Mali on the map.

Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne were what?




The Sub-Saharan trading empires were located on the banks of the _____________________________ River.

The name Sundiata means ______________________________________.

Who was Mali’s most powerful emperor?



Why did Mansa Musa travel to Mecca?


Describe Mansa Musa’s hajj:










List three of the effects of Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage on the surrounding region:






C.O.W. materials –

Early West African Trade

Gold and salt were the mainstays of the Saharan trade. Who wanted Gold?


Who wanted salt?


Why was salt “worth its weight in gold?”





Sketch the Sahara Desert trade routes on your map.

List three additional products that were traded across the Sahara:






Early African Cultural Legacy

What was so unique about the city of Timbuktu?





Textbook materials (pages 268-272) –

How was West Africa isolated from other cultural areas?










Place important events on the time chart below:
1235 --
1324 --
1464 --
1493 --


Put these events into chronological order (number them from 1-5)

_____ Songhai separated from Mali
_____ Askia Muhammead made Songhai an Islamic state
_____ Mansa Musa founded and Islamic school in Timbuktu
_____ Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca
_____ Sonni Ali captured Djenne

View the map on pages 270-271. Describe the direction that Mansa Musa’s caravan traveled for each segment of the journey to Mecca.

Field Trip to the Cathedral Basillica

Mrs. Burger arranged for the 6th grade to visit St. Mary's Cathedral Basillica of the Assumption. This was our opportunity to experience classic gothic architecture complete with radiant stained glass windows and gargoyles. It was a great way for us to combine studies in art, social studies, and religion.

Here are a few pictures of our trip, thanks to the "Lovely Mother" who accompanied us as a chaperone for this trip, and then acted as our unofficial photographer.

Geometry Project -- Boxes

We'll soon be starting an exploration in geometry that will be built around work with a box. Each student will need to bring in a box to work with. The best kind of box is usually some sort of food packaging because these are light weight enough to be cut easily, and are of a reasonable size. So keep an eye out for a box that might be emptied in your kitchen or pantry. Cereal boxes, rice or pasta boxes, tea boxes, and the like are perfect. Sometimes the kind of packages that are used for over the counter medicines or soap products are good too. The 64 Math group needs their boxes by Tuesday, Feb. 19, and the 63 Math group will need to bring in boxes by Monday, Feb. 25.

Chinese New Year

Today is the beginning of the Chinese New Year. This will be the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese Lunar calendar. Here's what I discovered about those born under this sign in the twelve year cycle of the Chinese zodiac: The Year Of The Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful.

Ash Wednesday

Today, we begin the holy journey of Lent together. This is a time of preparation and waiting. There is much to think about and plenty to try and do to prepare for the coming joy of the Easter season. The really "big" ideas of Lent are sometimes challenging, no matter how often we come around the calendar in our lives. Whatever our age, I think this season of waiting and praying and preparing brings us new things to think about and new ways to think and pray about them. So, with that in mind, I offer you this website as a possible resource in your own Lenten journey. I hope you may find it useful.

January assignments -- Archive

January 31, 2008 --Math 63 -- By Golly By Gum Write up.Math 64 -- P. 496 -497, problems 4-9, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27January 29, 2008 --Math 64 -- By Golly By Gum write up.Social Studies -- the last Asia test will be on Thursday.January 28, 2008 --Math 63 -- p. 492, problems 11-20Science -- p. 25, questions 1-4Social Studies -- Asia Test #2 is tomorrow.January 24, 2008 --Math 64-- p. 492, 11-20January 23, 2008 --Math 63 -- p. 478, problems 1-15January 22, 2008 --Math 63 -- Rectangles worksheetScience -- Two Liter Aquarium project write up.January 15, 2008 -- Math 64 -- p. 478, problems 1-15Science -- Nemo project is due tomorrow. Chapter 12 test is Friday.Social Studies -- Ancient Rome test will be Thursday.January 14, 2008 -Social Studies -- Read pp. 232 -239, answer questions 3-6 on p. 239. Ancient Rome test is Thursday.Science -- complete the reptiles packet for section 4 of chapter 12. Nemo packets are due tomorrow. Chapter 12 test is Friday.Math 64 -- complete the Rectangles, area, and perimeter worksheet.Math 63 -- pp. 472 & 473, problems 4,6, 8, 10, 11, 16, 22, 25, 26, 33.January 11, 2008--Science -- Section 3 (Amphibians) notes. Due Monday. The Finding Nemo packets are due on 1/16. The chapter 12 test will be Friday, January 18.Math 64 -- your vocabulary sheets are due on Monday.January 10, 2008 --Math 63 -- find a "standard sized" object at your house. If you can, bring it to school. Otherwise, measure it and describe it so we can talk about it. Your "measurement" of an object here at school (with your "made" ruler) is due tomorrow.January 9, 2008 --Social Studies -- Read pp. 225-229, answer questions 1-6 on p. 229Science -- Finding Nemo activities are due on Wednesday, 1/16 (see packet for details).Math 64 -- pp. 472-473, problems 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 22, 25, 26, 33, 37-39Math 63 -- Measure some object around the school with your "made" ruler. Use a 3x5 card to write the description of your object, its location, and the measurement to the nearest quarter inch.January 8, 2008 -- Math 64 -- measurement vocabulary pages are due on Monday, January 14.January 7, 2008--Science -- write your predictions about the aquarium project.Math 63 -- study for the test which is tomorrow.Math 64 -- find one object which is made in a standard size. If possible, bring it to class. If you can't bring it, describe it and measure it, so we can talk about it.January 4, 2008 --Social Studies -- Those who have not finished their Greece Projects (maps, questions, "trading cards," and Komboloi prayer beads) will need to work on them over the weekend since there will be no more class time given for this project. Final work is to be handed in on Monday for all four tasks.Science -- Read pages 374-380, answer questions 1-3 on p. 180.Math 63 -- Probability Test is Tuesday, 1/8. You can find lots of practice problems in chapter 11 in the text book.Math 64 -- Use your "sixies" ruler to measure something in the school. On an index card, describe what you measured, where it was located, and record the measurement to the nearest quarter inch. Attach the index card to your ruler. Due Wednesday, 1/9.January 3, 2008 --No new assignments tonight -- We will all be here for the Christmas program :-)Science -- Students MUST have their dollar for the aquarium project by Friday since I will be buying the fish, snails and plants over the weekend. Those who do not have their money for me, will have to observe other students' projects, but will not be able to make their own in class.Math 63 -- Probability Unit Test will be Tuesday, January 8th. Students have a practice test that we will be working on in class.January 2, 2008 --Math 64 -- Write a definition in your own words for "measurement." What does it mean mathematically?Math 63 -- The probability test will be on Tuesday, January 8For January --Science -- Bring 2 clean 2-liter bottles AND $1.00 for the aquarium project. Due January 2nd.