Monday, November 30, 2015

Evaluating Sources

With the help of Mrs. Yoder, seventh graders practiced skills for evaluating whether a website will be a good research source or not.

Mrs. Yoder provided a great tool (checklist) for them to use as they start to research with sources outside of the online encyclopedias and the Explora Database that we have used up to this point.




Students practiced with a couple of different websites and were surprised to discover some pretty biased webpages.




November 30 - December 4, 2015

Monday, November 30

  • Library: evaluating sources, citing sources
  • Research

Tuesday, December 1

  • Reading Time
  • Team Building
  • Research: all notes due Thursday
    • Must have a minimum of four sources, correctly cited.
    • Notes page must have enough information to answer research question clearly

Wednesday, December 2

  • Infinite Campus log-in review with Mrs. Graber
  • Research: last day to work in class, all notes due Thursday

Homework: finish research

Thursday, December 3
DUE: All research notes!

  • Reading Time
  • Find the Fiction
  • Research: write introductions, due Friday

Homework: introduction

Friday, December 4
DUE: introduction

  • Reading time
  • Class builder
  • Research: write conclusions, due Monday
Homework: conclusion

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 16-20, 2015

Monday, November 16

  • Library Day
  • Digital Citizenship Project


Tuesday, November 17

  • Moby Max
  • Digital Citizenship Project


Wednesday, November 18

  • Digital Citizenship Presentations
  • Research: finish pre-searching

Homework: Book #3 due tomorrow!

Thursday, November 19

  • Moby Max
  • Research: finish pre-searching, write research question

Homework: pre-searching, research question due tomorrow!

Friday, November 20

  • Research: begin to find sources, take notes, cite sources


Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Historical Fiction + Research

As we wrap up Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, seventh graders are starting to look forward to what's coming next.

During the last several weeks, all students have read a historical fiction novel as part of their independent reading plan. During our library time, we have just started to research the historical setting of the novel. For some of us, the setting is intertwined carefully throughout the book. For others, the setting is just a tiny blip on the radar.

This week in our library lesson, Mrs. Yoder introduced us to EBSCO Explora Database and showed us a couple of online encyclopedias. We spent the library time working on a "Research Inquiry Log" to help us determine what direction our research might take. This was just preliminary research to help answer some "Who/What/When/Where?" questions about our topic and - hopefully - lead us to a bigger picture "Why/How?" question that can guide our research.


Some of the pieces of research are really, really going to stretch our thinking, but inquiry is an important piece of brain development, and it's a skill that kids are going to need no matter where they go in life!

As we move forward with our historical fiction project, we'll do more research and write some informative text. We will also think and write about theme and character development in the historical fiction we read.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Brown vs. BOE Virtual Lesson

Last week, our seventh grade classes "met" with Ranger Lisa, the education specialist at the Brown vs. Topeka BOE National Historic Site.



Ranger Lisa gave a brief overview of the National Park Service and talked just a bit about the Brown vs. BOE site.

Then students were able to participate in the "Great PB&J Debate."



All seventh graders divided into teams to list either the pros or the cons of eating peanut butter and jelly every single day for lunch.




Each side presented their reasons, then they discussed how giving everyone the exact same thing was not necessarily equal. Part of the conversation revolved around food allergies; those allergic to peanut butter wouldn't be able to eat anything.

Ranger Lisa continued by talking more in-depth about the Brown vs. BOE case and the connections that we could make to our current class novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. Though the book is set about 20 years prior to the court case, there are several parallels with segregation and discrimination.


Seventh graders learned a lot that day and discovered some new events to be curious about!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

November 9-13

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Final TEST will be on Thursday, November 12. All work for the novel unit is due on Wednesday, November 11. 

Monday, November 9

  • Library: work on Research Questions
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    • Finish reading
    • Complete Reading Response Logs
    • Catch up on quizzes
Homework: Book #2 due tomorrow!

Tuesday, November 10
  • Moby Max
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    • LAST DAY!
    • Everything due tomorrow (Reading Response Log, Quizzes)
Homework: Study Guide due Thursday for test

Wednesday, November 11
Adjusted schedule due to Veteran's Day Activities
  • Roll of Thunder Review
Homework: Study Guide due tomorrow
TEST Tomorrow!

Thursday, November 12
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry final test
Friday, November 13
  • Moby Max
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry movie scene comparison activity

Monday, November 2, 2015

November 2-6, 2015

Monday, November 2

  • Library Check out
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Homework: Book #1 due TOMORROW!

Tuesday, November 3
Book #1 due TODAY!

Virtual Learning Session, 8:30 with Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site
  • Talking Chips: Process Virtual Learning Session
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Wednesday, November 4
  • Reading Conferences, Book Talks
  • Jot Thoughts
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Thursday, November 5
  • Reading Conferences, Book Talks
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Homework: Book #2 due November 10!

Friday, November 6
No School! Have a great three-day weekend!