It’s January 28. 
Today is “National Kazoo Day.”  Is there any musical instrument that requires less musical talent than a kazoo?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   Your heart is just about the same size as your fist.  In your life, which of these two body parts packs the more powerful wallop**?

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it .”  --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German poet)
**Vocabulary Word of the Day:  wallop (noun) – use this fancy word as a synonym for a heavy blow or punch.  Boxing gloves can deliver these, but so can unexpected emotions.  What else (be creative) can cause a wallop?

Terrific Thursday!!!

Continue working on DBQ. Begin final copy of DBQ.

It’s January 27. 
Today is “Holocaust Memorial Day.”  What are some facts that you remember about the Holocaust?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   Eating a lot of onions should make you sleepy because they act like a sedative.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” --Dolly Parton (American singer/actress)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  commemoration (noun) – this is a fancy word for a remembrance of something (like the Holocaust), especially one that has a ceremony associated with it. Your graduation from high school will be a commemoration you remember the rest of your life.  What other future commemorations will probably happen to you?

Wonderful Wednesday!!

We are continuing our DBQ. Today we are going to finish analyzing Document B and analyze Document C and D

It’s January 26. 
Today is “National Peanut Brittle Day.”  What’s the best treat out there that combines salty and sweet?  Has it been invented yet?

Trivial Fact of the Day: 2 and 5 are the only prime numbers that end with a 2 or a 5.  What are the numbers that no prime number can ever end with?

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Make each day your masterpiece.”
--John Wooden (American basketball player and coach)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  anachronistic (adjective) – use this word to describe things or ideas that are out of their proper timeline.  What anachronistic item might a time-traveler bring with him/her to best change the future?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Today we are going to continue working on our DBQ. We are going to be analyzing documents A & B.

It’s January 25. 
Today is “Opposite Day.”  What would it be like to meet your exact opposite…or your  own personal antithesis**?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   One of William Shakespeare’s relatives—William Arden—was arrested for plotting against Queen Elizabeth I, imprisoned at the
Tower of London, and executed for treason.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  --Eleanor Roosevelt (Former U.S. First Lady)
**Vocabulary Word of the Day:  antithesis (noun) – use this fancy noun as a synonym for something that is the direct opposite; it is usually followed by the word of or to, like “He is the antithesis of generosity.”

This week we are going to be working on a mini DBQ. Today, we are going to work the background essay.

It’s January 22. 
Today is “Celebration of Life Day.”  What are three unique ways you could celebrate life today?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   An apple is 25% air.  That’s why they float on water.  Have you ever bobbed for apples?

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.”  --Robert Heinlein (American writer)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  nondescript (adjective) – use this word to describe something or someone that has no specific characteristics to distinguish it from something or someone else.   Finish this sentence: The lemur was nondescript except for its _____________________.

Happy Friday!!!!!

Coordinates summative. Finish mapping lab #5.

 

 

It’s January 21. 
Today is “National Hugging Day.”  Who in your family gives the best hugs?  Who is your favorite anti-hugger?

Trivial Fact of the Day:  Carrots were originally purple. Orange carrots came about through hybrid** attempts of Dutch farmers.  You can still grow purple carrots from seed companies.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Wisdom begins in wonder.” 
--Socrates (Greek Philosopher)
**Vocabulary Word of the Day:  hybrid (adjective) – use this word to describe something that comes from a mixture of two (or more) origins.  Some cars and plants can be described as hybrids, but what else?  Be creative!

Thursday!!!

Today, is our coordinates quiz. Remember you do not have to memorize anything. Just locate the coordinates on the map. Don't forget tomorrow we will have our coordinate summative. Everyone will do fabulously because everyone has worked very hard this week. I am very proud of you guys.

It’s January 20. 
Today is “Penguin Awareness Day.”  What are some favorite  facts you know about penguins? 

Trivial Fact of the Day:   Penguins eyes actually work better underwater than they do outside of the water.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist once we grow up.” --Pablo Picasso (Spanish painter)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  mawkish (adjective) – use this word to describe any noun (like a book, poem, movie, or person) that is comes across as overly sentimental or emotional.  When was the last time something mawkish brought either a genuine tear to your eye or a disgusted feeling to your gut?

Today, we are going to work on Challenge 4. Tomorrow, we are going to have a quiz over how to find the coordinates and begin Challenge 5. Friday we will have a coordinate summative and complete Challenge 5. If you complete the challenges, you will do fabulously on the quiz and test.

It’s January 19. 
Today is “Popcorn Day.”  Besides popcorn, what other amenities** help you enjoy watching movies with your family?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   On average, an inch of rainfall is equivalent to ten inches of snowfall.  What’s the most snow or rain you watched come down in one storm?

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”  --Sophia Loren (Italian Actress)
 **Vocabulary Word of the Day:  amenity (noun) – use this fancy word as a synonym for an item that increases one’s comfort.  What amenities do guests at hotel rooms receive?  What amenities do you expect when visiting a favorite relative?

Spring Semester!!!

Today, we are going to start with Mapping Labs 1 & 2 of Southwest and Central Asia.

It’s January 14. 
Today is “Dress Up Your Pet Day.”  Do you think it’s weird or okay for pet owners to put costumes on their animals?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   Ancient Egyptians first domesticated cats 4000 years ago.  Egyptians welcomed these animals into their homes for protecting their grain, and they became so revered that many cat cults popped up.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.”  --Winston Churchill (Former British Prime Minister)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  mollify (verb) – this action word means to soften someone’s bad temper.  How do you mollify your family when someone’s moody?

Semester Exams Day (again)

We are taking exams in 1st and 4th today.  The other classes are shortened which gives us the opportunity to take care of all missing work. AND we get out at 1:25 today and tomorrow. How awesomely cool is that?!?!?!?!?