It’s May 5. 
Today is “Cinco De Mayo.”  How would you describe your favorite Mexican food dish to someone who has never tasted it?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   A Mexican tamale called the zacahuil is three-feet long and weighs 150 pounds.  How many people do you suppose that feeds?

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “I proved to myself that if I believed in something and set my mind to it, I could accomplish it.”  --Salma Hayek  (Mexican actress)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  abnegation (noun) – this fancy word means the public act of renouncing or rejecting something.  About what at your school would you like to make a formal abnegation?

Cinco De Mayo!!!

What is Cinco De Mayo? Today you will find out!!

It’s May 2. 
Today is “Baby Day.” What would be the best and worst thing about being a baby again…for just a day?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   Babies don’t have kneecaps.  They are born with a cartilage structure that resembles a kneecap, but their patella bone doesn’t actually form until they are 6 months or older.

Interesting Quote of the Day: “The only time a woman really succeeds in changing a man is when he is a baby.”  --Natalie Wood (actress)

Vocabulary Word of the Day:  erudite (adjective) – apply this fancy word to nouns (people or things) that show great knowledge.  Complete this sentence: The erudite scholar ___________.

Marvelous Monday Mustangs!!!

Today, we are going start a study on imperialism in Africa.  Have your notebook ready to copy some vocabulary words. 

 

It’s April 26. 
What’s shaking?  Today is “National Richter Scale Day.”  Whose fault is this holiday?

Trivial Fact of the Day:  In 1960, the strongest earthquake ever recorded, at 9.5 magnitude, occurred off the coast of Chile.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.”  --Jeannette Rankin (First female elected to the United States Congress…in 1916)

Vocabulary Word of the Day:  dynamic (adjective) – describe a person, place, or thing that is constantly changing with this adjective.  Could you argue that earth’s tectonic plates are dynamic, or do they move too slow in your opinion?

Totally Terrific Tuesday!!!

We are going to start with our presentation walk. Then continue our Africa unit with resources of Africa. We will use our textbook for this, so grab one after reading this blog. 

It’s April 25. 
Today is “World Penguin Day.”  Waddle you do to celebrate these short-legged, flightless birds today? 

Trivial Fact of the Day:   The largest species of penguins—the emperor penguin—can weigh up to 90 pounds.  The smallest—the fairy penguin—weighs only 2 pounds!

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Life is a zoo in a jungle.”  --Peter De Vries  (American writer)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  denigrate (verb) – this action word means to belittle or talk down someone else’s opinion of something. How could you directly denigrate a penguin, or how could you denigrate a person who does not think highly of penguins?

Mustang Monday!!!

Today ,we are going to begin our study of Africa. We are going to color a map of Africa and choose a physical feature to present.

It’s April 18. 
“Fore!”  Today is “National Golf Day.”  Are you teed up to celebrate?

Trivial Fact of the Day:   Teed up?  An acre of cotton plants yields enough material to make 1200 t-shirts! 

Interesting Quote of the Day:  Tea-d up?  “A woman is like a tea bag – you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”  --Eleanor Roosevelt (former First Lady of the United States)
Vocabulary Word of the Day:  Tear-ed up?  catharsis (noun) – a catharsis is the human process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong emotions that have built up.  Aristotle taught that good dramatic plays should bring out a catharsis in people.  Has a movie or play ever made you cry?

Mustang Monday!!

Today, we are going to start our project presentations. I can't wait to see the finished products! Don't forget: Wednesday is our capitals and states quiz. There is a quizlet on my Moodle page.

It’s April 15. 
Today is National “Take a Wild Guess Day.”  Do you have a hunch, speculation**, or an intuitive sense of how this day became a holiday?

Trivial Fact of the Day: Celery has negative calories! It takes more calories to chew and digest a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with.

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “Celery, raw/ Develops the jaw,/ But celery, stewed,/ Is more quietly chewed.” --Ogden Nash (American poet)
**Vocabulary Word of the Day:  speculate (verb) – this action word can mean two things: to reflect deeply on a subject or to make a guess based on reasoning but not necessarily solid evidence.  Did you speculate about anything yesterday?

Fantastic Friday!!!

Today all projects will be completed by the end of class and everyone will be ready to present on Monday and Tuesday. Don't forget the states and capitals quiz next Wednesday. Have a great weekend!

 

 

It’s April 14. 
Today is “Dictionary Day.”  Don’t believe me?  Look it up! 
How might you exalt** the existence of this resource book?

Trivial Fact of the Day: Noah Webster, born in 1758, began writing his dictionary at the age of 43. It took him 27 years, and the first edition defined 70,000 words.  Modern editions of Webster’s contain definitions for over 225,000 words. 

Interesting Quote of the Day:  “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”  --Vince Lombardi (American football coach)
**Vocabulary Word of the Day:  exalt (verb) – use this action word when you want to praise or glorify someone or something.  What person, place, or thing might you exalt in your writer’s notebook?

Terrific Thursday!!!!

Continue working on projects!