Wednesday, April 30, 2014

TOMORROW NIGHT!!!

Hello Families,

Tomorrow is the big day! Everyone is very excited and ready to show you all that they have learned. Students should bring any outstanding pieces tomorrow morning so we can set up in the afternoon.

Tomorrow night, students are expected to be on campus at 6:00 in costume.Students should report to their classroom teacher for set up instructions. At that time parents are welcome to make their way downstairs to the 4th grade Oregon History Wax Museum. 

At 6:30 the hallways will be opened for friends and family to begin questioning the Notables. You will receive a small sack on your way in, inside will be a program that contains the names of all 75 Notables. Your job is to ask each one 3 questions that can be answered with yes or no. For example, you could ask "Do you work in the sciences?"  Once you have asked your 3 questions, write down the Notables number (found on the notable figure) next to their name in your program. How many can you guess in 45 minutes?

 At 7:15, the notable figures will leave their seats and make their way to the gym, library, or cafeteria. There they will stand with their boards, allowing you to learn all about each of them. You'll have another 45 minutes to visit each person at their board, collect souvenirs, and admire all the hard work represented. All students are expected to stay until 8:00. 

At 8:00, students will return their chair to their classroom, help clear the room they presented in, and head for home with costume, board, and any remaining souvenirs. 

If you'd like to do a little pre studying, here is the list of notable figures. 
 Alexander Graham Bell
 Alfred Nobel
 Beethoven
 Florence Nightingale
 Gottlieb Daimler
 Maria Wollstonecraft
 Napoleon Bonaparte
 Orville Wright
Albert Einstein
Amelia Aerhart
Anne Frank
Anne Vallayer Coster
Audrey Hepburn
Babe Zaharias
Beckanne Sisk
Bruce Wayne
Clara Barton
Claude Monet 
Coco Chanel
Corrie ten Boom
Dwayne Johnson
Edith Cavell
Edwin Hubble
Elizabeth Cody Stanton
Ethel Merman
Florence Griffith Joyner
Gabrielle Douglas
Gordon Ramsey
Grace Kelly
Helen Keller
Henry Ford 
Hiram Maxim
Ida B. Wells 
Irena Sandler
James Watt
Jane Goodal
Janis Joplin
Jesse Owens
Johnny Depp
Julia Child
Kurt Cobain
Lady Emma Hamilton
Lillian Gish
Louis Armstrong
Louis Pastuer
Lucille Ball
Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Maria Theresa 
Marilyn Monroe
Mark Tobey
Mia Hamm
Michael Jordan
Mother Theresa
Neil Armstrong
Nikola Tesla 
Olympe de Gouges
Oskar Schindler
Princess Di
Princess Margret
Queen Rania
Queen Victoria
Ricahrd Feynman
Serena William
Shawn Johnson
Shirley Temple
Stephen Hawkings
Tchaikovsky
Thomas Edison
Vincent Van Gogh 
WC Handy
Werner Von Braun
Wilbur Wright
Will Smith

Monday, April 28, 2014

Book Fair!

A reminder that the Book Fair is on campus this week.

The fair will be open for shopping Monday - Wednesday after school until 4:30 and then on Thursday (Night of the Notables) until 8:00!

Our class will walk through the Book Fair tomorrow to browse and write down individual wish list items. We will NOT be buying anything, that is for after-school only.

The 7th grade has a box at the fair that is filled with books we would like to have in our room library. If you are able, please purchase one of these books to add to our classroom library.

*I admit I went a little crazy and completely filled the box. What can I say, I LOVE books. :-) Also, a great teacher once told me that a good classroom library should have a minimum of 1,000 books!


Friday, April 25, 2014

WWII Field Trip

We had a great time learning all the different aspects of WWII and how if affects us today.

The Oregon Holocaust Memorial was very beautiful. It was a sad yet inspiring morning. We learned about the memorial and what each piece of it represents. We then read the very touching quotes from actual survivors. We placed pebbles on the stone under which the ashes of many who perished at the six killing camps are buried.





We visited the Oregon Jewish Museum where we learned about the history of Jewish people in Portland, Oregon. We then went to the Nikkei legacy center where we had a real look at the appalling conditions Japanese Americans were forced to live in during those terrible times. Part of our Nikkei experience took us to the waterfront and the Japanese American Plaza where we reviewed the Bill of Rights and contemplated the real effects of stripping away those rights. We ate lunch here and memorized many of the wonderful poems written by people who lived in the internment camps.



Our final stop was Camp Withycombe where we saw many photos and artifacts from WWII. We got to see actual rifles and grenades and heard the thrilling stories of heroes "just doing their job". We also got to see the Adjunct General's house, which was built as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA)! Of course, the coolest part was the tanks. :-)




Thursday, April 24, 2014

Spirit Week

Next week is Spirit Week at CHPCS! Each day will have a special theme.

Military Monday - students may wear a yellow ribbon to show support. Students are encouraged to bring in photos of family members that have served or are currently serving in the military. These photos will be hung on the wall in the hallway by the music room. A special pledge will be held outside the school on this morning.

Team Tuesday - students may wear a sports jersey or colored t-shirt over their uniform to show support for their favorite team

Work Wednesday - students will perform community service acts around the school to help beautify our campus. There will be NO homework as reward for a hard days work.

Cultural Thursday - students are encouraged to share something about their cultural heritage. Whether it is an article of clothing, some culinary delight, or an artifact of some sort, we would love to see it. I am open to a potluck on this day if any one wants to share some wonderful food with our class. :-)

Monday, April 14, 2014

BONUS FIELD TRIP CANCELED

Sadly our field trip to see The Mikado was cancelled. Thank you to all of you that volunteered to join us.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Project Photos (Great Depression, Dragon Genetics, Slide Inspired Writing)

A few weeks ago we went downtown to take photographs for a project. It occurred to me as I watched students using phones and digital cameras that this generation may not be familiar with the idea of film, and even less so with slide projectors. From this realization a project was born in which we looked through old slides and collected four that we liked. We pasted them to some white foam board (so that they would be visible) and used the slides to inspire writing. Some students did long stories or essays and others chose short story format. A few students even wrote poems! Please come by and view the wonderful work created by 7th Grade!



Below are some photos of the dragons we "birthed" in Genetics. Variations included, wings, color, fangs, tail and arm length and fire breathing. This was a very fun introduction to a difficult, and often dry topic.




Below are some great photos from our Great Depression on campus field trip. Here we are creating useful fabric items (blankets, aprons, and skirts) using patchwork. During the Depression it was difficult to purchase cloth so oftentimes items were repurposed. (Sorry about the fish-eye effect.)

















Friday, April 11, 2014

Missing Books!

7th grade is still missing a few books from our class sets.

We need two copies of Call of the Wild (#17 and #23)


We need three copies of Science Explorer: Chemical Interactions (#15, #20 and #23)


PLEASE help your student search for these titles so that next years class may have a complete set.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Great Depression Make Up

Hello All,

I wanted to post the Great Depression make up assignment here and give a bit more information. This project is REQUIRED for students who were absent the day of the trial presentations and is optional for students who wish to improve their grade.

I am expecting this project to take no more than one and a half to two hours total. You should have most of the information from the notes we went over in class. It shouldn't take more than half an hour of research to get you a bit more in-depth information. The project itself should take about one to one and a half hours. I am NOT looking for a completely polished final piece. This is a way for you to obtain a deeper understanding of the Great Depression and demonstrate it in a manner that is creative and fun.

Quick side note: the test date has been changed to 4/14 due to MAP testing


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Medical Teams International

Just before spring break we went to Medical Teams International

This was a sobering experience for many of the students. They got to see, hear, and smell how children in many impoverished and war-torn areas live as well as those hit by natural disaster. It was hard for many of us to be so close to such sadness.

Here is a photo of one of the exhibits.



Medical Teams International provided hope for us as well. We got to see how they have gone into these areas and helped by bringing medicine, fresh water, sanitary latrines, and cooking stoves. We also got several ideas of how we could help. Many of the students wanted to start volunteering right away, however the minimum age to volunteer is 16 years old. (Please keep Medical Teams International in mind when you are looking for that community service opportunity to go on your students college application.)

There are other things we can do to help. Many students wrote notes to the children living in these sad conditions. Donating medical supplies and money is always appreciated. Additionally your family could put together a Hope Kit (cost #3.89 at the dollar store). The kit can be returned to CHPCS and I will deliver them or you can drop them off yourself at Medical Teams International.


Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.