Agenda April 30

1 Trade and Grade Bill Nye Videos Planets and Sun
2 Video Bill Nye Outer Space

Agenda, April 27

1 Video Bill Nye The Sun
2 Video Bill Nye The Planets

Found airplanes WWII is on the way-

Agenda April 26

1 Activity The Speed of Planets Around the Sun

8th Grade panorama picture was today.  We had it in the gym because there was rain that 15 minutes of today.  A lot of non smilers.
Due to special request, tomorrow will be Aerodrome 2 day.

Agenda April 25

1 Journal 100 ( a mile stone)  Heliocentric History
2 Journal 101 Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion
3 Activity Model of Planets' Orbits

Agenda April 24

1 HW Chapter 14 Directed Reading No Target reading due Fri. May 4
2 HW Chapter 15 Directed Reading No Target reading due Fri. May 4

These are the last 2 HW packets from the book

Agenda April 23

1 Trade and Grade Chapter 12 and 13 Test
2 Return a lot of work
3 Journal 96 Chapter 14 Vocabulary due Fri May4
4 Journal 97 Chapter 14 Constructing Meaning due Fri May4
5 Journal 98 Chapter 15 Vocabulary due Fri May4
6 Journal 99 Chapter 15 Constructing Meaning due Fri May4

These are the last chapters in the book and this will bring us up to STAR testing (don't all cheer at once).  The Homework Packets go out tomorrow so keep current.
I am still having difficulty putting a video on the blog.  I could use some help.  Any volunteers?  Speaking of needing some help, I not only have to pack the stuff on the counters at the end of the school year this year but I have to move all the things in the cupboards as well.  Anyone who may have some time this year in May would be appreciated.
Another reminder is the last day for any make up work for this trimester is Tuesday, May 29th.

Follow Up with Pictures and a Video

Here are some more pictures from the end of the trip.  I haven't been able to upload the video yet.  The computer seems to freeze up.  I will need a blog expert's help.  Anyone?

April 20 and some of the 19th from 36000 feet

We are somewhere over Ohio on the way home. No pictures right now as my camera is inaccessible at the moment. Yesterday was the Spy Museum (this is privately run but very good with an activity the kids did that they really seemed to enjoy)and the 2 of the Smithsonians but earlier in the morning we saw a little bit of Congress in session and then met with Representative Anna Eschoo. She is a petite woman who enjoys gardening, reading and hanging out with friends. She talked with the kids for quite awhile. The kids read, in popcorn fashion, Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech at Lincoln Memorial. Today was the earliest we got them up and then we were off to Mt Vernon. Following that was a visit to a really good museum about the press called Newseum. We got them all through security though we lost Reed for a bit behind someone with "difficulties" in security. A number of boys have earned nicknames on the trip. Leon is Bisket Boy, Jarod is George, Hiroto is Fire Lord, and Diego is Fire Boy. Hopefully I will put some pictures up tomorrow.

White House, Holocaust, and Gettysburg

Here are some pictures. Oh, Hi Mom


We are just in from Gettysburg and are settling in for the evening. As an editorial note, children need to learn how to use their technological devices for good instead of... no wait, I mean, how to use it rather than just play with it. As a tool for their intelligence as opposed to an electronic endorphin generator. But I digress.
We walked around the White House and then went off to the Vietnam Memorial. This is a place of contemplation and reflection. The statuary near by evokes the stress and emotion of the participants. The Holocaust Museum was next. There is a children's portion called Daniel's Story which is the story of a 13 year old boy's experiences. The story is poignant and the kids will remember this for awhile. As I told them, it is important to remember so things like this never happen again.
Gettysburg was great. There has been a light drizzle/rain today making the visit to Devil's Den a bit exciting. We also stopped at the eternal flame Peace Memorial and the top of Little Round Top. Dinner was at General Picket's Buffet which is on the actual battlefield. The Park Service has been working for several years to restore the battlefield to the way it looked in 1863. To this end, they purchase businesses and homes as money becomes available and then tear them down if they were not there in 1863. I understand that in the 1960's there were many more cafes, service stations and souvenir shops than there are today. The fields are quiet and peaceful.

Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Arlington

So we have done an awful lot in the last 2 days. To start with the end, the kids got to go in the pool this evening. I realize that many of you already know all of this due to the texting and Facebooking the kids have been doing. Space Shuttle Discovery flew over Washington today on the back of a 747. This was a once in a life time opportunity the kids had. Going back to yesterday, a group of kids raised a sail on one of the demonstration ships at Jamestown. Later at Williamsburg, the kids joined the Continental Army and drilled as an infantry company (which was historically about 50 young men). Mr Realini is holding up well despite the Giants poor performance last night.
You should be proud of the behavior of your children at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They behaved with the utmost dignity and respect. The Laying of the Wreath and the playing of Taps Ceremony was quite stirring. Now if we could just get them to sleep.
Here are a few shots of the 200 pictures I took in the last two days.

On the Plane

So we are in the air over the Sierras. Here are some pictures from this morning. Don't expect constant updates. I paid $18 for this internet access on the plane "just because I could".

Getting Ready for DC Trip

Please note that Alex is not TSA compliant.
And neither am I.
These pictures were taken on a Miniatures Club Field Trip last year to the Tank Museum in Portola Valley. It is also a test on uploading pictures to this blog for the trip. Seems I can do it. I plan on trying this while on the plane. We will see.

Agenda April 13

1 Test Chapter 12 and 13
2 Check journal 89 CH 12 Pre Read, Journal 90 CH 12 Vocabulary, Journal 91 CH 12 Constructing Meaning, Journal 92 CH 13 Vocabulary, HW CH 12 Directed Reading, and HW CH 13 Directed Reading

Got a cortisone shot in my foot today and had to miss swimming. I am looking forward to the D.C. Trip with mild trepidation due to this palntar fasciatis. Looking forward to learning about posting pictures.

Agenda April 12

1 Video National Geographic Exploring Our Solar System
2 Video National Geographic The Sun, Earth, and Moon
Test tomorrow
Chapter 12 and 13 Vocabulary, Directed Reading HW, etc due tomorrow

Agenda April 11

1 Activity Reason for the Seasons
2 Turn in Spacecraft Miniposters

Open House tonight

Agenda April 10

1 Video Bill Nye The Moon
2 Trade and Grade Videos
3 Journal 95 Seasons

Agenda April 9

1 Activity Phases of the Moon
2 Journal 93 Moon and Eclipses
3 Journal 94 Moon and Tides

Agenda April 6

1 Activity Varying Rocket Length

Agenda April 5

1 Video Bill Nye Seasons
2 J91 Chapter 12 Constructing Meaning
3 HW Chapter 12 Directed Reading No Target Reading due Friday, April 13
4 Journal 92 Chapter 13 Vocabulary due Friday, April 13
5 HW Chapter 13 Directed Reading No Target Reading due Friday, April 13
6 Space Ship Miniposter Project due Wednesday, April 11

Miniatures Club looks very tentative at the moment. Cumberland Elementary has acquired our rooms for a science fair. I am having to pack everything early making it difficult to find things.

Agenda April 4

1 Trade and Grade Bill Nye and Isobars
2 Journal 89 Chapter 12 Pre Read
3 Journal 90 Chapter 12 Vocabulary

Agenda April 3

1 Chapter 11 Test Standard 8 Density and Buoyancy
2 Check Chapter 11 Review WS Packet

Agenda April 2

1 Activity Fountain in a Flask
2 Check Journal 86, 87, and 88 (Chapter 11 Pre Read, Vocabulary and Constructing Meaning)and Check Chapter 11 HW Packet
3 Chapter 11 Test Tomorrow