Homework for the Week of March 17th

M. A. Jones 1st - 2nd graders (My Big Back Yard)

Students give yourselves a pat on the back! You did a wonderful job investigating the three types of soil we studied in class that are found in Georgia (loamy, sandy, and red clay). Your triple Venn diagrams were impressive.

Here's your homework task:
1.   From the article we read, choose one of the types of soil that we did not investigate and research more about it. You can find out where it is found, what grows well in it, and other special facts about it. You may create a diorama, report, drawing, or speech to bring in. 

Click here for the article in case you lost yours. Hopefully, it is in you Challenge Binder.

Click here for the link to the videos we watched in class and more!


M. A. Jones 3rd-5th graders (Law and Order)

Super job explaining the difference between a combative argument and debate. You also did a great job picking a stance about school uniforms and providing evidence during your mini debate session.

Homework Tasks
1.  Remember your "Dream Job" interviews are next week. So bring in your artifacts for your   
     "You Portfolio" (mock resume, work samples, pictures, etc). 

2.  Also, complete and bring in one of the tasks from your Three Branches of Government Tic-
     Tac-Toe Menu.

No Gifted/Talent Development Classes February 3rd - March 14th, 2014

Classes will not meet during this time due to gifted testing. Students, please use this time to complete any unfinished tasks and assignments.  Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you back in class in March! Classes are scheduled to resume on March 17th.

3rd - 5th Grade Homework for the Week of February 3, 2014

Choose one activity from your Government Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Menu to complete.

1st-2nd Graders Research Websites (Jan. 27th and Jan. 29th)

Use the following websites for your research.

1.     https://sites.google.com/site/georgia7wonders

2.     http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/111

3.     http://georgia.gov/blog/2013-11-15/georgias-7-natural-wonders

4.     http://library.thinkquest.org/5447/

Websites for Today's Research Task

http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/socratic-seminars-30600.html

http://www1.nsd131.org/mainsite/schools/nhs2/Content/Rules%20for%20Honors%20Seminar.pdf

Week of January 13, 2014

M. A. Jones Students

1st-2nd

Students will create a diorama, collage, or illustration of their yard.  Explain 5 of the living things and 5 non-living things they see in their yard.

3rd-5th

Choose your mode of presentation (speech, song, drawing, essay, poster, or technology application)

      School Rules: Name two school rules you that are frequently broken in your school. What strategies or tools are in place to prevent these rules from being broken?  What are the consequences for breaking the rules? Are these strategies effective? Why or why not? Do you think the rules are clear and understandable to all students? Why or why not?

2nd Semester Updates - Homework for the Week of 1/6/14

January 7, 2014

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year! The gifted and talented students will be embarking on a new instructional unit this semester. The first and second graders will be learning about Georgia’s habitats, culture, and history in the unit My Big Backyard.  Students will examine various ecosystems, plant and animal life, and important people in Georgia history. The third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be discovering the how the United States government (local, state, and federal) system works in the unit Law and Order.  Students will evaluate the effectiveness of local, state and federal laws and participate in a mock trial.

Your child’s class participation is vital to ensuring student success. Please make sure your child has and brings to class weekly a binder (a 2-inch wide three-ring notebook with notebook paper), pencils, and a composition book for journaling. Journals will be kept in class. Students should keep all class notes and handouts in the binder. Completing the end of the unit project is very difficult if students who have not maintained their binders. I encourage you to email me or call me if you have any questions about homework or class assignments.

During the month of February, there will be no Challenge classes due to gifted testing. I will assign a research project that should be completed at home during the month.



Sincerely,
Mrs. Dickson


Homework Assignments
1st-2nd Grades
Complete your MyBig Backyard Page about your own yard.

3rd-5th Grades

Choose how to present (drawing, speech, essay, voki, poem)

School Rules: Name two school rules you that are frequently broken in your school. What strategies or tools are in place to prevent these rules from being broken?  What are the consequences for breaking the rules? Are these strategies effective? Why or why not? Do you think the rules are clear and understandable to all students? Why or why not?

The Week of December 9, 2013

We are nearing the end of our first unit. Complete the Symbols Unit Performance Task for Homework. Presentations will be next week!

Due Date:  December 16th (Jones) and 18th (Cascade)

Goal- To create a symbol that represents you.

Role- Member of a Design Logo Team

Audience- Kindergarten - Second Grade Students

Situation- A group of primary aged students would like to create a symbol that represents them. They have asked their teacher to invite a logo designer (you) to come in and show them how to complete their symbols. Your job is to present the students with “how to tips” involved with creating symbols. Provide students with a brief presentation about how this is done and give an example of a symbol you have created that represents you. Also, give an explanation on why this symbol is reflective of you.

Product, Performance, Purpose- Students will give an oral presentation on how to create a symbol and present a graphic image of a symbol that represents them.

Expectations (Criteria for Success)- Detailed information, image of symbol, explanation of meaning



3rd-5th Graders

Presentations will take place on December 17th (Jones) and 19th (Cascade)

Culminating Activity- You will pretend that you are a travel agent and you own your own travel agency. You need to plan a trip for a client who wants to travel various regions in North America. 

Use the packet of directions and rubrics you were given in class. 

·

You may use the following websites to research your information:

www.roadsideamerica.com/map.html

www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations

www.50states.com/city/regions.hym

www.planetware.com/national/us/OFFICES.HTM

www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/index.htm

www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy

Advanced Academic Night

Parents of 5th grade gifted student,



Advanced Academic Night will be held on December 3, 2013, 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  5^th graders  received a flyer prior to break regarding the details. Please come out and see presentations on the middle school gifted experience.

The Week of December 2, 2013 - Use these resources/steps to help you make your travel agency brochure

3rd-5th Grade Brochure Resources

In class you will create a brochure to advertise you travel agency.  Brochures must focus on the history of the destination you chose. It must include pictures, text, and a bibliography of the resources. This can be done by using http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/Printing_Press/

Travel brochure examples can be seen here- http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/index4.html?utm_expid=6494612-4

This site offers photos, maps, and narratives on places all over the world. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/family-trips/photos/  National Geographic city guides, which contain in-depth information, city and park highlights, and more, are available from this page. Examine them together.  

After looking at these resources, what additional information do you need to make a useful travel brochure?  Think about these questions:

o   Who is your audience for this brochure? What is your purpose? (Is it to convince your parents to take you on a trip?  Is it to share with your grandparents so they can learn about your adventure?  Is it for your neighbors to help them if they decide to go to the same place?  Is it for yourself, so that you can keep a vivid memory of your trip?)

o   What qualities of a brochure (maps, diagrams, photos, bulleted lists, etc.) would help you create a brochure that will be useful for your audience?

Use your Things to Include in a Travel Brochure Handout. When you are ready to create their travel brochure, do it online using the Printing Press or Microsoft Publisher. An example of what the brochure can look like can be seen here.

 http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson961/Brochure.pdf

3rd-5th Grade Websites for Creating a Trip Itinerary Lesson

Students may use the following websites to help find places to visit.

http://www.atlanta.net/50fun/

http://www.erinyabroudy.com/2012/03/101-cheap-things-to-do-in-atlanta-this-summer-part-1/

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Fun+Things+To+Do+On+A+Saturday+Night&find_loc=Atlanta%2C+GA

http://www.livestrong.com/article/142808-fun-things-do-night-atlanta/

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/50bestrestaurants/home.aspx

http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/atlantageorgia/tp/Dining-In-Atlanta-With-Kids.htm

http://www.atlantatours.us/?ctt_id=1736355&ctt_adnw=Google&ctt_ch=ps&ctt_entity=tc&ctt_cli=11x23045x69447x514515&ctt_kw=%2Batlanta%20%2Btours&ctt_adid=7000164972&ctt_nwtype=search&gclid=CKfa2c3CtrUCFQo3nAodaHkAbQ

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/atlanta/0002010008.html

http://www.mapicurious.com/atlanta/touristmap

Homework for the Week of November 11th

1st - 2nd Graders

This week we identified various universal symbols and you worked to complete two of the four tasks in class as your synthesis activity. For homework, choose another activity from your Symbols Choice Menu to complete. Remember you must have three across or diagonally in order to fulfill the requirements of  tic-tac-toe.

Type a question or thought that you had at the end of class. Respond to a peer's post in a positive manner. Follow the directions previously given to post a comment.

3rd-5th Graders

This week you predicted outcomes, determined exact locations, and recognized roadside attractions in various locations, and created roadside attractions. For homework, complete your 2-5-8 Task Organizer that you received  to present in class next week.


Type a question or thought that you had at the end of class. Respond to a peer's post in a positive manner. Follow the directions previously given to post a comment.