'Cause That's How I Roll (Like a Rock!)

This week we will be extending your learning about rocks and minerals from science. You are a mineral molecule (let's say silica) and you are about to take an incredible journey through the rock cycle! After doing your information gathering (research) you will write monologue (a dramatic speech!) If you don't know what that is, you are in luck! Here is a video that explains how to write a monologue!

Note, there is a transcript of this video at EHow.com. The transcript button is underneath and to the right of the video.


How to Write a Dramatic Monologue -- powered by eHow.com

Notice the important facts about monologues:

• given by one person (that is you!)
• make sure you know your character (a rock) well
• you have to deliver it (that means you are going to present it in a dramatic form like a play!)

The Rock Cycle: Great static visual diagram of how rock changes
Interactives Rock Cycle: Another great static visual diagram, this time with added flames and water. Roll over the pictures to get more information, click on the rocks to find how they are made!


Interactive Rock Cycle Animation: Animation of the rock cycle in motion.

Crossing a River with a Canoe can be a Real Math Problem!

Room 8 in Melville, New Zealand came up with an interesting math problem and asked people in their learning community to help find the answer. Here is a link to the post. Although my school is out on summer break, I decided I would ask my daughter Aidan to find a solution.

Canoe Problem
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Here is her answer. Here is a post from Room 8 showing how others have answered the problem.

2010 Noel School Talent Show

Live Streaming Today: District Spelling Bee

Live streaming video by Ustream

It\'s What I Do!

MAP Pre-celebration: Ron Cole

Listen to Live Streaming for Read Across America Day

Here is Shelby reading during our live stream. We had a great time reading the Dr. Seuss books all day!

Live Stream of Noel Jr. High's Science Fair

The audio did not work because of technical problems. (That means I couldn't figure out how to make it work after it quit!)

Student Reflection: Yessy on Her Science Fair Project

This is our first video reflection by a student in my classroom this year. Yessy does an outstanding job of modeling for the rest of the students.

You will need to turn your volume way up to hear.

Digital Media Reflections

Here is the link to the spreadsheet with your answers.

MAP Rewards Assembly, November 24

Noel Lady Tigers vs. White Rock Lady Roosters

Here is the link to tonight's program. If you right click and open in a new tab you can view it without losing the stream.

Noel Lady Tigers Versus Southwest City Lady Indians

5-6 Game

7-8 Game

Live Stream of Noel Lady Tigers Playing Anderson Lady Redbirds

Yessy Was Red Hot at the Chile Pepper Festival

Yessy Dominguez medalled at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival on Saturday. She came in 15! This was the first time a McDonald County junior high student has medalled there. Also impressive was the girls team sixth place finish! Here is Yessy talking about running.

Also impressive was the junior high boys team finish of ninth!

How to Speak Chuukese Part 1

Bradley and I are working together to create some video lessons on how to speak Chuukese. I have found very little information on the language on line so we decided to create our own. I did find a link to a Chuukese dictionary, but Bradley didn't recognize all the words. Because of the islands different dialects, it seems that each island's language has slightly evolved from the others.

In this video Bradley gives us the word for "Hello" and the phrase for "How are you?"

I would like to thank @NZWaikato for the idea for this activity. The inspiration came from his class blog last year Tamaki Today. You can find his work on his new class blog Room 8 @Melville Intermediate School

If you know someone that speaks Chuukese, we would very much like to set up a conversation between our students and them. Please leave me a comment or send an email.

Dear Kaia: Voicethread and Video

Yesterday during our weekly #Comments4Kids commenting time we had an unusual experience (although I think things like this will become less unusual). While commenting on Kaia's blog our activity was noticed by her father, Jabiz Raisdana. He contacted me and we decided to have him Skype in and talk to my class. Jabiz suggested we make a video or audio for Kaia since she can't read yet. I decided to surprise them with a Voicethread.

After creating the Voicethread I then used the export feature to create a video file that I uploaded to our Youtube channel. The export cost $2.99 and the video was created in a larger Quicktime file and a smaller .mp4 file. The process was quick and easy and I think the quality speaks for itself. Since we created this as a "digital book" I blocked adding comments, but you can add your comments below or on Kaia's blog.

Radial Design Art 1 Project

Here is a video of Mrs. Smith explaining her Art 1 class project on radial designs.

Here are a few examples of the radial design project.

Mr. Mayher's Wanted! (Posters)

Here is a video of Mr. Mayher, our junior high science teacher, explaining the students project where they made wanted posters for granite.

Below are a few close ups of some of the posters students created. Students did this project as a homework assignment and were allowed two days to complete it.

Robert Talks About Comments4Kids

Here is Robert talking about Wednesday's Comments4Kids assignment. I think this sums up why I think commenting is so important.

Career Day Live Streaming