Ancient China Exploration

What did you learn about ancient China during your exploration today?

http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/

http://www.earlyimperialchina.co.uk/

Podcast Reflections

1. What did YOU think about the process of creating a podcast?


2. How did creating and listening the podcast help you better understand (or just remember better) what we learned about Mesopotamia?


3. What types of shows for our podcast would you like to create in the future? If possible give one school example and one non-school example.

If you haven't had a chance to listen to our podcast take a listen!

http://mrferrell.podbean.com/

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Mr. Ferrell

WikiGuide?

My 5th and 6th hour social studies classes recently finished our ancient Mesopotamia WikiGuide project. Check out what they created!

http://mrferrell.wikispaces.com/Ancient+Mesopotamia+WikiGuide

Have a great day,
Mr. Ferrell

Today you will continue the Great Jaguar Debate and share your thoughts with the world via VoiceThread. Please review the instructions and begin right away!

http://voicethread.com/share/219155/

Enjoy!

Mr. Ferrell

Mesopotamia Exploration

What are the most interesting things that you’ve learned about Mesopotamia in your exploration?

Share your research with the world through our Mesopotamia Exploration VoiceThread.

Thank you,

Mr. Ferrell

1st Quarter Math Enrichment

Today we will be reviewing the first quarter math skills using VoiceThread. Enjoy!

http://voicethread.com/share/204906/

Wiki / Blog Extra Credit!

Over the weekend you have a chance to earn five points of extra credit in your language arts class. To receive the extra credit you will need to do the following:

Show your parents our classroom wiki page. Be sure to highlight our online writing portfolio and the extra practice math activities.

Show your parents our classroom blog. When showing off the blog take them to your favorite blog post of the year. Let them see our VoiceThread about King Tut while you're at it!

Finally, you will need to post a comment to the blog entry explaining who you chose to show the pages to and exactly what did you show them. Don't forget to explain to them our safety rules about last names!

Good Luck!

Mr. Ferrell

1st Quarter Math Skills

We have learned a lot of new material this quarter in math. Just look at all that you have learned! I am very proud of each of you.

Comparing and Ordering
Positive and negative integers
Decimals

Division
Expressing remainders three different ways
Whole numbers (5 R2)
Fractions (5 ½)
Decimals (5.5)

Multi-Step Word Problems
Using all four operations to solve real world problems.

Transformations
Translation (Slide)
Rotation (Turn)
Reflection (Flip)

Classifying Angles
Acute
Right
Obtuse
Straight

Classifying Triangles
By their angles
Acute
Right
Obtuse
By their side lengths
Equilateral
Isosceles
Scalene

Today there are two questions that I would like you to take some time to reflecting on and write about.

Which one of these math skills did you enjoy the most? What else would you like to learn about this topic?

Which one of these concepts do you do find the most difficult? Can you explain why it was difficult? What can you do to help yourself know this skill better? What can I do to help you learn this skill?

Remember to type your comments in Microsoft Word and then paste them into the blog.

Thank you,
Mr. Ferrell

The Mummy Maker

Today we discussed the Egyptian theory of the after life and we learned about the process of mummification.

To help us better understand mummification please go to The Mummy Maker activity and attempt to mummify a body.

When you're finished please answer this question in your own words:

Why did the Egyptian's mummify their dead?

A day in the life of ...

You have researched the daily life of an Egyptian. Now you will share your research with the world through a VoiceThread.

Please record your notes using Audacity and then upload the audio file to VoiceThread. When you finish please listen to the different roles researched by your classmates.

Egyptian Daily Life VoiceThread

Enjoy!

The Pyramids

Today we will explore the ancient Pyramids. As you are learning about the pyramids today please keep this question in mind. At the end of class you will blog your answer:

1. What surprised you most about the pyramids?

Please spell check your answer before sharing them with the world.

Enjoy,

Mr. Ferrell

The Mystery of King Tut's Death

Who Killed King Tut? The mystery has baffled the world for thousands of years. Can you solve it?

Today we will share our theories with the world. You will record your theory using Audacity and then upload the audio file to VoiceThread.

When you are finished recording and have uploaded the file please take the rest of class to listen to your classmates theories.

Who Killed King Tut VoiceThread

Enjoy!

Mr. Ferrell

Teaching Division

Today you will teach the world how to express remainders in division problems three different ways. You will use the VoiceThread tool to communicate with the world. Use your most professional and clear voice and teach each skill in a step-by-step manner.

You will do a great job! Enjoy ...

http://voicethread.com/#q.b180415.i0.k0

Thank You,
Mr. Ferrell

Pharaoh Blogging

Todat we learned that the pharaoh was the most powerful person in all of ancient Egypt. What do you think it would be like to have that kind of power?

Reflect on these questions:

• What would you do if you were the most powerful person in the world?
  
• Would being the most powerful person in the world be a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
  

Geography of ancient Egypt

Today we will be discussing the many ways that the Egyptian's used the Nile river. We will use VoiceThread to help us share our thoughts with the world.

Geography of Egypt VoiceThread

Introduction to Ancient Egypt

As you explored the British Museum’s website about ancient Egypt you answered these four questions. Today you will post some of your answers on our class blog.

• What are some elements of ancient Egypt that you are looking forward to studying?
• What was something that surprised you about ancient Egypt?
• How is Egypt different than the United States? How is it similar?
• What do you think is going to be important as we study Egypt?

When you are finished blogging your answers please review your classmates answers to see what they are excited about with ancient Egypt.

After that we will begin to look at Egyptian vocabulary using Quizlet.

Thank You,

Mr. Ferrell

Technology Survey

Welcome Classes!

Your first assignment will be to complete a technology survey. This survey will count as your first Social Studies grade and you will get 100% if you answer honestly!

We will be using technology extensively in our class and this will help me have a better idea what you already know.

Mr. Ferrell's Technology Survey

If there is time left in class you will leave a practice comment on the blog. In your comment I would like you to tell me about the coolest thing you have ever created with technology. In school or outside of school.

To leave a comment:

1. Find and click on the comment link at the end of this post.
2. Type your comment. Remember that the whole world is watching - use your best writing skills!
3. Choose the Name/URL option and type your first name only (please leave the URL blank).
4. Click the publish your comment button when you are ready to share your thoughts with the world!

Thank you,

Mr. Ferrell

Summer Time!

Have a delightful summer! You have been a wonderful class and I hope to see you all around the halls next year.

Enjoy the break!

Thanks,

Mr. Ferrell

Questions?

As we wrap-up our study of the Middle Ages I would like to know about any remaining questions you have about your topic.

Please write at least one question and post the question to the blog.

Also, if you see a question you can answer ... answer it! Just be sure to explain in your comment exactly what question you are answering.

Enjoy!

Mr. Ferrell

Collaboration?

collaboration

1 : to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor

/

/

This wiki project required you to work together with your peers to accomplish your task. There were some frustrating moments during this project and most of the time it focused on working with the "OTHER" team. Even though there were some rough times you all did very well.

Please write about your experience with collaboration during this project. If you are stuck you will see four blog-starters below. Please write 3-5 sentences in your paragraph.

• What did you learn about collaboration through this project?
• What are the benefits of collaboration?
• What are difficulties of working with other people?
• Why is it important to learn to work well with others?

Thank you,

Mr. Ferrell

Wiki Update

Please write about the most interesting aspects of your topic.

Here are some blog-starters

What part do you enjoy? Why do you enjoy it?

What do you find interesting about your topic? Creepy? Crazy?

If you were going to tell your best friend about your topic what would you tell them?

Why is your topic important?

Thanks,

Mr. Ferrell

Middle Ages Exploration #1

Today you began working on the Middle Ages Exploration project. As you look ahead at this project I would like you to answer these two questions:

1. What do YOU think is going to be the best part about your topic?
2. What is going to be the biggest challenge of this project?

Thank you,
Mr. Ferrell

Heraldry and Jousting

Today we are exploring heraldry and jousting in the Middle Ages. To help us better understand these topics we will use these two activities:

1. Designing a Coat of Arms
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/british_galleries/designa/coat_of_arms/coat_of_arms.html

2. Joust!
http://www.tudorbritain.org/joust/index.asp


Enjoy!
Mr. Ferrell

Middle Ages Exploration

Today we will be exploring the Middle Ages and blogging about what we find.

Today in class you will be responsible for:

- Answering ONE question

What is FEUDALISM?

– Finding THREE facts about the Middle Ages

– Asking ONE question
Create a question about something you learned today in your exploration. Do not answer your question. Tomorrow we will answer the questions.

Please use these websites for your research:
1. http://www.mrdowling.com/703middleages.html
2. http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/feudal.html
3. http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/index.html
4. http://www.mrdowling.com/703-feudalism.html

After assignment is blogged:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/destroywave.html

Thank you,
Mr. Ferrell

5th Grade Social Studies

What do you remember from 5th grade social studies?

Favorite Ancient Civilization?

I would love to know which ancient civilization is YOUR personal favorite.

1. Please vote in the poll for your favorite.
2. Please take a minute and think about why that civilization is your favorite. When you have your reason (or reasons!) please blog your response.

Just click on the comments below to share your thoughts with the world.

Thank you,
Mr. Ferrell

Wiki World Religion Project

Today we worked on our Wiki World Religion project. Before class is over today please blog your response to this question:


What do you now know about the religion you are researching that you didn't know before you started this project?


Please remember to use your best writing skills and show off to the entire world.

Thank you and have a great afternoon,
Mr. Ferrell

What the Wiki?

Class,

Thank you for working so hard on our study guide project. You each did a great job working hard on the Wiki.

I have a couple of questions for you and I would like you to pick one or more to answer.


1. What questions do you still have about ancient Rome? Is anything confusing?

2. How did the wiki project help you better understand ancient Rome?

3. Can you think of other ways that this wiki tool could be used in our classroom? Math? Reading? Language Arts? Social Studies?


Please pick one (or more) of these questions and blog your response before class is over today.

Thank you,
Mr. Ferrell

Julius Caesar News Report Video

Class,

Please reflect on the last couple of days in Social Studies. As you wrap up your video projects on the death of Julius Caesar please answer these questions. Be sure to think through your responses and use complete sentences.

1. Explain your favorite part about this project.

2. Describe any struggles you had with this assignment.

3. How did this project further your understanding of the events surrounding Caesar's assassination?

Thank you,

Mr. Ferrell