Zola's Award Winning Poem

Zola won 2nd place for Middle School poetry in the DeYoung Museum's Young at Art Festival in May

Arrogant

I take pity on those, who wear

Glass bottles a top their heads

They stand so tall

Unaware of the silent crash

Like seaweed tousled by the

Remarks of a rushing ocean;

Sinks so deep

Until the oxygen

Gives that farewell.

No, declare me uncourteous;

Pity, I do not.

Annakai's Award Winning Poem

Annakai won 1st place for Middle School poetry in the DeYoung Museum's Young at Art Festival in May

Credo

I believe in protecting the trees. In rich endless forests

masses of green

and lush leaves.



I believe in the strong animal horse, a being,

a creature of fine, clear mind and heart,

coat shining sun.



I believe in traveling far to touch the earth,

close to the sands, the seas

stars, sun

Because I believe in good stars, the Milky Way,

realizing Earth's tiny speck in the universe.

I believe in appreciation, of peace between people

neverending laughter; inspiration.



The whole earth held in my hands,

breadrolls of clouds,

I believe in the ocean, the crashing

cycle of tide

I wet my feet in the icy foam.



Language, the curling words of poetry,

speaking with fire

Drawing the world with line and word,

I believe in working with my hands



seeing clear through the eye,

and

feeling

deep to my bone.

Inspired by Maxine Cumin

Homework week of 6/1/09

Final Middle School History and Language Arts Homework
June 1st-June 5th

ALL STUDENTS: CHECK MISSING WORK LISTS POSTED ON EACH CLASSROOM DOOR. ALL WORK IS DUE ON FRIDAY.

History
6th/7th graders:
1. BRING YOUR FINAL HISTORY REPORT PLUS THE VISUAL DISPLAYS ON WED. JUNE 3RD. Do NOT bring it on Tuesday as previously announced.

2. As announced last week, you will use your comparative religions chart, your timeline, and the new religions chart we did last week as resources for a final quiz. We will begin the quiz in block classes and it will be due on Friday, June 5th.

Language Arts
6th grade
1. Write a final literary log letter to Tammy.
Has your reading improved this year? How (be specific)? Have you read different types of books? Give examples.
Look back in your literary log. What changes in your writing about literature and reading do you notice from the beginning to today? Do you write less about plot and more about your observations and thoughts about writing and literature? Give examples from your literary log.

7th grade
1. Wordly wise unit 10 is due on Wed. 6/3/09.

2. Write a final literary log letter to Elena.
Has your reading improved this year? How (be specific)? Have you read different types of books? Give examples.
Look back in your literary log. What changes in your writing about literature and reading do you notice from the beginning to today? Are there changes in your approach to literary analysis? What are they? What about the literary elements we have studied for this year, such as characterization, imagery, theme, conflict. Do you have a deeper understanding of these elements? What’s the difference in writing to a teacher and to a peer? These are ideas to get you started. You may include more ideas as well. Use examples from your literary log (even quotes from your literary log).
Due on the last day of school!

3. You will complete your Shadow Spinner essay in class on Wed. BE SURE TO BRING YOUR PLAN AND YOUR BOOK. YOU WILL TURN IN YOUR BOOK AT THE END OF CLASS.


OVER
8th grade
1. Bring all of your 8th grade project writing and displays on Tuesday. We’ll set up at the end of the day. The exhibition is from 7 to 8:30.

Homework week of 5/25/09

Middle School Language Arts and Humanities Homework
Week of May 26, 2009
History
6th/7th graders:
1. History report----one week to go! Bring the final written report (with rough drafts and outlines), the display board, and the 3 dimensional project on Tuesday, June 2nd. There’s no point in bringing it on Monday since we’re going to Angel Island early.

2. Final questions on the year’s religions unit will be handed out in block classes this week and due on Thursday, June 4th.

3. Map on the Spread of Islam ---- due on Thursday, June 4th (you might finish it in class).

8th graders:
1. Your final compare/contrast paragraphs are due on Wed., May 27th.

Language Arts
6th grade
1. Write a final literary log letter to Tammy.
Has your reading improved this year? How (be specific)? Have you read different types of books? Give examples.
Look back in your literary log. What changes in your writing about literature and reading do you notice from the beginning to today? Do you write less about plot and more about your observations and thoughts about writing and literature? Give examples from your literary log.

7th grade
1. Wordly Wise unit 10 will be worked on in classes this week, after testing is completed. Bring it every day from Wed. to Fri. You will turn it in on Friday.
This is class work, not homework.

2. Write a final literary log letter to Elena.
Has your reading improved this year? How (be specific)? Have you read different types of books? Give examples.
Look back in your literary log. What changes in your writing about literature and reading do you notice from the beginning to today? Are there changes in your approach to literary analysis? What are they? What about the literary elements we have studied for this year, such as characterization, imagery, theme, conflict. Do you have a deeper understanding of these elements? What’s the difference in writing to a teacher and to a peer? These are ideas to get you started. You may include more ideas as well. Use examples from your literary log (even quotes from your literary log).
Due on the last day of school!

8th grade
1. It’s all about the play!!!!!! Print out your poems if you haven’t yet done so.

The Ka'bah in Mecca

The Ka'bah in Mecca.

Eighth Grade Final History Test

8th Grade Final Religions Test

1. Complete your Comparative Religions Chart (we will begin this in class).
2. You will use your chart and the readings we’ve done as part of this year’s unit.
3. Choose 1 topic from each of the 3 sets below.
4. You will 2 paragraphs, one comparing and one contrasting for each topic you select. Therefore, you will write a total of 6 paragraphs.

Set One--- Sacred Writings (choose one---write 1 comparison paragraph and 1 contrast paragraph for the topic you choose).
 Compare and contrast the Vedas and Upanishads to the Bible.
 Compare and contrast the Qu’ran and the Bible.
 Compare and contrast the Vedas and Upanishads to the Qu’ran

Set Two--- The Lives of Religious Leaders (choose one---write 1 comparison paragraph and 1 contrast paragraph for the topic you choose).
 Compare and contrast the lives of the Buddha and Jesus.
 Compare and contrast the lives of Muhammad and Jesus.
 Compare and contrast the lives of Buddha and Muhammad.

Set Three---The Spread of Religions (choose one---write 1 comparison paragraph and 1 contrast paragraph for the topic you choose).
 Compare and contrast the spread of Hinduism with the spread of Christianity.
 Compare and contrast the spread of Judaism and the spread of Hinduism.
 Compare and contrast the spread of Buddhism with the spread of Christianity.
 Compare and contrast the spread of Christianity with the spread of Islam.


Attached are directions for writing your paragraphs and a paragraph checklist.


WRITING CONVINCING PARAGRAPHS

1. TOPIC SENTENCE:

Purpose: To present the main idea of the paragraph; to present an argument in response to the question posed.
How: Answer question directly; present argument; offer specifics; give direction to paragraph.

2. EVIDENCE/SUPPORTING DETAIL #1:

Purpose: To defend your topic sentence; to defend your argument.
How: Each piece of evidence used should have three parts = OREO

1) Introduction to evidence
2) Evidence itself (story, detail, quote, description).
3) Analysis of evidence – how it connects to topic sentence; to argument of paragraph; transition to next idea.

3. EVIDENCE/SUPPORTING DETAIL #2/#3:

Same as above: On average you should have TWO-THREE pieces of evidence per paragraph.

4. CONCLUSION:

Purpose: To close out the idea of the paragraph; to offer final analysis and significance; to set up for next paragraph.
How: State how evidence used defends your idea; state significance of your argument and your evidence; summarize paragraph; transition to next paragraph.


PARAGRAPH WRITING CHECKLIST


Topic Sentence:
o Do I present an argument?
o Do I give reasons for my argument?
o Do I target the question?


Evidence:
o Do I use quotes from the text?
o Do I introduce my quotations?
o Do I analyze my evidence?
o Do I include page numbers?


Organization/Transitions:
o Do I present my information in a logical manner?
o Do I transition between sentences smoothly?
o Do I use transitional phrases?


Style:
o Do I vary sentence structure?
o Do I write in a formal manner?
o Do I write in a style that fits the question?


Grammar/Mechanics:
o Did I get rid of spelling errors?
o Did I get rid of grammatical errors?
o Did I write in the correct tense?
o Did I erase personal pronouns?
o Do I write in an active voice?

Homework week of 5/18/09

Middle School Humanities And Language Arts Homework
Week of May 18, 2009

NOTE: THE DATES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTING HAVE BEEN CHANGED. TESTING WILL TAKE PLACE THE WEEK OF MAY 26TH.

History
6th/7th grade:
1. Complete writing the rough drafts of your history reports.
Due on Friday, May 22nd.

2. Submit a plan for your 3 dimensional history project (we’ll discuss it more in class).

8th grade
1. Final test on Religions unit attached. It is due on Wednesday, May 27th. You will have some time to work on it at school. It is an INDIVIDUAL assignment.

Language Arts
6th grade
1. History report writing--- the rest of your rough draft is due on Friday, May 22nd.
2. Wordly Wise unit 10 test in class on Thursday, May 21st.

7th grade
1. History report writing-----the rest of your rough draft is due on Friday, May 22nd.
We will work on it for 1 hour in language arts on Wednesday, May 20th.

2. Complete Shadow Spinner and the questions as previously assigned (the schedule is posted in the Humanities room).

3. Bring your Wordly Wise book to class on Friday.

8th grade
1. Write a final literary log letter in your literary log (minimum 1 page) to Elena. Due Friday, May 22nd.
Look back in your literary log. What changes in your writing about literature and reading do you notice from the beginning to today? Are there changes in your approach to literary analysis? What are they? What about the literary elements we have studied for the past several years? Do you have a deeper understanding of these elements? What’s the difference in writing to a teacher and to a peer? These are ideas to get you started. You may include more ideas as well. USE QUOTES AND EXAMPLES TO DEFEND YOUR STATEMENTS.

2. Eighth Grade Projects: Some of you need to turn in your rough drafts for final editing assistance. It is up to you to do this. If you are not sure if this applies to you, ASK Elena or Tammy. You can't do this the day before they're due----get them in this week.