February 12 - 16

Assignments listed here represent the "Plan" for the week.  Plans of course are subject to change as needed, so this should not be considered the last word on what will take place in class or will be assigned for homework.  When plans do change however, the changes will be reflected here (hopefully by the evening of the day in which they are known to exist).

This week we Conitnue Unit 3: Chasing The Impossible: Machines, Not People, Should Be Exploring the Stars for Now.

Ott Class Help Pass
clip and use for the week of 2/12

Students who need extra assistance or need to discuss their projects may clip this pass and use it to see me Tuesday - Thursday in the morning before school.

Extra Help is available this week.

Students may use this pass to get help with assigned work
or to discuss Book Projects and Presentations.

Students without passes may not be permitted
to enter the building before school.

All 7th Grade ELA Classes

Monday

  • Students will begin class with an overview of the week's direction and expectations.

  • Students will then consider their own knowledge about space exploration and consider whether we should be pursuing manned space exploration.  They will view two brief videos on the subject that express differing pionts of view and reflect on which one influened their perspective the most.  Responses to the videos will be discussed.

  • Students will then read "Machines, Not People, Should Be Exploring the Stars for Now" and finish the class with a collaborative discussion focusing on 7 Text Talk Questions.  Results will be shared and discussed.

  • WIN time will be committed the completion of weekly i-Ready objectives.

Homework:  Students should be reading 30 minutes every night.  This week students may elect to read from the research links on the space program from slide 4 of their interactive notebook as they will need to educate themselves on space exploration in preparation for Friday's Senate Budget Hearings.

Tuesday

  • Students will begin class with a review of the responses from yesterdays reading of "Machines, Not People, Should Be Exploring the Stars for Now"

  • Students will  then complete responses to the "Think" questions on their own.

  • WIN time will be committed to book clubs.

Homework:  Students should be reading 30 minutes every night.  This week students may elect to read from the research links on the space program from slide 4 of their interactive notebook as they will need to educate themselves on space exploration in preparation for Friday's Senate Budget Hearings.

Wednesday

  • Students will begin class with discussion of some of the "Think" questions they anwered the previous day.

  • We will then read a Blast titled "I Post, Therefore I Am.  Students will discuss and respond to the text answering several questions responding to the driving question for this text, "How has technology changed the art of argument."  Studens will respond with a 140 character Blast and respond to a quick poll on the subject.

  • Students will then be introduced to the Infographic assignment they will complete based on yesterday's reading and the responses to that reading they will read tomorrow.  Any additional time will be comitted to independent research on infographics to get ideas on how to organize their own.

  • WIN time will be committed to book clubs.

Homework:  Students should be reading 30 minutes every night.  This week students may elect to read from the research links on the space program from slide 4 of their interactive notebook as they will need to educate themselves on space exploration in preparation for Friday's Senate Budget Hearings.

Thursday

  • Students will begin class with a look at the sample infographic and the rubric that will be used to evaluate their work.

  • Students will then reread "Responses to Machines, Not People, Should Be Exploring the Stars for Now" to get some ideas on what side of the argument they wish to defend.  They will then continue independent research looking for credible facts to support their argument and work on the Infographic they will present at tomorrows Congressional Budget meeting where they will have to decide to eitheri fund manned space exploration or robotic space exploration.

  • WIN time will be committed to book clubs.

Homework:  Students should complete their infographic taking a stand on whether to fund manned space exploration or not in preparation for their presentation at tomorrow's Senate Budget Hearings.

Friday

  • Students will begin class reviewing their infographic to the shared site so they can be posted during today's congressional budget hearing.

  • Students will then debate the question of whether to fund manned space exploration or non-manned space exploration as part of the NASA budget.  Studens will use the facts presented on their Infographics to make their case.  The issue will be discussed and students will finally vote on the issue.  The future of space exploration is in their hands.

  • WIN time will be committed to book clubs.

Homework:  Students who have completed their work for the week have no additional homework.