Happy New Year!

Mrs. Earl wishes all of her students and their families a wonderful 2015!

Reviewing the Freedoms Guaranteed in the Bill of Rights

Exploring the Bill of Rights

Review the text of each amendment at the following link:

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html



Review the history of the creation of the Bill of Rights in the video below:

A Brief Introduction to the United States Constitution

Take a look at why we needed our independence from Great Britain and a document that protected our freedoms. Crash Course on the US Constitution

Snow Day!

Enjoy your day off and stay warm!

Some Fun Idiom Practice

Idioms are expressions that are known for their figurative rather than literal meanings.  Play some of the games that are linked below in order to practice your skills at uncovering the meanings of common idioms.

Idioms Game

Paint by Idioms

Idiom Battleship

Slang Game

Practice Figurative Langauge

Review your figurative language with the activities below:

Reviewing Figurative Language that Appeals to the Reader's Ears - Alliteration

What makes these clips examples of alliteration?

Reviewing Figurative Language that Appeals to the Ears - Onomatopoeia

Take a look at the examples of onomatopoeia found in the video below:

Hyperbole in Popular Movies

Can you spot the examples of hyperbole in each of the video clips?

Transferring Similes to Metaphors

Similes are comparisons of two unlike things that use like or as.  Metaphors are also comparisons of two unlike things, but do not use like or as.  Creating metaphors is simple if you first create a simile.  Follow the steps below:

1.  First create the comparison.
     EXAMPLE - eyes, the sun

2.  Write a simile.
     EXAMPLE - Her eyes are bright like the sun.

3.  Take out the like or as.
     EXAMPLE - Her eyes are bright the sun.

4,  Read and adjust the sentence as needed.
     EXAMPLE - Her eyes are the bright sun.

Reviewing Similes and Metaphors

The Need for Similes

Reviewing Similes in Popular Music

Review the use of similes by taking a look at how they are used in popular music.

Introduction to Figurative Language

Welcome Back Picnic

Please join us at the HW Smith Back to School Barbecue!  It will be held on Thursday, September 4th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at HW Smith.  Hope to see you there!

Hello, incoming seventh graders!

Hello, seventh graders, and welcome to a brand new year!  The entire seventh grade team of teachers is excited to begin working with you.  Listed below are the supplies that you will need for your seventh grade year.

Summer Reading Assignment

All sixth graders received the Summer Reading Assignment that needed to be completed over summer break.  Copies of the assignment description and questions are below.  The texts of the stories are in another blog post.  Please remember that if you need assistance, contact Mrs. Earl.

Summer Reading Assignment - The Texts

Eighth Grade Video

We love all of you and can't wait to see where your future takes you.  Never forget your time with us at HW Smith!

Examples of Two-Voice Poem Performances

Take a look at a few examples of how two-voice poems are performed:

Examples of Two-Voice Poems

ELA Final Project - Holocaust Two-Voice Poem

The Words of Elie Wiesel

After finishing Night, listen to the lessons that the author believes all people can learn from the tragedy of the Holocaust:

More About Maus

After reading Maus in Social Studies class, learn more about Art Spiegelman and his family's story at the clip below:

Last Eighth Grade Extra Credit Opportunity

8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony

SUNY ESF Science Fair

Congratulations to all the 8th graders that participated in the 2014 SUNY ESF Science Fair.  Regardless of which ribbon you brought home, you all did an amazing job!

Extra Credit Opportunity

Over Memorial Day weekend, the History Channel will be airing The World Wars.  See the trailer below:



To earn ten points extra credit, choose one of the figures showcased:
 - Churchill 
- Patton 
- Roosevelt 
- Stalin 
- Hitler
and then write five facts about the figure during World War I and then five figures about the SAME figure during World War II. In a sentence or two, please explain how the figure changed from world war to the next.

To learn more about this special television event and when it will be aired, please follow the link below:

The World Wars on the History Channel

Life in Auschwitz

Learn more about life in Auschwitz by watching the video below.  Please note that the video is just the first in a series of five.  The second to the fifth videos can be found at the end of the video below.

Blog Question Homework - Connecting to Elie's Experience (DUE FRIDAY, MAY 30)

Please answer the following question in complete sentences using text-based details from Night to support your analysis.  Be sure to write your name with your post to get credit.  All blog questions MUST be answered by Friday, May 30th, 2014 at midnight.

Question - Think about what Elie is experiencing during the section of the book we are reading this week in ELA class.  How would you feel if you were in his position?  What actions does he take that you agree with?  Which things might you have done differently?  What do you think is likely to happen next? Justify your answers with text-based details and clear elaboration.

If you need to review how to post a response, please watch the helpful video below.
   

Learning More About the Notorious Dr. Mengele

Learn more about the Angel of Death by watching the video below.  Please note that this video is just the first of six.  The second to sixth videos can be found at the end of the video located below.

Upcoming Events

Eighth graders have a busy week ahead! 

On Monday, about forty eighth graders will be competing in the Syracuse City School District Science Fair.

On Tuesday, all eighth graders will be visiting Nottingham High School in preparation for ninth grade.

On Wednesday and Thursday, students will be taking the performance section of the NYS Science Assessment.

One Survivor Remembers | Teaching Tolerance

One Survivor Remembers | Teaching Tolerance
Rewatch the moving documentary video from Friday's class.

Out of Class Reading Assignments

Three Out of Class Reading assignments will be due mid-June.  Students are reminded to work on this ongoing assignment.  After reading a book of their choice, students need to complete one of the summary activities listed below.

Students are required to read three books and create three summary activities.  If students have additional ideas on how to demonstrate their knowledge of a book, he or she can discuss it with Mrs. Earl.  Students should NOT submit a simple summary of the book.  Simple written summaries will NOT count as summary activities. 

Who is Adolf Hitler

Learn More About the Holocaust

Students can learn more about the Holocaust by checking out the following websites:

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The History Channel

Yad Vashem

Countdown to NYS ELA

A Great Reminder!

Poetry Analysis

Students can use the roadmapping directions below to help them break down poems on the NYS ELA and any time they read poetry.

Middle School Authors and Mentors

The eighth grade AVID students researched non-fiction topics, created children's book based on those topics, and then shared them with the students in Mrs. Saether's class.  It was a great opportunity for learning, collaboration, and mentoring.