70's Day Ape Style!

New Word Study!

New Word Study in regards to James Forten:

1. captives (n.)

2. dread (v.)

3. abolitionist (n.)

4. influential (adj.)

5. privateer (n.)

6. tacking (v.)

7. apprentice (n.)

8. conflict (n.)

9. enslavement (v.)

10. encouraged (v.)

Bonus: transcontinental

Test: Thurs. 1-26-12

Man Behind Morse Code

~We learned about the man who totally changed the way we communicate in America!

The First Transcontinental Railroad Overview

~What did the Apes learn about today in American History??

Caramelized Potatoes!

~Today we ate the same treat that Janina provided for Misha in Milkweed..... over ripened potatoes.  A potato seed planted in a dirt ball surrounded by wax paper, and left in the ground after harvest will caramelize and the starch will turn to sugar, and the potato skin will destarchify (new word) and turn into a substance that tastes similar to chocolate.  Even Alex's grandmother got to taste one.  They were delicious!  Mr. G removed the wax paper, cleaned off the dirt, and wrapped them in tin foil.  There was one potato that did not caramelize and the potato became petrified and turned into a granite like substance.  I wonder if we could try this hypothesis in Science?

CD got the petrified potato

Star Students for Friday the 13th!

~Congratulations to Joby and Trev!  They are this week's STAR Students!  They both did an awesome job on the Winter Benchmark test, and both give it all during Basketball Smackdown.  They are both always respectful and participate in class discussions!  These boys rock!

 Joe B, & Gibby from 71

 Trev & Goody from 73

Oh yeah... Apes rock!

Life in the Ghetto of Warsaw

~We are really really really enjoying Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli.  Our story started out lighthearted and funny, but it has really taken a turn for the worse.  Misha has met Janina and has made her his sister.  Uri is still looking out for the boys, Kuba, Enos, Ferdi, Henryk, Gray Jon, Misham and One Arm Olek....but he did not join them when they were forced into the ghetto.  We met Uncle Shepsel.....he is a hoot!  We also met Janusz Korczak.... a real life hero of the Holocaust.  Janina's mother seems to be giving up and Misha seems to be the glue that is keeping them together...and alive.  Will Misha and Janina get out?  Will they survive?  Stay tuned!

 another great book about Jaunusz Korczak

 reading on the new beanbag

 Which one of these boys reminds you the most of Misha?

 tubbin' it

 beautiful day to read outside

 Sit down Gunter!

 Hallway duty

 THIS is a STEIN!

 snuggling up for a good story while Mr. G listens in!

 Shay gets her first dose of Ape reading!

 finishing a Treasure Hunt outside!

Ms. Moore and Trev

AR Points

~Congratulations to Artiya, Dylan and Amaya for earning their 50 point punch on their AR Licenses..... and their 50 point prize!  The Apes are reading up a storm!  Mr. G is going to have to go get some more Diet Cokes!  Mad Crazy Congratulations to Abby, Spike, and Alex for earning their 150 prize, and their 2nd Degree License!

Wax Museum

~We began working on our Wax Museum Projects today in school.  This project will be done completely in school.  It was refreshing to see that ALL the Apes chose people that were a little less known than we thought.  We actually have three different people doing the three Bielski Brothers from Belarus.  They were three Jewish brothers that led a Resistance group against the Nazis... and they saved over a thousand Jews.  We also had many World War II Heroes, and many Civil Rights Movement heroes.  We had a few well know Jazz musicians from the thirties who helped define Jazz music.  We have some righteous heroes who helped to save many lives during the Holocaust.  Right now we are just doing the research part of the project.  the date for the Wax Museum is set for the 23rd of February!  More information about that special night will be coming soon.

STAR Students & Store

~Congratulations to Kevin and Abby!  they are this week's STAR Students.  They rock like ALL Apes do!

 Mrs. G, Goody, & Kevin

 Mr. G Abbadee, & Gibby

~Everyone finished their Writing Project for The Children We Remember.  Their writing was awesome.  You could tell by their in-depth responses that they really really knew about the Holocaust.  It was encouraging to see how many Apes could connect to the children displayed on the pages of the book.

~The APE STORE was open for business.  Apes who have been earning money and saving it... got a chance to spend some of it today!

Kiwi adds up her goodies

Odds / Ends

~Welcome BACK to Beauclerc Dawson!

 Dawson and Mrs. G

Angie won her gum ball machine after earning her 80 AR points!

The Children We Remember

We finished our rough drafts of our Responses to Literature today after reading The Children We Remember.  Some students even got to share their writing with the class and accept some feedback from the class.  This is an awesome picture book to show young readers about what happened to the Jews of Europe during the Holocaust

 Kristine, Jazz, and Alexis work on their writing.

Rakeel, Joe B., Alexis and Alex present their writing .

 Joe B. presents his writing

Romani & Sinti (Gypsies)

~We have finally started reading Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli.  Today we met our main character Stopthief.  He believes this is his name because that is all he has heard people call him.  He is taken into the care of a teenage orphan boy who is teaching him about life on the street for Polish children.  Most importantly he teaches him: steal only what you need, and DO NOT call attention to yourself.  Kuba, another homeless boy does not follow this rule as he steals s huge glass lamp of a  lady and runs down the street with it.  He gets caught... but he sure did make us laugh.

 Enrique

 Smiley Rhylee

reading Milkweed together

*********************************************************

The Gypsies of Europe (Roma, or Romani and Sinti people) were starved and killed more than any other group in the Holocaust, except for the Jews.  They were rounded up and isolated in ghettoes, then transported to killing centers such as Auschwitz and Treblinka.  The main character in our new novel is named Stopthief.  The other orphans boys, who are Jewish, inferred that he is a Gypsy die to his darker skin, and the yellow stone around hi neck.  Stopthief also remembers a few details of his life such as being around wagons.... and most Gypsies travelled by wagon.

 A Romani family

Gypsy women before execution

Last full day in Boston

~Last full day in Boston today...looking forward to the warm weather of Florida!  Went to visit my younger brother John... you have heard many of the stories involving John..... and went out to lunch with Ma and Pa Gibbons... my niece who is a freshmen at Montana State University joined us for the afternoon.  It was cold cold cold..... but the seafood was good good good!

 Pa, Annie and Ma Gibbons

Greetings from Boston