Open Book Quiz, Mexico Map possible Homework

Today the classes did the open-book quiz on page 12; this was over Section 3.  The students were required to use a page number with their answer.  The point is to teach them how to use the textbook; I try to continue to point out that the questions move in a linear fashion from the beginning to the end of each section. If  quiz is HOMEWORK if it was not completed in class.  The quiz is graded for correct answers to the questions and correct page numbers.

A map of Mexico was also assigned and will be due on Thursday.  The students are asked to label and color major landforms on one map, and number and record the 31 states and the Federal District on another map.  They are to use their book to complete the assignments.

Tomorrow we will work on our flipbooks.

Thanks,
Cathy

Mexico Flipbook

The Mexico Flip book will be due Friday, May 4.  This will be graded as the test for Chapter 8 "Mexico".  We spent Wednesday and Thursday in the Computer Lab doing "research", but we will not have the opportunity to use the lab before the flip book is due.  If your child still needs to do research and does not have access to a computer at home, I will write a pass for GA on Tuesday, May 1 or Wednesday, May 2.  If your child completes the flip book prior to the due date, it is perfectly acceptable, in fact I encouraged, to turn in the project early.

On Tuesday, we will fold paper to create the book!  After that, facts can either be hand-written or typed, cut, and pasted into the booklet.

I have told the kids that this is a TEST, and I expect them to understand every fact they put in their booklet.  It is not an exercise in "Copy-Cut-Paste" from the Internet; even I know how to do that task!!  The goal if for them to expand their knowledge of Mexico by finding facts they find interesting, understand, and could explain to a classmate.

Some kids have asked about facts for the heading of Government/Economy.  Today we went over a few options, which are listed below.  Facts from the book are fine, but I would like the name of the current President of Mexico :-)

Government:
Who is the current leader? What is his "title"? (President, Prime Minister, Supreme Leader?)
Does Mexico have a congress? Parliament?
Do they have elections? How often?
What type of government does Mexico have?

Economy:
What is the per capita GDP? (Current info)
What is the exchange rate of peso/dollar?
What type of work is the main work: primary? secondary? tieratary/quantanary?
What do they import?
What do they export?

If your child still needs to do research if you put this in the Google search bar, you will get good sites!
Mexico facts for kids

Mexico Flipbook Research Started

Today we started research for Mexico Flipbook.  This project takes the place of a test over Chapter 8, so it is important that everyone take the assignment seriously.  This assignment will be due Friday, May 4.  We will have one more day of computer lab time prior to May 4, but if your child asks to do a little work at home, please allow them to "explore" Mexico. 

The requirements for this assignment can be found on the April 24 blog, in the documents section of my web-site, and kids can also access the requirements via the "Pick Up Drive"; so there are no excuses for not knowing the requirements :-)

We will be correcting page 10 of the booklet on Thurday, so make sure it is complete!

Mexico Market Day May 4

This note will be coming home with your child later this week, but I thought I would give you a "heads up"!  This is a fun day for the kids, so start looking for those items to trade or barter!

Mexican Market Trade and Barter Day

Who: 6^th grade students

What: Bring in items to trade and barter with their classmates. * Items must fit into one grocery bag.  Students should also bring in a colorful beach towel which will help to organize the merchandise.

When: Friday, May 4 2012

Where: Media center

Why: Markets are essential in Mexico. This activity gives students the opportunity to experience a market setting where they can trade and barter.

* Items to consider for trade: CD’s DVD’s, computer games, old toys, jewelry, crafts, if it’s handmade it probably is OK to trade. All items to trade should pass parental inspection and approval. Items not permitted: food, old clothing, lotions, makeup, body spray, candles, or anything flammable. Use good judgement

Mexico

Today the assignment was to read pages 198-201 in the textbook and do page 10 in the booklet (pages 13 & 14 in the Modified booklet).  We will correct this in class tomorrow, so if the work was not completed in class, it is HOMEWORK.

I also introduced the "Mexico Flipbook" which will be our next assessment tool. I am posting the requirements below; although we have not set a due date for the booklet, I'm guessing it will be next Thursday or Friday, May 3rd or 4th. I can't believe it will be May next week!

We will have time in the computer lab for research, beginning tomorrow.  Not everyone will be able to go at the same time as we are sharing the lab with Mr. Vandenberg.

Mexico “Flipbook” Assessment (Test)

Scoring Rubric

Label your book with the following Headings (spelling COUNTS!)

Climate/Wild Life/Vegetation           Government and Economy        History            Geography/Physical Features        Culture

You will need three (3) illustrations (hand drawings), three (3) pictures, or a combination of both, in your flipbook.

For each of the Headings, you will need to list five (5) facts.  You may use three (3) facts from your book, but at least two (2) facts must come from “research” you do in the Computer Lab.  If you want to do ALL your facts from your “research” that is perfectly acceptable. J  Your Headings may be in any order you choose. 

Consider including the following information for each Heading:

Climate:  types of climates and their locations, native plants, native animals

Geography/Physical Features: bodies of water and their locations, landforms and their locations, borders, Resources and their locations

Government and Economy:  Structure of Government, the type of work done by the people of Mexico, Wages, Maquiladoras

History:  Ancient Civilizations, Spanish Conquest

Culture: Food, Customs/Holidays, Dress, Sports, Music, dance

There is much more information that can be added to each Heading; these are just ideas.  As you do your research, you may find some aspect that is more interesting to you.

You will be graded thusly:

Title Page – 1 point

Heading Labels –1 point

3 Pictures/Illustrations – 3 points

Geography – Five Facts, 5 points

Climate- Five Facts, 5 points

Culture – Five Facts, 5 points

History – Five Facts, 5 points

Government and Economy – Five Facts, 5 points

Total = 30 points

No Homework Today

Today we corrected pages 3,4, and 5 from the "Mexico" booklet. 
There is no homework.

Disappointing Day

Today, I felt disappointed.  Several kids did not have their paragraph ready to turn in; others had not followed the directions and needed to re-write their paper.

We have been working on this assignment for three days; actually six if one includes the days used to take notes in class.  The paragraph was a very simple, basic assignment.  The students needed to write only 11 sentences about either the Inca, Aztec, or Maya.  In Sixth Grade, 11 sentences should be a walk in the park, especially at this time of the school year. 

All the information one needed to write the paper has been available via the blog since last Friday.  I demonstrated, in each class, how to access the information on the blog, so there should have been no question about the assignment requirements. 

Today we watched a movie about Mexico, and I passed out the new "booklet" that will be used as we read the chapter.  There is no homework.