M.A.R.E. and The Giver

Reading: 

We will be starting The Giver this week.  We will continue to discuss dystopian societies and what it is that they truly lack.  Occasionally students will need to bring home their books and their journals for HW.  I will provide them with a folder to hold these items.  Students are expected to keep these items in good condition -- the books are quite small and easily crushed, but they need to last.

Writing:

We will be starting our M.A.R.E. project this week.  This is a two part project that involves a brief research paper, and then a collaborative partner project.  Students will research a specific animal found in coral reefs.  Then, the partner project involves two students developing a creative children's story in which their two animals meet.  The story should have a moral about friendship/diversity/open mindedness etc. as well as teach children a little about the animals featured in the story.


I'm looking forward to starting both these activities with the students! 

Below are some sites students can use to look up and research particular coral reef animals.

http://www.greatbarrierreef.com.au/animals/fish/
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef/animals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbwwGUi4uyE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EueBzS3kPe8