Africa Test 4/20

For the map portion of the test, these are the potential tested items:

Cities: Cape Town, Khartoum, Mogadishu
Bodies of Water: Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Mozambique Channel, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Victoria, Nile River, Congo River, Niger River
Countries: Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

African Art

Log into Encyclopedia Britannica on the library resources web page.   Search for “Africa”         (then go to) “People and Culture”         “Art and Literature” section.

Copy down the first sentence of the section, “Art and Literature”. _______________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

What is the main idea or central idea of this section?__________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

READ the rest of the section.

What are craft or cottage industries? ______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Write down as many different forms of art as you can find in this section.  One example is done for you.

Textiles,

We looked briefly at the epics of Gilgamesh and Beowulf.  What epic poem is mentioned in this section?

____________________________________________  We will watch a summary version of this epic together.  Put your notes about it here:

We read an African myth called “King’s Crown” told by the Yoruba people an ethnic group found today in and around parts of Nigeria. They are known for making intricate royal crowns.  Check out these examples:

1)   http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310177

2)http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=621616&partId=1

Read the Curator’s Comments at the second site and tell who would wear this crown and what purpose the crown serve. _____________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

For many African tribes, masks and crowns are both _________________ and

_____________________ items. 

Beading is often used in African artwork.  The bead may be made from clay, wood, bone, shell, and as time went on glass and metal.  People used whatever resources they had available.  In recent years, Africans have melted down used bullet casings to create beads for art projects. What cultural value does this reflect?_______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Tinga Tinga Art is a style of painting named after its creator from Tanzania.  According to Daniel Augusta, “Tinga Tinga shows us how to see the world with our inner child. Funny, happy, and colorful.”  Search Tinga Tinga Art in Google Images and check out some of the paintings. Notice the bright colors, repetitive patterns of dots, and animal subjects.

You will create a piece of artwork inspired by African Art.  This gives you a diverse range of objects, styles and formats to choose from. Like the African artists, you may create a practical object made beautiful or create a piece just for its beauty.  You may creatively re-use materials or use materials specifically for your artwork.  Look back over this sheet for types of artwork and inspiration.  The requirements are below.  If it is NOT specifically discussed below, then it is likely okay!

Your piece of art MUST:

·         Be small enough to comfortably and safely be displayed on a school desk

·         Qualify as visual art

·         Be original

·         Contain only school appropriate images

·         Demonstrate inspiration from/connection to something from our Africa studies

Your piece of art May:

·         Be a Tinga Tinga painting or any other art item we viewed/read about

·         Be something different from the art we viewed/read about

Artwork Evaluation

_______ (30) Piece is complete, original and follows all requirements

________(5) Artist has attached their first and last name in some way to the piece.

________(25) Piece reflects inspiration from some aspect of Africa or African art.

________(40) Artist EXPLAINS their inspiration and process clearly and completely in a written statement turned in with their piece of art.

Major Dates 4th Nine Weeks - See MAY Post!

This is where I will keep a running - and periodically updated - list of important dates for the LAST nine weeks of 6th grade!  Wow, it's going fast!

Friday, 3/31 - A Long Walk to Water quiz
Wednesday, 4/5 - Classical Revamp Part One due BOC
Tuesday, 4/11 Wednesday, 4/20- Africa Test
Thursday, 4/13 - Grammar Quiz
Friday, 4/14 - No School
Tuesday, 5/2 - Persuasion Quiz
Wednesday, 5/3 - Final Copy of Persuasive Letter due BOC
Early May - Asia Test
Mid- May - Travel Project
Monday and Tuesday, 5/ 8 and 9 - STAAR testing for 6th grade
Friday, 5/26 - Wednesday, 6/1 - Final Exams



Membean Quiz Dates for the 4th Nine Weeks: 3/27, 4/24, 5/22.  (I'm looking for 270 minutes of Membean practice between 3/20 and midnight 5/22;  Do you have your minutes?)

I will continue to update/firm up dates as we go. 

Grammar Workbook March 24 - April 6

This is an ongoing list of the work we are doing in March and April in the Grammar Workbook.  You are responsible for any work you missed while absent.

Page 34: Everything (as of 3/27)
Page 21: Exercise 1, all;  Exercise 2, all (as of 3/31)
Page 23: Exercise 1, 1-4; Exercise 2, all (as of 3/31)
Page 25: Exercise 1, 1-5; Exercise 2, pick your favorite 5 (as of 3/31)
Page 26: Writing Application, all

Homework for 4/3 due on 4/4:
Page 27: Exercise 1, 1-5; Exercise 2, 1-5
Page 29: Carefully read the information at the top
Page 30: Exercise 1, all
Page 31: Exercise 1, all

Page 29: Exercise 1, 1-5; Exercise 2, 1-5

Page 30: Writing Application, 1-5 – CIRCLE the adverb(s) in each sentence.

Page 31: Exercise 2, 1-3  

Page 35: Exercise 1, 1-5; Exercise 2, 1-3

Page 63: Exercise 1, 1-5; Exercise 2, 1-3

Page 69: Everything

Page 115:  Exercise 1, 1-5; Exercise 2, 1-5

Classics REVAMP List

Any book in one of the series is also fine.  If there is something else you want to read, check with me for approval.

Anything by Rick Riordan ! ^

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marrisa Meyer + ! ^

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine *

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman ^

Just Ella  by Margaret Haddix ^

Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School)  by Jen Calonita +

Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer + ! !

Red Rider’s Hood (Dark Fusion Series #2) by Neil Schusterman *

A Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy +

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz *

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (or Jack or Red) by Liesl Shurtliff *

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer +

Breadcrumbs   by Anne Ursu and Erin McGuire

Cronus Chronicles by Anne Ursu +

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by L Kessler + (in second book ^)

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey + ! !

Loki’s Wolves by  K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr  +

Middle World (The Jaguar Stones Series) by J and P Voelkel +

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs ^ +

Book of the Dead (TombQuest, Book 1) by  Michael Northrop +

Valkyrie by Kate O’Hearn (probably will be +)

+  first in a series

*part of a set of related books that don’t necessarily need to be read in order

! violent

^ smoochies alert

Classics REVAMP Information

Below is a copy (that lost all the formatting) of the outside reading assignment I will give the kids when we return from Spring Break.  It is IN NO WAY to be done over Spring Break.  I didn't even mention it to them on purpose.  However, some of you may have extra reading time and/or want to start looking for copies of a book.  We have library day the Monday we get back, and I have copies of lots of these books.  This is really just a PSA in case someone is bored or planning ahead.  😄

Classics REVAMP Reading Assignment – Due no later than April 5

In the fall you selected and read a classic novel independently.  This semester you will reading a book based in some part on a classical and traditional story – such as a myth or fairy tale.  I have put a list on my blog, but you are not bound to that list.  If it is not on the list, though, you must have approval.  

I have also REVAMPed the assignment.  Part One will be due BOC, Wednesday, April 5.  Part Two will be given to you in class on that day.  Together, they will be a major grade.  You will be able to use Part One and the book to help you complete Part Two.  You may type or handwrite Part One, but I will need paper copies brought to class on the day the assignment is due.

As ALWAYS: Read EVERYTHING; FOLLOW directions.

Reminder:  A QUOTE is taken word for word from a text – it might be dialogue or it might be narration.  A quote taken from a book does not have to have been inside quotation marks in the original book.

EX:  “Nor will he give up digging about in my past” (68).                                

EX:  “ ‘You’re such a lucky lad to know all this…’ “ (68).                                  

A:  Read a copy of the original myth, legend, tale, etc. that this story has REVAMPed. (You won’t do anything with this until Part Two.)

B:  You have two options for the first part of B.  Either create a picture of the protagonist of the story that show details of their physical appearance from the book (not the cover, the book)  OR  Fill a circle in the middle of the page with all the descriptive words and phrases from the book to describe the protagonist. 

This second part is the same regardless of your choice for the first part. Write 3 quotes that show a CHARACTER/PERSONALITY TRAIT that the character has.  Be sure to put the quote in quotation marks, with the page number in parenthesis.  Also, write the trait ABOVE the quote. 

C:  Write a statement of theme.  Remember, this is a truth about life that the author wants to convey.  The theme must be supported with at least two quotes from the book.

D:  Copy down and identify TWO examples of literary devices (for example: metaphor, simile, imagery, allusion, irony, personification, hyperbole). Then explain how the author uses the literary device you identified. In other words, what is the author’s purpose in using that device?

Sentence Frame you may use:    

________________ used this ____________________ in order to make the reader ______________________________

           (author)                                   (literary device)                                                (think, feel, understand, believe, guess, etc.)

EX: “In spite of the destruction, it was a beautiful sight.  I did not imagine a fire could burn so fast or so hungrily as the fires the natives have set today” (220). Karen Hess used this personification of the fire in order to make the reader understand how quickly the fire burned and how large an area it covered.  The crew felt scared, as if the fire were trying to devour their camp, yet also found it strangely attractive in its danger.

E.  Write a brief review of the book.  Do NOT give away the end or any major surprises!  What did you like about the story?  What didn’t you like?  Who might you recommend this book to?  I am going to hang these up as book referrals, so put this on its own piece of paper.  Remember, NO SPOILERS!

EX: If you like humor and a little bit of blood and guts, then A Tale Dark and Grimm is for you! Gidwitz keeps the harsh reality of the Brothers Grimm’s tales while creating a new, original story full of laughs and stressful moments. The narrator is as much character as story teller.  Fans of fairy tales will enjoy identifying familiar faces.  My one caution is that while there are many tales in this book, not every story has a happy ending.

Part One Rubric

______ (5) This rubric, with your name written above and to the LEFT of the word rubric, is turned in with Part One. The title (underlined) and author of the book are written above and to the RIGHT of the word rubric.

______ (20) Part B – Drawing matches the book’s physical description of the protagonist as far as is available in the book.  Character traits are not emotions and are supported by evidence from the book. Quotes are in the proper format.

______ (15) Part C – The theme matches the book and is supported by evidence from the book. Quotes are in the proper format.

______ (20) Part D – Literary devices are correctly identified. Author’s purpose is a reasonable analysis the device’s purpose in the book. Quotes are in the proper format.

______ (10) Part E – Review includes specifics of what you liked and disliked and a specific audience for the book.  Direct quotes are not required, but if included, must be in the proper format.

Bio Book IAR Work 3/2-7

"Matthew Henson" pages 276- 287
Read EVERYTHING.
Do: B, C, D, E, F, H, Chart Only 287.

from "Over the Top of the World" pages 290-295.
Read EVERYTHING.
Do: B, C, D.

We will grade these Monday 3/6 in class.