7th Grade: Elements of Fiction Power Point

8th Grade AELA SAT Vocabulary Words

Use the following link to help you study for the upcoming SAT Vocabulary Tests:

http://quizlet.com/6113733/key-words-for-high-achievement-14-flash-cards/

HAVE FUN!!!

Flowers for Algernon Activity Day

Are You a Critical Thinker?: Questions and Responses

Part I:

1. There are 64 checkers players at a tournament. A player is eliminated when he or she loses a game. How many games must the champion play?

Response: 6 (64 players/2 players per game =32 players left/2= 16/2= 8/2= 4/2= 2, CHAMPION GAME)

2. The electricity goes out, and your bedroom is pitch dark. Yet you still need to find a matching pair of socks! In your drawer are 25 white socks and 25 red socks. How many socks must you take out of the drawer before you get a matching pair?

Response: three (think about it!)

3. If you have two U.S. coins totaling 55 cents and one of the coins is not a nickel, what are the two coins?

Response: a 50 cent piece and a nickel (one is a nickel --but one is not a nickel)

4. If three cats kill three rats in three minutes, how long will it take for 100 cats to kill 100 cats?

Response: three minutes (more cats and more rats don't equal more time)

5. A farmer had 17 chickens. All but 9 died. How many does the farmer have left?

Response: Nine (read the question again --and this time, pay attention!)

6. Is it legal in Canada for a man to marry his widow's sister?

Response: no (he's dead)

7. Change

8. Three men are walking in the rain with no umbrellas and no hats. Two get their hair wet and one doesn't. Why?

Response: the third man is bald

9. A girl went door-to-door selling eggs. At the first house, she sold half her eggs plus half an egg. At the second house, she sold half her eggs plus half an egg. At the third house, she sold half her eggs plus half an egg. After this she had no eggs left --she had sold all her eggs. How many did she start with?

Response: Seven (FIRST HOUSE: half of 7= 3.5 + .5 egg= 4 eggs sold. 3 remaining; SECOND HOUSE: half of 3= 1.5, +.5 eggs= 2 eggs sold, 1 remaining; THIRD HOUSE: half of 1= .5, +.5 egg= 1 egg sold, 0 remaining)

10. You have a 9-gallon container and a 4-gallon container. How can you measure out exactly 6-gallons of water from a tank without using any other container?

Response: Turn the 4-gallon container into a container that will measure out 3 gallons by filling it with one gallon of water. You can get one gallon of water by filling the 9-gallon container and emptying 4 gallons into the 4-gallon container. Now the 9-gallon in it (9 - 4 =5). Empty the 4-gallon container and fill it again from the 9-gallon container. Now the 9-gallon container has 1 gallon (5-4=1). Empty the 4-gallon container again and put the 1 gallon of water in it. Now it will take 3 gallons of water to fill the 4-gallon container. Fill the 9-gallon contianer and dump enough water from it to fill the 4-gallon container the rest of the way. Nine gallons minus 3 gallons leaves 6 gallons in the 9-gallon container!

Part II:

1. T or F: If penicillin cures an infection, then the lack of penicillin in the bloodstream must cause the infection

Response: False. You can't assume that the reverse of something is true. Although this works in some cases (sleep cures tiredness, lack of sleep causes tiredness), obviously we can't say things like, "Since aspirin relieves headaches, lack of aspirin must cause headaches."

2. T or F: Tim and Tom play the lottery. Tim picks numbers 9, 17, 22, 48, 6, 10. Tom picks numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 1 4. Tim has a better chance of winning than Tom.

Response: False. When choosing six numbers out of 40 chances for a lottery, any combination is as likely to come up as any other combination. Just because the numbers are in sequence doesn't decrease their likelihood of coming up.

3. T or F: Since nobody seems to be able to prove that Sana Claus does not exist, it's reasonable to assume that he likely doesn't exist.

Response: False. Disproving the existence of something is very difficult. But just because you can't disprove the existence of something doesn't mean its existence is therefore proven! Maybe this fact of logic is why our legal system says that person is innocent until proven guilty. When charged with a crime, you don't have to prove that you didn't do it. Rather, it must be proved that you did do it.

4. T or F: If statistics show that ice cream sales go up with the number of house infants spend fussing, this means that fussy infants cause people to go out and buy ice cream.

Response: False. Fussy babies and ice cream sales are both caused by 100 degree temperatures and uncomfortable weather conditions.

5. T or F: If a study shows that children who spend their preschool years in a day-care center are more likely to finish college than children who are cared for at home, we can assume that day-care centers educate children better than parents at

Response: False. This information actually tells us nothing -or, rather, we can't way what it does tell us. It may be that day-care facilities are teaching children more, or it may be that children in day care have two working parents who can afford to send them to college in later years. Too often, a little information is interpreted mean a lot more than it does!

Part III:

1. A penny doubled every day would give you, at the end of 30 days...$10,000,000. To be exact, you'd have $10,737,418.24! So who said pennies were worthless?

2. How many times will you need to shuffle a deck of cards to make sure the deck is mixed up?...6-8 times. If you shuffle only a couple of times, a magician who knows the original order of the deck will usually be able to find a card that you remove and replace. (Much of what looks like "magic" is just skillful entertainment).

3. Two people are picked at random from the population of the United States. What are the chances that Person One will know someone who knows someone who knows Person Two?...almost certain (99/100). The chances are almost certain.

4. Four people are meeting for the first time. Two of them have the same astrological sign. Two of them have the same astrological sign. How do you feel about this?...unimpressed (this is expected). At least two will have the same sign four times out of ten.

5. You want to buy a new computer. In January, it goes on sale for 40% off. But you still can't afford it. Then, in March, it's reduced by the 40% more! You go buy it, knowing you'll save this much off the original price...64%. First you save 40%, which leaves 60%. Then you save 40% of the remaining 60%, or 24%. 40%+24%= 64%.

If you missed reading "The Speckled Band", you may...

Re-watch "The Speckled Band" on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlwZ49ibQA

Or, listen to the Radio Broadcast of "The Speckled Band" at:

http://www.archive.org/details/SherlockHolmes1948-12-19TheSpeckledBand

7th Grade: Sherlock Holmes "The Speckled Band"

Flowers for Algernon: page 687 & 712 Responses

Monday, November 21, 2011 - Friday, November 25, 2011

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Complete and Review "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" questions

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: Complete "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Test

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Half Day of School (All hours meet)...Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: No School...Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Homework: No Homework

Friday: No School

Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA and AELA

Monday: Turn in "Flowers for Algernon" homework and Complete "Flowers for Algernon" Test

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: "Flowers for Algernon" Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Half Day of School (All hours meet)...Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: No School...Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Homework: No Homework

Friday: No School

Homework: No Homework

Monday, November 14, 2011 - Friday, November 18, 2011

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Turn in Mystery Comic Strip Project, Continue listening to Doyle's "The Adventures of the Speckled Band"

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Tuesday: D.O.L., Using complete sentences respond to the "Thinking About the Selection", "Analyzing Literature", and "Critical Thinking and Reading" Questions on page 45

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Wednesday: Half Day of School (Hours 1, 2, 3)...No Class Today with 4th Hour 7th Grade ELA

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Thursday: Half Day of School (Hours 4, 5, 6)...continue answering "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" questions

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Friday: D.O.L. and complete "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary

Homework: No homework

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: D.O.L., Collect re-submitted Science Fiction Comic Strips, finish answering page 687/712 "Flowers for Algernon" response questions, and begin correcting "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: D.O.L., continue correcting and discussing "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Half Day of School (Hours 1, 2, 3) D.O.L., finish correcting and discussing "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: Half Day of School (Hours 4, 5, 6) D.O.L., finish correcting and discussing "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Friday: Half Day of School (all hours today)...D.O.L. and Vocabulary Review Activity

Homework: No Homework

Flowers for Algernon page 712 Questions

Finish reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon" on page 200-222 in Brown Literature Book

Using complete sentences, complete the following questions that were found on page 712 in the Green Literature Book...

Respond and Think Critically:

1. In your own words, describe the most significant events in this part of the story. [Summarize]

2. As Charlie's intelligence increases, he begins to lose his ability to communicate with people. Why do you think this happens? [Interpret]

3. When Charlie goes back to Miss Kinnian's class, why does she start to cry and then run out of the room? [Infer]

4. Charlie describes his own pain as his intelligence decreases. Do you think the author is suggesting that Charlie would have been better off if he had never had the operation? Why or why not? [Analyze]

5. As the story ends, Charlie is planning to leave New York. What do you think will happen to Charlie? Explain your thoughts. [Synthesize]

6. BIG QUESTION: Think about what really matters to Charlie when he is a genius. Does this change as he loses his intelligence? Cite examples from the story. [Compare and Contrast]

Vocabulary Practice:

On a separate sheet of paper, write the vocabulary word the correctly completes each sentence. If none of the words fits the sentence, write "none".

a. Technique b. Cowered c. Petition d. Obscure e. Tangible

1. The window's dirt was thick enough to ___________ the view.

2. The boy's friends called him a ____________ because he wouldn't jump off the high-dive board.

3. The boxer's fighting ___________ made him unbeatable.

4. The Quiz Bowl champions gave the principal a __________ for a day off from school.

5. The brightly shining sun helped ____________ the tall mountains.

6. The fog was so thick it seemed quite ___________.

7. During the hurricane, the family ____________ in the basement.

Review: VOICE

2. Throughout the story, Charlie's writing changes. In what ways do the words Charlie writes reveal his increasing intelligence? Support your answer with details and information from the story.

3. In what ways do the words Charlie writes toward the end of the story reveal the loss of his intelligence? Support your answer with details and information from the story.

Flowers for Algernon page 687 Questions

Finish Reading Daniel Keyes' "Flower for Algernon" (page 200-222 in Brown Literature Book)

Using complete sentences, answer the following questions:

Page 687...

Respond and Think Critically Questions

1. Write a summary of the major events in the first part of "Flowers for Algernon." [Summarize]

2. Think about why the doctors have chosen Charlie for this experiment. Why do they have doubts about testing him? [Infer]

3. According to Charlie, why is he unable to interpret the inkblots and pictures? What do you think the real reasons are? [Interpret]

4. Charlie ends his April 14 Progress Report with the word Why. How does this word show that Charlie's thinking has changed? [Analyze]

5. Why is Charlie ashamed at the end of this part of the story? [Conclude]

6. BIG QUESTION: What is your opinion of the experiment? Explain your thoughts. [Evaluate]

Vocabulary Practice

On a separate sheet of paper, write the vocabulary word that correctly completes the sentence. If none of the words fits the sentence, write "none".

Word Options: a. subconscious b. conscious c.laboratory d.plateau

1. After a summer of activities, Huan's life finally reached a __________.

2. Alfonso read the story and thought it was very ______________.

3. I forget your name, but I'm sure it's somewhere in my ______________.

4. The scientist entered the _______________ to complete his experiment.

5. The long-forgotten memory appeared in my ________ mind.

6. In biology class, Tanya is studying _____________.

Review: Point of View

Remember that POINT OF VIEW is the relationship of the narrator to the story. In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as "I", who is telling the story. First-person point of view gives you excellent insight into the narrator's thoughts and feelings. In limited third-person point of view, the narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts of only one character. In a story with omniscient third-person point of view, the narrator can reveal events, thoughts, and actions of all the characters.

3. From what point of view is "Flowers for Algernon" written? Why do you think the author chose this point of view? Explain your answer with details from the story?

4. In what ways does Charlie's language show the effects of the operation on his mind?

Flowers for Algernon: Blue and Pink Questions with Responses

Blue Question #1 on page 698: What do Charlie's comments about Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss tell you about his intellectual growth?

Suggested Response: Charlie has become very critical of the doctors. He is surpassing them intellectually and no longer holds them in the awe that he once did.

Blue Question #2 on page 698: What does this comment tell you about the ways in which Charlie changed?

Suggested Response: Charlie is able to perform abstract thinking and no longer takes things at face value

Pink Question #1 on page 699: What could Charlie's struggle to communicate with Miss Kinnian foreshadow about the future of Charlie's relationships?

Suggested Response: Charlie will be just as alone as he was before the operation because no one will be able to relate to him on his intellectual level.

Blue Question #3 on page 701: Why does Charlie get so angry? Think about ways in which he might see his former self in the boy who dropped the dishes.

Suggested Response: Charlie is angry because he realizes he is laughing at someone who doesn't understand what's going on and can't defend himself. Charlie sees his past self in the boy and realizes he has been acting just like his "friends" in the factory. He takes it very personally because he is actually defending his old self.

Pink Question #2 on page 702: What might this incident foreshadow? Remember, the scientists performed the same operation on both Charlie and Algernon.

Suggested Response: The incident with Algernon could foreshadow that the operation's effect might not be permanent or that there might be bad side-effects.

Pink Question #3 on page 703: What do you think will happen to Charlie now that you know what has happened to Algernon? On what clues do you base your prediction?

Suggested Response: Charlie's intelligence will drop back to its original level. He will become violent and antisocial like Algernon. Algernon's behavior and the doctor's warnings might not be permanent are good clues.

Monday, November 7, 2011 - Friday, November 11, 2011

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Continue D.O.L. Quiz, Mystery Vocabulary Test, "Ten Little Indian" Quiz

Homework: Complete Mystery Comic Strip Project...extension until Fri. 11/11/11

Tuesday: Complete D.O.L. Quiz, Mystery Vocabulary Test, "Ten Little Indian" Quiz & Library Visit

Homework: Complete Mystery Comic Strip Project...extension until Fri. 11/11/11

Wednesday: D.O.L., Begin discussing and reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Speckled Band" on page 26

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: D.O.L., continue reading/listening to Doyle's "The Speckled Band"

Homework: No Homework

Friday: Junior Achievement Day

Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: D.O.L., continue to read and discuss Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: D.O.L., continue to read and discuss Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon" (stop at May 25, go back and answer the Blue and Pink questions starting at page 698)

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: D.O.L., Finish reading Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon", begin answering "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: Finish reading and begin response questions to Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"

Homework: Continue to complete "Flowers for Algernon" reading questions...due Mon. 11/14/11

Friday: Junior Achievement Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Monday, October 31, 2011 - Friday, November 4, 2011

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Half Day of School...Discuss missing and late assignments and Mystery Comic Strip Project Rough Drafts
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Mystery Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Tuesday: Begin discussing and viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Mystery Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Wednesday: Continue viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Myster Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Thursday: Finish viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and Reviewing Mystery Comic Strip Project
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Mystery Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Friday: Review Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians", Take "Ten Little Indians" Quiz, Mystery Vocabulary Test, and D.O.L. Quiz
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011


8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: 1/2 Day of School...discuss grades, turn in missing/late work, turn in Comic Strip Rough Drafts
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Tuesday: Begin discussing and reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Wednesday: Continue to discuss and read Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Thursday: Discuss missing work, visit library, continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Friday: Turn In missing/late work, continue to discuss and read Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011

Online Comic Strip Sites...

• comicmaster.org.uk


• bitstrips.com


• makebeliefscomix.com

These are some additional online comic strip generators that you may use with your parent/guardians' permission. Do not wait until the last minute to create an online comic strip. Comics are due Monday, November 7th, 2011. You will complete online comics on your own. So, provide yourself time to practice using each site in order to produce a quality final product. Be sure to save frequently. And, practice printing your color copy comic, sending it to Miss Brown’s e-mail… Amanda.Brown@kentwoodps.org, saving it to a jump-drive, etc…