Mr. Zeddies' Class Newsletter

April 5 - April 12, 2010

Greetings in Christ!

Everyone likes to win - especially during "tournament time". But today we have a better win than any team could hope for. Yes, this is the time that we celebrate the VICTORY that Christ won FOR YOU AND ME by his rising from death and defeating Satan. Praise God in church, at school, at home, on vacation, and wherever you may be.

Last week was "project week". Since we ended the 3rd quarter a week ago but only had four days before a long Spring Break, I thought we would get some unit follow-up projects underway. Below is a breakdown of the projects and our status for the new week beginning on April 12th. 

Religion - Our class began the "Holy Week Special News Bulletins" in which each student was assigned an event from Holy Week, did some research into the event, and then wrote a script for a "Special News Bulletin" eyewitness account of the event and how it effected Jesus' followers then and how it effects us today. 

     We should begin video recording of the broadcasts by the end of the week. If there are any parents who could donate some time at the beginning of the day or end of the day on Thursday the 15th or Friday the 16th to do the actual recording that would be extremely helpful. If you would like to help please e-mail me or call me on the 12th. 

Math - The stock market project was wrapped up with the "winners" being Brendan McDonald and Carson Waites who both purchased Ford Motor Company stock back in December. Each student has now(hopefully) completed a brochure detailing their company and how its stock performed from the beginning of December to the beginning of March.

     Beginning the 12th we will spend no more than two weeks on math units so as to preview multiplication and division of fractions, ratios and percentages, geometry, and equation solving for 7th grade math.  There may be a small project accompanying each unit as well. The first project is "Brat Day" (which is actually a followup to the previous addition and subtraction of fraction unit) which will take place on Friday the 16th. For this project each student measures and samples one of four or five kinds of bratwurst and does some "number figuring" with the measurement of the lengths of the brats. (If they don't like brats, they get to measure, but not eat, strips of paper - not as much fun.)

     One thing: it would be helpful if students donated $1 to offset the cost of the brats (which I will cook on Thursday night and then warm up on Friday unless there is a parent who would like to "cook" them on Friday morning instead!).

The Math Challenge extension to this problem is to sample some different kinds of mustard with the brats (of course) and to figure "favorite" percentages of the brats and mustard varieties. If students are interested in tackling the math challenge option, they will need to bring some mustard in to school by Friday!  (Sorry, no previously opened mustard containers will be allowed, although opened mustard probably has a half-life longer than plastic milk containers and would more than likely be safe. 

If you have any questions, ideas, or would like to help, contact me!

English - The class wrote thank you letters to the Hartley staff and the Career Day speakers. When we get back we will begin a unit on adverbs and also begin the writing of a survival story.

Science - The science project which was begun last week and will conclude this week is the research, writing, and audio recording of a one minute "vote for" energy source commercial.  With this project, students get a somewhat more detailed view of an energy source instead of a thumbnail sketch of many. (Although they do get to listen and take notes on each of the other recordings.)

Notes: Please sign and return the 3rd quarter report cards by Friday.

* For the upcoming "Ghana Festival", I plan on decorating the room as an African night sky and then have each student tell an African folk tale around a campfire and "under the stars". For this project, I will probably need some parental help to paint some large black butcherblock paper with glow-in-the-dark dots of paint (to simulate stars) and a black light. If you could help out with this project, please let me know!!