Welcome to our 6th grade blog. It is exciting to take part in many global adventures and challenges and we hope you will connect and share with us during this journey. We will be learning about places, religions and people around the world (the past and the present) and would love to know what you are studying. We love to communicate with students from all different places and look forward to hearing from you.
You will find links to our individual blog posts on our side bar and on the menu bar at the top of the page.
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We are Quadblogging this month with three other schools ….
1. Sharp Creek Elementary, Wabash, Indiana – 5th grade – Reading Group 2
2. Prince Of Peace Christian School, Carollton, Texas – 4th grade – Mrs Peterson’s Class
3. Williamsburg, Elementary, Geneva, Illinois – 5th grade – Mrs Frison’s Class
It is our turn this week to post on our blog and the three other schools will comment on our posts. 6th grade voted to choose the topic for this week’s assignment and “Passions” won. Here is the link to all our passion posts, but you will also find them under our names on the right side bar or under the Quadblogging category
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Check out our new stories – Personal Narratives – A snapshot of a memory in our lives…
We began by bringing in an object from home that triggered a specific memory we had from our past. We worked with a partner to talk through our memories and decide what part we would write about. We worked on two graphic organizers to clarify our thoughts and ideas and outline our stories. Then we began our first draft.
Criteria for personal narratives:
1. Engages the reader
2. Organizes events to unfold naturally
3. Develops characters and details
4. Great transitions and sentence variety
5. Closes with a reflection
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Update on the Edublog 2015 Nominations…
We placed 4th in the group blog category #eddie15. Thank you to all of our voters for voting for us and thanks to all the students before us who built up this blog.
We have been nominated for two Edublog Awards! There are eleven different categories and we are nominated in two groups, ‘Best Group Blog’ and ‘Best Class Blog’.
Thank you to everybody who nominated us! Please vote if you like our blog! You can vote once per day from the same IP address until December 16th Vote for us here!
Our Blogging Challenge Posts – Check them out! This is the last week of the Blogging Challenge and we are reflecting on what we have accomplished. We wrote posts about us, families, Halloween, different foods and nature. We have written many comments and also received many. Thank you to everyone we have connected with. Blogging challenges are fun and we nominated blogs for the Edublogs Awards this week.
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Do you celebrate any special holidays during the winter months? Let us know what your family celebrates.
Here is a link to what we celebrate
Menorah by John Pic from Flikr
Advent Wreath by Tiexana from Flikr
Crescent Moon and Star from SPTim
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Not Perfect Hat Club By Jena Ball – Written By Isaac And Justin 12/8/15
The Not Perfect Hat Club By Jenna Ball is a book about a dog named Sir Isaac Newton that thinks all dogs have to be perfect, even though they don’t! Newton is not perfect and his owner brings him to a shelter because he wasn’t perfect enough for the dog show. He brought him to the shelter and Newton called it “catastrophe”. He started to recognize the sad voices of the pound. A man named Carl adopted Newton and another dog named Midge. He has many imperfections that he’s not happy with, but he learns (spoiler alert) that it’s okay not to be perfect. This book teaches children that no one can be perfect.
6th graders are working with our 2nd grade buddies on reading this book together and other activities. We video chatted with the author Jena Ball who is very funny and read us chapters. We also video chatted with two other schools, the author and Marty Keltz. We video chatted with more people than we had ever done with before – North Carolina, Canada, Upstate New York, Greece and us. Jenna taught us how to draw a dog, and she told us that it’s okay for the dog not to be perfect. It is important for kids to know that they aren’t perfect because if they try to be perfect, they will never succeed. The 6th graders and 2nd graders have a ton of fun together!
Comments
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Scary Stories – Written By 6-1 Click on this link
We are excited to show our work through our scary stories. Slightly prior to Halloween, we wrote scary stories and submitted them to the Poughkeepsie Journal in a competition against different schools all over! Here’s how we wrote them:
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We wrote our drafts. We wrote one paragraph at a time.
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We had to make them less than 300 words. That was a new aspect of writing for us, as it meant that we had to make each word count.
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We checked our stories over with some partners for clarity, spelling, etc
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We made sure we had a few peer edits.
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We submitted our stories to the Poughkeepsie Journal!
Every year we write scary stories. It is difficult to win because we have to compete with 6th, 7th, and 8th grades!
Our stories will send a chill down your spine. We hope you will enjoy them!
News Update…
We have some recognized writers in 6th grade! Zach in 6th grade was chosen as the runner up and Zoe and Elizabeth were given honorable mentions. Congratulations! Click on their names to read their amazing stories
Comments
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Buddy Time
The First Few Weeks Of School
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Middle School – Written by 6-2
Our PDS Middle School Environment is very different than other schools. We have a wonderful learning space called the learning commons. In the commons we have comfortable work spaces. We also have many fantastic classes including one that some people probably haven’t heard of. It’s called Humanities and it is a mix of English, Social Studies and History.
Middle schoolers also get the chance to use online academics and we call our teachers by their first names. We can organize our own dances and put on plays and perform for our families. We have a great arts program, and this year we just got a new music program in the middle school. PDS is always trying to create a better environment for their students, faculty and parents.
The lunches at our school are different than others. They have the option of a side salad or fruit bowl which most schools don’t have. We also have different things that most schools don’t have including dumplings for Chinese festivals and a salad bar for people who like to customize their salad. Over time every chef we’ve had has been different. One year snacks used to be brought to your classroom. They could be sweets or even healthy food like vegetables and fruit, but now we don’t have that. We have Pizza day and an occasional Taco Tuesday. I hope in the future we get more healthy foods!
The PDS athletic program offers many choices to encourage our students to be involved in multiple sports. All middle school students are eligible to join the basketball and soccer teams, they are also able to join the high school cross country teams. Girls in 7th and 8th can join the varsity softball team, and 8th grade boys and girls can sign up for the varsity Ultimate Frisbee team. Our sports program is off to a great start as our soccer players build momentum toward their first game of the year!
Even though most of the middle school has not gone on any field trips yet, we all know what to expect. The 8th graders are going to have a wonderful time in NYC. They will be seeing the Broadway show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Another field trip that happens every year in the middle school is Nature’s Classroom. Please note that this is being written by a group of 6th graders who have not yet gone of this field trip. So we will explain the best we can! Nature’s classroom is a time when the whole Middle school goes to stay for a week in Massachusetts, learning and having lots of fun! We will have more on field trips for you once we go on one!
At PDS our Music program encourages everyone to play a wide range of instruments. We have teachers for wind instruments to strings percussion brass and vocals!. This year we were given the option of being in a chorus or in an ensemble. Both are great but if you don’t play an instrument there’s always the great choice of learning a new instrument. In chorus you work with our vocals and piano instructor, Brielle Grover on an expanse of different songs, all to improve your vocal range or just to have fun. In ensemble you will get to work with our bass instructor Damon Banks but he is a great instructor at everything. There are different sections for every instrument. Piano, Guitar(acoustic or electric), Percussion and vocals. We can’t wait to do our first performance for Chorus and Ensemble!
The middle school at PDS uses computers and technology for most of their work. The school provides each student with an e-mail account, that way students and teachers can communicate in an easy way. On the first day of school every middle schooler has to sign a tech agreement, to agree to use technology in a responsible manner. Every day students are required to bring their laptop into school with a protective sleeve. We use our laptops every day in almost every class. We use them for classwork, homework, and more.
6th Grade – Written by 6-2
The difference between Lower School and Middle School is really big, so here is a little about it. In Lower School we had classes in the same room, now we change rooms basically every class. In middle school we have break time so we either eat a snack, go outside or go on our computers. In lower School we had recess and snack time. Now in 6th grade we have to remember what classes we have at what time, and not be late. It is sooo different in 6th grade.
We also have tons of more responsibilities in 6th grade, like going to the bus by ourselves. W have to be careful when we do that so we don’t miss the bus. Going to classes is a lot harder because we don’t have teachers to tell us where to go and we have to look at our schedules and navigate the day by ourselves. We have to pick some of the classes we take, which is always a hard decision for those who don’t know what they want.
In Math, we are learning about ratios. Ratios are things that let you explain the difference between two numbers (example: There are 5 boys at a party and 4 girls, the ratio for that would be 5:4 or 5 to 4). Equivalent ratios are Ratios that mean the same thing but they have different numbers. How you get an equivalent ratio is you multiply both number by 2, 3, 4, 5, etc? (example: 5:4 x2 = 10:8 – so 10:8 is equivalent to 5:4).
In Science lately we have been doing some labs. Right now we are finishing our Lifesaver Lab. The Lifesaver Lab is a lab where we are putting different colored Lifesaver in water to see which color goes quicker. Our results vary a little bit but orange seems to be the slowest.
In Spanish we have been learning about the days of the week. Also we have been doing stories where the teachers narrates and asks questions and we answer the questions in Spanish using the clues on the board.
We did a few polls to see what the 6th grade likes the most. Our first poll was what do you like better, Middle School or Lower School? The answer was that the 6th grade likes Middle School better. Our Second poll was what is your favorite class, Science, Spanish, Humanities or Math? The answer was that the 6th grade likes Science the most.
Humanities is a mix of a different subjects, and this year we are learning about medieval times. We learn about times from a long time ago and how they did things. We did some summer reading about a medieval times book called Crispin the Cross of Lead by Avi. It was interesting to see how much the world has changed since then and now. In Humanities we do lots of activities that have our group work together. One time we had to write what we thought Humanities was going to be like this year. Shirley is our Humanities teacher and she puts us in groups for a lot of different things. For example, we have things like editing which we do in pairs. We also do lots of other things in groups. We are reading two books right now. One is The Story of the World and the other is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Humanities is a very fun and exciting class!!!
my name is Javier i really like this blog and
i am really looking forward to quad blogging
with your school.
hi I’m Chelsea from St Leonards school and our class will be quadblogging with you.
I really like your blog and the way you make your videos!! The music for the background is catchy. We might make some videos for our blog soon.
I really like this blog and its really useful and i like your songs!!!!!
please visit our bloghttp://stlens.wordpress.com/
Hi i’m Billy from St Leonard’s school. I’m really looking forward to quadblogging with your school!
Hello I’m Chloe from St Leonard’s and I’m going to be quadblogging with your school. I’m really looking forward to it. I like your videos and I’ve read some of the stories you’ve written and I think they’re brilliant!
Rykiya say: Hi, i’m Rykiya. I’m going to be quadblogging with your school. I really love your videos. The songs are really catchy, but the videos are amazing. We might be making some videos and putting them on our blog soon.
Naomi says:
Hello, my name is Naomi. I’m from the school St Leonard’s.
I am going to be quadblogging with your school and 2 others. I am really looking forward to it!! I love your video’s and I never knew schools in different countries could be so different!
Take a look at our blog and leave some comments please. We would love to hear your feedback!
Theo says:Come and check out St.Leonards blog.Your blog is amazing the videos and all the stuff you have its amazing.The school must be MASSIVE!!! and very interesting.One question? is blogging your favourite subject at school.
Hi i’m harmonie every thing is so cool on you’re blog i wish we could have cool videos on our blog.
Hi im Rochelle from st.leonards primary schoool come and see our year 6 blog. Thank you for all the lovely comments .Your school is amazing and its verry intersting.
Hey,i’m Baylee I thought your blogging page is cool but
you have to come and check out our blog it’s even cooler,we
have skateboarding games , rollercoaster designing and everything
anyway.BYE!!!
very nice indeed!!!!
you have some good videos. which i watched and it was something which makes people put comments on here.
Hi I think your blog is really cool and it stands out a lot. I am from Hyrstmount Junior School. I also liked reading the scary stories.
I wish we could upload videos on our blog.
From Faheemah
hi, I’m Kulthoom from hyrstmount junior school and I think your blogging page is really cool. I really like your storys. I think they’re great.
Nice job with your blog! Luv it!
Visit ours: grade6B.edublogs.org
We update ALMOST (not always) everyday!
Kesler did good but we beat you in the 2010 olymics!!! I can’t wait for the 2014 olympics!! http://canucks.nhl.com/
Nice article,
Thanks for post on my blog, hope to see you soon
Bye !
Clara
Hello everyone,
My name is Mrs Mary-Jane Demaio and I teach a Year 5 class of 23 students in an outer suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. We have a blog page called Fantastic Grade5F and we would love you to visit our blog and make some comments. We are keen to get to know about you and for you to get to know about us and Australian kids. We commented about people who make or have made a difference on The Blog Action Day and I have just looked at your blog. Have a good day,
Kindest regards,
Mrs Demaio
Dear Shirley’s sixth grade,
I would love to be in New York. I would like to go and see a basketball game. I follow the LA Lakers. Do you ever go to the basketball?
Here is my blog: http://sosports.global2.vic.edu.au/
from Lachie
Dear Shirleys Grade 6 class,
I enjoy your blog alot. I like the Halloween background.
Come comment on our blog. Our website is: http://4gps.global2.vic.edu.au.
Hi everyone I’m Jerin and I’m from St Patricks Sheffield. I am a Y6 student and I really like the blog. I go on it nearly everyday to talk to my friends and to keep in touch. I hope everyone is ok there. Bye!! 🙂 😉
HI i am Lara
I am from St Patricks Cathlic Primary School i am so excited to be quad bloging with you i sometimes go on our blog to talk to my friends and do the 100 word challenge you should vist our site http://www.y6stpatrickssheffield.wordpress.com
Hi I am a puple at St.Patricks school, I think your vidoes are realy cool and the drawings were to.
Hi I am from St.Patricks and I loved the video of Beowulf and Grendel. those drawing were very insparational and neat.
Hi I am Jack and i am from St patricks Sheffield and I love the blog because I can interact with my friends and see what people are doing.
Hi, I’m Thomas.
My school is St Patricks Sheffield.
Why not have a look at our blog.
Just click the link!
http://y6stpatrickssheffield.wordpress.com/ 🙂
hi! im conor from st patricks catholic primary school 🙂
Hi I am George from st.patricks Sheffield the videos are cool and the drawings.
Dear Max, awesome picture! I saw it and I think it’s cute when it’s angry… You are an amazing artist.
Nice pics of Humbug. I guess I don’t know who he is but I like the pics. If you had actually gotten those pics in those places that would be amazing. Nice job 🙂
Humbug:
I really like the video! Maybe I can do something like that someday.
I think the music was well-put with the style of the movie.
-Sam H
I love the humbug video! It’s so cool how it looks like the drawings are in different places! The pictures are great as well!
-Ali
I really like this video about Humbug! I think everyone in the class did a great job drawing the pictures of Humbug. Good job with the video!-Kiki
Hey Guys!
I really like the Humbug pictures. I am reading the book to, but I’m ahead of you. Keep up the great work
– Paavo
Hello, I really enjoyed looking at this video. I thought that your drawing were very, very good and had lots of description. All of the drawings of the Humbugs all sort of had the same look, though also very different. You drew them in your own style, if you know what I mean.
-Ella
I like the Humbug pictures a lot. All of the pictures show that a lot of hard work was put into them, and they are brimming with imagination!
-Ava
Dear 6th Graders,
I am having a great time reading your blog! Looks like you are having an awesome time learning with technology! I teach 6th graders too! We are in Apache Junction, Arizona and would love to find more friends to help us with our blogging. Can you help us?
Have a great week!
Miss Holmquist
I’m a pupil from Morriston comprehensive and would just like to ask you a question, are the books about American schools,(e.g. Diary of a wimpy kid, Middle school the worst years of my life). Accurate to normal middle school life?
Hi Nathan! Thank you for writing on our blog. We will visit your blog soon. In our school, Poughkeepsie Day School the things in books like that do not happen, but in a majority of public schools they do. The kids at our school do not bully, and the teachers are not like the teachers in the book. So no, that is not normal middle school life, but it could be possible in other schools. -Lexi
I am from Morriston Comprehensive School, Wales and I really like your blog. It has loads of good things you have done. How long is your school day because ours is from 8:45 am until 3:00 pm.
Hello! I’m from Morriston Comprehensive School, one of the schools you’re ‘Quadblogging’ with. Your blog is very interesting and I enjoyed reading it. Like other students from my school, I’d like to ask a question. How diverse is your school?
Hiya, my name is Lucy and I go to Morriston Comprehensive school. I was just wondering do you have to wear school uniform to school? and how old are you?
Hi, my name is akarawin, and I really like how you build structures with cans. Please visit our blog at missnichols.edublogs.org
That is really cool! When did this take place? I’m in 6th grade and go to the Galleria, but have never seen it. It sounds like a cool project that i would love to do someday! How does this relate to world hunger? It was mentioned before. Come and check out my class’ blog at missnichols.org/about/ and learn about our class.
Hunger is a serious matter and it’s great that PDS does canstruction.
Hi I am Yasmeen, I read how to write a wonderful comment. I liked it because it shows how to be respectful,and kind to other people online. Nice Job Shirley’s 6th grade for writing such a great blog post.
Hi 6th grade I read your stem to steam Canstruction project and it was very interesting. It looks like you are doing a very good job!! That is why I really like that post! The idea of using recycled cans to make something very cool.
Comment : Dear class, I liked your post about tinkering and I thought it was very creative and had a lot of details. It was very good with sentences, periods, capitals and punctuation I also thought it was very good because I could tell that everybody was writing something I also liked the way you introduced the ideas.
-Bode
Construction
I liked the concept of the post and it made me more interested to compete this year. It taught me a lot about how it worked and I enjoyed reading it. When I got to see your creation first hand and loved it, I voted for you with cans. I really enjoyed seeing it, good post.