Debate Topic: Should Plastic Bags Be Banned?

We read about this topic in our Scholastic News this week.  What should be done?  Read a few of these links for more information about this topic as we debate and write persuasively about it.

How does this have an effect on your life?  Read about San Jose's plastic bag ban.

Ban Plastic Bags -- Why does this 11 year old author feel this way?
Unintended Consequences -- Why does this author feel this way?

Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- Nat Geo
Paper vs. Plastic
Pro & Con newspaper article about bag bans.
European perspective on this issue.
Plastic Bags and Take Out Containers

The Book No Student Should Miss...

Check out this assignment for the break.  Make sure you post your work on kidblog.

Math Practice Over the Break

Welcome to teacherp.  If you are using this website for math practice over the break, I recommend you use the math tag to get rid of all the science, social studies, and language arts posts.  You can use any old math lessons that you can find on this website for practice, or try some of the links below:

Internet 4 Classrooms
Math Goodies
Khan Academy
Math Playground
Common Core Test Prep
Your Math Book's Website

Work hard and have a great break!
(Repeat after me:  I love math.  I love math.  I love math...)

Analogies

Analogies are a fun way to practice synonyms, antonyms, similes, metaphors and critical thinking.  Give these links a try:
What is an analogy?
Try this list of analogy activities and games.
Extra analogy practice.
internet4classrooms analogy page
Education.com analogies

Constructing Expressions with Order of Operations

Watch the video above and then try out some Khan Academy practice.
Need more?  Try out this lesson from Learnzillion.
Lesson and practice
Challenge Problem

Order of Operations Review
Review Variables and Expressions
Quiz on Variables and Expressions
Extra Practice Worksheets
Word Problems Practice

Order of Operations and Parenthesis

First, go back and remember how the order of operations works in math.  (personal tutor)

Then watch this video from Khan Academy.


Once you have watched the video, try practicing online.
One more example
Online practice
Millionaire Game
Self-Check Quiz

Honey Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder

This week we will be learning about honey bee colony collapse in our Scholastic News.  Learn more about them by reading the links below.

Read the next two or three articles.  Which does a better job of providing information about bees? Are the articles better than the video above?  What are some advantages that the video has?  What are some advantages of the articles?
Learn about the basics of bees.
Honeybees -- Nat Geo Kids
Can Bees Make Food -- Discovery Kids
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Learn about colony collapse from Time for Kids.
Read about the Honey Bee Mystery -- Nat Geo Kids.
This National Geographic article: "The Plight of the Honeybee" is more advanced that the one in your magazine.  What do you think are the major causes of honeybee problems?

Links we will use in class or for homework:
Honey to the Bee
Hard Times for Honeybees

Geometry Basics -- Lines and Angles

You can also review vertical angles at Khan Academy.
Practice working with vertical angles.

Try out your math book's web page on angles and polygons. (Chapter 10)
Check out the Math Antics geometry page.
Math Planet lesson.