Friday, April 27, 2012

Teacher Appreciation Letter

This first week of May we will be working on creating Teacher Appreciation cards.  You can bring materials to class in order to complete the assignment (i.e. construction paper, markers, glitter, etc.)
Cards are due to me by May 4th.
You need to have the following components on your Teacher Appreciation card:
1. On the front of the card you need a quote that deals with teachers.
For example: "A good teacher is like a candle -- it consumes itself to light the way for others." ~Unknown
2. On the inside of the card write a personal message to the teacher. Include favorite moments from their class or something that makes them stand out. (Be Specific!)
3. On the back of the card make sure to put your name (first and last).
4. Decorate your card. Include pictures, clipart or images that reflect what teachers do or things that remind you of that teacher.
For example: If you are sending a card to your science teacher then you might want to include images of microscopes or beakers.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Reminders!!

Dear students,

I will not be accepting any late Science Fiction assignments after Friday at midnight. You can email the assignment to me. If you were absent that is no excuse to not turn in the assignment. You had over two weeks to get the assignment done. It is your responsibility to meet deadlines. This is an Honors class and you are getting an Honors credit for it.

Also, make sure to send your SAT Question of the Day (by Friday before midnight) and Reading Plus needs to be completed by Sunday. Remember we only have one week left of Reading Plus.

Open Mic Day is this Thursday, April 26th and I need to know what poem you will be reading. It needs to be at least 12 lines long. It can be from the Internet, from the textbook or something you have written. You do not have to memorize it.
*I will give extra points to students who memorize it or to students who go above and beyond (examples: sing a song, bring the poem to life with props)

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Earth Day Moment

In honor of Earth Day, April 22nd, I would like you to complete one of the following activities:
1. Take a picture of yourself either appreciating nature or doing something to help save the planet (i.e. recycling or picking up trash)
Please include a short paragraph explaining the picture.
OR
2. Write five things that you could do to help preserve the planet. Explain whether you currently do any of those things.
OR
3. Write a poem expressing your thoughts about the Earth. (At least 12 lines, you can write 3 haikus if you want)

The assignment is due by April 30th (all classes).

Here is a video to help inspire you -- "What a Wonderful World"

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Science Fiction Movie Assignment

Science Fiction Movie Review
Escape from New York (1981)
Blade Runner (1982)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The Dead Zone (1983)
2010 (1984)
Firestarter (1984)
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
Runaway (1984)
Starman (1984)
The Terminator (1984)
Cocoon (1985)
My Science Project (1985)
Real Genius (1985)
Aliens (1986)
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Short Circuit (1986)
Batteries not included (1987)
Innerspace (1987)
Project X (1987)
The Running Man (1987)
They Live (1988)
The Abyss (1989)
Millenium (1989)
Total Recall (1990)
Flatliners (1990)
The Rocketeer (1991)
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Universal Soldier (1992)
Demolition Man (1993)
Fire in the Sky (1993)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Stargate (1994)
Timecop (1994)
Congo (1995)
Outbreak (1995)
12 Monkeys (1995)
Independence Day (1996)
Contact (1997)
Gattaca (1997)
The Faculty (1998)
Sphere (1998)
The X-Files (1998)
The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)
Bicentennial Man (1999)
The Matrix (1999)
The 6th Day (2000)
Hollow Man (2000)
Pitch Black (2000)
X-Men (2000)
K-Pax (2001)
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Minority Report (2002)
The Time Machine (2002)
Paycheck (2003)
Timeline (2003)
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
I, Robot (2004)
The Island (2005)
Children of Men (2006)
Déjà vu (2006)
I am Legend (2007)
Jumper (2008)

You will watch the movie and complete the following activity:
1. Explain what aspects make the movie fall into the Science Fiction genre.
2. What lesson is the movie trying to teach or show? Please use specific examples from the movie (i.e. quotes from the characters, scenes from the movie, director comments)
3. Would you recommend this movie to a friend? Explain why or why not.
4. You will incorporate the answers from above into a movie critique essay.
5. Must be at least one page typed, 12 point font, double spaced
6. Be prepared to share your opinions with the class.

You can complete this assignment by yourself or with a partner. No more than two people per movie!
You must confirm with me ahead of time what movie you will be watching.
Due week of April 16th. Must be turned in no later than April 20th!
Worth 24 points

Science Fiction: Prose writing that presents the possibilities of the past or the future, using known scientific data and theories as well as the creative imagination of the writer. Most science fiction comments on present day society through the writer’s fictional conception of a past of future society.