Getting Ready for Book in a Bag Book Reports

We are about to embark on our first big book report project. Checking out these recommendations on how to be successful will help us envision what we are bout to do. 

 1) Take a look at your bookshelves!

You've learned a lot about the design elements of books over the years. Think about what you have considered while preparing to vote for the Sutherland award in 3rd and 4th grade.  Use that knowledge to study your own books. 

- Look at the way the whole cover of the book is used.

- Looking at the whole cover means you need to look at the "spaces in between". What shapes are made between the drawings and letters that are on the cover? What is the background color? What do these things make you feel or think about? 

2) Think about the themes of your book. 

- Use your sticky notes to remind you what are the emotions and messages that are important throughout the book. You may be able to find images of these things or symbols that represent them to use on our bag.

3) DON'T just copy the book cover that already exists for the book. That's another artist's interpretation of things. You can incorporate that design in your design, but you have to share your connection to the book and your interpretations. It's fine if they are similar but it's not OK if they are exactly the same.

Check out these websites for some inspiration:

50 Book Cover Designs Plus some Tips on How to Design a Cover

Paste Magazine Young Adult Book Covers

We Are Teachers - Best Children's Book Covers

Back to Blogging! Version Year 2022

 Hello All,

It's time to start up the blog again. We will share our work and ideas here. Stay tuned!

Drug Addiction by Julian

(This paper was the product of our research unit. Students researched "Tough Talk" topics. These topics emerged from themes from novels we read over the year in small groups. Students explored topics that hooked them and made them want to dig deeper, developed a question around that topic, searched for answers and shared what they found. )


Drugs are addicting in many ways that consume the human mind into a hole that says only one word: addiction. Addiction is a disease that overcomes the human mind with not only wanting to want a drug but that they need it. Drug abuse or drug addiction with youths is inspired by adults using drugs to cope with stress or other life issues. People are also dragged into the world of drugs due to religious, social or personal views of whether drugs are appealing or not. But youths can also be influenced to use drugs especially by friends, gang members or any neighborhood acquaintances. Addiction sprouts from some materials, consisting of drugs (cocaine, heroine, or marijuana) and nicotine (cigarettes) and much more.


Scientists believe that consuming drugs by injecting them or sniffing up the substance triggers and activates the brains ‘reward system’ which means that the brain increases the release of the chemical called dopamine from neurons in special places in the brain. The chemical is usually released at a regular pace but increases when going through pleasurable experiences.


The drug also enters the blood, and from the blood, the drug is carried through the veins to the brain and other tissues where it lets its devastating characteristics roam free. The method by which drugs are taken affects the speed of its characteristics setting in. For example, injections or smoking produce the fastest onset and most intense peak affects. Although taking drugs from the mouth as pills or sniffing the substance range longer than smoking or injections but have less intense effects.When taking drugs, there are two types of addiction. Physical and mental or Psychological addiction. Physical addiction is when the human body starts consuming the addictive substance on a daily basis and the body becomes dependent on the substance. That means that the cells in the body can't function properly without the drug in its system. The result invites painful withdrawal symptoms to try to get rid of the drug and most people reach for the drug to make the pain go away. Mental or Psychological addiction is when the human body and mind starts to become emotionally tied to the drug and when taken away, the human becomes sad or angry, but when given back, the human body experiences happiness or tranquility. Mental or Psychological addiction is also based on a mental desire for the drug.

The figurative battle between medical drugs and illegal or extreme drugs still rages in some minds. Some drugs are used for medical purposes, for patients in the process of a painful Medical procedure. Since drugs that are used could become addictive, doctors or other medically trained personnel use little of the drug. The drugs used are not so extreme like heroin or cocaine but are more subtle painkillers like opioids and morphine. Doctors also give prescription drugs but they give only small amounts so the patient does not become addicted and ask for more and go down the dangerous path of addiction. When denied prescription drugs, most patients reach for more available drugs like heroin and crack.

Illegal or extreme drugs are drugs that are highly addictive, and may lead to physical or psychological addiction. These extreme drugs bring a pathway to death due to overdose and severe damage to the brain. Some drugs like marijuana are prompted illegal in the United States due to its high addictiveness and large death toll. But due to so much illegal drug activity that included Marijuana, 21 states have decided to legalize

Marijuana. In New Jersey, some lawmakers are fighting for legalization of Marijuana due to so much imprisonment due to minor Marijuana offences. This debate failed due to the high support of citizens of New Jersey and other rival authorities. The opposing side argued for marijuana to stay illegal because if not, more young lives would be ruined because of addiction, abuse and overdose. On the other hand the opposite side argued that jails would be less crowded. This debate failed which was a failed mission for New Jersey Governor, Philip D. Murphy, since he made legalizing Marijuana one of his main tasks since he took office in January 2018. All drug addiction can come from morphine or other painkillers all the way to Marijuana and all of them have the same effects ranging from nausea to emotional effects to the human body. Some people or drug addicts are so addicted to drugs that even if the drug prices are very expensive, they don't stop and instead find cheaper drugs to satisfy
themselves. Drug dealers supply drugs worldwide to people of all ages.

Drug dealers run their businesses in cartels. For example, a cartel in Columbia was called the Medellin cartel and was run by Pablo Escobar. Since drug lord or gangs are frowned upon by the government, they have violent gangs with stockpiles of weapons due to government attacks and rival gang terror.Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria or better known as Pablo Escobar was a Columbian drug lord and narcoterrorist. Pablo Escobar was often called the “King of Cocaine” since he supplied 80% of cocaine at the height of his career. It is very important to wipe out drug lords like Pablo because they are destroying young lives day by day.

Drug dealers rely mostly on making money by infiltrating the US border and selling drugs through imports and drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is usually done in places where there is normally not so much tightened security and high punishment. Pablo Escobar specialized in importing drugs into the USA. Drug imports and trafficking interferes with the economy in many different ways as do different species of crime. The effects begin largely from direct and indirect influences due to the huge amount of money made by the illegal trade of drugs but also by the impact of losses of corrupt companies and businesses associated with drug trade.

Humans and Their Horrible Habits by Zoey

This slide show was the product of our research unit. Students researched "Tough Talk" topics. These topics emerged from themes from novels we read over the year in small groups. Students explored topics that hooked them and made them want to dig deeper, developed a question around that topic, searched for answers and shared what they found. 

Check out Zoeys's Presentation on the decline of the koala population.

Humans and their Horrible Habits: The Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon

Capital Punishment by Danyal

This paper was the product of our research unit. Students researched "Tough Talk" topics. These topics emerged from themes from novels we read over the year in small groups. Students explored topics that hooked them and made them want to dig deeper, developed a question around that topic, searched for answers and shared what they found. 


Capital Punishment,Should it be Abolished?


___


By Danyal 



What is the death penalty?
The death penalty is a punishment used by the government which involves killing a criminal. The death penalty has been used since 1750 BC for murder, treason, rape, and arson. The death penalty today has many types of punishments such as firing squad, hanging, lethal injection (the most common) and beheading. It is a very controversial subject.
The history of the death penalty.


The death penalty has been used for a very long time. The death penalty used to consist of much more barbaric punishments such a judus cradle, crucification, stoning, and the guillotine ( a beheading machine). The guillotine was the most common form of death penalty in France. Efforts to try to abolish the death penalty began at the end of the 15th century by the quakers (Society of Friends ). Also, an Italian jurist named Cessare Buccaria wrote essays on crime and punishments to inspire influential thinkers to oppose torture, flogging ( being hit with a stick multiple times), and the death penalty.
Supporters of the death penalty


The supporters of the death penalty think that it is useful in reducing crime rates in the way that it teaches criminals to think twice before making a bad choice. They think that the government should not spend so much money on criminals, they also think that if the death penalty did manage to get abolished, future criminals would not be scared to break the law. Supporters also think that it is humane and very safe. Many people think that there are no racial or religious biases in the death penalty. However critics very much disagree. In Saudi Arabia, if you get caught for theft, murder, or rape you go to the chop chop square ( a square where people watch executions) where many people come to see you die.


Opposers of the Death penalty


Against the supporters are obviously the opposers. The opposers think that the death penalty does not deter crime, is unhumane, and can result in punishing the wrong person. In many cases, an innocent person is executed later to be found innocent by further evidence. In 1944 a 14 year old black child named George Stinney was discriminated against and wrongly accused of murder. He then was sentenced to the electric chair but later found to be innocent. Also, critics argue that there are many racial and religious biases in the death penalty. Cases including incarceration( being held in prison) and the execution of a criminal cost near 3 million dollars while cases including incarceration for life costs a little over a million dollars. That is a big price range. The lethal injection(the most common form of punishment in the death penalty) cost went up and now costs $16,500

Koalas in Decline by Katherine

Check out Katherine's Presentation on the decline of the koala population.

KOALA HABITAT LOSS

This presentation was the product of our research unit. Students researched "Tough Talk" topics. These topics emerged from themes from novels we read over the year in small groups. Students explored topics that hooked them and made them want to dig deeper, developed a question around that topic, searched for answers and shared what they found. 

Growth and Reproduction Unit Resources

Here is a list of useful resources to go along with our Growth and Reproduction Unit presentations. If you have questions remember your parents, teachers, and counselors are all available.


https://amaze.org/

https://www.cdc.gov/bam/body/body-smartz.html

An oldie but a goodie from PBS and the Children's Television Workshop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb_j1YjUNNk

Inspiration for your Book Bag Designs!

1) Take a look at your bookshelves!

You've been learning about the design elements of books while preparing to vote for the Sutherland award. Use that knowledge to study your own books. 

- Look at the way the whole cover of the book is used.

- Looking at the whole cover means you need to look at the "spaces in between". What shapes are made between the drawings and letters that are on the cover? What is the background color? What do these things make you feel or think about? 

2) Think about the themes of your book. 

- Use your sticky notes to remind you what are the emotions and messages that are important throughout the book. You may be able to find images of these things or symbols that represent them to use on our bag.

3) DON'T just copy the book cover that already exists for the book. That's another artist's interpretation of things. You can incorporate that design in your design, but you have to share your connection to the book and your interpretations. It's fine if they are similar but it's not OK if they are exactly the same.

Check out these websites for some inspiration:

50 Book Cover Designs Plus some Tips on How to Design a Cover

Paste Magazine Young Adult Book Covers

We Are Teachers - Best Children's Book Covers

DIVISIBILITY RULES "GAME"

Please use your divisibility rules to move through all 4 levels of this website.

https://www.mathgames.com/skill/7.83-divisibility-rules

Here's a link to the divisibility rules. Use as needed.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/divisibility-rules.html

I Have A Dream Speech

Click the link above to view the illustrated, interactive "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Take notes:
- Look for at least one quote you identify with in some way. You could recognize that you feel the same way or you could recognize that you also have the same desire. The quote could make you "blink" - that means you see something through someone else's eyes in a powerful way. The quote could make "think" - it might teach you something you didn't know or make you think more deeply about something you already knew.
- Look at ALL the images. Pause as needed to take a closer look. Take notes on images you admire or think add to the meaning well or that you don't understand.

Tough Talk Book Club Choices: Round 1

You may want to remind yourself what the books are about. Here's a brief overview of what you heard today.

Same Sun Here, Silas House and Neella Vaswani	Indian immigrant girl from NYC becomes penpals and close friends with multi-generation Appalachian boy in coal country through letters	Not too hard hitting Poverty, immigration, climate change, frontline communities, racism, classism, identity - gender, region, ethnicity, politics Solidly Accessible Read
The Giver, Lois Lowry	Dystopian novel The Giver is written from the point of view of Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy living in a futuristic society that has a significant number of rules. The reader has to assess whether these rules make for a better world.	Sci-fi (ish) setting makes very tough issues slightly less confrontational Issues include: government, control, disabilities, choice, death, murder, sacrifice, ethics, shared responsibility, identity of race, ability, place. Challenging Read - vocabulary, tracking story lines
Under the Egg, Laura Marx Fitzgerald	An intelligent eccentric family deals with gentrification and with the challenges of dealing with a disability when support and healthcare aren’t available. What happens when you have to take care of a parent and when your neighbors want you out because of gentrification?	You will be looking at issues involving poverty, mental illness, schooling, privilege, class. Accessible: this is a mystery and you’ll have to keep track of the threads in the characters’ personal stories and in the plot
Amina’s Voice	A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family's vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after her mosque was vandalized.	An accessible read. The text will be touching on issues of racism and stereotypes of the Muslim faith.

How to Steal a Dog By Barbara O’Connor

Realistic fiction deals with homelessness and some issues more related to young teens. Accessible read.

The Hundred Dresses Louis Slobodkin

Realistic fiction - based in the 1930’s

Very accessible read. This story deals directly with bullying, stereotypes,   Immigration and have to Live with consequences of how you treat others.

Bud, Not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis	Realistic fiction - based in the Great Depression. This novel deals with racism and foster care system.	Accessible read.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham Christopher Paul Curtis	Realistic fiction set in the 1960s during Jim Crow and the Civil Rights movement. The novel does an excellent job of taking you into an awesome family’s everyday world and then letting you feel deeply the terror and harm of racism in its most dangerous forms.	Accessible read. Really funny at times.
Bird Angela Johnson	Realistic fiction. Deals with difficult family structures. Run- aways and the dangers of being out in the world unprotected.	Challenging read - you have to track the characters and plot as you go along. The text is easy to decode but the story is complex.

Hush, Jacqueline Woodson	Gun violence and other tough topics including racism
I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai	The autobiography of Malala Yousafzai who went to school despite extreme gender restrictions and spoke up for female rights. She survived a terrorist attack and continued to work for female rights with the support of her family and community.	Accessible
Refugee, Alan Gratz	This novel shares the story of four refugees from different parts of the world and different times in history. It gives you a sense of how horrible things can get - forcing people to flee their homes.	Accessible
Betty Before X,  Ilyasah Shabazz	In Detroit, 1945, eleven-year-old Betty’s house doesn’t quite feel like home.The novel deals with family and with racism and class. Betty Shabazz was Malcolm X’s wife. Inspired by Betty's real life--but expanded upon and fictionalized through collaboration with novelist Renée Watson--Ilyasah Shabazz illuminates four poignant years in her mother’s childhood with this book, painting an inspiring portrait of a girl overcoming the challenges of self-acceptance and belonging that will resonate with young readers today.	Accessible
Dear Martin, Nic Stone	Nic Stone's Dear Martin tells the story of an Ivy League-bound African-American student named Justyce who becomes a victim of racial profiling. He struggles to reconcile the fact that he's a "good kid" with suddenly being in police handcuffs.	Written for teens and pre-teens and somewhat challenging.
Jake and Lily,  Jerry Spinelli	Deals with issues of ableism, bullying, identity, and family conflict.	Accessible
The Inquisitor’s Tale, Adam Gidwitz	Issues of race, stereotypes, class, power, elitism and religious bigotry set in the Middle Ages.	Accessible, but long and will take some effort to keep track of the story line. Long book, but very entertaining.

Can you solve the time travel riddle?

Powers of 10!

Check out this video from 1977 to get a sense of the what it means to go up or down by a power of 10.

Research Finds Racial Disparities in Prison Sentences

Link: Research Finds Racial Disparities in Prison Sentences
Click the link above to listen to a news segment on prison sentencing in the United States today.

Think about this story and how it connects to Chapter 18 in The Inquisitor's Tale.  In Chapter 18 King Louis leaps out of his carriage and into a dispute between a Lombard moneylender and two Jewish moneylenders after he speaks openly against peasants and Jews in the carriage. Quoted below is the section of the story where King Louis announces punishments/fines for the moneylenders.

(Note: usury is illegally lending money. Usurious is also referring to illegally lending money.)

     "For disturbing the king's peace," the king announced "the fine is five silver livres. All three of you will pay this fine. Do you understand?"
     The three moneylenders nodded, bowing their heads, their eyes averted.
     "For assaulting one of the king's Jews," Louis went Louis went on, "the fine is fifteen livres." The Lombard looked up at the furious king, and raindrops splashed off his freckled cheeks. He looked shocked. "Can you pay twenty livres?"  the king demanded. "Or will you go to prison?"
     "I can pay!" the Lombard said. "I can pay!"
      "What is your name?"
     "Johann Montefiore, of Lombardy!" the man said, groveling.
     "Johann Montefiore, of Lombardy, if you do not report to the Hall of Justice tonight, you will be found and thrown into prison."
     "Yes, my king! Thank you, my lord!"
     Louis stepped around the groveling Lombard. "And you!" he said, addressing the Jewish men, their cloaks covered in mud.
     He pointed in their faces. "You will report to the Hall of Justice as well, and you will render every livre of every usurious loan you've made to the chancellor. If you did not persist in your wicked usury and your incomprehensible refusal to acknowledge the Gospel of Christ, good Christians would not strike you in the streets! You have no one to blame but yourselves!" (pg. 224)

Now listen to this story about debtor's prison and think about how it relates to this scene.
Link: As Court Fees Rise the Poor Are Paying the Price


Write your thoughts about how these news stories are connected to this scene from The Inquisitor's Tale in your Reading Notebook.

Oliver's Outline on Diseases in the Middle Ages

1. There were both advantages and disadvantages to being a freeman in the Middle Ages.
1. Freeman were a very special kind of peasant.
1. Freeman were free from the lord and did not have to pay taxes, rents, or fees .
2. Other peasants did have to pay the lord.
3. Freemen were allowed to move from land to land without the Lord’s permission.
2. There were many advantages to being a freeman.
1. Freeman could own their own lots of land, which they could rent a portion of to other peasants.
2. Freemen were often wealthy.
3. In some places a very wealthy freeman could rise to lower nobility.
3. There were some disadvantages to being a freeman.
1. There were few freeman so it was unlikely to be one.
2. The lord would not be required to feed a freeman in times of famine or if the freeman’s family was starving.
3. The lord would not be obliged to defend a freeman.
1. This was particularly dangerous for a freeman in times of war.
2. A freeman was a special kind of peasant who might own his own land and was not under the protection of the lord.
1. Freeman did not have to work on the lord's demesne.
2. They did not have to pay as many as peasants did.
3. They were wealthy and at the top of the peasants.
4. To be free, a serf (peasant) could run away for 101 days without being caught by the lord. Or rent a portion of land.

1. If caught he/she would be severely punished.

III. You would find a freeman in the middle ages on the lord's manor(country side).

1. They were wealthier than peasants and lived in larger houses and much cosier.
2. Because they were wealthier they could own up to 40-100 acres of land which is rich
3. Freeman were rare they accounted a small percent of the peasant population which meant they were few in number

IV. The middle ages was a time in history that was in between ancient times and modern times.

1. After the middle ages came the renaissance which was part of modern times.
2. The main government of the middle ages was the feudal system

1. At the top of the system which were the most powerful were the kings (Queens) or lords (Ladies) and the pope all people were noble or leaders the church
2. The bottom were the peasants

                C. There were Knights and crusades

    D. It was the time of the silk trade China - Europe.

    E.It lasted from about 500 ad-1500 ad (Fall of the roman empire to the renaissance

    F. Most of the people were peasants

1. They accounted about 90% of the population

1. There were both advantages and disadvantages to being a peasant in the Middle ages.

1. Peasants were at the bottom of everything in the feudal system.

1.One daily life for one of these people was very hard.

2.”Really” owning a good bed was hard enough.

3. They were poor and had to work for the lord for there living.

         a)They had to pay taxes,rents,fees,fines to the lord

     B. There were Advantages to being a peasant.

1. They could go to church gatherings on sundays and usually got to skip work

2.For their hard work they could go to feasts hosted by the Lord.

3. The lord had to promise to feed the peasants when starving and protect them or else he would lose all of them

a) this was good because the lord would protect them in war

b) The lord would have to also make sure they were up and going (healthy)

4. Owning a horse or ox ment being rich!!

     C. There were also disadvantages to being a peasant.

1.Peasants were very poor and did not own a ton of land(Some did not).

2.They had to first care for the lord up hand.

1. This meant they had to save the lords crops first in case of stroom or flood

3. They had to pay numeros taxes,fees,fines,rents to the lord

     a) This was pretty much why they were at the bottom.

4. They had to wake up very early and sleep early. They worked Dawn to Dusk.

II. A peasant was a farmer who was poor but could get protection from the Lord

                A.They lived in very simple houses and did not own a lot of stuff.

                    1. A barn was attached to the house for animals to come in during winter

          2.The houses were one roomed houses

                 B. There were two kinds of peasants

1. One of them was villain
2. The other was a serf

      C. The food that they most commonly ate was pottage.

                  1.It was anything boiled up for 2 hours.

      D.The only way they could make money is if they go to town to sell goods

                 1. Men were paid twice as women

E. A reeve was put in charge of the peasants.

1. The reeve was voted by the freeman

III  You would find a peasant on a lord's estate (A.K.A the countryside)

A. They were not aloud to leave the manor without the lord’s permission

B.  These farmers owned very little land (1 acre or so)

C. They sometimes would go into the city

1. In the city they would sell goods.

D.They accounted a majority of the era.

IV. They had many,many tasks to complete  

A. At the start of the day they would wake up at dawn

B. The tasks that were to be completed included light plowing,sowing grain, scythe hay,trample grass,shear sheep,herd pigs,collect firewood,and repair any broken stuff.

C. If it storms or floods you must save your lords crops first nomather what.

1. This is why some families are very poor

D.Sticks known as flails are used to beat grain into sheaves.

1. It was stored in a place called a granary.

a)It was used to keep mice and rats away.

V. The lord was a noble who was in charge of the manor and the peasants.

A. He owed the peasants protection from hazards.

B. He had knights that fought/protected him.

C. The main job of the lord was to protect/fight for the king which was a rank above him

1. If the lord was not doing well,the king could expel him or her and replace another one in charge

D. The lord's wife the lady (of the manor) was in charge of all servants in the manor house.

E. Lords lived in a manor house which was pretty big.

I. I would say in terms a freeman was better but a peasant was still Okay

A. Both of these jobs involved hard working but in the end they got rewards

1. The freeman did not have to pay as much as a peasant did yet they could not get protection(They were on their own)

2.The peasants had to pay more than a freeman yet they got protection from the lord/lady

B. A freeman was wealthy and owned a lot of stuff (peasants did not).

C. The freeman could move freely around yet the peasants did not have to worry of enemies since that was the lords jod (freeman did).

II. In my opinion I would say they had better advantages than disadvantages.

1. Freeman were at the top of the peasants and would own a lot of stuff
2. Peasants were at the bottom or middle of peasants.
3. There differences between these two classes (middle was a little like the bottom)

1.To be classified as being rich you could own a horse or ox

1. You could also own a boat
2. Best was you could own land!!
3. You also could own a coach or bed
4. You just did not get protection

      2. To be classified as being poor,you did not own a whole ton of stuff.

     a) The best you could probably own was a straw bed.

     b)You might just own 10 items

     c)You could just own a few tools (best of all a hoe)!!

     d)Yet you got protection!!

   D.Both of these classes had and lacked one thing (protection).

III. In the middle ages it was easy to classify the. Every relied on the feudal system.

In this case a freeman was better.

1. A freeman was better because they had a higher rank in the feudal system
2. A  peasant was worse because they had a lower rank down
3. Still the freeman were just a little higher

IV. What was the feudal system?

1. In the middle ages the feudal system was the government

1. It was sort of like a ranking from top to bottom

1. At the top were kings,barons,lords,and dukes
2. At the bottom were peasants and beggars
3. There were specialists and some rich farmers and knights in between
4. The church was also powerful and at the top
5. Everyone agreed that god was at the top

2. In the middle ages christians believed that god put people where they belonged

1. If you went up the feudal system that was god’s plan
2. If you tried but didn’t that was not god’s plan yet the devils
3. Usually it was rare to move up or down  the feudal system

3.People in different ranks had to do stuff for the ranks below or above.

                a) The top of the feudal system had to serve protection and defense to the ranks below

      (1)This was the nobles and the church's responsibility

    b)The bottom had to produce the goods and food to the ranks above and themselves

(1) This was the peasants and specialists responsibility

4. There was really no such equality than!!

V .Both a freeman and a peasants jobs were similar and I would consider a life for them hard

1. Both of these jobs were farming jobs and involved working from dawn to dusk
2. Both of these 2 jobs still had some rewarding

1. Freeman in the end did not have to pay the lord as much as peasants did.

2. Peasants got defense/protection from lord which was great in times of war.

     C. I could consider these two as hard jobs and in a harsh time in history.