Updated 5/7/08
I am checking the aviation folder for a grade. All folders must be turned in
by Monday, 5/12 to count for a grade. Most students have completed this in
class.
Updated 3/19/08
There has been a change in plans. I will check the book markings and the
answer to one interpretive question instead of a discussion and test. The
markings and essay are due Friday, 3/21.
Updated 3/5/08
The JGBs went home on Monday. We will have the discussion on 3/20 and story
test on 3/21. They should complete everything or reread if they have
completed everything by Wednesday evening 3/19. The story is Oliver Hyde's
Discloth Concert.
Updated 2/8/08
The Jr. Great books went home either Thursday or Friday. They are to be
completed by Thursday. Students should bring them in on Monday for
vocabulary and a little time for marking.
Updated 2/4/08
JGB markings are to be completed for discussion on Wednesday 2/6. Most
children finished in class.
Updated 1/17/08
Books went home on Wednesday to complete the markings. They are due back on
Wednesday 1/23. Markings for this time are: unknown words/definitions;
figurative language - simile, metaphor, idiom, personification; comments
about characters, actions, plot, et.; IB attitude, comparison with another
JGB character; interpretive question; and written main idea at the end of
the story.
Updated 12/21/07
Don't forget to work on the scenario if you have time. A completed outline
would be a big jump to finishing. We will have the first three days in class
to work on the scenario. It is due Monday, 1/14.
Updated 12/5/07
Here is the scenario writing information. The Tips fo Authors and more
details about the FPS scenario writing competition can be found on the
following website. www.ga.fpsp.org
SCENARIO WRITING
Scenario writing is the last tool of futurist we will use in our study of
the future. It is a creative tool for exploring and predicting possible
futures. Students develop their ideas of a possible outcome of the topic
(neurotechnology) in the future through characters and plot. According to
The Future Problem Solving Program, “Scenario writing strives to help
students enlarge, enrich, and make more accurate their images of the future.
Scenario writing personalizes a student’s ever –growing perspective of the
future.”
Although scenarios are set in the future, they are written as though the
future is the present. Students will select a challenge, issue, problem, or
an important idea related to their research of neurotechnology. They will
then imagine a sequence of events that might happen if this challenge were
to take place in the future. They add future technology/ideas to their plot
and interesting characters to tell the story.
We will begin the outline of the scenario in class. It is to be completed at
home. The final document is due January 14, 2008. The scenario can be turned
in at any time up to that date.
A scenario can be written in many formats. Please use the attached “Tips for
Authors” for details concerning the format of the scenario. It must be typed
(12 pt New Times Roman or Arial font, double spaced). Students should strive
for 1,000 words but should not exceed 1,500 words. A cover sheet with the
title, student name, and word count should be attached. The title should
appear on the first page. The student’s name should only appear on the title
page. I will have the first tutoring session in January in the computer lab
to help with the technical aspects.
Scenario Writing is part of the Future Problem Solving Program. I will
evaluate and grade each scenario according to the FPS scoring rubric. The
top five scenarios will be recommended for competition. Parents will sign
permission for competition and students will complete the required paperwork
for submission to the FPS office on Monday, January 28, 2008. Students who
place in the top three in the State will have their scenarios published and
receive an award at the State competition in Athens. The first place winner
in the State will have the opportunity to compete at the International
Competition in Michigan.
We have wonderful writers in the fifth grade Challenge classes. This
activity provides the opportunity to use all we have learned about the
future and neurotechnology in a very creative format. I look forward to
reading everyone’s scenarios and the student’s view of the future. I am
optimistic that we have the first place winner in our program.
This information will also be on the website. If you have any questions
please send me an email.
Scenario Development Outline
Complete this outline before you begin your first draft.
Challenge/idea from neurotechnology you want to develop:
Research ideas you can use to support your issue:
Year of your scenario: (Must be at least 20 years into the future.)
Future technology you might include:
Plot ideas: (What will happen as a result of the challenge you chose?)
Main Character:
Supporting characters (Limit it to two.):
Format(s) you would like to use: (See Tips for Authors)
Voice: (First (I) or third (he, she, it)
SCENARIO WRITING OUTLINE
Use this outline to organize your thoughts before you write your first draft.
Beginning – Introduce setting, character, time, and problem.
Plot – List the sequence of events as they happen in your story
Ending – How is the problem resolved? Reflection
SCENARIO WRITING IDEAS
AND SUGGESTED TIMELINE
IDEAS
Choose a challenge/issue/important idea from the following areas:
Surgery
Risk of surgery
Doctors and robots as doctors
Surgery problems
Cost
Insurance Cost & Insurance company monitoring your health – lack of
privacy
Medical Benefits
Cure for diseases with brain chips – Alzheimer, Parkinson
Help for paralysis – brain computer interface with computer or robot
Cure for paralysis – brain chip to reconnect damaged nerves
Bionics – to replace lost limbs
Deep Brain Stimulation for cure of Migraines
Technology Malfunctions
What happens if the technology has a malfunction or if your brain computer
interface picks up a virus?
Other Uses of Neurotechnology
Lie detection
Security against terrorists – Brain scans at airports
Shark Spies using brain chips
Making people “better than human”
Brain chips and bionics to improve physical and mental performance
(smarter, faster, stronger)
Making elderly live longer
Research
Neurotech research companies and investors
Cost of research
Use of animals and humans
Timeline
11/28 – 12/7 Finish Idea Development
12/10 – 12/21 Finish story Outline
12/22 – 1/5 Begin writing
1/7 – 1/9 Work in class if needed (12/9 Computer lab -class and
tutoring until 6:00)
1/10-1/13 Finish and edit
1/14 Turn in
Parents may enter the story in the computer. If students are entering their
own story they may want to write the story from the outline directly into
the computer.
Updated 10/22/07
I have extended the deadline for the book report due to the work on the
science fair project. Students can now turn in the report beginning 11/1 up
to 11/16. They can turn it in any day up to 11/16.
Updated 10/8/07
Here are the intructions for the book report.
SCIENCE FICTION BOOK REPORT
Your book report for the month of October is a Science Fiction book for
Challenge. Science Fiction, according to Isaac Asimov a great science and
science fiction writer, is a story that shows a significant change in
society usually because of some change in the level of science and
technology.
Please find a book that fits this description. Do not choose a fantasy.
These are not science fiction. Below is a partial list of authors you can
look for. The Young adult authors are books for students in grades 6-8.
Please check with your parents if you want to read one of these authors.
Star Wars books are fine if you can answer the questions with the book.
There are science fiction books set aside in the library. There are not
enough for all of Challenge. I also have some copies of science fiction
books you can check out. The public library has many titles and can help you
find something on your level.
Your book report is due November 1. Please use the attached instructions for
the report. I will ask for oral reports periodically throughout the month.
Authors of Science Fiction
Isaac Asimov Eleanor Cameron Bruce Coville
Robert Heinlein Madeline L’Engle Robert Silverberg
Authors of Science Fiction for Young Adults
Isaac Asimov Ben Bova Ray Bradbury
Arthur C. Clarke John Christopher Greg Bear
Robert Heinlein Orson Card William Sleator
Alfred Slote Gillian Rubinstein
SCIENCE FICTION BOOK REPORT
Science fiction is the author’s imagined future of changes in the world due
to advances in science and technology. As part of our study of the future
you will examine the author’s view of the future. Answer the following
questions in your book report. Feel free to be futuristic. As long as you
have answered all the questions and provided a diagram you may choose any
format you wish to present the data. Be as creative as you wish.
Questions
1.Who is the author and what year was the book published?
2. What is the setting of your story – year and place(s)?
3.What are the advances in science and technology?
4.What is the problem encountered in the future? How do the characters solve
the problem?
5.What are some societal differences from today in the story?
6.What is your opinion of the author’s imagined future? If the book was
written over 20-30 years ago does the future still appear to be reasonable?
Visual (choose one)
1. Create a visual representation of a futuristic item from your story.
Explain what it is and how it works.
2.Create a visual representation a scene from the story that depicts the
world of the future. Describe what is happening in the scene.
You may do your visual depictions in any format as long as the item/scene is
clearly presented and explained.
Updated 9/23
Book reports will be done for Challenge in October. Information will be
posted here on Wednesday.
On Monday, 10/1, Georgia Standards practice sheets will come home. The
students will have completed half of the work in class and use the other
half as a review. We will go over the homework on Tuesday. I will use
returned work as 3 bonus points on the test. There will be a test on
inference/drawing conclusions and antonyms, synonyms, and homophones on
Wednesday
Updated 9/18/07
There is a slight change in the JGB schedule. We spent some time discussing
comments that show a deeper analysis of the characters and their actions.
The JGBs will now go home on Friday to complete any markings. We are adding
examples of imagery and directed notes - marking places where they feel
sympathy for the characters (S)and places where they do not have sympathy
for the characters - to the annotations this week. The directed notes are
always a question on the test. The books should come back on Monday for
discussion.
Updated 9/13/07
The Jr. Great Books will go home on Thursday 9/20 to finish marking the
text. All work needs to be finished by Monday 9/24.
Updated 8/31/07
Students are to conduct interviews to determine a change in their product
over time. The students were given the following information to complete the
assignment.
PAST TO PRESENT INTERVIEW
As part of our futurist study, we will be interviewing parents,
grandparents, and great grandparents. You will find out how your timeline
item has changed in their lifetime and how the changes have changed their
lives. You want to begin with great grandparents and work backwards.
You need to interview four people. If you do not have grandparents you can
interview a neighbor, another relative, or someone else that would be the
age of your grandparents. At least two people must be the age of your
grandparents or older.
You can interview in person, over the phone, or through email.
Use the following questions for your interview.
What was the ____________________ (your timeline object) like when you were
a child? How did your family use it?
How has it changed in your life time?
Has this item changed your life in any way?
Take notes on their responses. Your final product can be done in two ways.
(See the example)
1. You can list the name of the person you interviewed, write the
question and then list the things they said. You would do this for each
person and each question.
2. You can write two paragraphs for each person you interviewed. The
first one would tell who you interviewed and include the responses to the
first two questions. The second paragraph would include the answers to the
second question
The final product is due Monday, September 10.
PAST TO PRESENT INTERVIEW
Format for the Final Product
1. Question with short answer
Grandmother McKinnon
What was the TV like when you were a child?
No TV - listened to the radio
How has it changed in your life?
First TV had a very small picture and a very large box.
Black and white, only two channels, on for only a few hours
TV screens got bigger and offered more shows and channels
Family used to watch TV together during the family time shows
like Wonderful World of Disney and Ed Sullivan ¨C only one TV.
TV turned to color when I was 40. Only some shows were in color at
first.
Videos became popular when I was 60 as well as cable. We could then
see movies and TV around the clock. There were about 20-40
channels then
Now TVs are big, the picture and sound is better with hundreds of
channels, many TVs in the house
Has the TV changed your life?
It provided entertainment for the family as the children were growing
up.
Today it provides information ¨C news and weather 24 hours,
gardening,
decorating, and cooking ideas.
I think it made the world smaller and more connected because people
around the world could see other cultures and hear news from
around the world.
Paragraph format
I interviewed my Grandmother McKinnon. She did not have a TV as a
child. Her family listened to the radio. Growing up the TV changed a lot. It
had a very small screen with only a few channels and black and white shows.
They had only one TV. The TV would go off at midnight. As an adult she would
watch TV with the family especially during the family time, shows like
Disney and Ed Sullivan. TV turned color but only some shows at first. My
grandmother was sixty when cable TV and videos started. She now has a 60¡å
HDTV with 150 Channels. She also has five other TVs in the house.
My grandmother said that the TV did change her life. At first it
provided entertainment for the whole family, a time everyone would get
together and watch the family hour shows. It is not like today with many TVs
and everyone watching something different. My grandmother uses the TV for
news and education. She loves the cooking and gardening shows the best. She
feels the TV changed the world by making the world smaller and more
connected. People get instant news from around the world. We know what is
happening on all continents and see other cultures.
PAST TO PRESENT INTERVIEW
SCORING RUBRIC
______ Interviewed four people 4 pts
______ Asked each person 3 questions 12 pts
_____ Responses written according to format 10 pts
_____ Responses show change in item over time 20 pts
_____ Responses show how item changed lives 10 pts
_____ Neatness of paper 10 pts
____ Depth of answers/ time spent evident 5-15 pts
____ Interesting details added 5-10 pts
____ Overall effect 5-10 pts
Total Points Earned ____________________
______ Meets expectations 61 ¨C 67 points 80 ¨C 89 (B)
_____ Exceeds expectations 67 + 90 ¨C 100 (A)
_____ Below Expectations 53 ¨C 60 70 ¨C 79 (C)
52 and below F
Updated 8/21/07
Sorry for not changing the homework. We are one day behind. Dictionary
worksheets will come home on Tuesday.
The JGBs went home on Friday. They are due back on Thursday. The only
markings this time are comments on characters, plot and conflict, IB (both
are the same as last year) and writing one interpretive question. An
interpretive question is one that can have more than one interpretation as
an answer.
Please make sure binders are complete by Thursday. The tabs are: Text
Opener, Vocabulary, Journal, Interpretive Questions,and Activities.
Updated 8/16/07
Dictionary & multiple meaning word worksheets will be sent home for practice
on Monday. Students that return them completed on Tuesday will recieve bonus
points on the test on Tuesday.
JGBs go home on Friday. Students need to complete the annotations and write
and answer an interpretive question. Books are due back (completed)on
Wednesday, 8/22. An open-book essay test will be given on Friday.