Daily PIG

The Daily PIG ("Practice In Grammar") is our English class warm-up.  You must copy and complete the Pig every day; if you're absent the answers will be here for you.

Any words written in plain font should be copied into your composition book.  Words in italics are suggested answers or cues to help you respond on your own.

 Aug. 27, Journal #1:  What do you think of sixth grade so far?  Like all journals, this should be a full composition book page long.  Consider writing about lunch, buses, homework, hallways, gym, making new friends, finding old friends, getting along with your teacher, or anything else about sixth grade.

Aug. 28:  A sentence must include a subject (noun or pronoun) and a predicate (a verb).  Add subjects to these predicates:  1) Four crazy clowns threw pies at each other.     2) The woman on the trapeze is named The Amazing Harriet.     3) An enormous elephant fainted at the sight of a mouse.

Aug. 29:  Add subjects to these predicates:   1) The tall ringmaster waved to the audience.     2) A mangy old lion roared, but would not perform.     3) Cotton candy and roasted peanuts are delicious!     4) I am planning to join the circus tomorrow.  (Note that #1-3 have many correct answers, but #4 can only be "I.")

Sept. 2, Journal #2:  Create an original holiday.  What does it celebrate?  What are its traditions?  Also consider writing about your holiday's date (and reasons why), special foods, associated colors, traditional activities, etc.  As always, this journal must be a full composition book page long.

Sept. 3: The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun.  The complete subject is all of the words in the subject half of the sentence.   Underline the simple subjects.  Circle the complete subjects.     1) Eight roaring tigers jumped through hoops.     2) My little sister screamed.     3) The audience stood and applauded.     The highlighted words should be circled in your composition book.

Sept. 4:  Underline the simple subjects.  Circle the complete subjects.      1) The clown with a big nose somersaulted in the ring.     2) Ponies and elephants paraded in the center.     3) I decided to get more popcorn.     The highlighted words should be circled.

Sept. 5:  The simple predicate is the main verb.  The complete predicate is all of the words in the predicate half of the sentence.     1) Eight roaring tigers jumped through hoops.     2) My little sister screamed.     3) The audience stood and applauded.     The highlighted words should be circled.

Sept. 8:  Repeat Friday's instructions.     1) The clown with a big nose somersaulted in the ring.     2) Ponies and elephants paraded in the center.     3) I decided to get more popcorn.     Again, the highlighted words should be circled.

Sept. 9:  A compound subject has two or more nouns.  A compound predicate has two or more verbs.  1) A dozen clowns tripped and fell.     2) More acrobats or lion tamers would have improved the show.     3) The elephants and llamas will juggle grapefruit but not dance the can-can.

Sept. 10:  Label these as simple subject (SS) or compound sujbect (CS) and simple predicate (SP) or compound predicate (CP).     1) My parents clapped and took pictures.  SS & CP     2) My sisters, brothers, and I were completely exhausted.  CS & SP

Sept. 11, Journal #3:   Name an emotion: _____ Name any emotion here; TOC #12 has many choices.     How does it look?  How does it sound?  How does it feel?  How does it smell / taste?     To answer these questions, imagine that your emotions were a real, physical, object.  What color, shape, and size would it be?  Would it be loud or soft, sound like a musical instrument or some other particular sound?  Would it be soft, hard, furry, slippery, sharp, rough, hot, cold, liquid, gaseous, etc.?  Would it be sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or taste like a particular food?  If you write 4-5 lines to answer each copied question, you will be able to fill the page.

Sept. 12:  Follow Wednesday's directions.  1) The human cannonball flew 100 yards and landed in a net.  SS & CP     2) Four zebras and their trainer just left the tent.  CS & SP     3) The ringmaster wears a red coat and tall hat.  SS & SP  (This one was tricky.  Even though the predicate includes "and," there is still only one verb, "wears.")

Sept. 15: Review what we've learned.  Create a new sentence with     1) only a simple subject and simple predicate: Wolves howl.     2) a compound subject and simple predicate: The wolves and coyotes howled in harmony.     3) a simple subject and compound predicate: The wolf pups chased their tails and wrestled in their den.

Sept. 16:  Practice Piggy Check-up    1) Aug. 29, #4: I am planning to join the circus tomorrow.     2) Sept. 4, #2: Ponies and elephants paraded in the center.  (The highlighted words should be circled.)     3) Sept. 12, instructions: Follow Wednesday's directions.     4) On what two days did we write about popcorn?  Sept. 4 & 8.     5) Are journals #1-3 at least one page long?  If this answer is not "yes," then finish them.  Each journal must have the date, the journal number, the question, and a full page response.     ** On Monday, Sept. 22, we will have a real Piggy Check-up similar to this.  Mr. T will ask for a sampling of answers; you will use your Pig to copy them carefully and exactly.  Meanwhile, Mr. T will be checking journals #1-3 as well as your Table of Contents.

Sept. 17:  Piggy introduces Mrs. Rollins of Durant Road Musical Theater!

Sept. 18:  Complete these sentences:     1) Love is a warm puppy.     2) Jealousy feels like a hole in my stomach.     3) Frustration makes me want to give up sometimes.     4) Hope helps when I get too frustrated and reminds me that I can do it if I try my best.

Sept. 19:  Compare Pigs and journals with your neighbor.  Since Aug. 27, you should have 14 Pigs and 3 journals.  These 14 Pigs include Sept. 17 and today.

Sept. 22:  Piggy Check-up #1!  Mr. T will look at journals #1-3, checking for the date, journal number, question, and full-page answer.  He will also check your Table of Contents to see that #1-26 are listed with page number, date, title, and grades (if checked).  You do not have your quasi-acrostic grade because it goes in your writing folder.

Sept. 23, Journal #4:  Create a new animal by combining two existing breeds.  Describe it and its characteristics.  What is your animal named?  What are its physical description, environment, defenses, diet, etc.  You may draw a picture on a second page, if you wish.

Sept. 24:  Sentences relate four kinds of messages.  A declarative sentence makes a statement and usually ends with a period.     1) I have a pet aardvark.     2) Its name is Howard.     3) It's much cooler than my last pet, which was a giant squid.

Sept. 25:  An interrogative sentence asks a question and always ends with a question mark.     1) Did you know that my pet's favorite food is grilled cheese sandwiches?     2) Would you feed it while I'm on vacation in the sunken cities of Atlantis?

Sept. 26:  An imperative sentence is a command and may end with a period or an exclamation point.  Many times there is no subject written; this is called the understood "you."   1) Watch out for my pet's six-inch long fangs!      2) If you need help, ask my neighbor who is a professional banana split taster.

Sept. 29:  Exclamatory sentences show strong emotion.  They usually end with exclamation points.     1) You've never heard of a professional banana split taster !  (This answer should be the same as Sept. 26, #2.)     2) I can't believe you thought it was someone who swims in volcanoes !

Sept. 30:  Identify each type of sentence:    1) My pet ran away!  Exclamatory     2) Will you help me look for it?  Interrogative     3) I hope it will come home by suppertime.  Declarative     4) Look behind those bushes, please.  Imperative

Oct. 1:  Create these sentences:     1) an interrogative with 6 words   Do you like peanut butter sandwiches?     2) a declarative with 8 words  My favorite TV show on Thursdays is Survivor.     3) an imperative with 3 words   Brush your teeth.     4) an exclamatory with 4 words  The Silver Wolves rock!

Oct. 2:  Create these sentences:  1) an interrogative: Can dolphins ever fly?     2) a declarative: Leslie may not open presents.     3) an imperative: Rusty, stop that!     4) an exclamatory: Aardvarks bounce!     (The words in today's sentences must begin with the bold letters.)

Oct. 3:  Create these sentences:  1) an imperative   Go home!     2) an interrogative   Should Tommy use verbs well?      3) an exlamatory  I'm just kidding!     4) a declarative   Mom naps on piled quilts.  (The words in today's sentences must begin with the bold letters.)

Oct. 6:  A sentence must have a subject and a predicate.  A group of words without a subject, predicate, or both is an incomplete sentence or sentence fragment.

Oct. 7:  If a group of words begins with one of these words, it is probably a fragment: so, and, but, then, because   These are conjunctions and should not begin a sentence.

Oct. 8:  Conjunction junction, what's your function?  Hooking up words, phrases, and clauses.  Name 3 important conjunctions: and, but, or

Oct. 9:  If you've begun a fragment with a conjunction, fix it one of these ways:  1) Eliminate the conjunction.    2) Merge the fragment with the previous sentence.  (For example, "We went to the mall.  But I couldn't find anything to wear."  could become "We went to the mall.  I couldn't find anything to wear."   or   "We went to the mall but I couldn't find anything to wear." )

Oct. 13, Journal #5:  Interview a Greek god or goddess.  Ask 5-6 questions and their creative answers.   Use your intelligent imagination in your questions and answers.  Write your questions and the god's responses without skipping lines, or skip lines but add more writing.  Be creative, but stick to the "facts" about the gods.  For example: "Me: So Zeus, what's your favorite restaurant?   Zeus: I like Burger King.  I always get a crown."

Oct. 14:  Complete the front of TOC #48.   Fragments: 11     Sentences: 9

Oct. 15:  A run-on sentence is two sentences incorrectly written as one.  Run-on sentences can be corrected in three ways:  1) Separate the two sentences with a period.     2) Insert a semicolon.     3) Combine the sentences with a comma and conjunction.

Oct. 16:  No Pig ~ Battle of Hastings Day!

Oct. 17:  Complete exercise 1 on the front of TOC #52.  Run-ons: 4     Sentences: 6

Oct. 20:  Complete #1-6 of exercise 2 on the back of TOC #52.  Copy these answers:  #2: A husky can pull a sled through snow, while a collie can herd sheep.     #5: Do wild dogs still exist?  I heard that there were some living in India.

Oct. 21:  Rewrite these run-on sentences correctly.    1) Perseus was a mighty hero; he was a son of Zeus.     2) Other gods aided him on his quest because they admired his courage.     (The original run-ons read "Perseus was a mighty hero, he was the son of Zeus" and "Other gods aided him on his quest they admired his courage"; you do not need to copy these the wrong way.)

Oct. 22:  Repeat yesterday's directions.    1) Hermes and Athena helped Perseus when they gave him a magical sword and shield.     2) Perseus slew Medusa, flew home, rescued Andromeda, and fulfilled his destiny.     (The original run-ons read "Hermes and Athena helped Perseus and they gave him a magical sword and shield" and "Perseus slew Medusa adn flew home and rescued Andromeda and fulfilled his destiny"; you do not need to copy these the wrong way.)

Oct. 23, Journal #6 (option 1): Write a letter to one of the presidential candidates.  Give them advice that they should follow if they win.  You may choose to write to a presidential candidate (Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain) or their vice-presidential running mates (Gov. Sarah Palin or Sen. Joe Biden).  What are the important issues facing America today?  What do you hear your parents worrying about: gas prices, insurance, jobs, the war in Iraq, our safety at home, etc.        ~OR~  

Oct. 23, Journal #6 (option 2): Reflect on the presidential race or elections in general.  Are you tired of seeing all of the negative campaign ads? Do you wish we elected our officials some other way or had some other type of government?

Oct. 24:  Read Journal #6.  How many sentences are ...    1) declarative?     2) exclamatory?     3) imperative?     4) interrogative?    These answers will differ from student to student.  Most sentences are probably declarative since they tell facts or your opinions.

Oct. 27:  Compare Pigs and journals with your neighbor.  Since Sept. 22, you should have 21 Pigs and 3 journals.  These 14 Pigs include Oct. 16 and today, but do not include Sept. 22.

Oct. 28:  Piggy Check-up #2!  Mr T will look at journals #4-6 to make sure each has its journal number, date, prompt, and full-page response.  He will also check your Table of Contents to see that #27 - 66 are listed with dates and grades (if appropriate).

Oct. 29:  Celebration of Character

Oct. 30:  Mythology Test

Oct. 31:  Happy Piggoween!

Nov. 5:  When writing a title, capitalize: > the first and last words, > all nouns and pronouns, > all verbs, > all adjectives and adverbs.   Make up a title for the new movie about your life.  Keep it between 5 and 15 words and follow these rules of capitalization.

Nov. 6:  When writing titles, also capitalize prepositions of four letters or more.  2-3 letters: to, on, in, out     4 or more letters:  over, around, through, between, with, without, among     (As part of today's PIG, we learned how to say these words in American Sign Language.  Not all classes did all of the words.)

Nov. 7, Journal #7:  Read journal #1 and reflect.  How have your feelings changed?  (You may consider writing about your classes, teachers, lockers, bus, homework, friends, lunch, hallways, grades, etc.  Are the things that were important in August still important now?  What's your reaction to your first middle school report card?)

Nov. 10:  Why is each word capitalized or not?     1) A (first word) Series (noun) of (2-letter preposition) Unfortunate (adjective) Events (last word)     2) "Happy (first word) Birthday (noun) to (2-letter preposition) You (last word)"

Nov. 11:  Veterans Day

Nov. 12:  Why is each word capitalized or not?     1) " 'Twas (first word) the (article) Night (noun) Before (6-letter preposition) Christmas (last word)"     2) A (first word) Hero (noun) Ain't (verb) Nothing (noun) but (3-letter conjunction) a (article) Sandwich (last word)

Nov. 13:  Always underline the titles of:   1) books Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , Invasion of the Boy Snatchers     2) periodicals (newspapers and magazines) Sports Illustrated , Weekly World News

Nov. 14:  Also always underscore the titles of:   1) TV shows: The Amazing Race , Mythbusters     2) movies: It's a Wonderful Life , March of the Penguins

Nov. 17:  Do not underline the titles of poems, songs, and stories.  Instead, put them inside quotation marks.     1) "There's a Bear in There" (poem)     2) "If I Were a Boy" (song)     3) "The Ant and the Grasshopper" (fable)   Students punctuated and capitalized these titles correctly.

Nov. 18:  Capitalize and punctuate these titles correctly:   1) The Cat in the Hat (book)     2) Gone With the Wind (movie)     3) "On Top of Spaghetti" (poem) 

Nov. 19: 

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