Week 10

Happy spring break!  Enjoy your week off.  :)

DEVO 

We discussed chapter 9 of Do Hard Things - about going against cultural norms and standing "at the right time, for the right thing, and for the right reasons.”

LATIN

LOVED seeing so many of you at our Toga Party last week!  It blessed and honored Mr. Seitz, too - I'll send around the video of your skit, too - great job!

This week we finish LESSON 25 and head into LESSON 26 on the Perfect & Pluperfect Subjunctive Active.  I gave everyone Verb Chart 6 for this - our last chart!!!  And this one should be VERY easy to memorize!

SCIENCE   

We completed the Defeating Darwinism assessment in class.  Parents, your student should have given you theirs.  Students were allowed to use their summaries (but not the book).  If you did well on the assessment, that should indicate that you read and absorbed the material well and thoughtfully created valuable summaries - nice work!  If you felt you could have done better, use this as an opportunity to evaluate what you did - could your summaries have been more helpful?  If so, what will you do differently next time?  Is there a different format that works better for you?  Maybe you fell behind in your reading - how can you better plan next time to avoid this?

We also scanned Discovering Atomos together.  Our final 5 weeks of research will focus on learning the grammar of chemistry and gaining a basic understanding of chemical processes.  I promise this is EASY (compared to chemistry in Challenge 3 😬😂).  But seriously, I think it is fun - it definitely should feel like a lighter strand.

Each week you will have a short lesson or two to read and a few exercises to complete.  You’ll also make flashcards for first 18-20 elements and memorize them.  This week, complete lessons 1 & 2.

LOGIC

We worked through some problem exercises in lessons 18 and 19 - most people seem to have a good handle on these.  Now we move on to lessons 22-24 (reminder: lessons 20 and 21 are optional - we won't be doing them in class).  Read all 3 lessons this week and begin working on the exercises.

MATH

Thank you to our students who shared math problems this week!  Everyone please be prepared with a problem for our next class.  We also had fun working through a brain teaser - here it is if you want to challenge any of your family/friends….

SHORT STORIES
What a week of crazy stories!  A Man and the Snake, The Cop and the Anthem, and The Necklace all had plot twists and surprise endings - will your story?  Several students also found some great Bible verses!  Many students did not bring a verse, though.  Please make sure to find something for our next stories!

You now have two weeks to finish writing your short story - next time we meet, you need to bring a typed copy of your complete story to give me.  Here are the parameters - I'm changing a couple of things from what we discussed in class, so take note - I'll also email you a checklist and summary:

• 6-10 pages (this is a strict limit, but you do not have to include your title page/illustration or the author's biography in this limit if you don't want to)
• 12-point font - you may use any legible, easily readable font
• Line spacing can be single or double (or anything in between)
• Normal margins - 1" all around (for binding)
• In addition to the story, you need a title page that includes the author's name and story title, plus any illustration or photo
• You also need an author's biography with a description and photo - I'll send you some samples
• Text needs to be black, but your photo, illustration, and anything on your title page can be in color

If you're interested, you can also submit for consideration a cover for our anthology - this could be artwork you create (drawing, painting, photography) or anything else!  To be considered, these need to be submitted by class on April 8.

MOCK TRIAL

Nice work on closing arguments - we got to hear one from each student, discuss some good themes and proofs, and strategize about how to best collaborate as a class.

Thank you to the students who volunteered to get Google docs going:

• a list of all themes
• a list of all proofs and then the subproofs to go with them

Please be sure to add your information to the documents when you receive them!

This week you will be writing opening statements for the prosecution and defense.  Read Section 2 on opening statements (p. 19-21).  Remember, openings are a ROAD MAP for the jury.  They know NOTHING about this case, so you need to walk them through your story.  Generally, this will be done chronologically.  A basic out could look like this:

Intro:  "Your Honor. Members of the jury. May it please the court..."

Silver bullet (sort of like an exordium):  "This is a case about _______."  (Short theme/description....)

Narratio:  Briefly explain the "story" so the jury has their bearings.

Preview:  Go through either the main points of the witnesses or organize it around 3 proofs.  You can't "argue" in the opening - so use language like "the first witness will tell you...our second witness will describe....Then defense will call X, but she will show...etc."

Conclusion: wrap up your theme/story. And tell the jury what you want them to do: "At the end of this trial, we will ask you to return a verdict of (not) guilty on the charge of murder...."

Once you finish writing your two opening statements (again - 5 minutes each!), turn back to working on the examinations you are assigned (witnesses should be working with the attorney to draft these).

At our next Monday class, you will present your openings - you can read them. No need to work on memorizing them at this point. Bring a typed copy of each opening to turn in to me.  

POSTREMO

• Don't forget to bring to class: math problem; typed, printed copies of both opening statements; typed, printed copy of your complete short story (following the parameters set forth above); relevant Bible verse(s) for our assigned short stories; and your Discovering Atomos book with exercises completed from lessons 1 & 2.

• No class next week!  Enjoy spring break!

Blessings on you, your studies, and your time off!  

~ Mrs. D