Turner's Passport to Learning

Slave Ship Simulation – Today our classroom turned into a slave ship.  We taped off the dimensions of 4 feet by 18 inches and had one student per square as I read the The Middle Passage:  A Slave Narrative by Olaudah Equino.  Students then wrote a 5 sentence diary response about the experience.  Ask your [...]

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Today students continued their study of the African Slave trade by visiting the library exhibit- Bunce Island.  Students were given a scavenger hunt to complete while reading about the history of Bunce Island.  Yesterday, our class took Cornell Notes on the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and tomorrow we will continue our learning by reading The [...]

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Today, students read I Met a Witch Doctor….as we continued our study of African cultures and religion.  On Monday students will work in their groups to create a skit to demonstrate their understanding of animism and why people would go see a Shaman.
HW:  None – enjoy your weekend!

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Today you had a RAFT writing assignment which all students began working on in class.  Make sure you finish the assignment for homework and follow your rubic/directions.  Remember, I want this written not typed as you are a Bedouin keeping a journal.
Tomorrow I will be at school by 8:15 for any students that were absent [...]

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Today, is our last day for our African ethnic centers.  We have learned about the Swahili, Bantu, Arab, and Ashanti.  Also, you had the opportunity for extra credit by making African Tribal Masks, Kente Cloth, or writing an African Folktale.  I am very excited about your presentations – the creativity I have seen in your [...]

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Hi Students,
Today, you took your Africa Map Test and we started learning about Africa’s ethnic groups.  As you worked in your centers, you learned about the Bantu, Arab, Swahili, and Ashanti – their language, religion, what part of Africa they lived in, and many other interesting facts.  We will continue our exploration on Tuesday (Monday [...]

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Hi students, I really enjoyed your presentations on the physical features of Africa today.  We had projects on the Roman Ruins, Victoria Falls, Zanzibar, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kalahari Desert, The Great Pyramids, Cairo, Madagascar, along with several ABC Books of Africa – I have great reading ahead of me. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s presentations. 
HW:  [...]

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Hi Students, today we watched a short video on camels – what an interesting animal!  We then shared all the neat facts we learned.  Afterwards, a few of classmates performed POINT/COUNTER POINT- a short play which focused on the positive and negative effects of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. 
HW:  Physical Map Test [...]

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Students, please remember to show your parents your report cards and have them signed and returned to me (I will check you off and give them right back).  Also, your teachers sent home conference letters today.  Please show these to your parents and bring them back signed.  I do have morning appointments available that week from [...]

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Hi students,
Well, it was a little difficult to focus in class today with the snow coming down outside wasn’t it?  I am proud of your research efforts with all of the excitement building outside.  A couple of reminders as you work on your project:
-All students should have a copy of their Tier Assignment Sheet & Rubric;
-We [...]

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