The Chinese Constitution and Amendments 11-27

Today we looked at the The Chinese Government.  How is it different to the system in the US?

In the afternoon we read Amendments 11-27 in the United States Constitution.  Some guarantee the right of women and all races to vote, while others limit the president to two terms in office (eight years).  The 18th Amendment banned alcohol while the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th.  What other amendments can you remember?

People march in favor of women’s suffrage (the right to vote).

 

We then considered different forms of legitimacy a government may have, i.e. it may claim to provide democracy, liberty, the rule of law, prosperity, infrastructure and services, cultural traditions or entertainment.  Which of these are most important to you and why?

 

Remember to bring back those t-shirt designs, tomorrow if possible.  Only do the front and write your name on the back.  We will vote on Thursday.

 

Vocabulary

The Chinese Communist Party adopted new economic policies.

Are you eligible to serve on a jury?

The census included questions about income.

The Bill of Rights

Today we finished making our Branches of Government poster and presented the parts to the class.  Here is a diagram to help you remember:

In the afternoon we read about the Bill of Rights.  These were the first ten amendments made to the US Constitution.  They guarantee certain freedoms to US citizens such as freedom of speech and religion and the right to a fair trial.  Some people were surprised that Americans also have the right to bear arms.  When we ranked them in order from most to least important, some put that one near the top and others put it on the bottom.

You can read the Bill of Rights here (in simplified language).

 

Please remember that Friday (the last day) is a half day because of Parent Teacher Conferences.  Please discuss with your parents your plans for that afternoon and tell me by Wednesday.

 

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write ten new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  Practice the spelling words (below).
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: Find an interesting news article to share with the class on Friday.  It can be from a newspaper or from an online news site.  Make sure you understand what it means and write a brief paragraph about why you found it interesting.

 

Spelling List 1

change

scheme             schedule

smash               shambles

Thursday          thousand

ghastly              ghetto

cough                 tough

though               themselves

whopper            whimper

alter          security          abolish           despot          neglect

 

Spelling List 2

transmit          transmission          permit          permission

collide              collision                    conclude     conclusion

persuade         persuasion

despotic     transient     altering     relinquish     security

neglected     imposition     abolition     tyrannical     amendment

 

New Vocabulary

The Thirteen Colonies wanted Britain to abolish the despotic laws and taxes they had imposed.  They said that Britain had neglected the security of the colonies and that they should relinquish their rule.

Don’t bother altering the sandcastle; it’s transient anyway.

Upcoming Events

This morning we played Memory.  We had to match fractions, decimals and percentages.

Jpeg

Jpeg

Jpeg

Jpeg

Jpeg

 

We finished presenting the Science Fair boards.

In the afternoon we continued reading about the creation of the United States Constitution.

 

New vocabulary

The thirteen states were sovereign but they decided to form a federation.  They wrote a constitution that divided power between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

Going to Mars by helicopter is impractical.

The US Constitution tries to prevent tyranny.  It allows amendments.  Some delegates got cold feet but all thirteen states joined in the end.

 

Upcoming events

March 24th: Parent Teacher Conferences

March 25th – April 9th: Spring Break

April 10th: First day back at school

 

Homework

I hope everyone had a good time at the Science Fair on Friday.  I expect that you learned a lot and are now better prepared for the rigors of Middle School science.  I also hope that you have a better understanding of the scientific method and that you are confident enough to conduct your own experiment when you want to figure something out.  You don’t have to be a professional scientist to do an experiment.

A big thank you to those who helped us pack up the tables and chairs at the end.  Many hands made light work.

Today we shared about half of the Science Fair boards.  We’ll share the rest tomorrow.  Please remember to take your board home after your presentation, except for the prizewinners Nolan, Yunji and Evelyn whose boards are on display at the LAC stairs.

We went to the ES library.  A reminder from Ms. Sylvia – please return all overdue books this week.  I gave a notice to everyone concerned.  If you think it is a mistake then please discuss with Ms. Sylvia.

We started reading Shh, We’re Writing the Constitution.  We brainstormed what we already know about the United States system of government.  It turns out, quite a lot!  The three branches will be review for some people who were in Ms. Tung’s class last year.

Please remember to complete and turn in any Thirteen Colonies essays still outstanding.

Parents, I believe you have been invited to make appointments with Ms. Ching for the March 24 Parent Teacher Conferences.  As always, I can make appointments to see you at other times during the year if necessary and I can also answer queries via email or Line if your schedule is tight.

 

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write ten new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  Practice the spelling words (below).
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: Choose ONE of these topics to research and share with the class on Friday:

• The life story or interesting facts about one of the US Founding Fathers.
• Interesting facts about the constitution or government of another country (not the United States or China, as we will examine these in class).
• Changes that have been made to the US Constitution since it was first framed.
• Another topic as negotiated with me.

A half to one page is enough.  Homework notebooks will be returned tomorrow.

 

Spelling List 1

through          thoughtful          threw          Thanksgiving

there

where               were                     which         whistle          wheat

phony               phantom            physical    philosophy   telephone

decide     terrain     traitor     ally     dire

 

Spelling List 2

educate          education          create          creation

produce         production        imitate        imitation

congratulate      congratulations

alliance     disarray     courageous     desertion     surrender

traitorous     subterranean     decisive     siege     elaborate

 

 

 

Science Fair Tomorrow!

This morning we did a counseling activity with Ms. Stephanie about bullies.

We read more about the American Revolutionary War and continued our essays.  Lots of people are now up to their second draft.

The British surrender at Yorktown.  Image credit: WikiCommons

 

In the afternoon we watched two more scenes from The Patriot.  We discussed what would make us fight.  Most people in Gr. 5 were more inclined to fight if they were invaded than to secure trade or help a failed state.  This would be a good issue to discuss with your family.

The Science Fair is tomorrow from 2:30pm, starting in the LAC cafeteria.  Parents welcome.  You make take students home after we finish the awards ceremony (around 3:15pm) but please let me know.  I would really appreciate some help packing up at the end (and there will be refreshments).  I hope everyone is as excited as I am.

A notice went home today about this year’s AST Summer Camp.  This is a fun activity to do if you’re staying in Taiwan over July.  If you have any questions about it, please ask myself, Mr. Sharp or Ms. Eppel.

 

Vocabulary

The allied forces were in disarray because of their dire need of a more courageous leader.  Some soldiers deserted, some surrendered and some turned traitor.  The rough terrain and then the decisive siege foiled their elaborate plan.  The general resigned.

Homework

Today we briefly shared our Science Fair projects then put them in the ES Lab for judging over the next two days.  We went to the library for borrowing and reading.

We continued working on our Thirteen Colonies essay.  Many people have finished the Peer Edit and are up to the Teacher Edit.

In the afternoon we read about the American War of Independence from the British point of view.  We imagined that we were members of the British Parliament and wrote a speech about what we think should be done.  Later we had a vote and a motion to allow American self-rule won by a small margin.  Too bad for the Americans Gr. 5 wasn’t running things 240 years ago.

 

We were unable to check last week’s homework in time because Mr. Sharp had to cover another class.  We will check two weeks’ worth next week.

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write ten new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  Practice the spelling words (below).
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: Find some real, interesting examples of percentages and present to the class on Friday.  For example, did you know that 35% of Australia is desert?  Also, 36% of Americans have a passport, compared to 70% of Brits.  Perhaps it’s so nice in the US that they don’t want to leave.  One more: 36% of people in the world live in either China or India.  That’s more than a third.  Try to find percentages that no one else will think of.

 

Spelling List 1

prank          stank          drink          Frank          blink

chalk          stalk            Falkland Islands           sulk

ghost          ghoul

enough      tough

although          thorough

loyal     oppose     retreat     skirmish     liberty

 

Spelling List 2

expression          impression          profession          discussion          oppression

extinction           prediction           subtraction          contraction        selection

pamphlet     reinforcements     boycott       fertilizer     supplement

abundance     desolation     petition     compromise     interference

 

Homework

This morning we went to the library.

We began writing an essay about the Thirteen Colonies from our notes.  Some people found they still need to do some more research.  Others had trouble deciding how to order the information.  We will continue tomorrow.

Tickets for Saturday’s Carnival went home today.  You can also buy them on the day.

 

Homework

1.  Read for at least 30 minutes every day and record in your log.
2.  Write ten new words in sentences.  These words will be chosen from the ones we learned in class.  Also, write 5 new words from your own reading and their definitions.  Due Friday.
3.  No spelling words this week.
4.  Use Khan Academy for a total of an hour over the week.
5.  Challenge: Complete your Science Fair poster.  Ask Mr. Sharp or I if you have any questions about what to do.  We will ask how you are going during the week.  It is due on Tuesday 7th.

 

Vocabulary

He pledged to endure any privations on the expedition.

Horse manure was the sole fertilizer used to supplement the soil.

The British started to enforce taxes.  Some Americans thought it was interference so they started a boycott.  They also signed petitions and tried to compromise.  Finally they started a revolution to win their liberty.

The Americans fought for independence.  There was a skirmish.  The English were forced to retreat until reinforcements arrived.

Both those loyal to the English and those opposed to them published pamphlets to further their cause.