Persuasive Essay: No Smoking by Bella Ercolano

No Smoking

Do you think smoking is unhealthy? Well, I do because it makes people sick and makes people avoid other people. The people who smoke get sick and die.

My first reason is that people get sick by breathing in the smoke. For example, I have asthma and when I breathe in the smoke and I can’t breathe. And you don’t know if someone else has asthma so you might be injuring someone else really really bad without knowing it. I know that a lot of people have it so please don’t do it!

Another reason is the people who smoke will get no friends because no one will want to be around them. Then people will be very lonely  without friends because people don’t want to be around someone who smokes. According to what I know not one person does!!!!!!!

My last reason is the people who smoke can get lung cancer and die. And no one wants that to happen!!!!!!

So are you convinced?????? If you are great!!! If your not read this as many times as you need until you are!!!

DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you doing still standing here???????

Gooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

Persuasive Essay: Litering by Mia Van Doren

Do you think littering should stop? Well you're right! Let me explain to you why. Sea life could die out! Also, do you want to walk in trash?! Adding on to that, it smells!

One reason littering should stop is sea life could die! That means the  animals can become extinct! Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for
jellyfish. It could get stuck in its system and it could die! According to scientists over 1 million sea turtles died in 3 years from litter in the ocean.

Another reason littering should stop is it's everywhere on the
streets! It could catch on fire! That could set your house on fire!
And no one likes to get gum on their shoe. Littering could be dangerous. You can slip on plastic wraps. I know that that feels pretty embarrassing. I think you don't like it either. No one does. And if you're walking your dog, some food or a drink could have been spilled over. If your pet eats or drinks it, it could get sick or have a shorter lifespan!

Another reason littering should stop is it smells! Do you like
inhaling trash? If you like to go to the the beach it stinks. The
litter makes the places you love to go to, or even just to go to get some fresh air, it won't work! I used to walk down the same block when I was little. A nice garden, peaceful, quiet- NOT ANYMORE! The litter piled up and it smells!

Littering is a terrible and horrible thing. The sea life could be gone
forever! The litter could cause a fire. It could burn down a whole
block of buildings! And on top of everything it has a terrible stench! Lets make the world a better place to be! Stop littering!!!!!!

Writing: Persuasive Essay

Writers in class 4-411 learned all about what it takes to write a persuasive essay!

We learned to:

*Choose topics we feel passionately about and take a stance on the topic
*Write an introduction that sets up our readers (with a hook, opinion statement, and three reasons)
*Write 3 body paragraphs, one for each reason
*Include evidence (anecdotes, quotes, micro-stories, lists, etc.) to support each reason
*Unpack each piece of evidence with a sentence or two to explain how it relates back to our reasons
*Revise our evidence to make sure it is as strong as possible
*Revise our language to make sure our word choices really convey our meaning
*Write a conclusion that wraps up our essays and leaves our reader still thinking about our topic 


Please enjoy reading our persuasive essays!

Homework 12/14/12

 HOMEWORK FOR 12/14/12

DUE 12/17/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write long off some of your post-its to grow your ideas.

Writing: Publish your persuasive essay using all of your revisions and edits. Make sure you write neatly and be sure to use paragraphs to separate your introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, body paragraph 3, and conclusion. If you type it, I will put it on our class website! Email it to msmactas@gmail.com

Social Studies: Remember, your Native American project is due December 21^st!

Have a great weekend!

Native Americans of NY State Culminating Project

You have learned so much about the Native Americans of NY State! Using all of your notes, please complete the project below. Remember, your project is DUE Friday, December 21st!

Native Americans of NY State

Culminating Project Guidelines

Congratulations on become social scientists! You have learned all about the culture, food, government, daily life, and geographical features of the Algonquians, Iroquois, and Lenape Native Americans. You learned various note-taking strategies such as sketching, making a web, boxes and bullets, and creating quick lists to help you organize and interpret information. Now it’s time to showcase all that you have learned!

Please choose one of the following options:

Historical Fiction Story Write a historical fiction story about Native Americans living in NY State using what you have learned about narrative writing Guidelines: -At least 2 pages in length -Shows evidence of nurturing, revising, editing and publishing -Follows story structure (beginning, middle, end) -Includes elements of narrative writing (dialogue, action, inner thinking, setting, etc.) -Includes relevant, specific information about Native Americans in NY State that you learned from this unit

Compare and Contrast Essay Write an essay to compare and contrast your life now in NY State with the way life was for the Native Americans Guidelines: -At least 2 pages in length -Shows evidence of nurturing, revising, editing and publishing -Follows essay structure (introduction with claim, body paragraphs with supporting details, conclusion) -Includes relevant, specific information about Native Americans in NY State that you learned from this unit

Diary Entry Write a diary entry describing your daily life and activities as a Native American living in NY State Guidelines: -At least 2 pages in length (or two separate entries, one page each) -Written from the perspective of a Native American living in NY State (Think: What is life like for you? What might you have done in a typical day?) -Includes relevant, specific information about Native Americans in NY State that you learned from this unit

Series of Sketches Create a series of at least 8 scenes to showcase what life was like for the Native Americans in NY State. Guidelines: -At least 8 half-page scenes - Must include detailed drawings, dialogue tags, thought bubbles, and labels -Sketch in pencil as your draft, but the final sketches should be in color -Includes relevant, specific information about Native Americans in NY State that you learned from this unit

Secret Pal Book Exchange

Remember, we are having our secret pal book exchange at our holiday party on Thursday, December 20th. Please make sure you keep your secret pal a secret! Don't forget to bring in your books by Monday, December 17th.

Secret Pal Book Exchange

4-411 is having a Secret Pal Book Exchange!  In this exchange, each child will receive one new paperback book from another child in the room as a reading gift. We will have the exchange at our class holiday celebration on Thursday, December 20^th.

Here is how it will work:

Who do we get a book for?

Your child has received the name of another child.  This is your child’s book exchange secret pal!

How do we know what type of book to get?

Your child has received the book request of a few favorite books/authors/series of another student in our room.

What does my child do with the book once we buy it?

Wrap it up in wrapping paper and send it to school with your child.  It must be wrapped so that it is a surprise!

How do we label it?

Put the name of the child who the book is FOR on the outside. Do NOT put your own name on the book…remember, it is a secret!

Thank you, and happy book shopping!

Please send in all books by Monday, December 17^th.

*If you are unable to send a book with your child for any reason at all, please send me a note.  A book will be provided on your child’s behalf so that all students will receive a book!

Homework 12/12/12

 HOMEWORK FOR 12/12/12

DUE 12/14/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write some post-its to keep track of your ideas while you read!

Time for Kids: As part of your nonfiction reading, read the article “Coolest Inventions of 2012” and complete the questions that follow. DUE FRIDAY

Writing: Collect evidence (facts, quotes, anecdotes) to support your reasons and revise your essays to include that evidence.

Math: Complete weekly word problem #10. DUE FRIDAY

Homework 12/7/12

 HOMEWORK FOR 12/7/12

DUE 12/10/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write some post-its to keep track of your ideas while you read!

Writing: Publish your personal essay using all of your revisions and edits. Make sure you write neatly and be sure to use paragraphs to separate your introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, body paragraph 3, and conclusion.

Have a great weekend!

Homework 11/30/12

 HOMEWORK FOR 11/30/12

DUE 12/3/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write some post-its to keep track of your ideas while you read!

Word Study: Glue or tape your old word study words into your notebook. Cut out and initial your new words.

Social Studies: Start thinking about your social studies project. Remember, it is due December 21^st!

If you haven’t made a cover for your independent writing project, please make it!

Have a great weekend!

Homework 11/28/12

HOMEWORK FOR 11/28/12

DUE 11/30/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write some post-its to keep track of your ideas while you read!

Book Lover’s Notebook: As part of your nonfiction reading, choose another article to read in TFK. Take notes in your notebook using boxes and bullets.  

Math: Complete Weekly Word Problem #8. DUE FRIDAY

Word Study: Study your word study words for a quiz.

If you haven’t made a cover for your realistic fiction piece, please make it!

Field Trip 11/19

Don't forget that Monday is our field trip to the Museum of the American Indian!

Please remember to send your child to school with a bagged lunch.

Chaperones- please meet in the cafeteria around 9:20am

Reading: Using Precise Language

We know that readers use precise language when talking about their characters. We realized that using boring, dull words doesn't really give anyone a clear picture of the character. Instead, readers think of specific words to describe the way their characters are FEELING in each moment in their stories. 

Homework 11/16/12

 HOMEWORK FOR 11/16/12

DUE 11/19/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write some “rising star” inference post-its. Remember to look at your mentor post-its to see how you pushed yourself to earn more stars!

Writing: Finish publishing your realistic fiction story DUE MONDAY. Published independent writing project DUE WEDNESDAY

Field Trip: Don’t forget to bring a bagged lunch on Monday!

Have a great weekend!

Homework 11/13/12

 HOMEWORK FOR 11/13/12

DUE 11/16/12

Reading: 1) Read 20 minutes (each night) in your fiction books and 20 minutes in your nonfiction books and log. 2) Write some “rising star” inference post-its. Remember to look at your mentor post-its to see how you pushed yourself to earn more stars!

Writing: Continue working on your independent writing project. REVISIONS & EDITS DUE FRIDAY.

Math: Complete the “Factors and Factor Pairs” homework sheet. Practice your math facts.

Word Study: Choose an activity from your new word study menu and try it with your word study words.