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WordMasters Vocabulary Cluster Group

This week students deepened their understanding of the vocabulary words by sculpting them out of clay, drawing cartoons, or acting them out. They also compared and contrasted definitions to see which words fit together in the analogy patterns used by the WordMaster contest.

Using a visual thesaurus will also help students understand the definitions. Visuwords  is a free online thesaurus that shows word maps for each words and helps students see the connections between definitions. 

Visuword website

vestige

Homework:  Study the words and definitions.  

November Learning @ Lunch

ELP Lunch: Paper Plate Geometry

Join us for lunch on Tuesday, November 15 and create some beautiful geometric sculptures out of paper plates!  Choose whether to continue working on the giant pyramid or learn a more complex folding pattern to create paper plate polyhedra. 

Science Fair of Iowa: Research Plans Due

Reminder:  Research plans for science fair projects are due on November 15.  These will not be final drafts, but they should be sufficiently well thought out that not too much revision will be required.  Final drafts are due on November 18, along with Form 1B and the SSTFI permission form signed by parents.  Anyone who would like feedback while creating the research plan may email a draft to Mrs. Dixon (janet.dixon@ames.k12.ia.us), and comments will be provided.

AMC 8 Tuesday, November 15

The AMC 8 competition will take place on Tuesday, November 15.  This is an international math competition sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America and aimed at eighth grade students.  In 2010 over 150,000 students participated worldwide.  The problems are more challenging to solve than those typically encountered in the grade level curriculum, but they do not require knowledge beyond the eighth grade curriculum.  The challenge is in insightful and creative problem-solving.  The competition is a 40 minute, 25 question test.  All Algebra and Geometry students will be taking the test during their math classes.   All 7th and 8th grade Math students (not in Algebra or Geometry) who signed up for the test will report directly to the Media Center at the beginning of 2nd period.  The only materials needed are a couple of number 2 pencils and an eraser.

If you are participating in this competition and would like to find out how to make your experience more enjoyable and successful, join Mrs. Dixon for lunch in F102 on Monday, November 14.  Test-taking tips and problem-solving practice are on the agenda.  

8th WordMasters

Eighth grade students began their study of WordMaster words this week. After taking a pretest over the list of words, students analyzed WordMaster analogy patterns. The first list of WordMaster words include...

stratagem	wreak	fortuitous	aplomb
constrict	equivocal	travesty	slander
astute	debacle	aggrieve	inane
maw	eviscerate	patent	opportunist
wax	myriad	infamy	appease
calamitous	exploit	incite	exemplary
patron	patronage	opportunistic	incitement
equivocate	equivocation	inanity	constriction

 Homework: Due Monday, November 14, 2011: 

Using index cards, write the word on one side and the parts of speech and all definitions on the other side for the first twelve words. 

Homework: Due Monday,  November 21, 2011:

Finish creating index cards for the words #13-25.

Seventh Grade WordMasters

WordMasters, a national  analogy based vocabulary contest, has three sessions a year for four weeks at a time. Students will meet each Thursday in November to practice analogies and learn the definitions of the twenty-five WordMaster words. WordMasters uses Websters dictionary for word definitions.

The 7th grade WordMaster words for this session include:

vestige	brace	comely	dross
stoke	capricious	glut	shirk
resolute	umbrage	exhort	heedless
firebrand	slake	gingerly	deficit
browbeat	shiftless	hankering	confront
bountiful	cudgel	skirt	residual
fuse

Homework: Students create flashcards for words 1-12. The word should be one one side and the parts of speech with corresponding definitions on the other. Students meet again for WordMasters on November 9th.