Latin American Tagxedo

Students in Ms. Cheston’s class, researched a topic in Latin America and then wrote a brief essay before sharing what they learned with their classmates. To visual represent their essay, they loaded it in Tagxedo and chose an image that reflected their topic. They could put the words in the shape of their image or around the image leaving the shape plan and their words as the background. Tagxedo is similar to Wordle, in that the more often the words appeared in their essay, the more prominent they were in their Tagxedo! See if you can identify the shape and prevalent words about their topics! Enjoy!

• Scarlet Macaw
• Tango
• Salsa
• Panama Canal
• Carnival
• Mayan Temples
• Diego Rivera
• Bullfighting

Trip to Enoch Pratt

Yesterday, the girls went to the Enoch Pratt Free Libarary Central Branch to begin researching their country project. Our class will be researching countries in Asia! They seem excited and eager to begin!

Fruit Tasting

Today in book club, we discussed and tasted different fruits for our essay. Each chapter is named after a fruit or vegetable as the main character's life patterns the planting and harvesting. Different fruits and vegetables hold various meanings for the character, and students will be writing an essay comparing a happy time in their life to a positive connotation fruit/vegetable, and a sad/angry time to a negative fruit/vegetable. Today, we tasted different chapter titles - Figs, Papayas, Avocado, Canteloupes, and Grapes.


Today in book club, we discussed and tasted different fruits for our essay. Each chapter is named after a fruit or vegetable as the main character's life patterns the planting and harvesting. Different fruits and vegetables hold various meanings for the character, and students will be writing an essay comparing a happy time in their life to a positive connotation fruit/vegetable, and a sad/angry time to a negative fruit/vegetable. Today, we tasted different chapter titles - Figs, Papayas, Avocado, Canteloupes, and Grapes.

Stick It To My Head - Learning Vocab

Ms. Cheston's book club is reading Esperanza Rising. It takes place following the Mexican Revolution, and is about a young wealthy Mexican girl who has to flee Mexico after her father is killed by bandits. Her mother, a few friends, and she journey to California to work on a farm. She learns to look at life through a different set of lenses, since her life in the California is very different than living on her Mexican ranch.

As a review of vocabulary for the first few chapters, we wrote words on sticky notes, and put them on our foreheads. We had to move around the room and talk to at least 5 different people. They had to describe the word and/or give a definition so the person with the sticky note on their forehead could guess the word. The students had a lot of fun helping each other learn the vocabulary!

Will You Be My Valentine?

Yesterday, during study hall, the 8th grade big sisters invited us to decorate cookies with them for Valentines day. Icing was heaped on, sprinkles were poured on, and the cookies were devoured! We returned the kind gesture today, by surprising our 8th grade big sisters with lollipop valentines that we taped to their lockers. The girls had been working on Valentines for their 6th Age buddies and 8th grade big sisters for a week, whenever we could sneak it in.

We journeyed over to the lower school at the start of school to deliver our 6th Age buddy valentines. And what is valentines with out a party? So, we partied it up and the girls shared their secret valentine gift with each other during our flex period! Pictures galore below!

Cotton Eyed Joe

Today, the girls went to the lower school to participate in the 7th Age gym class. Mrs. Krebs had taught the 7th Age a dance to "Cotton Eyed Joe," and asked if the 7th Agers could teach the 5th grade girls the dance. As we all know, we have to learn something better to teach it to someone else. So, we ventured over and the girls learned a new dance. It was very precious.

Intro to Latin America

On Monday, we begin exploring Latin America.  I am posting two videos - one just pictures, one has some text with the pictures.  I want you to watch both and write down 15 facts or impressions you have from watching them.  What did you learn about Latin America while watching?  When was this area settled?  By whom?  What countries make up Latin America?  etc.......  Bring these facts written or typed on a piece of paper for Monday.

Introduction to Latin America

The History of Latin America



Have fun learning!

Afghan Celebration

We finished "The Breadwinner" this week, which was about a girl living in Afghanistan at the time of the Taliban. After her father is imprisoned, the young girl has to pretend to be a boy to go to the marketpace and earn money for her family to live. The book gave us tremendous insight into Afghani culture and history, and lended for some wonderful discussions about persistence, bravery, honoring our families, etc. The girls really identified with Parvana, the main character.
To celebrate the end of the book, we shared a meal, simliar to how Parvana would have shared a meal with her family. We sat on the floor with pillows, listened to Afghan music, watched a slideshow of Afghan images, and dined on Afghani treats - hummus, cookies, date bars, dried apricots, and tea. As we ate, we had a book discussion. They drew cards that had questions asking them to predict what happened to the characters after the story ended. We had great fun! They are very insightful and thoughtful girls.