Thursday, November 14, 2013

GRA: Sharon Draper Chat

 Last Thursday, we got the opportunity to participate in a live chat with Sharon Draper, the author of Out of My Mind. When we talked to Sharon Draper, other students from all over the world also talked to her through twitter and TodaysMeeet about the book Out of My Mind and how she felt about the book. We asked her questions like who is her favorite character in the book. We also asked her who would she would be if she were a character in the book. She said she would be Ms. V. She also talked with the founder of  Global Read Aloud, Mrs.Ripp about how she picked the book that was picked for the GRA 13. "I was so excited that my book was picked for the Global Read Aloud," said Sharon Draper. She told us about her new book and how many books she has written. She has written thirty-one books. Each book has been published. She also told us that she started off as a teacher. It took a long time for her to think of the characters' names for Out of My Mind. She always changed the character's name around a few times. She is in the middle of writing another book right now. All she told us about the book she is writing is that there will be a character that is nothing like Melody, the girl in Out of My Mind. She did say she would be eleven years old like Melody.

We are so excited to read her next book. Most of the people in our class our going to look for more of Sharon Draper's books. The book Out Of My Mind was very inspirational. What we most like about Sharon Draper is that she writes things that are realistic and not rainbows and unicorns.She is a great writer to us and she has inspired us to follow our dreams. She also taught us not to judge a book by its cover.

Blog you later!!!!! ~SC&TD

Friday, November 8, 2013

Creepy Science

On Halloween we did a day called Creepy Science. It was when we did these cool and creepy science stations. We did the Franken- Pickle, Goblin Goo, Screaming Quarter, Blast Off, Magic Potion, and Spooky Glove. In Franken- Pickle we electrocuted a pickle to see what caused the yellow sparks to erupt inside the pickle. Goblin Goo was were we mixed glue, borax, and water together and it created a substance that felt like goblin goo. The Screaming Quarter is when  we put a quarter on dry ice to see if it causes a reaction. Blast Off is when when we put 3 mentos in coke, coke diet, and coke zero to see what would happen. In Magic Potion, we mixed dry ice,green food coloring,and water. In Spooky Glove we put vinegar and baking soda in an empty bottle of water and then we put a glove on the top to see what would happen.

During Franken-Pickle we electrocuted a poor pickle, when it didn't do anything to us. Yellow sparks were inside the pickle and they didn't go exploding out. It was very interesting. Mrs. Abrams did that station and she was a British Einstein. It was so funny. Kids were talking about it the entire day.

During Goblin Goo we mixed glue, borax, and water. It created a gooey substance that we believe is called Goblin Goo. Mrs. Brewer did this station. She let us each take a little bit of goo. But be warned. If this is left on any substance that is not plastic, it will melt into the substance.

Screaming Quarter was when we put a metal object to a piece of dry ice. The oxygen was trying to escape, so it made a screaming sound.

Blast Off was when we put three Mentos into a bottle of Coke, Coke Zero, and Coke Diet. We wanted to see which explosion would go the highest.

Magic Potion is when we mixed dry ice, green food coloring, and water. We wanted to see if we could drink it, because we know that you can't eat dry ice. You can!

Last, but not least, there is the Spooky Glove. During Spooky glove we put vinegar in a bottle of water and then added baking soda. We put a glove on top and watched to see what would happen. The glove inflated.

Fun, exciting, and mysterious learning all wrapped up into one creepy day.

~ SC & TD

Awareness Week at RQMS

Last week was Awareness Week at Rock Quarry Middle School. We took time to think about how we could make a difference in the lives of others. Monday was Red Out for drug awareness. Everyone wore red to support the cause. Tuesday was Gold Out for childhood cancer awareness. Even though people didn't have much gold, we pulled it off. People wore yellow if they didn't have any gold clothes. Wednesday was blue out for diabetes awareness. Thursday was our Pink Out day for Breast Cancer. Our teachers let us spray our hair with pink. . We actually did a fund raiser where we could bring $2 for a pink streak or $5 for our whole head. Everybody just about sprayed their hair pink. All the money we raised went to the Susan Kohmen Foundation. On Friday, it was black out day for Autism. Everybody somehow,  had black on their clothing. It  was awesome seeing everybody with black on. Everyday on the intercom, somebody talked about what we were supporting that day. Some people told stories on how that sickness affected them and their families. It was a week that we will always remember. I think that it touched us all and told us more about some sicknesses that are affecting lots of other peoples lives around the globe.
 ~SC & TD