What is Plagiarism?

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary:

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Now that Mrs. Yollis' class is learning to research using the World Book Encyclopedia Online, it is important for everyone to understand how to share learning without just copying.

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How to share learning without becoming a plagiarist is tricky.

Step 1:   Read the passage completely.

Step 2:   Take notes on the interesting parts.
                  (IMPORTANT - Only write facts. Do not copy sentences.)

Example:

• California
• largest population
• 33,871,648 people

Step 3:    Use the facts to compose your own sentences.
                    Now is a good time to add your opinion as you share.

Here are my own sentences using my California facts:

I was surprised to learn that my state, California, has the largest population of all fifty states. There are approximately  34 million California citizens. 

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 How do you research?

How would you feel if someone took your writing and tried to pass it off as their own?

Please leave a comment with something that YOU researched. Remember, put it in your own words!

Angle Quiz: Acute? Obtuse? or Right?

In geometry, we are learning about angles!

An angle is a  figure formed when two rays share the same endpoint.

 
Below is a special angle called a right angle. 
It is also called a 90˚ angle.

 

Any angle less than a right is called an acute angle. 

Any angle greater than a right is called an obtuse angle. 

Below is a quiz. Can you guess the angle?

Name That Angle! on PhotoPeach

Do you see any acute, right, or obtuse angles in your house?

Tell us about them!

National Geographic Live: Brian Skerry

Mrs. Yollis and the other third grade students went on a field trip to see Ocean Soul by Brian Skerry. This program was sponsored in part by Ingrid Hanzer on behalf of  National Geographic Live! 

In reading and science, the class is learning about animal habitats. 

The ocean is the world's largest habitat! 

Students line up to board the bus to the Broad Theatre. Thank you, PFC, for sponsoring the travel expenses!

We were met by Dan Beaupre,  director of Educational Partnerships for National Geographic Live! 

Mrs. Yollis, Brian Skerry, Ingrid Hanzer (sponsor), Dan Beaupre

After the presentation, students ate lunch on the grass outside the theater.

Brian Skerry emailed Mrs. Yollis some photographs to use on the class blog! Remember, it is essential to have permission to use someone's work. 

Here are some of Brian Skerry's wonderful photos!

Brian Skerry harp seal photograph used with permission.

Brian Skerry hermit crab  photograph used with permission.

Brian Skerry manatee in fresh water spring photograph used with permission.

Brian Skerry yellow goby photograph used with permission.

Brian Skerry female leatherback turtle photograph used with permission.

Our time spent learning about the ocean with Brian Skerry was inspiring. Here are some watercolor paintings created by students after seeing Mr. Skerry's photographs of the ocean. 

Ocean Watercolors! on PhotoPeach

What did you learn about the ocean from Brian Skerry? 

What did you learn about photography? 

Happy 50th Birthday, AA (Australian Parent)

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Today we are sending a special birthday song out to a wonderful Australian parent. This parent, named Alma or AA,  has been a supportive person of this classroom blog for the past two year. Here is a post from 2010 when she and her daughter, Bianca, sent our class an Australian care package! This mother-daughter pairing has developed an online friendship between Mrs. Yollis and her mother!

AA's daughter, Bianca, is a former student of Mrs. Morris in Australia.Through our classroom blogs we have gotten to know one another. AA dedicates a lot of her time to support classroom blogging. She regularly leaves quality comments for students, and we certainly appreciate her support!

Thank you, Sarah, for the violin accompaniment!

A classroom blog is a fabulous project filled with wonderful friendships!

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Click here to see a special birthday blog for Alma's birthday! 

Mr. Yollis Shares About Kodiak Grizzly Bears!

Mrs. Yollis' class has been reading Badger Claws of Ojai, the story of a Chumash Indian boy. In the story, the Chumash boy encounters a grizzly bear named Old Silver Tip.

To complement the story, Mr. Yollis came in to share about his experiences with a sub-species of grizzly called Kodiak grizzly bears. 

Even Beverly enjoyed learning about her relatives! 

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Kodiak Island is the largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, and it is the second largest island in the United States.

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Here are some photo from Kodiak Island. The bears and Mr. Yollis were there to fish for salmon!

Notice the salmon trying to get up the falls to the lake where they can spawn.

Grizzly bears have a large hump above their shoulders. The males, called boars, can weigh up to 1400 pounds. Females, called sows,  range in weight from 500-700 pounds.

Above is a photo of One Ear. She had three baby cubs.

Above is One Ear and two of her cubs. Her babies watch her and learn how to catch salmon.  

Lots of flora and fauna can be found in Alaska! That's a fancy way of saying there are lots of plants and animals in Alaska.

  Above Mr. Yollis tries to compete with bears to catch a tasty salmon dinner! Luckily, there was enough salmon for everyone!

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Here are some videos Mr. Yollis took on his trip. 

Enjoy and Learn!

Transportation to rural areas in Alaska is done by float plane. Watch the video to see a float plane land on the ocean!

Here is a video full of fun facts about grizzly bears!

Did you know that grizzly bears love water! Below is one looking under the water for salmon!

Here is a video clip of a grizzly fishing for salmon at the bottom of a waterfall.
Will he catch a salmon?

Below is a video clip of One Ear playing with her three cubs!

Would you enjoy a float plane ride to the wilderness?

What did you learn about grizzly bears?


Please leave a comment below!

                                                                                            

CHALLENGE!

Try to write a sentence in your comment that starts with a dependent clause.

Dependent clauses start with special words:

After, Before, Since, While, When, If, During.

 A dependent clause ends with a comma and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It must be followed by an independent clause, 
which is a sentence that can stand alone!

                                                                                            

Fun With Opacity!

In science, we are learning about light. Today we learned that some kinds of matter block light. If an object blocks light it is opaque (oh PAYK).

We went outside and created animals using our opaque hands!

Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

Photo #4

Photo #5

Photo #6

Photo #7

Here are some other more difficult shadow puppets to create! 

Click to Enlarge.

What do the numbered shadows look like to you?

Are there any opaque objects in your house?

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King!

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Last year, Mr. B. accompanied the class as they honored Dr. King with a song.
Listen and enjoy! 

Below are the words to sing along!
 

Once there was a man named King, Alleluia.

They called him Martin Luther King,  Alleluia

 King was wise and he was good, Alleluia.

He believed in brotherhood, Alleluia.

CHORUS:

Martin Luther King,

Freedom was his dream.

Martin Luther King,

Freedom was his dream.

Martin’s eyes were colorblind, Alleluia.

For he loved people of every kind, Alleluia.

 He had a dream for you and me, Alleluia.

He knew that all men must be free, Alleluia.

CHORUS

Fun Facts:

• American's celebrate his birth on the third Monday in January. MLK Day is a national holiday. 

• Martin was first named Michael, but his name was later changed to Martin, after  his father. His father's name was Martin Luther King, Sr.

• 1948 was the year he graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
  
 

• In 1955, Mr. King received his doctorate degree from Boston University. His new title was Dr. King.
  

• Dr. King used nonviolent acts to change the unfair laws of the U.S.
  

• On August 28, 1963, Dr. King gave his "I have a Dream" speech in Washington, D. C. to over 200, 000 people. This important speech was given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. 

• In 1963, MLK was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the civil rights movement.

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Do you know any other interesting facts about Dr. King?

How did you like the song?

Link to the comment section is under

the 

3 images below! 

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Six Students Earn Their Own Blogs!

In Mrs. Yollis' class, students who demonstrate responsible work habits and regularly participate in the class blog are eligible to earn their own blog. Maintaining a blog takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Today, six students are ready to take on that responsibility.

A big thank you goes out to the parents of our student bloggers.
Parents are the administrators of each student blog and have been learning right alongside their child.  Well done parents!

Behold!

Click here to visit:  Leila's Lounge

Click here to visit: The Kelly Connection

Click here to visit:  Sasha's Sensational Scoop

Click here to visit: The Voice of Royce

Click here to visit:  Come Somersault With Sarah!

Click here to visit: Mia's Marvelous Moments

Rather than leaving a comment here, please click on one of the student blogs above.

They would love to hear from you!

Learn About Peru!

On Friday, Alexandra's father came in and talked about the country of his birth, Peru! 

First, we went down to the giant map to locate Peru.

Beverly got a chance to see the map for the first time.

As luck would have it, Alexandra's cousin was visiting during the same week that we had the giant traveling map! That's serendipity! (Serendipity is a fancy word for good luck.)

Alexandra's father shared a slide show. (Embedded below) with photos of Peru, including one of a surfing beach in Lima, Peru.

After his presentation, we all went outside to enjoy a special Peruvian treat!

Even Mrs. Yollis got one of the yummy desserts!

¡Muey delicioso!

Check out his fabulous slideshow! It includes images from his trip to Machu Pichu and the Nazca Lines. 

About a dozen years ago, Mrs. Yollis traveled to Peru. She spent some time at Machu Pichu and thought it was a beautiful historic location.

Mrs. Yollis hiking up a portion of the Inca Trail.

The mountains were terraced or carved into steps.

When Mrs. Yollis was in Machu Pichu, there were llamas grazing on the terraced mountain.

What did you learn about Peru?

Would you like to visit Machu Pichu or the Nazca Lines? 

Link to the comment section is under

these three photos.

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Comments From Argentina!

Mrs. Yollis' school has National Geographic's  Giant Traveling Map of South America for the week. In past years, they've had Asia, North America, and Africa. 

Mrs. Yollis contacted a friend of hers on Twitter who lives in South America. She asked her amiga (Spanish for female friend) to share a little about her native country of Argentina. This fabulous comment from Greta Sandler lead to lots of excitement and learning about Argentina. 

Mrs. Yollis contacted another friend who lived in Argentina, Silvia Tolisano.  Here is a wonderful comment from Mrs. Tolisano, also known as Langwitches. She commented about what she liked about her South American country! 

These comments prompted more learning about South America!

Yollis' Argentinians gather around the COUNTRY'S border. Colored arrows were placed on points of interests.  
Green arrow ~ Buenos Aires, the city where Greta Sandler lives and teaches ELS students. Red arrow ~ Iguazu Falls, one of the Seven Natural  Wonders of South America! Blue arrow ~ Laguna del Carbon, lowest point in South America. 

Here is the location of Iguazu Falls.It is located on the border of Argentina and Brazil.

We pointed to this special water feature on the giant map.

Mrs. Yollis found a beautiful video of this awesome waterfall in Argentina. Iguazu Falls is something to see!

Do you know any other facts about Argentina?

Research Iguazu Falls and share! What river is falling? 


Do you have any questions for Ms. Sandler or Mrs. Tolisano?