The Greak Kapok Tree

This week, Mrs. Yollis' third graders are reading The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry.

The story takes place in the rain forest of the Amazon. Throughout the story, rain forest animals try to persuade a logger to leave the kapok tree.


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For language study, we searched the book looking for past tense verbs. We sorted the verbs according  to the spelling pattern: 

• add -ed
• double the consonant and add -ed
• drop the silent e and add -ed
• change the y to an i and add -ed

First, we set up the four categories.

Next, we searched for past tense verbs from the story.

Finally, we shared the list as a class. The most common past tense verb spelling? Just add -ed.

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The class also researched rain forest animals in the online encyclopedia that the PFC purchased.

In the comment section, research a rain forest animal or plant using the World Book Encyclopedia. Write a comment as if you are that animal or plant! Be sure to include facts you learned from the online encyclopedia. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! (Use your own words!)

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It will be exciting to learn about an animal from that animal!

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 generously purchased from the PFC, it is important for everyone to understand how to share learning without just copying.

It is wrong to copy and paste! 

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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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Next week, our school will have National Geographic's

Giant Traveling Map of Asia. Use World Book Online to

 research some information about the Asian continent. 

How big is Asia in square miles?

What is the population?

How many countries? 

Pick an Asian country to learn about.

What are the highest and lowest points on the

 continent?

What languages are spoken?

What bodies of water border Asia?

What animals are found in Asia?

*     *     *     *     *

What would you like to learn about Asia? 

What did you learn about Asia from World Book?

Remember, to put the facts in your own words!

What is Plagiarism?

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary:

*     *     *     *     *

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.

*     *     *     *     *

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. 

*     *     *     *     *

 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!

What is Plagiarism?

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary:

*     *     *     *     *

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.

*     *     *     *     *

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.


Example:

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

*     *     *     *     *

 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!

(If your comment gets published, you will earn five minutes of free time on Mrs. Yollis' website!)