TUESDAY, September 25, 2007

Welcome

to my

world!

Today is one of those fantastic days where your incredible students did an excellent job at all of the challenging work presented to them.

I do have a hilarious vignette to share with you all that illustrates the mind of a gifted child. Nearly every day I start with an "On This Day in History" segment which we discuss in depth. Students are then to write a response to the question, "Why is this significant?" They are to rewrite the question in the form of the answer.

Today we had a number of exciting historical events. I let the students select one historical item celebrated today and then write about it. Here are some of the selections: From China, today celebrates T 'u-ti Kung's birthday which, according to Chinese folklore, is the earth god. The festival, with its famous "moon pies", celebrates the harvest on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Today was also the anniversary of the first American Newspaper which was published on September 25, 1690 by Benjamin Harris. The newspaper was considered offensive and ordered for immediate suppression! In addition, today, in 1981, the first woman Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, was sworn in. (I remember it well, even though I was very young). One exciting historical event today was that of Greenwich Mean Time which began today in 1676. Amazingly, two very accurate clocks were set in motion at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. (It is now called Universal Time). In 1884 Greenwich Mean Time became the standard for the world. Today in Korea is the Chusok gala celebration for the Autumn harvest thanksgiving moon festival . Moon cakes are also served. This important day where Koreans pay homage to ancestors and express gratitude to guarding spirits for another year of rich crops has been observed since Silla Dynasty which was the beginning of the first millennium! On a sports note, on this day in history, the Major League Baseball's First Double Header was played in 1882. That makes today the 125th anniversary! (I believe there's a double header being played tonight in Safeco field against the Cleveland Indians). In addition, today marks the "discovery" of the Pacific Ocean in 1513 by Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador who climbed atop a peak in the Darien (present day Panama) claiming it as the South Sea in the name of the King of Spain. Also, today would have been Christopher Reeve's 55th birthday. He died on October 10, 2004. He was truly a Superman in my mind for in his courage, dignity and grace as he lived the final phase of his life. In Rwanda, today is their "Republic Day", for in 1961, the referendum abolished the monarchy. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were established on this day in history in 1890. (If you haven't been there, you really should take your child and go exploring! It is magnificent!) With all of those amazing items for On This Day in History there is also, in very small print at the bottom of the page, a listing of notable birthdays, one of whom was Barbara Walters. Out of all of these historical selections, one of my students selected Barbara Walters. The information on the "On This Day in History" said:

"Barbara Walters, 76, journalist, television host ("20/20", "The View") born Boston, Mass, September 25, 1931. "

My student wrote:

"Barbara Walters: This is significant because a 76 year old has eyesight as 20/20. Mine is 20/25. She was born before World War II and she can still see with 20/20 vision!"

Tonight's homework is the following:

LANGUAGE ARTS:

Due on Thursday: Students are to complete their Wordly Wise Lesson 3, their Helping Verb packet, and their Write Stuff newsletters.

Social Studies:

Explorers are to complete by Friday, Geography Packet Week 3.

Navigators are to work on their Geography Week 4 packet. This is due on Friday.