Welcome!

Hi, I'm Grace . I'm a 7th grader at MacDonald Middle School . I will be posting assignments and projects here through-out the school year. 

                                                                                                      Assignments 

Grace's Book Review

 Book: Wonder         Hour : 2nd

 Author: R.J. Palacio  Date : Oct. 10/14 

     Would you dare to be friends with someone who looks different? Well that's what the students of Beecher Prep have to ask themselves in this wonderful book Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

     Wonder teaches people everywhere to look beyond someone's image. Throughout the entire story of Wonder, we learn about the life of August, a 5th grade boy born with a deformed face. We jump from many perspectives throughout the story, however all the perspectives are telling the story of August. The book tells us about August going to school and not fitting in what so ever. It gets you excited for when he does make a friends : Jack and Summer. They go through their own trials and tribulations in the story but they're August's closest friends. August has a lot of problems with the kids in his school, but Julian's his biggest. Julian is snotty and rude. He is the story's antagonists. Wonder down to it's core is a story of someone who's different trying to fit in.

     I loved Wonder by R.J. Palacio and recommend it to anyone. It's a touching story that will bring fourth every emotion in you. So, if you want a good story to read I highly recommend Wonder!

 

 

 

                                                                                                                   Wanted:                                                               By: Grace Bargerstock                                                                                                             more language and elective options.

     Do you want your students to excel and be successful in life? I believe that schools should be offering more language and elective choices. Schools should offer more options because America needs more bilingual students,students should be given the chance to explore their full potential , and if given more choices students may become more excited and interested in school.

     First of all, America has a very low bilingual rate that we need to raise. A study done in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Education shows that 18% of Americans can speak a language other than English , while 53% of Europeans can communicate in a second language . The U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan states that “Americans need to read, speak, and understand other languages.” If we put more language options in schools and encourage our students to take multiple languages they my stick with those languages through-out their life.

     Another reason we should have more options for students is that our students should be able to explore their full potential. If given the chance students can really surprise you. Students should be given the chance to investigate engineering,neurology or even architecture. School is all about giving us an education, but we should also be inspired too try different fields of study to supplement the common core standards that we are learning now. This is one reason why schools should offer more options.

     Finally if students are given more choice it may improve their interest in school. If students are excited about coming to school their attitude to learn will improve. With an elective that excites them they will become generally more excited about coming to school and learning at school . Also, having more electives may help prepare students with deciding their major in college.

     In the end students should be offered more language and elective choices because America needs more bilingual citizens,everyone should be able to explore their full potential and students could be more excited about going to school. Over all giving your students more choices may improve their future and the world’s future in being more educated.

                                                                                                                Sources

            Education and language gap: Secretary Arne Duncan's remarks at the foreign language summit , December 8th ,2010 , US Department of Education

 

 

Laura and Grace's PSA

 

Assignment : Science Fiction

 

                                                                    By: Grace Bargerstock                       Never say never                             Hour: 2rd 

                “Come on Tommy catch up!”yelled John. They were riding their bikes down town. It was a windy fall day and both boys were peddling as fast and hard as they could.

“Slow down! I can’t keep up, I can never keep up.”Tommy exclaimed.

 “Never say never” said John. John was starting to round a sharp corner and out of the other side came a car at full speed. Neither of them(John or the driver) saw each other at first and neither of them had time to stop. Tommy heard the loud crash and screams. Suddenly he saw his friend on the street laying unconscious The driver was out calling 911, and Tommy didn't know what to do.

            A hour has past Tommy has been waiting in the hospital. Completely dazed and shocked by the experience. Both Tommy ad John’s families are there , all huddled together. No one spoke while the doctor, who had been operating on John  at the university hospital, came to talk to his parents. Tommy looked at their faces the doctor’s looked like a nervous person trying to stay calm. While John’s mother and father looked scared and confused. They both walk back over to the huddled group. John’s father started speaking”well, they said it looks like they can’t save John , or at least his body but because he was brought to the university hospital which was the closest. They think they can save his mind.There is an experimental operation where they take a person’s mind and put it into a robotic body that has some organic parts.”

            John’s mother spoke next “I know it sounds crazy but …” She spoke with tears rolling down her face “It’s his only chance!”.

            `”John and I have read about these experimental operations they barrel ever work, like one in a thousand” I said hopelessly.

            “well we’re going to try it, my wife is right it’s his only chance.” John’s father proclaimed. Everyone sat in silence as John’s parents rushed to tell the doctor their decisions.

            Weeks past Tommy had been told that the operation worked but didn't dare go see John yet. Finally Tommy’s mother forced him to go. He walked in the house, there was all sorts of medical equipment from the university laying around. Then he went into John’s room. John did look odd but also more human then Tommy thought he would. John looked around and asked “well what do you think?” in a joking tone. Tommy thought a lot of things like that he was surprised by the fact that John still had  hair and a face.

 Alas, that was not the sort of thing you say to a person or a robot person so he responded “You look different.”

“oh come on I know you want to ask if I’m now an destroying the world robot .”John said laughing. Tommy laughed too happy to have his friend back despite the differences. John and Tommy went on talking and laughing for quite a while, when they wanted to go down stairs . Tommy noticed how hard it was for John to walk. Tommy  didn't say anything but John read his looks.”Don’t worry just getting use to my new legs.” John said. Tommy looked down at the legs they looked almost human but have some lights coming from them. Tommy continued walking down stairs. John lightly yelled” hey slow down speedster, when did you get so fast.”John and Tommy smiled.

 Tommy said” Lets never go biking again.”

John replied “Never say never.”

                                                                                                                 The End

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                  Poems

 

 What's Normal

What's Normal?
What makes somethings normal,
and other things weird?
Who gets to decide what the status quo is and how do they know!
For a long time I've gone with the flow of the status quo but no more.
I think we've reached a new low. Nobody knows what normal truly is so I say no more to the status quo.
I hope you'll say no more as we'll.

 

 

 

                                                                                                    Perfection

 

                                                                                         Perfection....
                                                                                                               Is like walking up to a fresh blanket of snow and crystallized trees.
                                                                                         Perfection....
                                                                                                               Is not having to be worried or stressed about anything.
                                                                                         Perfection....
                                                                                                               Is something we strive for, and yet if we really look can see everyday.
                                                                                         Perfection....
                                                                                                               Is something that lies inside and all around you.
                                                                                          Now you have to bring out your....
                                                                                                                                                   Perfection.

 

 

 

Career Info. report

     There are many values that are important to me. I enjoy teaching and learning new things. I also think traveling and being exposed to other cultures is important. Currently I think of myself as a hard worker. I do well at school and I am a good student. I also love learning new things.

     To be a foreign language instructor can mean many things, you could be working in a high(or middle) school in the US. Or you could be half way across the world teaching others your native language. Foreign language instructors have to be knowledgeable and patient . In this career you could be teaching children or adults. Foreign language instructors make anywhere between 35k - 125k a year. In order to take this job you have to be either bilingual or poly-lingual. Which is a status I'm currently trying to reach by taking Chinese courses. 

     To become a foreign language instructor I will do my best to learn more languages. I'll also learn teaching skills in college for all age groups. Also, I will do my best to travel around the world and learn about as many different cultures as I can, so I can better in form my future students about the language they're learning's origin and culture. 

 

Research Paper

1) Introduction

-list advances made by him

2) Childhood/family

-parents and siblings

-apprenticing

3) Painting

-portraits

-Mona lisa

4) Scientific discoveries

-scientific illustrations

-human body discoveries

5) Inventions

-flying machine

-other inventions

6) Conclusion

-Where would we be today without Leonardo Da Vinci?

 

Introduction

Leonardo Da Vinci was an incredible man who achieved much in his life time. He revolutionized fields of painting, science, and mechanics. Leonardo Da Vinci led an incredible life making many advances in many fields, as well as being far ahead of his time and leaving an interesting legacy.

Topic 1: Childhood and apprenticing

Leonardo Da Vinci was born on April 15^th, 1452 in a town near Florence, Italy. He was the illegitimate son of Piero Da Vinci, who was a lawyer, and a country girl named Caterina. Leonardo lived with his father growing up. In later years Leonardo would have 17 half brothers and sisters.

Leonardo started learning his trade at the age of 15 when he started apprenticing. He was an apprentice to the artist Andrea del Verrochio (Andrea lived from 1435-1488). Andrea was already a well know and great artist in Florence but admitted that Leonardo soon surpassed his talent.

Topic 2: Paintings

Leonardo was an amazing painter who is still influencing us today with his work. His most well-known painting is one of the most popular paintings in the world called the “Mona Lisa”. He started painting the “Mona Lisa “in 1503 and it took many years to finish. It is said that it took 10 years just to paint the lips. The “Mona Lisa” itself has however been the subject of much debate regarding the identity of the sitter, but speculation aside it an amazing painting.

Leonardo also set a lot of standards for painters then and painters now. On example is painting realistically which many painters in the 16^th century soon would follow. Leonardo also believed that an artist must know not just the rules of perspective, but also the laws of nature. Leonardo was the inspiration for painters like Michelangelo and Raphael. And even today we still marvel at his 15 surviving paintings, just nine of which have the estimated insurance value of $2 billion dollars. Which shows how much we still love his paintings today.

Topic 3: Scientific discoveries

Leonardo made many achievements in the sciences, one of his biggest fields he studied was anatomy. In 1489 Leonardo started a notebook on the human anatomy. From 1510 to 1511 Leonardo studied corpses at the Santa Maria Nuova A hospital in Florence. It was there he drew over 240 sketches of the human body. It’s said that there he dissected about thirty corpses. Most likely because of this studying, Leonardo had the first accurate portrayal of human anatomy. He even studied embryology and the circulation of blood things that were not  

 understood at the time. In the end Leonardo was far ahead of his time in his scientific studies.

Topic 4: Inventions

Another field Leonardo was advanced in was mechanics (Science of force and motion). He drew plans for aircraft, helicopters and even parachutes. Leonardo didn’t just draw, he also built. Leonardo made a robot designed to look like a loin for the king of Florence. He made a clock that also kept the moon phases. He also made a giant crossbow it measures 27 yards, and it was made for pure intimidation. Alas, probably his most famous invention was his flying machine which was believed to be inspired by bats. Over all Leonardo made many advancements in mechanics.

Conclusion

In conclusion Leonardo has an incredibly diverse legacy of knowledge. Today his paintings and notebooks have documented everything he saw in the cosmos that gives us valuable insight into his life and times. He was also far ahead in fields of science and mechanics that weren’t even understood yet. Leonardo had lived an amazing life and has accomplished so much for one lifetime. I can’t wait to see who will be our generation’s Leonardo  Da Vinci.

 

Sources

1)      “Clock” Leonardo Da Vinci’s invention .N.p., n.d. web. 22 Feb. 2015

2)      “Giant Crossbow.” Leonardo Da Vinci’s Inventions .N.p,n.d. web. 22 Feb. 2015

3)      “Leonardo Da Vinci Biography.” Leonardo Da Vinci Biography .N.p,n.d.web .18 Feb.2015

4)      “Leonardo Da Vinci.” Leonardo Da Vinci N.p.,n.d. webpath.follettsoftware.com, 12 Feb.2015

5)      “Leonardo Da Vinci Myths,Explainedloupblog.”oupblogleonardo Da Vinci Myths Explained conments N.p.15 April.2014.web.13 Feb.2015

6)       “Leonardo Da Vinci.” Science N.p.,n.d.web.15 Feb.2015

7)      “Leonardo Da Vinci The Man, The Myth, The Mystery-cnn.com”CNN.Cable NewsNetworks,n.d.web.13 Feb.2015

8)      Leonardo Da Vici “World Book Encyclopedia, 2008, David Summers

9)      “Leonardo’s Horse.”Wikipedia.wikimediafoundation,n.d.web.17 Feb.2015

10)   “Mona Lisa Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.” Encyclopedia Britannica online. Encyclopedia Britannica,2Dec.2014.Web.14 Feb.2015

11)   “Museum of science, Boston” Renaissance Man,legacy.mos.org,.11 Feb.2015

12)   “World Biography.’Leonardo Da Vinci Biography N.p.n.d.web.18 Feb.2015

 

 

 

   Giver essay

            Have you ever wondered about what a world without knowledge would be like? In the book The Giver, by Lois Lowry, readers explore a world without wisdom and memories of the human race’s past. While there are a few positives to this memory-less world there are also major downsides that shows us (readers) the importance of memories. I believe that knowledge and wisdom are important because they give us self-expression, curiosity, and our humanity.

 

            First of all, knowledge and wisdom give us our self-expression. In The Giver there is a community without any color or individuality. The main character Jonas gains individuality by receiving memories. Through this he gains knowledge of the past. Jonas is saddened by his community because they lack differences and choice. This made me as a reader think how disappointing life would be if we didn't get to choose what color to wear or even something as important as our own jobs, I believe self-expression and self-discovery are two very important parts of our society today and it saddens me to think what the world would be like without it.

 

            Second of all, knowledge and wisdom give us curiosity. I firmly believe that without curiosity we would not be where we are today. Without curiosity human beings would have never explored the world or would've never gone to outer-space. We wouldn't have evolved into the intelligent species that we are today. Curiosity is a big part of who we are and how we've made it this far. Without it we wouldn't truly be living for a purpose we would simply exist.

 

            Finally my last reason why knowledge and wisdom are important is because without them we start to lack in our humanity. I find it a very scary , the thought  of being human but without humanity. In the book The Giver these people don’t experience real emotions (or at least not deep ones). They don’t experience or even know the meanings of love or pain, and without those emotions they are naïve to their own wrongs. Jonas at one point in the book ask his parents “Do you love me?”. In response they laugh at him. This hit him as well as me like a ton of bricks, because that don’t , they can’t, they don’t even understand the meaning of love. Without the wisdom/knowledge of love and pain these people lack their humanity.

 

            In conclusion a world without knowledge or wisdom is a world without self-expression, curiosity, and humanity. This is a world we can learn a lot from, however it is a world that we need to make sure remains fiction. It is our job to make sure we always find new ways to be self-expressive. It is our job to be a curios generation. It is our job to hold on to what makes us human to maker how appealing a painless world sounds. 

Earth Day Poem

Our world like a shining blue marble in a vast universe.

 

Our world with rivers cut from ice like dirt the has been shoveled aside.

 

Our world the only place you can walk through for hours on end, looking to the blue sky and yet can still be in awe at the creatures you'll see.

 

Our world has color like none other from the green shine of the Northern lights to the bright orange of a butterfly.

 

Our world a place that is shared among many different unique kinds. Some that fly in the sky and some that make motions down in the deep blue ocean.

 

Our world you've seen it beautiful and powerful. A place we call home and love so much....

So why do we destroy it and turn it all to dust?

 

Review of 7th grade English

I've learned so much, where I'm I suppose to start. I learned how to craft a poem and how important and useful word choice is and rhythm are. I learned about one of the greatest inventors who every lived. I now know what the difference between a simile and metaphor is. Over all I learned a lot, like an insane amount. However not all of it was about English, I learned about my classmates (who are now some of my very good friends). If there is anything I would have changed about this year I would have had us read more books, but I have to say that this year has taught me a lot and helped me improve my writing.

 

 

Goodbye everyone it has been a great year have a marvelous summer.

 

 

Until next year see you all soon!!