The Silver Chair

Pages 243

C. S. Lewis

          Plunging down from a cliff over the clouds, ready to meet death, but then they were caught by a gush of breath.  The Silver Chair has a series of adventures like all of the other Narnia books, only it's a totally different kind of adventure.  Eustace and Jill arrive in Narnia hoping to get away from their horrid school (as they have stated).  Having met Aslan, Jill has been given signs to overlook on their quest of finding the lost Prince, Rillian.  With a new companion named Puddlegum, they go on their task filled with Giants, Earthmen, and an Evil Queen/Witch from the "underworld."  Upon finding Prince Rillian, the team discovers that he had an enchantment that the Witch had put on him.  It would be horrifing to be a "slave" of the witch and be enchanted forever!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

374 Pages

          Imagine having to be in a death arena where one may starve, drown, or simply be killed by other competitors in the arena. That's what it's like in The Hunger Games of Suzanne Collin's novel about a girl named Katniss who was caught in this situation of competing in The Hunger Games.  There are twelve districts with a boy and girl elected for competing in the games.  In the end, there is only one survivor of the twenty-four contestants in the huge arena.  Katniss goes through many obstacles including dehydration, death of a companion, and love.  Of all the drama and death in The Hunger Games, there is a big role of friendship (apart from love).  Even though The Hunger Games is entertaining with the limited supplies and death in the hunger games, I would not like to play a part in it.

Computer Lab Response

May 31, 2012

Computer Lab Response

          Today in computer lab, we searched for career choices and ways of life as a college student.  First, we looked up and calculated our monthly needs to see our expenses for each month.  Then, our class picked a career and figured out our annual expenses.  Therefore, room 14ers figured out our annual salary needs.  This where the adventure begins.

          On another website, we took a survey with 180 questions that showed what our occupational preferences may be.  After completing it, the websites showed possible jobs of what may fit the survey answers.  We ventured to other websites to look more specifically at a career we might like.  The lab gave students a better view of what they may like to do as a career for the future.

Science Lab Response

May 24, 2012

Science Lab Response

          Room 14ers started Science Lab by talking about the Rube Goldberg Device.  Through Mrs. Martinez' talk, we learned some rules, how it works, and even watched a video.  It was previously a Honda Accord commercial, but in the science lab, it is now a research tool to get us up to date with the Rube Goldberg device.

          The main activity we experienced today was how pollutants can affect the bear population.  We set up data and had a specific number of bears and pollutants.  In the beginning, there were little to some pollutants.  As the pollutants later grew, it was harder to keep the bear population safe.  Eventually, they had gone extinct!  With the data, room 14ers found out how keeping the environment safe can affect the bear population.  In future generations, we should learn not to litter and to know how to keep the wilderness safe.

Science Lab

May 10, 2012

Science Lab Response

          Today, we learned in Science Lab how many petroleum products America uses all the time!  First, Mrs. Martinez took us through the routine of an ordinary life.  She showed us how we get up, touch the alarm clock, which is made up of petroleum products.  Then, we sit on the toilet seat.  It is also made of petroleum products.  It is very shocking how many petroleum products, such as plastic, we use everyday.  Back in the olden days, people had little to no petroleum products.  However, scientists now realize that these products can harm a person's body by ingesting them and the chemicals inside them.  Although they are harmful, there are some benefits of having them in our daily lives.  For example, the tires on a car with petroleum products have much more traction, can last longer, and are much safer.  Later, we wrote about ways we can reduce the use of petroleum products.  Although people may get biased opinions, it reminds us to pay attention to what materials we use everyday.

Computer Lab Response

May 3, 2012

Computer Lab Response

        Review was done in Computer Lab once again, but this time, instead of math, we reviewed Bitesize ELA.  First, I did the reading section about deduction.  This is one subject I believe kids have trouble with, so it's good for me to look over the selection, and answer a question for the text.  Afterwards, I looked over entries in the dictionary and how to organize them.  It will help me flip through pages of a dictionary quickly throughout my school career in last minute situations.  Sadly, since we're (United States Standards) looking toward technology, I might not need this skill in the future.  Next, I learned a fun subject!  The poetry selection teaches in a great manner, and I practiced mastery of poetry vocabulary.  Also, I can now write even more figuratively by looking over their techniques.  Last but not least, I reviewed order and techniques for writing.  It helped make my writing much better, and helped me to recognize when something is needed.  We reviewed some reading and writing techniques to strengthen our brains to mastery.

Computer Lab Response

April 26, 2012

Computer Lab Response

          Once again, we worked on Bitesze Math math review in computer lab.  In this session, we reviewed about the concept of space, shape, and measures.  Since we didn't have enough time, I wasn't able to do measures.  First, we reviewed 2d and 3d shapes.  These concepts will help us more on finding perimeter and area.  It will also help us classify geometrical shapes.  After that, we used the math skill, angles.  The angles helped us with relearning degrees and classifying other angle shapes.  That is what Room 14ers did for computer lab today.

Computer Lab Response

April 19, 2012

Computer Lab response

          Today in computer lab, our class reviewed the concept of handling data with Bitesize Math.  First, we reviewed frequency diagrams, then mean, median, mode, and range, and probability.  Frequency diagrams were easy, but but it was great to refresh my memory about it anyway.  Reviewing the mean, median, mode, and range was just a good way to master the concept.  Since I haven't done probability for a long time, it was essential to have my brain refresh the skill so my brain can act with a flick of a finger snap!  After we finished the activity, we took a test to ensure that the skill is mastered.  That was how Room 14 reviewed handling data in computer lab today.

Science Lab Response

March 22, 2012

          Today in Science Lab, the class learned about the usage, cons, and many other facts about resources that generate electricity.  Some examples of this would be natural gas, nuclear energy, solar energy, and wind energy.  We went around group tables and read a packet about some energy and took notes about it.  Our class learned about some percents of the amount of energy California uses for each type of energy.  For example, we uses about 43% natural gas out of all the electric energy used in California.  Science lab helped our brains to learn more about the kinds of energy used everyday.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

C. S. Lewis

248 pages

          The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis is a novel that begins just from a painting of a beautiful ship.  As Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace get swallowed up by the painting, they find themselves in the middle of nowhere in Narnia.  With the assistance of King Caspian, the three find themselves on a ship, the Dawn Treader with a quest of finding seven missing lords.  As the crew on the Dawn Treader try to achieve their mission, they pass by many obstacles that also results to having life lessons.  The novel puts the reader into the scene and makes it feel like a real adventure!

Computer Lab Response

Jay 4                                                                                                                                       March 15, 2012

Computer Lab Response

          For computer lab on March 15, 2012, we started the lab with talking about Khan Academy.  We learned about how he started working in a closet, but since his videos were so good, he got 3,000,000 dollars from Bill Gates!  As Google later found out about Khan Academy, they gave him a couple million dollars as well.  With this, he hired employees, created a compony, and was successful.  With this lesson, I learned more about the history of Khan, a website our class is working on.  After that, our class learned more about some great learning sites that can help us on some hardships one has.  An example of this will be Aglet, a bunch of informational videos that share vocabulary not many people know about.  These sites helped us with strengthening our learning brains.  Computer lab was great learning experience that gave our class some websites to help strengthen our brains.

Asian Art Museum

Asian Art Museum

Dragon Wings

Dragon Wings

Laurence Yep
317 pages

          Dragon Wings by Laurence Yep is about a boy named Moon Shadow who sails to San Francisco where his dad, Wind Rider lives.  Wind Rider had a dream from the Dragon King telling him that he must pass a series of tests in order to become a dragon again.  As the two of them face conflicts from the 1900's, they pass many obstacles as well.  Dragon Wings is a good read that is full of action and full interesting tragedies as well.

Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian

C.S. Lewis

238 pages

            Prince Caspian is a "human" that that believes in animals from a place called Old Narnia.  As he goes on an adventure, half wanting to find these creatures, he runs into some of them.  The Old Narnians have been hiding for thousands of years because a group of humans called the Telmarines took over.  After that, Prince Caspian and the creatures thought about starting a war with the Telmarines.  To get help, Prince Caspian blows a horn that summons 2 kings, 2 queens, and a great lion from Old Narnia.  From there the kings and queens find their way to Prince Caspian and the others.  That is where the real climax begins.

The Boy in the Striped pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

John Boyne
218 pages

          Think of how it would be like to be taken away from your glorious 5-story house to a nasty, gloomy, small one.  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, is about a boy named Bruno that finds a very unusual boy on the other side of the fence.  Even as they become friends, Bruno still doesn't understand what kind of life the boy is facing.  While Bruno faces this sorrow and friendship, he surprisingly builds up bravery and kindness.  It was most likely hard for Bruno to start living in the gloomy, small house, considering he comes from a very rich, and spoiled life.

The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune

Rick Riordan

544 pages

          Imagine being the son of a sea god and fighting monsters that don't even go back to Tartarus! The Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan, is about a boy who has lost his memory and basically has to save the world.  He must stop Gaea and her army before they take over.  He takes two of his friends, Frank and Hazel, to Alaska, to stop Gaea's son, Alcyoneus.  Percy builds friendship and endurance through his attempts of saving the world.  I wonder if Percy would truly regain one-hundred percent of his memory?

The Horse and his Boy

The Horse and His Boy

C.S. Lewis

217 Pages (x2)

          Oh No!  Will Shasta, Bree, Aravis, and Hwin make it to the North, or be captured by Rabadash and his army?  The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis is about a boy, two horses, and a princess all trying to get to Narnia and the North.  They want to get out of the restrained country of Calormen to the Free North.  As the crew travels to the North, they build relationship that help them cross the rest of the way.  Through this process, Shasta shows perseverance and courage. I wonder what a hard life it would be for Shasta?

Magician's Nephew

Digory's perspective after picking the apple

Magician's Nephew
202 pages
C.S. Lewis

         Wow! The apple smells very nice.  Maybe I will take a little bite.  Just a little one.  It wouldn't hurt anything, would it?  The riddle says that the picker shouldn't eat it, but who cares.  But what if something goes wrong?  I guess I shouldn't eat the apple since I made a promise with Aslan that I will give it to him. He seemed to be very concerned about getting the apple returned to it's right place.  If I ate the apple and break the promise, what would mother say?  I know that she would hate it if I broke a promise.  I guess it would be better if I didn't taste the apple.  Well, I should get going now so that I can quickly give the apple to Aslan.  Oh no!  There's the Witch!  I think this is a good time to run!

P.S.  Blogger wouldn't allow me to add a picture to this post!

The Lightning Theif

The Lightning Thief

375 pages

Rick Riodian

        The Lightning Thief starts a new amazing adventure of a an amazing series.  It all begins as Percy Jackson finds out that he is a demigod.  As Percy Jackson goes to Camp Half-blood, a summer camp safe from monsters, he finds himself facing a minotaur on the way!  After all this, his mom was taken by the minotaur and has been taken captive by the Lord of the Underworld.  On top of that, the gods are blaming him for stealing the master bolt belonging to Zeus.  The deadline on the Winter Solstice is when Percy must find the Master Bolt and return it to the gods.  If Percy doesn't find the master bolt in time, then World War III Will start to rage.  So as Percy and his friends go into the Underworld, they go to retrieve Percy's mother and the master bolt from Hades.  Will Percy and his friends get the bolt from Hades and save the day, or be blown off course and start World War II?

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters

279 pages

Rick Riordan

          Percy Jackson is surprised to know that he has completed 7th grade without being expelled or without being attacked by a monster. But how wrong is he.  As one of Percy's best friends, Annabeth shows up, she sadly tells Percy some very bad news.  She announces that the border of Camp Half-blood, a summer camp for only sons or daughters of greek gods, was badly poisoned.  If Percy and his friends don't find a cure in time, then the only safe place for demigods, half god and half human, will vanish.  Now Percy and his friends must go and find the cure on an island inhabited with a cyclops, the worst of them all.  Percy Jackson must find the cure before the borders of Camp Half-blood is demolished by the poison.