Learning About Clauses!

In an effort to write more fluent and information packed sentences, our class worked on using independent and dependent clauses today.  I presented the information in the form of a Powerpoint to help the students see the difference between the two types of clauses and how they are used to build compound and complex sentences.  Sentences were compared to houses.  Independent clauses (those that are sentences and can stand alone) were compared to adults, while dependent clauses (those that can't stand alone) were children.  Adults, one or more than one, can live in the house.  Children can live in the house with an adult, but not alone or only with other children.   The students were asked to think of the comma as where the dependent clause "holds hands" with the independent clause.  Compound sentences (the type made of two independent clauses) are held together by conjunctions (glue).  The comma is placed where the first independent clause ends; before the conjunction.  The class did very well building these sentences, identifying the clauses, and supplying the best conjunctions.

In Social Studies, Miss Albitz moved onto the second section of the chapter having to do with Africa's climate.  She discussed the various factors that affect climate, and the students found that if Africa would be folded in half on the Equator, its northern climate regions would mirror its southern climate regions.  The students are enjoying learning about Africa.

Homework:
Reading - Share your Family Times paper.  Also, read chapters 5 & 6 in our novel and complete your assigned role.
Spelling - Trace +2 for new word list will be due on Wednesday.
Writing - Grammar practice p. 14 is due tomorrow.
Social Studies - Test tomorrow.  Study!
Wellness - Lesson #2 vocabulary and summary questions are due Friday.