Computer Lab 5-31

               Is it possible that a sixth grader is already thinking about their future job?  The answer is YES!  Today in computer lab, our class used pre-selected websites to look for jobs that will fit our needs.  First, we learned about how much money we will be adequate for us to live in the lifestyle that we want to.  My needed salary was pretty high: over $7,000 a month!  Anyway, with that pre-calculated sum of money, we looked for a job that would fit our interests and money needs.  Jobs that fit my needs were Aerospace Engineer, and Surgeon.  However, according to the next website that our class tried out, the job that best fit me were all along the line of the human brain and studying health and space.  This website used only our job interests though.  Using the information I received today, I shall have an easier time picking my career when I need to.

Click here to view the websites we used today.

The Hunger Games

I read the Hunger Games, and the series was excellent!  OOPS I just gave it away; I read the whole series (plus one book) before writing any of the blogs on them.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, 374 pages

               Imagine having to kill your opponents (some of whom happen to become or be friends) in a forced game.  That is the situation that Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games faces.  This haunting story takes place in the future at a nation called Panem (in the ruins of North America).  Panem has an evil capitol named Capitol, and 12 districts.  In the Hunger Games, which are games that the Capitol holds, a boy and a girl from each district come to the capitol and fight to death in a large arena (only 1 out of 24 live).  Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place since she had been randomly picked.  Along with Katniss comes  Peeta Mellark from her district, and unfortunately he had saved Katniss earlier when she and her family were starving.  In the end, both Katniss and Peeta survive (after dramatic love between themselves during the games) causing a revolution to start breaking with the districts being against the capitol.   Friendship (aka love) plays a major role in this book as does good versus evil.  Certainly, Katniss faced many hardships throughout this book, and I would certainly not want to face them.

Science Lab 5-24

              Today in science lab, we studied the spreading of pollution using tiny little plastic teddy-bears.  Throughout our "experiments," we slowly increased the number of polluted bears.  My group had a coincidence: our polluted bears kept mating against probability.  However, we still noticed the drop in animal population as pollutants increased although by the end, most group's bears had gone extinct.  Certainly, pollution affects the natural environment greatly.

             Also, today in science lab we learned about Rube Goldberg devices.  These devices are complicated machines that result in a simple task being performed.  Here is a Honda Accord commercial that used a great Rube Goldberg device.

Honda Accord 2008 Commercial  HAVE FUN!

UCLA!!!!

               Wow!  UCLA offers so many amazing opportunities!  I had no clue whatsoever about the exciting parts of college like going to Hong Kong, etc.!  Of course this amazing college is among the top ten universities of the US!  Everything is made for the students, to make them happy while they learn.  Certainly, UCLA is one of the most user friendly colleges that exist!
             When one sees the majors list offered by the University of California at Los Angeles, they probably faint!  It is stupefying (not to mention terrifying) to see how long that particular list is.  All sorts of weird educational (isn't that fascinating) majors that I would never come up with show up.  For example, not only does HISTORY exist, but so does American Indian Studies, American Literature and Culture, African Languages, etc (Notice: I am still not done with the A's).  If I were to major right now, I was pretty sure I knew, but that was before I saw the list.  I guess I would do Chemical Engineering or Physics.  Probably I would like to also minor in something having to do with music.

Pictures

I know, that is very cruel of me.

I can't wait to experience a day in one of the world's best colleges!

Science Lab 5-10

               Today, scariness filled our hearts in science lab.  PLASTICS here, PLASTICS there, PETROLEUM everywhere; that is a very brief overview of what science lab taught us today.  We learned about plastic, which is a petroleum product that can be very harmful.  Even with its drawbacks of causing autism and health problems, plastic also has a good side.  It is used to make helpful medicines including vitamins, and cars without tires made out of petroleum would sure be unsafe!  However, that does not mean that plastic is good.  Everywhere one looks, they see petroleum products if not plastic (petroleum has the same drawbacks as plastic), and as mentioned before, plastic is a harmful substance.  Here are only some products made from petroleum or plastic: polyester, carpet, clocks, watches, eyeglasses, ink, computer parts, phones, the keyboard I am typing from, varnish (which is there on about every wood product), erasers, paint, phones, TVs, pens, desks, chairs, cans, bottles, etc.  To solve the plastic problems, in science lab, we discussed ways to prevent excess exposure from plastics.  Science lab today has caused me to become more aware of the products I am using, and it is also making me make better decisions at Costco....

Computer Lab 5-3

               Is it possible to be stuck in a situation where the states of matter, writing explanations, and inferring ideas are needed for survival?  If it is, then computer lab was certainly very useful today.  Using the online website Bitesize again, our class learned and reviewed Language Arts and Science.  This time, we got to pick our own topics from the previously mentioned sections.  First, I went to the Reading section under Language Arts where I learned about inference and deduction using a "creepy" activity.  Next, under the Science section, I did the activity about changing states.  Here I reviewed the three different states of  matter (gas, liquid, solid), and the needed temperatures for water to change states.  Finally, I learned about writing thorough explanations using an activity dedicated to that purpose under the Language Arts section.  The activities I performed using Bitesize today will help me while I write, and make me think about reading materials more.