The Humongous Fungus, and other large organisms on Earth!

Fungi are full of surprises! Check out these videos to learn about all of the things that fungi can do. Some can even glow in the dark!

Planning Sheet for 6th Grade Immigration Project

Here is the calendar and planning sheet for the Immigration project. Students choose an option from the project description list and complete a product to showcase their learning. Research for this project may include both primary and secondary sources.

Planning Sheet for 6th Grade Immigration Project

Immigration Study Lesson and Assignment Calendar
2/26/18	Hmong Immigration	Choose long term project, do planning sheet
3/5/18	Somali Immigration	Finding sources, conducting interviews - submit questions for feedback
3/12/18	Latino Immigration	Notes check
3/19/18	Tibetan Immigration Filipino Immigration	Research/Interviews must be complete
3/26/18	Asian Indian Immigration	Submit draft
4/1/18	Spring Break
4/05/18	Khmer Immigration	Presentations must be complete
Week of 4/16	Present Work to Families and A1 Faculty

Immigration Project Descriptions
	Research Commitment	Writing Commitment	Product Commitment
Immigrant Interview	•Find a person to interview •Research how to writing interview questions •Research how to conduct an interview	• Draft interview questions •Transcribe important portions of interview •Draft script for podcast	•Produce a podcast about this person’s immigrant experience •Create a book about this person’s immigrant experience
Family Immigration History	•Research your family’s genealogy (access primary sources) •Investigate historical and cultural traditions •Conduct family history interviews	•Draft interview questions •Transcribe important portions of interview •Draft a report of your findings	•Produce a report of your findings • Make a book about your family’s culture and experience
Primary Sources Investigation - Newspapers, Letters, and Historical Maps	•Access primary sources through the History Center or at the library •Investigate waves of immigration from early settlers to present	•Draft a report of your findings •Draft one or more maps that describe the trends you have found *Directly cite reports from immigrants you find in letters or newspapers	•Produce beautiful and clear maps that represent your research •Produce a report of your findings
Religious and Cultural Traditions	•Choose a culture or religion that is represented here in Minnesota •Investigate beliefs and practices of this culture/religion •Research and visit a place to learn more about this culture/religion	•Draft a report about the cultural or religious practices studied •Record your observations of your visit and integrate them into your report	•Produce a beautiful book to share your findings •Produce a report to share your research

Microbes all around us!

As we've learned, life has a great diversity of strategies to perform its work, and the organisms that are often under appreciated and misunderstood --the microbes--do a significant amount of work that is important for other living things. Archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes like fungi and protists are all around us, if we know where to look. Many of these organisms can only be observed with the aid of a microscope, but others make their presence known in striking ways. Below is a time-lapse video of a yellow slime-mold (a type of amoeba) growing in a British forest.

Tiny protists can also be nature's great artists. Foraminiferans, dinoflagellates, and radiolarans in particular are known for their beautiful shells, called tests. Here are some pictures of radiolarans, and here are some pictures of many types of cells under the microscope. The Micropolitan Museum has many galleries of microscopic organisms in full color!

And finally, in preparation for our upcoming studies of fungi, learn about how trees communicate with one another through an Internet of fungi--the "wood wide web"!

International Women's Day, March 8th

In 1977, the United Nations passed a resolution creating a day to honor women's contributions to world peace and commemorate the struggle for gender-based equity. In many places, this day is celebrated on March 8th as International Women's Day. To learn more, check out this United Nations (UN Women) Interactive Timeline of Global Women's Activism.