Today, Atticus and I began a lab activity on the cell membrane and surface area to volume ratio. In the lab, we explored how a cell's ability to absorb enough nutrients is affected by its size. We observed differently sized cubes of egg white and soaked them in blue-dyed water overnight. We will cut them open tomorrow to see how far the blue dye penetrated the large and small egg white cubes and observe if the dye penetrated further into the small or large cubes.

Strength Training - Upper Body and Lower Body using the weights-

Isometrics - Plank and Sit-ups-

Drills - Reverse Punch - Roundhouse Kick-

Jiu Jitsu - Side Breakfall-

Game of Chess-

As the protagonist , Jonas, learns that his society has destroyed the humanity of its members, we discussed how and why both Jonas' father and Jonas' best friend are able to murder fellow members of the community without remorse . This led to an interesting class discussion- initiated by Atticus - as to how politicians likewise manipulate citizens to behave irrationally and destructively. We then read through Jonas' plan of escape after which Atticus wrote a summary of the plan using the phrases:" first, second, next ,and last."

Atticus worked on finishing his interior spaces drawing. He finished adding color to his creatures. He finished with ten minutes left and we started to look at the next project coming up. We learned about narrative pottery and its history. We took a look at famous narrative pottery works from Greece and Egypt.

new adverb, katakana
hiragana review

As we have reached the point in this dystopian novel wherein the reader and the protagonist learn of the hidden horrors that are the foundation of society, we studied the text and exchanged ideas of what we each found most shocking. In this regard, I reintroduced the theme of how the misuse of language is a tool of coercion . Atticus identified how the society has twisted the word release to signify a eugenic murder and how society has twisted the word "nurturer" which now signifies the person in charge of killing babies who are small or unhealthy . We explored how an intended utopia has transformed itself into a conscienceless society in the name of safety and order, and how this realization will affect Jonas' relationship with his father ,a so called "nurturer."

Atticus and I continued to work on how to evaluate expressions using the order of operations. We reviewed and corrected last night's homework, which he said that he struggled with. The steps were reviewed again while we evaluated expressions together before Atticus worked independently. He was assigned 10 problems for tonight's homework and knows that he is to show all of his work.

Atticus read chapters 12-13 of ‘Out of My Mind,’ focusing on the changes inclusion brings to Melody’s life. During reading, there were many opportunities for Atticus to connect and give his opinion on how to deal with bullies. He also shared his opinion that it is pointless for Melody to learn things she can’t physically produce. After reading, he predicted Melody’s budding friendship with Rose will not continue.

Atticus worked on drawing his reference images. We focused on making “closed shapes” so that he could use the fill tool and didn’t have to color each space by hand. He finished one of his creatures and started another drawing in a different panel of his interior space.

Today's lesson focused on Ziggurats in Mesopotamia. Atticus watched a video clip based on how ziggurats were built and why ancient Sumerians needed to create them.