6th grade Reading # 2 Questions, Education in the Middle Ages

1. Why did Charlemagne want his officials to read?

2. When did Rome fall?

3. Why did the Franks not like the idea of learning to read and write?

4. Why couldn't Charlemagne write?

6th grade Reading #2, Education in Middle Ages

Education: After the fall of Rome in 476 CE, the ability to read and write began to disappear. Soon, the only people left with these skills were the clergy, and not even all of them had these abilities.

To effectively rule his kingdom, and to successfully convert people to Christianity, Charlemagne wanted his officials to be able to read and write. If he sent them a note, giving them some instruction, he wanted to make sure they could read it. 

To accomplish this, he turned his own palace into a center for learning. Scholars came from all over Europe to teach in the palace school. 

Charlemagne knew how to read, but he did not know how to write. He attempted to learn, but his hands were too scared from battle to write legibly. Charlemagne tried to talk other nobles into joining him in his educational pursuits, but they were quite resistant. It was not the Frankish way. The Frankish nobles thought reading and writing was a waste of time. They were warriors. 

The Mysterious Maya

1. Where were the Maya from?

2. What material were their tools made of?

3. How long did the Maya rule Central America?

4. What is the main idea of this reading?

5th grade Reading #2 The Mysterious Maya

A long time ago, around 2500 BCE, an ancient tribe of Central American Indians called the Olmecs settled in the rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula of Central America.

About two thousand years later, around 400 BCE, a new people suddenly appeared. These people were called the Maya. No one knows where they came from, but they arrived with amazing skills. They were an advanced civilization. They soon took over the Yucatan Peninsula of Central America. 

The Maya were very clever people. Their system of mathematics was among the most sophisticated in the ancient world. Like the ancient Romans, the Mayas were master builders. Unlike the ancient Romans, the ancient Mayas did not have metal tools. Their tools were made of stone, bone, and wood. Yet they built beautiful structures, huge cities, and excellent roads - roads that connected the many hundreds of cities that made up the Maya world. 

Around 900 CE, the Maya cities were  abandoned. A few people continued to live in the cities, but mostly, the cities were empty. The people had, for the most part, disappeared, gone somewhere else.  Those who remained were unable or unwilling to repair the magnificent roads and buildings. The great Maya cities fell into ruin. 

To this day, nobody knows where the Maya people came from before they arrived in the Yucatan Peninsula, and nobody knows why they left or where they went when most of the Maya people abandoned their cities and disappeared from the Yucatan Peninsula. That's why the Maya are sometimes referred to as "the mysterious Mayas". 

During the 1500 years or so that the Maya Indians made their home in Central America, they build hundreds of religious centers, each filled with huge pyramids and  elaborate temples. There was at least one ball court in every city. Excellent roads ran for miles through the jungles and swamps, linking these centers of religion and learning. 

Today, archaeologists remain very curious about these ancient people. Archaeologists face many dangers to hunt for the ruins of the ancient Maya cities hidden deep in the jungles of Central America. 

There are not many, but there are some Maya people still living in Central America, descendants of the ancient Mayas who remained behind in the nearly deserted cities. Still today, their crafts are amongst the most beautiful in the world. 

Mensaje del Maestro Armando/Message from Mr. Armando

Students, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are enjoying your vacation. I have posted the Reading 1 for 5th and 6th as well as some questions for each.

Remember, they are due Monday when we get back.

Take care and be good!

6th grade Reading #1 Columbus at La Rabida

6th grade Reading #1 Columbus at La Rabida

1. Who is the stranger mentioned in the story and who was with him?

2. How many years did Columbus try and fail to convince the king and queen to support his voyage?

3. Who was Juan Perez and what is his importance?

5th grade Reading #1 The First Landing of Columbus in the New World Questions

5th grade Reading #1 The First Landing of Columbus in the New World Questions

1.      What was the date that Columbus landed in the New World?

2.      What did Columbus do when he landed in the New World?

3.      What did the initials “F” and “Y” stand for?

6th grade Reading #1 Columbus at La Rabida

About half a league from the little seaport of Palos de Moguer, in Andalusia, there stood, and continues to stand at the present day, an ancient convent of Franciscan friars, dedicated to Santa Maria de Rabida.

One day a stranger on foot, in humble guise, but of a distinguished air, accompanied by a small boy, stopped at the gate of the convent and asked of the porter a little bread and water for his child. While receiving this humble refreshment, the prior of the convent, Juan Perez de Marchena, happened to pass by, and was struck with the appearance of the stranger. Observing from his air and accent that he was a foreigner, he entered into conversation with him and soon learned the particulars of his story.

That stranger was Columbus.

Accompanied by his little son Diego, he was on his way to the neighboring town of Huelva, to seek a brother-in-law, who had married a sister of his deceased wife.

The prior was a man of extensive information. His attention had been turned in some measure to geographical and nautical science. He was greatly interested by the conversation of Columbus, and struck with the grandeur of his views. When he found, however, that the voyager was on the point of abandoning Spain to seek the patronage of the court of France, the good friar took the alarm.

He detained Columbus as his guest, and sent for a scientific friend to converse with him. That friend was Garcia Fernandez, a physician of Palos. He was equally struck with the appearance and conversation of the stranger. Several conferences took place at the convent, at which veteran mariners and pilots of Palos were present.

Facts were related by some of these navigators in support of the theory of Columbus. In a word, his project was treated with a deference in the quiet cloisters of La Rabida and among the seafaring men of Palos which had been sought in vain among sages and philosophers.

Among the navigators of Palos was one Martin Alonzo Pinzon, the head of a family of wealth, members of which were celebrated for their adventurous expeditions. He was so convinced of the feasibility of Columbus's plan that he offered to engage in it with purse and person, and to bear the expenses of Columbus in an application to court.

Fray Juan Perez, being now fully persuaded of the importance of the proposed enterprise, advised Columbus to repair to the court, and make his propositions to the Spanish sovereigns, offering to give him a letter of recommendation to his friend, the Prior of the Convent of Prado and confessor to the queen, and a man of great political influence; through whose means he would, without doubt, immediately obtain royal audience and favor. Martin Alonzo Pinzon, also, generously furnished him with money for the journey, and the Friar took charge of his youthful son, Diego, to maintain and educate him in the convent.

Thus aided and encouraged and elated with fresh hopes, Columbus took leave of the little junto at La Rabida, and set out, in the spring of 1486, for the Castilian court, which had just assembled at Cordova, where the sovereigns were fully occupied with their chivalrous enterprise for the conquest of Granada. But alas! Success was not yet - for Columbus met with continued disappointments and discouragements, while his projects were opposed by many eminent prelates and Spanish scientists, as being against religion and unscientific. Yet in spite of this opposition, by degrees the theory of Columbus began to obtain proselytes. He appeared in the presence of the king with modesty, yet self-possession, inspired by a consciousness of the dignity and importance of his errand; for he felt himself, as he afterwards declared in his letters, animated as if by a sacred fire from above, and considered himself an instrument in the hand of Heaven to accomplish its great designs. For nearly seven years of apparently fruitless solicitation, Columbus followed the royal court from place to place, at times encouraged by the sovereigns, and at others neglected.

At last he looked round in search of some other source of patronage, and feeling averse to subjecting himself to further tantalizing delays and disappointments of the court, determined to repair to Paris. He departed, therefore, and went to the Convent of La Rabida to seek his son Diego. When the worthy Friar Juan Perez de Marchena beheld Columbus arrive once more at the gate of his convent after nearly seven years of fruitless effort at court, and saw by the humility of his garb the poverty he had experienced, he was greatly moved, but when he found that he was about to carry his proposition to another country, his patriotism took alarm.

The Friar had once been confessor to the queen, and knew that she was always accessible to persons of his sacred calling. He therefore wrote a letter to her, and at the same time entreated Columbus to remain at the convent until an answer could be received. The latter was easily persuaded, for he felt as if on leaving Spain he was again abandoning his home.

The little council at La Rabida now cast round their eyes for an ambassador to send on this momentous mission. They chose one Sebastian Rodriguez, a pilot of Lepe, one of the most shrewd and important personages in this maritime neighborhood. He so faithfully and successfully conducted his embassy that he returned shortly with an answer.

Isabella had always been favorably disposed to the proposition of Columbus. She thanked Juan Perez for his timely services and requested him to repair immediately to the court, leaving Columbus in confident hope until he should hear further from her. This royal letter, brought back by the pilot at the end of fourteen days, spread great joy in the little junto at the convent.

No sooner did the warm-hearted friar receive it than he saddled his mule, and departed, privately, before midnight to the court. He journeyed through the countries of the Moors, and rode into the new city of Santa Fe where Ferdinand and Isabella were engaged in besieging the capital of Granada.

The sacred office of Juan Perez gained him a ready admission into the presence of the queen. He pleaded the cause of Columbus with enthusiasm. He told of his honorable motives, of his knowledge and experience, and his perfect capacity to fulfill the undertaking. He showed the solid principles upon which the enterprise was founded, and the advantage that must attend its success, and the glory it must shed upon the Spanish Crown.

Isabella, being warm and generous of nature and sanguine of disposition, was moved by the representations of Juan Perez, and requested that Columbus might be again sent to her. Bethinking herself of his poverty and his humble plight, she ordered that money should be forwarded to him, sufficient to bear his traveling expenses, and to furnish him with decent raiment.

The worthy friar lost no time in communicating the result of his mission. He transmitted the money, and a letter, by the hand of an inhabitant of Palos, to the physician, Garcia Fernandez, who delivered them to Columbus The latter immediately changed his threadbare garb for one more suited to the sphere of a court, and purchasing a mule, set out again, reanimated by hopes, for the camp before Granada.

This time, after some delay, his mission was attended with success. The generous spirit of Isabella was enkindled, and it seemed as if the subject, for the first time, broke upon her mind in all its real grandeur. She declared her resolution to undertake the enterprise, but paused for a moment, remembering that King Ferdinand looked coldly on the affair, and that the royal treasury was absolutely drained by the war.

Her suspense was but momentary. With an enthusiasm worthy of herself and of the cause, she exclaimed: "I undertake the enterprise for my own crown of Castile, and will pledge my jewels to raise the necessary funds." This was the proudest moment in the life of Isabella. It stamped her renown forever as the patroness of the discovery of the New World.

5th grade Reading #1 The First Landing of Columbus in the New World

It was on Friday morning, the 12th of October, that Columbus first beheld the New World. As the day dawned he saw before him an island, several leagues in extent, and covered with trees like a continual orchard. Though apparently uncultivated it was populous, for the inhabitants were seen issuing from all parts of the woods and running to the shore. They were perfectly naked, and, as they stood gazing at the ships, appeared by their attitudes and gestures to be lost in astonishment.

Columbus made signals for the ships to cast anchor and the boats to be manned and armed. He entered his own boat, richly attired in scarlet, and holding the royal standard; while Martin Alonzo Pinzon and his brother put off in company in their boats, each with a banner of the enterprise emblazoned with a green cross, having on either side the letters "F."' and "Y.," the initials of the Castilian monarchs Fernando and Ysabel, surmounted by crowns.

As he approached the shore, Columbus was delighted with the purity and suavity of the atmosphere, the crystal transparency of the sea, and the extraordinary beauty of the vegetation. He beheld also fruits of an unknown kind upon the trees which overhung the shores.

On landing he threw himself on his knees, kissed the earth, and returned thanks to God with tears of joy. His example was followed by the rest. "Almighty and Eternal God," prayed Columbus, "who by the energy of Thy creative word hast made the firmament, the earth and the sea - blessed and glorified be thy name in all places! May thy majesty and dominion be exalted for ever and ever, as Thou hast permitted thy holy name to be made known and spread by the most humble of thy servants, in this hitherto unknown portion of Thine empire."

Columbus, then rising, drew his sword, displayed the royal standard, and assembling around him the two captains and the rest who had landed, he took solemn possession in the name of the Castilian sovereigns, giving the island the name of San Salvador.

Study Guide 5th grade

Study Guide 5^th grade

Vocabulary Write the DEFINITION and write a SENTENCE

Permit, subject, worthless, scoundrel, admiringly, depressed, achieved, philosopher, architect, fashioned, midst, bronze, cannon, rival.

Solving Equations:

1. a + 3 = 35 ________
2. 1 + e = 21________
3. 3.18n = 31.9 _________
4. 45/p = 5 ________
5. 7m = 56 ________

Look for a pattern.

6. 80, 70, 60, _______, __________
7. 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, _________, __________, _________
8. 1, 3, 9, 27, ____________, ___________, __________
9. 343, 443, 543, __________, __________, __________
10. 103, 203, 303, __________, __________, __________

Dividing Decimals

89.15 / 5                     92.24 / 24.2                            100.25 / 5.5

Spelling words: Know the correct spelling of each.

Waterproof

Teaspoon

Grasshopper

Homesick

Barefoot

Courthouse

Earthquake

Rowboat

Scrapbook

Countryside

Jewel

Kingdom

Gasoline

Factory

Garage

Tropical

Pajamas

Estimate

Tomorrow

Humidity

Reading. There will be questions of the following stories in the Reading book-

Leonardo’s Horse,

Study Guide 6th grade

Study Guide 6^th grade

Give each missing power of ten

1. 167, 230, 000 = 1.6723 x ________
2. 0.000872 = 8.72 x ___________

3. 657 ____________

4. 0.00498 __________

5. 0.000123 ___________

Solve Equations with Decimals

6. a + 0.6 = 3 _____________
7. s – 17.2 = 36.7 __________
8. x + 0.031 = 0.348 _________
9. 9.76 = t – 1.66 __________

Multiplying and Dividing by powers of ten

10. 72.1 x 10 __________
11. 450 x 10 __________
12. 3.103 x 10 _________
13. 167.4 x 10 __________
14. 0.012 x 10 __________
15. 8.235 x 10 __________

Vocabulary – Write the definition and write a sentence with each

Registered, stiffened, smoldered, hatchet, ignite, quill, opera, formal, recital, prejudice, privileged, application, momentous, dramatic, enraged, customary, emphasized, stunned, frantic, treaded.

Spelling- know the correct spelling of each.

Nuclear, helicopter, anxious, appreciate, plastic, international, prehistoric, untrustworthy, constellation, honorary, crescent, language, vehicle, exhibit, examine.

There will be questions of the following stories from the Reading Book.

Hatchet,

When Marian Sang,

Learning to Swim.