Why Exercise?

Why Exercise?

This is a question that many people ask themselves on almost a daily basis. I know for myself every time I think about working out I am not thrilled about it, but then I motivate myself by knowing the end result. It is hard work but in the end I know I will feel good about myself as well as be living a healthier life style. Exercise is something that not only makes you healthier but also makes you more athletic, flexible, and have more endurance. You can either run, walk, jump, lift weights, do push ups or anything that makes your heart rate go up and you feel like you're working. This will also make you feel happier and better about yourself. I try to workout five times a week but if you can make time to exercise three times a week for 30 minutes a day you will notice a healthier, happier lifestyle. It is not only beneficial to you now but will also benefit you in the long run for the rest of your life. There are a lot of studies that prove exercising when you're younger proves for a better life when you're older. So take my advice, start exercising now! You'll love it and yourself! :)

Vocabulary

The bolded words are defined for you below. 

1. Exercise: movement of the body to perform action

2. Motivate: to provide with motive

3. Result: the outcome

4. Healthier: feeling well 

5. Flexible: being able to bend your body

6. Endurance: the ability to exercise longer

7. Beneficial: helpful and positive

8. Lifestyle: everyday life schedule

9. Studies: research done

10. Advice: a guide, offer

Matching Activity

Match the words on the left with the correct definitions on the right. 

1. Exercise                                                                        A. Feeling well

2. Motivate                                                                       B. Everyday life schedule

3. Result                                                                           C. The outcome

4. Healthier                                                                     D. Being able to bend your body

5. Flexible                                                                        E. To provide with motive

6. Endurance                                                                  F. Movement of the body to perform action

7. Beneficial                                                                    G. Helpful and positive

8. Lifestyle                                                                      H. The ability to exercise longer

Grammar Rule

**Synonym: A word that means the same thing or has a similar meaning. For example: Sad/Upset, Nice/Kind, Big/Large

Find a synonym for each of the vocabulary words listed above. 

Test Taking Strateigies

Test Taking Strategies

Have you ever wondered what you could do to be more confident while taking a test? Have you ever thought about trying to simply "wing it?" Well here is where I am going to help you to be more confident and never have to wing it. The first step to being more confident while taking a test is simple: know the material. If you know the material being studied you will have a much better chance at being confident, calm, and collected during the test. The second step is to get a good nights sleep the night before and eat a good breakfast the morning of the test. These two key things are going to help you feel awake and ready to go when it comes to taking your test. The next step is to read all the questions and answers very carefully to know exactly what the question is asking as well as what your choices are before answering. Following that you should eliminate all the choices that are absolutely out of the question and completely wrong. This will help you to narrow it down to most likely two choices. Then lastly if you know the answer you will be more confident choosing one out of two. If you don't know the answer you should pick the one that makes the most sense and you believe answers the question best. Hope these tips help! Good luck!     

Vocabulary

The the bolded words from the above passage are defined for you below. 

1. Wonder: to think about 

2. Confident: believing in yourself strongly

3. Material: the information learned in class

4. Calm: without feeling stress

5. Collected: having control of your emotions

6. Carefully: taking caution

7. Following: the time that comes next

8. Eliminate: to remove or get rid of

9. Absolutely: positively 

10. Sense: a feeling

11. Tips: a piece of advice 

Cloze Activity

Use the words defined above to complete the following sentences. 

1. We ______________________ stamps to make our collection nice and big. 
2. I have a _________________________ that all of the students are going to get an A. 
3. The _______________________ covered in class today will be on the next test.
4. When you __________________ about a definition, you should look it up. 
5. After you read a book you can _____________________ it from your book list. 
6. The show on TV _______________________ this one is about a ghost!
7. After taking a long hot bath I feel __________________________ and relaxed. 
8. I am _______________________ that I got a 100 on the math test. 

Grammar Rule

**Sequential Vocabulary: Words that suggest moving from one time frame to another. For example: First, Second, Next, Finally, Following. Find the sequential vocabulary in the above passage and list them. 

Summertime

Summertime

I had previously posted about how I love winter and the snow. Well now that it's almost the end of February and we have had PLENTY of snow for this season I am ready for the summertime and all of the fun activities that come along with it. I will be going to the beach as much as I possibly can. I will enjoy the outside warm, fresh air on a daily basis.  I am going to swim in the ocean and as many pools as I can this summer because the feeling of cool water in the hot summer sun is the most amazing feeling I have ever felt. I will travel and visit friends and family to spend time together. I will go for long walks on the trails and maybe even venture outside of my comfort zone and go to the mountains to hike one time. I hope to take a trip with my family to an island where we can relax and do all kids of fun warm weather activities on the beach. The snow on the ground right now needs to melt and the sun, flowers, and grass will all bloom making everyone around us feel happy and excited to be outside each and every day!   

Vocabulary

The words bolded in the passage above are defined below. 

1. Previously: happening before a certain event

2. Plenty: very full 

3. Basis: the base, bottom line

4. Ocean: the large bodies of water on the Earth

5. Travel: to go from one place to another

6. Trail: a path

7. Comfort Zone: what someone is comfortable with 

8. Relax: to de-stress

9. Melt: to go from solid to liquid

10. Bloom: the flower of a plant

Cloze Activity

Use the vocabulary words above to fill in the blanks in the following sentences. 

1. When I go to the beach I play in the sand and swim in the _______________________. 

2. The ice cube _________________ and changed into water. 

3. Walking on the __________________________ throughout the woods led us to the waterfall!

4. Laying down on the couch to watch a movie is the part of the day when I get to ___________________. 

5. We have ______________________ of food to feed an entire football team!

6. When my family _______________________ to another country we take an airplane each time. 

7. The flowers _______________________ as soon as spring started and looked beautiful!

Grammar Rule

The future tense: this tense is used when speaking about what is going to happen or what will happen in the future. Usually the key words used are "will" or "going to be."

***Find the future tense verbs in the passage at the top and write them down. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day

February 14 is a day when people say I love you to their loved ones and have a chance to eat as much candy as possible! Some people don't like to celebrate this day but others go crazy about it. Considering it revolves around love most younger kids find it funny and just an excuse to eat chocolate. I don't understand why everyone can't just be a valentine to all. It should be focusing on anyone who you loves or loves you back in your life. I know I think of all the people in my life whom I love to be my valentines. There is no rule about who is allowed to be your valentine. So I say that everyone should be able to say "Happy Valentine's Day" to anyone they want BUT also be able to enjoy all the chocolate and sugary candy they want. Dressing up and wearing red and hearts, not just one but many--for all those who you love, all day is also part of the fun. Go out there on Friday February 14 and say I LOVE YOU to the ones who matter most to you today...I know I will be :). 

Vocabulary

The following words are the bolded words from the above passage along with their definitions. 

1. Celebrate: to observe, praise a certain occasion

2. Considering: take into account 

3. Revolves: to focus on

4. Valentine: a chosen loved one

5. Allowed: to give permission

6. Sugary: contains a lot of sugar

7. Dressing Up: to wear a fancy or particular outfit 

8. Possible: as much as is okay

Matching Activity

Match the following vocabulary words from the list above to the correct statement that best describes the definition

1. Allowed                                                             A. I'm wearing a bright red dress tonight!

2. Considering                                                      B. I love you!

3. Valentine                                                          C. Everything has to happen around me!

4. Dressing Up                                                     D. This candy tastes so yummy!

5. Celebrate                                                         E. You may go to the movies tonight. 

6. Revolves                                                          F. I have more candy here then I need.  

7. Possible                                                           G. I thought about everyone's feelings. 

8. Sugary                                                             H. Let's have a party!!

Grammar Rule

**Pronoun: replaces the name of a noun for a general reference. Examples are: he, she, I, you, they, we

Find pronouns used in the above passage and create sentences with at least four of them. 

My Best Friend

My BEST Friend

My best friend is not someone who you would picture me doing all kinds of fun and exciting things with. She is someone I have known for over 11 years now and is still the cutest little bean! She also just happens to live with me, therefore I get to see her each and every day! She is overly delighted when anyone in the family walks through the door each day. Her favorite foods are small cut up carrots, either red or green delicious apples, or scrumptious bananas. She likes to play games, as well as cuddle on the couch to be extremely warm. She has four stubbly legs, one squished in nose, two floppy ears, and one curly tail. That's right! You've guessed it....my best friend is my dog! Her name is Nellie. She is a Pug, she has a white fur coat and a little black face. She is the most loving, energetic, cutest dog you'll ever meet! She is my best friend and I love her! 

    

Vocabulary

The words underlined in the above passage are defined for you below. 

1. Little Bean: an expression used to say something is small and cute 

2. Delighted: highly pleased 

3. Scrumptious: very very DELICIOUS

4. Delicious: tasting very well

5. Cuddle: to lie or curl up with warmth

6. Stubbly: short

7. Squished: pushed in 

8. Floppy: move up and down easily

9. Curly: rounded into a circle 

Cloze Activity 

Use the words defined for you above to fill in the blanks in these sentences. 

1. John was ___________________ when he received a 100 on his math test. 

2. Some people say that my legs are _____________________ just because I am shorter than others. 

3. My dog likes to ____________________ with a stuffed animal dog on her bed. 

4. The cake my mom made for my birthday was ______________________! It tasted like heaven!

5. My grandma's hair is _______________, unlike mine which is straight as a pin. 

6. The ears of a bunny are usually very _____________________. 

7. The people on the train were ____________________ together because there was no room to move! 

Grammar Rule

Adjective: words that describe nouns. They can be anything from numbers to colors, to very detailed words. 

***Find the adjectives in the passage above and list them below. 

Super Bowl!

SUPER BOWL! 

As many of you know this weekend brings one of the most, if not the most, watched event of the year, the SUPER BOWL, otherwise known as the championship game for the National Football League! For many of us, including myself, there is much anticipation not for the main event, which is the football game, but the commercials! These commercials bring laughter and happiness to each and every household.  It's what all the talk is about the following day, not who won or lost, but which commercial was your favorite. The teams competing in the game this year are the Denver Broncos, and the Seattle Seahawks. Personally neither myself nor anyone I know, has a connection to either of these teams. This means only one thing...we're watching for the commercials! And of course, enjoying the delicious food available. The really cool and interesting fact about this year's Super Bowl is that it's taking place right in our own backyard! It's at MetLife Stadium, which is where the New York Jets and New York Giants play each week. I hope you can all enjoy the game! Stay warm, watch the commercials and enjoy the food! 

VOCABULARY

Below are the definitions of the vocabulary words from the above paragraph

1. League: a group of athletic teams in the same sport organized together competing against each other. 

2. Anticipation: waiting or hoping

3. Commercial: paid advertisement, to show what a company has to offer, on either television or radio

4. Household: the people in a house 

5. Competing: to go against someone/something else for a prize

6. Neither: not one or the other

7. Connection: a link, a liking 

8. Available: ready for use

9. Fact: something that is 100% true

10. Backyard: nearby where you live  

CLOZE ACTIVITY

Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word from above. 

1. The dog sat in ______________________ waiting for her owner to come home from work. 

2. The Mets and Yankees play in our _______________________, also known as New York City. 

3. That ___________________________ on television for the new video game is really cool!

4. There is a ________________________ between my dog and her love for pizza. 

5. The Jets are the best team in the National Football League is NOT a _________________. 

6. My _________________________ consists of myself, my dad, my mom, and my brother. 

7. I was _______________________ against my friend to have the best grade on the test. 

GRAMMAR RULE

Use the paragraph above labeled "SUPER BOWL" to find examples. 

***Proper Nouns are nouns are a name to either a person, place or thing. They must be capitalized when used in a sentence to show their importance. An example would be someone's name or the name of a school. Find examples in the above paragraph of proper nouns and write them down to show their importance. 

Let it Snow!

Happy Winter!

The winter is the time for movies, hot chocolate, blankets, sweatpants, soup, and snow! The weather has been very drastic lately, we've gone from having a polar vortex to having 50 degree weather with sunshine. Personally, I like having snow on the ground in the winter. I love waking up and seeing a blanket of fresh white snow on the ground and having the possibility of a snow day! I absolutely LOVE being able to bundle up my clothes with lots of layers and go outside and make a snowman, or snow fort. After traveling outside to be able to come inside and sit down with a big mug of hot chocolate and watch movies with my family is a treasure to me. We had a snow storm a few weeks ago which left us with about a foot of snow! Luckily we were still on Christmas break so everyone was home already therefore it was the picture perfect snow day. My dad, brother, and I shoveled the driveway, while at the same time, having snow ball fights and playing with the dog in the snow. My mom stayed inside making sure the hot chocolate and soup were ready for the moment we were finished (lucky us)! The snow looked so pretty glistening in the sun that at some point I did not want to go inside, but unfortunately after a while I was too cold to stay outside any longer and HAD to go inside and enjoy the deliciously warm treats my mom had prepared! It was a great way to start the winter!

Do you enjoy the winter? Do you like the snow? What is your favorite part of the winter? Did you experience this snow storm the same way I did? Tell me your thoughts!!

VOCABULARY

Here are the definitions for the bolded words in the passage above

drastic: the extreme of a situation or event

polar vortex: EXTREMELY cold air which comes down from Canada

bundle: to put on many, many layers of something

treasure: something very special

picture perfect: the perfect situation

glistening: sparkling from the sun

unfortunately: bad luck

deliciously: something tasting very good

**Fill in the blanks of the following sentences with the correct vocabulary words. 

1. Before going out to play in the snow Henry's mom makes sure to _____________ him up with lots and lots of clothes. 

2. My grandmother gave me a necklace that love, it is a __________________ for my family and I. 
3. _____________________ I forgot my lunch at home and I now I don't have anything to eat. 
4. Playing in the snow is a ________________ day in my book!
5. The difference between Alaska and Hawaii is a __________________ temperature change. 

GRAMMAR RULE

Exclamation: Sentences that express anger, excitement, abrupt outcry, surprise, fear, or anything out of the ordinary. The sentences end with an exclamation point (!) as well. 

**Find and write down five of the exclamations from the passage above regarding the winter.