US High Speed Rail

The potential progress of the high speed rail system
over the next 17 years.

Currently in America, we don't have a very convenient train system.  Our trains also aren't very fast.  

Back in 2009, President Obama proposed a plan to build a new high speed rail system across the U.S.  Since then, the plan has hit a few bumps, but has begun to make progress again.  Beginning tomorrow, February 11th, and going until the 13th there will be a summit in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of a high speed rail system in America.

Read a little bit more about it here.

Animals Predicting the Weather

Last week we discussed Groundhog Day--that crazy American tradition where we ask a groundhog if we will have an early spring!

We talked about many other animals that people use to help predict the weather.  Take a look at this story about animals predicting weather from the Weather Channel.  It has some of the same animals we discussed in class and some new ones!

Writing Your Recipes

In class on Thursday night, we discussed the next step in our class cookbook project.  For the homework due by next Thursday (2/7/13), write your own recipe using the Recipe Format worksheet.  If you need another copy of the worksheet, use the PDF linked to above.  

Remember to fill in all the pieces:  

• the name of your recipe
• your name
• the yield (how many or how much your recipe makes)
• the total time
• the ingredients
• the directions

Make sure you use imperative sentences when writing the directions.  For example:  

(1) Measure the water.
(2) Add the water to the pot.
(3) Turn the stove on to medium-high heat.
(4) Wait for the water to boil.


If you have any questions, let me know in class!

Happy Groundhog Day!

As we talked about in class, today is Groundhog Day!  Punxsutawney Phil gave us some good news earlier today when he predicted that we will have an early spring!

Remember, if the groundhog sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter.

If he does not see his shadow, we will have an early spring!

Take a look here for more information and a video clip!