Thursday, November 20, 2008

The True History of Chocolate

Comments:

  1. The first people that were known to discover the cacao were the Mayans.
  2. They took the tree from the rainforest and grew it in their backyards.
  3. That's were they hardvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste.
  4. To make the spicy chocolate drink they mixed water, chile peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients.
  5. For these people chocolate wasn't only a drink or food, it also played an important role in their religious and social lives.

Questions:

  1. How did the spicy drink taste?
  2. How did chocolate play an important role in their religious and social lives?
  3. How long did it take for the cacao to grow?
  4. Did this drink help them with any health problems?

Vocabulary:

  1. fermented- Something, such as a yeast, bacterium, mold, or enzyme, that causes fermentation
  2. cacao- A small tropical American evergreen tree
  3. frothy- Of, like, or having froth; foamy.

Overview:

The Mayas were known to be the first to discover the tree. They took they tree from the rainforest and re-grew it in their own backyards. They made the drink by using water, chile peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients. Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seed to Spain, where the new reipes were created. The popularity of the drink grew and spread throughout Europe. Ever since the new technology changed the texture and taste of chocolate. And is still one of the world's favorite flavors.

The True History of Chocolate

Comments:
  1. Chocolate came from a tree called " The Caco Tree".

  2. The tree was discoverd 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforest of the Americas.

  3. The pods of the tree has seeds that can produce into chocolate.

  4. Chocolate grew from local Mesoamericans.

  5. Mesoamericans drank chocolate as a beverage.

Questions:

  1. How did they discover the tree?
  2. How did they know what was in the pods or if they were poisonous?
  3. Who were the first to discover the tree?
  4. What else did they use chocolate for besides a beverage?

Vocabulary:

  1. pods- A dry, several-seeded, dehiscent fruit.
  2. encompasses- To form a circle or ring around; surround
  3. Mesoamerican- A member of one of the various peoples inhabiting Mesoamerica

Overview:

Chocolate was basically discovered 2,000 years ago. It was seed of pods that came from a tree called the cacao tree, in the tropical rainforests of the Americas. Back then chocolate was mainly used to drink. The Mesoamericans mixed ground cacao seed (chocolate) with a lot of seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.


Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Go Ask Alice (5/4//3/2/1)

Comments-
  1. I thought on the day of Alice's birthday, she was going to be excited, but she wasn't.
  2. I can relate to Alice when it is about school and exercising; we both think school is basically dumb and boring, and we both need help with exercising and eating right.
  3. Alice really wants to be considered important and popular.
  4. Alice s when her parents bug her, but now they are starting to be cool.
  5. Alice gets over Roger and goes on a date with a boy name Scott.

Questions-
  1. Where are Alice and her parents moving to???
  2. Why does Alice want to lose more weight after losing more than 7 pounds she gained before???
  3. Who are Tim and Alex???
  4. What does a Dean of Political Science do???

Vocabulary-
  1. slugabed- a sluggard
  2. repine- to feel
  3. indolent- lazy


Literary Terms-
  1. "He's as excited as a little boy...."
  2. "I've put on seven ugly, fat, sloppy, slobby pounds...."

Overview-

Alice's world is turning up side down, as she's beginning to move into her new home. Everything is becoming better for her. As of school she's starting to become more interesting as of before she d it. Now her and her mother are getting better and they both are changing their ways. She got over Roger, he said "hi" to her, but she kept on walking. A boy named Scott asked her out to the movies and she likes him, but is upset that she has to leave.

Go Ask Alice (5/4//3/2/1)

Comments-
  1. My novel " Go Ask Alice" is a great novel. I like how the author is anonymous
  2. Alice reminds me of a character from a show called "Degrassi" and she is always complaining about her weight.
  3. Alice also reminds me of a character from a movie called "I've Never Been Kissed Before" and this who was considered the geek was in love with the popular guy and he pretended that he was going to take her to prom, but stood her up. Just like the guy, Roger, did to Alice.
  4. I enjoy how the author catches the readers' attention, not telling what happens and makes them read more to find out.
  5. There are a lot of details in this novel.

Questions-
  1. What school does Alice go to???
  2. Where is her dad going to be the Dean of Political Science at???
  3. What is Alice considered at school???
  4. What is Roger considered at school???

Vocabulary-
  1. blasé- indifferent to or bored with life
  2. otiose- of no use
  3. sobriquet- a nickname

Literary Terms-
  1. "I'm beginning to look as sloppy as I feel."
  2. "Hooray, we have a house!"
Overview-

This novel is about a by the name of Alice and almost ever night she rights how she feels in her diary. She writes how she feels about a boy that she really likes and how she s her school. She is also stressed, feels like dying, and thinks she is fat and sloppy.