Hurray, Computer Lab 2.0

     Today's computer lab lesson consisted of Raspberry Pi and Bite-Sized Math. Upon entering the lab, Mr. Jost showed us a group in England, who were called Raspberry Pi. They had created a computer no bigger than a credit card, which you could very well carry around in your pocket or backpack, and were very convenient. They also happened to be selling for $35. Over the course of about three hours, the ten thousand computers made were sold out, and Raspberry Pi is currently making new ones, in hopes of selling them again. Once the video ended, the class went off to Bite-Sized Math, a site where many small lessons on math, English, and science are given. The lessons were meant more as a sort of review, but they taught nonetheless, and many important things about all three topics were learned. And if this weren't enough, Room 14 also arrived five minutes early. This is a sure sign of the apocalypse, but at least everyone enjoyed themselves.

The Carnivorous Carnival

The Carnivorous Carnival

   by Lemony Snicket

Pages: 286

 

     "The word 'carnivorous,' which appears in the title of this book, means 'meat-eating,' and once you have read such a bloodthirsty word, there is no reason to read any further." The Carnivorous Carnival, by Lemony Snicket, tells yet another story of the Baudelaire orphans and their unfortunate lives. After stowing away in the trunk of Count Olaf's car, the children find themselves at "Caligari Carnival," where a fortune teller, Madame Lulu, has supposedly been providing Olaf with the whereabouts of the Baudelaires. Wanting to hide themselves away from Olaf, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny disguise themselves as freaks, pretending to want a job at the carnival. Soon after getting the job, the three meet the other freaks, Hugo, Colette, and Kevin. Everyday, the freaks are meant to be shown off in the House of Freaks, and be laughed at by crowds. This is hardly the life of luxury, but the Baudelaires decide it will do until they can escape. However, when a plan to spice up the carnival through throwing freaks into a lion pit surfaces, the Baudelaires may need to escape earlier than they thought. With a horrible plot and the clock ticking, will the children outsmart Olaf's plans again, or has their luck finally run out?

Hurray, Computer Lab.

     The main focus of today's computer lab session was Autodidacticism, or the concept of teaching yourself something. Every site we visited today was filled with information, about many different topics. The site "Grammar Girl" covered many different aspects of grammar, while a similar site, "The Math Dude," covered math. Another website, "Wonderopolis," held the answers to many different, interesting questions, from "Why do some years leap ahead?" to "Why are school buses yellow?". But the most interesting part? Everything covered was learned by the student, and not dictated by the teacher. The class simply taught themselves, just as they were expected to!