nostalgia

(n) - Nostalgia is a feeling that a time in the past was good, or the activity of remembering a good time in the past and wishing that things had not changed.

• Synonyms: fond memories, reminiscence, yearning, sentimentality
• Antonyms: regret, sorrow
• Etymology: 1668 Greek, from the word algos meaning "pain, grief, distress" + nostos meaning "homecoming," which originally comes from the PIE root *nes- meaning "to return safely home"
• Morphology: nostalgic - adj
• Example: When I look back on our blog, I get a sense of nostalgia for all of the fun projects and activities we have done.

premise

(n) - A premise is a statement or idea that you accept as true and use as a base for developing other ideas, like a hypothesis.

• Synonyms: hypothesis, idea, conjecture, notion, presumption
• Antonyms: guess, fact, reality
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from prae meaning "before" + mittere meaning "to send" (which is where we get the word mission)
• Example: I believe in the premise that you (or I) will never have a better class in your entire school career.

I also believe in the premise that there are GREAT people out there, like those from Phillips 66 Refinery, who want you to be GREAT students, and GREAT citizens of Billings and beyond.

serendipity

(n) - Serendipity is when interesting or valuable discoveries are made without planning or meaning for them to happen.

• Synonyms: blessing, good luck, lucky break
• Antonyms: choice, bad luck
• Etymology: 1754 English, first said by a man named Horace Walpole in a letter he wrote to he wrote to someone named Mann on 1/28/1754. He said he got it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents."
• Morphology: serendipitous - adj
• Example: It was serendipity that brought me to Burlington, and that led me to teach a combo so that I could meet you!

ample

(adj) – If you have an ample amount of something (time, money, etc), you have more than plenty of it for what you need.

• Synonyms: plenty, more than enough, abundant, extensive, substantial
• Antonyms: insufficient, meager, not enough
• Etymology: Mid-15th Century Latin, from amplus meaning "large, spacious," which comes from ampla meaning "handle, grip"
• Morphology: amplify - v
• Example: I hope you had ample rest over our last 3-day weekend!

revitalize

(v) - If you revitalize something, you put new strength or power into it.

• Synonyms: breathe new life into, enliven, exhilarate, freshen, renew, renovate, repair, revive
• Antonyms: kill off, hamper, discourage
• Etymology: 1858 , from re- meaning "back, again," + vita meaning "life," + -ize, which is a verb-forming suffix
• Morphology: revitalization - n, vital - adj, vitality - n
• Example:  There's just nothing quite like Field Day to revitalize your energy for the end of the year!

Scientists in Yellowstone brought back wolves in 1995 to revitalize the park's ecosystem.

How can reintroducing a top-tier predator like a wolf actually help revitalize an ecosystem?

ominous

(adj) - If something is ominous, it makes you feel like something bad is going to happen.

• Synonyms: dangerous, doomed, haunting, threatening
• Antonyms: happy, lucky, promising
• Etymology: 1589, from Latin ominis meaning "warning"
• Morphology: omen - n
• Example: My car is making an ominous rattling noise, so it’s time to take it into the shop.

Math:

Probability Fair

Reading:

Click to play

traverse

(v) – When you traverse something (like a state or a lake), you move across, over, or through it, especially an area of land or water.

• Synonyms: bridge, travel, cross over, span
• Antonyms: back up, reverse, stay put
• Etymology: Early 14th Century Latin, from transversus meaning "turn across"
• Example: It took us several weeks to traverse the whole United States in our Heritage Project.

Congratulations to all of the Heritage teams!


Check out these pictures from Friday night, when you traversed the red carpet to receive your Vocademy Award!

substantial

(adj) - Something that is substantial is either large in amount or number, or is large and strongly made.

• Synonyms: abundant, bulky, heavy, large, massive, sizeable, significant, vast
• Antonyms: insignificant, little, minor, unimportant, unsubstantial
• Etymology: Mid 14th Century Latin, from sub meaning "up to, under" + stare meaning "to stand”
• Morphology: substance - n
• Example: Even though we are nearing the end of 4th quarter, we still have a substantial amount of work to do this year!

The Heritage Project was a substantial amount of work, and I'm both glad and sad that it's over. I think that CR Smith's visit yesterday was a great way to celebrate the conclusion of our trek across the USA:

Exploring the West to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean was a substantial journey that took over two years to complete. Click on the image or the link below to help Lewis and Clark on their trek:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/main.html

feasible

(adj) - A plan, idea, or method that is feasible is possible and is likely to work.

• Synonyms: possible, doable, achievable, practical, reasonable
• Antonyms: impossible, unlikely, unreasonable
• Etymology: Mid 15th Century Old French... and Latin, from faisable meaning "possible, easy, convenient," which comes from faire meaning "do, make," which comes from Latin facere meaning "do, perform"
• Morphology: feasibility - n
• Example: Since we already live in Montana, a trip to some locale in the West is very feasible for us!

Click here to view the Virtual Field Trip

jubilant

(adj) - If you are jubilant, you are extremely happy and pleased because of a success.

• Synonyms: elated, excited, overjoyed, pleased, thrilled, triumphant
• Antonyms: depressed, sad, sorrowful, blue
• Etymology: 1660s Latin, from jubilare meaning "to call to someone," which comes from jubilum meaning "wild shout."
• Morphology: jubilee - n, jubilation - n
• Example: Tonight's Vocademy Awards event will be a jubilant celebration!

Let's get ready for tonight's event by looking at some photos of last year's jubilation:

oxymoron

(n) – An oxymoron is an expression that contradicts itself because it is a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as 'cruel kindness.'

• Synonyms: contradiction
• Etymology: 1650s Greek, from oxys meaning "sharp," which is from the word akis meaning "sharp point," + moros meaning "stupid, foolish, or dull"
• Example: Some well-known oxymorons are: a civil war, a little big, alone together, awfully nice, baggy tights, bittersweet, black light, calm wind, classic rock

precocious

(adj) – Someone who is precocious is exceptionally smart. A precocious child shows intelligence or skill at a very young age, or behaves in an adult way.

• Synonyms: advanced, bright, intelligent, mature (but maybe a little sassy!)
• Antonyms: dull, dim-witted
• Etymology: 1640s Latin, from pre meaning “before” + coquere meaning "to ripen, or to cook"
• Example: Beware: using our words of the day may make you sound precocious.

spontaneous

(adj) - When something is spontaneous, it happens without a plan or all on its own.

• Synonyms: out-of-the-blue, automatic, impulsive, instinctive, random, unplanned
• Antonyms: planned
• Etymology: 1650s Latin, from sponte meaning "of one's own accord, willingly"

Have you ever heard of a flash mob? It is a spontaneous performance by a group of people, like this:

snippet

(n) - A snippet is a small piece of news, information, or conversation.

• Synonyms: particle, bit, fragment, part, piece
• Antonyms: whole thing
• Etymology: 1664 Low German, from snippen meaning "to snip, shred”
• Morphology: snip - v
• Example: News tickers give you little snippets of information at the bottom of your TV screen.

And now, it's time for Name that Tune!

redundant

(n) - If something is redundant, it is not necessary because something else already means or does the same thing.

• Synonyms: repetitious, extra, duplicated
• Antonyms: concise, essential, important
• Etymology: 1590s Latin, from re- meaning "again" + undare meaning "rise in waves," which comes from unda meaning "a wave"
• Example: As an added bonus, I will tell you about the basic fundamentals of the word redundant... consider it your free gift!

malinger

(v) – If you malinger, you avoid work or school by pretending to be ill.

• Synonyms: play sick, fake it, evade work
• Antonyms: ail, be sick
• Etymology: 1785 French, from malingre meaning "ailing, sickly." This word possibly comes from a blend of mingre meaning "sickly, miserable" and malade meaning "ill." Mingre is actually a blend of maigre meaning "meager" + haingre meaning "sick, haggard."
• Example: With only a couple of weeks of school left, there is no time to malinger!

 Click on the sites below to learn and review triangles:

• http://www.math-play.com/classifying-triangles/classifying-triangles.html
• http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2numeracy-shape-and-weight.html#triangles

 

naïve

(adj) – Someone who is naïve does not have much experience of how complicated life is, so they tend to trust people too much and believe that good things will always happen.

• Synonyms: childlike, trusting, gullible, innocent, ignorant, simple
• Antonyms: experienced, wise, skeptical, certain, confident
• Etymology: 1650s French, from naif meaning "natural, just born," which comes from the Latin word nativus meanng "not artificial”
• Example: I am very naïve when it comes to what happens in sports.

alter

(v) - If you alter something, you change it.

• Synonyms: change, adjust, adapt, modify, reform, renovate
• Antonyms: continue, keep, fix, leave alone, ignore
• Etymology: Late 14th Century PIE, from *al- meaning "beyond" + comparative suffix -ter (which is where we get the word other)
• Morphology: alteration - n, altered - adj
• Example: If your pants are too long, your mom may have to alter them to get them to fit you.

 Believe it or not, there are quite a few ways to alter Google.

Try searching "do a barrel roll" or zerg rush" and see what happens!

futile

(adj.) - Actions that are futile are useless because they have no chance of being successful.

• Synonyms: pointless, useless, unimportant
• Antonyms: productive, useful, beneficial
• Etymology: 1550 Latin, from futilis meaning "pouring out easily" (like from a vessel), which led to "easily emptied, leaky, unreliable." This came from the word fundere meaning "pour, melt."
• Morphology: futility - n
• Example: The idea of my family trying to plan a trip where everyone agrees is futile...

inquisitive

(adj) – Someone who is inquisitive is interested in a lot of different things and wanting to find out more about them

• Synonyms: interested, nosy, questioning, searching
• Antonyms: uninterested, indifferent, unconcerned, nonchalant
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from in- meaning “into” + quaerere (query) meaning "to seek, gain, ask,"
• Morphology: quiz - n, v
• Example: I am excited to have so many inquisitive students in my class this year!

fret

(v) - If you fret about something, you worry about it, even when there is no need.

• Synonyms: worry, stress out, lose sleep over, agonize
• Antonyms: calm, comfort, soothe
• Etymology: Late 12th Century Old English, from fretan meaning "eat, devour" (in Old English used of monsters and Vikings; in Middle English used of animals' eating); that word came from the Proto-Germanic parts *fra- meaning "for-" + *etan meaning "to eat"
• Morphology: fretted, fretting - v, fretful - adj
• Example: I don't want you to fret about your grades, so I encourage you to make corrections when you can.

Another thing I don't want you to fret about is geometry!

Try some of the geometry games on Sheppard Software using your Chromebook.

sheepish

(adj) - If you are feeling sheepish, you feel slightly b-a-a-a-a-a-a-d, uncomfortable, or embarrassed because you know that you have done something silly or wrong.

• Synonyms: shy, embarassed, self-conscious, ashamed, timid
• Antonyms: aggressive, bold, unashamed, unembarassed
• Etymology: 1690s Old English, sceap meaning "sheep"
• Example: If you see someone with a sheepish grin, you might wonder what they're up to or what they've done.

invasive

(adj) - Something that is invasive has made its way into a place where it doesn't belong.

• Synonyms: meddlesome, nosy, "in your face," prying, intrusive, interfering, trespassing
• Antonyms: out-of-the-way, private, solitary
• Etymology: Mid 15th Century Latin, from in- "in" + vadere meaning "go, walk"
• Morphology: invade - v, invasion - n
• Example: The Burmese Python is an invasive species that made its way into the Florida Everglades.

savvy

(n) - If you have savvy, you have practical knowledge and ability.
(adj) - Someone who is savvy is clever and knows how to deal with situations successfully.

• Synonyms: brainy, clever, deft, experienced, intelligent, keen, sensible, wise
• Antonyms: clumsy, ignorant, incompetent, stupid, daft
• Etymology: 1785 (noun), 1905 (adjective) Latin, from sapere "be wise, be knowing." The French people borrowed this word to create savez vous? meaning "do you know?" and in Spanish it became sabe usted meaning "you know"
• Example:  Some people are very nature savvy, and they work hard to sustain our earth.

hierarchy

(n) - A hierarchy is a system of organization in which people or things are divided into levels of importance.

• Synonyms: chain of command, order, pecking order, ranking, pyramid, level   
• Etymology: Mid 14th Century Greek, from hieros meaning "sacred" + arkhein meaning "to lead, rule"
• Example: Some employees work hard to make their way up the company hierarchy and become president or CEO.

Click here for the Comparative/Superlative game.

arbitrary

(adj) - Something that is arbitrary is decided or arranged without any reason or plan (often this comes across as unfair).

• Synonyms: random, offhand, inconsistent, for no reason
• Antonyms: rational, reasonable
• Etymology: 1500 Latin, from ad- "to" + baetere meaning "come and go."
• Morphology: arbitrate - v, arbitrator - n
• Example: I always plan words that I know are going to come up during our day, week or year... but every once in a while, I like to choose an arbitrary word just because it's fun to know!

trek

(n.) - A trek is a long and difficult journey, made especially on foot as an adventure.
(v.) - To trek is to travel (usually walking) a long, long way.

• Synonyms: expedition, march, journey
• Antonyms: stay
• Origin: 1849 (n.); 1850 (v.) Dutch, from trecken meaning "to march, journey," which originally meant "to draw, pull”
• Example: As much fun as it would be to trek across the USA for real, I am glad we get to do it for "pretend" first!

kismet

(n) - Kismet is something that was meant to be, including all of the things that will happen to you in your life.

• Synonyms: fate, fortune, destiny
• Antonyms: design, plan
• Origin: 1834 Arabic, from qasama meaning "he divided"
• Example: It was kismet that I came to Burlington and that you ended up in my class this year!

overt

(adj) - Overt actions are those that are done for all to see, without trying to hide anything.

• Synonyms: public, apparent, clear, observable
• Antonyms: covert,  concealed, hidden, private, secret
• Etymology: Early 14th Century PIE, from *ap- "off, away" + base *wer- "to cover"
• Example: The placement of your cars on the Heritage board is an overt display of progress toward the finish line.

disperse

(v) - If something disperses or is dispersed, it spreads in different directions over a wide area.  If a group of people disperse or are dispersed, they go away in different directions.

• Synonyms: distribute, scatter, spread out, scramble, spray
• Antonyms: arrange, assemble, collect
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from dis- meaning "apart, in every direction" + spargere meaning "to scatter" (which is also where we get the word sparse)
• Example: Next year, my sweet class will be dispersed across town, as some of them will go to Will James.

relentless

(adj) - Someone who is relentless continues in a persistent way. Something bad that is relentless continues without ever stopping or getting less severe.

• Word Family: relent
• Synonyms: merciless, persistent, ongoing, determined, strict, fierce, nonstop
• Antonyms: easy, merciful, understanding, ending
• Origin: Late 14th Century, from Latin re- meaning “again” + lentus meaning "slow, flowing thickly”
• Example: You have been relentless when it comes to learning as much as you can this year.

Ok... now's your chance to show your stuff. We've done this quiz before, but do you remember?

Click here to give it a try!

emergent

(adj) - Something that is emergent is in the early stages of existence or development.

• Synonyms: resulting, developing, rising, up-and-coming
• Antonyms: declining, decreasing
• Etymology: 1560s Latin, from ex- meaning "out" + mergere meaning "to dip, sink"
• Morphology: emerge - v, merge - v
• Example: The emergent layer of a rain forest is the fourth layer, where the tallest trees are.

Click here for the Virtual Field Trip!

trump

(v) - If something is trumped, it is outdone or surpassed, usually by something better.

• Synonyms: defeat, beat, overcome
• Antonyms: lose, fall behind, fail
• Etymology: 1580s Old French, from tromper meaning "deceive," of uncertain origin, perhaps from a verb meaning "to blow a trumpet."
• Morphology: trumpet - n
• Example: Your Heritage fate card details will always trump whatever happens along your journey.

You may think that your mom made your lunch, or maybe that the lunch ladies made your lunch, but you would be wrong. Dirt trumps them all!

fiasco

fiasco(n) - A fiasco is an event that is completely unsuccessful, in a way that is very embarrassing or disappointing.

• Synonyms: catastrophe, debacle, embarassment, mess, failure
• Antonyms: benefit, success, wonder, miracle
• Etymology: 1855 French, theater slang for "a failure." By the year 1862, this word came to describe any kindof dismal flop, on or off the stage. Etymologists think this came from the French phrase fiare fiasco which means "turn out a failure," which came from Italian far fiasco meaning "suffer a complete breakdown in performance." This expression literally means "make a bottle," and comes from fiasco meaning "bottle," which comes from Late Latin flasco (where we get the word flask.
• Example: I tried to jump into Grace's library wagon last week, but it ended up as a complete fiasco when I fell in the hallway in front of a throng of onlookers.

proportion

(n) - A proportion is the relationship in size, amount, importance etc, between two things, or a part of a number or amount, considered in relation to the whole.
*This word can also be used as a verb.

• Synonyms: relative amount, ratio, relationship, dimension, division, scale, scope, relative size
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from pro meaning "forward" +  *partio meaning "division," which comes from pars meaning "part."
• Morphology: proportional - adj, proportionally - adv
• Example: The rewards you get in your education are in direct proportion to the effort you put in.

retroactive

(adj) - Something that is retroactive is effective as of a particular date in the past.

• Synonyms: after the fact, done afterward, subsequent, in the past, postdated
• Antonyms: before, previous, prior
• Etymology: 1610s Latin, from retro- meaning"back" + agere meaning "to drive, set in motion" (which is also where we get the word act)
• Example: Even though we already had the word debacle, I decided to make this video retroactive because... how could anyone pass up an opportunity to make "The Pachl Debacle?!"

Click here or on the image for today's Tech Corner game.

ponder

(v) - To ponder is to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened.

• Synonyms: think about, think over, wonder about, consider
• Antonyms: forget, ignore
• Etymology: 1330 L. ponderare meaning "to weigh" (which is also where we get the word pound)
• Morphology: ponderous - adj
• Example: Here are some interesting thoughts for you to ponder…

Click here to ponder the wonders of perimeter and area.

abscond

(v) - If you abscond, you sneak off or secretly leave a place, sometimes taking with you something that does not belong to you.

• Synonyms: sneak away, hightail, make off, vanish, vamoose, fly the coop, flee, escape, disappear
• Antonyms: continue, endure, give up, remain, stop
• Etymology: 1560s Latin, from ab- meaning "away" + com- meaning "together" + dere meaning "put"
• Morphology: scoundrel - n
• Example: In our first episodes of Fizz and Martina, our heroes suspected Budge of trying to abscond with Pinky McGee's pinky!

copacetic

(adj) - If something is copacetic, it's just fine or simply satisfactory.

• Synonyms: fine, satisfactory, ok, adequate, alright, cool, dandy, pleasant, tolerable, sufficient
• Antonyms: frusterating, unsatisfactory, great, fantastic, insufficient, unwelcome
• Etymology: 1919 American, from a term used by African Americans in the Southern US. Linguists believe this word may have taken root in Latin, Hebrew (kol b'seder), Italian, Louisiana French (coupe-sétique), or maybe Native American.
• Example: Mrs. Gaskill may have her share of trouble, but fortunately for her, everything's copacetic here in room 1.

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vicariously

(adv) - If something is done or experienced by watching or reading about someone else doing something, rather than by doing it yourself, it is done vicariously.

• Synonyms: empathetically, imaginatively, indirectly, secondarily, sympathetically
• Antonyms: primarily, first-handedly
• Etymology: 1630s PIE; we get our word from the Latin word vicarius meaning "substitute, deputy." They got it from vicis meaning "turn, change, exchange, substitution," which came from the PIE root *weig- meaning "to bend, wind"
• Morphology: vicarious - adj
• Example: Since I have never been to Belize, I will have to enjoy the trip vicariously through Mrs. Gaskill's description and photos.

meander

(v) - If a river, stream, road etc meanders, it has a lot of bends rather than going in a straight line. If a person meanders, he or she may walk somewhere in a slow relaxed way rather than take the most direct way possible. If a conversation meanders, it is too long and has no purpose or structure.

• Synonyms: wander, zigzag, roam, drift, ramble, wind, veer
• Antonyms: go directly, stay on track
• Etymology: 1570s Greek, from Maiandros which is the name of a river in Caria noted for its winding course
• Example: It is very important that no one is allowed to meander around the room while we are testing.

Exactly how did it come to be that rivers and lakes meander across the Midwestern landscape?

uncanny

(adj) - Something uncanny is strange and difficult to explain.

• Synonyms: unusual, strange, weird, odd, incredible, astounding, remarkable
• Antonyms: normal, typical, common, natural
• Etymology: 1590s, "mischievous;" 1773 in the sense of "associated with the supernatural," originally Scottish and northern English, from un- meaning "not" + can meaning "know how to" + the adjective-forming suffix -y
• Example: Constance Contraire has an uncanny ability to be both clever and irritating at the same time.

 

Some people have an uncanny ability to remember facts and details about the states.

Click here to try some State games - let's see if you're one of them!

potential

(n) - Potential is possibility; if people or things have potential, they have a natural ability or quality that could develop to make them very good.
(adj) - If a potential event is going to occur, it is likely to develop in the future.

• Synonyms: possible, likely, would-be, maybe
• Antonyms: impossible
• Etymology: 1398 Latin, from potentia meaning "power" (as in potent). The noun, meaning "that which is possible," is first showed up in 1817
• Morphology: potent, potentially
• Example: You have the potential to earn many points for your Heritage team today.

Hmmm... I'm thinking that some of you have some real potential as dancers!

devise

(v) - To devise something is to plan or invent a new way of doing it.

• Synonyms: dream up, form, formulate, invent, come up with, imagine, figure out
• Antonyms: borrow, steal
• Etymology: Early 13th Century Latin, from dividere meaning "to divide," which comes from de- meaning "down, away from," +  root of viere meaning "to bind, twist"
• Example: Farmers in the Midwest had to devise more efficient methods of harvesting their crops in order to make more money.

throng

(n) – A throng is a large crowd.

• Synonyms: bunch, collection, crowd, mass, mob,
• Antonyms: one
• Etymology: 1300 from P. Gmc (Proto-Germanic, the supposed prehistoric ancestor of all Germanic languages, including English) *thrangan meaning “crowd”
• Example: Maybe today will be the day that Fizz and Martina get the chance to play their music for a throng of people!

This week's Fab Five person is...

endeavor

(n) - An endeavor is an attempt to do something new or difficult.
(v) - If you endeavor to do something, you try very hard.

• Synonyms 
• nouns: aim, effort, undertaking, venture, a stab
• verbs: attempt, try, plan, aim, focus, zero in on, set your sights on, strive
• Antonyms 
• nouns: laziness, idleness
• verbs: don't try, sit around, be lazy
• Etymology: Early 15th Century, from the phrase put (oneself) in dever meaning "make it one's duty." This is a partial translation of Old French mettre en deveir meaning "put in duty," which comes from Old French dever meaning "duty," which comes from Latin debere meaning "to owe" (which is where we get the word debt)
• Morphology: endeavored - v
• Example:  We are taking on a new endeavor by bringing all of this new technology into our classroom.

Last October, NASA endeavored to move the Space Shuttle Endeavor to its final resting place in the California Science Center in Exposition Park.  It travelled 12 miles from Los Angeles International Airport, through the town of Inglewood, to Exposition Park. It was no easy feat!

compensate

(v) - To compensate is to replace the effect of something, to make up for something, or to balance out the results, especially of something bad.

• Synonyms: counterbalance, satisfy, take care of, make up for
• Antonyms: lose, forget
• Etymology: 1646 Latin, from com- meaning "with" + pendere meaning "to weigh"
• Morphology: compensation

I don't care how much money you offered me... you couldn't compensate me enough to want to do this job:

• Example: In order to compensate for our missing Heritage time this week, we are going to switch Library times with Mrs. Falcon's class on Wednesday.

Now would be a good time to figure out how to set up and use your Google calendar!

It's TECH TIME!

looming

(adj) - A looming event seems important, worrying, and difficult to avoid. A looming object appears as a large unclear shape, especially in a threatening way.
*This word can also be used as a verb

• Synonyms: rising, approaching, menacing, threatening
• Antonyms: avoidable, distant, far-off, small
• Etymology: 1540s perhaps from a Scandinavian source (like from the Swedish word loma meaning "move slowly"), meaning "come into view largely and unclearly." Some Etymologists think this word may be a variation from the word lame.
• Morphology: loom - v, loomed - v
• Example: Now that the MontCAS is behind us, the NWEA tests are looming in our future.

When a severe thunderstorm is looming in the Midwest, you can bet that Sean Casey and his team will be there to capture it on film!

diverse

(adj) - People or things that are diverse are very different from one another.

• Synonyms: assorted, different, unlike, varying
• Antonyms: alike, identical, same, congruent, similar
• Etymology: Mid 13th Century Latin, from divertere meaning "to vary”
• Morphology: verb – diversify, noun – diversity

Being from Montana, you probably have an idea of who a farmer is and what he does, but I'll bet you never realized what a diverse group of people farmers really are!

See what I mean...

obtain

(v) - To obtain something is to get something that you want, especially through your own effort, skill, or work.

• Synonyms: get, acquire, earn, collect, win, come into possession of
• Antonyms: give up, forfeit, lose, sacrifice, give away
• Etymology: Early 15th Century Latin, from ob meaning "to" + tenere meaning "to hold"
• Example: Before setting up your Google accounts, we needed to obtain permission from your parents.

rational

(adj) - Rational thoughts, decisions or ideas are based on reasons rather than emotions. A rational person is able to think calmly and sensibly.

• Synonyms: calm, sensible, realistic, thoughtful, sane, logical
• Antonyms: irrational, ridiculous, unreasonable
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from ratio meaning "calculation, reason"
• Morphology: ratio - n, ration - n,v
• Example: The Mysterious Benedict Society members were sent to Nomansan Island to determine whether there was a rational explanation for the "National Emergency."

Today is Pi Day!

Can you make rational decisions to solve the puzzles in the Pi Day Challenge?

Pi Day Challenge 2013

elated

(adj) - If you are elated about something, you are extremely happy and excited, especially because of something that has happened or is going to happen.
*This word could also be used as a verb.

• Synonyms: delighted, ecstatic, excited, exhilarated, joyful
• Antonyms: depressed, down, sad, unhappy, nonchalant
• Etymology: 1570s Latin, from elatus meaning "to raise, elevate, or uplift"
• Morphology: elation - n, elate - v
• Example: I was elated when I heard about all of the new technology we will be receiving!

convey

(v) - To convey a message is to communicate or express something, with or without using words. You can also convey a package or object by taking or carrying it from one place to another.

• Synonyms: carry, express, move, transport, send, transmit
• Antonyms: hold, keep, maintain, retain
• Etymology: 13th Century Latin, from com- meaning "with, together" + via meaning "way, road"
• Morphology: conveyor - n, conveyance - n
• Example: By doing WOD every single day, I hope that I can convey the importance of having and using a good vocabulary!

I think that by using this scene in their show, Drake and Josh are trying to convey the message that Lucille Ball really was the Queen of Comedy:

Click here to see the episode

abundant

(adj.) - Something that is abundant exists or is available in large quantities so that there is more than enough.

• Synonyms: filled, plenty, more than sufficient, overflowing
• Antonyms: lacking, insufficient, not enough
• Etymology: Late 14th century Latin, from ab- meaning "off" + undare meaning "rise in a wave," which comes from unda meaning "water, wave"
• Morphology: abundance - n
• Example: Andon's sister, Shayla, provides abundant examples of things that are abundant.

Pick-A-Pair Game

America's Heartland has more examples of things that are abundant:

Virtual Field Trip

quibble

(v) - If you quibble with someone, you argue over small, unimportant details or trivial matters.
*This word can also be used as a noun.

• Synonyms: bicker, argue, disagree
• Antonyms: agree, discuss
• Etymology: 1610s English, meaning "a pun, a play on words," which is probably from quib meaning "evasion of the point at issue"
• Example: It seems like there is a point in every year when students start to quibble about football at recess. 

tentatively

(adv) - If you do something tentatively, you do it without confidence or certainty, or because it may be changed later.

• Synonyms: conditionally, maybe, doubtfully, wonderingly
• Antonyms: certainly, surely, definitely
• Etymology: 1580s Latin, from tentare meaning "to feel, try"
• Morphology: tentative - adj, tentacle - n
• Example: Reynie knocked tentatively on Mr. Curtain's door.

melancholy

(adj) – If you are very sad, you are melancholy.
*This word can also be used as a noun.

• Synonyms: depressed, blue, down in the dumps, gloomy, glum
• Antonyms: cheerful, happy, joyful
• Etymology: 1520 Greek, from melankholia "sadness," but it literally means "black bile." This word’s roots come from the early 1300s: melanos meaning "black" + khole meaning "bile." Note: bile is a dark colored fluid, produced by your liver.
• Example: The gloomy weather we have been having lately is causing many people to feel melancholy.

Why is Mr. Amundson so melancholy? See for yourself.

conspicuous

(adj) – Something conspicuous is very easy to see or notice.

• Synonyms: obvious, clear, evident, noticeable
• Antonyms: inconspicuous, hidden, concealed, unclear, secret, unseen, clandestine
• Etymology: 1540s Latin, from com- meaning “with” + PIE *spek- meaning "to observe" + the Latin adjective-forming suffix -osus
• Example: When you choose your Heritage route, you want to make sure it's not too conspicuous.

improvise

(v.) - If you improvise, you do something without any preparation, usually because of unexpected events.

• Synonyms: make up, brainstorm, invent
• Antonyms: design, plan, prepare
• Etymology: 1826 Latin, from in- meaning "not" + provisus meaning either "foreseen" or "provided"
• Morphology: improvisation - n
• Example: I forgot to bring my notes, so I had to improvise when I gave my speech.

Click here for your chance to improvise!

nefarious

(adj) – Criminals are well-known for committing nefarious acts. Their deeds are bad and even downright horrible.

• Synonyms: bad, horrible, dreadful, evil, criminal, treacherous
• Antonyms: good, honorable, respectable, virtuous, worthy
• Etymology: 1600 Latin, from ne- meaning "not" (this is where we get the word nay) + fas meaning "right, lawful" which is related to fari which means "to speak" (this is actually where we get the word fame)
• Example: Mr. Curtain and his nefarious associates are always up to no good.

xenial

(adj) – Someone who is xenial is hospitable to guests, or especially strangers; friendly to newcomers.

• Synonyms: friendly, hospitable, welcoming, inviting
• Antonyms: unfriendly, inhospitable, unwelcoming, uninviting
• Etymology: Ancient Greek, from xenos ξένος (pronounced ksenos), meaning “guest, stranger, foreigner”
• Example: At Burlington Elementary, many students go out of their way to be xenial to newcomers.

gusto

(n.) - If you do something with gusto, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

• Synonyms: energy, enthusiasm, excitement, delight, pleasure
• Antonyms: nonchalance, reluctance, hesitation
• Etymology: 1629 Latin, from gustus meaning "to taste," which actually comes from the ancient European root geus- meaning "enjoy or be pleased"
• Example: I talk to others about my class with great gusto!

One reason I adore you is that you do all things - including math - with gusto!

Click here to try today's fraction game:

http://www.quia.com/cb/95582.html