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October 25, 2022
Fall Issue #9
Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing all year long.
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
Hello and Happy Tuesday!
Only six days until Halloween. Oh, my... the kids get more excited every day. I'm just amazed how fast this year is rolling past. Halloween means that it will be New Year's before we know it. Hold on!

Have a wonderful week.

If you know anybody who you think would benefit from the weekly learning activities in this flyer, please share it with your friends and encourage them to join The McManus Files mailing list by following the links on this page.

Discover something new today,
Mr. McManus
Book of the Week
Confessions of a Nerdy Girl
by Linda Rey
Confessions of a Nerdy Girl is a heart-warming book with a message that could be applied in any middle school throughout the country. The story touches on sensitive topics such as ... physical handicaps and bullying. Willa's trials, mishaps, and triumphs will leave you cringing, laughing, and cheering her on, and Willa's actions and good heart make her into the life-changing everyday superhero that all thirteen year-olds should aspire to be like. In this book Nerds are cool and the cool kids are shown to be the Nerds they really are. I wish this novel could be read in every classroom! The characters become your personal friends and you will find yourself swept into their world. As Willa struggles to navigate the minefield that is middle school and ultimately proves to her classmates it's cool to be kind. Confessions of a Nerdy Girl will have you turning pages until you finally have to ask yourself, "How do I get my hands on the sequel?
Enjoy!
Inquiry Quest
HOW TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF SHAPES
With this fun experiment, you will see that strength comes in all shapes and sizes
You are probably familiar with the empowering story of “The Little Engine That Could.” But what about the little shapes that could – hold up a stack of books?

In this exercise, you will learn how to test the strength of different shapes. By making their own shapes and then balancing books on top of them, you can observe how strong each shape is. After you’re done, you’re going to feel just as determined as that little engine. Or maybe even that little square.
GATHER THIS:
  • Paper
  • Tape
  • Books for weight

THEN DO THIS:
  1. Brainstorm some different shapes.
  2. Fold several piece of paper in half length-wise.
  3. Roll, fold, bend, each sheet of paper into different shapes.
  4. Stack one book at a time on top of each shape.
  5. Try as many different shapes as you can make!
ASK THIS:
  • Which shape holds the most books?
  • How does the paper thickness influence the performance?
  • How does the number of sides of the shape effect the performance?
  • Does it matter how you tape the paper together?
  • Does it matter if the paper overlaps at the seam?
  • What shape would you use to hold up a tower?
  • What shapes do you notice in structural supports?
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Some shapes are stronger than others in different applications. Spheres are really strong shapes when under pressure on all sides by a gas or liquid. When a force is applied at the tip, a triangle is a strong shape as it disperses the load across the bottom edge. Engineers utilize shapes like triangles to support a tremendous amount of weight in structures such as buildings and bridges. There is also evidence of strong shapes in nature. The cylindrical shape of some of our load-bearing bones and the shape of tree trunks are examples.
If you feel your child might benefit from a group or individual tutoring program to prepare them for the next phase of their education, please contact McManus Tutoring.

Programs are structured so that students learn independence, accountability, and self-possession. They will develop a repeatable structure that can be used to build success in the future.
Three Writing Prompts and an Essay Topic

These prompts and questions will help jump-start your daily writing. Just as it's important to read for at least 30 minutes each day, you should also write for 30 minutes a day. Don't worry about your organization or spelling, just write!

"Why did it have to be this freezing, today of all days? What if they…"


"Put me down!” I yelled as I was hoisted into the air by a giant…"


“Is there anyone in there?” I wondered aloud, staring up at the gothic castle. “The letter said they’d meet us…”

October 25th
Pablo Picasso was born today in 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He was one of the greatest artist of the 20th century. Picasso started painting realistic pictures when he was only 14. His most famous painting is Guernica, which he painted as a protest against the horrible bombing of the town Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. He created art until he died at the age of 92.

Prompt: Look up some of Picasso's paintings. There might be some books in your school library. Choose one that you like and find its name. What was it about this painting that made you choose it?

Problems of the Week
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